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Latest Articles: Religion
Thou must seek knowledge
Post Date: 2009-02-16 17:49:56 by Max
18 Comments
Thou must seek knowledge February 15, 2009 “Behold! In the creation of the Heavens and the Earth and the alteration of night and day, these are indeed signs for men of understanding,” - Holy Qur’an 3:190 Like the above Verse, many other places Holy Qur’an challenges the Believers (both men and women) to think, ponder and search for the mysteries behind Allah’s various creations. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), though himself like majority of Arabs during his time - was an ‘unlettered person - he encouraged his Companions to seek both religious and worldly knowledge. He is reported as saying: “On the Day of Judgement the ink of the scholars and the blood ...
Did Christ Institute the Mass?
Post Date: 2009-02-15 22:35:27 by richard9151
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Did Christ Institute the Mass? “THE most perfect act of worship that can be made to God.” Thus the National Catholic Almanac (1951) describes the mass of the Roman Catholic Church. We further quote: “The Mass is the unbloody renewal of the Sacrifice of our Lord upon the cross. In it the priest, as the representative of Christ, offers to God the bread and wine, which he changes into the Body and Blood of our Lord at the Consecration, and then completes the sacrifice by consuming the Host and drinking the chalice at the Communion.” The mass, we are further assured, “is the perpetuation of the sacrifice of Calvary,” “is identical with the Sacrifice of the ...
Are Images an Aid to True Worship?
Post Date: 2009-02-15 22:26:36 by richard9151
7 Comments
Are Images an Aid to True Worship? ACCORDING to certain religious organizations, the use of images is a great aid to worship. Thus when a stranger visits a religious edifice such as St. Peter’s basilica in Rome he is struck with the many images found therein, of popes, of saints, of the apostles, of Mary the mother of Jesus, of Moses and of others. A particularly striking image in that basilica is the life-size black bronze statue of Peter, before which he may see several devout Catholics waiting their turn to kiss the big toe of the right foot. Jesus said that God is looking for those to worship him who do so with spirit and with truth. (John 4:23, 24, NW) Does such reverence ...
Mixing Catholicism With Voodoo—How Do You View It?
Post Date: 2009-02-15 22:24:38 by richard9151
11 Comments
Mixing Catholicism With Voodoo—How Do You View It? By “Awake!” correspondent in Brazil SEVERAL years ago, in Brazil, a well-known television personality had her adopted son baptized. In the morning he was baptized according to the rites of the Roman Catholic Church, in the afternoon according to the ritual of candomblé (Brazilian voodoo). Later, he would be baptized according to the Messianic and the Rosicrucian rituals. The proud mother explained: “This is so that he will have the protection of all the religions when he grows up.” Does her broad-minded view of religion surprise you? Could it happen where you live? In Brazil it is not uncommon. Even the ...
Did the Early Church Teach That God Is a Trinity?
Post Date: 2009-02-15 22:22:25 by richard9151
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Did the Apologists Teach the Trinity Doctrine? In its issues of November 1, 1991, and February 1, 1992, The Watchtower showed that the Trinity doctrine was not taught by Jesus and his disciples nor by the Apostolic Fathers of the late first and early second centuries C.E. Did churchmen later in the second century teach it? FROM near the middle of the second century of our Common Era through its end, there appeared churchmen who are today called Apologists. They wrote to defend the Christianity they knew against hostile philosophies prevalent in the Roman world of that time. Their work came toward the end of, and after, the writings of the Apostolic Fathers. ...
A Prayer For Strength
Post Date: 2009-02-14 19:28:32 by James Deffenbach
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Oh Great Spirit, Whose voice I hear in the wind, Whose breath gives life to the world, Hear me! I come to you as one of your many children. I am small and weak. I need your strength and wisdom. May I walk in beauty. Make my eyes behold the red and purple sunset. Make my hands respect the things that you have made, And my ears sharp to hear your voice. Make me wise so that I may know the things That you have taught your children-- The lessons that you have hidden in every leaf and rock. Make me strong, not to be superior to my brothers, but to be able to fight my greatest enemy: myself. Make me ever ready to come to you with straight eyes, so that When life fades as the setting sun My spirit ...
Letter to a Christian Young Man on Joining the Military
Post Date: 2009-02-13 07:03:26 by Ada
1 Comments
The following letter was sent to a Christian young man I know who was considering joining the military. He hasn’t joined as of yet, and I hope and pray that he doesn’t. I am posting this letter publicly in the hope that it might persuade some Christian young men I don’t know from joining the military. Dear ______: I have been told that you are thinking about joining the military. I hope I am misinformed. I understand that you are having trouble finding a job, but think that, as a Christian young man, you are making a big mistake if you join today’s military. First of all, you were raised in a Christian home and went to Christian schools your whole life. You will be ...
Thinking in Darwin Lockstep
Post Date: 2009-02-12 06:40:20 by Ada
2 Comments
Oh help. The religious orthodoxy that impedes discussion of biological evolution continues with its accustomed dreadful tenacity. I’m going to hide in Tierra del Fuego. One difference between faith and science is that science allows with reasonable grace the questioning of theory. A physicist who doubts, say, the theory of general relativity will be expected to show good cause for his doubt. He won’t be dismissed in chorus as delusional and an enemy of truth. By contrast, he who doubts the divinity of Christ, the prophethood of Mohammed, or the sanctity of natural selection will be savaged. It is the classic emotional reaction of the True Believer to whom dissent is not just ...
Ark hunter: Christianity packed with paganism (no shit, sherlock)
Post Date: 2009-02-08 09:20:52 by gengis gandhi
17 Comments
'1st century believers would have never accepted this' Posted: February 07, 2009 11:15 pm Eastern © 2009 WorldNetDaily Richard Rives, right, and son David hunting for the Ark of the Covenant in Jerusalem in 2003. A Tennessee historian and author best known for his searches for the Ark of the Covenant – the box containing the Ten Commandments – is now challenging much of modern Christianity, claiming the traditional version of the faith has more in common with ancient paganism than actual biblical content. "Today, it is amazing what is being presented as Christianity," says Richard Rives of Lewisburg, Tenn., who has just released a book and DVD ...
To Feel the Spirit, Poll Says Go South; Gallup Ranks the Most Religious States
Post Date: 2009-02-07 13:24:19 by Brian S
1 Comments
Want to be almost certain you'll have religious neighbors? Move to Mississippi. Prefer to be in the least religious state? Venture to Vermont. A new Gallup Poll, based on more than 350,000 interviews, finds that the Magnolia State is the one where the most people -- 85 percent -- say yes when asked, "Is religion an important part of your daily life?" Less than half of Vermonters, meanwhile -- 42 percent -- answered that same question in the affirmative. Joining Mississippi in the top "most religious" states are other notches in the Bible Belt: Alabama (82 percent), South Carolina (80 percent), Tennessee (79 percent), Louisiana (78 percent) and Arkansas (78 ...
Keeping the Faith: Religious diversity threatened by intolerance
Post Date: 2009-02-07 12:08:40 by Ferret Mike
2 Comments
No matter how exclusive your religious beliefs, if you want to continue to enjoy religious freedoms you have to respect the rights of others. Certainly no group is exempt from the possibility of unprovoked attack, but it is only logical that the one who flouts the rights of others will soon be subject to recompense. Christians are being slaughtered in South India not because they offended their attackers themselves, but because they are seen as members of a culture of abuse and oppression that Hindus remember from decades past. Good Hindu men were murdered, their women raped and their children beaten by British colonists under the blasphemed name of the Christian God. The perpetrators ...
Christian Support for Killing Iraqis
Post Date: 2009-02-07 08:48:33 by Ada
13 Comments
Among the things about the Iraq War that I have never been able to understand is how American Christians have been able, in good conscience, to support this war. After all, no one can deny that neither Iraq nor the Iraqi people ever attacked the United States. That makes the United States the aggressor — the attacker — in this particular conflict. How could American Christians support the killing of Iraqis in such a war of aggression? How could they reconcile this with God’s sacred commandment, Thou shalt not murder. One possibility is that Americans initially viewed the Iraq War as one of self-defense. Placing their trust in their president and vice-president, they came to ...
The Church and anti-Semitism-again
Post Date: 2009-02-07 06:12:16 by Zoroaster
2 Comments
The Church and anti-Semitism—again Kevin MacDonald February 2, 2009 Recently there has been a media uproar about the reinstatement of the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX), a traditionalist Catholic group, that broke off from the Church after the reforms of Vatican II. Jewish groups are furious that there would be any attempt to reconcile these traditionalists to the Church. This is not surprising since the issue that led to the schism was the reform of the Church initiated by the Second Vatican Council and its declaration on Judaism, anti-Semitism, and non-Christian religions. The man behind the schism was Marcel Lefebvre. Lefebvre not only objected to the changes wrought by ...
Does Distant Starlight Prove the Universe Is Old? [Full Thread]
Post Date: 2009-02-05 15:38:06 by Old Friend
305 Comments
Critics of biblical creation sometimes use distant starlight as an argument against a young universe. The argument goes something like this: (1) there are galaxies that are so far away, it would take light from their stars billions of years to get from there to here; (2) we can see these galaxies, so their starlight has already arrived here; and (3) the universe must be at least billions of years old—much older than the 6,000 or so years indicated in the Bible. Many big bang supporters consider this to be an excellent argument against the biblical timescale. But when we examine this argument carefully, we will see that it does not work. The universe is very big and contains galaxies ...
No Room for Compromise 14 Scholars Speak Out on the Book of Genesis
Post Date: 2009-02-05 12:07:38 by Old Friend
36 Comments
In the just-published scholarly book, Coming to Grips with Genesis: Biblical Authority and the Age of the Earth, fourteen evangelical theologians bring together the most rigorous, up-to-date biblical and historical arguments in favor of reading Genesis chapters 1–11 as factual history. No one who accepts the idea of millions of years or says that the age of the earth doesn’t matter can ignore the careful arguments that Coming to Grips with Genesis presents in favor of a six-day creation, the global Flood, and a young earth. It will also strengthen the convictions of those who do believe Genesis. The question of the age of the creation is not just a debate about science, but more ...
The Bible’s Viewpoint -- Is There an Unforgivable Sin?
Post Date: 2009-02-04 11:01:29 by richard9151
9 Comments
The Bible’s Viewpoint Is There an Unforgivable Sin? IS THERE a punishment worse than death? Yes, death without the hope of a resurrection because one has committed an unforgivable sin. Jesus said that there is a type of sin that “will not be forgiven.”—Matthew 12:31. The Bible, however, describes God as being forgiving. Although men can be prone to hold a grudge and withhold forgiveness, God ‘forgives in a large way.’ (Isaiah 55:7-9) In fact, at great cost to himself, God sent his dear Son to earth to be a propitiatory, or covering, sacrifice so valuable that it could blot out our sins.—John 3:16, 17; Acts 3:19; 1 John 2:1, 2. In due ...
SIN
Post Date: 2009-02-04 10:58:05 by richard9151
6 Comments
SIN Anything not in harmony with, hence contrary to, God’s personality, standards, ways, and will; anything marring one’s relationship with God. It may be in word (Job 2:10; Ps 39:1), in deed (doing wrong acts [Le 20:20; 2Co 12:21] or failing to do what should be done [Nu 9:13; Jas 4:17]), or in mind or heart attitude (Pr 21:4; compare also Ro 3:9-18; 2Pe 2:12-15). Lack of faith in God is a major sin, showing, as it does, distrust of him or lack of confidence in his ability to perform. (Heb 3:12, 13, 18, 19) A consideration of the use of the original-language terms and examples associated with them illustrates this. The common Hebrew term translated “sin” is ...
Caesar and God in Context
Post Date: 2009-02-04 06:34:45 by Ada
2 Comments
Professor Walter Block's article on Religion and Libertarianism was a timely wake up call to theistic and atheistic libertarians alike. As a Reader (a licensed lay minister) in the Church of England, I welcome Professor Block's call to unite in the face of the growing state menace to us all – but I took exception to his phrase "But what of the fact that most if not all religions support the state. 'Render unto Caesar… etc.'." You might wonder why I object to this biblical quotation. It seems peripheral to Professor Block's argument, it's accurate as far as it goes, and many of my fellow Christians do quote this passage to either endorse (or at ...
After the final test at the end of the Millennium, will it be possible for humans to sin and die?
Post Date: 2009-02-03 11:45:22 by richard9151
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After the final test at the end of the Millennium, will it be possible for humans to sin and die? Two scriptures found in Revelation bear on this: “Death and Hades were hurled into the lake of fire. This means the second death, the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:14) “He will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”—Revelation 21:4. Note the timing involved here. The hurling of “death and Hades” into the lake of fire takes place after the Armageddon survivors, the resurrected dead, and any born after Armageddon have been judged out of the ...
Crushing the Serpent’s Head
Post Date: 2009-02-03 11:41:59 by richard9151
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Crushing the Serpent’s Head Vision 14—Revelation 20:1-10 Subject: The abyssing of Satan, the Millennial Reign, mankind’s final test, and Satan’s destruction Time of fulfillment: From the end of the great tribulation to the destruction of Satan DO YOU recall the first Bible prophecy? It was uttered by Jehovah God when he said to the Serpent: “I shall put enmity between you and the woman and between your seed and her seed. He will bruise you in the head and you will bruise him in the heel.” (Genesis 3:15) Now the fulfillment of that prophecy comes to its climax! We have traced the history of Satan’s warring against Jehovah’s heavenly womanlike ...
The “Lake of Fire” and Its Purpose
Post Date: 2009-02-03 11:16:59 by richard9151
21 Comments
The “Lake of Fire” and Its Purpose WHAT is the “lake of fire”? We find this expression used in the Bible only in the book of Revelation, and there its mention is confined to the small area of chapters 19 to 21. A possible allusion to it is also found at Matthew 25:41. Who or what goes into the “lake of fire”? Among the things mentioned are the “wild beast” and the “false prophet.” Death and Hades are put into this “lake.” We also read that the Devil (and along with him his associate demons) is hurled into the “lake” after his final attack on God’s sovereignty.—Rev. 19:20; 20:10, 14. A SYMBOL In ...
CHRISTIANS USE PROPHECY TO EXCUSE LAZINESS
Post Date: 2009-02-03 08:47:22 by bush_is_a_moonie
15 Comments
In response to my two previous columns regarding the current development of a devilish New World Order, many professing Christians wrote me with comments to the effect that we should not be concerned about whatever global tyranny may be developing, because "it's all a part of God's plan," or "Jesus is coming soon," and similar statements. I, too, believe in the imminent return of Jesus Christ to earth. But, then again, so did Christians from every generation over the last two millennia. In fact, the Apostle Paul was looking for the return of Christ while he lived (Philippians 3:20). But does anticipation of Christ's Second Coming excuse personal neglect, ...
Abuse Scandal Plagues Hasidic Jews In Brooklyn
Post Date: 2009-02-02 20:00:40 by christine
6 Comments
Joel Engelman and Joe Diangelo are driving through their old Brooklyn neighborhood. Williamsburg is a place from another time and country. The shop signs are in Hebrew. The men scurry by in long black coats; their hair hangs in corkscrew curls. Married women wear wigs to cover their heads. Engelman and Diangelo haven't been here in years. They just met a few weeks ago, but as they begin swapping stories and the names of family members, they realize they have a lot in common. Both men are in their 20s, both were raised as strict Hasidic Jews, and both fled their upbringing for the same reason. "Are you ready for this?" Engelman asks Diangelo, glancing at his friend in the ...
12 of the last 25 posts done by resident Deacon of 4um! [Full Thread]
Post Date: 2009-02-02 17:25:03 by Elliott Jackalope
67 Comments
I just did a quick count: Out of the last 25 posts (before I put this one up), 12 were posted by Richard9151 pushing his JW beliefs on everyone else here on the forum. I guess if you can't persuade others by virtue of the content of your words, then just beat everyone into submission with the sheer volume of your long-winded postings, eh? Seriously though, isn't taking up nearly 50% of the total postings on this forum just a bit.. pushy? Greedy? Proud? Vain? Selfish? Gosh, and here I was thinking that supposedly believing in Christianity was supposed to convince people to not behave that way. Silly me.
Revelation 19:19-21
Post Date: 2009-02-02 15:33:05 by richard9151
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Ç9; Revelation 19:19-21 says that in the coming war of God the symbolic wild beast and false prophet will be cast into the lake of fire, but “the rest” will be killed with a sword. Who are “the rest,” and what will happen to them? Following a description of “the Lamb” and his angels who will wage war on God’s enemies, Revelation 19:19-21 says: “I saw the wild beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage the war with the one seated on the horse and with his army. And the wild beast was caught, and along with it the false prophet that performed in front of it the signs with which he misled those who received the ...
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