I think more HA members need to find God in their lives

[well-informed]

I really liked Magnum's comment very much

Being Christian is being Christ-like. The word of God is described sharper than a 2 edged sword cutting between the soul and spirit and opening up all the intentions of the heart. Truly it is the highest standard of morality.

When God speaks all God speaks is truth and because he's right then that means someone is wrong, regardless of how unlikely it seem in the physical realm or by man's intellect/logic.

This is what i see a lot of from people who aren't believers or at least have doubts of god existing

People who live in sin pray for a couple minutes or at one point in time have prayed to seek God in their lives...... most likely nothing happens and come up with the conclusion that god doesnt exist nor care for them. Its as if Christ is google and hes suppose to obey our commands and our sinful desires. Although God loves, he also hatessss sin because thats what separates man and god. Of course god wont be a reality to that person, because they don't want to change
(the lusts of the world, trials, tribulations choke your faith that started as a seed that was intended to grow)

Those people who humble themselves, pray with sincerity, turn from their sins or at least willing to turn away from their wickedness. These people have a willing teachable humble spirit that God can see and use because their coming to the Kingdom like little children, just like Jesus said one should.

I know Christ exists will all my being(I've had revelations from God's spirit), but a person has to walk in holiness/righteousness in order for God to be a reality.

[clowny]

I wonder why HA attracts so many atheists and agnostics to the forum? I think besides me, ILoveBlackAmericanWomen, well-informed, fscmidt, Jester and a couple of others', everybody else seem to disparage religion and God all the time in the forum. I think that's why you have so many unhappy people on HappierAbroad. Having a spiritual life is very important in my opinion, and it is one important factor to fight against depression and unhappiness. Also, by believing in God, it gives a person meaning in their life and a moral template to live by. Do you agree or disagree with my opinion?

I agree that a spiritual life is very important, which is precisely why i'm not an adherent of christianity. Being a willing participant in the largest criminal syndicate in human history (the church of christ) does not equate to leading a spiritual life, in my opinion.

[america sucks]

http://www.jesusneverexisted.com

There is not one single piece of historical evidence to prove that Jesus ever existed. Not one single scholar or historian of the 1st century AD mentioned even a single word about Jesus. Kind of interesting, considering that he was supposed to have been some guy going around performing miracles, raising the dead, with 1000s of followers. VERY INTERESTING that not one single historian or scholar of that time period mentioned even a single word about him, don't you think?

The fact is, Jesus is a FICTIONAL CHARACTER. He is no more real than John Rambo. And on that note, here is a little poem I created:

Rambo loves me this I know
for the Bible tells me so
He is strong and I am weak
Rambo savior of the meek

I mean, if you are going to worship a FICTIONAL CHARACTER like Jesus, why not worship an actual bad a** fictional character like Rambo? At least John Rambo wasn't a f***ing p***y mangina who let himself get his a** kicked and then nailed to a cross.

Is it perhaps no coincidence that the fictional character Jesus was such a pathetic mangina, and the majority of Christian men are pathetic manginas? After all, you become what you worship.

[Jester]

I agree that a spiritual life is very important, which is precisely why i'm not an adherent of christianity. Being a willing participant in the largest criminal syndicate in human history (the church of christ) does not equate to leading a spiritual life, in my opinion.

The U.S. government today operates as a creeping, Borg-like totalitarian entity.

But that doesn't mean that George Washington, James Madison, or Thomas Jefferson were wrong.

Ignore the termites, read the blueprint.

[Jester]

http://www.jesusneverexisted.com

There is not one single piece of historical evidence to prove that Jesus ever existed. Not one single scholar or historian of the 1st century AD mentioned even a single word about Jesus. Kind of interesting, considering that he was supposed to have been some guy going around performing miracles, raising the dead, with 1000s of followers. VERY INTERESTING that not one single historian or scholar of that time period mentioned even a single word about him, don't you think?

The fact is, Jesus is a FICTIONAL CHARACTER....

Do your own research.

jesus existed (and exists) and there are witnesses. Like for Alexander the Great.

In the first century A.D., Christianity was a suspect, suppressed cult, persecuted by the Romans, along with Judaism. Emperors gave orders to exterminate both Jews and Christians. But yes, most written records of the government at that time didn't give a lot of sympathetic press to the Christian movement. At first, we weren't even called Christians, that term was adopted over time.

Hard fact: Over time, and with the blood of many martyrs, we achieved the conversion of the emperor, through his mother, and Christianity was legalized. At that point, evangelism was out of the closet, and we swiftly won. Roman civilization became Christian.

Keep reading, my friend.

[zacb]

http://www.jesusneverexisted.com

There is not one single piece of historical evidence to prove that Jesus ever existed. Not one single scholar or historian of the 1st century AD mentioned even a single word about Jesus. Kind of interesting, considering that he was supposed to have been some guy going around performing miracles, raising the dead, with 1000s of followers. VERY INTERESTING that not one single historian or scholar of that time period mentioned even a single word about him, don't you think?

The fact is, Jesus is a FICTIONAL CHARACTER....

Do your own research.

jesus existed (and exists) and there are witnesses. Like for Alexander the Great.

In the first century A.D., Christianity was a suspect, suppressed cult, persecuted by the Romans, along with Judaism. Emperors gave orders to exterminate both Jews and Christians. But yes, most written records of the government at that time didn't give a lot of sympathetic press to the Christian movement. At first, we weren't even called Christians, that term was adopted over time.

Hard fact: Over time, and with the blood of many martyrs, we achieved the conversion of the emperor, through his mother, and Christianity was legalized. At that point, evangelism was out of the closet, and we swiftly won. Roman civilization became Christian.

Keep reading, my friend.

So true. I think that the church becoming whitewashed is what led to us being like we are today. I think that the very nature of the modern church was compromised through the emperor becoming "saved". That led to structures that made the church weaker.This then led to it's ultimate failure of leadership, which leads us to today.

[zacb]

And while we are on the topic, I wonder how the spiritual aspect of countries compare to the US? To me, with a few exceptions, it seems like the US is also spiritually bankrupt. I wonder how the churches in let's say the Philippines stack up to US churches? I have heard they tend to be more like the "church" than in the US. Would be interesting to find out/

[Raja]

And while we are on the topic, I wonder how the spiritual aspect of countries compare to the US? To me, with a few exceptions, it seems like the US is also spiritually bankrupt. I wonder how the churches in let's say the Philippines stack up to US churches? I have heard they tend to be more like the "church" than in the US. Would be interesting to find out/

The percentage of Catholic to non-Catholic is flipped. Possibly because there is less competition for the role of religious representative the local Bishops take a harder line then they do in America. Also because of the overwhelming Catholic presence the non-Catholics are more concentrated in the exclusive groups, the ones who will not even allow members to visit another church out of fear of losing a member, i mean the member losing his soul.

The local Catholics can be freaky in their zeal from the self flagellation and crucifictions which are about to happen and thousands turning out to touch a religious relic or travel hundreds of miles to visit a specific church because of its relic, not its Priest or music. It may be more like "church" in that the majority churches also feature distinctive church architecture and are rarely the start ups in a hotel conference room or strip mall, but those do exist. And the nation's vacation and school schedules are built around Holy Week, a "spring break" is not added somewhere around the week as is done in the US.

I would not say the US is bankrupt but rather diverse. And even if Christianity as a whole is dominant no specific sect sets the agenda which all follow. While no single counter Catholic group will be as powerful as the INC is in the US many exist and many also reject the religious calendar and rituals which comes from the Vatican

[zacb]

I am not talking about the actual number, but as far as substance (at least in terms of Protestants). It seems like they put politics over actual religion. Like I said though, this is not always the case, but they seem to be out of touch with both society and God.

[Raja]

I am not talking about the actual number, but as far as substance (at least in terms of Protestants). It seems like they put politics over actual religion. Like I said though, this is not always the case, but they seem to be out of touch with both society and God.

Technically speaking the INC like Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses are not Protestants and they outnumber the other Christian claiming sects combined. There are a few other sects which may have limited block voting compared to them but those other sects don't have the power or the voice of the Catholic Bishops Confrence

[zacb]

(I meant church politics, not national politics) Sorry for the misunderstanding

[Raja]

(I meant church politics, not national politics) Sorry for the misunderstanding

Well internal church politics you have the majority sect who believes their leader is appointed by God and apostolic succession to lead all humanity. And since they are so outnumbered in this particular corner of the world that many competing churches are also as strident in proclaiming the we are the way and the other guys are false leaders.

It also seems more political then spiritual because it is less ritual based in many cases the "spiritual" being based in music and teaching sermons alone, with perhaps the laying on of hands in charismatic churches. And you don't have a publicly presumed virgin, or at least celibate man leading you in the rituals, as the Catholic does which spiritual wise even leads to virgin sacrifices of non Abrahamic faiths.

[Moretorque]

And Winston, I mentioned in another thread that I think you need to find God again in your life. Why did you reject Christianity in the first place? I know you were a Christian, but what made you turn away from your faith? I know you're now a skeptic and even created a forum rejecting God and religion. I'm curious to know you're answer.

Dude trust me, you do not understand the Bible as well as Christianity, I need to get up off my a$$ and write the book I want to about the bible.

I am 99% sure I have solved it and the creator of the bible is mother not father.

[Jackal]

[Hero]

I believe in God, but I'm not religious anymore. The reason is basically this: my church was full of people who would pray for the lonely old widow down the street, but who wouldn't actually go visit her.

Also, I think that most priests and ministers are wimps. They preach that God is kind and forgiving and merciful, and that's true; but what they don't say is that God only forgives those who repent of their sins. They don't say that God will not be mocked by those who think they can do whatever the hell they want, because God will forgive them. They probably don't want to challenge their congregations, because they're afraid that the collection plate will turn up empty some Sunday morning.

I agree with Ladislav that havning faith in God doesn't mean doing nothing; it means believing that if you do your best, then God will help you to succeed.