Why do some devoutly religious people pass judgement and opinions? (salvation, soul)

[thepizzaguy]

It's the way they are taught. Their God can beat up my God.

[pocono-jane]

I think the real problem is that the "believers" and the "non-believers" will never agree. No one can prove anything, one way or another. For those who "believe" in the bible, they will state it as proof. Fact is (IMHO) it's NOT proof, but rather OPINION, BELIEF, and/or comfort level. The bible, as well as many other "books" on religion (or lack of) are written by "man" regardless of what or whom they were inspired by! I believe that "faith" is not proof, but a person's choice. I think a good way to get around the judgment issues is to state it as "In my opinion, I believe .........". I respect everyone's OPINIONS, and I recognize that we all have them! And, as I've said in other threads, ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL! Thanks for listening.

[antredd]

Originally Posted by Throx

"I'm not in this to win a debate; me, as a christian, is soley in this Spiritual WAR to help win souls over to christ."

Why is "Spiritual War" capitalized and not the words "christian" or christ"?
I assume that you are about the "War" part of your spirituality.

There are many more religions other than yours please try to show them all equal respect.

I captialized SPIRITUAL WAR as an emphasis on what Paul was saying about the Christian Faith being a SPIRITUAL WAR. Since I don't like to assume, I will just say all christians know exactly what I was talking about when I said that we are in a Spiritual War, I wrote it in all caps as an emphasis. Since I have to now break down what Spiritual WAr is, I hope you don't become offended even more. Spiritual Warfare is the christian's battle as Paul says in Ephesians 6:12: against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this age, against SPIRITUAL HOSTS OF WICKEDNESS IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES.

My faith is just as important to me as should be yours. I don't think I EVER ATTACKED ANYONE'S FAITH IN THIS FORUM. Again, if you are offended by my little emphasis on captalizing SPIRTUAL WAR, I do apologize and hope that you fully understand that my point was to address the CHRISTIAN'S BATTLE WITH THE DEVIL, with him or herself , and with a world that is full of sin---in that context it has nothing to do with me putting down other faiths or saying that the christian faith is a better than others.

[antredd]

Originally Posted by GCSTroop

It amazes me that people, who know so little about science, are so insistent that evolution cannot be true.

EDIT: I would like to say that this was not directed solely at you antredd. I do not recognize your screen name so I have no idea what your actual knowledge of science is.

I am ha ha ha ha....the Lord has blessed me with a very basic undergrad science background. To be honest science just reinforces my faith in God. The whole carbon dating method makes no sense to me when everything has carbon, and yet scientists use it to date things on earth that is already drowning in the material. To me that's like trying to determine how much water a cloth has in it at the bottom of the ocean.

[Jazzedforhim]

Originally Posted by GCSTroop

It amazes me that people, who know so little about science, are so insistent that evolution cannot be true.

EDIT: I would like to say that this was not directed solely at you antredd. I do not recognize your screen name so I have no idea what your actual knowledge of science is.

Oh Troop, can we stop talking about evolution and creation just for a few days??? PLEEEEESE?

After all, atheists won't admit that creation COULD be true! Round and round we go.....lol

[GCSTroop]

Originally Posted by Jazzedforhim

Oh Troop, can we stop talking about evolution and creation just for a few days??? PLEEEEESE?

After all, atheists won't admit that creation COULD be true! Round and round we go.....lol

Sorry, I'll try, but then I would have nothing to talk about on here

[san phlegmatico]

All religions are 'systems': constructed, as all sytems are, by humans.

Humans defend their systems often to the point of self-denial, insanity, irrationality, violence, and sometimes death.

So, it follows that the religiously "devout" (which simply means ardent defenders of the religious system) will employ whatever means necessary, rhetorically or otherwise (read: judgement, fear-mongering, guilting), to convince others, as well as themselves of their religion's monopoly on the truth. Part and parcel of this superior veracity is the followers' claim that theirs is the one and only TRUE religion -- that all others are spurious.

SP

[staceface]

Originally Posted by MattDen

I am just wondering why some religious people pass judgements and opinions.
Shouldn't be up to the god to make the judgement calls, I think its sort of bizzare that so many especially fundamentalist christians and pastors preach judgement from the pulpit.

I think its funny when people say God thinks this and God thinks that, how do they know what god thinks. Do they a superiority complex that makes them think God is constantly on the phone with God or something?

Why does God need to these judgemental religion-pushers to costantly be doing the judgement for him? Do they God thinks they are special?

Alot of deeply religious people especially for some strange feel the need to constantly be engaged in counterproductive
judgements and have a superiority complex. Just the other day these people in a bible study at a local coffee shop (I was just drinking coffee) were reading their bibles and books of religious leaders books and talking about how they are they are such perfectionists. Sounds like a severe superiority complex to me. I especially think religious debates are sort of different also, debating what God is saying? Whats that all about.

Seriously, do alot of these judgemental pastors and fundmentalist christians who are obcessed with taking a judgemental, negative tone in regards to religion really think they are closer to God then the rest of us. I dont think so and its sheer arrogance.

These religious leaders who pass judgement constantly and do nothing but critique people constantly and pass insults every time they get behind a pulpit do they honestly think God look upon that? I guess personally I dont know the answer to that because unlike alot of religious leaders and people constantly going on about their strict religious beliefs I dont claim to be closer to God then them.

To me, so much of these extremely inflexable attitudes towards religion turn people away from religion.

I agree completely... I don't think that MattDen is saying that (some) Christians are the only ones who judge, but they do a lot of it in the name of the Lord, in which the Lord says he is the only judge. I have converted from Christianity and I have been judged so much for it. I have been told I'm going to hell and that I need to be saved, which, according to Christianity, are all up to the Lord to decide. Christians believe that it is their responsibility to spread God's word, but who said that God's word is "You're going to hell". I believe it is just about putting it out there at church or other private places and letting people come at their own will. Another way of spreading God's word could be to do small acts of kindess and letting them spread around, because one always leads to another.

[antredd]

The title should be God Cannot Lie...ooops.

Originally Posted by Padgett2

Read that over again, please. It states that your posts are not written to GIVE YOUR OPINION ABOUT GOD'S WORD. And yet, you say you post to DEFEND His Word. That's giving an opinion that God and his Word need defending. God never needs defending.

The Bible, on the other hand, is believed by many as a book put together by Man over centuries, and is not always considered by others to be absolutely 100% truly God's word. They are as entitled to their opinions of the Bible, just as is anyone. When it is decided that another's view is faulty, it's being judgmental. When such an opionion is posted on a forum such as this, it is said publicly.

What you are defending, in the view of others, is not God's Word, but only what you feel is God's Word. That is a difference that is hard to understand, but it is important to understand that others feel that way. Many feel as you do, many don't.

Let me stand corrected Padgett because you are 100% right about God's word not needing any defending. I think that me acting out of the flesh when I typed that statement was out of trying to be obedient to God's word when it says in 2Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof for correction, for instruction in righteousness. I was simply trying to correct and instruct in regard to the biblical topic that was in discussion.

It wasn't my intention to state my opinion about God's word or to come across as if I were defending a position or interpretation of God's word. I was simply trying to let the scriptures (by quoting them on a particular topic) solely defend themselves. It was my prayer to at least try to use all of the Scriptures that I was able to find with the help of the Holy spirit to SUPPORT (which I should have used instead of DEFEND) an interpretation of a particular subject in the bible, if that makes sense.

We may not all agree on God's word. However, God's word says that Jesus is the way the truth and the life and no man can come to the father but by Him. If that statement is a matter of opinion, then it didn't come from me but from an inspired writer about 2000 years ago who wanted to share this with the world, and that same message has endured for centuries for those of us who believe that message. We all have a free will, and we all have the right to accept or reject God's message.

One thing that I don't try to do is debate or argue with anyone about what to believe. Because out of my obedience to God, the Scriptures clearly tell us christians to avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not QUARREL but be GENTLE TO ALL, able to TEACH, PATIENT, in HUMILITY CORRECTING those who are in OPPOSITION, if God perhaps will GRANT THEM REPENTANCE, SO THAT THEY MAY KNOW THE TRUTH 2 Timothy 2:22-25 NKJV. And that was my sole intent. Also, I am not typing all of this information to show off my typing or writing skills, but i AM DOING THIS TO SOLELY GLORIFY GOD, and I am typing in this forum to use what God has blessed me with in order to teach others and/or inspire others to seach the Scriptures for themselves and to be as dilligent as me. Without God's help and the help and strength I get from the Holy Spirit, I would not be able to clearly articulate point after point in regard to biblical topics. Again, no one needs to defend God's word, nor does anyone need to state his or her opinion about God's Word. For it's GOD WHO DESIRES ALL MEN TO BE SAVED AND TO COME TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH 2 TIMOTHY 2:4.

When I discuss biblical topics, I just let the Scriptures do the convicting because they are clearly written for us to read and not lean to our own understanding or argue about. The bible also tells us to examine ourselves as to whether we are in the faith. Test ourselves. 2Corinthans 13:5. If we do so as christians, then as christians we are being OBEDIENT to God, and I think (in my opinion) non believers have a hard time understanding that concept of what TOTAL TRUST AND OBEDIENCE TO GOD REALLY MEANS. God, WHO CANNOT LIE, promised before time began Titus 1:2, that he would send us a Savior and that if we believe on this savior--Jesus Christ---we would not perish. Again, those are not my opinions, God's word needs no defending, and because of that alone, out of my obedience to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I'll , humbly, spread and plant the Good News Message as I am commanded to do until the day I die, and let God do the increase. AMEN!

[MrsMo]

I use the old line from a song that I taught my children. The song is Walk A Mile in MY Shoes and its from the late 60's. My favorite line is look at me through your eyes instead of your ego.