Religious Discussion Welcome Thread

[eclectics]

I consider myself a rational deist and I could never understand the infighting between Christian sects. Most, if not all, religions have their different denominations but Christianity seems to have more than it's fair share. You all seem to get so vehement and defensive as to who's denomination is right and wrong, but you are all Christians! Maybe someone can clue me in as to what the big deal is and why you have to fight amongst yourselves so much.

 

[6_Time_Momma]

I consider myself a rational deist and I could never understand the infighting between Christian sects. Most, if not all, religions have their different denominations but Christianity seems to have more than it's fair share. You all seem to get so vehement and defensive as to who's denomination is right and wrong, but you are all Christians! Maybe someone can clue me in as to what the big deal is and why you have to fight amongst yourselves so much.

I think it's because of what you see going on in this thread......misunderstandings about what other denominations believe.

 

[crazydingoman]

God is a good God, when people hurt each other in God's name - they are really hurting eachother in hatred's name. God is a loving God, my religion teaches that human life is precious and beautiful - and not to be taken lightly.

 

[helenabear]

I consider myself a rational deist and I could never understand the infighting between Christian sects. Most, if not all, religions have their different denominations but Christianity seems to have more than it's fair share. You all seem to get so vehement and defensive as to who's denomination is right and wrong, but you are all Christians! Maybe someone can clue me in as to what the big deal is and why you have to fight amongst yourselves so much.

Okay, I have no restraint

Truthfully I was just saying that earlier in one of my posts... I have no idea why some people are so hell bent on putting down or tearing apart another religion.

We have differences... due to how we read the Bible and what we get out of it. Nothing that should ever cause *this* much trouble.

I'm Catholic, and I do get defensive over my religion. I admit that... but I swear, I never did or thought any other religion was worse or wrong. I was told that in college that I was wrong and that my religion was terrible. I was told that I am NOT a Christian because I am Catholic

What gives??

We all believe in the same God, the same Jesus Christ.

I do not, and will not ever get why so many seem to enjoy putting down other religions. I know I sure as heck don't. A Christian is a Christian to me... and I enjoy hearing differences.

I don't enjoy put downs or attacks!

 

[eclectics]

I think it's because of what you see going on in this thread......misunderstandings about what other denominations believe.

Maybe you can look at it like a plane trip. You all live in New York and you all want to fly to Los Angeles. Some decide to fly United, some decide to fly American. Some people like Delta's schedule better. The point being, you all are going to end up in Los Angeles. It shouldn't matter that much what Airline you took to get there!

 

[6_Time_Momma]

Maybe you can look at it like a plane trip. You all live in New York and you all want to fly to Los Angeles. Some decide to fly United, some decide to fly American. Some people like Delta's schedule better. The point being, you all are going to end up in Los Angeles. It shouldn't matter that much what Airline you took to get there!

I agree.

 

[helenabear]

Maybe you can look at it like a plane trip. You all live in New York and you all want to fly to Los Angeles. Some decide to fly United, some decide to fly American. Some people like Delta's schedule better. The point being, you all are going to end up in Los Angeles. It shouldn't matter that much what Airline you took to get there!

Wow, that was a really cool way of putting it!!!

I totally agree

 

[kejoda]

Okay, I have no restraint

Truthfully I was just saying that earlier in one of my posts... I have no idea why some people are so hell bent on putting down or tearing apart another religion.

We have differences... due to how we read the Bible and what we get out of it. Nothing that should ever cause *this* much trouble.

I'm Catholic, and I do get defensive over my religion. I admit that... but I swear, I never did or thought any other religion was worse or wrong. I was told that in college that I was wrong and that my religion was terrible. I was told that I am NOT a Christian because I am Catholic

What gives??



We all believe in the same God, the same Jesus Christ.

I do not, and will not ever get why so many seem to enjoy putting down other religions. I know I sure as heck don't. A Christian is a Christian to me... and I enjoy hearing differences.

I don't enjoy put downs or attacks!

ONe of your best posts ever Elaine!!!!! I like the way you post!

 

[cardaway]

Maybe you can look at it like a plane trip. You all live in New York and you all want to fly to Los Angeles. Some decide to fly United, some decide to fly American. Some people like Delta's schedule better. The point being, you all are going to end up in Los Angeles. It shouldn't matter that much what Airline you took to get there!

The same is true for pretty much all the religions.

 

[helenabear]

ONe of your best posts ever Elaine!!!!! I like the way you post!

thank ya luv

I'm in the mood for having fun tonight... any good threads I can go to for that?

Yep, I hijack threads too... another of my faults

 

[Toby'sFriend]

Let it go... a lot of the issues that happened were due to some really way off things that were happening in the church at the time.

ok, if you say so. All I'm saying is that it is very difficult for a Protestant to talk about the differences between Protestant Churches and the Catholic religion WITHOUT saying they believe that on certain points of Doctrine the Catholic teachings are certainly not in alignment with the teachings of Christ. It is a fundamental basis of our religion.

I agree 100% with the point that Catholics and other Christians are headed to the same destination, that isn't really what I'm talking about.

But to trivialize it to the point of saying "Let it go -- just not that important and all that Martin Luther stuff just wouldn't happen today" is rather equivalent to the Catholic statement of "Those outside the Catholic church just don't understand the significance of WHY our Doctrine restricts a Sacrement to only members of our Church."

Perhaps in this case, maybe those outside of the Protestant religion do not understand why when Wishing on a Star says

The Bible tells me that ONLY Christ is Holy.
The Bible says to put none other before Him.
Not the Holy eucharist.
Not Holy Mary Mother of God.
Not ANY man.
Not ANY 'tradition'.

She really is going back to Martin Luther's Pillars

The 4 Pillars of the Reformation:
Christ Alone!
The Bible Alone!
Faith Alone!
Grace Alone!

As I said before, maybe it could have been phrased in a more socially friendly manner. But again, it is very difficult for ANY Protestant to talk about these issues in a manner that isn't offensive to Catholics, because the much of the core Doctrine of the Reformation is a "Protest" of the Catholic religion.

 

[Boston Tea Party]

Hi Adam,

Is baseball a religion or am I highjacking your thread?

Be happy to send some Astros gear your way. Let me know.

 

[helenabear]

As I said before, maybe it could have been phrased in a more socially friendly manner. But again, it is very difficult for ANY Protestant to talk about these issues in a manner that isn't offensive to Catholics, because the much of the core Doctrine of the Reformation is a "Protest" of the Catholic religion.

I find that very hard to believe. First of all, I am not offended by the differences. I am offended by the implications made.

The indulgences and the worshiping of idols was a MAJOR issue and a lot of why both Luther as well as Calvin did not care for the Catholic Church. Do those issues go on today? No, they don't. The focus on works in the Church at the time bothered him as well. Again, the focus on works does NOT happen today. As I said it was a cause and effect kind of thing.

What I find offensive is the assumptions made by people about religions. I do not find what Luther said offensive. Given the state of the Catholic church in the 1500's I sure as heck do NOT blame him. The Church was very political and run more like a business than a house of worship. It was corrupt. It has cleaned itself up.

Funny, i looked this up... and unless this page is wrong, the whole issue with the Eucharist wasn't even an issue for Luther

" While Zwingli ambitiously set out to build perhaps the most strict Protestant society, in religious, social, and moral terms, he soon parted company with Martin Luther over major doctrinal issues. Luther always had his heart rooted in Catholicism, particularly the Catholic intellectual tradition; he was not willing to give up many Catholic ceremonies and he certainly was not willing to accept Zwingli's doctrine of reading Christian scriptures with unwavering literalness. The most important doctrinal issue they disagreed on was the nature of the Eucharist. Luther, like the Catholics, believed that the bread and wine of the Eucharist was spiritually transformed into the body and blood of Christ, while Zwingli believed that the Eucharist only symbolized the body and blood of Christ. This was no mere quibble about a plain-tasting cracker and a few dribbles of wine. At the heart of the dispute was the nature of Jesus Christ himself. For Luther, what made the spiritual transformation of the Eucharist into the physical body and blood of Christ was the dual nature of Christ: as both God and human, Christ was both spiritual and physical, God and human being."
http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~dee/REFORM/ZWINGLI.HTM

I find it almost amusing that I am far less offended than you seem to be. I could be wrong, but you seem to be much more upset than I am.

I want you to understand the truths of my religion and how yours most likely comes from it, and *why* the changes happened.

I am rusty on my religous history, but I do understand a lot about Christian religions and the reasonings in general.

But my whole point is there are many similarities. I am not offended when I hear differences... only things that aren't true or when I am told my religion is wrong and terrible.

All Christians are headed to the same place in the end. That's why I say let it go... let go of your assumptions that I would get offended over the thoughts of Luther. I am not offended, don't assume I am, and don't even think most Catholics would be. I'd bet that most aren't.

 

[goofygirl]

Hi Adam,

Is baseball a religion or am I highjacking your thread?

well, Annie Savoy from Bull Durham thinks so!

"I believe in the church of baseball. I've tried all the major religions and most of the minor ones. I've worshipped Buddha, Allah, Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, trees, mushrooms, and Isadora Duncan. I know things. For instance, there's 108 beads in a Catholic rosary and there's 108 stitches in a baseball. When I learned that, I gave Jesus a chance. But it just didn't work out between us. The Lord laid too much guilt on me. I prefer metaphysics to theology. Y'see, there's no guilt in baseball, and it's never boring...."

 

[Toby'sFriend]

you are absolutely correct Helenabear when you point out the disagreement between even Protestants on the nature of Communion. There are a few Protestant Denominations who subscribe to the Dogma of Transubstantiation.
There are still others who close their Communion practices to Members Only for other reasons, the Catholics are not alone in that practice either.

I find that very hard to believe. First of all, I am not offended by the differences. I am offended by the implications made.
and
....
But my whole point is there are many similarities. I am not offended when I hear differences... only things that aren't true or when I am told my religion is wrong and terrible

And with that, I am out of here. I certainly have not meant to imply anything. I think that if anybody where to do a viewing of any of my posts concerning religion, they would see that I generally hold the viewpoint Salvation is Salvation and many of these issues that we debate do not have a direct effect on the big question or God's Love for us.

Certainly, I must have totally missed the post where anybody used the adjectives terrible or wrong. I sure hope it wasn't me. If it was, I apologize.

 

[goofygirl]

God is a good God, when people hurt each other in God's name - they are really hurting eachother in hatred's name. God is a loving God, my religion teaches that human life is precious and beautiful - and not to be taken lightly.

Agree 100% We are ALL under the same God. UNITE! Don't divide!


"When Will They Learn We Are All Children of the Same God?"- John Paul II

 

[JennyMominRI]

I find that very hard to believe. First of all, I am not offended by the differences. I am offended by the implications made.

The indulgences and the worshiping of idols was a MAJOR issue and a lot of why both Luther as well as Calvin did not care for the Catholic Church. Do those issues go on today? No, they don't. The focus on works in the Church at the time bothered him as well. Again, the focus on works does NOT happen today. As I said it was a cause and effect kind of thing.

What I find offensive is the assumptions made by people about religions. I do not find what Luther said offensive. Given the state of the Catholic church in the 1500's I sure as heck do NOT blame him. The Church was very political and run more like a business than a house of worship. It was corrupt. It has cleaned itself up.

Funny, i looked this up... and unless this page is wrong, the whole issue with the Eucharist wasn't even an issue for Luther

" While Zwingli ambitiously set out to build perhaps the most strict Protestant society, in religious, social, and moral terms, he soon parted company with Martin Luther over major doctrinal issues. Luther always had his heart rooted in Catholicism, particularly the Catholic intellectual tradition; he was not willing to give up many Catholic ceremonies and he certainly was not willing to accept Zwingli's doctrine of reading Christian scriptures with unwavering literalness. The most important doctrinal issue they disagreed on was the nature of the Eucharist. Luther, like the Catholics, believed that the bread and wine of the Eucharist was spiritually transformed into the body and blood of Christ, while Zwingli believed that the Eucharist only symbolized the body and blood of Christ. This was no mere quibble about a plain-tasting cracker and a few dribbles of wine. At the heart of the dispute was the nature of Jesus Christ himself. For Luther, what made the spiritual transformation of the Eucharist into the physical body and blood of Christ was the dual nature of Christ: as both God and human, Christ was

It should also be mentioned that Luthor did not wish to leave the Catholic CHurch.His lifelong desire was to remain Catholic,but to see some reforms.. The church excommunicated him. Indulgences,as you have said,were his main beef

 

[Big Dude]

Puffy2, you couldn't be more wrong. That was not my intention at all and if you feel it was, then you were barking up the wrong tree.

Let's face it. This thread was started to pick a fight. I could easily do the same thing with a number of Protestant religions, but tact and Southern manners require that I resist that temptation.

Persoanlly, I think this thread should be locked.

 

[Big Dude]

Hi Adam,

Is baseball a religion or am I highjacking your thread?

Be happy to send some Astros gear your way. Let me know.

I would love to have some astros gear and I would be happy to compensate you!! xxxl Is the size that fits. Can you hook a brother up?

Adam

 

[Big Dude]

Let's face it. This thread was started to pick a fight. I could easily do the same thing with a number of Protestant religions, but tact and Southern manners require that I resist that temptation.

Persoanlly, I think this thread should be locked.

PUFFY2 you are DEAD WRONG! YOU don't know me. YOU have no knowledge of me! HOW CAN YOU EVEN SAY anything??? You just seem like a poor sport sticking up for a failing team. How did I offend you?