[Darragh2]

Just plain old Roman Catholic, always have been, always will be.

[neuro-praxis]

McGinty, Jesus taught the absolute only way to salvation was through him.

Do you believe that? Or do you only believe bits of what he taught?

[Victor]

NP, you sound very direct there!

Originally posted by neuro-praxis
Jesus taught the absolute only way to salvation was through him.

Jesus taught that loving and forgiveness and minding the children were the ways to heaven, that is the core to Christianity, not that one has to believe in Jesus.

[neuro-praxis]

Nope. Sorry Victor, you're wrong.

He said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).

He also said, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit" (John 3:5). And a little bit later in the same book he says, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life" (John 4).

Originally posted by Victor:

Jesus taught that loving and forgiveness and minding the children were the ways to heaven, that is the core to Christianity, not that one has to believe in Jesus

The core to Christianity is that Christ hung on a cross and died to save the world from its sin through his Father's incredible love and grace. The core to Christianity is about what God and Christ have done, not what we can do. The bible states explicitly that it is through faith, and not actions, that we get salvation.

Thank goodness! Because if I could only get to heaven through being a "good person" I sure as hell wouldn't be getting in.

[Vuk]

Born a Catholic, subscribed to the whole Catholic thing until 14, even thought I had a "calling" or "vocation" but once I relaised that those who participate in organised religion lead lives no better or worse than the "common person", I bailed out. I find the whole it's ok so long as I say I'm sorry to Jesus thing repulsive.

Originally posted by neuro-praxis
The bible states explicitly that it is through faith, and not actions, that we get salvation.

Thank goodness! Because if I could only get to heaven through being a "good person" I sure as hell wouldn't be getting in.

Wonderful, I can now abandon my good nature, take up a faith in Jesus and ensure my way to heaven!

But to rationalise your statement, a true faith in Jesus should reflect your actions, it's all or nothing I'm afraid.


I believe in Jesus, I belive the Bible holds many valuable leasons, however I will not live my life to the letter of a book poisoned by the human condition. Take for example; Jesus spoke in parables, which like poetry can be told to a group of people, each and every one will take home their own interpretation of what they had listened to, depending on their frame of mind and life experiences. I deal with people in business everyday, even when I explain something in a simple manner, they sometimes respond, not to what I have said but to what they wanted to hear. So taking all the authors of the bible, are you saying that they were perfect beings (Judas??), unbiased and unaffected by influences to produce the exact wording of Jesus, could you be living a very human lie instead of the Divine word??



Blessed are the cheese-makers

[neuro-praxis]

Vuk said:

But to rationalise your statement, a true faith in Jesus should reflect your actions, it's all or nothing I'm afraid.

I totally agree. And realistically, I'm a better person than I was before I was a Christian. With faith comes a desire to do what's right, so I'm with you there.

On your other points, I disagree. Whilst it's true that people can take varied interpretations of everything they read, that doesn't mean that there's no truth to be found within the passages, and from my experience, working through biblical passages, analysing context and varying translations, usually leads you pretty close to the truth or actual intended meaning of the parables. Working with other people keeps you in line aswell.

Which parables do you think are confusing by the way? Most of them are quite clear-cut, with the exception of two confusing ones I can think of.

Also, no, I don't think the bible writers were perfect, far from it. Paul referred to himself as the worst of the sinners, and David committed just about every wrong you could think of. But I do believe that the bible is God-breathed, and I trust it. It is possible for a taste of perfection to come from an imperfect source, touched by actual perfection.

[Yoda]

It's hard to apply labels like this, but as I have started posting on this board I should give it a try...

Baptized Presbyterian -> a little generic Protestantism growing up -> interest in Wicca (11) -> interest in Star Trek and X-Men (i.e. no interest in religion) -> interest in Hinduism (15) -> interest in Christianity (15) -> confirmed Anglican Catholic (17) -> Theosophy &c. (20) -> Buddhism (21-40)

... is more or less accurate. A friend says that I am a rather Anglican Buddhist.