I only write un-fun things these days.

[topleka]

It occurs to me that although many people consider themselves some form of Christian, the idea of "Christianity" is rather broad one these days, often contradicting in nature. There are a number of denominations that argue semantics like diet and how exactly one gets into heaven, and a lot of related religions like Mormonism or Jehovah's Witnesses

Comments

[ogawaburukku]

I think technically in Christianity you could murder 15 people and on your deathbed pray, saying you believe in Jesus and that you confess that you had sinned and ask for forgiveness and acceptance, etc, then you're good to go. Christianity is the easiest religion ever (thus why it is so popular).

I don't think saying 'there are no good people' is accurate. I mean, if that's what you think, than whatever, but I think "no one is without sin" or "there is no such thing as a flawless person" or whatever is more accurate, and that Jesus was the only "perfect" person. Something to that level, I think.

I don't really believe in heaven and hell... well, I definitely don't think hell exists, and I think of heaven as a spiritual place but not as a place people go to when they die... then again, I'm more agnostic and believe that God could be out there, and it would rock if He was out there, and I think Jesus was awesome whether he was divine or not, but I don't actually believe in spiritual beings myself. It kind of scares me, actually, to think that there are some people who are only nice and caring because they fear God's wrath.

I'm in no way knocking your beliefs, by the way. I hope it doesn't come off as sounding like that.

[topleka]

I say there are no "good" people because Jesus specifically said "Only the Father in heaven is good." Basically indicating that good should only imply perfection.

[topleka]

Addendum: Christianity is easy because...well, it's from God. It's not about earning points or anything. It's just about faith. I think people try to complicate matters too much by trying to earn or pay their way into whatever afterlife they have in mind.

And I think people who fear the wrath of God don't fully understand that He's essentially a living definition of love. I do what I believe is right because I love, not because I'm afraid of what might happen to me if I'm bad.

[ogawaburukku]

Well... I disagree, because Islam and Judaism are the same God, but the religions are slightly more demanding than Christianity. There is no food we can and can't eat, we don't have to pray facing any specific direction, we are not expected to make any great pilgrimage, etc etc etc. But that's general and not getting into the different sects, yada yada.

I say "we" because although I'm probably agnostic I was raised Christian.

[topleka]

I consider the rituals of Judaism to be the foundation of Christianity. But Christian faith doesn't follow those rituals any more, as Jesus said he came to "fulfill the law." So the having to sacrifice to pay for breaking the law and such was changed because of what Jesus did. He essentially broke down the Mosaic law into two basic principles, "Love the Lord your God," and "Love your neighbor as yourself." Peter was given divine revelation that there was no such thing as banned food. And Paul preached against following the "old law" of circumcision because people doing that were trying to earn points with God by doing "works."

[ogawaburukku]

Well, yeah, afterall Jesus was a Jew, he wasn't a Christian. I think only an idiot would deny that Christianity is based off/branches off from Judaism.

So then, God doesn't like brown-nosers? Me neither.

A lot of the Old Testament and New Testament go against each other, and the God portrayed in the Old is soooo much angrier and terrifying than the one in the New. I think that confuses people, which is why some are fearful of God and some are more like you and see him as an all-loving deity.

I don't know about the Ten Commandments being broken down, since Christians still consider them to be very sound and essential rules to live by. I think Jesus introduced the idea that you shouldn't judge someone so readily because nobody's perfect, and we should just accept those imperfections and realize the only one who can really judge is a higher power than mortal man. Other than that, we should love our neighbors and try not to hate so much. My favorite Jesus story will always be the one where he draws in the sand while saying "he who is without sin may throw the first stone". Even if he was actually a crazy guy and had no divine connection whatsoever, he was still totally awesome.

[topleka]

I think the Ten Commandments can be put under the umbrella of the two that Jesus said. Like no stealing, no murder, no lying are "love your neighbor as yourself," and no idol worship and keep the Lord's day holy are "love the Lord your God."

Jesus was also very big on not judging others. He ate with those labeled sinners and got incredibly angry at the leaders of the religious sects. It's so weird, because a lot of people under the Christian banner these days are really keen to point out sins in others who aren't Christian. I think that if someone is a Christian, you should confront them about what you think they're doing wrong. But if they're not a Christian, you really should only make it known that you disagree and then move on with your life.

[ogawaburukku]

Oh, I see what you mean by summing it up in two big rules.

Yeah, I've always thought that was weird. One reason I started fading out from organized religion was because I was picked on at youth groups more than anywhere else when I was in middle school, and yet when it came time for prayers or whatever the kids would all act like they were such good Christians, etc etc. Or at school my friend told a Chinese friend that she was going to hell because she was Buddhist (that was the angriest I ever got at her, I think). Once I got told I was a bad Christian because I didn't want to join the Christian club at school, because it was full of people who tried to guilt others into becoming Christian.

Really, I think Christianity is a great religion, but it has some nutty followers. I still consider myself Christian in a lot of ways because I think the teachings are spot on and I live my life under their influence. But I'm sometimes ashamed to be associated with such hate-filled people sometimes.

[atomicteresa]

Believing isn't easy at all! It's hard to believe in affirmative action if you've already convinced yourself it's wrong. It's hard to believe in Santa Claus after the guy with the beard turns out to be your dad. It's hard to suddenly believe in foreign texts about incredible miracles, strange concepts of morality, and an omnipotent deity named Vishnu.

Easy would be something like writing your name in a registry. The human mind being the flawed thing it is, belief is a pretty steep requirement, compared to the simple demands most rituals make of a flawed human body. I'd sooner do the donations and good deeds than try to change someone's fundamental beliefs.

I'm afraid of what might happen to others if they're bad. Whether mental state or physical destination, I wouldn't condemn anyone to eternal suffering. Coming from an Earth where sinners already live great lives, I don't see why God can't grant bad guys a more comfortable Hell.

[ogawaburukku]

I think nowadays it is especially hard to believe in God because science is answering a lot of our questions that could have been answered by just saying "Oh, it's the work of God", etc.

Believing is an easy thing to do, I think. A lot of people never question what they are told to believe, or they simply tell themselves "God works in mysterious ways" or "This is all part of God's plan" and it helps them keep with the program. If believing was hard to do, history wouldn't be filled with religion. Accepting the truth is probably harder. Like, parents like to believe their child is special or smart but has a ADHD which holds him back, etc. It's way easier to believe that's the problem rather than to accept that their kids might be a little slow.

Most people I know who don't believe in God never really believed in the first place. I'm one of the few I know of personally who was raised Christian (my dad's a minister) and went along with it until I hit a certain age, but my situation was a little unique...

Shinto seems to be a pretty easy religion... nobody around here I know if practices. My boyfriend's family is Buddhist, but he himself isn't really anything. But his dad takes it fairly seriously, so he sometimes goes on journeys to the temples and whatever around the country (on foot!).

I'd sooner do the donations and good deeds than try to change someone's fundamental beliefs.

I would never try to change someone's beliefs. I think it's a sad thing when I see people doing that.

[ogawaburukku]

Well, in THAT case Jesus isn't good, depending on your thoughts on whether he's the son　of God or one in the same. Jesus was a modest Joe.

[topleka]

Modest when he washed people's feet. Less modest when he claimed to be God incarnate. Then again, it's not bragging if it's true. I do believe that he and God are the same God, but also two distinct beings.