Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire The fall (and failure) of religion....

there's a lot to it. there's little to no doubt about that. for instance, most kings & monarchs of the world claim they're descended from gods (or are appointed by God in a few cases).

even it's been said that the royal family of england is descended from god. my folks got banished from scotland due to the king of england. so, if he's a direct descendent of god, where does that leave us descendents of protestants that he kilt?

I don't believe any monarch of Christian lineage has ever claimed to be a descendant of God, but have believed themselves ordained to rule by God, and there is scripture for that. Certainly, most kings took it further than intended, which gave rise to the divine right of kings doctrine. Christians are in lineage with God, but by the adoption of salvation, being heirs and joint heirs with Christ. Obviously, none of us live up to that gift but is something to strive for and perhaps the reason.

antelope_sniper,



Often you claim to use the Bible to support your lack of belief. Then, contrary to the God of the Bible, you create a god you don't want to believe in by often describing your god as "all kind creator of the universe". The God of the Bible is NOT all kind. He is a vindictive Omnipotent God Who thrashes entire countries at His will. Other times He sends His emissaries to kill every man, woman, and child in a city. At one time He sent His only Son and planned His death to atone for sin because He set the rule that that is the way to get things where He wants them.

antelope_sniper,



Again you are using your finite brain to erroneously judge the Infinite God.

antelope_sniper,



He is not threatening. If in fact he no longer posts on this thread to you he is obeying God's Word.

What people believe does not establish facts. Even the least religious founder, Benjamin Franklin, suggested the convention start with prayer. I base this opinion on reading his autobiography.

Do you think the atheists do it for a different reason?

we agree an awful lot of past kings/monarchs/queens claimed a divine right to rule. whether direct descendent of the gods, or appointed by the divine. we also know that most if not all encouraged their serfs, or commoners to know & believe that. and if they refused to accept that trifling detail, the king's legions were pointed at them for further indoctrination. in the christian world, i believe the pope serves under divine right, at least according to his bureaucracy.

Not to offend my catholic campfire brothers but, it was not a good time. It was the dark ages, and that was the worst of "modern" times. But the one thing that even those self-absorbed medieval monarchs knew, was they could not bow the knee to islam. Now look at Europe. Their insane rulers nearly begging the hordes of islam to come and put their subjects to the sword. We won't be far behind. The abomination of desolation is nearly upon us.

i was just thinking that it might not be to far into the near future that we postmodern era americans might be asked to bow a knee to the one appointed by god himself. and yes, i'm speaking of the mighty caliph.

Meh,

These ridiculing posts remind me of the loud braying of a high school pep squad. Hooray for our team and boo on you guys.

Oh well, it seems to me that the fortunes of Christianity have waxed and waned over the past two thousand years. It varies with time and geography as well. Some have made the comment that there are more born again Christians in China today than in the US.

Further, there are eschatological scholars who posit that prior to the return of Christ, apostasy abounds and the evil associated with the antichrist rules the world.

We would do well to live our lives as best we can and let God take care of the future.

Ah, but some of you don’t believe in God do you? If God does not exist then why are “you guys” here? Some of you are obvious trolls. Some are here for entertainment. Some are here to boost their tiny little egos. Some call that the “little man” or “little weeny” syndrome. IDK about that.

But there is a common link: You don’t want me (us Christians) to believe the way we do.

Are you intolerant? Yep. You cannot stomach those who disagree with you. You leave no room for their ideas and ways.

You are offended and challenged by those who believe differently from you. In general, your posts are inflammatory, paranoid (as if you have to save the world from Jesus) and illogical.

You have no altruistic agenda other than what you dream up as to “fight religious bigotry.” Yet it seems on this site, the atheist crew are the zealous bigots trying to drive the herd into their way of thinking.

Ah, but you atheists cannot leave it alone can you?.

I suspect your braying will continue until there is a stop put to it one way or the other. Your tools are mockery and ridicule. Oh wait, yes, the unthinking and self absorbed high school “Yay for our team” mentality.

Meh....

there's only two possible arguments available for the return of the christos, no?

one, is that the human condition, spiritual type, arises to the point that jesus, the christos is met in the air at a level of common denomination. Or, the human condition fails so miserably that the fall is occurring, and jesus, the christos, sweeps in and down, and rescues the humans who would otherwise fall into the abyss. in other words, he saves the world.

so, which way or set of conditions might the Christos finally enter the world? anyone know for sure?

I agree....only thing worse is a political posting.....course....without Religion and Politics to fight about the campfire would just be a bunch of guys killing time while they're supposed to working and bitching about...fill in the blanks...._ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _....

Good question there. My view is that there is no known set of human or mankind conditions that must be met that would precipitate the return.

I believe the bible is silent on this. Others may disagree.

He will return when the Father tells him. We do not know,when and I think we cannot look at the world situation and derive a time or even a season.

If you want to catch ol Antelope Sniper just post about religion. It is kind of like hunting over a baited field. The dude is fascinated with the subject.

What was there BEFORE god? Who made God? Out of what?

Don't quote scripture, that was written by men and went through translation after translation.

I'd like someone to try to answer without using scripture.

In fact, I'd like to know how the Bible defines time.

Are we for certain the scripture was correctly interpreted?

Had the correct interpretation been, "...the Obamanation of desolation..."?

Previously you've also admitted that it makes no sense at all to you that the Creator of the Universe would require a blood sacrifice in order to forgive.

Not really all powerful if forgiveness requires the blood sacrifice of a innocent.

AS,

You forget that murdering the innocent is Yahweh's most noticeable trait.

As far as penal substitutionary atonement goes, it contradicts itself. Forgiveness means to 'release a debt'. If God is 'paid off' by a blood sacrifice that pays for all of humanity's sins then there is nothing to forgive....he's gotten his payoff. All men are now 'justified'.

Christians like to claim that your debt is paid but you must 'accept' this free 'gift' for you to be forgiven. Complete comtradiction.

If, say, I owe Gus a debt and you pay it off for me, YOU are showing mercy, not Gus. Gus has gotten his payment and I am now free and clear of my debt to him whether I accept it as being true or not!

He will not/can not punish me for not believing or accepting my debt has been paid off much less condemn me to pay it off forever (that's a lot of vig!). The debt has been paid...period. Gus has not 'forgiven' me...he got his payoff.

The entire 'theory' of substitutionary atonement is so bizarre, contradictory, stupid and evil that it could only have been dreamt up by superstitious, ancient humans. This was no doubt to control the populace for in a Monotheistic society where sacrifices are demanded by 'God' and those sacrifices are administered completely by the 'priesthood', guess who is in control? Israel's Kings were basically emasculated rulers. The real powers were the Levites--but that's another whole topic for another thread.

Oh, and don't forget...god 'does not delight in the blood of bulls or lambs' nor takes 'delight in sacrifices' but the 'sacrifices of the lord are a broken spirit; a broken spirit and a contrite heart he will not despise.'

Someone shoulda told Jesus....

I'm using my modern mind to judge the primitive bronze age authors of the OT.