It's a matter of faith, and faith is a gift that we, ourselves, cannot craft.

We must admit we are helpless without Him and must ask for His help.

Trusting in our own mental powers instead of God, who created the universe and perfectly timed the earth's orbit and tides, is idolatry.

The scriptural accounts of the Flood, the Tower of Babel and the Golden Calf tell clearly how God views idolatry, and how mortals scheming, planning and crafting without him never prevail.

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

Ephesians 2 NIV - Made Alive in Christ - As for you, you - Bible Gateway

1 Corinthians 13.13

" and now abideth faith, hope, and charity(love), these three: but the greateat of these is charity(love) "

Pretty good stuff!

Another saying is "don't support the greedy, only the needy". :jester:

Seriously, everyone should have the right to worship as they please without someone shoving a different point of view down their throats. I have met people like this, and I find it very off putting to say the least. IMHO

While waiting for my family to catch up with me on a company transfer I stopped by this bar which offered free goodies (pizza chicken wings, etc) I ordered a beer and the young lady bartender asked me my name. As it is an Italian surname she immediately replied with you must be Catholic to which I countered "nominal catholic" and to which she countered replied "well I am "Roman Catholic.

I make this point because many of us have spent our entire lives on a journey of discovery as to life, the nature of God, true belief the true church etc.

Too often I find people who wear their religion like a badge. While others scoff at the thought of a supreme being as an invention of men to control other men.

After all of the ups and downs my conclusion is that while I am alive I will never know the truth. Will it be revealed in death????

So what do I do in the meantime? I had loving parents as did my wife. They believed in doing good deeds. They believed in hand ups but discouraged continual hand outs. They believed in fair play, honesty integrated and morality. They believed in the benefits of unselfish acts. They believed that for whatever reason(s) prayer was helpful and useful be it spiritual physical or psychological. They believed all people should be treated with respect. They believed in forgiveness. Essentially they were good and honest Christians in thought word and deed

Whether following my death I am drawn to the white light of everlasting life or to nothingness I will know that instance before my last breath that I led a good life and that I was a good man and as such that is how I will be judged and remembered.

And if they have trouble making choices

https://scontent-a-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/...10075144_n.jpg

Deep and thought provoking but succinct. Thank you.

BTW, the post you were responding to is a cut and paste from a parody religion, The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

It is not a "parody" religion. It is a religion replete with a supernatural being who is full of mystery, a book of truths, holidays (lots of holidays), traditions, foods and symbols you can wear around your neck and place on your car. As a Pastafarian I would expect the FSM to treated with the same reverence and respect any other person would expect their religion to receive.

You are someone I admire Rubicon.

And to the others who are making a bit of fun.

There are no athiests in a foxhole, or if your child has cancer.

Peace to all. Don't put others down for their sincere beliefs, even if they are not yours. First do no harm.

Bless you too!

My GOD knows how naughty or nice I've been and he will judge me accordingly when the day comes!

We are all children of God no matter what you wish or think or believe, even if you don't believe in God you are a child of God. God didn't send Jesus only for those that are "good" or wish health and happiness on all. Jesus said so when questioned as to why he spends time with sinners. Also its hard to imagine Jesus as a socialist if you read what he said in whole and in context.

While I agree living a life of faith in Jesus is the way to go it does not take time and practice to be a true believer, because of his faith Jesus said to the thief on the cross next to him that today you will be with me in paradise. He didn't say because you don't have time and practice your faith doesn't count

This thread was resurrected for some reason not known to me. Anyway I reviewed all the posts and found one at the beginning wherein the poster said "God helps those who help themselves." To demonstrate the difficulty with discussing religion which is essentially really have a philosophical discussion ..one can also say that "God punishes those who help themselves." Just ask some of those believers sitting in jail at this moment:D

"We are all children of GOD", and "GOD didn't make any junk". :smiley:

This thread has bounced around so much that I probably shouldn't try to even respond at all, but I'm irrestibly drawn to making a couple of remarks.

1. Jesus was neither a Socialist nor a Communist. Both terms apply to forms of government in which sharing of wealth and labor are coerced by the government. Jesus never suggested coerced sharing.

2. The original post of the thread is incorrect in implying that simply wishing "health and happiness on all regardless of their social status or the amount in their bank account" makes a person a Christian. This is not scriptural. Everyone probably can recite the correct answer, found in John 3:16.

3. Jesus' admonition to give to the poor is an individual mandate, not an instruction on how government is to be run.

4. The "Judge not..." verse in Matthew 7 does not mean you are not to have discernment about whether or not another person's behavior is right or wrong; it means it is not your place to condemn that person. Paul very plainly says you must have discernment about sinful behavior when he instructs us not to associate, or even eat, with a Christian brother who is living in sin. I Cor. 5:11.

5. "God helps those who help themselves. Give a man a fish and he eats for a day, teach a man to fish and... " are secular aphorisms; they are not scriptural.

6. It was Paul, not Jesus, who said that if a man will not work, he is not to eat.
II Thessalonians 3:10.

7. Wearing a cross is no indication of a devotion to Christianity. Decades ago the secular poplulation adopted the cross as simple jewelry, attatching no religious significance to it.

8. The belief that all religious people are going to Heaven is, unfortunately, not scriptural.

9. Religion doesn't start war. Intolerant religious men start wars.

10. "Close your Bible and open your mind" sounds condescending to Christians who look to the Bible for guidance on how to live. I reject the saying.

11. It does not take "time and practice" to become a Christian. It is an instantaneous transformation when one believes.

12. The Bible does not teach that we are all the children of God. "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name. John 1:12.

Well, if you've stayed with me and read this far, thanks for your time.

Carl

.