All this Jesus/God stuff tossed out so casually on tv now?

[Racenut20]

We now have to watch they preying for the race drivers when that be the time they used to run commercials. pResident talkin to "ThaMan" all the time. Every Tom Dick and Harry referencing God. But tell me?

Is Church membership up? Is Church attendence up? The only increase in numbers is see amongst the God Furrin Folk is there are more students in Right Wing schools due to vouchers taking money away from public education. They are all trying to lure in their "token" to improve their athletic teams.

[SHRED]

1. Funnier than Helll

When you see a boxer praying:
"Oh lurd, please protect me and help beat the shit out of this guy."

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. A Question

I was raised a Methodist, and was very interested in theology from an early age. The way I was taught was that Jesus was the Son of God, not God himself. What I've noticed more and more is that some Christians seem to be saying that Jesus is God. They never say their denominations, so I don't know if it is only certain sects who believe this or if it is a trend for all Christians to believe this.

Can anyone out there clue me in?

[flyingfysh]

7. this is a very old question

In the first few hundred years of Christianity, there were several versions of Jesus stories, and it is a historical accident that the current "orthodox" theory of a trinity, with Jesus being part of the trinity and therefore God himself, got established. It took a few hundred years for the trinity doctrine to become established.

Some doctrines became "orthodox" by fiat of the Emperor, who came down on one side or the other of various arguments for his own political reasons. It was Constantine who declared that Sunday would be the day of worship.

A history of these variations can be found in the book "Lost Christianities" by Ehrman. More of the political history of the emperors and how they determined Christian doctrines can be found in "The Closing of the Western Mind" by Freeman.

There multiple variations of the Jesus stories, and the Islamic version that the crucifixion was not real, but only seemed to be, is actually one of a much larger set of stories that were current at the time.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

21. Thanks for the sources, flyingfysh

I know about the Coptics and the suppression of some of the mystical Christian writings, but hadn't heard of these books. I did read "Those Incredible Christians" by the fellow who wrote "The Passover Plot" (which I read at age 13 and feel it was an important book in helping me shatter a few of my ideals on the rock of Truth).

[baldguy]

9. Many Christian denominations believe that Christ is God.

In Catholic dogma, there is the concept of the Trinity. God has three incarnations - God the Father, Jesus Christ his Son, and the Holy Spirit which resides in each of us. These are not seperate entities, but each represents God in His totality.

As my Sunday school teacher said, "Don't try and understand it, just accept it on faith and go on."

[Gildor Inglorion]

12. If you were raised a Methodist, THIS is what you were taught...

to believe, as I was:

"I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. AMEN."

It's one of the first things I ever memorized (I was a GOOD boy!)

:D

[Dan-W]

18. Just a couple of nitpicks...

...was crucified, died, and was buried.

...and sitteth at (not on) the right hand of God....

...he shall come to judge the living (quick?) and the dead.

But, I'm not Methodist, so maybe that's how they recite the Creed.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

20. Ah, the good old Apsotle's Creed

Yep, but if you were raised a Methodist, you knew this wasn't the only creed you could say. Don't remember the words, but there is also a Nicean Creed in the back of the hymnal (this as of around 1980-I was lay leader of my local church then). The Methodist Church I was raised in was in the North, and was very very liberal. Actually, my pastor felt the Apostle's Creed was too conservative for him. I have a feeling that I continued going liberal with my religion, instead of veering back to mainstream Methodism, which is why I left the church and became a Sufi initiate.

[jmm]

3. Mel Gibson made it trendy. n/t

[SHRED]

4. Didn't Jesus condem public praying?

Something about not praying on street corners for all to see but pray in private?

Are these idiots going to follow their Lord or not?

[vetwife]

6. Yes he did ! He said a lot about it ! I don't know what bible or

dictionary these people are using. Woe Unto you Pharasees, Scribes, hippocrites. and publicans..That is what he said about standing and saying you are for God ..he said to take your faith and pray in a private prayer cloest. He alsso said that You claim God and deny the power therein. In other words, he called these people frauds !

[SHRED]

11. That's what I thought. Do you have a verse reference?

I am going to ask every public praying idiot I see why they aren't following their Lord's instructions.
;)

[blondeatlast]

26. Great source online for Bible reference:

http://www.blueletterbible.com

Easy keyword searching.

[Gildor Inglorion]

13. Here..

Matthew 6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

[SHRED]

15. Thanks!

[oneighty]

19. Close the door?

Closets? Were those common things in biblical times? Even in modern times I have been in homes that have no closets.

180

[Gildor Inglorion]

23. Beats me...I didn't write it - just copied & pasted

Maybe "closet" just meant "small room" in 16th Century English. I have no idea what the original Greek would have been.
:shrug:

[terrya]

5. Like God cares whether a high school football team wins or loses.

I have my questions as to whether God actually exists.

But it seems to me that this ridiculous "God Bless This" and "God Bless That" nonsense just trivializes prayer and faith in general.

[jeff30997]

8. God Bless This,God Bless That...

Life goes on brahhh...
Lala how the life goes on.

And if you want some fun...take God Bless This Bless That(Thank you)

:evilgrin:

[daydreamer]

10. bless

Just another way to say Good Luck. It becomes a habit and custom since it is said so often.
http://www.users.drew.edu/~jlenz/whynot.html
http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/humftp/E-text/Russell/agnostic.htm
http://www.users.drew.edu/~jlenz/brtexts.html

[La Lioness Priyanka]

14. god has been used as a political commodity for generations now.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

16. Wasn't it just a a few months ago, they were still bleeping Jesus?

[arwalden]

17. It's All For Show. Window Dressing.

[mitchum]

22. Give me that old time religion...Bring On The Lions!

[Zomby Woof]

27. hell yes

It's way past due.

[mitchum]

29. Yes, how can they prove the strength of their faith in the face...

of adversity, if they run everything? Damn it! Christianity needs LOTS more martyrs.

[Mrs_Beastman]

24. Sadly(and yet at the same time thank god!) it just a trend

hate to be cynical.....but remember the '90 when everyone was new-agey or pagan? This is just a trend.I'm sure there is a core group of people who are devote (just like there are core groups of pagans).I don't want to dismiss them, but the majority are just being trendy and don't even realize it

[VOX]

25. True. People do it because they think they *should* do it...

And in their hearts, they don't really believe it. They just go through the motions, say the "right" words, and play along.

[catbert836]

28. Pandering.

Pandering is defined as singing a #1 hit that's a song about Jesus, celebrities making way too long paryers and crossing themselves in public, etc.
People should pray, as Jesus said: "In your own privacy, with no one around you and the Father."

[Sabriel]

30. Watch F1 instead

I have yet to see an F1 driver invoke God's help or thank the Lord for a win. Quite refreshing...in fact, I'll stop watching the moment it happens for the first time.