Just a note, I won't be attending or responding to this thread. So I was googling something and this link came up. I'm a stoner from days of old...around 1975-1995. I grew up on LedZep, Hendrix, Black Sab. Me and my friends from the hood used to steal weed from their big brothers until I got a paper route and started rolling in dough. I remember back when all that was around was mexican, panama gold, and blonde hash. We used to skip school and hang out on the train tracks getting high and drinking beer. We used to shoplift these little Miller Ponies beer from the A&P. We also stole smokes and "strike anywhere" matches. We'd get stoned and set stuff on fire. hahaha. So, when I came across this forum, I guess it brought back some memories. And while reading your posts and grow logs, I I realized we're not that much different and probably some folks here grew up like I did, getting high on your friend's brother's weed. I also know, that behind the bb screen names and avatars are real live people. People who have thoughts and questions, answers and opinions, cares and concerns, feelings and memories, people they love and people who love you. We've all had fears and failure, achievements and successes. And I really only have one purpose in life anymore, and that's to share this... God is alive. He loves you dearly. So much so, that He sent His son, Jesus to die so that you don't have to. God wants you to come spend eternity with Him in heaven. All you have to do is say, "Yes!" Believe it not, whatever you think or others may say, I care about you. I don't even need to know you. Because I know God created you and that He loves you. And, since His love is in me, therefore I love you too.
All right morphyx, now that you've stated your position you can pat yourself on the back and leave. Good for you for doing the lord's work.
I also think the only reason you started this thread was to avoid answering this question from your other thread:
He seems to always avoid all of the difficult questions. And the ones he does answer, he spins around the issue and avoids actually answering. Whats the point of debate if you aren't actually debating?
let's replace the terms "jesus" and "heaven" with an idea of "infinite love". now, lets superimpose those ideas onto some of the scripture. Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." from your signature. let's replace jesus, I, father, and me. And the Infinite Love said to him, "Infinite love is the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Infinite Love but through the Infinite Love." Now let's pretend jesus didn't exist. Now let's take it even deeper and entertain the idea that the stories in the bible are just metaphors. It would make more sense that these people came to the realizations by themselves, just as myself and many other have done without the aid of church, scripture, or any faith in a higher power. They had to embellish the true story to make it an interesting read, ya dig?
I like that.. +rep I'm not Christian, but I like to think that heaven and hell were just metaphors, to explain that if you put out negative energy...do people wrong etc. it will come back to you, and same goes for keeping things positive, doing good deeds.. Basically, you can make your own heaven and hell here on earth, you're responsible for your own universe, so to speak. Just an idea..
Let's hear some Matthew ch. 10 14 And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them. 16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. You've spread your word. Good job. Maybe it touched the hearts of some. Maybe other completely ignored it. Be harmless as a dove as you go forth. And shake the dust off when you leave here.
Because religion is something that needs to be dismissed before we can move on intelligently as humans. That's why it bothers me. and where are the insults?
Hey, I don't consider myself religious. Just saying, some people need to chill I wasn't talking about this thread in particular or any person in particular. Some of the religion ones get out of hand/are met by various religious bashing threads. I find it kind of childish. If that comment offends someone, they should take a look and consider why they're offended I just don't like anyone (religious or not) trying to convince me to believe what they do.
It doesn't need to be completely dismissed. Religion serves a very functional purpose in our society A: Some people need the constant notion that someone is controlling their lives, as the notion that they have freewill is unsettling, they need to be constantly reassured that someone is watching over them. B: It displays just how cruel the world can be. We can look at Jihads, crusades, the Inquisition. Religion serves as a very good example as to what happens when man-kind spreads his ideals onto others. C: Child-Raising: If you look at any sociological study you can see that many parents fail to instill values into their children, or any discipline. Using religion as an intermediate babysitter, it can parent the kids so the irresponsible parents don't have to. Time and time again this has proved to be a very functional mechanic of society. The bottom line is, some people just have to believe in something in order for them to be happy. This sort of insecurity is blatantly obvious if we look at religion from an objective point of view.
I like the way you worded that. +rep, man. It's just another aide in keeping things happy. For me anyway. Off to work, later.
His not gonna answer. Read the first sentence. He created a thread and is not going to visit it. Why would he make a statement than not back it up. What if MLK did that.