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Old 11-28-2015, 06:45 AM
 
Location: UK
689 posts, read 492,957 times
Reputation: 195

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I am of the opinion that the sort of person you are is much more important than the faith you espouse. If you try to help others less fortunate than yourself that is much more to be prized than worshipping a deity which more than likely either doesn't exist, or not as the human imagination represents it. Yes there are a lot of fantastic Christians who do a lot to help others in a practical way, just as there are many non believers who do so too. What gets me is the ones who run off at the mouth about their faith but do nothing worthwhile with their lives, what is the point?


I realise as a non believer and challenger of those more extreme Christians who think the, 'you must be 'saved', abusive dogma has credibility, I am seen as a heathen bound for hell! However, although I am far from being any kind of saint, nor would I wish to be, I try to do my bit to help others as that is part of me being me. When my husband and I were kids planning our marriage in 1969, we decided that after we had our own children we would adopt a child less fortunate than our own, as we felt we had something to offer such a child. As it turned out after we had our three birth children we eventually adopted two lads with special educational needs, one has Down's Syndrome. We also fostered a teenage boy also with Down's Syndrome. It could be quite hard work, but rewarding. We felt we had made a difference and that made our lives worthwhile.


As far as I am concerned deeds are much more important than words, faith or no faith.
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Old 11-28-2015, 07:08 AM
 
12,918 posts, read 16,803,693 times
Reputation: 5434
I agree. Christianity is the Goat Religion that Jesus warned about.
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Old 11-28-2015, 09:28 AM
 
Location: Ontario, Canada
31,374 posts, read 20,074,720 times
Reputation: 14069
One good deed is worth more than a thousand bible quotes.
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Old 11-28-2015, 10:00 AM
 
19,942 posts, read 17,126,831 times
Reputation: 2014
Quote:
Originally Posted by bluecheese View Post
I am of the opinion that the sort of person you are is much more important than the faith you espouse. If you try to help others less fortunate than yourself that is much more to be prized than worshipping a deity which more than likely either doesn't exist, or not as the human imagination represents it. Yes there are a lot of fantastic Christians who do a lot to help others in a practical way, just as there are many non believers who do so too. What gets me is the ones who run off at the mouth about their faith but do nothing worthwhile with their lives, what is the point?


I realise as a non believer and challenger of those more extreme Christians who think the, 'you must be 'saved', abusive dogma has credibility, I am seen as a heathen bound for hell! However, although I am far from being any kind of saint, nor would I wish to be, I try to do my bit to help others as that is part of me being me. When my husband and I were kids planning our marriage in 1969, we decided that after we had our own children we would adopt a child less fortunate than our own, as we felt we had something to offer such a child. As it turned out after we had our three birth children we eventually adopted two lads with special educational needs, one has Down's Syndrome. We also fostered a teenage boy also with Down's Syndrome. It could be quite hard work, but rewarding. We felt we had made a difference and that made our lives worthwhile.


As far as I am concerned deeds are much more important than words, faith or no faith.
Yes--God has instructed us to help others. Christians will show the love of God for others. If we claim to be a Christian and ignore the person in need? We are likely just posing.

But having said that, Jesus did tell us to go out and preach the Gospel, making disciples of all nations. That was a direct order given to the church. It's not enough to simply be nice to people, feed, clothe them, and let them go to hell. Jesus said that we need to also be concerned for their souls.
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Old 11-28-2015, 10:20 AM
 
32,516 posts, read 37,070,729 times
Reputation: 32573
Quote:
Originally Posted by bluecheese View Post


As far as I am concerned deeds are much more important than words, faith or no faith.
Me too.

It's real easy to tell someone, "Here's what you must believe or you're going to hell."

Meanwhile.... poverty and hunger affect over 45 million people in the U.S. alone, kids are living in motel rooms with hookers working out of the room next to them, and 22 United States veterans take their lives every.single.day. It's hard work to help them.

But, I'd wager that the vast majority of people who think they're doing something for others by saying, "I believe this. You should too or you're going to hell." sleep pretty well at night. Because they do a bang up job of telling themselves, and each other, they're right.
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Old 11-28-2015, 10:36 AM
 
6,961 posts, read 4,595,488 times
Reputation: 2485
It is a bankrupt soul that tells the poor and hungry they are going to hell. The poor and hungry already know hell.
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Old 11-28-2015, 10:57 AM
 
32,516 posts, read 37,070,729 times
Reputation: 32573
Quote:
Originally Posted by RonkonkomaNative View Post
It is a bankrupt soul that tells the poor and hungry they are going to hell. The poor and hungry already know hell.
This.
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Old 11-28-2015, 11:01 AM
 
19,942 posts, read 17,126,831 times
Reputation: 2014
Quote:
Originally Posted by RonkonkomaNative View Post
It is a bankrupt soul that tells the poor and hungry they are going to hell. The poor and hungry already know hell.
You don't think poor people need to have their sins forgiven?

I'm not suggesting we just preach to the poor -- we should do our best to help meet their needs. But we should not stop at just their physical needs.
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Old 11-28-2015, 11:02 AM
 
35,095 posts, read 51,078,580 times
Reputation: 62664
Quote:
Originally Posted by bluecheese View Post
I am of the opinion that the sort of person you are is much more important than the faith you espouse. If you try to help others less fortunate than yourself that is much more to be prized than worshipping a deity which more than likely either doesn't exist, or not as the human imagination represents it. Yes there are a lot of fantastic Christians who do a lot to help others in a practical way, just as there are many non believers who do so too. What gets me is the ones who run off at the mouth about their faith but do nothing worthwhile with their lives, what is the point?


I realise as a non believer and challenger of those more extreme Christians who think the, 'you must be 'saved', abusive dogma has credibility, I am seen as a heathen bound for hell! However, although I am far from being any kind of saint, nor would I wish to be, I try to do my bit to help others as that is part of me being me. When my husband and I were kids planning our marriage in 1969, we decided that after we had our own children we would adopt a child less fortunate than our own, as we felt we had something to offer such a child. As it turned out after we had our three birth children we eventually adopted two lads with special educational needs, one has Down's Syndrome. We also fostered a teenage boy also with Down's Syndrome. It could be quite hard work, but rewarding. We felt we had made a difference and that made our lives worthwhile.


As far as I am concerned deeds are much more important than words, faith or no faith.

So your boasting about all the "good" you have done is not the same as the Pharisees praying in public so they are seen by all and boasting about how "good" they are?
Alrighty then.
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Old 11-28-2015, 11:05 AM
 
1,613 posts, read 1,022,708 times
Reputation: 327
Quote:
Originally Posted by RonkonkomaNative View Post
It is a bankrupt soul that tells the poor and hungry they are going to hell. The poor and hungry already know hell.
Absolutely. Jesus came for those that needed a doctor, not those who are well.
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