BellaOnline Forums Religion and Spirituality Spirituality Religious Superiority

Hi Jase..

I fail to see why any omnipotent and all powerful deity would require it's followers to be dunked like a donut..lol... Purification was very important in ancient Hebrew traditions.. especially among the Pharisees. They had very strict rules and regulations regarding everything from clothing (white robes) to not touching a menstruating woman. And, a whole lot of the dietary restrictions about meat and dairy were actually hygenic practices regarding contamination.

So, I guess I can understand the principle of being immersed in water as a part of that purification process. Strange beings we humans are.

Amadeus said:

"Baptism is mandatory because you have to "wash away the old flesh" and put on new flesh. Yes, it is a public declaration that you are going to follow Jesus but there are also many verses in the bible that says "you must be born again of water and of the spirit to inherit the Kingdom of God."


So then, Only baptized Christians get recognized by God - if there is one. Jesus will send every baby who died before baptism to hell - if there is one, and every spiritual person who comes from another religion or belief system will also be sent by your 'loving God and compassionate Jesus' - speedily to hell? is that what you are saying your God of Love does?

No wonder I reckon Christianity is a religion of fear. It threatens even its own unbaptized children!

Crikley, that's one for the books! I'd avoid this religion like the plague! Why? Because your God hasn't a clue what love really is. He's still back in pre-historic times of human sacrifice and spiritual blackmail.

My opinion anyway.

Percy.

You have a point Percy. That is what I mean by religious superiority. When someone TELLS you that there is only one way for your soul to avoid an eternity of misery and suffering, it inspires argument. I don't mind someone saying that a certain religion works for them.. and that it brings them joy.. FINE!!

But when someone starts to insist that what they believe applies to me and mine also... then I have to stand up and say.. No it does not.. no matter what you want to say otherwise.

Christianity is not a 'truth' it is a belief, and therefore its rules and regulations do not apply to those who do not believe.

It really grates on me when I say that I don't believe in the Christian God and someone tells me.. "He believes in you."

That to me is religious superiority at its worst.

*sigh* Look if you all do not want to believe in God or in Jesus or in the Bible then that is fine. That is free will. You also won't know the love that He has for you or the blessings that He can bring to you.

My God, the great I Am, El Shaddai, Jehovah, the Alpha and Omega, the Creator of Heaven and Earth truly does exist and He is an awesome God.

I am done defending Him because He told me that He no longer needs me to do that here. I've talked about His Love, Mercy, Grace and Favor enough.

Percy, God will not send babies to Hell nor will He send those who do not have full mental capacity. Yes, there are a lot of mysteries in God and for His reasons we are not yet to know them.

Linda, yes you do a lot of good works but it isn't works that will get you into Heaven, it is the Faith in God and the belief of Jesus dying for your sins that will get you into Heaven.

I am sorry that you don't believe and I am sorry you get angered when someone tells you that He loves you.
If you knew Jesus on a personal level, then you wouldn't be so angry.

So, I am done defending Him and will do it no more. If someone has a question, I will answer it to the best of my knowledge and ability.

Every time I answer a question or respond to a post, someone gets angry and spews that anger on here and calls me names or gets mad at God and then I get blamed for heated debates. So I am done.

You go on living without Jesus and you will go on without His blessings that He wants you to receive.

I will still pray for you all and hope that someday you will come to know the Lord.

I love you all in Jesus Christ.

And we love you too, Amadeus. Really we do.

Thank you, Alexandra.

Don't thank me, it's true.
you have a great heart, Amadeus, and your affections and intentions all point in the right direction. We may not all be in agreement on many things, but that you have warmth and loving kindness about you is more than evident. It is tangible.

At least, that is my perception. Others may differ in their opinions, but I doubt it.

Amadeus.. You don't love me.. you tolerate me in what you consider to be 'your world'. And, obviously, you don't wish to tolerate me in what you consider to be 'your afterlife.'

That would be like me saying "You are a wonderful person Amadeus, but I know that no matter what you do, your soul is doomed to eternal suffering forever. No problem though, all you have to do is "see it my way," and you can have an afterlife full of joy. All you have to do is compromise your principles, agree that you have the authority to speak for the force of Creation, and totally disregard any one else's belief as being as relevant as your own."

Sorry, I don't buy that. That kind of "love" has caused many a war. That kind of "love" has caused nothing but hatred, fear, racism, and intolerance throughout history.

And, as I have said before.. I do not accept prayers that are said against my will geared toward attempting to change my beliefs. That only serves to make me even more determined to take a stand against religious superiority and arrogance.

"Do not walk in front of me, I will not follow, don't walk behind me, I will not lead. Just walk beside me and be my friend." I guess you haven't learned the meaning of that yet Amadeus.

Knowing Jesus is not just about the glorious after life, it is about the love and peace and blessings that He can bring you now.

How very Christian of you Amadeus to assume that I do not know Jesus. I probably know more about his life and times than you do. I have read everything I could get my hands on about the man.

I have read his story in the Bible, in the Gnostic Gospels, and I have also studied Jewish law and traditions of that time period. I know that his name most likely was Yeshua or Yoshua and that his last name may have been Ben Miriam. I know that his mother Mary was most likely an essene, and that he was most likely born in either the fall or the spring.

Through the Gnostic Gospels, I have seen him emerge through the eyes of Thomas, Mary and Judas. And, I like what I see.

So, yes, I do know Jesus. And, yes, I admire him as the greatest spiritual teacher who ever lived.

The problem is yours not mine Amadeus...You just can't accept that I could "know" Jesus in any way except the way THAT YOU WANT ME TO.