Protestantism

» pink101 - Outrageous

In response to Outrageous posted by BrianTubbs:
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The idea of God is not a joke. It is a hoax. Many hoaxes have positive effects but on the whole I'd say we are better off without them.
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I have to agree with this statement Oliver made. Maybe I should put that stopel in the statement I made above. Sorry for any confusion. I'm not wanting to choose up sides here.
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I think you should be a little more careful about what words you put in other people's mouths.

-- posted by pink101

» paper_turtle - Baffled

In response to Baffled posted by pink101:

Phil wrote:
You should not be baffled.
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in an earlier post Phil wrote:
But, I understand why people do not want to face these issues and I don't blame them for feeling that way.
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Its not that I don't want to face the issues. Its just that I don't believe the answers are in his manifesto. Beyond that, I long ago decided that I did not have an obligation to expose myself to things like that. I would very much like to know why this young man did what he did--and reading about his childhood, and all the experiences he must have endured to cause him to become who he was--would be upsetting enough.
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I just don't understand why you--or anyone--would want (as I said in post 50) to immerse yourself in stinging nettles.
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peace and love,
Paper Turtle

-- posted by paper_turtle

» pink101 - Baffled

In response to Baffled posted by paper_turtle:
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I just don't understand why you--or anyone--would want (as I said in post 50) to immerse yourself in stinging nettles.
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I'll be 76 years old this July 3rd. By now, I know that life is filled with all sorts of things--good and bad--and I have definitely learned that it is often what we don't know that hurts us the most.
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One of America's top preachers says, No pain--no gain.
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I'm not telling you that you have to immerse yourself in anything.
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:)
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-- posted by pink101

» HeadZenCards - Brian Decides Who Is A Christian

In response to Outrageous posted by BrianTubbs:

My, my, sir. And here I thought that Christianity was open to everyone.

-- posted by HeadZenCards

» HeadZenCards - Thanks

In response to Outrageous posted by pink101:

Thanks for your kind words, I think.

Do you believe that a Christian should judge if another human being was a Christian at the time of his death?

-- posted by HeadZenCards

» Brian Tubbs - Christianity IS open

In response to Brian Decides Who Is A Christian posted by HeadZenCards:

Christianity IS open and available to everyone (John 3:16), but good grief, Oliver. Is it possible for you to rationally, objectively, and fairly approach something? Or are you so bitter against religion that that's just not possible for you?

If there's any objectivity in you, try to follow me here...

There's absolutely no RATIONAL way that anyone can justify what Cho did on biblical grounds. None. Citing the children of Israel wiping out the Amalekites or lifting a phrase or verse from a prayer in Psalms won't do it! That's being superficial and irrational. Granted - many people do that.

But, taking the Bible as a WHOLE...and particularly, taking Jesus as a whole, there's NO WAY anyone can unilaterally decide to take innocent life and say: "Yup, I'm doing what God wants me to do!" The Apostle Paul is clear on this. Jesus is clear on this. For crying out loud, the Ten Commandments are clear on this: "Thou shalt not kill!"

If you want to start a DIFFERENT thread on the killing done by the Israelites in the Old Testament, do so. I'm fine to discuss that. But the biblical message to the individual is clear: DO NOT KILL! Jesus adds that we are to LOVE OUR ENEMIES and DO GOOD to them who persecute us.

Everything that Cho did was completely and tragically COUNTER to biblical Christianity.

And, while Christianity IS open to everyone, that does NOT mean that everyone is AUTOMATICALLY in the Christian camp. My church in Wilmington opens its doors every Sunday and Wednesday - everyone is welcome - but that doesn't mean that everyone shows up!!!!!! Come on, Oliver. Use some sense.

AND...

Just because Cho MAY (we don't even know if he did) have said some kind of prayer to God asking for forgiveness before turning the gun on himself does NOT mean that God forgave him. God looks at the HEART - not so much at the words.

I don't know Cho's heart before he turned the gun on himself. Neither do you. Neither does ANYONE here. Though it seems highly unlikely that it was full of remorse or regret for what he did.

The bottom line, Oliver....stop using this tragedy to take shots at Christianity.

» Brian Tubbs - Back to VA Tech...

Virginia Tech has decided to award the fatal victims of the shooting with posthumous degrees. I think that's a commendable gesture, but I can't help but consider it somewhat lacking. I don't want to say "empty," because it IS a nice gesture. But, something about it doesn't strike me as positive as it perhaps should. What do you all think?

If I were the president or one of the Board of Visitors members, I think I'd rather reimburse the families all the tuition money that had been paid for the victims' education up to now. Do that AND then award them posthumous degrees - that would seem more complete.

If VA Tech can't afford to that, they could ask the state for help. They are a state school, and Governor Kaine has been all over that campus. They have the entire state government's attention right now, so now's the time to ask for that kind of help.

What do you all think?

» paper_turtle - Back to VA Tech...

In response to Back to VA Tech... posted by BrianTubbs:

I agree, Brian. Nothing will bring back their children, or take away their grief, but just giving them their degrees does feel, well, empty.
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peace and love,
Paper Turtle

-- posted by paper_turtle

» pink101 - Thanks

In response to Thanks posted by HeadZenCards:
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Of course not. Do you?
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-- posted by pink101

» pink101 - Back to VA Tech...

In response to Back to VA Tech... posted by BrianTubbs:
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Something needs to be done. No doubt.
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-- posted by pink101