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Thread: Christians belive that there is no hell???

Joined: 10/13/2007

Msg: 51 (view)

Christians belive that there is no hell??? Posted: 12/16/2007 6:54:46 AM
^^^ Since you asked, I think you’re not on topic. consigliere31: Personally.... I find the entire doctrine of eternal hellfire distorted...and in my perspective, being a christian means that I have faith in what Christ has done to defeat all manner of death. And if I was to turn around and suggest that hell and death was in fact a spiritual reality, then I would be in denial of what Christ has accomplished. So for me to believe in hell is to become a non christian and discard my faith in Christ. This is interesting and refreshing. I am curious… how do other “Christians” react towards your understanding of hell?

Joined: 10/13/2007

Msg: 26 (view)

Tea Lovers' Forum Posted: 12/14/2007 6:21:38 PM
I warm the pot first as many have mentioned above. I have a cupboard dedicated to different teas. My favourite is rooibos tea…. loose, with nothing added like vanilla. I drink it a lot. Spicy Constant Comment is a real treat. After this, I enjoy Earl Grey, camomile, mint, jasmine and any of the black teas (Golden Yunnan, Ceylon, etc). I grow herbs on my front porch and often make teas with them. And, I’ll exchange my herbs for other home grown teas from friends.. such as raspberry leaf, rose and red clover. Among my friends, there has been some discussion as to whether anything not coming from an actual tea plant is tea, but rather an infusion. When I visit relatives on Cape Cod I always stop in at the Atlantic Spice Company in Truro. It is an amazing warehouse. The aroma of all the spices and teas as you walk in the door is intoxicating. They sell everything there, it’s amazing… and I think you can find them online.

Joined: 10/13/2007

Msg: 13 (view)

Stuff to do with tin foil Posted: 12/8/2007 3:47:54 PM
Wad some up in a ball and it makes an excellent pot scrubber. .... or a cat toy... endless hours of "fun" batting a foil ball around the house at 3am!

Joined: 10/13/2007

Msg: 12 (view)

Pagan Christ Posted: 12/8/2007 1:24:12 PM
GhostKnight… read message 10 by NeverCanezzer. After, if you think we can handle it, also please explain why you feel your quote is over the head of most here. Thanks. ....... I read this book a few years ago, so I’ve grabbed it from my bookshelf to offer the following from the back sleeve: Tom Harpur, columnist for the Toronto Star, Rhodes Scholar, and former Anglican priest and professor of Greek and New Testament at the University of Toronto, is an internationally renowned writer on religious and ethical issues. He is the author of eight bestselling books, including For Christ’s Sake and Would You Believe?. He has hosted numerous radio and television programs, including Life After Death, a ten-part series based on his bestselling book of the same name, and the twelve-part television series based on his bestseller The Uncommon Touch: An Investigation of Spiritual Healing. Harpur is hardly a person who writes flippantly or carelessly. Admittedly, I found the book offered nothing new. Then again, I do not believe that the book was written for those who know, or who have studied, the evolution of religion. It was written for those who don’t know. The “connection” is obviously not there for many Christians. So, viewing it as an educational piece I applaud Mr. Harpur’s handling of the topic. I think he, through his experience as a priest, is able to reach those who are lost. Lost? Yes, disavowing the origins of the Christ myth and allegory robs its followers of truth, leaving them hopelessly face-down in a quagmire if dishonesty and corruption. Further, blind faith in literalism is killing Christianity. Something that Tom Harpur wishes to stop because there is beauty in Christianity that literalism overshadows. It is very clear to me that Tom Harpur is a man who is deeply concerned for his beloved religion, Christianity. He brings to his work years of education and thought. And courage… he is willing to speak his truth knowing full well that he is going up against ultraconservative literalists and a fear mongering machine that has been crafted on the backs of other myths. For this, I think Tom Harpur stands out as a refreshing example of Christly love. I haven’t seen the documentary yet, but will watch it tonight as it is being re-broadcast at 10pm E.T. on CBC, here in Canada. I somehow doubt the television documentary will be able to invoke wholly the information in Mr. Harpur’s book. However, even if it is but a mere peek through a slightly ajar door… it should prove worthwhile.

Joined: 10/13/2007

Msg: 13 (view)

Nordic Beliefs Posted: 11/19/2007 12:52:15 PM
Here’s an interesting interpretation of Asatru, for your perusal. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1nI1qA9zJQ I hope this is helpful to you. ... One question, is there any religion that is practiced identically today as it was say around the year 999 (I just picked a number out of the cosmos) or before?

Joined: 10/13/2007

Msg: 42 (view)

you choose to not watch tv... why? Posted: 11/18/2007 1:58:13 PM
Like another poster here, I was paying for cable service month after month but couldn’t remember when the last time was that I watched anything. Eventually I stopped the cable service. I don’t miss it at all.

Joined: 10/13/2007

Msg: 45 (view)

Christians belive that there is no hell??? Posted: 11/16/2007 11:06:23 AM
I’m sure the awesome, dark and mysterious womb of the Goddess Hel , or the Great Mother Asherah in her world-womb aspect as Helel, was transformed into the torture chamber we have come to know as “hell” was merely part of the church’s curious passion for undermining other belief systems. As well, scaring the begeezus out of the citizenry over the horrors of hell was, and in some cases – still is, a tool used for conversion and ensuring the faithful remained that way. Coffers don’t fill themselves. Membership is paramount. Included under the “hell” label were all other religions understanding of an underworld of transformation and regeneration as well as their hidden or dark aspect gods and goddesses; Erebus, Hades and Tartarus, Hecate, Kali and Rhadamanthys.. there’s more. In addition, hell, as depicted by the church, is hugely necessary - otherwise there was nothing for “salvation” to save from. Yet, that same twisted version of hell made god look even more vindictive than man. All this gave theologians much scholarly work to busy themselves with over the centuries. How can an all-loving god create such a place? Why does he want good heavenly folk to view the tortured …and enjoy it (ref: St. Thomas Aquinas, Thomas of Cantimpre, St. Bernardino of Siena)? Wouldn’t that mean god wants his followers, in order to go to heaven, to be akin to a pack of sadistic voyeurs? Scholars such as Pierre Bayle (French theologian of Calvinist or pseudo-Calvinist background - 17 or 18th century?) found it impossible to exonerate “… a good an omnipotent God” from responsibility for the world’s evils, though he made humanity suffer for them. The problem became, “infinitely more difficult when He has also to be exonerated from causing the suffering and wickedness of the next world.” Bayle goes on to further describe god as “a lawgiver who forbids man to commit crime, and who nevertheless pushes man into crime, and then punishes him for it eternally.” Raimundo Lulio, (13th century revered Franciscan order, as Doctor Illuminatus and, apparently as a saint in some areas) was a philosopher, who was condemned as a heretic for trying to teach that Christ’s mercy would save nearly all men. It had nothing to do with “hell” as a consequence. Johann Cloppenburg (Theologian and author of the Compendium Socinianismi Confutatum – 17th century) in 1682 stated, “It is absurd that God should be angry forever, and punish the finite sins of creatures with infinite punishments.” So, my answer to the OP is YES, and understandably, … there have always been Christians who do not believe hell. <div class="quote">I dunno, to me to reject the concept of hell and think heaven for Christian and non Christian (or any faith for that matter) totally defeats the concept of religion and faith alike. What do you think? I think acceptance or rejection of the concept of “hell” irrelevant in the context of religion, generally. You use the generic “religion”… what religion are you referring to? I don’t want to assume you mean Christianity merely because your question is about Christians and non-Christians. Faith is different from religion - believe it or not, one can have one without the other. Perhaps I do not understand the question here. Did you mean to ask whether the rejection of the existence of “hell” made Christians into non-Christians? Or, did you mean to ask - How important it is, in each persons “religious” understanding, to have a contrast of evil/good, dark/light, punishment/redemption? Interesting topic. Thanks.

Joined: 10/13/2007

Msg: 130 (view)

Pure evil what this guy is getting kids and adults to do!! Posted: 11/15/2007 2:15:13 PM
That video is pretty disgusting. The anchors’ performance is judgmental and fear mongering. Taking an interview personally is hardly the tack of professional and objective journalism. Is Fox News a religious organization? I don’t watch tv, so…. perhaps it was some sort of weird religious segment to Fox news? I’m serious, I’d be careful what age group I’d let watch that news anchor. He’s terrible. Just another reason to keep the idiot box turned off!

Joined: 10/13/2007

Msg: 92 (view)

Golden Compass Promotes Hate Posted: 11/15/2007 4:04:13 AM
What an awesomely cool site! I decided to check out information on the movie and, lo!, I am impressed. They have a page where you answer 20 questions and can get your own Daemon. I got a Tiger Daemon named Aerodan. He’s beautiful. Check it out at http://www.goldencompassmovie.com/ and click on “Daemon” in the header option buttons. I haven’t been to a movie in … hmmmm… years (don’t watch tv or movies, generally) but I’m going to see this one. I can hardly wait until my daughter wakes up … she’s going to want a Daemon too.

Joined: 10/13/2007

Msg: 36 (view)

Talking about Humor and Comedians Posted: 11/10/2007 4:45:19 PM
Billy Connelly. Genius and humour.

Joined: 10/13/2007

Msg: 147 (view)

When does physical attraction stop being so important? Posted: 11/10/2007 4:40:52 PM
Oh my stars GrandmaBooBoo (msg 135) you had me laughing! Our ex’s must have been brothers! No one can ever accuse me of dating only physically attractive men. And, one thing I’ve learned from all that was that looks has NOTHING to do with what is on the inside. To the topic at hand.. Physically attractive or physically attracted? - two totally different things. I am reminded about how I’ve lost the feeling of being attracted to someone. It had nothing to do with their physical appearance changing… even though it did. It had everything to do with who they were, how they walked on the Earth, how they treated those they claimed to love.

Joined: 10/13/2007

Msg: 28 (view)

Omnipotent or just not caring? Posted: 11/10/2007 10:46:54 AM
You know your gods are neither omniscient, omnipotent, immortal, nor infallible. Nevertheless, they are wise, powerful and long-lived. The relationship between gods and humans is familial and not subordinate. There is no list of wholesale injunctions against various behaviours. Yet, the taking of lives, lying, theft, and all behaviours including compassion and forgiveness face tradeoffs between freedom and responsibility. It is said in Havamal – Deyr fé, deyja frændr, deyr sjálfr et sama; ek veit einn, at aldri deyr: dómr of dauðan hvern. "Cattle die, kinsmen die, and you yourself shall die…" One thing I know which never dies is the memory of those who are truly loved. Although everyone dies, young folk sometimes leave this Earth untimely. We who remain behind must remember that although they are gone from us in body, they will always live in our hearts. Even as their spirits wend their way to Asgard, the cycle of rebirth begins again, and the wonder of their presence is not lost to us. In your remembrance of the joy brought by Giovanni’s existence, make his life have meaning - for all the children of Asatru. May the Gods grant you the wisdom to find meaning in Giovanni’s living, as well as in his passing - Life From Death, Light From Darkness, Joy From Sorrow. Understand that the position you took in your post does draw into question the beliefs of monotheists as it is they who claim their gods to be omnipotent. Your gods are not. Perhaps your grief has veiled what you have projected through this choice? Being angry at a deity over the death of a child is understandable; blaming those of another belief will never bring you understanding. I hope that you can find solace through the gods and understand how others can see that the glove was dropped by you. For you know that “gods will” and “gods plan” is a comforting expression to those of the monotheist understanding and that no harm was intended… quite the contrary. Raising a horn ~ Odin, drighten of the dead, ferryman - show the way to the worlds beyond. Frigga, in thy sunken hall, hear the voice of grief. Thor, Warder, Friend of Men - lend your Hammer's holy might. Heimdall, open Asgard's gate; worthy steps shall sound soon on thy bridge. Frey, bring frith to the mound: fair lives within, and friendship to the living aye. Freya, bear the mead forth: well should you greet Giovanni, and roomy-seated is your hall. Idunna, here is one worthy to eat of your apples: I ask you to grant that food freely. Disir and Alfar, greet your kinsman, Giovanni, kindly. Great Frigg, Mother of us all, send Hlin’s refuge and comfort: She who wards us from despair and loosens the grip of grief. Frigg and Odin, well you know the scathe of loss: Grant your deep wisdom of the workings of Wyrd, to temper now the raging of hearts. Holda, Berchta, Frigga - Great Mother, gentle Keeper of the Well of Souls, of the blessed Grove of Apples: By your hands the soul of Giovanni was brought forth. Now again he has returned to your loving care, given to your wise warding until his time to fare forth comes again. You wove his being into the great web, and he is there to stay: woven before, woven now, to be woven yet again. Walk with the gods.

Joined: 10/13/2007

Msg: 23 (view)

\|\| ~ Were you TAUGHT your religion? ~ \|\| Posted: 11/8/2007 5:28:36 AM
Have you had religious training in some way? Yes And what did you or do you think about it? I take what I need and leave the rest Do you feel it benefits you? Definitely Do you feel it helps you to grow? Without a doubt Do you believe in it entirely as taught? Not at all How do you know its true and not just something that was taught to them? I believe that there are as many ways of the spirit as there are people. So, in matters of the spirit, what is “truth” for one person may not be truth for another. Part of growing, spiritually, is defining what is true for you, as an individual. That process includes questioning, research and independent thought. Then, more questioning, more research and more thought. The cycle continues throughout life. I believe that anyone who tries to tell me they’ve got all the answers… has none of the answers. So, given the aforementioned… I could be wrong, so I’ll do some research and thinking on it and get back to you. (lol) In matters of religion, what is “truth” for one person sometimes doesn’t matter. Religions are man-made and are taught to people. There are usually definite criteria set out about how to go about celebrating and/or practicing the belief and carrying on life. Differentiating between personal “truth” and religious truth can get one into hot water with the leaders, and other followers, of that religion. Finding a way to blend personal “truth” within the confines of a specific religious system can be a lifelong process or as easy as just following the rules. Sometimes one finds a religion that better suits their personal spiritual truth than the one they grew up with… or never had. Sometimes folks start their own version of that religion so that their personal spiritual needs are better met. Then again, for some, religion is so totally away from facilitating personal spiritual needs that the only recourse is to not follow religion at all. That’s my truth, and I’m sticking to it. Today.

Joined: 10/13/2007

Msg: 9 (view)

Childish Friends Posted: 11/5/2007 5:08:03 PM
I haven't experienced the pettiness that the OP has.. or.. it just occurred to me that maybe I have people on my FB that are like that, but I’ve missed the cues! Gasp! Regardless, I’ve been on FB for a few months now and to tell you the truth, I’m getting tired of it. It really is silly stuff. There’s a status area where people update what they’re doing at any given time of the day. I read ground breaking things like: Frank is at home. Sandra is drinking coffee. Lee is. Honestly!

Joined: 10/13/2007

Msg: 52 (view)

Westboro Baptist Church Sued Posted: 11/5/2007 3:51:16 PM
That video was incredible. Thanks for letting me know about the Patriot Guard Riders. And, thank you to any PGR who may be reading this post!

Joined: 10/13/2007

Msg: 40 (view)

Westboro Baptist Church Sued Posted: 11/3/2007 6:30:49 PM
"hello!" SFLady! In Canada: Directing hatred against persons of any sexual orientation, heterosexuals, homosexuals and/or bisexuals has joined the four other groups protected against hate speech (colour, race, religion or ethnic origin). Status of free speech in Canada: • In the U.S., a person cannot legally yell "fire" in a crowded movie theatre. But they are free to say just about anything else without danger of criminal prosecution. For example, a conservative Christian teleminister in the early 1990s advocated the execution of all Wiccans in the U.S. More recently, a Baptist pastor from Texas advocated that the U.S. army round up Wiccans and burn them alive with napalm. Both clergy were immune from prosecution due to the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment which guarantees almost complete freedom of speech in the country. (We do not wish to overemphasize genocidal advocacy of Wiccans by conservative Christians. However, we are unaware of any other instances in North America where genocide has been actively advocated in recent years.) • Canadians do not have this degree of freedom of speech. Legislation in Canada follows the British tradition, as do laws in Australia and New Zealand and some other former colonies. In particular, citizens are not allowed to incite or promote hatred, advocate genocide or actually commit genocide against certain specified groups. Interestingly, the person who was head of the Hate Crimes unit at the Ottawa Police Force when I lived there was a gay man. As well, the person who headed the Hate Crimes unit in, I beleive Vancouver, was a fairly well-known Wiccan author.

Joined: 10/13/2007

Msg: 3 (view)

The worst thing to come out of the USA Posted: 11/2/2007 3:17:17 PM
I feel for you. That must be a horrible experience. I just get cute little kids showing up at my door being ever so polite and grateful for the candy I dole out. Obviously, Halloween isn't the problem. It's poor parenting and a poor legal system. By the way, Halloween didn't come out of the USA. It was brought to North America. A quick excerpt from Wikipedia (oh, just Google 'halloween origins').: "Halloween, or Hallowe'en, is a holiday celebrated on the night of October 31. Traditional activities include trick-or-treating, bonfires, costume parties, visiting "haunted houses" and carving jack-o-lanterns. The term Halloween (and its alternative rendering Hallowe'en) is shortened from All-hallow-even, as it is the eve of "All Hallows' Day",[1] which is now also known as All Saints' Day. Some modern Halloween traditions developed out of older pagan traditions, especially surrounding the Irish holiday Samhain, a day associated both with the harvest and otherworldly spirits. Irish and Scottish immigrants carried versions of the tradition to North America in the nineteenth century. Other western countries embraced the holiday in the late twentieth century. Halloween is now celebrated in several parts of the Western world, most commonly in Ireland, the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the United Kingdom and occasionally in parts of Australia and New Zealand. Many European cultural traditions, in particular Celtic cultures, hold that Halloween is one of the liminal times of the year when spirits can make contact with the physical world, and when magic is most potent (according to, for example, Catalan mythology about witches and Scottish and Irish tales of the Sídhe).

Joined: 10/13/2007

Msg: 662 (view)

Long hair on older women Posted: 10/31/2007 3:29:33 PM
My hair is very long. It's healthy and thick. I love it. It's so easy to look after. All I do is wash it and go. I've had longish hair all my life, so anything else would just not be me. If someone doesn't like long hair on women over 50... that's ok. There's plenty of folks who do like it.

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