71–80 of 93 posts
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You think that’s how it works? One person can tell Jesus/God to ignore another’s prayers?
>You think that’s how it works? One person can tell Jesus/God to ignore another’s prayers? Sure. People can tell Jesus/God whatever they want to.
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> The point is that God is a Father - like a dad one has a great relationship with. Tell that to Job. Whose "Father" tortured him to win a bet.
God wasn't the one doing the torturing. Yes, you could debate whether an omnipotent God is actually responsible for every single thing that happens given He can intervene. But I don't think anybody who takes Job literally simultaneously believes that God is the one doing the torturing.
“My point, once again, is not that those ancient people told literal stories and we are now smart enough to take them symbolically, but that they told them symbolically and we are now dumb enough to take them literally.”[0]
[0] https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/816617-my-point-once-again-...
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You think that’s how it works? One person can tell Jesus/God to ignore another’s prayers?
That depends on how much they've donated to their Megachurch pastor recently. If you get a monthly subscription of $29.99, your prayers go to the top of the queue. For gold tier $79.99 subscription, you get to submit a list of people whose prayers you want ignored.
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> I think it's important to see the Bible as a collection of books from different times and places, each with their own rhetorical goals. And yet that's not how the bible is taught at a vast majority of churches. "The bible is the word of God. Jesus changed his relationship with us, which is why his behavior is different between the old and new Testament. End of discussion." I still recall the lecture I got when I on…
I mean, that’s how it’s taught in a majority of evangelical churches, which is what I gather you mean. St. Augustine was pretty clear that it wasn’t a literal seven days, and Pope Pius XII in Humani generis accepted that human evolution was a thing. So, granting the numerical superiority of the Catholic tradition, not a majority of churches.
The evidence is plentiful too: look at how the individual churches have taken Pope Benedict's tolerance of previously taboo individuals (homosexuals, for example). Something else I get to hear about at holiday parties.
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God wasn't the one doing the torturing. Yes, you could debate whether an omnipotent God is actually responsible for every single thing that happens given He can intervene. But I don't think anybody who takes Job literally simultaneously believes that God is the one doing the torturing.
>anybody who takes Job literally “My point, once again, is not that those ancient people told literal stories and we are now smart enough to take them symbolically, but that they told them symbolically and we are now dumb enough to take them literally.”[0] [0] https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/816617-my-point-once-again-...
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I mean, that’s how it’s taught in a majority of evangelical churches, which is what I gather you mean. St. Augustine was pretty clear that it wasn’t a literal seven days, and Pope Pius XII in Humani generis accepted that human evolution was a thing. So, granting the numerical superiority of the Catholic tradition, not a majority of churches.
Ironically (or not) I was lectured by a Catholic. So, regardless of how the Saints and Popes tell it, if it goes against the local priest's beliefs, it's not going to be reflected in the church. The evidence is plentiful too: look at how the individual churches have taken Pope Benedict's tolerance of previously taboo individuals (homosexuals, for example). Something else I get to hear about at holiday parties.
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> because you don’t believe Seems like a strong assertion to make based on a short comment by someone who based their statement on having read the gospels and a good chunk of the Old Testament. And what’s with the mention of hate? I don’t see any in the comment. And sure, there’s plenty of it in the Old Testament but the New Testament doesn’t even want you to hate the Romans. Was the Apostle Thomas not a believer? Di…
Oh so you’re religious then? What’s with the “marketing” thing? Can that be taken as hateful or not?
I was responding in my comment to a previous comment which was correctly describing various parts of the old testament in which their god assails all those other gods, says that you have to worship him first, talks about his wrath and jealousy and the risks if you don’t stick him first. Not to mention the dissing of other tribes, and witches, and other undesirables. All that stuff is a pretty clear marketing message.
There are of course other messages as well, but the original commenter, and my response, referred to the marketing sections.
As for being religious: is there a constraint on who is allowed to read the texts and or interpret them? Are adherents of only certain religions permitted to read them?
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Isn’t that exactly what some Christian sects do when they proclaim their way is the only way (i.e. “god, don’t listen to them listen to us!” ). Perhaps Islam does this to, but I’m no expert on Islam.
I think you got that twisted. Everybody has the idea that their religion is the only correct one, but not all religions have the same god. So if they’re not praying to the same god, how can they tell that god to listen to them but not the others?
And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagan…
It's been awhile since I've seen this passage. I forgot how much of the bible is a diss track on the pagans. > Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. I find this bit in particular pretty humorous because it makes it sound like god's voicemail inbox is overflowing and he doesn't have time for your shit.
There can be moments of personal intentions (both during vigils and prayers) but most of the time people offer them for health and well being of others. We are not supposed to really care much about earthly possessions as our hearts should belong to God first and our neighbors second (Matthew 22:36-40).