Fawzo

I'm always eager though to check out something others are really high on that I haven't read anything about to see how it jives with me. I wouldn't want to be closed minded and reject anything without at least giving it a chance. I'll check the cosmology sections out later.

I went to the site and read a few pages about Mary's pregnancy and when Joshua was 5 years old but nothing was resonating with me. I was having to actually force myself to read the stuff.

The question wasn't whether your belief system was unique or different from others, for it is evident that there are major differences and I would be so bold as to say each individual has their own unique set of beliefs within the sphere of influence they prefer to worship in. The question was do you feel there are other belief systems as valid as your own? Yes people gravitate towards and away from various beliefs depending on what resonates with them. In the other thread we saw numbers where a large percentage of AOG members gravitate away from the church by age 22 and even more by the age of 30. Would you think this is a problem with God's ability to communicate with so many people or people not resonating with what you perceive to be the truth? Shouldn't the Truth attract more people than it repels? Some might feel this speaks volumes about the ego or Satan's ability to deceive and not a devaluation of the lure of the truth. I do appreciate you sharing and answering my questions, I do feel it is an honorable testimony of your Faith!

Pete with the Quakers I've heard if one behaves outside the accepted norm one is quickly ostracized from the group. Do you know if that is the case on both sides of the pond?

I'm perfectly cool with you sharing, that is what this forum is all about. You are in your comfort zone and I wouldn't expect you or anyone else to move beyond their comfort zone unless it no longer worked effectively for them. You shared with us the Fundamental beliefs of AOG churches and I was making the observation that those beliefs aren't built on a foundation any more solid or valid than many other belief systems. Can you agree with my last statement?

The same arguement can be made for every other religious text and its adherents, no mystery whatsoever. The infallabiliy of the Tao Te Ching, Koran, Upanishads, Dharmapada et etc etc is proven as well through their application in the lives of those who adopt their teachings as well.

But isn't the infalibility of the Bible a very critical point for the foundation of all those beliefs? There is no evidence whatsoever that the Bible is infalible, why do a large number of people accept this myth. On the other hand there is a lot of evidence which shows it is a very falible and redacted piece of work.

Wow thats a lot to believe on such very little evidence based on the writings of a few Bronze Age men, who have been shown to be falible on other topics. What now is there Fundamental belief about the Age of the Universe.?

I know I don't view or experience the world through your eyes, yet I do get a bit down myself from time to time. However I see each instant of life as a sacred gift. Nothing fills my heart with joy more than watching little children smile or laugh a good hearty belly laugh. Nothing makes me feel more connected to God and life than when I watch my little 8 year old buddy playing with other kids and smiling from ear to ear as she runs with the wind blowing through her hair. I could have a world of troubles hanging over my head but just one hug from her and nothing matters. Others care deeply about you whether you realize it or not. I would think those who responded here care about you as well or we wouldn't have taken the time to respond. Think about the times in your life when you were most happiest and the things that make you smile. That favorite Christmas Gift, the times you laughed so hard tears poured out of your eyes, the time your friend laughed so hard he shot snot into his chocolate milk.....you get the idea. Brightest Blessings!

Your Login name most likely would have become BlueNun in that situation.

Actually it seems as if the priesthood is the perfect career for someone with such a disease. Besides school teachers and child day care people I can't think of a better career for such folks. Plus the title of God's servant to deflect suspicions and make one appear somewhat above reproach and its a perfect fit. Been going on for Centuries probably way before Christianity.

Peoples public persona usually don't reveal their deepest darkest secrets and addictions until after the neural pathways have been well entrenched and it is most difficult to break the pattern as ones body desires the chemicals that get released during the addictive process. If the mind isn't being involved in some other focus which keeps its attentions and faculties fully involved I think it gets bored and looks for ways to get those chemicals released the fastest way it knows how darn the consequences. In the same way some people are at the whim of their genetics, once these neural pathways are entrenched I think folks are the whim of them as well. But I'm not an analyst of any type so what do I know.

And a very Merry, Happy Newton Year to you as well Hooka!

Oy vey! Jesus, Mithras and now Newton as if I don't have enough presents I already have to buy. I'm sticking to Happy Holidays and the irate Christians can go pray to their Lord and ask for tolerance and goodwill towards their fellow man. I don't have time to figure out whether the person I'm speaking with is Jewish, Muslim, Atheist, Apathetic , Pagan or Christian or even human half the time. Wishing them a Happy Newtonmass is going to be just as unsettling to them as wishing them Happy Holidays methinks. I do think however we should start leaving Santa an apple and some fig newtons. I heard his cholesterol and triglyceride numbers were up there.

I tried searching to see if that was an actual holiday but all that kept coming up was Newton Massachusettes. In this holiday do folks sit under decorated Apple Trees and eat fig newtons?

I never heard of that before and checked out the synopsis on Wikipedia. The way it was formed and the fact the story teller kept track of 400 characters is astounding.

I just got my copy of Bart D Erhman's latest and greatest book "Jesus, Interrupted" revealing the Hidden Contradictions in the Bible (and Why We Don't Know About Them) I wish this was mandatory reading material in all high schools.

If you see yourself as merely a human with only a physical body then I understand the worry. If one sees oneself as a Spiritual being with their focus in physical reality then worries just might abate some.

I just wanted to wish all those who celebrate the Yule a very blessed and happy day!

The following comes from a forwarded e-mail sent to our friend Pastor Harry and then sent along to me Happy Holidays: Letter from Jesus about Christmas It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season. How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER. Now, having said that let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all My followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town. Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 - 8. If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it: 1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time. 2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them. 3. Instead of writing the President complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up... It will be nice hearing from you again. 4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them. 5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her. 6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference. 7. Instead of nitpicking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families. 8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary--especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name. 9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you. 10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine. Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember: I LOVE YOU, JESUS

Best of Luck! Let the old wise tale be true that a Cat always lands on its feet!

If you think Christ fell by the wayside, what about poor Mithras who is said to have been born on Dec 25th

Have a blessed Hannukah!

Heres one portion of text from the show which I enjoyed: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/first/diversity.html L. Michael White: Professor of Classics and Director of the Religious Studies Program University of Texas at Austin REGIONAL DIVERSITY We tend to think of the success of Christianity in the second and third centuries just on the eve on really when it becomes the prominent religion in the Roman Empire as if it were just one form of religiosity, when in fact the opposite is true. Christianity was extremely diverse during this period, and we probably ought to think of it as a kind of regional diversity; that is, the Christianity of Rome was different than Christianity in North Africa in certain ways, and that was different from what we find in Egypt, and that different from what we find in Syria or back in Palestine. We have, in effect, different brands of Christianity living often side by side, even in the same city. So, it's a great deal of diversity. At one point in Rome,... Justin Martyr has his Christian school in one part of the city, and the gnostic teacher Valentinus is in another school in Rome, and another so-called heretic by the name of Marcion is also in Rome just down the street somewhere. All of these along side of the official papal tradition that developed as part of St. Peter's See in Rome, all there together. So, even within one city, we can have great diversity. Now, what's significant about this diversity is the fact that each form of Christian tradition tended to tell the story of Jesus in different ways. The image of Jesus for Justin Martyr is rather different than that that we see for Valentinus or Marcion or others as well. And this is especially true even in other parts of the empire. This is where we start to see a kind of proliferation of gospels ... all over the empire, and by the third and early fourth century [more] than you can actually count, and certainly more than you can easily read within a bible.

I just finished watching all 4 hours and some of the perspectives and info was refreshing. Thanks again for the link Pete!