Protestantism

» _Boanerges_ - I would prefer you not respond at all

"I say this respectfully, but if you cannot respond respectfully to what I have said, and speak it with peace, I would prefer you not respond at all"

so typical...
yawn.....yawn....

-- posted by _Boanerges_

» pink101 - I would prefer you not respond at all

In response to I would prefer you not respond at all posted by _Boanerges_:

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Nice move, exlax.
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-- posted by pink101

» Brother_Jones - Hell Hath No Fury

In response to Hell Hath No Fury posted by pink101:

Got it?

No, I think you might be missing something here. Lots of folk are leaving Christ behind and going into the wisdom philosophy of Buddhism. And there is a lot of wisdom to his life and teachings. It is a peaceful place and a place of learning compassion for the poor and unfortunate. Christians don't have to oppose most of what is taught in Buddhism. And yet the very core of it is the idea that you can reach inner peace and tranquility on your own. No need of any God or any Son.

This is the debate that is to be avoided because it does cause division with those who see the world and especially suffering as sort of a spiritual illusion. The Christian teaching of Justice being delivered by God to mankind is total nonsense to most Buddhists. Consider one of the most haunted things in history like the bombing of Japan at the end of WW II. I believe it is not really on the horizon of thought for many Buddhists because they have chosen not to think of such things as being reality.

i am just an oldtimer for the Lord.

i am just an oldtimer for the Lord.

-- posted by Brother_Jones

» pink101 - A Little Levity

In response to Hell Hath No Fury posted by Brother_Jones:
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My intention with the old "Hell hath no fury" was to add a little levity to the situation.
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In your post, you claim that "Lots of folk are leaving Christ behind and going into the wisdom philosophy of Buddhism."
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Do you have any thoughts on why that may be the case?
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"The Christian teaching of Justice being delivered by God to mankind is total nonsense to most Buddhists"
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What is that teaching? And where does Christianity get its foundation for it? What is it you are suggesting here? Is it the claim in America's Founding Documents that we are all endowed with certain inalienable rights by our Creator?
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I don't understand your reference to the Nuclear Attack by President Truman on Japan at the closing of World War II. Can you elaborate on that?
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-- posted by pink101

» Brother_Jones - A Little Levity

In response to A Little Levity posted by pink101:

In your post, you claim that "Lots of folk are leaving Christ behind and going into the wisdom philosophy of Buddhism."
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Do you have any thoughts on why that may be the case?

They hear sermons that reject the supernatural and applaud the nuturing of Mother earth as being of highest priority. They don't hear any strong message of redemption and sacrifice for others. In essense, they hear what you and some other liberals here believe and think. They begin to reject the idea of a Christ sent into the world to save us. Buddhism sounds like a viable choice. It has no Second Coming or Ultimate Justice lying around the corner of time.

I don't understand your reference to the Nuclear Attack by President Truman on Japan at the closing of World War II. Can you elaborate on that?

I've been wanting to discuss the bombs for sometime, just haven't been able to work it in. I'll try in another post to explain my thoughts on Japan. I had countless arguments with my folks who believed America had no other choice than to kill men, women, and children to end the war. I'm pretty sure that FDR would agree. And Eisenhower did agree.

i am just an oldtimer for the Lord.

-- posted by Brother_Jones

» pink101 - All For Politics

In response to A Little Levity posted by Brother_Jones:
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Your response to my first question, "Do you have any thoughts on why [people leave Christ for Buddhism]?" seems nonsensical to me.
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As far as HST's Nuclear attack on Japan is concerned, I attended military instructions on that incident while I was at Little Creek, Virginia, in 1951, as a member of the United States Marine Corps. Suffice it to say that the attack was absolutely unnecessary--period. More than fifty years later, it can be told that Truman was advised against it by the military. It was a terrible thing he did and all for politics.
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-- posted by pink101

» _Boanerges_ - Nice move, exlax.

In response to I would prefer you not respond at all posted by pink101:

re: "I say this respectfully, but if you cannot respond respectfully to what I have said, and speak it with peace, I would prefer you not respond at all"

#1 "I say this respectfully"
comes off as the other is not being "respectful"....

#2 "if you cannot respond respectfully to what I have said"

narcissistic morality... gets upset when someone else presents an opinion... (a BIG BIG yawn...)

#3 "and speak it with peace"

essentially declaring the other has not spoken in peace... (the major cause of ALL mankind's problems... and is the perfect example - in her own words....

#4 "I would prefer you not respond at all"

which ultimately declares, "if you do not say what I like", then, speak to someone else... Ultimately this creates the "us and them" mentality....

these words are such a YAWN yawn that they bleed hypocrisy and narcissism...

Who needs to listen to such dribble...

yawn yawn...

-- posted by _Boanerges_

» paper_turtle - Goodness

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Buddhism is about the pursuit of goodness. So is Christianity. As a Christian we strive to follow the example of Jesus' goodness. We speak of trusting in God's love and goodness. Below is a very small sampling of passages from the Bible relating to goodness. As I see it, these passages they provide a very clear definition of what goodness is from a Christian point of view. The Buddhist definition of goodness would be very similar.
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But the harvest [fruit] of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, fidelity, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law dealing with such things as these. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the lower nature with its passions and desires. If the Spirit is the source of our life, let the Spirit also direct our course. (Galatians 5:22-25)
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Live like people who are at home in daylight, for where light is, there all goodness springs up, all justice and truth. (Ephesians 5:9)
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Love is patient; love is kind and envies no one. Love is never boastful, nor conceited, nor rude; never selfish, not quick to take offense. Love keeps no score fo wrongs; does not gloat over other's sins, but delights in the truth. There is nothing love cannot face; there is no limit to its faith, its hope, its endurance. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)
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Let no one slight you because you are young, but make yourself an example to believers in speech and behavior, in love, fidelity, and purity. (1 Timothy 4:12)
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With all this in view, you should try your hardest to supplement your faith with virtue, virtue with understanding, understanding with self-control, self-control with fortitude, fortitude with devotion, devotion with brotherly kindness, and brotherly kindness with love. These are gifts, which, if you possess and foster them, will keep you from being either useless or barren in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:5-8)
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Let us therefore cease judging one another, but rather make this simple judgment: that no obstacle or stumbling block be placed in a brother's way. . . . Let us then pursue the things that make for peace and build up the common life. (Romans 14:, 13, 19
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If then our common life in Christ yields anything to stir the heart, any loving consolation, any sharing of the Spirit, any warmth of affection or compassion, fill up my cup of happiness by thinking and feeling alike, with the same love for one another, the same turn of mind, and a common care for unity. There must be no room for rivalry and personal vanity among you, but you must humbly reckon others better than yourselves. Look to each other's interest and not merely to your own. Let your bearing towards one another arise out of your life in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 2:1-5)
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In addition, these words of Jesus also define Christian goodness:
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"Master, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus answered, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind.' That is the greatest commandment. It comes first. The second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' Everything in the Law and the prophets hangs on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:36-40)
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Further references to what Jesus said are below. I confined myself to Matthew for the sake of brevity.
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Beatitudes (Mt 5:3-12)
turn the other cheek, give your coat, go the extra mile, be generous (Mt 5:38-42)
love your enemies (Mt 5:44-48)
take up [your] cross (Mt 16:24)
become like children; humble yourselves (Mt 18:1-5)
for when I was hungry (Mt 25:35-41)
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And once again, I would like to remind you of my requests:
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It would be nice, in discussing these ideas, if we could stick to *just* the ideas **as they are presented** (without reading things into them)--AND try to also practice goodness towards one another.
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This thread is not intended as a place for the debate of doctrinal points. It is not intended as a place to "defend the faith." I am hoping people will respond with *personal* thoughts--their *own* words, thoughts, feelings, not what they think they "ought" to say.
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Just so we're clear: "goodness" in the context of this thread means refraining from labeling, name-calling, finger-pointing, or impugning the character of another in any way.
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peace and love,
Paper Turtle

-- posted by paper_turtle

» pink101 - Nice move, exlax.

In response to Nice move, exlax. posted by _Boanerges_:

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Who needs to listen to such dribble...
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In our own way, each of us has enough of our own foibles that we really don't need to give anyone else the heave ho.
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So, who am I to talk, right?
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:~)
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-- posted by pink101

» _Boanerges_ - the heave ho

In response to Nice move, exlax. posted by pink101:

In our own way, each of us has enough of our own foibles that we really don't need to give anyone else the heave ho.

I am a patient man, and am tolerant of those I disagree with. However, in reviewing PT's statements, I must admit, those who profess tolerance and peace, are really, and in reality, simply hypocrites... Their dribble is pathetic...

-- posted by _Boanerges_