How to get depressed and then have a laugh and get depressed again

Troll!

Christianity and God's grace is something to celebrate and be excited about. Here's a good example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWKNG20Uneg

Better than getting depressed with the news channels and what man is doing to man.

Andrew

Mug!

Yeah celebrate God by giving them your card details,and most of the nasty things man does to man on the news is in the name of God.

And most of that twadle that you have bought into (did i spot Joyce Mayer)in the background?
Spends its time (when they arent taking money off you) convincing you of the evils of other religions,sad and depressing and you have a vote

BB

Whatever your views on religion, don't forget that this is business we are talking about. It can't be cheap to buy air time and to run the technical side of things. Without your donations, be it in the form of a credit card or your conversion to a particular faith (ie, you become an additional resource...) such channels would, I believe, cease within a very short time. Ditto shopping channels.

/dl

Have a look at Pastor Mannings views on Joyce Meyer,you can link off Andrews Youtube post,in fact have a gander at them all.

quote:

Originally posted by Andrew Randle:

Christianity and God's grace is something to celebrate and be excited about.

Except for the historical bits.

And Tammy Faye Bakker who sold the only makeup that Jesus approved of (well, she said he said it was the only makeup that he approved of...)

And the Roman Catholic priest sexual abuse scandals that seem to be worldwide.

And a few other things.

But other than those things, Christianity and God's grace are something to celebrate.

Never trust someone who tries to CONvince you that their religion is the only true faith.

They are all true to those who want to believe and should respect the right to be different.

Jono

Sure, nothing is for free. It's the way the world works. But Christianity should emphasise that the giving MUST come from the heart - something that some ministers choose to ignore when they talk about "tithing" (2 Cor 9:7 "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver"). Not such a "mug" after all...

Being the Yorkshireman I am, for me the best kind of Church would be one that meets in a public park, with volunteers, guitars and sound teaching etc. If that can be achieved regularly...

However if people are willing to pay more for a bolder and more expensive organisation, then that is their choice. An event like the one in the link would probably have been ticketed (like any ordinary event) and may have also asked for any voluntary donations. It's all down to choice.

quote:

Yeah celebrate God by giving them your card details,and most of the nasty things man does to man on the news is in the name of God.

Well we've already covered what I think of George Bush's so-called "Christianity". Going back to TV - it's likely you've been exposed to a lot of vested-interest atheist views. The nasty things man does tends to be done in his own name - whether it is egotistically driven murder or ramping up property prices in materialistic "Changing Locations" TV.

Andrew

The Universe is estimated to be 97 billion light years across,all made in 6 days and all for us and we are at the centre of it,fossil records records are, oh whats the point.

6 of who's days? Time accelerates as matter accelerates. God's "days" are not 24 hours... particularly when he exists outside of our "timezone" - a "day" is merely a marker.

Not necessarily all for us, but all for God...

Andrew

Er time slows down as matter accelarates,a Christian giving a science lesson,as i said whats the point.

In even deeper depression BB

Inside or outside the phenomenon?

Think it through... time inside the phenomenon (us) slows - relative to the "day" outside the phenomenon (God)...

Think it through.

Andrew (No you can't have my D.Phil... )

Yes you are right,it all makes perfect sense now.

quote:

Originally posted by Andrew Randle:
Sure, nothing is for free...Going back to TV - it's likely you've been exposed to a lot of vested-interest atheist views...

Andrew

I don't think atheist TV asks me to give them money though...

What is God?

Serious question. Anyone?

/dl

It's no good asking me i haven't a clue,i bet he is a Tune guy though and his pace on the speed of light would be right on the money,just Andrews kind of guy.

BB

Guys, I'm beginning to feel uncomfortable now. Your frightening me. Please, please let's not get all hung up on religion in here. If you want to believe in a "supreme being" then knock yourselves out. I personally don't believe that any other person in this world has more worth than ME, apart that is from YOU. Kings, Queens, Popes, Immams etc, none have any more worth than YOU or ME. The merit they appear to have is that they pedal this myth that their position is God given and from the first day of school (for many before that)we are continually told this as truth. O.K. so believe me, you don't want to hear the rest of my diatribe on religion. Why, because it is opposite to your (non secular) belief. My question to the religious fanatics(of all persuasions). WHY THE F*** DO YOU THINK I HAVE TO LISTEN TO YOURS. (insert foaming at the mouth smiley). If I've got it wrong then I take the red hot pokers shoved up my wassiname. NOT YOU. On that, may your God bless you ...and leave me the f*** alone. Amen

I always understood that God was this big hairy guy on a Harley.
How did we get onto religion again?

quote:

I personally don't believe that any other person in this world has more worth than ME

With all due respect Howlinhounddog, that sounds a bit sad. I'm not talking about the people you mention, but loved ones...I'm sure you'd stand in the way of a bullet for them just as I would for mine. Or even me taking a bullet for your loved ones or you taking a bullet for mine? Sounds simplistic, but I think in the end that's what it all boils down to, and the belief bit is just working out why we would do that, but in reality why not just accept it and get on with something more constructive. I don't know why we have this compulsion to prod it all the time.
It's also a strange introverted kind of thing when people examine their beliefs and end up being overly self-focused instead of outwards looking, which is exactly the opposite of the clergy who concern themselves with pushing it out all the time, which is a much healthier mindset, and of course, a paradox. That's why Andrew says "Christianity and God's grace is something to celebrate and be excited about", because he's pushing it outwards instead of agonising on his own problems.
It's just a belief thing - if you belive, you are off and away like Andrew and that's fantastic, but if you try to believe, like a forced effort, you'll just be overwhelmed at how far short you fall and it just brings you down further, and you're only going to be looking for something like this if you are feeling vulnerable in the first place, so it's doubly a downer. It's a right old conundrum.

quote:

With all due respect Howlinhounddog, that sounds a bit sad

It would indeed be sad Rasher, if you had not taken the quotation out of context

quote:

apart that is from YOU

I was merely trying to make the point that we are all equal "Yes, we are all individuals" (sorry, Python moment there)
I actually agree with you about the "how did we get on to religion again" theme. As to taking a bullet for each others loved ones. I'll give you 100-1 that the idiot pulling the trigger would be some religious nut (of whatever religious flavour)

Sorry - I read it as "apart that is from you - to you" - if you see what I mean. As in we all think the same.
But..we agree then.

I know inteligent people who believe in God, and inteligent people who decided do not. I am not inteligent, so my view on this s does not count, but I have one for myself, and will pray for those who believe as I cannot see how it can do any possible harm, if it does no good...

I hope those who know me personally, rather than people who read my words here and get a lopsided view I am sure, think that I look outwards, though thoughtful reflection tends to be a question of examining one's own failings, whether it is religion telling me I am unworthy, or me working it out for myself...

ATB from Fredrik

quote:

I'll give you 100-1 that the idiot pulling the trigger would be some religious nut

Yeah, that'll be the one that's looking for something and finds only that they are even further away from their religious ideals than they first thought. It's probably unfair to blame the religion though, because these people clearly don't represent them.

I hoped the capital letters would help my poor sentence construction. I'm glad we agree though

quote:

Originally posted by Fredrik_Fiske:
whether it is religion telling me I am unworthy, or me working it out for myself...

Bollocks! I'm not having that Fredrik. Unworthy? If you are unworthy, then I hate to think where the rest of us are.
Just promise me you won't get a gun, huh?!

I would like to see the religious leaders of the world distancing themselves very forcefully when the acts of terrorism are and mayhem are done "allegedly" in the name of religion. Am I alone in thinking that many take the views of religious leaders very seriously?

The fact that this distancing seems all too often mild [sometimes even non-existent], and not reiterated at any good opportunity is rather serious blot on all the major religions of the world.

ATB from Fredrik

No, you were clear, it was my take on it.