Is Jesus Lord?

[Dis]

Originally posted by Kidicious


I took my son to church once because they were giving out free donuts. They tried to make him stand up and clap to the worship, but he just laid down and fell asleep.


... We still ate free donuts.

free donuts.

[Lorizael]

Or you could just do what my parents did. They nominally identify with the religions of their parents but do little more than carry out the traditions in practice.

The result: A raving lunatic of a son who has invented his very own religion/spiritual path/philosophy and truly believes himself to be, in a routinely megalomaniacal way, the next prophet/messenger of humankind.

[Dis]

I don't think it's wrong to introduce them only to christianity early on. Face it, we are a christian nation. Most people are christians. There is no reason to alienate your child from a majority of the population by forcing them to be athiest.

I just don't want people forcing them to believe in a religion. You expose them to the religion, if it takes hold, then so be it.

Even though I think religion is a bunch of bull****, it's actually a good social gathering. I think church is good for the social development of the child.

Or do you guys want this girl to turn into some communist, athiest, geek playing civilization 9 in some dark room somewhere?

Social life is important to girls and women. No need to alienate them from the social aspect of religion.

Though it is hypocritical to go to church for social reasons and not believe in the gospel. But I suspect this is true of most so called "christians". I don't fault them for this. People have the need to "belong". I know I do. But I feel out of place in church, so I don't go.

[Dis]

Originally posted by Lorizael
Or you could just do what my parents did. They nominally identify with the religions of their parents but do little more than carry out the traditions in practice.

The result: A raving lunatic of a son who has invented his very own religion/spiritual path/philosophy and truly believes himself to be, in a routinely megalomaniacal way, the next prophet/messenger of humankind.

you described me exactly.

[quantum_mechani]

Originally posted by Kidicious
You can't learn much in an hour, unless you're very smart.

Oh, come on, it doesn't take very long to know the basics.

Christianity:

*A single god created the world

*He set rules about the way he thought people should behave.

*He in generals rewards those that follow them, punish those who don't (exact details vary depending on sect).

*Eventually, he sent his son to loosen up some of the rules and take some of the blame.

As for it being dependant on society... that seems a cop out. Pretty much all religions claim to apply to the whole universe, where you happen to be shouldn't have any impact on whether you believe it.

[Lorizael]

You're forgetting the part of Christianity where, once Jesus shows up, he's the whole point. You're not supposed to just follow rules anymore. You are supposed to follow Jesus.

[Jon Miller]

I don't think you understand Christianity.

JM

[Traianvs]

I think going to a church service is a bit pointless. All you hear are some hoyo-hoyo songs, a priest talking how we should all be good and faithful to the Lord and a psalm here and there. I'll admit that depending on the specific cult there will be notable differences (protestants and catholic services will approach the whole thing differently), but what they have in common is that there's nothing about christianity being said there that will give a better understanding of it.

Imo, those services are intended for people who need support, who like to hear about it or by people who are christians more because they were raised to be christians than because they really understand/and believe it.

What children will learn there are the rituals of old that still live on. I know rituals and so on are necessary to keep a religion and a community together, but it isn't essential. The essence of christianity is rather taught elsewhere imo, and quite often, simply during the daily struggles as certain events happen.

I'm a hardcore atheist for example, and I know very little of all the rituals, the saints and the sacraments than my grandparents (and maybe my parents but I doubt that), yet I think I have a better understanding of catholicism than most of these old people uttering prayers with a rosary in their hands. Simply because I have read different views on the subjects like books of medieval writers, new publications that present me with some explanation, historical works and so on. Of course that's pretty arrogant of me to say, but still... I don't like mindless brainwashing in church. Let em read a book instead I say!!



PS: Big- to organ music though. Some organ composers such as Buxtehude are simply brilliant, especially if their music is played in halls with good acoustics
PS2: I like Cathedrals and churches too; they do give you a feeling of rest and calm in which one can contemplate some things, this is something that most cities lack nowadays.

[quantum_mechani]

Originally posted by Jon Miller
I don't think you understand Christianity.

JM

I don't think anyone really understands another persons religious beliefs unless they share them. That said, I'm willing to admit my synopsis was not flawless or entirely serious... on the other hand it didn't take even close to an hour.

[Ben Kenobi]

I have to go with Jon Miller here.

It took me 2 years of classes before I felt ready to be confirmed. And this was on top of a couple years of going to church learning about the basics of Christianity.

The approach of going to one and then another and then another isn't going to be as valuable as going to one and getting to know and understand the teachings of that one church. If it is as true as you claim, that all religions are basically the same, then the fact that the parents choose which one their child attends will not be any worse then taking them to many.

I still have so much to learn compared to those who have spent their entire lives as a Catholic.

[Ben Kenobi]

yet I think I have a better understanding of catholicism than most of these old people uttering prayers with a rosary in their hands. Simply because I have read different views on the subjects like books of medieval writers, new publications that present me with some explanation, historical works and so on

Depends on what you are looking for. 'Book knowledge' or real life experience.

I'd speak to the lady praying the rosary if I wanted to know something about Catholicism well before I would bother to read a book opining to the contrary.

[quantum_mechani]

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi
I have to go with Jon Miller here.

It took me 2 years of classes before I felt ready to be confirmed. And this was on top of a couple years of going to church learning about the basics of Christianity.

The approach of going to one and then another and then another isn't going to be as valuable as going to one and getting to know and understand the teachings of that one church. If it is as true as you claim, that all religions are basically the same, then the fact that the parents choose which one their child attends will not be any worse then taking them to many.

I still have so much to learn compared to those who have spent their entire lives as a Catholic.

In a sense you are right, what is the point of making a choice when someone else can make the choice for you? That's something I don't think it's easy to answer, yet almost everyone puts value on the idea of make individual choices. And besides, the stated objective was to open the mind, which just learning one set of beliefs does not really do.

[Japher]

Yet not going to a church at all, of any type of religion, doesn't accomplish anything. Even if I taught her ABOUT religion she will never really KNOW what it IS.

I don't believe people can just be taught about a culture and then be able to decide if that is right for them or not. They have to live that culture.

[Provost Harrison]

Originally posted by Elok


So she should grow up in whatever ooga-booga conspiracy-theory world you live in, where people who believe differently from you are malevolent cultists by definition? He's not trying to "make her religious," he's trying to present her with all the options and let her decide for herself. Then again, maybe it would be more open-minded to censor everything she reads so she doesn't come across ideas you don't agree with...

She is not at an age where she can make a reasonable decision without being swayed by these horror stories of eternal damnation. Wait until she gets to her teens before letting her decide and spare any form of indoctrination. Let her be a kid.

Besides, my 'option' was not taking any option, after all. You seem to forget, I am not religious, and my thoughts are not equivalent to your religion, no matter how you find that impossible to conceive...

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Provost Harrison


She is not at an age where she can make a reasonable decision without being swayed by these horror stories of eternal damnation. Wait until she gets to her teens before letting her decide and spare any form of indoctrination. Let her be a kid.

I havent heard about eternal damnation in my shul since weve gone. I dont hear about it at Orthodox shuls either. Although from a recent sermon, I think my rabbi thinks we'll be subject to eternal damnation if we vote AGAINST gay marriage