Since we have some Christian threads circulating, I figured I'd post a question....

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Originally Posted by derrick ikwueme

Open your minds people, Be logical about this, Religion all starts from "Misunderstood Technology" of interstellar travelers. Thats why All major religions tell the same "Remixed" story. These so called "Angels" are flesh and blood Aliens, Just like "Cargo Cults" of World War 2. The Airforce would land on a remote pacific island, build a air strip, and give K rations to the natives Who have never seen this technology. And they saw us as "Gods" and when we left they built wooden plane replicas, in hopes that that would make us " Return " All religions have " Words To Live By" but never take that stuff literally. Because it's really just a Giant "UFO" story. And I grew up in church like most people, But " Logic " has taken over.

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I saw that movie too! I forget the name.

I have a friend who has a similar viewpoint as the Perserverance of the Saints you posted above, and he is a very devout Christian who saw this as a positive thing. But the way I see it, it basically creates an image of a god who has one concern: whether or not you like him.

If you do, you become a good person and get to go to heaven afterwards. If you don't, you burn for all eternity.

Now, I'm not a religious person, and theologically speaking, I've never understood how human emotions/traits can be mapped to an omnipotent figure, but it always struck me as just... petty, I guess.

Please don't take this as disrespect or anything, just giving my two cents on the subject.

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Originally Posted by derrick ikwueme

Open your minds people, Be logical about this, Religion all starts from "Misunderstood Technology" of interstellar travelers. Thats why All major religions tell the same "Remixed" story. These so called "Angels" are flesh and blood Aliens, Just like "Cargo Cults" of World War 2. The Airforce would land on a remote pacific island, build a air strip, and give K rations to the natives Who have never seen this technology. And they saw us as "Gods" and when we left they built wooden plane replicas, in hopes that that would make us " Return " All religions have " Words To Live By" but never take that stuff literally. Because it's really just a Giant "UFO" story. And I grew up in church like most people, But " Logic " has taken over.

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I feel my mind is open, but I also can't read the stories of Jesus and not feel high respect for the Son of God who was also man that tried his best to teach us to love and also died and resurrected himself so we could be reconciled with his Father.

Yo Orlando, check out the Anchient Aliens 6 part series on the History Channel & on You Tube, the evidence is everywere, Nazca lines Ect

@Brad: it really doesn't have anything to do with whether or not you like him or whether you've become a Fan of his on Facebook.

I'll admit, mapping human traits to God is awkward at best. It's hard to understand how he operates except to relate it to the only other intelligent species of creature you're likely to run into. But understanding God by dialoging with human beings is...inexact.

But yeah, it's his way or the highway. If you don't like it, you can take a hike. That's pretty much true. He's never up for re-election, he doesn't do opinion polls. By our reckoning, he created everything without consulting anybody and he's not about to start. :)

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Originally Posted by Jon Watkins

I feel my mind is open, but I also can't read the stories of Jesus and not feel high respect for the Son of God who was also man that tried his best to teach us to love and also died and resurrected himself so we could be reconciled with his Father.

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Really !!!!! If " Something was powerfull enough to create the universe and all life in it " do you really think this energy not a " Man" with kids. would be concerned with "Petty" earth problems. Remember, religious people also used to think the Earth was "Flat" and would "burn you at the stake" for suggesting other wise.

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Originally Posted by derrick ikwueme

Really !!!!! If " Something was powerfull enough to create the universe and all life in it " do you really think this energy not a " Man" with kids. would be concerned with "Petty" earth problems. Remember, religious people also used to think the Earth was "Flat" and would "burn you at the stake" for suggesting other wise.

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Yeah derrick...I don't know how to break it to you, but virtually all elements of reality exist and have properties that are completely independent of your opinion of what they should be. God is no exception. :)

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Originally Posted by Joshua Jarboe

@Brad: it really doesn't have anything to do with whether or not you like him or whether you've become a Fan of his on Facebook.

I'll admit, mapping human traits to God is awkward at best. It's hard to understand how he operates except to relate it to the only other intelligent species of creature you're likely to run into. But understanding God by dialoging with human beings is...inexact.

But yeah, it's his way or the highway. If you don't like it, you can take a hike. That's pretty much true. He's never up for re-election, he doesn't do opinion polls. By our reckoning, he created everything without consulting anybody and he's not about to start. :)

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Refer to bold - See that, I can understand as a concept (though not necessarily agree with). But this is different, because it's not about willingly adopting the ways he intended for us. It's about making the choice to follow him. Hypothetically, if a person were to live their life the way God intended, with the exception of believing in him, they would still be damned, even though the only difference would be whether we love/embrace/follow him. It seems to me like a weird emphasis.

That's a good point Brad. That's why the doctrinal point of Total Depravity of Man is so important.

We cannot please him by our own power. We're broken to the core. God is not content with you being 90% good and 10% wicked.

And look, you wouldn't have it any other way. If true religion was white knuckling your way through life acting like a stoic and being petrified by the idea of doing something wrong, life would be miserable and God's people would be even more hated than we already are.

It's simply a self-perpetuating one. Otherwise we come to the obvious conclusion - believing in God isn't necessary to come to the same social ends.

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Originally Posted by Joshua Jarboe

That's a good point Brad. That's why the doctrinal point of Total Depravity of Man is so important.

We cannot please him by our own power. We're broken to the core. God is not content with you being 90% good and 10% wicked.

And look, you wouldn't have it any other way. If true religion was white knuckling your way through life acting like a stoic and being petrified by the idea of doing something wrong, life would be miserable and God's people would be even more hated than we already are.

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You mean as monks and many other people practicing "true religion" have done for thousands of years? Isn't that the point of being a monk? To busy yourself with prayers and work as to not have time to sin?