For an agnostic such as myself, most organized Christian religions do seem to be really big on brainwashing and absolute conformity.
Did you know that Christ's Church is an "organized" religion?
Galatians 3:27 As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
What is the defination of an agnostic? Could it be a 40 year old yuppie ,used to be hippie, who by his own working is totally self sufficient with no need for a savior?
Yes there are plenty of men (and women) who wrap themselves up in a cloak of "in the name of God" but these are men who already have their reward, and will have no part in the marriage feast of the Lord. Is this a good reason to not believe in God?
You know this does get old. Why is it every "agnostic" has the idea the Christian faith is a murderous faith. I have never run a family history on my family any deeper than my great-grandparents, but I do know from my great-grandparents on til my parents today. They were(and are) Christians, and it funny, but I have never seen them kill anyone, or rape anyone, or torture anyone, or steal from anyone. What I did(and do) see is men and women who live quiet lives, who gave to those in need,(whether it was time, money, support, or prayer), who believed that a Savior saved them, and lived(and live) in appreciation of that fact.
And again, I see perfect strangers on these threads get run down and talked about like they were idiots, because they believe in God and His Son Jesus. You know what they do, they use scripture to defend themselves(there are exceptions to every rule) and they ask you to pray that God may open your eyes. BOY, thats real harrassment isn't it. <VBG>
Wrap yourself in a religious cloak and you can claim (and do) anything . Murder, torture, theft, rape. You name it and somebody has done it in the name of God.
Lets see what the original followers of Jesus "gained" on this earth by doing things "in the Name of God"
Stephen as recorded in Acts 8:
58 Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him....
Apostles preaching Jesus..Acts 5:
40 and when they had called in the apostles, they had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
Paul in speaking about his trials:
24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
Yeah a real wild bunch . All that earthly gain they got...... This is only a couple.... more were martyred and still they held their beliefs..is this the bunch you are talking about when you say Christians are out for the fast buck, and murderers, and rapists......etc etc.
Well I guess you were right about one thing. They certainly were out for a BIG reward.... ETERNAL LIFE!!!!!! Not a bad gig.
dan
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