rumbler_12

“When facism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross."

Agree? Disagree? Will it happen? etc. Thanks all!

In my youth I used to visit lots of churches and the charismatic ones didn't seem to have a conservative political agenda. In fact politics was not mentioned at all, as i can recall.

Are there any denominations who still have that style of worship but avoid politics. I can't take that socially conservative line coming from the pulpit. If it were a socially liberal agenda, that might do, but I really would like to visit churches, when I'm not in the pulpit myself that are charismatic and neutral.

Thanks in Advance

About

1. Mainline Christians

2. Secularism

3. Those who celebrate different faiths or no faith

4. Gay people

5. Halloween

I'm just trying to understand.

Thanks in advance and Peace!

He often criticized any Christian intellectual and most pastors who were not puritanical in their views. He also was a staunch Calvinist. Could this be the root of anti-intellectual movements in our faith? Your thoughts please!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Spurgeon

http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/dwngrd.htm

Thanks in advance!

...from the lunatic fringe who have seized control or will they once again become the party of William F.Buckley, fiscal conservatives and social moderates?

The latter is there only hope, it seems to me, what do you guys think and why?

Thanks in advance!

...then consider this for speculation. If God did not intend for us to ever die...Yet God is perfect, all seeing all knowing, why did God not see that Adam and Eve would sin?

"Behold the rain which descends from heaven upon our vineyards; there it enters the roots of the vines, to be changed into wine; a constant proof that God loves us, and loves to see us happy". Ben Franklin

or

"All service ranks the same with God — With God, whose puppets, best and worst, Are we: there is no last nor first". Robert Browning

well thought out comments and thoughts please.

I believe in God, but also evolution and believe most of the bible to be allegory, for a reason. If you believe the Genesis creation story as literal, how do you explain days 1,2 and 3? Not wanting to argue just get your logical and reasonable answers!

Peace!

...instead of basking in the gentle love, acceptance and tolerance that Jesus spent so much time on?

I would like some views on this please.

No matter which New ID he asks under, should we just give no answers, even though the 2 points are tempting? Maybe he'll eventually give up. Or do we secretly find him a pleasant annoyance?

Hmm....

Mine is the NRSV, it is very accurate and taken from original manuscripts. Please name yours and tell why.

Peace!

All other faiths and my atheist friends are welcome to address this as well.

Examples: fertility symbols, like the egg and the Easter bunny, The Christmas tree, etc, etc.

Just curious about your thoughts.

Not Paul or others, but from words attributed to Jesus.

Keeping religion and the state separate is best for both religion and the state.

Please support your views logically.

Thanks in advance!

From one of my recent lectures (also used as a sermon), I made the following point:

The greatest threat to Christianity in America is fanaticism:

In other words, it is the over zealous who damage the faith, not sources from the outside. The classic destruction from within.

Well thought out views on this please!

Peace.

As a progressive Christian theologian, I wonder if the fact that Jesus spent much time with and helping people of poor reputation, such as tax collectors, shepherds, Samaritans, prostitutes, lepers and others (and told us to do the same) conflicts with your brand of the faith? I also wonder what you think of the fact that Jesus advocated socialism and sharing the wealth over the accumulation of wealth? Does that conflict with the American belief that we should accumulate as much wealth as we can? He also advocated love for all our brothers and sisters without conditions and told us not to judge them for ANY reason and to be tolerant. What is your take on that? He also never said anything at all regarding homosexuality (Paul did but he was addressing a specific problem with one church) being wrong nor did he ever address abortion and there were abortions in his day. Could the conservative legalistic view of the faith be too judgmental or indeed a completely misguided view of the faith? Finally, does it bother you that Paul directly contradicts Jesus teachings many times? Shouldn't we defer to Jesus teachings in these cases? Thoughtful answers appreciated.

Peace!

I find this true with the more legalistic evangelical Christians in many cases. Just wanting to see if others out there see it this way as well.

Paul most often is dealing with specific problems in specific congregations, but many see these words as relevent for all time.

1. Favorite fruit pie: Dutch Apple

2. Favorite cream type pie: Lemon meringue

3. Favorite Author: David McCullough

4. Insect you like least: Brown Recluse Spiders

5. Favorite movie ever: Casablanca

6. Favorite movie made in last 20 years: The Three Burials of Melquiedes Estrada

7. Favorite city you've visited: San Antonio

8. Place you'd most like to visit: Italy

9. Favorite Shakespeare play: Hamlet

10. Favorite song of all time: I Am...I Said, Neil Diamond

...and if so, can you understand how someone could have the opposite emotional experience (ie: loss of a child, loss of spouse etc.) that would cause them to either doubt God or stop believing in God?

I'm playing devil's advocate here, a bit, trying to elicit some thoughts on the matter.