What is happening to America (Rant)

[bornl33t]

oh man... so many morons in one thread... how did you manage this de1? YOu been inviting the pnb kids?

[1stdeadeye]

Joey,

I am not claiming to be more pious then anyone else. I was simply mentioning the decline in consideration and respect in our society. The girl in the belly shirt and hip huggers was not a pauper. However the outfit was no appropriate for church. I am saying out respect, dress more conservatively and respectfully. Someone wearing a $200 Eagles Jersey to church could probably afford a pair of Khakis and a Polo Shirt.

This is the only point I am trying to make. There is no religion involved! Just consideration and a sense of tact.


BTW, I never said gays won't go to heavan.

[shartley]

[shartley]

for starters, it may or may not matter, that I am not a religious person now, and its been a while since I even considered myself to be.

however. as I understand it, god accepts anyone that wants to come and pay hommage to him (except the gays, right scott?) and they can visit one of the many real estates he owns, known as churches and do so.

[madmolly]

[/QUOTE]


I guess we can tear John 3:16 out of the bible. I think it goes believe in me, but I could be wrong

[shartley]

I guess we can tear John 3:16 out of the bible. I think it goes believe in me, but I could be wrong

[logamus]

im going to take jdubs advice and start following zeus. zeus rocks.

[madmolly]

Whatever

You have to believe in Jesus Christ to be saved. No other way. No sitting in a box telling a priest you whacked off, no giving up stuff for 40 days, praying to the virgin Mary even though the 10 commandments say no false idols. Catholics are full of false idols and sick arse priest yet they are the ones to throw up religion and act like the high and mighty. I am comfortable with my relationship with Jesus and that is all that matters.

[shartley]

You have to believe in Jesus Christ to be saved. No other way. No sitting in a box telling a priest you whacked off, no giving up stuff for 40 days, praying to the virgin Mary even though the 10 commandments say no false idols. Catholics are full of false idols and sick arse priest yet they are the ones to throw up religion and act like the high and mighty. I am comfortable with my relationship with Jesus and that is all that matters.

[SlartyBartFast]

You have to believe in Jesus Christ to be saved. No other way. No sitting in a box telling a priest you whacked off, no giving up stuff for 40 days, praying to the virgin Mary even though the 10 commandments say no false idols. Catholics are full of false idols and sick arse priest yet they are the ones to throw up religion and act like the high and mighty. I am comfortable with my relationship with Jesus and that is all that matters.

Sorry, but if a murderer that doesn't change his ways but believes in Jesus, or changes his ways only before being judged is "saved" and someone who gives of their life but doesn't believe or follow some arbitrary ceremony isn't...

Well, that's a messed up system I don't want any part of. If God, Alah, or any of the other incarnations of a single benelovant diety are even remotely correct is your inner thoughts, reasoning, and everyday actions that will determine your judgement.

Even the nasty religion with nasty dieties that are out to get you place very high value in actions and thoughts over simple beliefs and ceremony.

Believe that the ceremony is required for final glory. Fine, that's your right. But you aren't heading for paridise without the other parts as well. Attending church and believing aren't "get-out-of-jail-free" cards.

[ScatterPlot]

Sorry, but if a murderer that doesn't change his ways but believes in Jesus, or changes his ways only before being judged is "saved" and someone who gives of their life but doesn't believe or follow some arbitrary ceremony isn't...

Well, that's a messed up system I don't want any part of. If God, Alah, or any of the other incarnations of a single benelovant diety are even remotely correct is your inner thoughts, reasoning, and everyday actions that will determine your judgement.

Even the nasty religion with nasty dieties that are out to get you place very high value in actions and thoughts over simple beliefs and ceremony.

Believe that the ceremony is required for final glory. Fine, that's your right. But you aren't heading for paridise without the other parts as well. Attending church and believing aren't "get-out-of-jail-free" cards.

Some of what you say is true. But remember, the majority of what you just said has been addressed in the Bible! A lot more of this whole being a Christain thing is actually written out in the Bible, contrary to how most act.
Anyway- The thief on the cross. Possibly a murderer, changed his ways and was saved right before his death. Is he going to Heaven? Absolutely. The scripture says so. Pharisees- People who lived their whole lives religiously. Will some of them not go to Heaven? Right-o! Rahab the harlet? Heaven. What about Saul/Paul? He even says himself that he is the "chiefest of all sinners". He persecuted the church like mad, yes he was a murderer! Heaven for him too! The Bible says that anyone can be saved.


You guys gotta remember that it's not what YOU think, it's what GOD thinks!
Again I gotta go back to this one...
"Not everyone who says to me 'Lord, Lord!" shall enter the kingdom of Heaven".

[Crime Dog]

"You have to believe in Jesus Christ to be saved."

To which the Bible responds in James 2:19, "You beileve that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believer that-and shudder."

That whole passage is good actually. Verse 18 in James 2 says, "But someone will say, 'You have faith; I have deeds.' Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do."

Western "Christians" have this mistaken notion that belief and action are two seperate things. Wrong, according to the Word. True belief is not mere mental acknowledgement. True belief (faith) will act itself out, and radically change a person at their very core. This radical change will manifest itself in action. If a person that claims to believe continues to be rebellious, and shows no outward sign that there has truly been a change, it's safe to question whether or not they truly "believe" like they claim to.

Jesus himself: "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit." (That's Matthew 7:15-17 by the way.)

True belief/faith proves itself by outward action. Verbal acknowledgement with nothing to back it up is "dead". It means nothing. So madmolly, when you say you believe, and that's all that's needed, you have to include the full definition of belief...and that full definition includes actions that correspond to what you're verbally claiming.

Oh, and please don't mix Catholic theology in with your argument. We're not all Catholics here. Some of us are actually Protestant (which means that while we're still Christians...we don't accept the authority of the Pope, or all of the theology of the Catholic church.)

[Bulldog]

Sounds like a parenting issue more than anything....

[aaron_mag]

Dude,

1de...you're in your early 30 still! What is going to happen when you are a certified gummer? You're going to be that grouchy old man who lives down the street where everyone says, "Don't hit the ball in his yard. That is mean old man Scott's house. You'll never get the ball back."



Our society is NOT going down the toilet. That argument has been going on as long as there were generation gaps (which, btw, has been forever and a day). Young people are what they have always been. Good and well meaning kids who are trying to get through the awkwardness of being a teenager any way they can.

I've taught martial arts for ten years. And from what I can see the kids now are the same as they were when you and I were knee high to a grasshopper. All this hype about the 'loss of society'...its the same old same old. The real question is...how in the heck did you get so conservative so fast dude!!!!

:P

[1stdeadeye]

Wow this thread was not about religion. So leave it out!!!

THis threas is about having a sense of tact. Time and place people. It is not about being conservative or liberal. I am not a grouchy old man Aaron! THey can hit the ball into my yard if they want! They just have to avoid the canine land mines while retrieving it!

Please reread the first post. I do not care how you dress or go out in public. But know the right place at the right time. The girl in the Tommy Hillfiger low cuts and FUBU Belly shirt was dressed in a distracting and inappropriate manner. The boy playng Gameboy a few rows back was being distracting and rude. That is all!

Sam made a great point above about it being what they can afford. If that is the case, fine! We have the St. Vincent De Paul Society to help our less fortunate parishioners. This is not the case here. These kids are wearing expensive clothes and playing electronic games in church. Money was not the issue, tact was.

As for the Catholic bashing, Madmolly believe what you like. I'll not dignify your comments with a retort.