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June 20th, 2013
10:22 AM ET
Exodus apologizes to gay community, shuts down 'cure' ministry(CNN) - After 37 years, Exodus International, an organization whose mission was to "help" gay Christians become straight, is shutting down. But not before issuing an apology. "We're not negating the ways God used Exodus to positively affect thousands of people, but a new generation of Christians is looking for change - and they want to be heard," Tony Moore, an Exodus board member, said Wednesday. The announcement comes less than a day after Exodus issued a wide-ranging apology to the gay community for "years of undue judgment by the organization and the Christian Church as a whole," a statement from the group says. "Exodus is an institution in the conservative Christian world, but we've ceased to be a living, breathing organism," said Alan Chambers, the president of Exodus. "For quite some time, we've been imprisoned in a worldview that's neither honoring toward our fellow human beings, nor biblical." Chambers, who has a wife and children and previously identified as gay, has acknowledged that he has "ongoing same-sex attractions." FULL STORY
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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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Prayer changes things
Hey dot/fred how is it hanging today.............see you are back .............full of BS
Throwing dice changes things.
One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was at the table, leaning against Jesus' breast.
– World English Bible
they say we see, but they cannot see
they hear, but cannot hear
i love jesus
he is 2 cool
pretend blind boy is christian
jesus, he's the same
the pharisees, they r our sinless accusers
So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, "Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner." He answered and said, "Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see." Then they said to him again, "What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?" He answered them, "I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?" Then they reviled him and said, "You are His disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples. "We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from." The man answered and said to them, "Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing." They answered and said to him, "You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?" And they cast him out.
Good evening, faith. It's a shame that healing of that sort is over and done with. At least apparently so. Why do you suppose Jesus never healed an amputee?
why?
Jesus never healed an amputee because the parlor trick that he used to do his supposed "healing", is a widely known scam, practiced to the present day. His healing is a fraud, and makes no changes whatsoever to his subjects bodily tissues.
HeavenSent
Do you take PRIDE in being a Christjan? Yes or no?
Just one word: "yes" or "no".
Apparently HeavenSent is STUMPED once again. You'd think she'd take pride in being a Christian, but it doesn't appear to be the case.
Observer, I already responded to your question.
HeavenSent
"Observer, I already responded to your question"
Of course you DIDN'T. That response was 7 words and NONE were "yes" or "no".
Do you take PRIDE in being a Christian? YES or NO. Just a simple one-word response is all that the question calls for. So is it "yes" or "no". No other words are required. Do you have the mental capacity to understand this simple question in English?
HeavenSent,
For the record, when asked if you take pride in being a Christian, you have REFUSED to say the word "yes".
You must be so PROUD of that. Get some sleep. Maybe tomorrow you won't be so STUMPED on so many questions. Good luck.
I copied and pasted my original answer just for you.
HeavenSent
Observer, you posted "HeavenSent, Do you take PRIDE in being a Christjan?
Answer: I humbly love the Lord Jesus Christ.
June 22, 2013 at 1:12 am | Report abuse |
Yes
HeavenSent,
You are on here picking on gays frequently.
How many Christians have you personally called ADULTERERS for divorcing and remarrying? There are FAR FAR MORE Christians who are adulterers than the total number of gays. What is your answer? Anything other than PURE HYPOCRISY?
Observer, twist and contort and spin it backwards with the best that you have. There is no crime in speaking truth to those that spend their life in denial. That's why Christians tell you to stop listening to satan, for he is a liar.
2 Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Amen.
HeavenSent,
STUMPED again! You haven't answered one question. Pathetic. How embarrassing for your mental abilities.
Here's the HYPOCRISY test question. One more chance?
How many Christians have you personally called ADULTERERS for divorcing and remarrying? There are FAR FAR MORE Christians who are adulterers than the total number of gays. What is your answer? Anything other than PURE HYPOCRISY?
Still STUMPED on the PRIDE question too? Wow!
Observer, my answer remains the same. The sin of PRIDE blinds people.
Observer – what H.S. really takes pride in is trolling. It is simply not possible for anyone to be as evasive and willfully ignorant as s/he is. Gotta be a poe.
after 37 years of tormenting g.ays, we're going to close our doors. our proud legacy of mentally torturing h.omos.exuals is at an end - but don't think it's the end of our ignorance. no, we still have plenty of that.
There is no cure for stupid.
whoo hoo ! gayness cured a bigot
Never give up, never give in;
you Can get over it,
and GOD will absolutely help.
http://www.holy-19-harvest.com
UNIVERSAL MAGNIFICENT MIRACLES
Get over what?
you Can get over it, bigotry that is. God will absolutely help you.
You are the racist bigot, faith. You are always calling people "sambo".
I have a question for the believers. If there was a way to tell before hand whether a pregnant woman was going to have a gay or lesbian baby. Would you want her to have an abortion?
I guess the question was too hard.
Yeah it's too hard. I'm sure some of them had a stroke thinking about this one.
As usual, parents would ensure the child knew about the sin of pride and all the havoc it's ugly head creates.
HeavenSent, the question was "If there was a way to tell before hand whether a pregnant woman was going to have a gay or lesbian baby, would you want her to have an abortion?"
It is a fairly straightforward question, HeavenSent. Which your answer didn't address. Answer it.
Candiano, I certainly did answer the question. That sin of pride roaring it's ugly head. Of course those that have that sin won't admit it, instead argue with anyone that points the obvious out
Heaven Sent is apparently incapable of answering any tough questions. She tries to change the subject and ends up fooling no one but herself.
@Candiano – HS's response is more telling than if s/he had attempted to actually address the question. Don't hold your breathe waiting for an intelligible answer; this is the best s/he can offer. The irony, of course, is the pride with which s/he provided the response (twice). But as s/he noted, s/he is unlikely to admit that pride fuels this behavior . . .
HeavenSent. Its, not it's. you don't even have a grasp of basic English, do you? Pity.
What is obvious is that you don't understand the question, HeavenSent. Fetus. In utero. Found out it will be gay. Abort or not? And pride has zero to do with it. Answer it.
Observer and redzoa: I thought I'd give it one more shot. I'll bet she's too proud to answer it honestly.
Observer, what part of big, humungous, gigantic, over stuffed, inflated ego do you not comprehend? Born gay my foot. Ego in overdrive is what you have. Now that you know you have to resolve the sin of pride, what excuse are you going to pull out of your hat?
I'm wondering if she even understands the question.
HeavenSent,
Even if I did have a big ego, it's still better than the TEN COMMANDMENT SIN of lying that you do.
Looks like "the sin of pride" is the excuse she is going to use to deflect every question tonight. I sense a pattern here.
HeavenSent
"Born gay my foot."
Millions of gays say they were born that way."
Please list your educational background in psychology or your expertise as a mind reader to show that you have ANY CREDIBILITY at all in claiming they are all lying.
"Ego in overdrive is what you have. Now that you know you have to resolve the sin of pride, what excuse are you going to pull out of your hat?"
Ohhh . . . the irony.
OK, let's be logical about the group you belong. Isn't the theme "gay PRIDE"
I rest my case. Even your founding fathers knew.
The idiocy of that last response, in combination with all HS's others, is both mind-numbing and completely predictable.
HeavenSent,
Do you take PRIDE in being a Christjan?
Observer, you posted "HeavenSent "Born gay my foot." Millions of gays say they were born that way."
Please list your educational background in psychology or your expertise as a mind reader to show that you have ANY CREDIBILITY at all in claiming they are all lying."
Answer: Millions of gays are lying to themselves. It's called denial.
Observer, you posted "HeavenSent, Do you take PRIDE in being a Christjan?
Answer: I humbly love the Lord Jesus Christ.
HeavenSent,
'
Once again you have FAILED to answer a question. Are you capable of answering ANY questions? Here it is since you didn't answer:
Please list your educational background in psychology or your expertise as a mind reader to show that you have ANY CREDIBILITY at all in claiming they are all lying."
So you assume that anyone who advocates gay rights is automatically gay? Do you also assume that animal rights activists are animals, HeavenSent?
The question was too hard for you, wasn't it, HeavenSent? I suspect you don't want to answer because if you found out you were going to give birth to a gay child, you would give yourself an abortion, wouldn't you?
Don't change the subject any more, HS. Answer the question.
"Millions of gays are lying to themselves. It’s called denial."
About what?
There are over 150 species of mammals alone that exhibit gay behavior in nature. Are these animals "in denial", also.
You really need to get further educated, HS. Being gay is as natural to gay people as being hetero is to you. Assuming you're hetero.
I think the transition from human to kangaroo is actually happening! HS can no longer understand simple questions. Soon, she'll be out in a field, browsing on grass and leaves.
Twisting, contorting, spinning everything around just keeps the bandage on the wound. The issue is and always will be, why the urgency of denial?
tallulah13, it's OK to question a kangaroo that isn't really a kangaroo, but, oh no, let's not go to truth with others. Hypocrite.
My answers are truthful as well simply stated so that a 5 year old can comprehend, Because I don't buy into your lies and give you the answers you want ... well, too bad. Jesus' truth rocks. Try it some day after you get over your bullying ways to get people to accept you in denial.
Romans 12:2
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Amen.
Nonsense like the garbage you read from Doug below is nauseating. Doug is a bigot who uses religion to excuse his bigotry. Gays and lesbians got here the same way straight people got here. We've all heard the comment" We're all gods children" That also applies to gays and lesbians. Bigots like Doug should be called out for what they are. Closeted, ignorant bigots.
Luke 4:4
And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
Amen.
Now We have garbage above.
Douglas sounds repressed.
No "cure" for being gay is needed.
Celibacy is the answer to men like Chambers with sinful same s-e-x attractions.
He cannot continue to harbor the desire to fornicate with men and sustain a healthy marriage.
Chambers needs to square his life with God and cast out the demons that tempt him to fornicate with men.
Pastor Moore and Elder Duncan have added you to the evening prayer list.
Through prayer and supplication all things are possible, including the casting off out of fornication.
Hey doogie do know is chad in your families bloodline ?
Oops for forgot ............you...............well do you know doogie ?
No "cure" is necessary because gay people are not sick. Same gender attraction is totally natural to gay people; the same way opposite gender attraction is to hetero people.
Celibacy is not the answer; people are naturally sexual beings. What is NOT natural is celibacy. Advocating celibacy is advocating the unnatural.
Jesus never said a word about gay people. Not one. Have you ever asked yourself why?
Read Matthew 19 and the scriptures before referring to Jesus in your posts.
Chambers has to cast out demons! Let's all get together now, "The power of Christ compels you! The power of Christ compels you!"
phillie – Don't take the name of The Lord in vain in your posts.
Psalms 56:4
In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
Amen.
Shocking! CNN actually covers Bilderberg conference
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epZs8QV26TY
http://grailcode.net/
"harbor the desire to fornicate with men and sustain a healthy marriage."
So it's okay to harbor the desire to fornicate with women and sustain a healthy marriage but just not with men?
Revelation 12:11
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Amen.
+
Luke 4:4
And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
Amen.
Mathew 19 say zero on gay people. Nothing. Nada. It is about divorce. I DID reference Jesus on what he said about gay people. He said n o t h i n g.
Nice try.
Brianie, I didn't take the Lord's name in vain. Nice try.
Read the passage and pay close attention to what Jesus says about marriage between a man and a woman in the beginning of time.
America doesn't have lords, it's a republic.
Brian, I will repeat this to you because you have a problem understanding this: Jesus said nothing about gay people in Mathew 19. Jesus said nothing about gay people at all, ever. This topic is about gays, not marriage. So admit you are wrong and move on.
While we are talking about Mathew, read Mathew 7. Read that carefully. See what Jesus says about removing the plank from your eye.
Phillip, Jesus didn't create His children gay. Your big ego (sin of PRIDE) did. I can't believe you didn't figure it out, after all, isn't the gay theme "gay PRIDE"?
HS, you crazy kangaroo, "pride" is not the answer to every question. Perhaps if you weren't so vain, you'd actually pay attention to the real question.
tallulah13, living a lie and staying in denial to support the lie, is why the truth stings when you read it.
Again, read the passage slowly where marriage is defined as being between a man and a woman from the beginning of time. The message should not be difficult to comprehend unless you skipped the entire passage and are not used to reading the Bible.
Why are so many Christians judgmental?
TRUE BELIEVERS JUDGE (not according to their own standard Matthew 7:1-2) (discern)
"Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment." John 7:24 (Ephesians 5:11, 1 Corinthians 5:12)
"But he who is spiritual judges ALL things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one." 1 Corinthians 2:15 (1 Corinthians 6:2-3; 10:15; 14:29, Romans 16:17)
Judging Is Believing.
Yes, and why, even of yourselves, do you not judge what is right? (Luke 12:57)
What is right?
The statutes of the Lord are right (Psalm 19:8).
False Christians and unbelievers tell us it is not right to judge. Some fools hypocritically condemn us for judging (Luke 6:37), and they all hypocritically judge that we judge. When we identify preachers as false teachers leading both themselves and those who follow them to hell, when we declare others as on their way to hell, and especially when we warn them they are lost, we often hear these words (or the equivalent), "Judge not" (Matthew 7:1). Yet, these words are exactly why we judge.
Jesus said,
Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. (Matthew 7:1-2)
Amen.
You need to judge your own behavior, HeavenSent, and the behavior of other Christians. That is what Jesus was referring to. NOT the behavior of non-Christians.
Amen.
Phillip, I have to come out of peace, quiet, and serenity to write to folks blinded by the sin of pride. Who's egos are so out of control they need to grab onto a flawed theory that only the fittest survive ... because they didn't have sense to harness that demon when they were kids. The rest of the world learned right from wrong before age 6. So, I'll sit back to hear the next excuse that babbles out from the keyboards. You can blame me or anyone else. We'll continue to smile.
Then you are committing the sin of pride when you put your own ego above the word of Our Lord, HeavenSent. You have not taken Mathew 7 to heart, and you are a hypocrite. Continue to smile while you are judged in the manner in which you have judged others.
Phillip, read my post again. We judge, which is discerning what the Lord taught us, righteous vs unrighteous actions/outcomes.
HeavenSent's judgement is terrible. For instance, She brainlessly claims that I (a male) am Tommy (a female).
Lying, as HeavenSent does in this case is a TEN COMMANDMENT sin. If she had any pride, she wouldn't be a lair.
Ooops. Bet that's the first time she's been called a "lair".
Can you not comprehend the written word, HeavenSent?
You need to judge your own behavior, HeavenSent, and the behavior of other Christians. That is what Jesus was referring to.
NOT the behavior of non-Christians.
You know, judge people who pay lip service that they are Christian, but really aren't?
This is ridiculous. Good night.
I don't know about all christians, but I would guess that HS is judgmental because she is stupid and arrogant. A bad combination made worse by her apparent disconnect with sanity.
Hark, me thinks ... yes, it's true, do I hear the sounds of whining? Is an unbeliever posting? Then it's whiner time. Drum roll please ........................ Whhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!.
2 Peter 1:4
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Amen.
BIG question HS and gang do you actually know your families bloodline ?
Hey HS maybe a great, great, great uncle had a lustful past and it is on record somewhere ?
Blaming others does you no good. Learning His spiritual truth frees you from sinful lusts of the flesh.
The only spirit is that moonshine brew or a good old bottle of Strawberry Hill by Boone's Farm
Romans 10:9
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Amen.
Get a blood test or a cotton swap works HS
Ephesians 4:23
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
Amen.
Jesus Christ himself never said a word about gay people. Perhaps you could take a page out of His book.
Amen.
HS = BS
HeavenSent, don't you ever get tired of posting those silly bible quotes? Try posting something original once in a while.
Unfortunately if they don't believe in the veracity of Jesus they are not going to believe in the veracity of His works,it is sad but it does not change the truth of it....
Philip,
Does lust of the flesh ring any bells with you?
Athy, instead of babbling nonsense start reading His word so that you will renew your mind to save your soul. Was that good for you?
Athy,
Luke 4:4
And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
Amen.
Does "Jesus never said a word about gay people" ring a bell for you, HeavenSent?
Speaking of the sin of pride, your name reeks of it.
Phillip, any apostle that wrote scriptures, he did so for the Lord. Jesus is the author.
I'll get yo stated on some of the scriptures you want. When you finish with these, there's more:
Romans 1:18-28
Acts 8:26-40
1 Corinthians 10:13
1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Ecclesiastes 12:7
Ezekiel 22:28
Ezekiel 28:18-19
Exodus 20:17
Deuteronomy 22:5
Genesis 2:24
Genesis 3:14-15
Genesis 19:11
Genesis 19:24-25
Genesis 19:5
Hebrews 12:24-29
Hosea 6:9
Isaiah 29:13-16
Jeremiah 6:15-16
Jeremiah 23:19-23
John 14:6
Jude 7
2 John 1:9-11
1 John 5:17
2 Kings 18:5-6
Leviticus 18:22
Leviticus 20:13
Luke 1:68-70
Malachi 2:17
Matthew 5:16-18
Matthew 7:20-23
Matthew 8:5-13
Matthew 15:8
Matthew 19:9-12
Matthew 19:17-19
1 Peter 4:17-18
2 Peter 19
Proverbs 10:12
Romans 1:18-32
Romans 3:23
Romans 1:24-28
Romans 1:25
Revelation 19:11-16
Revelation 20:2
Revelation 20:10
Ruth 1:11-16
2 Samuel 1:25-27
1 Timothy 1:10
2 Timothy 3:12-17
Amen.
"With great power comes great responsibilty" - Spider-Man 1
HS, you dolt, you listed old testament books in your list. Jesus had nothing to do with those.
Tallulah, I, I THAT I AM, God, Melchizedek, His Holiness, Jesus, Lord, Hosanna, His Righteousness, Excellency, to name a few, are all the same.
Heaven Sent,
And:
Agdistis, Ah Puch, Ahura Mazda, Alerich, Allah, Amaterasu, An , Anasi, Anat, Andvari, Ansshar, Anu, Aphrodite, Apollo, Apsu, Ares, Artemis, Asclepius, Athena, Athirat, Athart, Atlas, Baal, Ba Xian, Bacchus, Balder, Bast, Bellona, Bergelmir, Bes, Bixia Yuanjin, Bragi, Brahma, Brigit, Camaxtli, Ceres, Ceridwen, Cernunnos, Chac, Chalchiuhtlicue, Charun, Chemosh, Cheng Huang, Cybele, Dagon, Damkina, Davlin, Dawn, Demeter, Diana, Di Cang, Dionysus, Ea, El, Enki, Enlil, Eos, Epona, Ereskigal, Farbauti, Fenrir, Forseti, Freya, Freyr, Frigg, Gaia, Ganesha, Ganga, Garuda, Gauri, Geb, Geong Si, Guanyin, Hades, Hathor, Hecate, Helios, Heng-O, Hephaestus, Hera, Hermes, Hestia, Hod, Hoderi, Hoori, Horus, Hotei, Huitzilopochtli, Hsi-Wang-My, Hygeia, Inanna, Into, Iris, Ishtar, Isis, Ixtab, Izanaki, Izanami, Jesus, Juno, Jupiter, Juturna, Kagutsuchi, Kartikeya, Khepri, Ki, Kingu, Kinich Ahau, Kishar, Krishna, Kuan-Yin, Kukulcan, Lakshmi, Leto, Liza, Loki, Lugh, Luna, Magna Mater, Maia, Marduk, Mars, Mazu, Medb, Mercury, Mimir, Min, Minerva, Mithras, Morrigan, Mot, Mummu, Muses, Nammu, Nanna, Nanse, Neith, Nemesis, Nephthys, Neptune, Nerhal, Ninazu, Ninhurzah, Nintu, Ninurta, Njord, Nugua, Nut, Odin, Ohkuninushi, Ohyamatsumi, Orgelmir, Osiris, Ostara, Pan, Parvati, Phaethon, Phoebe, Phoebus Apollo, Pilumnus, Poseidon, Quetzalcoatl, Rama, Re, Rhea, Sabazius, Sarasvati, Selene, Shiva, Seshat, Set, Shamash, Shapsu, Shen Yi, Shiva, Shu, Si-Wang-Mu, Sin, Sirona, Sol, Surya, Susanoh, Tawaret, Tefnut, Tezcatlipoca, Thanatos, Thor, Thoth, Tiamat, Tianhou, Tlaloc, Tonatiuh, Toyo-Uke-Bime, Tyche, Tyr, Utu, Uzume, Bevus, Vesta, Vishnu, Volturus, Vulcan, Xipe, Xi-Wang-Mu, Xochipilli, Xochiquestzal, Yam, Yarikh, Yhwh, Ymir, Yu-Huang, Yum Kimil, Zeus.
All the same. All fantasy fiction.
A Frayed Knot, lies eventually unravel. You'll soon learn that lesson.
A Frayed Knot
Nonf what you mentioned has followers but one.
non of what you mentioned has holy books but one.
non of what you mentioned above has prophets or apostles to the mankind but one.
all what you mentioned above had been forgotten but one.
all what you mentioned above are just tales and stories but one.
ask them all to guide you and to help you no one will do but one.
all what you mentioned above are humans but one.
all what you mentioned above you can see their pictures but one.
all what you mentioned above you can their status but one.
Allah is the creator, the powerful, the first , the controller, the rich, the supporter, the peace, the wise.
@light
Many of those mentioned have at least a few followers.
Some have holy books
I can ask a rock to guide me with the same results as asking a deity.
Not sure how you figure they are all humans, unless you know them personally.
I like how all those tales and stories are false... unless they are tales and stories about your personal brand of deity.
There are losing the war, so it's time to leave gracefully.
Happy Atheist
I have never sinned. I used to drink about 8 glasses of wine a night for nearly 15 years but then decided I should quit so I did and it's been over 2 years now. I did not throw any burdons on God or ask for anyone elses forgiveness or try and rationalize why it wasn't my fault, I knew who was to blame for my overindulgences. So I took responsibility for my actions and quit, both religion and alcohol it turns out, and I've never been happier.
AA is for alcoholics i believe
Religious alcoholics.
AA is for people who can't do things on their own, and need the support of a group mentality. Happy Atheist quit on his own. Do you have a problem with reading comprehension, faith?
problem drinkers can quit
glad you could
AA is for mouse, tv, pvr, cable/dvr, aerolatte.
AAA is for old receiver and that stupid cheap good-for-nothing "universal" remote.
i have specialized in sin since i was a kid. majored in it in college. tis my expertise. turns out the bible is not inerrant. paul was wrong. he was not the chief of sinners. he was a small fry.
I know we still live in a country where we have freedom of speech, and freedom of religion, and where I grew up in a place where I could believe in the God who created the universe. I know we have a choice to read the Bible, practice what belief we have and to choose if we don't want to live a certain way, if we don't want to. I dont tell anyone what to do in their bedrooms, it's not my business. I don't agree to people being abused, and forced to do anything against their will. And if people say they choose not to live a certain way. No one can tell me not to live a Christian life, and I would never tell anyone to commit suicide because someone didn't agree with how they lived. Being part African-American, and part Cherokee Native American, I've known of some of my ancestors who were kicked off their land, and others into slavery, and that was here in our country. Many people here survived hatred, prejudiced, poverty, and much more, but I don't ever say suicide is good for anyone. I pray that people can understand I have right to practice my beliefs, and not try to force anyone to live like I do, and it's my personal choice to live my life, and not harm anyone because of my personal beliefs, in a free country, and say I have a personal Savior in Jesus Christ and no one has to agree.
to faith I ask, what do you call drinking two bottles of wine a night for more than a decade? a problem drinker? My doctor said I had a problem with alcohol, but i'm pretty sure he meant I was an alcoholic. If you are implying that because I was able to quit without God then I must not have been addicted then you are a moron (but I think that had already been established).
To Skipper – I am not sure what your point of contention is. Are there people not allowing you to be Christian? Any Christian who cries discrimination or persecution in America today apparently doesn't know the meaning of the words. There are thousands and thousands of Christian churches all over America in every city and every neighborhood which Christian themed music, concerts, venues, shopping malls, amusement parks. They are on TV, radio, billboards and more. If you feel you are being persecuted for being a Christian in America then you need to go to your nearest shopping mall this December and carry around a sign that says "I Am An Atheist, Please keep your Christmas at home!" and see what kind of response you get.
This is big text.
123
Oops.....doesn't work!
I think they only support italics, and bold text.
Too funny Vic...............did the devil make you do that ?
Can you imagine the chaos in here if text sizing was allowed? Everything would be 72 point font.
sam
One or two comments a page ..............it would crash the server more on the hot ones.
And yet wine was drunk in copious amounts, HS. Jesus approved.
Oh well, I was expecting just a few sizes up to 16 pts, maybe. They could cap it to that.
faith
millions of recovering alcoholics don't blame their genes for their drinking. they have surrendered their powerlessness over their alcoholism to god and have been released from the terror of its bondage
in fact, the greatest revival of the 20th century o c c ur r ed in the basements of churches where one dr u nk reached out to another and they found god through the very "evil" or "si n" that drove them there.
if one is comfortable in his/her own skin embracing her hom os uality, each to his own way.
Neither genes nor Jesus are responsible for alcoholism or overcoming alcoholism.
The Knights of Columbus folks were usually in the basement of the church getting hammered... Priests give out liquor every Sunday... so AA meetings held at church is kind of like a Catch-22 kind of thing...
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Amen.
I have never sinned. I used to drink about 8 glasses of wine a night for nearly 15 years but then decided I should quit so I did and it's been over 2 years now. I did not throw any burdons on God or ask for anyone elses forgiveness or try and rationalize why it wasn't my fault, I knew who was to blame for my overindulgences. So I took responsibility for my actions and quit, both religion and alcohol it turns out, and I've never been happier.
The AA model of recovery substitutes time drinking with something else to fill the time – church. Religion itself may not be a big factor in recovery.
If one is overcome by sudden appendage growth, one should jack persistently until one lets free the creamy ambrosia of the Lord.
Pole Jackers 6:9
Alcoholism isn't even in the same stratosphere with being gay. It is comparing apples and oranges of the worst sort. This line of reasoning is specious, faith.
@happy atheist....you should really start drinking again.
"9 Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in s e x ual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prost i tutes, or practice h om os e xuality, 10 or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. " 1 Corinth 6:9, 10
Not to point out the obvious Candiano, but I do believe drunkard is right up there with being gay according to your book. I don't believe it is anything more than historical fiction but there you go.
@art – why?
Jesus loved wine and possibly greasy pole action, judging by the company he kept, so what's the problem?
@happy atheist
Why......not? wait...haven't thought about it that way have you?
Happy Atheist, not to point out the obvious, but I was speaking to the original poster, who's handle is faith.
Alcoholism and being gay is not in the same stratosphere, as I stated; notice that I didn't quote from that book; you did.
I should point out that my name is Joe Candiano; I realize that when I rebooted, I forgot to sign back on as Candiano. Sorry if this may have confused anyone!
And before Dippy gets me, I realize I wrote "who's" instead of "whose". Mea culpa.
Luke 7:34
The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!
Amen.
"Alcohol may be man's worst enemy, but the Bible says love your enemy." – Frank Sinatra
He was a gangster but Frankie Boy had a sharp mind.
Hail Mary full of lice... Bless.ed are you among god-raped women...
I'm not usually one for plugging articles, but I've just read this one and it's really interesting.
http://www.google.ie/url?q=http://www.newstatesman.com/religion/2013/06/inside-alpha-atheists-foray-christianity&sa=U&ei=b3nEUdzMOO3A7Ab__YCYBw&ved=0CDYQqQIoADAF&usg=AFQjCNHPqGz2J7lC065OKBV9XCL4LISfYg
Yep, that sounds about right.
Did you read it? It's fascinating, isn't it? It just backs up my assertion that, unless they themselves are acting aggressively, we should try to be nice to Christians. There's clearly other issues in their lives which cause them to become so susceptible to religious hogwash.
Good article. I'd have a blast going through that course. I always engage Christians who come to my door with "good news". It's great fun giving them a debate when they expected something completely different.
Yeah, I invited some Jehovah's Witnesses in for some coffee once. It was ridiculous to be honest. They were really nice so I didn't want to be mean, but their strongest argument for theistic belief was "How else could the world have been created?" It was sad so I just gave them a brief run through of my astronomical knowledge and of the great amount I didn't know, followed by me saying that just because something isn't known doesn't mean we can fill in the gaps with magic.
shew.....thank goodness for your knowledge! bet you saved their lives.
Nah, but one should try to help people with their delusions.
why? like you said, they were friendly people. doesn't sound like their ignorance is hurting anyone. wait for it....here comes the "Every theist forces their religion and denies equal rights rant."
They are hurting themselves, and I would say that coming to my door at 9:00am on a Saturday with the sole purpose of shoving their religion down my throat harms me, especially if I spent Friday night drinking.
Art
Nope, I'd never say that. And I try to help them 'cause I'm a nice guy. They weren't receptive to my help, so I wished them a merry farewell.
haha...thank you pete knew it was coming. If they are coming every Saturday, then yes, I could see your annoyance, but let's be honest, you might get a visit once a year or even every two years.
No the Jehova's Witnesses have a church or a temple, or whatever they call it around the corner from my house. Someone comes by every other Saturday, it is not always the same people, and I don't always answer the door, but they do come quite a bit.
They weren't receptive to your help or you weren't receptive to theirs. aha who is the arrogant one here. Has to be on of you, maybe both.
Also, I am not trying to imply that all religious people are like this, in fact most of the religious people I know are not like that.
one* shew glad i got that in before the real tom could berate me. Such a snarky one she is.
art
They wanted me to believe in and worship a fictional deity whose historical development can be easily traced, so I'm right and they're wrong and I merely wished to show them the error of their ways.
You call Tom snarky? Pot, meet kettle.
I think it does help people to gently lead them away from ideological dogma. It's good when people can appreciate the life they have here on earth, while they have it.
Good example of that would be those who lost their lives in the name of religion. They wasted the only life they'll ever have, in favor of a promised life in god's grand theme park in the sky. What a waste, and what a shame.
You must be blind to your own stupidity. YOU are the one who called someone an a$$, and my post was in response to yours. You seem to want to involve in a devbate, but you can't be civilized, so it's no wonder people are ignoring you. Your calling them "trolls" doesn't help. From your comments you post allover the blogs, I gather, you need some serious psychological help.... and that's not with intent to insult you..
This post was a response to "the real Tom", but edend up on new page.
Sorry.... 😉
Huh?
You really are not too swift. I don't pretend to be a christian. You are the one who, along with HS and a bunch of other wackbaskets, mewl on about how awful everyone else is and how good you are and then turn around and make yourselves hypocrites.
That's okay. It just proves what most people think of self-aggrandizing, sanctimonious morons like the ones who populate this forum.
And as for people not responding to my posts, you seem to have a lot of difficulty figuring out that you responded, and so do many others. If lots of people ignore my posts, then why are you so bothered about my posting them? If they fall on deaf ears, why are you so wrapped around the axle by what I write?
Do you really think I give a crap whether anyone responds? Why would I? Three days from now, nobody will even remember what anyone else said on here, much less what name he/she used to post it.
You place far too much importance on a silly pastime that is essentially meaningless. Says much about your life.
The Real Tom – 1. HUH! – 0.
Round goes to Tom.
And don't forget, having imaginary friends and imaginary enemies and getting riled up on the BB about them is really at least a couple of silly pastimes.
@obvi goes both ways dbag. "Arguing with a fool only proves there are two."
@the real tom.
hahahahahaha, you said "says much about your life." This coming from the person who litters every headline on BB. Tell me this isn't what you look forward to when you wake. would be your biggest lie yet.
OUTRAGE!!!1!!
I know tom's point is laughable, as he/ she just described how I view him on this blog, a mild distraction from some grumpy lunatic. To be either pited or laughed at but not taken seriously that is how we see you Tommie boy....
Who's "we", O Fortuna? You got a gerbil up your ass again? What'd you do, fall on it?
If you weren't taking me seriously, you turd, you would have been able to ignore my posts. If you thought everyone agreed with you, you would have no reason to respond, since all your responses would do is to prolong the conversation with me and thus increase the likelihood others would read my posts.
Do you have a lot of difficulty tying your shoes?