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Politics : Should God be replaced? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: cosmicforce who wrote (4196)	12/6/2000 1:47:58 PM
From: Solon	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 28931

Hey, small force! Some people have actually figured out what heaven is like. They got the music, pictures, and everything! Peaceful music...but I think after listening to it for 302 trillion years...something would snap. cogod.org EDIT: Oh, and notice the folded wings!! Those old pagan roots!

To: cosmicforce who wrote (4196)	12/6/2000 2:08:49 PM
From: Greg or e	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 28931

Hey Cos JW's are quite similar to Mormons in this respect. At the same time as they claim to represent true Christianity, they either twist or outright reject most of the major and basic doctrines of Christianity. For instance JW's deny the bodily resurrection and the divinity of Jesus Christ. If Jesus didn't rise physically from the dead then every other claim that Christians make is false. In that sense we would refer to LDS and JWs as non Christian cults, from a theological perspective. Both of the aforementioned groups also have a high degree of legalism and mind control that would lend consideration to them being considered a cult from a sociological perspective as well. You will find very few JW's on the web discussing their beliefs because they are simply not allowed to by their leaders. It may seem like some sort of copyright disagreement to you but the Bible takes false teaching very seriously, since it not only deceives people here in this life but also has eternal consequences as well. I have a friend who teaches about Mormonism on a college level from a Christian perspective. What I told you can be documented if you are interested. Let me know. Greg

To: cosmicforce who wrote (4196)	12/6/2000 2:09:05 PM
From: Solon	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 28931

Now here is a writer that has it all figured out. It is a continuous feast with butchered cattle and the like--lavish as all get go. This author almost goes into rapture as he describes what a big thrill it will be to be invited to such a feast. His stomach has obviously been approaching his spine for some time, and it has inspired him to a rich imagination of festive delights--especially steaks and desserts! This will quicken the blood of any true gourmand!Undoubtedly, this would be an "all u can eat" affair. Gee, sounds like a great way to spend eternity... MY ADVICE IS THIS: MAKE IT A POINT TO CATCH A WEDDING FEAST, AND PERHAPS A GOOD MOVIE OR TWO WHILE YOU'RE HERE...JUST IN CASE... :) ch-of-christ.beaverton.or.us an excerpt... (bolding mine) Far from being cold, antiseptic or the silence of a monastery or library, heaven is pictured as a wonderful banquet, filled with happy quests, and filled with the warmth of friendship, like the warm glow that radiates from a happy home during the holidays. Jesus often compared the kingdom of heaven, which includes the church here and in eternity to a grand and lavish banquet. In Matthew 22:1-14, the comparison is to a wedding feast that a king gave for his son. "Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and my fattened livestock are all butchered and everything is ready; come to the wedding feast" (22:4). Most of us have never even been to an earthly wedding of this magnitude. The common Jewish wedding was celebrated over a period of seven days. This royal wedding would go far beyond that . Once again, Jesus who came from heaven is trying to describe to us the wonder, magnificence, joy, splendor and abundance of heaven. He selected a wedding feast which only a king could afford, in which he would lavish upon his guests the best of everything, from the best steaks to the best desserts. The type of feast and celebration in which no corners had been cut and no expense was spared. In light of such a wonderful invitation, it is truly amazing that some people can't seem to get excited about such an invite (22:5). In the face of such a wonderful offer, some people would rather look at a piece of property or plow a field (Luke 14:16-19). What sort of silly and mundane thing are we tempted to occupy ourselves with instead of accepting God's offer of eternal life? Can you imagine anyone wanting to plow a field or look at a piece of property instead of going to a lavish banquet? Can you imagine someone not wanting to bring his new bride to such a wonderful and festive feast? (14:20) Instead, why didn't this newly married man say, "Honey, what luck! We have been invited to a lavish banquet. What a wonderful event to take place during our honeymoon!" Wouldn't you think that people would have considered themselves fortunate to even be invited in the first place? Jesus seems to be saying, "You just have to see this place!"

To: cosmicforce who wrote (4196)	12/6/2000 2:22:00 PM
From: Greg or e	Respond to of 28931

This might shed some light on the term cult. It comes from CRI. Christian Research Institute. www.equip.org Statement DC920 Cults and Aberrational Groups Over the years, the term "cult" has come to carry a variety of meanings depending on the context in which it is used. From the standpoint of orthodox Christianity, that is, in the theological sense of the term, a cult is a group of persons polarized around a heretical interpretation of religious truth. Such groups typically cite the Bible and claim to be in harmony with Christianity, but deny such basic doctrines of the Christian faith as the Trinity, the unique deity of Jesus Christ, salvation by grace alone, and justification by faith. The term "cult" is also used in a nontheological, sociological, or behavioral sense, especially in the secular media, to refer to any religious or quasi-religious organization which is socially deviant in some way. In this sense a "cult" is generally an excessively authoritarian group, typically centered around one living man or woman whose control over the members' lives is absolute or nearly so. Although CRI occasionally may use the word "cult" in this second behavioral sense, to avoid confusion we do not use it in cases where the first theological sense does not also apply. There are sects and organizations which do not deny basic biblical theology, yet whose teachings and practices are seriously inconsistent with orthodox Christianity. CRI refers to these as aberrational Christian groups. Examples of "cults" (in the theological sense) include, to name but a few, the Jehovah's witnesses, Mormonism, Christian Science, Unity School of Christianity, the United Pentecostal Church (not to be confused with orthodox Pentecostal churches which affirm the Trinity), the Way International, Transcendental Meditation, Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism, and the like. Many, though not all, of these groups are "cults" in the behavioral sense as well. Some examples of "aberrational Christian groups" would be Seventh-day Adventism, the Local Church of Witness Lee, Maranatha Ministries, the more extreme churches of the Church of Christ, and the ministries of certain of the "positive confession" or so- called "faith" teachers.