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Unreal Christianity - 12/4/2008 10:43:52 AM
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veritedonato
Posts: 1
Joined: 12/4/2008
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I am troubled by the ever-growing fanaticism in the religion known as Christianity. It seems to me that of recently, this religion has become traditionalistic, complacent (approaching stagnation), and abjectly refusing to acknowledge any other way. This concerns me, as anyone with any brains should realize that stagnation is the quickest way for any group, any race, any civilization to die. Furthermore, questions arise in my mind. Shouldn't we be allowed to believe what we want to believe, even if that conflicts with the status quo in the major religions? How much of the truth do
the major religions hold, and how much is based upon the desire to keep its believers "in the fold", so to speak? These questions all relate to the core concept of reality; what is it? We do not have a frame of reference to determine the true nature of reality, and therefore all religions are merely stating claims to the truth .. not the actual truth.
One might propose that Christianity has become a cult. However, this is undefined. What is a cult? Commonly recognized cults are, for instance, the Mormons and the Jehovah Witnesses.
What typifies these cults from a "religion" such as Christianity? Is there any difference? One aspect of a cult is extreme evangelism. Extreme evangelism involves forcing people to convert,
which occurred after 261 AD, when Emperor Gallienus declared Christianity to be an official religion. It has also occurred in the modern day, with over-zealous Christians seeking to convert anyone they come in contact with. I have seen churches proclaim that you must evangelize to everyone to be a good Christian. The silent part is "even if they are unwilling", whether they want to be converted or not.
Hyperexclusivism is the practice in religions of declaring anyone who is not part of that religion to be damned, lost, and condemned. It also involves a small, exclusive set of people. Although you could argue that Christianity is not small, it IS exclusive. Although Christians say openly that God will accept anyone, you have to be the one to accept, and if you don't .. you are lost. Hence the aggressive evangelism seen in both past and present day.
We all consider brainwashing to be evil and wrong. David Koresh, leader of the Branch Davidian religious sect, is one of the best modern day examples of a cult and it's destructive potential. However, have you ever considered that brainwashing might be active in Christianity as well .. subtle as it might be? Consider: brainwashing is subtly convincing people that something is true, whether or not it is. When we raise our children to the Christian ideals, we may think we are doing well for our children, and at the start perhaps we are. As time passes, though, the children may become rebellious and stay away from anything their parents love, or become so clingy to their parents' ideals that they can't function in society as well. Neither is healthy or natural. I agree that parents should have some influence on their children, but one should consider the impact of what they are teaching their children. Christianity does not have all the truth, it has some true aspects, and some false ones. This is reality.
Another aspect of cults is financial exploitation. There are Christian organizations whose primary focus is fundraising, and there is deceit involved sometimes in order to line the leaders' pockets. Anyone who has studied the Bible will see a direct contradiction between being a follower of Jesus and focusing on material wealth. The plain fact is, when you bring business into religion, there is an abrupt turnabout: the manager of the business cares more about his paycheck and the financial solvency of the company than in the ideals of his religion.
I am not saying individual Christians are bad, or evil, or any such thing. I am not, in fact, saying individual members of any religion or cult are evil. What I am saying is that I think the time for organized religion has come to an end, because the organizations that are managing these religions have grown far too complacent and set in their ways, and are becoming less able to adapt, to change their attitude. In reality, you either change or you don't, and if you do not change you will be unable to see the possibilities of the future. With that, I leave you these words:
"For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen "
Sources
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http://www.jesuscentral.com/ji/historical-jesus/jesus-after.php
http://www.rationalchristianity.net/xian_cult.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord's_Prayer
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RE: Unreal Christianity - 12/4/2008 12:23:49 PM
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SuspenseWriter
Posts: 470
Joined: 2/22/2008
Status: online
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I think the fact almost nobody who posts here is a fan of the Universalism you're espousing (and I'm certainly not) is indicative as to why no one has replied to this dense piece of propaganda. It'll soon sink of its own weight. Perhaps a non-Christian site might be better suited for this? Just a thought.
_____________________________
John Robinson
writer of suspense...obviously!
www.johnrobinsonbooks.com
http://www.johnrobinsonbooks.com/my-journal/
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RE: Unreal Christianity - 12/29/2008 9:35:17 PM
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Messiahsking
Posts: 5
Joined: 12/29/2008
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You have made a specific point but not altogether true or factual. True Christianity is when a born again believer has been empowered by the Holy Spirit by the anointing of the Lord Jesus Christ, to not only be Christ-like in mind, spirit and body but to do the works of Christ by casting out devils, laying hands on the sick, restoring sight to the blind, allowing the lame to walk again and raising the dead to life again. This is only one part of the Christian walk as in fulfilling their calling as a true king of the Lord Jesus. The other part is their Priesthood..Every born again spirit filled Christian has the rights and authority as a king but as in their priesthood, are able to go into the most holy place of God, where divine relationship and fellowship takes place by true worship, praise and thanksgiving..Christians who have not experienced this anointing from Christ, are missing the mark of true Christianity.. Christians are to be Christ-like..To be just like Christ and when they are anything other, they are carnal, self indulged, self willed, self ruled, and some, even used by Satan Himself. The holy Scriptures clearly state that those who are lead by the Holy Spirit of God, they are the children of God. The Holy Spirit leads us to Jesus, glorifies Jesus on our behalf and teaches us just how to be more like Christ in both works and deeds but those who are not being lead by the Holy Spirit are in fact being guided by an unholy evil spirit of Antichrist, and displays it's carnel nature in the same sense to do evil instead of that which is good.. Prince Danny
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