The Homestead Act. One of the reasons it was created was to prevent the big boys from grabbing it all up. After the Civil War, a quarter of all black farmers owned their own land.
That is contrary to Christian belief. Christians believe we are all sinners and only by accepting Christ will we be saved.
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It’s funny, I grew up liberal protestant and can’t say I knew any Christians who weren’t awesome people. My wife grew up around much more conservative/evangelical Christians and has a deep dislike for the religion and a deep dislike/distrust of religious people. And as I have been exposed to more and more conservative/evangelical types (as opposed to the catholic-light religion of my youth), I can see where she’s coming from.
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I don’t see how that refutes anything I said.
What did you say?
You said I watch too many movies, and I asked you what I said was wrong. Then you cited the Homestead Act.
I’m pretty sure I’ve watched Gladiator and The Phantom Menace more times than all other movies combined.
That plays out in the superiority complex by attempting to get people to convert because “they know better” or “have the answer”. (this is not the only religion that does this).
It also says to put the poor and marginalized first - not something really being shown by the largest religious group in the US today.
True, I grew up Lutheran and didn’t experience even a quarter of what my wife (southern baptist) experienced growing up.
Isn’t that what you did by claiming to be a Buddhist who believes in giving out love and kindness as the better way?
No, because any Buddhist will say they do not have the answer nor will they unless they become an enlightened being. I am also not forcing that onto people (as many religions have done in the past). You brought “seeking the kingdom” into the conversation that wasn’t religious in nature at all prior to that.
Even the Buddha said you should question and examine everything he claims and find the truth for yourself. Not something God claims.
Love and kindness should be universal and are emotions/behaviors that do not need a religious undertone don’t you think?
In all honestly and respect, I think you have a misunderstanding of God and of Christianity.
God does in fact require us to find Truth for ourselves.
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Having studied it deeply for 30 years, I really don’t think I do.
I have read the entire book 3 times and read many scholarly articles on the topic.
Where is that in the book? And the truth as defined how? In regards to the Bible it is the truth as defined by the biblical authors.
If for some reason you come to the “truth” that that presented version of the universe and creator might not actually be true, you may be condemned to an eternity of torture. Sounds much more like persuasion and fear of punishment than truth seeking.
More than happy to debate these ideas in my log to not clog up this thread.
If Howie is a student of the Bible, when he capitalized “Truth” he associated it with deity (God).
This is found throughout the entire Bible in its context. A single verse lays it out where anyone can see it in John 11:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
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Exactly my point. It’s the “truth” because it says it’s true. It’s not encouraging to “seek truth” as in a quest for knowledge or understanding. It’s seeking truth through that which proclaims itself as such. (Again, a theme that’s not exclusive to Christianity).
Howie should speak for himself, but if I had written what he posted, I would have been referring to “Truth” as deity. You replied with a secular meaning of “truth.” You were both talking past each other.
If I were you, I would have simply replied that I don’t believe that the God of the Bible is Truth.
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Jesus is speaking about the path to salvation. It’s one truth in a universe of infinite truths.
This means nothing without the definition of the word. It would just be a name. Ignoring that, Truth as deity still presupposes it has some form of higher knowledge/power simply because it claims too.
Also the way Howie wrote it and applying your definition would read the same as “God tell us to find God”. It’s a bad LinkedIn ad: The being who wants to be worshiped and feared seeks people to worship and fear said being. Disclaimer If this position is not accepted by the applicant, he/she will be subject to eternal damnation…
I believe Jesus referred to Himself most often as the Son of Man. This is one way of saying human being. The truth therefore, being through Jesus, is found through man. Jesus aligns Himself with humanity by recognizing His humanity.
Yeah, I quiet-quit the religion of my youth. I just focus on being a good person nowadays and will let the chips fall where they may when it’s all over.
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The 1611 King James Version shows John 14:6, “Iesus saith vnto him, I am the Way, the Trueth, and the Life: no man commeth vnto the Father but by mee.”
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I will say I am a better person now that I have distanced myself from the biases my upbringing caused me to have. Karma may or may not be a real thing, but I know how I feel now vs. how I used to.