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Post by tnthomas on Aug 1, 2018 18:22:45 GMT -5
Christianity is not viable as a practical lifestyle. That never occurred to me. But I guess it's was true, didn't work out so well for Jesus...
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Post by Warrigal on Aug 1, 2018 20:38:42 GMT -5
Quoting Keith (in part) Now to quote Chairman Mao - "A journey of a thousand miles begins with but a single step" (or something like this)
I agree with Keith, and the single step that begins the journey toward an authentic Christianity is to accept Jesus as master teacher, guide and exemplar. Jesus teaches that we are all imperfect and in need of forgiveness and once we realise that, we are ready to learn to be forgiving. That might be described as the second step on a very long journey that will only be finished by dying. There are many steps and each one is a new learning and growth opportunity.
I'm really not sure how any of this relates to Paul Ryan but since we have gone down this track, I would like to offer an analogy that came into my head recently.
A metaphor for growth is a tree. It begins as a seed that germinates in darkness until the time is right for it to emerge and begin to reveal itself as something new and fresh. Jesus used similar plant metaphors in some of his parables - the sower, the mustard seed and so on. Christianity was once such a seed and it looked very different to what we see today.
The young tree grows quickly but it is fragile and is lucky if it survives the early years. It can become diseased and wither. It is easily torn out of the ground and the climate may be unfavourable. First century Christians were lucky to survive the years of persecution from without and the heretical movements and disputes from within but the movement continued to grow.
A tree, which begins as a single cell, soon starts to organise into different structures. Roots anchor the tree to the source of its life - the soil from which it sprung. The trunk gives it strength to withstand storms, the rings of growth tell its history, the sap wood delivers all that is needed to the canopy to provide nourishment for growth and renewal.
I won't develop this analogy any further because I will become to confused but in many ways the Christian church is like a tree. It's roots are in Judaism and the belief in one god. Judaism is characterised by the law and by ritual. These concepts can still be found in Christianity but a tree is not just its roots and Christianity is not just rules and ritual.
An historical study reveals a church that like a tree has grown and developed over time. The heartwood is Jesus and his teachings, the rings reveal periods of growth and change. Not all of these were healthy periods, the church was much damaged at times but like a forest tree, managed to survive and to develop new and better ways to practise the faith. Think of the Reformation followed by the Hundred Years War and then the Enlightenment. They are many other examples of periods when the church was challenged by history, found wanting and returned to the heartwood while shedding dead leaves and bark.
I think we are in such a critical time now. Perhaps Christianity has become too blighted to survive in this age of modernity. Perhaps it has been hollowed out by corruption, and the heartwood is dead. Or perhaps the seeds of Christianity will come to life in new soil, far from Europe, North America and Australia and the cycle will begin again in Africa and Asia. Who knows? As long as the teachings of Jesus are available to seekers I think there will be Christians around for a very long time but the churches will certainly need to change. If not, they will become leaf litter and mulch.
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Post by keith on Aug 1, 2018 22:15:28 GMT -5
"I agree with Keith, and the single step that begins the journey toward an authentic Christianity is to accept Jesus as master teacher, guide and exemplar." Read more: takerefuge.freeforums.net/post/new/5010#ixzz5Mz6epNjuI took that first step at twelve, when I was confirmed. I never changed my mind. But, I questioned dogma that said he was God. Now, in retrospect, I understand: Mathew 21:21 "Then Jesus told them, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don't doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, 'May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' and it will happen."
John 14:12 "Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I am doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."
Jesus apparently felt we all had his potential. I agree, faith can move mountains. My faith is in man as nature's candidate for godhood. I think Jesus understood this concept. I also think we're on the verge of achieving such a feat by creating our own successors. Imagine a genetically engineered human being of superior mental and moral qualities stepping into the role...accelerated evolution. Or...we might blow ourselves to hell instead.
I don't know anything regarding God with certainty. Possibilities are infinite. Nice post Warrigal. Love your avatar tnthomas.
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Post by tnthomas on Aug 2, 2018 11:05:53 GMT -5
Love your avatar tnthomas. Thanks! As luck would have it, I happened upon a meme on FB, and since the discussion has turned to Christianity this might be a good place to land it:
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Post by Kady on Aug 2, 2018 11:11:09 GMT -5
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Post by rebecca2013 on Aug 2, 2018 13:35:34 GMT -5
and please please please remember that there was NO COLLUSION.... *snort* and if any of you still believe that tale of pure hogwash I still have that bridge in Brooklyn to sell you..... cheap....
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Post by Bob on Aug 2, 2018 14:14:50 GMT -5
and please please please remember that there was NO COLLUSION.... *snort* and if any of you still believe that tale of pure hogwash I still have that bridge in Brooklyn to sell you..... cheap.... I believe the operative word we're now looking at is either conspiracy or obstruction. Trump is right that "collusion" is apparently not in the federal statutes.....but I'll bet there are numerous statutes for conspiracy and obstruction of justice. The orange dotard and his dip-sh*t sons are in deep trouble.
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Post by tnthomas on Aug 2, 2018 15:29:46 GMT -5
I think that the word "collusion" at this point is just being used as a general term and not a legal one. When charges are ready to be levied, more specific terms like conspiracy, obstruction of justice and treason(?) will be the order of the day.
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Post by chinadoll1981 on Aug 2, 2018 17:53:25 GMT -5
Collusion leads directly to conspiracy... everyone right, there is no law specific to collusion itself but this bring up conspiracy, which is crime. I think this is beginning to unravel now and Trump will just have temper tantrum after tantrum until the crimes come home to roost in his own House.Then watch fireworks!! he might just implode. a.msn.com/r/2/BBLi7Ea?m=en-us&referrerID=InAppShare
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Post by rebecca2013 on Aug 3, 2018 6:35:05 GMT -5
and please please please remember that there was NO COLLUSION.... *snort* and if any of you still believe that tale of pure hogwash I still have that bridge in Brooklyn to sell you..... cheap.... I believe the operative word we're now looking at is either conspiracy or obstruction. Trump is right that "collusion" is apparently not in the federal statutes.....but I'll bet there are numerous statutes for conspiracy and obstruction of justice. The orange dotard and his dip-sh*t sons are in deep trouble. haha yesssss I was just quoting POTUS who sounds much like a broken record Collusion is leading to a crime as we shall soon see
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Post by rebecca2013 on Aug 3, 2018 6:35:26 GMT -5
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