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The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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Odon S
Amen Simplereally, and to go a little further, most well knowledgable Christians believe without a doubt that Jesus is God because of a doctrine of men like the Trinity Doctrine, and that is the biggest lie of Satan yet
Hate to inform you, but YOUR the one listening to Satans lies! There is a TRINITY....and Jesus is God...incarnate.
As far as Christmas tree's, nobody I know "bows" to them. God looks at heart intent. Many churches, in the name of Jesus give gifts of clothing, money, food, toys etc, to children and adults who have nothing. (They do all year, but especially in honor of the birth of Jesus) God looks at heart intent.
Easter, same thing. No one is following any pagan crap.
Another thing, why do Christians bow down to pagan idols of trees and even offer their gifts under it, wait a month for the god to be appeased before they let their priest/priestesses kids open them on this god Mithras birthday which is December 25th?
Where in the Bible are they instructed to do such abominations? How about the painted eggs and fertility-bunnies to the goddes of fertility Eastre, or Easter? They all practice these idolatries without even a second thought. But mention it to their Ministers and you will be shunned by all!!!! $$$ 'In (this) God We Trust' $$$ and if Santa and selling Christmass Trees can make money for the church, who is God to say otherwise? After all, we'd kill anyone who comes near our money, our toys, for We Are Christians!
Amen Simplereally, and to go a little further, most well knowledgable Christians believe without a doubt that Jesus is God because of a doctrine of men like the Trinity Doctrine, and that is the biggest lie of Satan yet. It is on the same level as Evolution, once you indulge in it, the sources you use to study up on it will convince you it is true and cannot be any other way.
Jesus is NOT GOD, he Is the Only Begotten Son of God who came down by the Holy Spirit, born of a girl named Mary, was named Jesus, and died for us, went back to His Father and sat on a throne NEXT to God.
Jesus predicted this
Luke 6:39-40
And He also spoke a parable to them: "A blind man cannot guide a blind man, can he? Will they not both fall into a pit?
A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher.
But religions as usual don't get the message and maybe heading for the pit.
Jesus considered the Pharisees and Sadducees blind. Therefore their followers were blind because Jesus knew they didn't understand the teachings.
The same goes for the average Christian today. They follow blindly whilst not knowing their Bibles very well at all.
Example : What does the word apocalypse mean?
If you answered end times or end of days you are wrong!
If a Christian doesn't know what this one word means how blind are they on other Biblical teachings?
Is the modern religious person just fulfilling Jesus' saying? Are they the blind being led by the blind (their preachers)?
Watch out for the pit...lol
If you have been taught or think that Apocalypse means end times you might need to question what other falsities you have been taught, and if you have passed these on to others, congratulations you too may have achieved the status of the Pharisee....lol
Sorry, but Jesus had nothing new with the "blind leading the blind" saying. A similar metaphor occurs in the Hindu Katha Upanishad from ca. 5th century BCE: "Abiding in the midst of ignorance, thinking themselves wise and learned, fools go aimlessly hither and thither, like blind led by the blind."
p.s. And that's allowing that Jesus even said it... or that Luke (or whoever wrote "Luke") just made it up and ascribed it to their cult hero.
David – Its hard to explain. I know two Christians that have read many books of Faith with a emphasis on the Bible. Each of them can not only tell you verses and chapters but the back story to many of the incidents. To them it is more important to know Gods word in the Bible than to tell how God has touched their lives. That is why I know when I talk matters and issues of Faith with them it is always one scripture after another.
For many people of faith I feel it is a bit different in where our emphasis and focus is concentrated. That is why I had trouble with these two articles on the Blog. I look at it the same as some of the folks that go to my school that champion greenpeace types of endevors. Can tell you more details about what is anual rainfall, vegetation and bird flop is on the forest floor than anyone who lives in that region. Would I trust them though over someone who has had more experience, foot on the ground... not really.
Lastly the "zelots" classification is a bit difficult because what is a zealot to one might not be too another.
Interesting post Tim. Simple but room to think on a bit. In some ways both sides can claim the high ground from it. One who pursues answers and one that is self assured of him or herself.
To be the mighty oak that stands tall or the grass that bows to the least breath of wind. Or the grass that bends with the winds of the storm or the oak that comes crashing to the ground.
Hmm... a win win and a lose lose.
Of course they know more. Those who have questions or doubts are the ones who are most likelyto pursue answers. Those who are self-assured and have few if any doubts about what they "know"/believe have no incentive to actively question what they are told or think.
@Tim in NC
Well said...
Peace...
I agree, but I am puzzled. Throughout my life I have discovered different things. I once thought horse racing and handicapping was interesting. I read tons of books and became quite knowledgeable. This was true of several things that caught my fancy in life. I couldn't read enough about them. I wanted to know everything. I loved learning about my passions.
I would have suspected the religious zealots would be experts on their religion. How could you have faith in something you know nothing about?
Dave, that is correct, the Yahoo version of the story explains that more. Those who consider themselves active with a church scored the highest for Christianity questions.
@David Johnson I'd respectufully suggest that they are able to keep their faith only because they don't know anything about it. How many Christians know and agree with the story of Elijah? 🙂
Bob-
Yes, if we all got to tour slaughter houses and meat processing plants more of us would be vegans. Ignorance is bliss.
@Mike
In the interview above, ..they said those that are active in church scored..."slightly better"..... I believe were their words...
Peace...
I drew this conclusion long ago. I am glad to see that a survey only solidifies what I had predicted. It only follows that an atheist would have more knowledge about religion, than religious people themselves. Many of a religious faith are born into their religion and from age 5 and on are able to almost, without actively thinking about it, claim a religion. This requires no knowledge of the religion or of others. I also view this as an amazing point against religion. So many claim a religion, but cannot tell you why the others are wrong, and why their choice is particularly more believable or valid.
Being an atheist requires an active thought process, most if not all atheists are not simply born into it, it must be thought over, researched, and understood, which is why it makes sense that an atheist would contain more knowledge of religion than religious people. I also attribute this to the fact that you don't see many 6 7 8 9 year old atheists. At that age, a child cannot grasp the ideas required to be an atheist. Most children are either ignorant to religion at that age, or simply claim their parents religion.
-Evo
Will Evo-
Children are born atheists and will happily continue to be atheists until someone they trust teaches them that there is a god. Belief in Santa and the Tooth Fairy works the same way. It really doesn't take a huge mental capacity to remain atheist.
Once they are indoctrinated into a faith, however, some work often has to be done to repair the damage done to their sense of reason. If people can become willing to question the dogma that God exists without fear of instantly being struck down by lightening, then they can let the faith shroud fall away and see reality as it truly is, without any gods whatsoever.
Again, this does not require any superior intelligence. Any believer can do it. All they need be is curious and brave enough to seek out answers. My experience has been that most clergy will only tolerate questioning so far before they lower the "Is your faith in danger" hammer. That's usually enough to scare a doubting believer back into the fold.