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( I never forget )
Visionary
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Right so If you don't know, I am an atheist. Like....I'd like to assume every other human being on the planet I don't know all there is to know about every religion. I'd also like to say that I am not looking for an argument, debate, etc... So I'd like you...assuming you have some sort of belief system to explain it to me. I don't mean the following: "I'm a <example> kthnxbai!" "I'm a <example> because my mom died, and she loved roses, and the day she died i prayed she'd be okay, then the next day I saw a rose" "I'm a <example> because I was raised this way" or anything even remotely like that. I don't care why you believe what you believe. I'm asking you to explain your belief system. You don't have to go through every word of the text(assuming these is one). You can...if you like I guess, but try to explain it to me if you're going to do this. You can type a response in here, or message me if you want to avoid a debate with someone who may reply to your response..
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Cyanide666
Executive
Ad Free
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I'm an atheist because I was raised a Christian until I was 13, then started really thinking for myself and simply decided I didn't see the signs and didn't believe.
------- There is a war going on for your mind. If you are thinking, you are winning. Resistance is winning. Defeat is impossible.
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Syber
Wealthy Hobo
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Im a Devout Christian, Non-denominational. I believe in the bible as God's teachings, And that Jesus Christ died for my sins on the cross and arose from the grave and accended into heaven. I don't go to church anymore because I don't like how modern churches have added there own rules to the religion. I stay true to the bible. Err, Thats all I guess...
------- Accipere Quam Facere Praestat Injuriam!
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12:14 am on June 20, 2008 | Joined May 2008 | 58 Days Active Join to learn more about Syber California, United States | Label Free Male | 3743 Posts | 4787 Points
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Prince o palities
Get back in my pocket.
Patron
Support Leader
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Okay, this isn't exhaustive by any means, nor is it definite (i.e. some of it is subject to refinement). However, this is a brief sketch of what I believe: I believe in one God who is without beginning and without end, perfect in every respect. He actively chose, through whatever mechanism, to create the entire physical realm designed as it is to operate how it does. God created in this physical realm beings which are both in and apart from that physical realm in that they are comprised of physical and non-physical components. He created them in order to interact more fully with His creation (to love them, to be loved by them), because purely physical beings are incapable of consciously interacting with purely non-physical beings. However, humans acted in ways which were imperfect (i.e. not compatible with the actions of God who is perfect). These actions are called sins and prevent humans from partaking of God, because for the Perfect to be a partaker with the imperfect would nullify His perfection. In an effort to make humanity more like Him, and thus more capable of partaking in Him, God chose a people from among the humans to instruct in His ways. The Law given them existed not to make them perfect, but as a means to an end to prepare them for the ultimate plan to redeem humanity into a sinless state. The Law having been proven to be insufficient to keep man from sin (as was its purpose), God allowed Himself to descend to earth for two purposes. The first was to give a fuller account of what it is to live a perfect life (i.e. to truly be like God). However, in His infinite wisdom, God understood that even a more direct teaching from His own lips would not keep man from sinning. So to compensate for human deficiency, He accept for Himself a punishment which He did not deserve, both by physical standards (that is, he had broken no law warranting death) and by spiritual standards (because death itself is a product of sinning which He never did). In doing so, He created for humanity a metaphysical bridge, a propitiation for God. In spite of the fact that humanities sin warrants spiritual death (i.e. separation from God), those partaking in His death may claim that their debt has been paid by one who did not deserve spiritual death. Now, because of this, redemption is finally available to humanity. By trying to act like God commanded, God in turn promises humanity that He will purify us in spite of the fact that we will inevitably fail. At death, all souls are held in a common place awaiting a final time. At this time, all men will be resurrected to face judgment. Those who are made perfect will not be found wanting. God will destroy His creation and replace it with a second creation which is populated by those souls which were made perfect. I think that about sums up the basics of it. The particular ethos which was given to humanity in order that they might gain a glimpse of what it is to be perfect is a much longer matter to discuss, but it revolves around righteousness, love, mercy, forgiveness, and humility.
------- "It is the wrong question to ask, and therefore, as one might expect, has no right answer." - Hans von Campenhausen This is the philosophy of my life.
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katyduck
mr bean on crack
Patron
Support Leader
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I'm an i-dont-know. I was brought up in a very religious setting. Living in Roman Catholic Ireland, I grew up in the faith. I attended a Christian Brothers primary school, and my secondary school was run by the Dominican nuns. I received my sacraments, attended Mass every Sunday and Holy Day, and my very large extended family were all very religious, as is the way in Ireland. Living in Belfast, the communities are very segregated, and I didn't meet anybody who wasn't a Catholic until I moved to Cardiff when I was 18. When I was about 15, I convinced myself I was an atheist. I went through a very long period of depression during my teenage years that only really left after treatment with antidepressants once I was 19. I found it hard to believe in a loving God when there was so much hurt in the world. I can't really shake off the notion of a God though. Even when I was telling myself that he didnt exist, I'd still find myself flitting into a subconscious pleading with him during times of extreme difficulty, before catching myself out and telling myself that God Doesn't Exist. Now, I don't know what I believe. I do believe in a God, and an afterlife, but I've not managed to form any kind of religious constitution or law or theory as to the workings of the whole thing. I recently lost someone who I love very very much, which has brought me closer to God, if there is one. I pray to her a lot. I hope she can hear me. I know this doesn't really answer your question specifically, in regards to a belief 'system' or regiment or ruling. I don't believe in Jesus, but I do try to follow the Christian message of loving your neighbour. Then again, in many respects that same message is followed in a variety of other faiths aside from Christianity. In conclusion, I don't know where I stand or what I believe. All I know is that I'm hoping there's some way that she can be with me, somehow.
------- "God kissed her on the cheek and there she was."
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barnabas
Water of life
Sustainer
Support Leader
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I beleive in a Tri-une God that is expressed in three forms the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They are seperate and the same. I beleive that this God made the world at a time in which he chose in the way in which he chose for his purposes. This time is neither known nor is it possible to be known. When he created this world he made every element of it, but the last and most important thing he made were people. These people were inhabitants of the world he created but also possesed an element of God in them because of the life he breathed into them. They had souls, a spiritual element encased in a physical being. This spiritual element connected them to God while their physical bodies made them inabitants and rulers of this world. Because of the way he made these beings, sin entered into the world. Sin is the product of choice, and choice is the only way to have beings who choose to be with God. The natural result of sin was death. Death means permanent separation from God. God sent one element of himself, Jesus, the son, to earth to erase this permanent barrier. Perfection is not possible among humans because they are physical, but Jesus, being both completely physical and completely spiritual, was capable of perfection. He offered himself as a sacrifice for all the sins both past present and future, and made it possible for physical beings to enter into the presence of God. His death represents a blanket that covers our sins and presents us as perfect before God, which gives us the ability to override death and live with God. Someday Jesus will come again to this physical world. When he does, the end will be at hand and all people from all times will be judged before God. Those who chose to follow him will be under the blanket and those who didnt will be outside of it. The wages of sin is death and death mans separation from God. Once Jesus left this physical world and returned to his spiritual home, he sent the third element of the Trinity, the Holy spirit, to help those who believe in him.
------- Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.-Isaiah 55:1 www.wateringmalawi.com
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9:47 am on June 20, 2008 | Joined Nov. 2004 | 880 Days Active Join to learn more about barnabas Minnesota, United States | Straight Female | 24759 Posts | 35493 Points
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Soren Kierkegaard
Wealthy Hobo
Patron
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My name is Daniel and I am currently a follower within the Restoration Movement (Non-Denominational, Conservative) since April 11, 2003 at 5:38 PM in the main worship hall of Westover Hills Church of Christ, Austin, TX, USA! I attended services with Prince before I graduated from HS and went to community college in Fort Worth where I began going to both Richland Hills Church of Christ and Legacy Church of Christ before I transfered to Harding University during the Fall 04' (University Church of Christ). I was born into a Presbyterian household, but my family is anything but shining examples of Christian love or acceptance. In fact, I remember quite vividly watching my abusive alcoholic father beat my mother when I was 4-years-old until they divorced when I was 6. My mother later remarried to Eddie, an Episcopalian, who merely accepts the title without any affiliation otherwise. An ego-maniacal, narcissistic wife abuser himself, I had terrible examples of how men in the household should act accordingly. Of course, need us not forget how my mother emotionally, physically and mentally abused me right alongside Eddie for well over 6 years of my life under of which Hell was not a metaphorical state of mind, but a nightly excursion of torment and despair. I later found my friendship with Prince and began attending his congregation, which was a home away from home of sorts, and my mother would actually allow me to attend the church at my leisure apart from the Mormon faith. Long story short, I was incredibly close to being a Mormon at one time, and would have been one near DEC 2002 if my mother hadn't kicked out my Missionary advisers and Deacon along with his wife outside of her home. Shortly after that situation, I later became quite interested in researching and reading everything that I could have my hands on over Mormon doctrine, which I readily oppose with great conviction. I am certainly not an expert, but I can hold my own when debating Mormonism. You won't believe me when I tell you this, but under another name of the forum, I became involved in an awkward situation with a moderator over the site. It was surprisingly by her involvement in my life that I became increasingly interested and involved in Theological studies, in general. I became immersed in Paganism, Dark Paganism, Wicca, Satanism (Crowley, LaVey, etc.), Druidism, etc. coupled with Pseudo Christendom (Mormonism, Scientology, Christian Science, Jehovah's Witnesses, etc.) alongside other perspective faiths. You see, my call to Christ was not a miracle sign of declaration as a great deal others would likely assume. When I was thirteen-years-old, I was quite a staunch atheist arguing against everything my parents stood for. It wasn't until I asked myself how and why I was an atheist that I began asking increasingly difficult questions to answer. If there were a God, what would I tell him that led to my disbelief in both his message and relationship in my life? Would I blame him for my parents' inability to be decent parents? My only fault with God by that logic is not the type of house I was born into, but that he allowed the freedom of will to happen in violation to how parents should act accordingly with one another. Not that I believe that God should be blamed for my parents' actions if they have a freedom of will and choice; therefore, my complaints were folly compared to an Omnipotent-Omnipresent-Omniscient deity. Why am I a Christian? 1. I have come to accept and appreciate the loving kindness of Jesus' message and willing sacrifice on my behalf in order to bring redemption to all mankind. 2. Christianity not only a fulfillment of Old Testament covenant sources found through various prophecies, but essentially is a culmination of every attempt that which God sought a connection with his people entirely. 3. I value both the freedom of will and choice and accept that the nature of belief is not meant solely to be based from a fear in the unknown. Although I am far from every answer, I have absolutely no fear or hesitation following the end of my demise that I am subject to a judgment where God will hold me accountable both for my actions on this Earth and whether I sought a relationship with him through recognition under Jesus. If you have any questions otherwise, feel free to message me whenever you feel it necessary.
------- What are your Top 10 Favorite Movies? Goofy rocks my face off!
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Princess O Palities
Wealthy Hobo
Patron
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I believe in one God who has no beginning and in Jesus his son who is the mediator between humans and God. I follow the Bible and try to live my life by it. From that I believe that there are moral principle's that God expects us to up hold. I believe that God is exclusive but never would I condemn or judge someone for not following God, his son Jesus and the Holy Spirit. I believe that everyday I must live for God by showing it through my actions by being kind, patient, slow to anger among other things. The way that I am connected to God is by prayer and living a life of simplicity.
------- Yay for Scottish rabbits!
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