Does it bother you in the U.K. that the queen is on coins?

[KDave]

2 minutes ago, KitboyE17 said:

The Bible teaches love one another not tolerance of evil. The Bible clearly states God is a vengeful god but that justice belongs to Him and not to us. So yes, we need to punish wrong doing - but the Bible teaches to do it in a fair and uncorrupt way, the way a loving parent disciplines a child. 

People commit evil, such as mass murder or rape, and we are to be tolerant and try to love everyone. The practical message is shut up and take it, that is how most people live it, and thats how the state and church both enforce it.

Because not everyone is Christian it no longer works as a tenant, because discipline can't be dealt outside of the churches followers. This makes it a self destructive message. 

[Notafront4adragon]

7 hours ago, Toshunya86 said:

Calling others ignorant and not wanting to hear their argumentation is a bit condescending. But you may be right. This is not a discussion for this forum. I had no time to express my thoughts clearly  , and I am sorry that you took it as a personal offence. I know a lot of protestant people who are good people and try to be good christians - the problem is not this - the problem is Protestantism at the theological level - it is for most Catholics and even Orthodox a false cult. I can try to express my views later on , and yes , i do not claim to know the Truth. 

Catholicism is just as made up. Christianity is just a cult of Judaism. An odd cult that got out of hand once the Romans decided it was ok. 

[westminstrel]

9 minutes ago, KitboyE17 said:

The Bible clearly states God is a vengeful god but that justice belongs to Him and not to us.

Indeed. And a lot of Christians fail to realize that God will punish ALL sin. He isn’t saving some special place in hell for gays (as an example, since that group seems to be the easiest target by most if not all religions); according to the Bible, the wages of ALL sin is death.

Which is why I feel that Christians who dissect the scriptures to vilify others would probably be better off doing some self reflecting, because sin doesn’t have a graded scale. It is black and white with no shades of grey, as far as the Bible is concerned.

[Martlet]

56 minutes ago, Notafront4adragon said:

Catholicism is just as made up. Christianity is just a cult of Judaism. An odd cult that got out of hand once the Romans decided it was ok. 

All religion is made up, no need to single out one. 

[Notafront4adragon]

9 minutes ago, Martlet said:

All religion is made up, no need to single out one. 

True all of it is made up. However this thread doesn't recognise that, I was responding to others that suggested Catholicism was superior and the "true" Christianity. 

[FunkyChicken]

1 hour ago, Notafront4adragon said:

True all of it is made up. However this thread doesn't recognise that, I was responding to others that suggested Catholicism was superior and the "true" Christianity. 

Looks like all religions have their superiority issues between various branches. Christianity with Roman-Catholics and Protestants, Islam with Sunni and Shia muslims, Judaism with Hasidic jews and all other jewish branches, etcetera... and all of that over something that in all of history of mankind has never been independently, verifiably, scientifically proven, but yet us atheists are the crazy guys. 😂

[trp]

It is funny where these discussions go, I’m sure this started off as a post about a head on a coin 😂 

[kimchi]

12 minutes ago, trp said:

It is funny where these discussions go, I’m sure this started off as a post about a head on a coin 😂 

It's like The Life of Brian without the gourd or the sophisticated Latin jokes 🤣

[trp]

Just now, kimchi said:

It's like The Life of Brian without the gourd or the sophisticated Latin jokes 🤣

Love that film

[kimchi]

1 minute ago, trp said:

Love that film

Marks out of ten?

[Toshunya86]

7 hours ago, westminstrel said:

I bolded a part of your message as I am addressing it below...

”Does not like” is completely different from “hate”.

One does not have to like or approve of other people’s religions, lifestyles, etc. to show them compassion and love.

I admit I am not as educated as others may be on the Bible, even though I grew up as a Roman Catholic in a pretty conservative family, and I am okay that I may come across as naïve; but I don’t think anyone needs to study scripture to be a decent human being.

I respect the fact that a couple people in this thread have their own views and think they have a better understanding of the Bible than myself and others, but I am sorry, using scripture to put other people down, judge them, and assume a “holier than thou” position simply rubs me the wrong way.

Probably some reflection on two things Jesus said might be in order: ”Love one another as I have loved you” and ”Let he who has not sinned cast the fist stone”.

Also, since this topic on coin collecting has crossed into the realm of Christian theology, the following additional scripture comes to mind...

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.“

I see what you mean , but you are a bit playing on words.  There are two types of racism/hatred (call it the way you want) :

a)The primitive one - the simple hate and fear and what is different. This type of racism has gone from the Western World and if not - is usually max 5% of "conservative" people or very old people. But it is prevalent in almost every bottom 150 countries in the world - my professional career can attest it.

b) The one based on behavior.  Example : tribe A is foreign and has another religion but fits in the society they live in - or at least do not cause any damage - or behave in public respecting the local law etc ... they will not get hated.  tribe B is foreign and has another religion but struggles or doesnt want to fit in the society they live in - delinquency , scams , assaults etc - and behave in public very defiant and hostile.   
Then i think it is healthy to "hate" the tribe B as they are the ones destroying the harmony you are seeking - and i believe your Love is genuine and you mean it.

 

The example a is usually not tolerated by the catholic teachings , the example b is debatable , but is usually not tolerated by the catholic doctrine. Of course you can call me a traditionalist/integrist/danger for democracy , but the facts and the recent developments in the western world tend to prove me right.

[trp]

2 minutes ago, kimchi said:

Marks out of ten?

Gotta be a 10! 

[Toshunya86]

27 minutes ago, FunkyChicken said:

Looks like all religions have their superiority issues between various branches. Christianity with Roman-Catholics and Protestants, Islam with Sunni and Shia muslims, Judaism with Hasidic jews and all other jewish branches, etcetera... and all of that over something that in all of history of mankind has never been independently, verifiably, scientifically proven, but yet us atheists are the crazy guys. 😂

Atheism is mostly the comfortable choice. You do not account anything to the higher powers , you erect yourself as God - I cannot think of something easier and with so low ambition than Atheism. Having said that I can understand that religion can be a massive turn-off for people , it is only the last few years that I started to firmly believe in God .

But one thing is sure - God will talk to you - God will "call" you - either on your death bed or later in life , it just happens and you cannot control when.

[kimchi]

2 minutes ago, trp said:

Gotta be a 10! 

10 for that you must be mad!!!

 

 

(Sorry couldn't resist )

[Toshunya86]

3 hours ago, Notafront4adragon said:

Catholicism is just as made up. Christianity is just a cult of Judaism. An odd cult that got out of hand once the Romans decided it was ok. 

This is an interesting argument ( better than calling me ignorant) and is often used in neo-pagan circles. That Christianity is a cult of Judaism etc...

One thing is sure : No jew , even the most radical kabbalists - has ever contested the presence of Jesus Christ.  They have fought catholic cult and tried to subvert it - for 2000 years or so but they never said that Catholicism is made up. This should be a clue for you !

However I am aware that the gospels were rearranged - and were classified in a very convenient order - everything is not perfect and there are some details we can think about - such as inaccuracies , fallacies etc...  that s one reason why quoting or interpreting the Bible is not always a good idea. 

But the catholic social doctrine is the only way to balance the extremism of socialism/communism and free-market capitalism because ultimately , it cares about the human and its condition , more than any man-made system would do.

[trp]

2 minutes ago, kimchi said:

10 for that you must be mad!!!

 

 

(Sorry couldn't resist )

Wait until Biggus Dickus hears of this! ...(I couldn’t resist 🤣)

[Toshunya86]

3 hours ago, KDave said:

People commit evil, such as mass murder or rape, and we are to be tolerant and try to love everyone. The practical message is shut up and take it, that is how most people live it, and thats how the state and church both enforce it.

Because not everyone is Christian it no longer works as a tenant, because discipline can't be dealt outside of the churches followers. This makes it a self destructive message. 

This is the sweetened message of post Vatican II council - Real Catholicism leaves absolutely no space for self-destruction.  (For instance at the time of the Council of Trent) 

[FunkyChicken]

30 minutes ago, Toshunya86 said:

Atheism is mostly the comfortable choice. You do not account anything to the higher powers , you erect yourself as God - I cannot think of something easier and with so low ambition than Atheism. Having said that I can understand that religion can be a massive turn-off for people , it is only the last few years that I started to firmly believe in God .

But one thing is sure - God will talk to you - God will "call" you - either on your death bed or later in life , it just happens and you cannot control when.

Oh, I by no means think I'm my own god. I'm just your average Joe trying to make the best of things in the approximately 80 years that I'm statistically being given on this slab of dirt before I'm being shoved down the oven.

And indeed, I don't account anything to the higher powers, simply because there is no such proof of higher powers to have ever existed. Things happen for a reason, not because it's some predestined plan of whatever higher power, but due to a certain chain of events that we as mankind sometimes simply cannot grasp yet up to this moment.

In that sense, religion to me is the comfortable and least ambitious choice, because you can just shove everything off as: "God's plan" rather than trying to figure out in a scientific way why things happen the way they happen. But you are right; unless you commit suicide, you have no control over when you will die.

[Notafront4adragon]

33 minutes ago, Toshunya86 said:

Atheism is mostly the comfortable choice. You do not account anything to the higher powers , you erect yourself as God - I cannot think of something easier and with so low ambition than Atheism. Having said that I can understand that religion can be a massive turn-off for people , it is only the last few years that I started to firmly believe in God .

But one thing is sure - God will talk to you - God will "call" you - either on your death bed or later in life , it just happens and you cannot control when.

I don't think atheism is a comfortable choice at all. Quiet the opposite, religion settles the mind, and gives you an easy answer. Do this and be ok. Atheism asks deeper questions.

[Melon]

8 hours ago, westminstrel said:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.“

Funnily enough, your quote sounds exactly like what I would say to peasant farmers from my golden throne. Only the other day I was roaming my land loudly announcing; 

”Worry not ye lowly peasants with naught but rocks to your name, work on my land and deliver me riches until your bone weary frame diminishes into death. For all will be rewarded after you die in fairy land! Justice, yay.”
 

3 hours ago, Martlet said:

All religion is made up, no need to single out one. 

Yes, except for Pastafarianism. There's evidence. 
 

1 hour ago, FunkyChicken said:

...and all of that over something that in all of history of mankind has never been independently, verifiably, scientifically proven, but yet us atheists are the crazy guys. 😂

I quote evidence directly from the holy book; 

Scientific proof

“He built the world to make us think the earth is older than it really is. For example, a scientist may perform a carbon-dating process on an artifact. He finds that approximately 75% of the Carbon-14 had decayed by electron emission to Nitrogen-14, and infers that this artifact is approximately 10,000 years old, as the half-life of Carbon-14 appears to be 5,730 years. But what our scientist does not realize is that every time he makes a measurement, the Flying Spaghetti Monster is there changing the results with His Noodly Appendage. We have numerous texts that describe in detail how this can be possible and the reasons why He does this. He is of course invisible and can pass through normal matter with ease.”
 

57 minutes ago, Toshunya86 said:

Atheism is mostly the comfortable choice.

Yea I agree, it’s so annoying when people take the easy way out. Imagine reading more than one book to help form your outlook on life. So inefficient! 🙂

[FunkyChicken]

Have to give one thing to the Flying Spaghetti Monster, @Melon. He/she/it definitely has the superpower to make people crave for pasta... 😂

[goldmember44]

3 hours ago, Notafront4adragon said:

I don't think atheism is a comfortable choice at all. Quiet the opposite, religion settles the mind, and gives you an easy answer. Do this and be ok. Atheism asks deeper questions.

Atheism asks many questions but answers none. Thankfully we as humans don't have to accept atheism, even though it is the popular thing to do these days. It takes courage to stand up socially and admit strong faith in God. But genuine Christians can and should do it, whenever the question regarding their faith comes up. So yes I can say and admit with confidence that God is actually real and Jesus is the only way to salvation. People need to know this truth, especially in these days. 

[Guest]

21 hours ago, Toshunya86 said:

Not a personal attack - but being Christian can mean so many things unfortunately .

If you are Protestant for example ; more than half of Christianity would reject your cult purely on theological basis and call you non-christian 

No idea what this means for the most part. Not sure why it's a cult to you. I'm Catholic / Lutheran and/or etc myself when it comes to Christianity. I go with multiple Holy Bibles myself to try to get to the truth the best I can myself.

[Guest]

The Holy Bible has multiple teachings to me personally. This is just to state this overall for now not to call anyone out personally.

1. Live by the sword (whip) die by the sword (whip) is one (Not sure how to finish this one though correctly yet). That if you wield a whip (sword) you really have to know what you are doing with it.

2. You should forgive someone else if they repent (don't forgive if they don't repent - don't forgive until they repent to you for their wrongdoings - they must change as well and not keep doing it or else they should repent again).

3. Love (this encompasses many areas) is a huge one to as well, but not tolerance of evil or filth that is as well is not love as someone said above.

4. John 3:16 - This one encompasses so much including the parts above.

These are four I can think of the top of my head right now. The Holy Bible has multiple teachings though and I can't remember which ones I forgot or missed right now. Kind of tired.

[Martlet]

1 hour ago, goldmember44 said:

Atheism asks many questions but answers none.

Religion offers no answers to anything, just a comfort for people.  Any ethics and moral lessons are common across faiths and philosophies.  The difference between a Christian and Atheist is the latter believe in one less god.