the bible = the tree of the knowledge of good and evil () Jesus = the tree of life

[Michael111]

The bible

 

It is a book containing the knowledge of good and evil.

 

The forbidden fruit was not an apple. The fruit of a tree is also paper. And upon the pages of the bible is the knowledge of good and evil. The bible is poisoned with the knowledge of evil.

 

Ritualistic animal sacrifices, ceremonies incorporating the blood of dead animals, superstitious numbers, curses, evil spirits, dark prophecies... all in the bible.

 

Plotting, conspiracy, mass-murder, betrayal, genocide, slavery, suffering, wars... all in the bible.

 

A book is not 'Holy' if it contains the knowledge of evil, Satan, the devil, demons...

 

It is darkness. It is contaminated. It is unclean. It is poison.

 

Religion is the church of the poison mind. Minds poisoned by the knowledge of evil. People are deceived by religion.

 

The kingdom of God is within us all. Not within the pages of a book containing the knowledge of evil. I have recently shut it for good. I will not touch, nor taste of it again.

 

Because of Jesus Christ, I'm back in the land of the living. I've torn off my fig-leaf, and am returning to Eden. I am who God made me to be. The shame, guilt, and confusion is past-tense.

 

Thank You Jesus.

 

The Tree of Life = Jesus Christ

 

Eat freely from this tree and be saved.

 

 

------------------------

 

 

"Imagine" - John Lennon

 

Imagine there's no heaven,

It's easy if you try,

No hell below us,

Above us only sky,

Imagine all the people

living for today...

 

Imagine there's no countries,

It isnt hard to do,

Nothing to kill or die for,

No religion too,

Imagine all the people

living life in peace...

 

Imagine no possesions,

I wonder if you can,

No need for greed or hunger,

A brotherhood of man,

Imagine all the people

Sharing all the world...

 

You may say I'm a dreamer,

but I'm not the only one,

I hope some day you'll join us,

And the world will live as one.

 

 

Jesus is the answer!

 

Michael111

[Reborn Outcast]

Well I'm a Christian, and honestly, I have no idea what you're talking about. The Bible poisoned by evil? The Bible has those stories in them in order to teach about why evil is bad.

 

But yes, I agree with Jed, are you trying to convert people to your "religion?"

[XERXES]

All you need is Faith, not a book. I remember that throughout history Roman Catholics when they read from their Latin Bibles, translate it differently to manipulate the people, and of course the people believed them. You can truly get by with Faith alone.

 

Reborn he is making an analogy.

 

But the Bible has a lot to offer, simply shutting it out of your system sounds arrogant to me. But whatever you feel is necessary is fine by me.

[Elijah]

Without evil we would have no good, without the bible to point that evil out to us, what would we know as truth? you cant have black without white my friend, you cant have good without evil.

 

Man sinned, evil was in the world, God sent Jesus christ into the world, so we may have a standard to have and a basis of truth.

[leXX]

I'm sure there is a point to this thread somewhere. Where, I dunno, but in the meantime I can see this turning into a deep and meaningful, so I'm gonna stick it in the Chambers.

[Datheus]

Well, personally, I agree with him.

 

I think people get too caught up in the methods of religion rather than just let it happen, if you will...

 

It's about the feeling, not some dead guy and a book.

 

Though, I shall now thwap you for telling me I'm not to be saved otherwise.

 

*thwap*

[Neverhoodian]

*NOTE* These are my own beliefs on the matter. I am not trying to convert anyone, just stating my point of view.

 

How can you have faith in Jesus and say you aren't part of a religion? The very fact that you do spiritually believe in something makes it a religion. Besides, how are you going to believe in Jesus if you reject the only work that has explained Him? How would you know that Jesus is good if you think the very work that says so is tripe?

 

Moreover, without the Bible, how can you be convinced that Jesus is the only way to salvation? Mohammed and Buhdda are said to have taught similar values and lessons that Jesus did. Yet how did you come to the conclusion that Jesus of the Bible is the way to salvation rather than Mohammed of the Koran or Buhdda of the Buhddist spiritual writings? Besides, how would we have ever known that Jesus even existed if not for the Bible? Dedicated monks from the Middle Ages worked tirelessly to write copies of the Bible so its teachings would not be lost. If not for their efforts, we would have forgotton Jesus completely.

 

Believing in Jesus and not the Bible is akin to believing in food but not water. We need both for our physical well-being. Likewise, we need both Jesus and the Bible for our spiritual well-being. Yes, the Bible does cover great tragedies and sorrow, but it does not glorify them. The evil did not originate from the Bible; it came from Satan. The Bible shows evil in order to warn us not to follow the path of the wicked and all the bad that comes from it. But the Bible shows great triumphs and hope, too. It promises eternal salvation and happiness for all those who believe in both Jesus Christ and the Bible's teachings. The only way we know all this is because the Bible has told us. Without the Bible, we would have known nothing of salvation.

[SkinWalker]

Please Note:

 

The Senate Singularity has been fed.

[XERXES]

I consider most Asain religions completely different than Christianity. Why? Because they teach you how to find your inner self(but what do you really gain from that other than the "oh I feel smart" feeling?). Christianity is about finding Christ.

[Jared]

to be honest I respect Buddhism....and Asian religions in general....more than Christianity...and related religions....because, Christianity seems to focus on the blind worshiping of something...or someone...that....for all we know doesn't exist....and Buddhism....is something that focuses more on yourself....to find inner peace....I mean....isn't that what everyone wants?

it seemed like a forbidden idea from people who, for centuries had worshiped a God....

 

 

As far as finding a "Christ"...I never understood that.

the more people tried to explain it the more frustrated I got.

it simply does not make any sense to me.

 

I mean I suppose its a nice feeling, to seemingly blindly assume...that we are saved...from hell....which....obviously no one wants to burn in hell....but what’s to say there even is a hell?

too much doesn't seem to add up for me, hence, I abandoned religion altogether.

 

 

for all I know, religion is simply a tool used over the centuries to control the masses.....and although I don't want to burn in hell, I have decided there is no hell.

because where is the fact?

Where is the proof?

faith is all.... people who follow any religion....have.

we never see it with our own eyes....we are told it...and we believe it....doesn't it seem a bit....suspicious??

 

 

At all?

[rccar328]

Believing in Jesus and not the Bible is akin to believing in food but not water. We need both for our physical well-being. Likewise, we need both Jesus and the Bible for our spiritual well-being. Yes, the Bible does cover great tragedies and sorrow, but it does not glorify them. The evil did not originate from the Bible; it came from Satan. The Bible shows evil in order to warn us not to follow the path of the wicked and all the bad that comes from it. But the Bible shows great triumphs and hope, too. It promises eternal salvation and happiness for all those who believe in both Jesus Christ and the Bible's teachings. The only way we know all this is because the Bible has told us. Without the Bible, we would have known nothing of salvation.

 

I wholeheartedly agree.

 

I don't know what's going on with Michael111, but that first post definitely wierded me out.

 

After all, how can someone believe in Jesus & reject the Bible when the Bible is the book that tells us about His life?

[taoistimmortal]

It sounds like an over reaction to me. Hey Mike you got to suffer the evil to understand the good. There's no getting around it because if you refuse the evil that is contained in the bible how will you ever be capable of dealing with it in the real world when it rises right in front of you. It's an interesting thread though leads to good thoughts.

[Astrotoy7]

Wow, Michael111, thats gotta be the heaviest first post in history. My first post was like "I like Star Wars, yeaaaah !!!"

 

As much as I enjoy scholarly debate, religion is a topic I am loathe to discuss because many have such an emotional perception of religion(understably so, I guess). In the end it is inevitably becomes difficult (to the point of impossible) to have a *rational* discussion about it...

 

*goes back to start "I like Star Wars!! Yeeaah !!! Do you ?!!" thread*

 

MTFBWYA

[Elijah]

Originally posted by Neverhoodian

Moreover, without the Bible, how can you be convinced that Jesus is the only way to salvation? Mohammed and Buhdda are said to have taught similar values and lessons that Jesus did. Yet how did you come to the conclusion that Jesus of the Bible is the way to salvation rather than Mohammed of the Koran or Buhdda of the Buhddist spiritual writings? Besides, how would we have ever known that Jesus even existed if not for the Bible? Dedicated monks from the Middle Ages worked tirelessly to write copies of the Bible so its teachings would not be lost. If not for their efforts, we would have forgotton Jesus completely.

Buddah or Mohammed never died for my screw ups... last I checked,

[Tyrion]

Originally posted by ZDawg

Buddah or Mohammed never died for my screw ups... last I checked,

 

Oh yeah, instead they taught that you have to work to fix your sins.

[Elijah]

Which makes no sense, as we read basicly (half) of the same bible, and we are saved by grace, not good deeds or works.

[Ray Jones]

Originally posted by ZDawg

Which makes no sense, as we read basicly (half) of the same bible, and we are saved by grace, not good deeds or works.

 

1. grace does not feed me nor does it keep me warm and healthy. grace doesnt keeps me alive, work (or it's results) does.

2. grace saves us from what? hunger? pain? cold? death? desease?

[Kain]

Originally posted by RayJones

2. grace saves us from what? hunger? pain? cold? death? desease?

 

Falling on your face. Oh Divine Grace? It saves you from being damned by all these over-zealous religious types that tend to come at us from all directions. That and eternal damnation...if you're into believing such non-sense.

[taoistimmortal]

Originally posted by ZDawg

Which makes no sense, as we read basicly (half) of the same bible, and we are saved by grace, not good deeds or works.

 

ZDAWG I dont know how to put this any other way but you seem to be befouled by the worst aspects of christian indoctrination. You are not even capable of perceiving the much more far reaching scope of eastern religions. As Tyrion said earlier eastern religons make YOU responsible for your self. If you are to attain anything great YOU must actively work to change it. There is no cop out of asking God for forgiveness, or redemption. YOU are responsible of redeeming yourself. Which in a way is what Christianity teaches anyway.

[Elijah]

First of all, you dont know me and know nothing of how I live my life, with that being said do I not have as much right to believe in christianity as you do in a eastern religion? and have I told you that eastern religion is the wrong religion? no? woops!, look whos being the christian stero type now!

[Tyrion]

Originally posted by ZDawg

Which makes no sense, as we read basicly (half) of the same bible, and we are saved by grace, not good deeds or works.

 

Mohammmed's Koran is almost the same as The Bible, but what Buddha teaches is wholly different.

[Elijah]

You and I can read a book, and tell people what we think about it, and even though we both read the EXACT same book, our views can be VERY different... does that make either of us right? or wrong?

[Elijah]

Originally posted by taoistimmortal

ZDAWG I dont know how to put this any other way but you seem to be befouled by the worst aspects of christian indoctrination.

Ill try to say this without being a complete jerk, but why is it, when a Christian so much as points to what he believes, he is an indoctrinated extremist?, but the second an atheist, Buddhist, Muslim, or any other "religion" says anything about their what they believe, its ok because they are simply "saying what they believe". I don’t know how to put this Taos, but you seem to have a bad case of Christian bias, which is as bad as a Christian extremist, or Buddhist, Muslim or atheist for that matter.

[rccar328]

Ill try to say this without being a complete jerk, but why is it, when a Christian so much as points to what he believes, he is an indoctrinated extremist?, but the second an atheist, Buddhist, Muslim, or any other "religion" says anything about their what they believe, its ok because they are simply "saying what they believe".

 

I don't think Christians can say much of anything about what they believe without being written off as complete jerks (or indoctrinated bigots, hate mongers, intolerant racist nazi warmongering hateful anti-semitic ignorant extremists). The new trend out there today is to accept "alternative" religions such as Islam, various Eastern religions, and to some extent Judaism in the name of "tolerance," all the while putting down Christianity as being intolerant.

 

The problem is that the same people who tout tolerance as the world's highest goal are not willing to be tolerant themselves.

[SkinWalker]

Originally posted by rccar328

I don't think Christians can say much of anything about what they believe without being written off as complete jerks (or indoctrinated bigots, hate mongers, intolerant racist nazi warmongering hateful anti-semitic ignorant extremists).

 

I can't speak for others that post here, but I can for myself. What I find objectionable about christianity is that it, being the dominant cult in America, is intolerant of other religions and worldviews. I understand why, I just think that the christian voice needs to be countered as a balance in order to maintain religious freedom in the United States.

 

I don't believe that being christian automatically makes one a bigot, racist, nazi, etc., in fact I think most christians are anything but, however, there is a correlation between fanatism and religion, whether it be christianity, islam, judaism, etc.

 

I'm skeptical of any group that touts itself as having the right or correct worldview. I consider myself to be on the outside of theism, while at the same time remaining compassionate of the theists. But, being on the outside, I consider all world religions to be equally valid or correct.

 

I do, however, believe that there are religions in the world that have more credibility than others. I base credibility level on the religion's compassion and tolerance for the beliefs of those that chose not to follow it. In short, some religions are less religiocentric than others. Native American religions are a primary example as are some Eastern religions, mainly Buddhism. Perhaps there are even denominations of christianity that are not judgemental toward other religions, though I've not yet discovered them.

 

I've studied many world religions, I must say that (from the outside of theism) there are many aspects of christianity that are similar in cult extreme to, say, West African cults that believe witches fly into the night to prey on the those alone in the jungle. Try explaining Holy Communion to a West African: "first we eat the body of Christ then drink his blood.... Christ? Oh, that's the dude nailed to the trees over the altar."

 

Originally posted by rccar328

The new trend out there today is to accept "alternative" religions such as Islam, various Eastern religions, and to some extent Judaism in the name of "tolerance," all the while putting down Christianity as being intolerant.

 

But christianity is intolerant. From the christian point of view, if you don't accept christ as a savior and believe in him, you aren't favored for eternal life. But then most religions are intolerant, and necessarily so. The purpose of the priesthood in a religion is to create order and maintain the status quo by indicating what is appropriate and what is not, directing the leity in their rituals, setting a heirarchy for religious officials and leity, etc. One way to ensure membership of a religion is to create an other, which consists of the non-believers.

 

Islam does it. Hinduism does it. Judaism does it. Buddhism does it (though in a very subtle way). Christianity does it.

 

Interestingly enough, the religions that I've noticed the least of this (creation of the other and subsequent scorn of it) are aboriginal ones that lack complex heirarchies. These are often the religions that have the most credibility to me, since they stress connections to the earth and the universe around us and point out that Man is of the earth and therefore part of it. Modern religions, however, stress the temporary nature of earth and stress that Man is the central factor which is a symptom of complex organization and religious officials securing their powerbase.

 

I think it is very likely that judeo-christian religion was once less complex and more 'earth-central,' if you will, but evolved into what we have now. One can see the complexities by looking at the judeo-christian History and noting the development of the Bible, Torah, and even the Qu'uran. The bible, for instance, is largely comprised of relgious texts and letters that significant religious figures in antiquity felt were significant. What is left out of the bible is likely very telling of the culture of the time, and perhaps the reason why it was left out. I point to the book of Thomas as but one example.

 

Originally posted by rccar328

The problem is that the same people who tout tolerance as the world's highest goal are not willing to be tolerant themselves.

 

Or perhaps they are intolerant of intolerance! Or, at the very least, the limitation of religious blinders that only allow a narrow perspective.

 

I don't know how you, as a christian, will perceive this post, but I assure you it was intended for intellectual discussion and not as a beratement of your religion.