No need to fear the hot place? Let me preach on it!

[Spotlite]

I absolutely know that. From my experiences the genuine people are far and few between and most people who claim to be part of a religion are the worst offenders of things that they claim to be opposed to.
I understand it is human nature. But those types are what made me leave organized religion.

Agreed.

 

[livinoutdoors]

I for one don't assume I know everything about the universe - or what powers exist in the universe - but that has nothing to do with ego. Nobody knows everything about the universe but learning more & more about it through the scientific process is IMHO a very worthy goal. I do not believe that any religion (that I know of) has any insight into any factual knowledge about anything scientific that wasn't known to the humans that started the religion. Believers of various religions might try to interpret religious writings to sound scientifically sound, but it's just wishful thinking. Science and religion are apples & oranges. Religion has its place in every society so there is a psychological need for it (for many people, but not all) but the fact that there are so many different religions with opposing worldviews indicates that they can't all be true at the same time - there is only one true "reality" and it is fact based, not belief based. Just my worldview, one of millions of other worldviews. We could all be totally wrong, but no religion so far has all the answers or even a mechanism for finding the real answers.

Yes, there really is only one true reality and if you are quiet long enough you may hear it speak its truth. The problem is, many start speaking when they should still be listening, and they get it wrong.

 

[brutally honest]

Also the council of Nicaea was very "heavy handed" and with that in mind (banishing people for opposing viewpoints) and the fact that once a nation (any nation) claims Christianity as a mandatory state religion (thus political power and religion are linked) there is IMHO no doubt that the narrative would be steered - and opposing writings destroyed or banned - thus the original "message" of its founders would be distorted.

Council of Nicaea concludes

The Council of Nicaea, the first ecumenical debate held by the early Christian church, concludes with the establishment of the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. Convened by Roman Emperor Constantine I in May, the council also deemed the Arian belief of Christ as inferior to God as heretical, thus...

www.history.com

 

[NCHillbilly]

how do you know that they accepted Christ? Did they say so? If they are a hypocrite, isn't it possible that they are a liar as well? Saying they are one thing, when in truth they are the opposite?

It pains me to hear people say they left the church because of the way people treated them or acted.

Well, if they are long-time preachers leading large congregations of Christians, I would certainly hope and assume that they did. After about the tenth local preacher I saw getting caught diddling the married congregation women, getting caught picking up hookers or being peeping Toms, molesting teenage girls, and suchlike stuff, I figured that if these are the people telling me how to live, I reckon I can do just as good on my own. Sorry, that is not intended to offend anyone, but it is a constant and reliable pattern I've seen my whole life long. It also isn't a condemnation of all preachers, just a sizeable percentage of them.

 

[bullethead]

Religion convincing people that they have to accept someone as their personal savior so that when a person dies THEN they will have it better is the equivalent of the Democrats convincing people that they should vote for Dems because the Dems care about the poor people and the people will have it better once the Dems are in control.
Those better days never arrive for either but i doesn't stop people from chasing the dangling carrot.

 

[brutally honest]

Religion convincing people that they have to accept someone as their personal savior so that when a person dies THEN they will have it better is the equivalent of the Democrats convincing people that they should vote for Dems because the Dems care about the poor people and the people will have it better once the Dems are in control.
Those better days never arrive for either but i doesn't stop people from chasing the dangling carrot.

I resent any comparison of Christianity to the Democrats.

 

[NE GA Pappy]

Well, if they are long-time preachers leading large congregations of Christians, I would certainly hope and assume that they did. After about the tenth local preacher I saw getting caught diddling the married congregation women, getting caught picking up hookers or being peeping Toms, molesting teenage girls, and suchlike stuff, I figured that if these are the people telling me how to live, I reckon I can do just as good on my own. Sorry, that is not intended to offend anyone, but it is a constant and reliable pattern I've seen my whole life long. It also isn't a condemnation of all preachers, just a sizeable percentage of them.

alcoholics can hide their issues from some people for long periods. So can child molesters. Adulterous relationships tend to stay hidden until one of the participants decides they aren't being treated as they deserve. That can go on for years sometimes.

Maybe those people started out with the best intentions, but somewhere along the line, either their true self showed up, or they made some terrible, terrible mistakes that lead to the issues you saw in their lives.

Just like when you are sorting out your next meal, you throw the bad taters in a bucket to feed the chickens, but cut the good ones up for dinner, we have to sort thru the people we let speak into our lives. I wouldn't take Trumps advise on how to maintain a marriage because he is on his 3rd marriage. Neither would I take the advise of Sam Bankman-Fried about how to handle money.