Hates Religion but Loves Jesus

[Cataclysm]

Yeah, I'm going to take marriage advice from some twenty-something-year-old who probably isn't even married.

He flat out said that.

[one-shot]

While his videos may not be the best, at least he's on the right track.  Everyone has to start somewhere, and progress forward.  If he can keep up with this logic and way of thinking, he just might come to the rational conclusion.  And he's much farther ahead than most xtians in this country.

[Sigmaleph]

No. He's not on the right track and his reasoning has nothing commendable to it.

To redefine the parts of Christianity you dislike as "religion" and everything else as "following Jesus" is nothing but a semantic trick. It's giving himself a free pass to ignore the failures of his fellow Christians by saying "Those guys are religious, they are nothing like me", instead of seeing that he might have some of those failures himself and maybe realising that accepting Jesus does not actually make you a good person. It's not a way forward, it's an excuse from self-evaluation.

[one-shot]

No. He's not on the right track and his reasoning has nothing commendable to it.

To redefine the parts of Christianity you dislike as "religion" and everything else as "following Jesus" is nothing but a semantic trick. It's giving himself a free pass to ignore the failures of his fellow Christians by saying "Those guys are religious, they are nothing like me", instead of seeing that he might have some of those failures himself and maybe realising that accepting Jesus does not actually make you a good person. It's not a way forward, it's an excuse from self-evaluation.

That makes sense; I can see that.  It's not necessarily redefining xtianity in liberal terms, but redefining what it means to be conservative.  You're still conservative, you just try to pretend not to be quite an asshole about it.

[Osama bin Bambi]

No. He's not on the right track and his reasoning has nothing commendable to it.

To redefine the parts of Christianity you dislike as "religion" and everything else as "following Jesus" is nothing but a semantic trick. It's giving himself a free pass to ignore the failures of his fellow Christians by saying "Those guys are religious, they are nothing like me", instead of seeing that he might have some of those failures himself and maybe realising that accepting Jesus does not actually make you a good person. It's not a way forward, it's an excuse from self-evaluation.

That makes sense; I can see that.  It's not necessarily redefining xtianity in liberal terms, but redefining what it means to be conservative.  You're still conservative, you just try to pretend not to be quite an asshole about it.

Except for the part where he's still being an asshole about it. He's basically saying that because he's had all his sins forgiven by Jesus, he doesn't need to admit to his faults anymore because he's resolved it with God, and that's what matters.

[one-shot]

No. He's not on the right track and his reasoning has nothing commendable to it.

To redefine the parts of Christianity you dislike as "religion" and everything else as "following Jesus" is nothing but a semantic trick. It's giving himself a free pass to ignore the failures of his fellow Christians by saying "Those guys are religious, they are nothing like me", instead of seeing that he might have some of those failures himself and maybe realising that accepting Jesus does not actually make you a good person. It's not a way forward, it's an excuse from self-evaluation.

That makes sense; I can see that.  It's not necessarily redefining xtianity in liberal terms, but redefining what it means to be conservative.  You're still conservative, you just try to pretend not to be quite an asshole about it.

Except for the part where he's still being an asshole about it. He's basically saying that because he's had all his sins forgiven by Jesus, he doesn't need to admit to his faults anymore because he's resolved it with God, and that's what matters.

I like the fundy thinking on that: everyone's a sinner, until you accept Jesus.  Then, nothing you do is wrong, because, you're 'saved'.

[Eniliad]

Lots of people like that way of thinking. It resolves them of responsibility.

[one-shot]

Lots of people like that way of thinking. It resolves them of responsibility.

That's something I never understood about xtianity, and especially certain sects within it, like Calvinism.  The whole "once saved, always saved" thing never really sat well with me.  It's almost funny how they think rapists, murderers, war-mongers, and the like, will get into heaven just for repeating a prayer, while people like MLK, Gandhi, the Dalai Lama, and such, are headed straight to hell. 

[Eniliad]

Lots of people like that way of thinking. It resolves them of responsibility.

That's something I never understood about xtianity, and especially certain sects within it, like Calvinism.  The whole "once saved, always saved" thing never really sat well with me.  It's almost funny how they think rapists, murderers, war-mongers, and the like, will get into heaven just for repeating a prayer, while people like MLK, Gandhi, the Dalai Lama, and such, are headed straight to hell.

They only believe that to a certain extent. They think that a certain breed of human is so evil that even praying won't save them. That would obviously include your Hitlers, Charles Mansons, etc... so basically, it's that you have to do good works and pray to Jeezus (or at least not be an atrocious human being).

As far as fundy beliefs go... eh, it's not the worst. Depends largely on who's talking though. A lot of people could make the words "love thy neighbor" into a negative thing. I don't get it.

Incidentally, that's part of the reason I've always liked Buddhists - they're far more Christian than Christians, in that they tend to be softer-spoken, less aggressive, non-evangelical about their religion, live by example... and seem to be happier and healthier for it. It's an attractive religion and if I could bring myself to believe anything again... it'd likely be that.

[one-shot]

Lots of people like that way of thinking. It resolves them of responsibility.

That's something I never understood about xtianity, and especially certain sects within it, like Calvinism.  The whole "once saved, always saved" thing never really sat well with me.  It's almost funny how they think rapists, murderers, war-mongers, and the like, will get into heaven just for repeating a prayer, while people like MLK, Gandhi, the Dalai Lama, and such, are headed straight to hell.

They only believe that to a certain extent. They think that a certain breed of human is so evil that even praying won't save them. That would obviously include your Hitlers, Charles Mansons, etc... so basically, it's that you have to do good works and pray to Jeezus (or at least not be an atrocious human being).

As far as fundy beliefs go... eh, it's not the worst. Depends largely on who's talking though. A lot of people could make the words "love thy neighbor" into a negative thing. I don't get it.

Incidentally, that's part of the reason I've always liked Buddhists - they're far more Christian than Christians, in that they tend to be softer-spoken, less aggressive, non-evangelical about their religion, live by example... and seem to be happier and healthier for it. It's an attractive religion and if I could bring myself to believe anything again... it'd likely be that.

That was me when I left xtianity.  I didn't like the dogma, the god-belief, or anything else that went along with it, but I knew that I was still spiritual.  And Buddhism fit exactly what I was looking for.  I'm happier now than I ever have been, even through all of the crap I've had to go through recently. 

[Smurfette Principle]

That's something I never understood about xtianity, and especially certain sects within it, like Calvinism.  The whole "once saved, always saved" thing never really sat well with me.  It's almost funny how they think rapists, murderers, war-mongers, and the like, will get into heaven just for repeating a prayer, while people like MLK, Gandhi, the Dalai Lama, and such, are headed straight to hell. 

Which is, though it has its faults, I like Catholicism. You have to keep refreshing your soul through confession, no instant Get Out of Jail Free card. 'Course, that brings in a whole other stupid thing, because if you just happen to get hit by a car on your way to Confession, welp, you're screwed.

[one-shot]

That's something I never understood about xtianity, and especially certain sects within it, like Calvinism.  The whole "once saved, always saved" thing never really sat well with me.  It's almost funny how they think rapists, murderers, war-mongers, and the like, will get into heaven just for repeating a prayer, while people like MLK, Gandhi, the Dalai Lama, and such, are headed straight to hell. 

Which is, though it has its faults, I like Catholicism. You have to keep refreshing your soul through confession, no instant Get Out of Jail Free card. 'Course, that brings in a whole other stupid thing, because if you just happen to get hit by a car on your way to Confession, welp, you're screwed.

That's god's favorite prank.

[Her3tiK]

That's something I never understood about xtianity, and especially certain sects within it, like Calvinism.  The whole "once saved, always saved" thing never really sat well with me.  It's almost funny how they think rapists, murderers, war-mongers, and the like, will get into heaven just for repeating a prayer, while people like MLK, Gandhi, the Dalai Lama, and such, are headed straight to hell. 

Which is, though it has its faults, I like Catholicism. You have to keep refreshing your soul through confession, no instant Get Out of Jail Free card. 'Course, that brings in a whole other stupid thing, because if you just happen to get hit by a car on your way to Confession, welp, you're screwed.

That's god's favorite prank.

So what happened to fossils, then?

Also, confessing your wrongdoings to a third party (priest) is a copout. Apologize to the person/s you wronged, not someone who's completely unaffected by your actions.

[one-shot]

That's something I never understood about xtianity, and especially certain sects within it, like Calvinism.  The whole "once saved, always saved" thing never really sat well with me.  It's almost funny how they think rapists, murderers, war-mongers, and the like, will get into heaven just for repeating a prayer, while people like MLK, Gandhi, the Dalai Lama, and such, are headed straight to hell. 

Which is, though it has its faults, I like Catholicism. You have to keep refreshing your soul through confession, no instant Get Out of Jail Free card. 'Course, that brings in a whole other stupid thing, because if you just happen to get hit by a car on your way to Confession, welp, you're screwed.

That's god's favorite prank.

So what happened to fossils, then?

Also, confessing your wrongdoings to a third party (priest) is a copout. Apologize to the person/s you wronged, not someone who's completely unaffected by your actions.

This is why you see cults of personality in xtianity.  Catholics believe that the priest stands in for god, and that the Pope is god's vicar on earth, the clergy is basically given the status of demi-gods.  And then people wonder why televangelists like Benny Hinn have such large followings, even though he's a known nutjob. 

[Lithp]

What makes this guy not "right idea, wrong conclusion" & drops him strictly into assholeville to me is the fact that his church IS one of those megachurches with the ultra-hypocritical-dogmatic pastors. There's no way he can't know that. He just lied to us to try & sell his church. "Not religious" my atheist ass.