Dare To Ask Talk And News About Our Differences 
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- Hi there If we look at the first century christians in the bible. Did they find the need to include false religious practices, to keep their worship 'novel'? No they didnt. We know the apostles and many disciples actually met Jesus in person. They obeyed his command to worship God with 'spirit and truth' (John 4:24)'Truth' being the key word for us. Obviously we have to worship God from his word the bible only. And not let false teachings infiltrate our worship. As a case in point. Many teach 'hell'. That was put in the bible by men around the 10th century C.E. To scare people back in to their church. To escape this place of 'eternal torment' The Hebrew word they got the word hell from 'sheol', and the Greek word 'Hades', both mean common grave of man kind. There is no such plave as hell. And when we die. We are 'conscious of nothing,nor do anything' (Ecc 9:5&10)These 2 scriptures, show that we dont go to a fictional place called 'hell'After all . God is a 'happy God' Would he be happy watching people suffer for ever? No, he sure wouldnt. Thankyou for the opportunity to comment :o) Please email me if you have any questions. Peter
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Name : Peter Briant, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jehovahs Witness, Age : 38, City : Melbourne, State : NA Country : Australia, Occupation : storeman, Education level : Less than High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class,Anyone who professes to be a Christian should be following Jesus' footsteps, right? After all, he began Christianity. Jesus said, 'This goood news of the kingdom would be preached throughout the inhabited earth. (Mat 24:14) The only people who have ever come to my door, doing just as Jesus said, are Jehovah's Witnesses. No Catholic, Protestant, no one else. Jesus said to worship with spirit and truth (John 4:24) Did he say there are a lot of ways to worship God? No, he said with truth. So obviously there is a right way to worship God and many wrong ways - as we know, just by looking around at the different churches. It's not a case of sitting back in a comfort zone and thinking I am right. We follow the Bible and worship God accordingly. After all, the Bible says, 'All Scripture is inspired of God, and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness. That the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work.' (2Tim 3:16&17) So, if we are being taught something that is not in the Bible, then are we being taught something God approves of? Going by the scripture I have just quoted, obviously not.User Detail :
Name : Peter Briant, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jehovahs Witness, Age : 38, City : Melbourne, State : NA Country : Australia, Occupation : storeman, Education level : Less than High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class,Hi John, many people have been asking/wondering what God thinks of homosexuality. After all, today it is largely accepted by society. In fact, many who claim to be 'christians' are publicly promoting homosexuality.Or , are themselves practicing homosexuals. So, what does God say about it? If we look up the bible, at the following scriptures, Romans 1:24-27,1 Timothy 1:9-11, Jude 7 & 1 Corinthians 6:9 & 10. All condemn homosexuality.So , it is obvious, God thinks these practices are disgusting , and infact, says they will be judged for such conduct. PeterUser Detail :
Name : Peter Briant, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jehovahs Witness, Age : 38, City : Melbourne, State : NA Country : Australia, Occupation : storeman, Education level : Less than High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class,The Catholic Church began in the 4th Century. Over the years they have brought in many different rules (the Bible was finished more than 300 years before the Catholic Church was founded). So, if they follow the teachings in the Bible, that was finished long before the Church started. Why bring in manmade rules? Having said that, I'm not sure what 'strict rules' you refer to. The Bible itself has 'rules' that we have to follow, too. For example, we have to abstain from sex outside of marriage, adultery, homosexuality and idolatry (the worshipping of idols). These are 'some' of the rules we have to obey, in order to please not any church, but God himself.User Detail :
Name : Peter Briant, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jehovahs Witness, Age : 38, City : Melbourne, State : NA Country : Australia, Occupation : storeman, Education level : Less than High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class,Rick, I can see why you aren't too happy with religions, and in particular 'God.' I mean, look at all the terrible things that happen, and wars fought, in which different religions claim that God is on 'their' side. Where babies die, and people who believe in 'God' say God wanted him/her in heaven. And the parents suffer so much pain. How could a so-called loving God do that? It doesn't make sense, does it? All these 'Christians' claim to follow the God of the Bible, yet they believe different things.Despite the fact that there are different Bibles in the world, they all basically say the same thing. In the Bible it says 'He who lives by the sword (or in today's language, 'gun' ), will perish by the sword (gun).' Yet religions ignore this warning. The Bible tells us how we came to be imperfect, and die. Which wasn't God's original purpose. So babies die, due to sickness, like adults, too, and old age. But it's because we are imperfect and not because of some 'act' of God.
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Name : Peter Briant, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jehovahs Witness, Age : 38, City : Melbourne, State : NA Country : Australia, Occupation : storeman, Education level : Less than High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class,Hi there. There are alot of religious differences. Youre right. And society in general, isnt very tollerant of these differences.Many arguements are started by these differences.Infact, if you look behind the wars that we have seen (Take the Yugoslavia conflict for example) we see religions behind the cause. With their differing beliefs. Croatia is Catholic, Serbia is Orthodox and Bosnia Moslem.I could go on and on to explain why Moslem is different from the other churches. But for now. I will just ask a question for you. The Catholic and Orthodox churches claim to be 'christian'. Correct? And they both claim to follow Jesus Christ of the bible. Jesus taught many things. Including telling people about the Kingdom , God had promised him. Yet, the Catholics, Orthodox, and many other so-called christian religions teach nothing of this kingdom (another word for government), but do teach different things about Jesus. Yet, there is only one bible, recording what Jesus taught. Yes, there are different versions of the bible. But they all say basically the same thing. The source of the differing doctrines of these, and other religions. Originate with men. NOT the bible. So , naturally they have different men leading them. And their beliefs over the centuries, have changed, just as different men lead them. There is a truth (There can only be 1 truth ) to the bible.If you , or anyone has any questions. Please feel free to email me, or just respong on yforum. Thankyou........PeterUser Detail :
Name : Peter Briant, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jehovahs Witness, Age : 38, City : Melbourne, State : NA Country : Australia, Occupation : storeman, Education level : Less than High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class,Many people do have 'Jesus-free weddings.' It is their choice. If we are Christians, though, whether Protestant, Catholic, Pentecostal, etc., how should we view any religious practices? Do these practices please God? For example, Jesus told the Jews their 'house was abandoned.' In other words, the people were no longer the 'chosen people.' Their form of worship was worthless. As Jesus said at John 4:24, 'Worship with spirit and truth.' Notice the word 'truth.' It tells us two major things: That there is a right way to worship God, and only ONE right way. Different religions worshiping God in different ways can't all be correct. If one isn't worshipping God by the Bible, how can we be worshipping God correctly? Jesus said at John 17:17, 'your word (the Bible) is truth.' So it is only the Bible that is our instruction book on how to worship God.User Detail :
Name : Peter Briant, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jehovahs Witness, Age : 38, City : Melbourne, State : NA Country : Australia, Occupation : storeman, Education level : Less than High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class,Hi Roberta. I read your comments about the wedding, and I hope you dont mind, but I thought I would respond to your response. I see that you are worried, the couple didnt take the 'religious traditions' seriously. My question for you is. Should we listen/obey traditions at all?? We know , that, as christians, we should follow Jesus as closely as we can, and obey his commands.Did Jesus say we should worship God with traditions? No , he said to 'worship with spirit and truth' (John 4:24) It doesnt say anything about traditions. The only time Jesus said anything about traditions. Was when he condemned the religious leaders of the day, for their traditions. So, are traditions, really 'truth'? By what Jesus said , the answer can only be 'no'. As Jesus said at John 8:32, 'Know the truth, and the truth will set yoou free'. Free from what ? Please feel free to email me , if you would like to know , what from..........PeterUser Detail :
Name : Peter Briant, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jehovahs Witness, Age : 38, City : Melbourne, State : NA Country : Australia, Occupation : storeman, Education level : Less than High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class,Hi there. Many people are having weddings now , that are 'christian free' I guess , just to say hello, and to make sure they are enjoying themselves. Are a couple of ways you can make sure they are comfortable.BUT , especially let them know. That you take your marriage very seriously, and are in it for the long term. Not just untill you get sick of each other. Which unfortunately , many do. Which is quite sad. As you mentioned , you will have a few Jewish traditions in your wedding. As a christian I follow Jesus of course. He said to worship God with 'Spirit and Truth'(John 4:24) Infact, Jesus condemned the religious leaders of his day, for their traditions. Traditions, no matter what church , obviously have no place in true worship. I hope your wedding goes well :o) PeterUser Detail :
Name : Peter Briant, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jehovahs Witness, Age : 38, City : Melbourne, State : NA Country : Australia, Occupation : storeman, Education level : Less than High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class,The origin of birthdays comes from a time when family and friends would gather at the house of the person whose birthday it was to ward off wicked spirits. So birthdays are still celebrated this way. And as the Bible says, God expects exclusive devotion. As Christians, we shouldn't continue with a celebration that has pagan origins. Like Christmas and Easter, for example.User Detail :
Name : Peter Briant, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jehovahs Witness, Age : 38, City : Melbourne, State : NA Country : Australia, Occupation : storeman, Education level : Less than High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class,Hi Cheryl.It's great that you have faith in the God of the bible. And you are right. Even though , we dont want to die. Death isnt exactly something we should fear.However, believing that we go 'home' to heaven , isnt a biblical ( a teaching from God) teaching. To say Heaven is 'home'. Seems to mean , we have been there. Remember in Eden? God told Adam and Eve, after they had eaten from the tree ? God said , for dust you are , and to dust you will return? (Gen 3:19) . God didnt say they had been in heaven , and he didnt say they were going there. He said they would return to dust. After all. The bible says at Psalm 37:11&29, that the meek will inherit the earth ( and the righteous)' and live forever upon it. Thats where the resurrection takes place. Resurrection means 'to stand again' We are on the earth. As stated earlier. We have never been to heaven. So , the resurrection , is on the earth. PeterUser Detail :
Name : Peter Briant, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jehovahs Witness, Age : 38, City : Melbourne, State : NA Country : Australia, Occupation : storeman, Education level : Less than High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class,Hi Rick, I read your response, and I found it very interesting.You mentioned the tooth fairy and the easter bunny. Both we know dont exist.In fact, the celebration of easter began , as the worship of a false god called eostre. The god of fertility. As for the lack of evidence, that the true God does not exist. We only need to look around at our surroundings. He created the earth. Sure, we dont see him. But you believe someone made the shirt you are wearing. Even though you have never met the person who made it.So , shouldnt God be given the same consideration ? Things certainly are bad Rick.There is no escaping that.And with soo many people suffering. We see people who are , lovers of themselves, lovers of money,self assuming,haughty, blasphemers,disobedient to parents, lovers of themselves, lovers of pleasures , rather than lovers of God. That so describes the world doesnt it ? This was all foretold , to be the conditions we would live in, in what the bible foretold, would be 'the last days' ( 2Timothy 3:1-5) in the bible.The fact is , untill the near future, God does not rule this world.( 1John 5:19)And thats why things are so bad. The bible too is scientifically correct Rick. For example, the bible said 3,500 years ago , that the earth was round. Man didnt find that out untill the 16th century. That the earth was not supported by anything, to remain in it's position around the sun. Meaning, a physical something. Like the Greeks use to believe 'Hercules' was supporting the earth. I hope I have helped you with some information.There is alot more too, but I have given you , just a sample of some facts , that God does exist . and he is the author of the bible. PeterUser Detail :
Name : Peter Briant, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jehovahs Witness, Age : 38, City : Melbourne, State : NA Country : Australia, Occupation : storeman, Education level : Less than High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class,What happens to us when we die? is probably the most-asked question in the world. The answer is found in the Bible, and proven correct by secular sources. In the book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible, it states the following in Chapter 9, verses 5 and 10: 'The living are conscious that they will die, but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all.' And in verse 10, 'All that your hand finds to do, do with your very power, for their is no work, nor devising, not knowledge, nor wisdom in sheol (Hebrew for common grave of mankind), the place to which you are going.' These two scriptures show that when we die, we don't suffer in a fictional place called 'hell,' nor do we go to heaven. What about our immortal soul? The teaching of the immortal soul began in pagan countries. We don't have immortal souls. The fact is, we ARE souls. Ezekiel 18:4 clearly states in the Bible that the soul dies. Which is true. We do die. Then what is the resurrection? To be resurrected means to 'stand again.' As we have only ever lived on the earth, it means that the dead will rise to live on the earth again. This will happen with God's judgment of man's rulership and conduct on the earth.User Detail :
Name : Peter Briant, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jehovahs Witness, Age : 38, City : Melbourne, State : NA Country : Australia, Occupation : storeman, Education level : Less than High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class,Hi Leo The moment people express their religious beliefs.People think straight away that youre imposing your beliefs on them. It's always been that way. Many believe for example, that their religious beliefs are very personal.But if we look at the 'perfector' of our christian faith......Jesus Christ. Did he keep quiet about his beliefs, and more importantly the message that he preached? NO. He told as many as he could about the Kingdom that God would give him.That he would be King one day. Infact , he gave signs 'of his presence in Kingdom power' in Matthew chapter 24:1 - 28. Most people see the problems religions have caused all around the world. I encourage you to look at the Life Jesus led whilst on earth , and the kingdom he preached about PeterUser Detail :
Name : Peter Briant, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jehovahs Witness, Age : 38, City : Melbourne, State : NA Country : Australia, Occupation : storeman, Education level : Less than High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class,The priest's vow of abstinence is a Church teaching. The command from the Bible is to abstain from fornication -sex outside of marriage, including adultery. Also, masturbation is called 'unclean conduct.' The Bible counsels us to 'deaden our body members.' That includes our sexual urges.User Detail :
Name : Peter Briant, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jehovahs Witness, Age : 38, City : Melbourne, State : NA Country : Australia, Occupation : storeman, Education level : Less than High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class,
