Is religion a man-made insitution? (rituals, Revelation, pray, spiritual)

[Aqualung]

Originally Posted by Suraj

Really, the priesthood was qualified by god? Oh, I get it, the priest showed you the certificate "This is to certify that the fellow clergyman has been approved by god, signed god"

Ah, yes, because that's the only way you could ever know it was God's priesthood, is if he signed a peice of paper.

Originally Posted by Suraj

What you really mean to say, that it is the priest that pronounces you redeemed, but you believe it is god.

STop telling me "what I really mean to say." It is actually god who pronounces me redeemed, but the priests can speak on behalf of God if he wants to. That's what the preisthood is - God's way of doing stuff that you need hands and stuff to do. Their the people God chooses to be those hands and do that stuff.

Originally Posted by Suraj

So you only do the ritual to feel better about yourself and entertain your own imagination. You don't really care whether it worked or not.

Where did you get that idea?!

[Radar]

Originally Posted by Aqualung

He could, but I don't think he's a liar. (when Jesus said that even he had to be baptised to fulfill all righteousness, I don't think he was lying. Am I that much better than christ, that I already have fulfilled all righteousness, and don't need baptism?)

Can you prove beyond a reasonable doubt that there is a god and that jesus the son god ever existed? Or is this just something you believe and have faith in? Face it, it is a human invention and if it isn't no one knows until they are dead and then it's too late for anyone to tell who is right and who is wrong.

[Radar]

Originally Posted by Aqualung

STop telling me "what I really mean to say." It is actually god who pronounces me redeemed, but the priests can speak on behalf of God if he wants to. That's what the preisthood is - God's way of doing stuff that you need hands and stuff to do. Their the people God chooses to be those hands and do that stuff.

So your god is not all powerful... He needs people to speak for him and hands to baptise people, he can't just do stuff on his on.

[angellous_evangellous]

Originally Posted by Radar

Can you prove beyond a reasonable doubt that there is a god and that jesus the son god ever existed? Or is this just something you believe and have faith in?

We can't prove that there is a God. We can demonstrate with some certainty that Jesus lived. Belief in an utterly unknowable God (that is, unattainable by science and philosophy) is the only way to have faith.

Face it, it is a human invention and if it isn't no one knows until they are dead and then it's too late for anyone to tell who is right and who is wrong.

That's why the Christian teaching of the resurrection of Christ is so useful. Having someone who can back from the dead is very useful in this case. Even if someone came back from the dead today, and we could prove that they were dead and came back to life, we could still not conclude that God exists because God is divine.

Luke
19"There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side.[f] The rich man also died and was buried, 23and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. 24And he called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.' 25But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. 26And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.' 27And he said, 'Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house-- 28for I have five brothers[g] --so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.' 29But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.' 30And he said, 'No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' 31He said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.'"

Not knowing for sure until death is what makes this so much fun!

[Master Vigil]

I think the most convincing evidence for it to be man-made is the natural progression the religions take through time. It changes AS our society changes. It changes with us. How could this be? Because we change it. And we created it.

[cardero]

"ALL(WAYS) BE aware of the fact that ALL religions are HUMAN-MADE institutions. They are organized by humans but not necessarily for the good of humankind."

HELLO IT'S ME: An Interview With GOD
Chapter: Religion
Pg: 38

[Suraj]

STop telling me "what I really mean to say." It is actually god who pronounces me redeemed, but the priests can speak on behalf of God if he wants to. That's what the preisthood is - God's way of doing stuff that you need hands and stuff to do. Their the people God chooses to be those hands and do that stuff.

This is actually quite sad. When men are given the liscense by society, where their word and actions is as good enough as god's ordained word. In the past these same men lead crusades and inquisitions, and it is sad to know that in this day and age, the same kind of blind faith in "god men" is practiced.

You are placating yourself. You go to do this ritual, because you want to be redeemed for your sins, and them come back thinking you are redeemed, without any proof. It would be like taking an exam, and awarding yourself the certificate, before you even get the result.

This is why your religion is, beyond of a reason of doubt, a man made invention. It is based on what god said, but you only get to know what god said from a second-hand or third-hand source, that is a man.

If a cruel mass-murderer gets baptized, will that suddenly absolve him of all wrongs he's done? It's such a conveniance isn't it? You're not the only one who believes this. I know Christians who think it's merely enough to accept Jesus and it's an automatic ticket into heaven.

The fact that Christianity is blind faith, without any proof whatsoever, is the greatest proof it's man-made and given the fact it contains statements that have been debunked in the modern age by science, shows clearly this religion has been formed from the unscientific beliefs of people at the time. If it was god's word, it could not be disproved by mere humans.

[cardero]

Originally Posted by Master Vigil

I think the most convincing evidence for it to be man-made is the natural progression the religions take through time. It changes AS our society changes. It changes with us. How could this be? Because we change it. And we created it.

The most convincing evidence to me is that in all the conversations that I have had with GOD, He has never acknowledged which organization He is associated with.

[Aqualung]

Originally Posted by Radar

Can you prove beyond a reasonable doubt that there is a god and that jesus the son god ever existed?

Depends who I'm talking to. I doubt I could convice you.

Originally Posted by Radar

Or is this just something you believe and have faith in?

It's not something I just have faith in, though that's a big part of it.

Originally Posted by Radar

Face it, it is a human invention and if it isn't no one knows until they are dead and then it's too late for anyone to tell who is right and who is wrong.

Face what? You didn't give me anything to face at all.