Capital Punishment

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by amber

That's not religion

Oh, so you're going to define religion for us now?

[amber]

Originally Posted by gldstwmn

Oh, so you're going to define religion for us now?

oh, so you're going to talk like that again? oh, of course

[GateandGarden]

Originally Posted by dissention

Tell that to Jim Jones' followers. Or to the Heaven's Gate group.

I think this is a good point, but I also think we're obviously talking about extreme cases. Am I correct in saying that heroin is pretty much always a bad thing? Now that I've typed that, I see how asinine the religion vs. heroin thing is. It started out okay but then it just got silly. Oh well.

Hillary

[DrummerDeanna]

Originally Posted by GateandGarden

I think this is a good point, but I also think we're obviously talking about extreme cases. Am I correct in saying that heroin is pretty much always a bad thing? Now that I've typed that, I see how asinine the religion vs. heroin thing is. It started out okay but then it just got silly. Oh well.

Hillary

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So - because of a few radical extremists you dislike ALL religion in general? By the same token - because I've met some really crappy atheists should I dislike all atheists I meet?

Just a bit of information - I was raised in a particular religion in which I have led a happy, productive and non-crazy life=style. I don't live communally with some cultish group and I've never been led to harm myself by my religion....

It's unfair to pull out the most extreme cases and use those as a basis of what religion and religious people are like....we're not all like that...believe it or not.

Now I'm done because just as you accuse religious fanatics of being closed minded I feel that when I try to explain or defend my religion or beliefs the more they'll get shot down - I respect other's views - and don't constantly dump on atheists or any other religious group - I don't claim to "know the truth" or "have all the right answers". I like to hear others opinions in a respectful manner...but oh well - this is a subject that people are very passionate about.....so whatever....I've said it before and I'll say it again....To each their own!!

[GateandGarden]

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

----------------

So - because of a few radical extremists you dislike ALL religion in general? By the same token - because I've met some really crappy atheists should I dislike all atheists I meet?

Just a bit of information - I was raised in a particular religion in which I have led a happy, productive and non-crazy life=style. I don't live communally with some cultish group and I've never been led to harm myself by my religion....

It's unfair to pull out the most extreme cases and use those as a basis of what religion and religious people are like....we're not all like that...believe it or not.

Now I'm done because just as you accuse religious fanatics of being closed minded I feel that when I try to explain or defend my religion or beliefs the more they'll get shot down - I respect other's views - and don't constantly dump on atheists or any other religious group - I don't claim to "know the truth" or "have all the right answers". I like to hear others opinions in a respectful manner...but oh well - this is a subject that people are very passionate about.....so whatever....I've said it before and I'll say it again....To each their own!!

Well put Deanna!

[wondergirl9847]

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

But my faith has nothing to do with people...I just do my own thing...

I grew up in different churches, but could never find one to call a home. I attended a church for about 4 and a half years, that was the longest for going to one, for me. I've struggled with wanting to be part of a church and not. I've not been on a regular basis since 2000.

God's always with you no matter if you go or not. He doesn't abandon you if you decide not to go. I've been baptized and I'm saved. I talk to God and pray to Him for guidance, help, everything. He was there for me during some difficult times in my life.

[amber]

Originally Posted by wondergirl9847

I grew up in different churches, but could never find one to call a home. I attended a church for about 4 and a half years, that was the longest for going to one, for me. I've struggled with wanting to be part of a church and not. I've not been on a regular basis since 2000.

God's always with you no matter if you go or not. He doesn't abandon you if you decide not to go. I've been baptized and I'm saved. I talk to God and pray to Him for guidance, help, everything. He was there for me during some difficult times in my life.

I'm not being sarcastic but why does someone splashing water on you and saying prayers over you uh, get you into heaven? again, not being sarcastic

[wondergirl9847]

I didn't say being baptized gets you into Heaven. If you are saved and ask God to come into your heart and forgive your sins, I believe you go to Heaven. Being baptized is just a representation of having your sins washed away.

I went to a Christian (Baptist, although I never went to a Baptist church, LOL) school from kindergarten through 8th grade, so Christianity was always in my family and life.

I completed a goal to read the entire Bible a few years ago. That was great because I'd grown up with it, but never really READ it. I learned stuff I didn't even know about.

[amber]

Originally Posted by wondergirl9847

I didn't say being baptized gets you into Heaven. If you are saved and ask God to come into your heart and forgive your sins, I believe you go to Heaven. Being baptized is just a representation of having your sins washed away.

I went to a Christian (Baptist, although I never went to a Baptist church, LOL) school from kindergarten through 8th grade, so Christianity was always in my family and life.

I completed a goal to read the entire Bible a few years ago. That was great because I'd grown up with it, but never really READ it. I learned stuff I didn't even know about.

No, i wasn't accusing you of saying that, i just thought you knew. like i think if your catholic, and you don't get baptized, it's a real problem...

[wondergirl9847]

I think that some religions are more adamant about baptism, but not sure which ones.

Well, Jesus was baptized and He had his disciples baptized, so I decided when I was in my early 20's to do it. I'm kinda glad my mom didn't have me baptized as a kid, because I made my own choice and it meant more, I think.

[amber]

Originally Posted by wondergirl9847

I think that some religions are more adamant about baptism, but not sure which ones.

Well, Jesus was baptized and He had his disciples baptized, so I decided when I was in my early 20's to do it. I'm kinda glad my mom didn't have me baptized as a kid, because I made my own choice and it meant more, I think.

Ah, in a show about Roman History i saw, it said some other things about what really happened with jesus...made me more skeptical of bible stories. But i'm a history, sciency type gal. But, thanks for answering! And yes, your own choice probably does mean more. I'm glad you find so much in your faith.
The thing about jesus, that i hate when it escapes religious people, is not to judge, and do unto others and all that. I was talking to a classmate of mine, who was raised catholic and is still very religious. She has been studying with the jehovah's witnesses, because she found the ritual and trappings of the Catholic faith not for her (confession and all that), she thought it should just be about her, the bible, and god. BUT she has refused to become baptized within the religion, because she doesn't want to be a hypocrite to their rules that she doesn't follow. (sex before marriage, smoking 'you know what') She feels like to do so would be breaking a promise she made, and i admire her for that conviction, yet her still very obvious strong faith. Anyway, interesting stuff!
AMber

[wondergirl9847]

Originally Posted by amber

The thing about jesus, that i hate when it escapes religious people, is not to judge, and do unto others and all that.

Anyway, interesting stuff!

That's what I try to do, follow what He taught in terms of not judging people, being kind and loving towards everyone, no matter what race, religion, etc.

Interesting, indeed!

My fave Bible verse:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding.
In all your ways, acknowledge Him,
and he will direct your paths."

--- Proverbs 3: 5-6

[amber]

Originally Posted by wondergirl9847

That's what I try to do, follow what He taught in terms of not judging people, being kind and loving towards everyone, no matter what race, religion, etc.

Interesting, indeed!

My fave Bible verse:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding.
In all your ways, acknowledge Him,
and he will direct your paths."

--- Proverbs 3: 5-6

i'm glad that you like it, but "lean not on your own understanding"? yipes, for me!

[The Tower]

This is one of my favorites from the bible (Leviticus 15:16 through 29):

16 "And if a man has an emission of semen, he shall bathe his whole body in water, and be unclean until the evening. 17 And every garment and every skin on which the semen comes shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the evening. 18 If a man lies with a woman and has an emission of semen, both of them shall bathe themselves in water, and be unclean until the evening. 19 "When a woman has a discharge of blood which is her regular discharge from her body, she shall be in her impurity for seven days, and whoever touches her shall be unclean until the evening. 20 And everything upon which she lies during her impurity shall be unclean; everything also upon which she sits shall be unclean. 21 And whoever touches her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening. 22 And whoever touches anything upon which she sits shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening; 23 whether it is the bed or anything upon which she sits, when he touches it he shall be unclean until the evening. 24 And if any man lies with her, and her impurity is on him, he shall be unclean seven days; and every bed on which he lies shall be unclean. 25 "If a woman has a discharge of blood for many days, not at the time of her impurity, or if she has a discharge beyond the time of her impurity, all the days of the discharge she shall continue in uncleanness; as in the days of her impurity, she shall be unclean. 26 Every bed on which she lies, all the days of her discharge, shall be to her as the bed of her impurity; and everything on which she sits shall be unclean, as in the uncleanness of her impurity. 27 And whoever touches these things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening. 28 But if she is cleansed of her discharge, she shall count for herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean. 29 And on the eighth day she shall take two turtledoves or two young pigeons, and bring them to the priest, to the door of the tent of meeting."

So remember kiddies- stay away from menstruating women for seven days or else you'll be unclean! Why the feminine hygiene industry hasn't locked into the turtledove/pigeon market is beyond me... they could make a fortune!!!

[GateandGarden]

Originally Posted by The Tower

This is one of my favorites from the bible (Leviticus 15:16 through 29):

16 "And if a man has an emission of semen, he shall bathe his whole body in water, and be unclean until the evening. 17 And every garment and every skin on which the semen comes shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the evening. 18 If a man lies with a woman and has an emission of semen, both of them shall bathe themselves in water, and be unclean until the evening. 19 "When a woman has a discharge of blood which is her regular discharge from her body, she shall be in her impurity for seven days, and whoever touches her shall be unclean until the evening. 20 And everything upon which she lies during her impurity shall be unclean; everything also upon which she sits shall be unclean. 21 And whoever touches her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening. 22 And whoever touches anything upon which she sits shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening; 23 whether it is the bed or anything upon which she sits, when he touches it he shall be unclean until the evening. 24 And if any man lies with her, and her impurity is on him, he shall be unclean seven days; and every bed on which he lies shall be unclean. 25 "If a woman has a discharge of blood for many days, not at the time of her impurity, or if she has a discharge beyond the time of her impurity, all the days of the discharge she shall continue in uncleanness; as in the days of her impurity, she shall be unclean. 26 Every bed on which she lies, all the days of her discharge, shall be to her as the bed of her impurity; and everything on which she sits shall be unclean, as in the uncleanness of her impurity. 27 And whoever touches these things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening. 28 But if she is cleansed of her discharge, she shall count for herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean. 29 And on the eighth day she shall take two turtledoves or two young pigeons, and bring them to the priest, to the door of the tent of meeting."

So remember kiddies- stay away from menstruating women for seven days or else you'll be unclean! Why the feminine hygiene industry hasn't locked into the turtledove/pigeon market is beyond me... they could make a fortune!!!

Yeah, I had a ball one night reading Leviticus. It's beyond ridiculous. But I have yet to talk to a Christian who takes Leviticus seriously. Leviticus is like the Ringo of the Bible, from my understanding. (Sorry for the big slam on Ringo from out of nowhere).

Hillary