[tedquick]

Originally Posted by Rags123

First, I was not speaking of your posts at all or I would have said so and quoted them.

Secondly, it appears from a guy who has had many posts taken down for being political, that you are incorrect in your identification of the two forbidden topic. Your thread is title IF NOT GOD, THEN HOW and has had extensive discussion on religion, thus it appears to me that religion is fine to be discussed....

Now, if you discuss politics, or even any current event, you run more risks it appears than religion. And please take no offense, but my heart is taken on the religion subject....my FUTURE life is taken care of....it is the present that is not comfy for folks to discuss for some reason.

I'm with you. While the two forbidden topics typically are religion and politics, religion has been discussed at great length on this and multiple other threads. I was guessing you were referencing the absence of political threads herein. For some reason (guessing again) politics creates even stranger bedfellows than religion.

As you say, in one we're taking about the eternal quality of life and in the other, the quality of life in the here and now. Apparently people are more passionate, emotional and more irrational about the here and now, which in one respect "seems" to make sense whether or not it should. I would love to see an active discussion on politics.

[tedquick]

Originally Posted by Kahuna32162

Since this thread has now gone on for over 12 pages, are we safe to say that residents of the Villages have differing opinions. I would also suggest that freedom of religion allows for differing opinions without condemnation or agreement. There may not be one single answer to the question, and who are those to question others that may disagree with them. Beliefs are, and should be, private.

Anyone who is willing to share their beliefs should be free to do so and anyone who prefers to keep theirs private should be allowed to do that.

[Rags123]

Originally Posted by tedquick

I'm with you. While the two forbidden topics typically are religion and politics, religion has been discussed at great length on this and multiple other threads. I was guessing you were referencing the absence of political threads herein. For some reason (guessing again) politics creates even stranger bedfellows than religion.

As you say, in one we're taking about the eternal quality of life and in the other, the quality of life in the here and now. Apparently people are more passionate, emotional and more irrational about the here and now, which in one respect "seems" to make sense whether or not it should. I would love to see an active discussion on politics.

I must always be careful....my posts have a way of not spending much time in the daylight, but I also wonder about what you say.

Religion, to me, gives you peace.....at least mine does. I need no conversation about it....my heart and soul are at peace. I struggle with the world today and that I live in today, and that, to me, seems where we need all the dialogue possible.....over talk actually.

[tucson]

Originally Posted by tedquick

Anyone who is willing to share their beliefs should be free to do so and anyone who prefers to keep theirs private should be allowed to do that.

There are a lot of people who are deeply & truly seeking God, but will never step foot in a church. We as believers have the responsibility to share the reality of God, heaven, hell and how God loves them so much that He will be there for them through devastating times in their lives, that is my motivation for saying what I do here.

[CFrance]

I believe the people who are deeply & truly seeking God but will never step foot in a church need to be left to journey alone until they are ready to come forward of their own volition. Your "responsibility" may do more harm than good to these quiet people. You may, in fact, be a major the reason they will not enter a church.

[tucson]

Originally Posted by CFrance

I believe the people who are deeply & truly seeking God but will never step foot in a church need to be left to journey alone until they are ready to come forward of their own volition. Your "responsibility" may do more harm than good to these quiet people. You may, in fact, be a major the reason they will not enter a church.

And He said to them, "Go into the whole world and preach the gospel to the whole world and every creature" Mark 16:15 :-)

[onslowe]

With all due respect, I have to disagree with the idea of keeping one's religious beliefs to oneself - at least on TOTV. I really cannot perceive what 'harm' could be done. If guilt, then I submit the guilt pre-existed TOTV statements. If anger, well, many things in this world of ours and its media could anger anyone of us, and that shouldn't be a reason to withhold one's belief statements - since no one else seems to do so these days. It is 'open season' on religious believers (especially Christians and Jews) in all sorts of instances.

If there is a danger of some psychological harm in this discourse, then that might be something needs professional care. Honestly.

I really cannot think of the word 'harm' having any validity or weight in suppressing statements of religious belief or atheistic or agnostic belief here on TOTV.

Sorry to be repetitious, but this forum is a place of ideas. If I don't care to go deeper into any particular thread or thread heading, then I don't. Everybody has that same ability and right!

[tedquick]

Originally Posted by CFrance

I believe the people who are deeply & truly seeking God but will never step foot in a church need to be left to journey alone until they are ready to come forward of their own volition. Your "responsibility" may do more harm than good to these quiet people. You may, in fact, be a major the reason they will not enter a church.

C, you bring up an interesting point, however I tend to come at it from a slightly different perspective: while I don’t consider myself a proselyte, I do think it proper, in fact, as Tucson points out in a slightly earlier post above, it is our responsibility to “share the gospel of Jesus Christ” (my former church’s motto). We do that in a variety of ways: the manner in which we live our everyday lives, through writings such as these and whenever we are out among other people. Actually we TRY to do what is right in all circumstances, but so often we are miserable failures. Please understand something: we are all sinners and I do not know of one other who professes otherwise. I am certainly nobody special. I am just a fallible human being like everyone else trying to find my way in this earthly life.

A number of years ago there was a gentleman in our health club who was actively preaching for the need for all to accept Christ. He actually confronted people, most of whom were very uncomfortable with his approach. Talk about turning people off! In any case I only ever saw him do that one time. He must have figured out very quickly that his approach was unlikely to work.

Somewhere there must be a balance between ignoring all others and being confrontational (ignoring in this discussion the likes of the Muslim terrorists).

BTW. Rags, Tucson and onslowe each just made some excellent points.

[Joaniesmom]

This just proved that my grandmother was right. Never discuss religion or politics. You just upset yourself and others and do not change anyone's mind.

[tucson]

Originally Posted by tedquick

C, you bring up an interesting point, however I tend to come at it from a slightly different perspective: while I don’t consider myself a proselyte, I do think it proper, in fact, as Tucson points out in a slightly earlier post above, it is our responsibility to “share the gospel of Jesus Christ” (my former church’s motto). We do that in a variety of ways: the manner in which we live our everyday lives, through writings such as these and whenever we are out among other people. Actually we TRY to do what is right in all circumstances, but so often we are miserable failures. Please understand something: we are all sinners and I do not know of one other who professes otherwise. I am certainly nobody special. I am just a fallible human being like everyone else trying to find my way in this earthly life.

A number of years ago there was a gentleman in our health club who was actively preaching for the need for all to accept Christ. He actually confronted people, most of whom were very uncomfortable with his approach. Talk about turning people off! In any case I only ever saw him do that one time. He must have figured out very quickly that his approach was unlikely to work.

Somewhere there must be a balance between ignoring all others and being confrontational (ignoring in this discussion the likes of the Muslim terrorists).

BTW. Rags, Tucson and onslowe each just made some excellent points.

When I used to volunteer at a Christian T.V Station in it's telephone answering ministry for CBN in the 1980's and one night I answered a call from a man who was not a Christian at the time was ready to commit suicide in his motel room.I was given this opportunity by the Lord to talk to him and pray for him, this incidence changed me forever and I will always share Jesus with anyone and everywhere. God Bless :-) (btw) He ultimately got in touch with my pastor, gave his life to Christ and the church helped him with get him work and other things he needed, Praise & Glory to God!

[dbussone]

Originally Posted by tucson

When I used to volunteer at a Christian T.V Station in it's telephone answering ministry for CBN in the 1980's and one night I answered a call from a man who was not a Christian at the time was ready to commit suicide in his motel room.I was given this opportunity by the Lord to talk to him and pray for him, this incidence changed me forever and I will always share Jesus with anyone and everywhere. God Bless :-) (btw) He ultimately got in touch with my pastor, gave his life to Christ and the church helped him with get him work and other things he needed, Praise & Glory to God!

What a wonderful story...a true blessing, especially this time of year. God blessed you with the opportunity and the caller with an open heart.

[tedquick]

Originally Posted by tucson

When I used to volunteer at a Christian T.V Station in it's telephone answering ministry for CBN in the 1980's and one night I answered a call from a man who was not a Christian at the time was ready to commit suicide in his motel room.I was given this opportunity by the Lord to talk to him and pray for him, this incidence changed me forever and I will always share Jesus with anyone and everywhere. God Bless :-) (btw) He ultimately got in touch with my pastor, gave his life to Christ and the church helped him with get him work and other things he needed, Praise & Glory to God!

What an extraordinary example of God working through we mortal men. You were blessed to be God's messenger. Whatever seeds you planted in that call sprouted and saved a man's life. I wonder how many more have been saved since then because of that one "new Christian". We never know what impact there might be from one seemingly simple conversation, posting or action. Nicely done, my friend, nicely done.