What are your thoughts on Christianity?

Since you are asking about Christianity instead of how well believers do or don't follow the message of the Christ

I don't accept the existence of eternal punishment and a devil believing in reincarnation and the action of karma (sowing and reaping).

Importantly, Meher Baba (and others) have identified Jesus as an incarnation of the one, eternal Avatar. That gives me a different view of some of what's in the Bible. This is also of course not Christian theology but...

When it's said that no one enters the realm of the Father except through Christ, I interpret it mean that no one enters the Beyond State of God (the Father) except through the office of the eternal Avatar (not the historical Jesus).

When I read parts of the Bible especially the two greatest commandments and the Sermon on the Mount, I see the same basic morality as in the major and most religions in the world. And that for me underlines the Source is the same.

So, to me, anyone who says he or she is a Christian and tries to live a life of love and service I count as one on the same basic path.

ChristineM said:

It was a challenge, the first book i read was very light hearted, I don't know if you know of Terry Pratchett, i learned to read on The Colour of Magic. The bible was my second book and i knew of no other way to read than start at page 1 and struggle to the end. Heavy going as it was it was extremely enlightening, it gave me great insight into what i can expect from christians and the way they treated me. I can recommend reading it that way.

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Believe that it was very much a challenge! Never have heard of Terry Pratchett but gave youtube a quick search and found a video will share with you. Do you remember what the Colour of Magic was a about? The bible was your second book, and only choice was to read from start to finish. Wow you are most certainly a tough solider, Christine. You seemed to have learned some very enjoyable things with-in from the insight you must have learned from reading the bible when you did. How interesting. Thank you for the suggestion and your comment.

sun rise said:

Since you are asking about Christianity instead of how well believers do or don't follow the message of the Christ

I don't accept the existence of eternal punishment and a devil believing in reincarnation and the action of karma (sowing and reaping).

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Hello Sunrise,

You do not accept the existence of eternal punishment -
I personally do not believe that eternal punishment exist, as well - though it does say and talk about it in the bible. ~ My view on this subject is that God is going to end up placing unbelievers outside the kingdom of God, and believers are going to be placed on the inside of the kingdom of God.

(Though many people may not believe this ` and I might be wrong but it is part of my belief - though do not believe me, check what is said by the scriptures)

What are your personal thoughts on Eternal Punishment?

You do not accept the existence of a devil ~
I personally do believe that Satan was real, and he had demons and angels that had followed him, he was the prince of the earth, and ruled it for a short period of time, until Satan, the False Prophet, where defeated and gone in the lake of fire and those who deceived others which were demons and fallen angels following Satan by and through the Lord Jesus Christ.

(Though many people may not believe this though do believe Jesus Christ came to destroy the works of the devil, and to defeat Satan, though darkness still with-in this world today, but not the power of Satan, and his demons).

Why is it you do not believe in the existence of a devil?

sun rise said:

Importantly, Meher Baba (and others) have identified Jesus as an incarnation of the one, eternal Avatar. That gives me a different view of some of what's in the Bible. This is also of course not Christian theology but...

When it's said that no one enters the realm of the Father except through Christ, I interpret it mean that no one enters the Beyond State of God (the Father) except through the office of the eternal Avatar (not the historical Jesus).

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Okay, fair enough.

sun rise said:

When I read parts of the Bible especially the two greatest commandments and the Sermon on the Mount, I see the same basic morality as in the major and most religions in the world. And that for me underlines the Source is the same.

So, to me, anyone who says he or she is a Christian and tries to live a life of love and service I count as one on the same basic path.

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Thank you for sharing sunrise brother in Christ.

MatthewA said:

Believe that it was very much a challenge! Never have heard of Terry Pratchett but gave youtube a quick search and found a video will share with you. Do you remember what the Colour of Magic was a about? The bible was your second book, and only choice was to read from start to finish. Wow you are most certainly a tough solider, Christine. You seemed to have learned some very enjoyable things with-in from the insight you must have learned from reading the bible when you did. How interesting. Thank you for the suggestion and your comment.

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It was about a failed wizzard (spelled correctly) and the first ever international tourist. It actually got me hooked on Pratchett and i i ha since read everything he wrote

MatthewA said:

Hello Vinayaka,

What do you decide is better Christianity, or No Christianity? What are your thoughts on Christianity?

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You want to me debate the merits of Christianity? I think all religions, and world views have their place in this diverse world, provided they're not aggressive, and working towards eliminating that diversity. I see the human race as being more diverse than most humans believe, as most haven't gotten around much, and have only seen a small part of it. That includes me, although I believe I've seen more than most. A friend of mine has been to over 150 countries on this planet. I've been to 4 for any length of time at all, and another 6 or so passing through.

As for Christianity, I know very little about it, but from what I've seen it's also diverse within itself with many variations. I have no interest in learning more, as from what I've seen, it wouldn't hold my interest. So you could say I'm indifferent. I've learned more about it from these forums than in Real life.

Rival said:

It's mixed.

I was once a Christian. I have good Christian friends; I had good to mediocre experiences at various Churches. For me, my issue with Christianity isn't really cultural/social; it's theological and Biblical. My main issue with it is that it does not, in my view, follow logically from Judaism; their messiah did not meet the criteria set out in the Hebrew Scriptures and therefore cannot be who Christians claim. My other issue is anti-Semitism in the Christian texts (or what I see as anti-Semitism; others may disagree). I have issues with the Trinity, Original Sin, and other doctrines, as well as the overall Christian understanding of Tanakh.

I had mostly good experiences with Christians at Church etc. Not so much on here with certain Christians whose debate tactics are often less than stellar. My best times at Church were at my local Catholic Church, where the folks were most pleasant and truly knowledgeable about Christian history, which I appreciated.

So it's a mix. I could never be a Christian again, though.

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Hello.. Rival
I reply.. To your words... messiah did not meet the criteria set out in the Hebrew Scriptures and therefore cannot be who Christians claim. I have to ask: What did I miss "What Criteria"?
I also ask.. What were the Issues with the Trinity, Original Sin,?!

Dogknox20 said:

Hello.. Rival
I reply.. To your words... messiah did not meet the criteria set out in the Hebrew Scriptures and therefore cannot be who Christians claim. I have to ask: What did I miss "What Criteria"?
I also ask.. What were the Issues with the Trinity, Original Sin,?!

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Here are the prophecies:

2 Shmuel 7:10-13
And I will appoint a place for My people, for Israel, and I will plant them, and they will dwell in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and the wicked people shall not continue to afflict them as formerly.
And even from the day that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. And the Lord has told you that the Lord will make for you a house.
When your days are finished and you shall lie with your forefathers, then I will raise up your seed that shall proceed from your body after you, and I will establish his kingdom.
He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

This has not happened. Wicked people have been murdering Jewish people all throughout history. The Temple is not built. There is no King.

Yeshayahu 2-4

And it shall be at the end of the days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be firmly established at the top of the mountains, and it shall be raised above the hills, and all the nations shall stream to it.
And many peoples shall go, and they shall say, "Come, let us go up to the Lord's mount, to the house of the God of Jacob, and let Him teach us of His ways, and we will go in His paths," for out of Zion shall the Torah come forth, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
And he shall judge between the nations and reprove many peoples, and they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift the sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.

People still go to war and the Temple has not been re-established.

Yeshayahu 11-12-13

And He shall raise a banner to the nations, and He shall gather the lost of Israel, and the scattered ones of Judah He shall gather from the four corners of the earth.
And the envy of Ephraim shall cease, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off; Ephraim shall not envy Judah, nor shall Judah vex Ephraim.

The lost tribes have not been gathered back to Israel.

Yeshahyahu 27-12-13

And it shall come to pass on that day, that the Lord shall gather from the flood of the river to the stream of Egypt, and you shall be gathered one by one, O children of Israel.
And it shall come to pass on that day, that a great shofar shall be sounded, and those lost in the land of Assyria and those exiled in the land of Egypt shall come and they shall prostrate themselves before the Lord on the holy mount in Jerusalem.

Not happened yet.

Yirmiyahu 31:33

And no longer shall one teach his neighbour or [shall] one [teach] his brother, saying, "Know the Lord," for they shall all know Me from their smallest to their greatest, says the Lord, for I will forgive their iniquity and their sin I will no longer remember.

Nothing about needing a middle-man and we don't live in an age where everyone knows G-d is G-d.

Yechezkel 37:26-28

And I will form a covenant of peace for them, an everlasting covenant shall be with them; and I will establish them and I will multiply them, and I will place My Sanctuary in their midst forever.
And My dwelling place shall be over them, and I will be to them for a God, and they shall be to Me as a people.
And the nations shall know that I am the Lord, Who sanctifies Israel, when My Sanctuary is in their midst forever.

Temple still not built and the Nations don't all recognise G-d as G-d.

Micah 4:1-3

And it shall be at the end of the days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be firmly established at the top of the mountains, and it shall be raised above the hills, and peoples shall stream upon it.
And many nations shall go, and they shall say, "Come, let us go up to the Lord's mount and to the house of the God of Jacob, and let Him teach us of His ways, and we will go in His paths," for out of Zion shall the Torah come forth, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
And he shall judge between many peoples and reprove mighty nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nations shall not lift the sword against nation; neither shall they learn war anymore.

People still go to war. L-rd's House not established.

Tzefanaiah 3:9-13

For then I will convert the peoples to a pure language that all of them call in the name of the Lord, to worship Him of one accord.
From the other side of the rivers of Cush, My supplicants, the community of My scattered ones-they shall bring Me an offering.
On that day you shall not be ashamed of all your deeds [with] which you rebelled against Me, for then I will remove from your midst those who rejoice in your pride, and you shall no longer continue to be haughty on My holy mount.
And I will leave over in your midst a humble and poor people, and they shall take shelter in the name of the Lord.
The remnant of Israel shall neither commit injustice nor speak lies; neither shall deceitful speech be found in their mouth, for they shall graze and lie down, with no one to cause them to shudder.

This hasn't happened either. None of it.

Zach 14:9-11

And the Lord shall become King over all the earth; on that day shall the Lord be one, and His name one.
The whole earth shall be changed to be like a plain, from the hill of Rimmon in the south of Jerusalem; but it [Jerusalem] will be elevated high and remain in its old place; from the gate of Benjamin to the place of the first gate, until the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananel until the king's wine-cellars.
And they shall dwell therein, and there shall be no more destruction; but Jerusalem shall dwell in safety.

Jerusalem is hardly dwelling in safety and polytheism is still a thing.

Neither the Trinity nor the Christian conception of OS are Jewish in thought.

Also, before you say it, neither is the 'second coming' - this is not in the Tanakh either, so I cannot support the idea that 'he'll do those things next time'.

Vinayaka said:

You want to me debate the merits of Christianity? I think all religions, and world views have their place in this diverse world, provided they're not aggressive, and working towards eliminating that diversity. I see the human race as being more diverse than most humans believe, as most haven't gotten around much, and have only seen a small part of it. That includes me, although I believe I've seen more than most. A friend of mine has been to over 150 countries on this planet. I've been to 4 for any length of time at all, and another 6 or so passing through.

As for Christianity, I know very little about it, but from what I've seen it's also diverse within itself with many variations. I have no interest in learning more, as from what I've seen, it wouldn't hold my interest. So you could say I'm indifferent. I've learned more about it from these forums than in Real life.

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Hello Vinayaka,

You see the world very diverse with many different religions and beliefs all over. Some are not very aggressive (though some can be extremely aggressive and darn right mean to you even to your face in real life).

Would agree with you mention the human race is very diverse. You also believe you have seen most of the world you would like to see it seems, A friend of yours has been over 150 countries on this planet. You been to 4, and another 6. How interesting, and neat.

Though you do not really see any interest in Christianity that is okay, and desire to learn nothing more about Christianity, and you are indifferent to the subject.

Thank you for your honesty, we wouldn't have debated anyway. My intention is not to debate whatsoever and avoid any conflict. You seem like a very interesting person like everyone else here, and thank you for contributing. My apologizes if misinterpreted anything or said anything wrong I can say things wrongly and make mistakes .

Thank you for taking time to comment, Vinayaka.

Christianity is just something that I was forced to grapple with because it was inescapably apart of my family culture. I always felt like it was a fantasy novel.

I love the poetry and beautiful sayings. The Sermon on the Mount I thought was very inspiring.

I don't jibe with eternal torment. A supreme being would conquer evil in the evil heart and make the worst of us into the best of us. I figure if people always got what they deserved then they would eventually become wonderful people.

Christianity is something that is incoherent, with little pockets of inspiring words.

I actually fell in love with a Christian. But most of the time I avoid the judgmental, literalist Christians. I consider it a social distortion.

There's no denying some people have made a beautiful religion out of it. But to do that you have to ignore the immoral parts of it, and cherry pick only the beautiful parts of it.

Any way you slice it Christianity ignores reality and thus wastefully overlooks the goodness aspects of humanity.

Jesus has some brilliant philosophical points of view but the whole of his teachings is not so wonderful.

It seems that the letters from Paul were just thrown into the Bible. Some of it good, and other stuff that makes no sense to me, and a lot of junk too.

If I had to rationalize the salvation story so that it makes sense I would say perhaps Jesus needed to be human to understand humanity. That the forces of evil, Satan, sin and death was defeated at the Cross. Perhaps God condescended to live as humanity as a necessary fulfillment of His Truth. Jesus dying on the cross defeating unseen forces to save humanity from itself and Satan. The victory was for humanity and not because God needed it for Himself. That would make the story more compelling. That Jesus came in weakness and was resurrected back into power, and glory as a necessary fulfillment and defense of His Truth and His Plan for our sakes and not His own.

The idea that Jesus sacrificed himself to himself doesn't make any sense.

I find Christianity fascinating, but full of errors, and inconsistencies, and incoherency. Brilliance mixed in with immorality, and incoherent stories.

It's like star wars but for ancient people. Lol.

MatthewA said:

Thank you for taking time to comment, Vinayaka.

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The symbol is Aum in the Tamil language.

I keep thinking about how to answer in a well-rounded way without writing a book. Since there's no book forthcoming, here are a few sketchy replies:

MatthewA said:

My view on this subject is that God is going to end up placing unbelievers outside the kingdom of God, and believers are going to be placed on the inside of the kingdom of God.

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Luke 17:21 says the Kingdom of God is within each of us. So if that's true, there's no way we can be outside of who we really are. We can be under a 'veil' and not realize this, but our innermost essence is indeed within us.

In addition, from my reincarnation perspective, we are all destined for the same goal - realizing who we really are. Some get there faster and some slower.

I don't accept a lot of the theology in C. S. Lewis' Great Divorce but this is how I see it: “No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it. Those who seek find. To those who knock it is opened.”

MatthewA said:

What are your personal thoughts on Eternal Punishment?

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I believe what is in the Bible is stated as sowing and reaping (or living and dying by the sword (Matt 26:52) and karma in an Eastern context. The fundamental principle is one of proportionality.

If people choose dark actions, they will experience the negativity of those dark actions after death and then be reborn and find that they are the recipient of what they doled out.

Great Divorce says what I'm trying to say “A sum can be put right: but only by going back till you find the error and working it afresh from that point, never by simply going on.”

Eternal punishment violates that principle and is not something I could believe in because to believe that people are eternally punished for might be considered a very stupid mistake makes God into an evil being in my eyes.

MatthewA said:

Why is it you do not believe in the existence of a devil?

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Because I believe that we and everything has Divinity in our innermost nature, there can be nothing that is not in essence Divine. This is a non-dual belief.

The devil to me comes from the theology that God rewards and the devil punishes. In Christian history, that duality was believed by those who practiced Manichaeism which was rejected as heresy in the early days of the Church.

MatthewA said:

My only questions simply with no judgement : What has your experiences been with other Christians, bad? Horrible experience at a church one time? Something you found in the bible you did not agree with, or do not understand? What are some of your thoughts on Christianity?

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I find that professed Christians aren't significantly more Christ-like than non-Christians. People pretty much are who they are regardless of what religion they are professing, or their lack of it, or how intently they are trying to prove it. So I am not significantly influenced by other humans in the area of my own spiritual choices.

I tend to avoid organized religions because it is not in my nature to be a follower of anything or anyone. And I am exceedingly suspicious and skeptical of anyone who tries to claim the position of standing between myself and whatever I choose to call "God". I seek no spiritual or religious guides, mostly because I am not "lost" to God, nor is God lost to me. So seeking is not necessary, nor required. And from my perspective, anyone who tries to tell me that seeking is needed, is clearly more "lost" than I am.

Here is the revelation and promise of Christ as I see it, in a nutshell: That God's divine (transcendent) spirit of love, forgiveness, kindness, and generosity exists within us all, as we are reflections of that which has caused us to exist. And if we will allow ourselves to become the living embodiment of that divine spirit within us, we will be healed and saved from our (confused, frightened, and selfish) selves, and we can then help others to be healed and saved, likewise. And when enough of us finally realize the value of this, and make that choice, the whole world will be healed and saved from the collective human insanity that we all currently living in.

I choose to believe this revelation and promise is true, because its logical, sensible, and has shown itself to be true when applied to my life's experiences. And so I label myself a "Christian".

MatthewA said:

My only questions simply with no judgement : What has your experiences been with other Christians, bad? Horrible experience at a church one time? Something you found in the bible you did not agree with, or do not understand? What are some of your thoughts on Christianity?

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On the whole, my experiences with Christians have been similar to my experience with non-Christians. I find it more annoying when a Christian is false than a non-Christian, but that's not because their behaviour is worse, I just have an issue with hypocrisy. And I have had (and continue to have) Christian friends who are some of the more important and trustworthy people in my life. It basically comes down to both the individual, and their particular beliefs, as Christianity is pretty broad (as you well know!!)

I was raised Christian, and my initial reason for doubt was that the purported belief of those around me really didn't match up to their actions. Just minor things, really. Gossip, complaints, hypocrisy...all pretty normal human traits which suggested to me that the people around me were no different to people who believed in 'other' Gods, or no Gods at all. People are people.

As I got older, I gave Christianity a bit more of a go, and looked at it a little differently. Humans are flawed, so flawed believers doesn't mean a religion is false, right? But ultimately whilst I found some small nuggets of wisdom in the Bible, and certainly found some in my conversations with some believers, I don't see any reason to believe there is a God, and have spent enough time earnestly considering his existence to know it's not due to wilful ignorance, or whatever (an accusation sometimes levelled by the most judgey Christians, of which there are too many, and who appear more hypocritical to me than any).

ChristineM said:

It was a challenge, the first book i read was very light hearted, I don't know if you know of Terry Pratchett, i learned to read on The Colour of Magic. The bible was my second book and i knew of no other way to read than start at page 1 and struggle to the end. Heavy going as it was it was extremely enlightening, it gave me great insight into what i can expect from christians and the way they treated me. I can recommend reading it that way.

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You learned to read on The Colour of Magic?
Heh...figures.

But there must be a story in there somewhere. When I was a teacher, The Colour of Magic was rarely assigned to 5 year olds as reading material...

[edit]So, I went back and read your other posts. Makes a lot more sense now. Still can't imagine Colour of Magic would be the easiest book to learn on, but it's interesting at least, and that's obviously important!! I reckon TP would have gotten a kick out of your story.[/edit]

MatthewA said:

My only questions here is many people try to read the entire bible in the course of a year ~ Why is that?~ When you can simple read the Gospel of Matthew in several hours, maybe 3 days at average reading level. (I personally haven't read the bible cover to cover ( a lot of the new testament though.)

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Heh...I did this as well (read the bible cover to cover). I was a bit of a slog, and occasionally illuminating.
I can only speak for myself, but I was trying to be fair to the beliefs of many important people around me, including my mum, sister, and several friends. If I was going to ultimately reject Christianity, I thought I should read the material, and attend Churches of multiple denominations. Whilst an interesting exercise, none of that changed my position on God (although it helped develop my thoughts on religion somewhat).

MatthewA said:

There are many people from different backgrounds from around the world. Let me welcome you by thanking you for stopping by. Considering the historical backgrounds of human beings ~ Along with their culture, their surroundings they grew up in, the people they knew in and through their childhood, unto adulthood, and understanding the person and the very own individually unique experience of life by and through each and every choice that is made by us as human beings. Who are living souls in human bodies ~ Unless you believe that we are something else of course.

Was not sure where to really put this because just curious about other people from other religions and their thoughts about Christianity, their thoughts about the Christian God, and the Lord Jesus Christ who was the Son of God, who died and paid for the entirety of the human race the price of sin by death on the cross as an innocent man (who loved ~ the entirety of the human race) ~ Was buried and was risen again by God - the Father, and that if anyone believes they may inherit the ability to become children of God (John 1:12).

(This just biblical fact when it comes down to reading the Gospels of Christ in the bible which talks about Jesus Christ ~ His life, death, burial and resurrection)

If you do not believe or understand that it is okay, that is my only presentation of my only understanding of the Gospel of Christ - in the general sense of why Jesus Christ had come ~ Which was also to fulfill the old testament prophecies, and to defeat Satan overcome - death, sin, satan, grave, hell/she'ol and all of these things, which are talked about in the Revelation as well.

(My view may be wrong ~ am expressing my view of what scripture does say ~ in above text ~)

If you do not believe or understand this either that is okay.

My only questions simply with no judgement : What has your experiences been with other Christians, bad? Horrible experience at a church one time? Something you found in the bible you did not agree with, or do not understand? What are some of your thoughts on Christianity?

Hopefully anyone who reads all of this, you understand! Thank you for your time and God bless all of you here and your families - of course if you do not believe ~ Still may everything be okay with you at home, and your family, and your friends, take care!​

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Christianity slowly lost its appeal over time with me. Mainly due to the behaviors of both clergy and lay and finally determined there is no real communication or contact with any type of deity whatsoever.

The living god and all its magic and maricles associated with the theology clashed too much with stark reality and roused me up from my rose colored world spent inside that beautiful stained glass garden .

Christianity just crumbled away and I placed it on its rightful place with all the other Roman and Greek mythologies out there and walked away.

What are my thoughts on Christianity?

Unfortunately, not very good. I've been the victim of Christian thought for most of my life. I've observed hypocrisy that I have sometimes found to be unbelievable, as so-called believers couldn't even recognize they were bound up in.

I've listened to Christians tell me what "Christianity is all about," and so many of them either didn't get it, or vehemently disagreed with a whole lot of other "Christians" who they presumed didn't get it.

I have known many people in my life, but not one, ever, who has been as dishonest as some of the Christians I have known.

I despise the Christian missonary ideal, where they go out and take the cultures and beliefs of other people and trash them, to replace them with their own -- and far too often make those cultures simply disappear from the face of the earth.

LIke Gandhi, I could wish Christians could be a little like their Christ, but far too often -- they are not.

MatthewA said:

There are many people from different backgrounds from around the world. Let me welcome you by thanking you for stopping by. Considering the historical backgrounds of human beings ~ Along with their culture, their surroundings they grew up in, the people they knew in and through their childhood, unto adulthood, and understanding the person and the very own individually unique experience of life by and through each and every choice that is made by us as human beings. Who are living souls in human bodies ~ Unless you believe that we are something else of course.

Was not sure where to really put this because just curious about other people from other religions and their thoughts about Christianity, their thoughts about the Christian God, and the Lord Jesus Christ who was the Son of God, who died and paid for the entirety of the human race the price of sin by death on the cross as an innocent man (who loved ~ the entirety of the human race) ~ Was buried and was risen again by God - the Father, and that if anyone believes they may inherit the ability to become children of God (John 1:12).

(This just biblical fact when it comes down to reading the Gospels of Christ in the bible which talks about Jesus Christ ~ His life, death, burial and resurrection)

If you do not believe or understand that it is okay, that is my only presentation of my only understanding of the Gospel of Christ - in the general sense of why Jesus Christ had come ~ Which was also to fulfill the old testament prophecies, and to defeat Satan overcome - death, sin, satan, grave, hell/she'ol and all of these things, which are talked about in the Revelation as well.

(My view may be wrong ~ am expressing my view of what scripture does say ~ in above text ~)

If you do not believe or understand this either that is okay.

My only questions simply with no judgement : What have your experiences been with other Christians, bad? Horrible experience at a church one time? Something you found in the bible you did not agree with, or do not understand? What are some of your thoughts on Christianity?

Hopefully anyone who reads all of this, you understand! Thank you for your time and God bless all of you here and your families - of course if you do not believe ~ Still may everything be okay with you at home, and your family, and your friends, take care!​

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Sure. I was in the United Pentecostal Church which taught me to speak in tounges and Jesus' name only(excluding baptism in the name of Father Son and Holy Ghost) baptism and going by their strict dress code, all of that is a requirement to get into heaven. They did not believe in the Trinity, they are oneness and sexually repressive, said ugly things about women and sexuality. It was very abusive and they preached at me to give them money all the time, and I gave way too much of my money to them.

However, that was 21 years ago and I am past it. It was very abusive it's true. But I do not believe in Jesus, as a God or the God. I do think he lived, and there have been one or two writings about him from that time. But it doesn't prove he was raised from the dead. I do believe he was crucified by the romans, Then later on his followers made him into a myth by making up the raising from the dad story.

I do like the culture of some churches, such as the Catholic church, I like their culture. I also like the culture at the United Methodist Church. They said I could go thre without being pressured into converting to Christianity. So after the covid is over, I may go there. They are very nice. So I don't believe all Christians are bad.

MatthewA said:

There are many people from different backgrounds from around the world. Let me welcome you by thanking you for stopping by. Considering the historical backgrounds of human beings ~ Along with their culture, their surroundings they grew up in, the people they knew in and through their childhood, unto adulthood, and understanding the person and the very own individually unique experience of life by and through each and every choice that is made by us as human beings. Who are living souls in human bodies ~ Unless you believe that we are something else of course.

Was not sure where to really put this because just curious about other people from other religions and their thoughts about Christianity, their thoughts about the Christian God, and the Lord Jesus Christ who was the Son of God, who died and paid for the entirety of the human race the price of sin by death on the cross as an innocent man (who loved ~ the entirety of the human race) ~ Was buried and was risen again by God - the Father, and that if anyone believes they may inherit the ability to become children of God (John 1:12).

(This just biblical fact when it comes down to reading the Gospels of Christ in the bible which talks about Jesus Christ ~ His life, death, burial and resurrection)

If you do not believe or understand that it is okay, that is my only presentation of my only understanding of the Gospel of Christ - in the general sense of why Jesus Christ had come ~ Which was also to fulfill the old testament prophecies, and to defeat Satan overcome - death, sin, satan, grave, hell/she'ol and all of these things, which are talked about in the Revelation as well.

(My view may be wrong ~ am expressing my view of what scripture does say ~ in above text ~)

If you do not believe or understand this either that is okay.

My only questions simply with no judgement : What has your experiences been with other Christians, bad? Horrible experience at a church one time? Something you found in the bible you did not agree with, or do not understand? What are some of your thoughts on Christianity?

Hopefully anyone who reads all of this, you understand! Thank you for your time and God bless all of you here and your families - of course if you do not believe ~ Still may everything be okay with you at home, and your family, and your friends, take care!​

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"What are your thoughts on Christianity?"

MatthewA wrote, "thoughts about the Christian God, and the Lord Jesus Christ who was the Son of God, who died and paid for the entirety of the human race the price of sin by death on the cross as an innocent man (who loved ~ the entirety of the human race) ~ Was buried and was risen again by God - the Father"

The above is just a Pauline-Christian rhetoric, it has got nothing to do with Jesus and or his teachings. It was faked later when Jesus had migrated from Judea, I understand.

"Christian God, and the Lord Jesus Christ who was the Son of God "

It ^ is in itself contradictory. Jesus is told as "God" and "Son of God' as if God is a species like humans. None of the 32000+ Pauline-Christians understand it, I figure.
I get that all of this rhetoric is dependent on "Jesus' death on the Cross", which never happened.
The sooner the Pauline-Christians realize this unreasonable rhetoric the better. As the Pew survey has pointed out, ordinary and common Christians silently leave to attend the Churches and or they become Atheists. Right?
I appreciate the simple and dedicated persons in Christianity, but their dedication rightly be towards Jesus and his teachings , not for the deviator Paul his associates and the Church. Right?

The Second Coming 1835-1908 had exposed this weakness of the Pauline-Christianity. Right?

Regards

MatthewA said:

Rival thank you for your comment.

I too have problems with the trinity (a very hot topic of debate for me long ago which now no longer matters because it really gets the focus off of ~ Love ~ and keeps the focus on who is right and who is wrong and who is not a Christian because the person ~ Desires to think for themselves.

Would encourage most certainly think for yourself, think critically, decide for yourself, everyone should be able to have the right to think for themselves.

And to seek for truth of course. Truth is important at least to me.

Will say sometimes even my own understandings or what I may speak might be wrong cause as humans we are fallible.

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I dont hold anything against Christians, Why should i critique a teaching that i am not following? that would not help me or others. As a non christian it is not my duty to critque or glorify the christian gosple, and the christian people i have spoken with here in RF or in real life situation is mostly good.