Yes but isn't that the type of faith that God wants believers to have?
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Monotheists: How do you know that your god is the most powerful being?
- Thread starter Rational Agnostic
- Start date
MJFlores
Well-Known Member
Fanaticism is the behavior exhibited by other religions.
It is having blind faith which they could not explain
Fanaticism is that zeal for a belief not based on knowledge
Romans 10:2-3 New International Version (NIV)
For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.
Shad
Veteran Member
Uh, noooope...
Yes. Christianity is monotheistic. Mormonism has people becoming gods. Ergo polytheism. Marcionism has two gods ergo polytheism. Islam borrows from Christianity but is not Christian just as Mormonism borrows but isn't Christian either.
Was Jesus a polytheist or monotheist? Think about it....
No. I said it was polytheistic ergo not Christian.
The borrowing from Christianity was my point. Borrowing does not make something Christian otherwise Islam and Mormonism would be Christian. It is the differences which make both non-Christian.
Firemorphic
Activist Membrane
It never started off as a form of Christianity (nor Judaism), so stating it "branched from" is absurd
Father Heathen
Veteran Member
No one said that it was a form of Christianity (one of the many reasons it didn't fit my example), but it is an abrahamic faith and thus an offshoot of Judaism and Christianity.It never started off as a form of Christianity (nor Judaism), so stating it "branched from" is absurd
Father Heathen
Veteran Member
Christianity is defined as one who follows Christ, accepts him as their savior, etc. Mormons consider themselves Christian and thats good enough for me. As a nonbeliever I won't split hairs over magical components; it would be like arguing over what powers Superman actually has and what comics/movies/shows are offical canon.
syo
Well-Known Member
The orthodox christian have a theory. The father pulls the strings and the son obeys. well, who controls the father?
The same can actually be said about Christianity because, as I mentioned earlier, those who have blind faith are more deserving of reward than those who don't.
MJFlores
Well-Known Member
Christianity in this world is divided into 30,000-40,000 church denominations
Christianity in the Bible is one church established by Christ Matt 16:18 - no denominations
How did this happen?
Apostasy came to the first church
Teaching doctrines different from the teachings of God
Teachings which were accepted blindly without understanding
Doctrines of devils which they deny as being such because they have become fanatics
Meaning and definition of Apostasy according to the Bible
THE DICTIONARY DEFINES “apostasy” as “the renunciation of a religious or political belief or allegiance” (Microsoft Encarta Dictionary). Thus, Apostasy is a defection, a falling away from what one believed in, as apostasy from one’s religion, creed, or politics. Hence, one becomes an "apostate" as soon as he departs from his former belief, whatever it was. What undergoes change is not the person nor his nature but his beliefs.
THE BIBLICAL DEFINITION OF APOSTASY
The Bible also has a definition for “apostasy.” The Lord Jesus mentioned the following in Matthew 24:9-11:
“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.” (NIV)
These words of the Lord Jesus Christ, “will turn away from the faith” were also mentioned by Apostle Paul in I Timothy 4:1:
“Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons.” (NLT)
“Turning away from the true faith” is synonymous with “apostasy”:
“But the Spirit speaks expressly, that in latter times some shall APOSTATIZE from the faith, giving their mind to deceiving spirits and teachings of demons.” (Darby Bible)
What other translations rendered as “turning away from the faith” is rendered by other translations as “apostasy.” Aside from “turning away from the true faith,” the Bible also used the following words referring to “apostasy”:
“depart from faith” (KJV)
“abandon the faith” (NIV)
“fall away from the faith” (NASB)
“desert the Christian faith” (God’s Word)
“turned away from the faith” (Bible basic English)
“renounce the faith” (NRSV)
Thus, according to the Bible, “apostasy” means “turning away (departing, abandoning, falling away, deserting and renouncing) from the faith.”
THE PROCESS OF APOSTASY
Who is an apostate? When an individual, groups or organizations being considered as apostatized? How one becomes an apostate? Let us read what is written I Timothy 4:1:
“Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons.” (New Living Translation)
According to Apostle Paul, “some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons.” Thus, an “apostate” turned away from the true faith by following “deceptive spirits and teachings that came from demons.” Hence, “apostasy” is following the teachings of the demons, instead of following the teachings of God or upholding the true faith.
The “true faith” is what the Lord Jesus Christ and His apostles taught. Where could we find the truth taught by the Lord Jesus and His Apostles? Which can teach us the truth? This is what apostle Paul said in II Timothy 3:16-17:
“And you remember that ever since you were a child, you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction for right living, so that the person who serves God may be fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good deed.” (TEV)
Not all the things done by Christ and the Apostles were written (cf. Jn. 20:30-31). In fact there were some things that God did not want to be written (cf. Dan. 12:4; Rev. 10:4). The Apostles wrote down what they witnessed (cf. 1 Jn. 1:1-4). All such writings were inspired by God and should be used for doctrine, correction, instruction, and they make man perfect (cf. II Tim. 3:16-17). What were written are enough and nothing should be added to them nor subtracted from them (cf. Rev. 22:18-19) for what are written were written so that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that by believing we might have eternal life through His name (cf. Jn. 20:30-31). Apostle Paul adds that we must not go beyond what is written:
“Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, "Do not go beyond what is written." Then you will not take pride in one man over against another.” (I Corinthians 4:6 NIV)
Thus, departing from the true faith is departing from what the Bible teaches through going beyond what is written. Hence, apostasy is going beyond what is written in the Bible.
The Bible explicitly says that worships and services rendered to God but if based on the teachings of men are fruitless and vain:
“They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.” (Matthew 15:9 NIV)
The Bible doesn’t approve that men established their own way, rules and doctrines:
“For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness.” (Romans 10:2-3 NIV)
Thus, apostasy is also creating or establishing their own rules or doctrines, or upholding man-made doctrines or teachings. Moreover, apostasy is also changing the gospel of Christ or the doctrine written in the Bible:
“I am surprised at you! In no time at all you are deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ, and are accepting another gospel. Actually, there is no ‘other gospel,’ but I say this because there are some people who are upsetting you and trying to change the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel that is different from the one we preached to you, may he be condemned to hell!” (Galatians 1:6-8 TEV)
Apostle Paul mentioned it in Acts 20:30 as “distorting the truth”:
“Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.” (Acts 20:30 NIV)
Apostle Paul said, “there is no other gospel,” but a “distortion of the gospel.” Also, this is what Apostle Peter tells us regarding apostasy:
“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them-bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.” (II Peter 2:1-3 NIV)
Apostasy according to Apostle Peter is “bringing the way of truth to disrepute” through “made up stories.”
Hence, an apostate is (1) those that followed the erroneous doctrines (doctrines of demons); (2) went beyond what is written (taught doctrines not in the Bible or upholding unbiblical doctrines); (3) invented, established or created their own (man-made doctrines), (4) believed in made up stories (traditions), and (5) changed or distorted the doctrines written in the Bible. Apostle Paul said, “if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel that is different from the one we preached to you, may he be condemned to hell!.”
Thus, apostasy took place in the first century Church Of Christ when doctrines taught by Christ and the apostles were changed and distorted, and when they brought inside the Church and uphold the doctrines of demon, unbiblical doctrines, man-made doctrines and made up stories.
WHAT APOSTASY REALLY MEANT
The first nation of God was the ancient Israel. According to Apostle Paul:
“The people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises.” (Romans 9:4 NIV)
However, the Bible explicitly tells that Israelites was apostatized:
“I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed: "O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with all who love him and obey his commands, we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws.” (Daniel 9:4-5 NIV)
Did Israel ceased to exist? No, they continued to exist until our time. Thus, in terms of existence, from Moses to our time, Israel can boast a 3,500 years continuous history, longer than the 2,000 years existence of the Roman Catholic Church. But did they remained God’s nation? No, they were replaced by the first century Church Of Christ:
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (I Peter 2:9-10 NIV)
From the establishment of the Church Of Christ in the first century, Israel ceased to be God’s nation. Take note that the organization remained, and what ceased is not their existence of Israel, but their being God’s nation. Why they were replaced? The Prophet Daniel said, “we turned away from your commands and laws.”
Thus, apostasy took placed in ancient Israel not because the organization was dissolved or ceased to exist, but because the organization changed their doctrines and abandoned the commandments of God, hence, they ceased being God’s nation.
Therefore, the apostasy of the first century Church Of Christ mentioned by the Bible does not mean that the Church will not continue to exist. The Church or the organization remained, but she was transformed from being the true Church to an apostatized church. So, although the church continued for 2,000 years, but as we know it, not as the Church Of Christ, but as the Roman Catholic Church.
TagliatelliMonster
Veteran Member
I don't think it's far fetched at all.
In fact, I think the opposite would be far-fetched.....
Because IF we are going to allow for the existance of an "out-of-time, eternal supernatural entity", why on earth would there be only one of those?
Consider history and every time we assumed that there was ONLY ONE of a certain thing.
Only one earth - but now we know there are an inumerable amount of planets, many of them rocky like earth.
Only one sun - but now we know that stars ARE suns, many of them yellow suns like ours.
Only one galaxy - but now we know that there are MANY galaxies.
Consider bigfoot. I find it funny how it is always singular. Why would there be only 1 of those? If it exists, surely there will be a population of them.
So if an entity like this god in the bible actually exists, why would there be only one of those?
I see no reason at all for such an arbitrary limitation. In fact, most (if not all) scriptures hint towards there being MORE such entities. The Quran for example, supposed to be god's own words, even talks about "we". "we did this" and "we provided that" and "we created the heavens". It doesn't say "I did it".
The bible also hints towards there being more gods then just jawhe in various places.
From that perspective, I think polytheism, in principle and without getting into details of specific polytheistic religions, is actually more sensible.
Because indeed, if such a being can exist, why wouldn't there be more them?
Or false.
Which is exactly what makes these claims a complete waste of time and meaning- /pointless.
Shad
Veteran Member
That is not the definition. All you have done is ignore the contents of Christianity as it would show that it is based on monotheism ergo polytheism isn't Christian
They can call themselves whatever they want. They have people becoming gods. That is polytheism.
That is because you have no idea what Christianity is.
Nope as I am talking about polytheism and monotheism. Ergo it has nothing to do with magical acts but if there is only 1 God or an unknown number.