HenryVIII (anonymous) says...

Before you go to church on Sunday, I urge you to spend 10 minutes and watch the following video. The video poses 10 questions every Christian should try to answer. I know the video is a bit long, so skip to the questions if you have to. Feel free to post your answers to the questions here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDHJ4z...

As the author of the video says, "people who believe in imaginary beings are delusional." We cannot afford to have delusional people working in our government, writing supposed "facts" in our local paper, or have their actions otherwise influencing our society. I'm disappointed that the Gazette has, once again, taken such a firm stance on how "right" Christianity is. The Gazette is not a church newsletter; it is supposed to speak for the entire community.

Ashley states above, "Despite the significance of the Easter holiday, the celebration of Christ’s death and resurrection and the promise of eternal life it offers to all, many folks will still choose to stay home Sunday morning." I challenge you, Ashley, to give me some shred of proof to your claims. How do you KNOW Easter is as significant as you say? How do you KNOW I'll be rewarded with "eternal life" if I sit in a pew this weekend? If Easter is a significant as you claim, you should have no problem proving to me and the entire world that we should all attend a Christian church this Sunday.

I'll I'm asking people to do is think about it for a moment. I know you're not allowed to "question your faith", but please try to look at things from a non-brainwashed perspective.

I do hope you all have a wonderful weekend and a Happy Easter.
'enry

April 2, 2010 at 8:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

dml (anonymous) says...

May I suggest you read 2 books by Lee Strobel: The Case for Faith, and The Case for Christ.

April 2, 2010 at 8:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

HenryVIII (anonymous) says...

$30 per book? Yeah, I don't think so. I'd prefer that my money not go towards the "cause". It looks like he has some free videos on his website, however.
http://www.leestrobel.com/indexMain.php
I will try to take a look at some of these later. Thanks.
'enry

April 2, 2010 at 9:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

methusla (anonymous) says...

Henry, I would think, that by now you have realized that you have made your point of not believing in God, Jesus Christ, Christians or Christianity or having a different belief forced upon you.
I would also think that you would also be tired of trying to force your belief that there is no God or Jesus Christ upon others every time some one mentions " Religion " , their beliefs or faith.
So please give it a rest ! Let others believe, worship, attend the church of their choice as they are entitled to do.
I do not attend any particular church, subscribe to any particular religion, religious belief . All I can say is the fact that I have faced many trials and tribulations, faced death and actually have been thought to be dead and pronounced dead three times and yet some how miraculously, I am still here able to continue with life, not without a certain amount of suffering, tells me that there is some sort of " Divine " force that dictates each of our lives. Exactly what that force to be, I do not exactly know what, but I do know I have actually experienced it.
So, Henry, believe as you wish, have faith in what ever you wish. I will not comdemn you for it, but please allow others to do the same . And have a happy and safe Easter. And I wish the same to everyone, no matter your belief or faith .

April 2, 2010 at 9:27 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...

Nice post methusla,

Wishing all a happy Easter, no matter how or what you celebrate. This year I may be celebrating with the Quawpa Indians in Oklahoma. I hear they have a heck of an easter egg hunt in the casino
:-)

April 2, 2010 at 9:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

HenryVIII (anonymous) says...

methusla,
You're right. There are certainly some things that science has not explained yet. This does little, however, to prove the alleged significance of "Easter Sunday".

Ashley's article is an attempt to coerce people to go to church this Sunday based on the moral stories found in an old storybook. I'm just asking people to think for themselves before believing what they're told to do by their pastor or editor of the local paper. I suppose I do come on pretty strong, but one has to when you're trying to get through to people who don't listen to reason.

Steve_Corbin,
Happy Easter to you too!
'enry

April 2, 2010 at 10:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

les_herschler (anonymous) says...

Henry, while I don't agree with your statement, I do believe in your right to say it. And I can't think of a better place to express it. Please, don't give it a rest.

See you in church!

April 2, 2010 at 10:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Absolute (anonymous) says...

There are many reasons to celebrate Easter. Easter has it roots in pagan traditions to celebrate the coming of spring.

April 2, 2010 at 10:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...

"I'll I'm asking people to do is think about it for a moment. I know you're not allowed to "question your faith", but please try to look at things from a non-brainwashed perspective."

Henry, would you seriously question your relationships with your wife or kids if I came and told you that they are all faking it and aren't who they say they are don't really love you? No. Why? Because you know in your heart what only those who are in relationships with them can know about them.
Conversely, only believers who have a relationship with Christ can testify to His reality. You are wrong about us not questioning our faith....we are to test our faith and our commitment to Christ through prayer and reading the Bible and examining our lives to see if He really is the most important to us. After we do that, we do not need to jump through the intellectual hoops that you want us to go through to disprove our relationship, any more than you would jump through hoops at my request to disprove your relationships....no matter what proof I offered. You cannot intellectually prove or disprove relationships. All you can do is take the word (even if dubiously) of the person(s) in that relationship.

On another thread you said, "Seriously, I really don't care what you religious folks do. Whatever makes you all happy is fine by me, but leave me out of it please."

This would be more convincing if you didn't type paragraph after paragraph at every opportunity to prove that you actually do care what we believe. As far as leaving you out of it goes, here in America, you have the right to not attend or tune in because our government is separate from our religions and will not imprison or execute you for it.

April 2, 2010 at 12:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...

"$30 per book? Yeah, I don't think so. I'd prefer that my money not go towards the "cause"."

Ummm...library?????

April 2, 2010 at 12:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

methusla (anonymous) says...

HenryVIII
The following site may be of some interest to you, as far as giving some insight into what religion, is .
http://www.teachingaboutreligion.org/...
Hope this helps.

April 2, 2010 at 1:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

HenryVIII (anonymous) says...

oh4theluvof,
I don't question my relationship with my wife and kids because they show me their love. I have actually seen with my own eyes the good deeds they do for me. Thus, I have proof that our relationships are real. For instance, I saw my wife cook me dinner last night. Can you give me an example of something God has done for you lately? Before you answer, can you PROVE God is the one who did it? Devotion isn't something that should be taken lightly. I am devoted to my family because we look after each other. I KNOW they care for me and they KNOW I care for them because our actions prove it. You devote yourself to a magical being in the clouds whom no one can prove even exists. That is not devotion; it's delusion. If someone presented me with good reason to question my relationship with my wife, I would. In fact, people get divorced due to this all the time. Someone may say, "Your wife never does anything for you, so she must not love you." In my case, I would be able to prove them wrong by listing all the things I have proof of her doing for me. You shouldn't love someone for no reason. Christians remind me of those delusional stalkers who claim they are in love with famous people when they have never even met.

I really don't care what the religious folks do with their lives as long as it doesn't affect me. The Gazette represents all of us, right? When the Gazette posts a little article about how we should all go to church or we'll miss out on the promise of "eternal life", it make it seem like EVERYONE in our town thinks like this. I really don't want the whole world thinking Emporia is nothing but a bunch of religious kooks because it makes me look bad. In other words, Ashley's religious beliefs are having a negative impact on me because of the way others will view me when I tell them where I'm from. Do as you please, but keep it out of my government and out of my life!
'enry

April 2, 2010 at 2:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...

So when Ashley said this, it excluded you?
"...many non-churchgoers will make a pilgrimage to a house of worship to join the 38 percent of Americans who already attend regularly.

But many won’t."

I could tell you who I am in my heart...the thoughts I have, and the things I wish on others and then I could tell you of the love and compassion that has replaced much of my own resentment and hatred toward people who have wronged me and never felt badly for it but instead continue to blame me for their unhappiness. I could tell you that in my own power I could never have changed my feelings toward them, nor would I have wanted to. I could tell you that God has worked these changes in my heart and mind and that I know that no human ever could. I could tell you that this compassion that has replaced my bitterness is a blessing, though I never imagined it could be, because my anger was justified and love is humanly unwarranted in the situation. But you wouldn't believe me because you don't want to.

April 2, 2010 at 2:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

HenryVIII (anonymous) says...

oh4theluvof,
You give God far too much credit. Did you ever stop to think that you had the power to change yourself all along? What made you think God did it? I want to believe you, but there must be some logical, rational reason for you coming to the conclusion that God made those changes.
Basically, your mindset is, "Anything I can't explain was done by God." There was a time humans didn't understand solar/lunar eclipses, but now we know it's because the Earth's shadow covers the Moon or the Moon blocks the Sun. What if we never asked questions and we all still believed God was hiding the Sun from us? Sounds pretty silly, doesn't it? I suppose that is somehow different in your mind...
'enry

April 2, 2010 at 2:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

historian1982 (Nick Gronseth) says...

wow, Ashley writes a great article and instead of thanking her for her words of wisdom, it does nothing but bring out the fruit cakes....geesh!

April 2, 2010 at 2:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

methusla (anonymous) says...

AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH !
Do you people see what the problem with the world today is. Just look at this and other threads and the arguement over religion, faith, beliefs, control over your fellow man etc., etc., !

April 2, 2010 at 2:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

methusla (anonymous) says...

It is my observation, that none of you have any valid, argument that any of you are going to be able to present to convince one side or the other.

April 2, 2010 at 3 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

methusla (anonymous) says...

Thank you, and " Good Night, Mrs. Calabash, whereever you are " .

April 2, 2010 at 3:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...

Yes, I said a while back that I was going to avoid public debates on religion and I didn't succeed. I didn't intend to debate as much as I simply meant to respond rationally....although apparently it came off to some as a kook or a fruitcake.

I was thinking about this during the past hour while I was away from the forum, and Henry, you and I can explore through this if you'd like through e-mail or semi-publicly through the profile comment feature here. If you choose e-mail, feel free to maintain your anonymity if you prefer...it makes no difference to me. You can contact me at sunnydcat@gmail.com. I promise I am not out to convert you, but if you have a question, I will answer it as best I can, though I do not anticipate that you will like or accept my answers.

April 2, 2010 at 3:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...

"Why are those atheists always going around trying to push their disbelief on everyone?"

Great comment akamai.

'enry says
"We cannot afford to have delusional people working in our government, writing supposed "facts" in our local paper, or have their actions otherwise influencing our society."
It is apparent that 'enry wants to restrict the freedoms of people based on their beliefs. 'enry, exactly what should and should not theists be allowed to do? What jobs should and shouldn't they be allowed to have? In what way will you identify them in public? Perhaps a "G"(for God) sewn to their sleeve. In your "mind" how out of the closet can Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, JWs, Catholics, Agnostics, Bahá’í, etc. be? All of these are delusional by your definition so tell me 'itler, what should you and your kind do with the rest of us?

April 2, 2010 at 3:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

HenryVIII (anonymous) says...

seriouslyfolks,
What if I told you that I honestly believed Poseidon (god of the sea) was real and that the USA should sacrifice a bunch of animals (downed some horses or something) to appease him so we don't have another hurricane Katrina? Would you say I was delusional? Do you really think delusional people with such poor judgment should be allowed to govern or otherwise influence the direction of our society? You and Ashley seem to think we should all go to church Sunday or we'll be damned for all eternity. How is that delusional ultimatum any different from mine?

Again, you are free to believe what you want, but your beliefs in ancient mythologies should NOT impact me in any way. Once it does, (like the conservatives in public office and Ashley's little article here) it crosses the line between your rights and mine.

That's real cute how you referred to me as "Hitler"... By the way...where was God when the Nazis were killing all those Jews? I suppose that was God's plan, eh? If God wanted it to happen, I guess we shouldn't be upset with the Nazis, right? Give me a break. I figured out what the 'R' stands for in "Seriously R Folks" -> Seriously Ridiculous, Folks.
'enry

April 2, 2010 at 4 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...

'enry,

you say "We cannot afford to have delusional people working in our government, writing supposed "facts" in our local paper, or have their actions otherwise influencing our society."
You say that the rights(participating in government and freedom of speech/press) of those that hold a theistic belief should be restricted. My question is to what extent? You have a history of using the government to force your beliefs on others(smoking ban) so I think that people of faith(or an agnostic view) should definitely be concerned by your speech against them and their rights.

R(reformed)

April 2, 2010 at 4:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

HenryVIII (anonymous) says...

seriouslyfolks,
When people are delusional, they are unfit to be active members of our society. It's not about taking away someone's rights. It's about the safety of everyone else around them. I'm glad you brought up my stance on the smoking ban. Here's why:

a. Smoking in public is dangerous to everyone around. The smoking ban restricts the actions of others to protect everyone.

b. A delusion person who governs or represents the public in some fashion is dangerous to everyone because they don't think rationally. Keeping religious views out of politics and the public paper would protect us all.

You see? I only want to restrict their so-called "rights" when they have the potential of harming others. Keep it to yourself and you have nothing to worry about. Unfortunately, it seems that both smokers and Christians are very selfish in that they think everyone should be affected by their actions/beliefs. Whether it is done by blowing smoke in my face in public or by publishing religious articles in the paper and using city property for church sermons, both groups are impacting me with their lifestyles.
Yours truly,
'enry
A non-smoking, non-religious Kansan. (We do exist, world!)

April 2, 2010 at 5:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...

'enry'
So you are for taking the right of free speech away from anyone who believes there is a god of some sort because they are, in your "mind", delusional? You want to be able to dictate to Mrs. Walker what she writes in her and her husband's paper? Why are you so afraid of what people outside of Kansas believe anyway? Most of them probably believe in some sort of god and are in your "mind" delusional. Are agnostics delusional? According to the following info less than 16.1% of Americans aren't delusional since agnostic might be delusional(they're not sure).

According to a 2007 Pew Research Center survey, the following is the order of religious preferences in the United States:

* Christianity: (78.5%)
o Protestantism (51.3%)
o Roman Catholicism (23.9%)
o Mormonism (1.7%)
o Jehovah's Witnesses (0.7%)
o Orthodox Church (0.6%)
o other Christian (0.3%)
* Unaffiliated, including atheist or agnostic (16.1%)
* Judaism (1.7%)
* Buddhist (0.7%)
* Islam (0.6%)
* Hinduism (0.4%)
* other (1.2%)

April 2, 2010 at 6:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

goodjoss (anonymous) says...

Henry,
Dude, you have a pretty serious issue with religion. I'd examine that, if I were you.

We all have our own truths - some which include and some which don't include a concept of a higher power in our lives.

Obviously, your truth is different from Ashley's. Her opinion is just as valid as yours. Why don't you buy the Gazette?

If you're stuck in some sort of "Why does God let bad things happen to good people" kind of mentality, you're thinking way (WAY) too small. (Seriously, you're still hung up on this? This is an issue to you? For a resolution, I'd suggest Philosophy 101, included in most college curriculum)

Who exactly defines what is good or bad? Are there absolutes?

If you find yourself thinking about this issue long enough, you'll find there are no absolute truths, and much of what we cling to as reality is simply false.

Please, save us all the precious time reading and use your head before your mouth.

April 2, 2010 at 10:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...

"If you find yourself thinking about this issue long enough, you'll find there are no absolute truths"

Are you absolutely sure?

April 2, 2010 at 10:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

methusla (anonymous) says...

Exactly how many of you have the training or are qualified to judge whether anyone is " delusional " or not.
As for religion here is one meaning of religion according to one religious order, "Religion. . . . means the voluntary subjection of oneself to God."
---The Catholic Encyclopaedia, 1913
source : http://www.crosscurrents.org/whatisre...
And yet another view on religion, This website is about religion—but what is religion? The question is not easy to answer. As St. Augustine said of time, most of us know perfectly well what religion is - until someone asks us to define it.

The groups, practices and systems that we identify as "religions" are so diverse (not all religions refer to God or gods, not all religions are concerned with morals, not all religions have beliefs about the afterlife...) that it is no easy task to bring them all under one simple definition.
"Religion: A general term used... to designate all concepts concerning the belief in god(s) and goddess(es) as well as other spiritual beings or transcendental ultimate concerns."
—Penguin Dictionary of Religions (1997).

"Religion: Relation of human beings to God or the gods or to whatever they consider sacred or, in some cases, merely supernatural."
—Britannica Concise Encyclopedia (online, 2006)

"Religion: Human beings' relation to that which they regard as holy, sacred, spiritual, or divine."
—Encyclopædia Britannica (online, 2006)

"Religion: (2) a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices; (4) a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith."
—Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (online, 2006)
Source : http://www.religionfacts.com/religion...
If you, Henry and others visit these sites and read and contemplate what is there and think about it .. just maybe you will be occupied reading and thinking about it until after " Easter " and come away with a better understanding of what religion is and a better understanding of one another . May you/we all have as good a " Holiday " weekend , as possible and have a better understanding of each other and be refreshed afterward . May the " Divine Spirit ", whoever/ whatever it may be, bless us all with peace, love and understanding .

April 3, 2010 at 8:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...

My favorite quote is "an atheist in a casket is someone all dressed up and no place to go."

April 3, 2010 at 8:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

proverbs18_21 (anonymous) says...

1Corinthians 1:18-19 sums it up pretty nicely:

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."

As for why we feel the need to share our faith, it is the very last command Jesus gave His followers in Mark 16:15 -
"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."

And in Matthew 28:19 -
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit"

Until one surrenders his/her own intellect and heart to the Lord Jesus - one will never be able to understand or discern spiritual matters. It will remain as foolishness to him/her. But, to the saved - it clearly is the power of God! Thank you, Jesus!

April 3, 2010 at 10:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...

Great post proverbs18_21!

2 Corinthians 2: 15For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; 16to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life And who is adequate for these things? 17For we are not like many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God.

April 3, 2010 at 11:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...

Please review the video called Spiritual Warfare: Caryl Matrisciana......She talks about how the children of the world are being conditioned by books like Harry Potter. At one time she was into the occult.

April 3, 2010 at 12:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...

Do you know where the VFW meets on South Commerical, if you do come Sunday Morning at 10 and listen to the Word by our pastor Brad Bowen. He wrote a great article in the paper today and I hope you will be blessed by it. The dress code is casual. .....And I heard that there was a Holy Ghost Revival out on the Americus Road---Saturday night at 6 and they say it's more exciting than the Final 4 playoffs.

April 3, 2010 at 12:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...

I believe in the power of prayer and will you please join me and pray for my brother who is in terrible pain....Thank you. ......You may be helpless but you are not hopeless--Praise God!!!

April 3, 2010 at 1:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...

I need Revival.

April 3, 2010 at 1:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

methusla (anonymous) says...

One last question, comment and then I will retire from this discussion .
Who knows whether he/she has been saved or will be saved, until the final judgement day, when we all stand before our God/Savior, whom ever we believe , or have faith in ?
I believe that until that final judgement and we stand before our God/Savior and He/She/It/They render You/Me/Us as worthy of being saved, perish forever or be damned to eternal torment, none of us have the where-with-all to determine whether we are saved or are perishing.
I believe that we are all living or perish by the will of something or someone that none of us have a full and complete understanding of .
As I have stated before, recently, I believe I have experienced the power of something " Divine ", that I truely cannot explain, but the fact that I am still here, alive, when by all circumstances, I should not be and even my doctors can not explain, why .. makes me believe there is a " Divine " presence that is watching over each and every one of us.
That is why I am determined to let each and every person worship, have faith and believe in their religion in their own way .
I can say with conviction. If the final judgment of man comes today, tomorrow or when ever, I am ready for it, as I nor anyone will not be able to stop it or the outcome of there own personal judgement . May God, Jesus, the " Divine " , which ever you believe them to be in you own way, bless us all on what many see and believe to be one of the " Holiest of Holy " Days.

April 3, 2010 at 1:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...

methusla,
May I suggest this passage in answer to that question?
Colossians 2:2,3
2. that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God's mystery, that is, Christ Himself, 3. in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

I would also recommend Hebrews 3:14, 6:10-12, 10:21-23 and 11:1-3.

Have a blessed Easter, all!

April 3, 2010 at 3:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...

1 John 5: 13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

April 3, 2010 at 4:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...

Great posts.

April 3, 2010 at 5:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

HenryVIII (anonymous) says...

Hey, friends. I ate meat yesterday and it was good! Some old lady at the eatery frowned at me and asked, "You're eating meat on a holy day?" I said, "I guess, what of it?" She then scoffed in a very Christian manner and went on her way.

If eating meat on certain days is wrong, how are the indigenous tribes in the jungles supposed to know this? Y'all need to get some missionaries together and spread the word quick because, apparently, god isn't powerful enough to spread the word himself. Ha!
Have a good Easter!
'enry

BTW, I got my beer bought today.

April 3, 2010 at 8:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...

Henry,
I hope whatever meat you had was better than the Applebee's riblets I had. They were okay, but they were no Bad Ole Berns ribs.

Yeah, we all don't fit in the same mold. I don't observe lent and I never have. Once again, if you want know the reasons why, just click on my name here and post it to my "wall." I'm not going to debate all that to the annoyance of everyone else.

April 3, 2010 at 8:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...

'enry,
You forgot to answer my questions.

"seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...

'enry'
So you are for taking the right of free speech away from anyone who believes there is a god of some sort because they are, in your "mind", delusional? You want to be able to dictate to Mrs. Walker what she writes in her and her husband's paper? Why are you so afraid of what people outside of Kansas believe anyway? Most of them probably believe in some sort of god and are in your "mind" delusional. Are agnostics delusional? According to the following info less than 16.1% of Americans aren't delusional since agnostic might be delusional(they're not sure).

According to a 2007 Pew Research Center survey, the following is the order of religious preferences in the United States:

* Christianity: (78.5%)
o Protestantism (51.3%)
o Roman Catholicism (23.9%)
o Mormonism (1.7%)
o Jehovah's Witnesses (0.7%)
o Orthodox Church (0.6%)
o other Christian (0.3%)
* Unaffiliated, including atheist or agnostic (16.1%)
* Judaism (1.7%)
* Buddhist (0.7%)
* Islam (0.6%)
* Hinduism (0.4%)
* other (1.2%)

April 2, 2010 at 6:09 p.m."

April 3, 2010 at 8:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

HenryVIII (anonymous) says...

Sorry, friend! Here are my answers.
No.
No.
Because I leave Kansas from time to time and I think it would benefit our state if the world knew we weren't all crazy.
No.
Agnostics, like me, are probably the least delusional. We recognize there are things that have yet to be explained, but we don't go around claiming our imaginary friend told us not to eat meat. Christians claim they know the truth without having any evidence to support their claims. That's why they, and other religious kooks are delusional.
'enry

April 3, 2010 at 9:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...

'enry you said
"I only want to restrict their so-called "rights" when they have the potential of harming others. Keep it to yourself and you have nothing to worry about. Unfortunately, it seems that both smokers and Christians are very selfish in that they think everyone should be affected by their actions/beliefs. Whether it is done by blowing smoke in my face in public or by publishing religious articles in the paper and using city property for church sermons, both groups are impacting me with their lifestyles. "
From this quote you certainly seem to imply that you want to restrict people of faiths free speech because when they share their beliefs it somehow affects you. You do have a history of using the government as a weapon against those that you see as affecting you. According to the survey I posted above about 80% of the population should be concerned about your intentions to stop them from affecting you.
I'm going to anticipate your response to this post and answer it before you post it. Next you are going to say "If they just don't talk about it they won't feel my wrath when I bring the hammer of the government down on them like I did to those smokers!" or something like that. I would now like to point out that you bring the subject up about 90% of the time, you even made a thread where you and like minded people(you know who you are) could get on there and bash people of faith. I tried to stay away from that one and let you all vent your hatred against some powerless fairytale as you see it but I had to respond and I think I made my points on that thread very clear. It is interesting how something(the gospel) so powerless can get under peoples skins so easily and they rebel against it so hard. Makes you think maybe it's not as powerless as you would like to believe, huh?

April 3, 2010 at 9:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...

Go to "D.C. Street Sorcery".....this video is the unbelievable design of the city of Washington D.C. in which many Occult symbols have been designed and overlaid, one upon another. If you are a believer or unbeliever, you will find this film very interesting. I have watched it many times and each time I discover something new.

April 3, 2010 at 10:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

HenryVIII (anonymous) says...

seriouslyfolks,
May I ask you a few questions? Do you think terrorists who kill people in the name of their god are delusional or do you think their god really exists and actually wants them to cause such harm? Would you agree that such delusions are dangerous? If you think terrorists (or anyone who harms others because they claim a "higher power" told them to) are delusional, why do you think you aren't delusional for believing in your religion? They can't prove they are doing god's will and neither can you, so what's the difference?

I don't want to take away their free speech or the right to practice their religion. I just think religion is a very slippery slope and shouldn't be considered rational behavior. Today, they tell me I have to go to church on Sunday or I'll be damned for eternity. What's next? Will they tell me I must kill my daughter because she is seen talking to a married man? We must obey the laws that WE, mankind, create. Not the rules that of some imaginary being.
By the way, god just told me you shouldn't go to church tomorrow. He really did tell me this. Prove he didn't!
'enry

April 3, 2010 at 11:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Pinkpintopony (anonymous) says...

So.....the phone book gives a number for a Unitarian Universalist church here in Emporia, but I have been unsuccessful in getting through and the address listed for the church, looks like an abandoned building. Does anyone know if this church exists here?

April 4, 2010 at 12:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...

'enry,

My God has already told me in the Bible to not forsake the gathering together of the believers so I know He would not tell you to tell me contrary to that.
Hebrews 10: 25Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

I think that the terrorist's god(the father of lies) is real but is not who they think it is. Your god is one and the same as theirs, you just don't realize it. They war against God in their way and you in yours.
2 Corinthians 5:20
"Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God."
'enry please be reconciled to God.

April 4, 2010 at 8:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...

I honestly didn't mean any of it as a punch or two.

April 4, 2010 at 9:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

create (anonymous) says...

Henry is using pure rationale for her argument, and seriously is using biblical verses that Henry does not believe to be viable. Its a bang-your-head-against-a-brick-wall argument.

Of course the terrorists have a god they believe in. Just because you are a Christian, seriously, does not make you correct and them wrong. They believe just as mightily as you do. But be careful, Arabs still hold Christians responsible for the babrarism committed in the name of Christ so many eons ago during the crusades.

I agree with 'enry. Religion is a slippery slope. That's why it needs to be kept out of politics, and that includes the kind of politics practiced by terrorists.

I also don't believe that proselytizing belongs in a daily newspaper. That's where you lose people when you tell them how to worship or to worship at all. It's just plain poor journalism.

I am still amazed, however, that belief in one specific god has been so powerful that it actually moves entire nations to behave in ways destructive or ways benevolent. Is it the power of that god or is it the power of human belief itself?

April 4, 2010 at 9:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...

Why do people say that I(seriously r folks) think I am right? If I thought I was right I wouldn't be a Christian I would be a self worshiping person trying to convince poeple that my opinions are "where it's at". I actually believe that I am wrong and God is right and has revealed Himself in creation and scripture(the Bible) and I desire to know Him even if it means realizing I am wrong. You can say I(seriously r folks) think I'm right but I don't think so, I think God is the only right one. Soli Deo gloria

April 4, 2010 at 9:27 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

create (anonymous) says...

You're splitting hairs, seriously. So what if you say you're not saying that you are right. You're still saying that your side, or what you believe in has all the marbles or answers or eggs or promises.

I believe that akamai has a very good point about there being more than one ship.For example, Buddhists are just as comfortable with their belief system as anyone else. I, for one, find joy in the Dalai Lama's philosophies. But I'm not saying that Buddhism is the one true way. I'm not telling people to get themselves to their temples today or be damned or saved or sprinkled across the Flinthills. Religion is a private thing and does not belong in newspaper editorials. If you want people to attend worship services on Easter Sunday, buy an ad.

April 4, 2010 at 10:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...

Isaiah 53:6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

People want to believe in what they want to believe in (turn to their own way) but God didn't lay our iniquity on those ways, He laid them on Jesus on the cross to satisfy His wrath against everyone turning to his or her self righteous ways. God raised Jesus on the third day to show that He was and is satisfied by what Jesus did. 2 Corinthians 5:21
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

People can believe themselves to be righteous and able to work their way into gods favor but I know me too well to believe that that is possible. I am still a man in need of a savior. Examine yourself against the sermon on the mount(Mathew 5 ) and see how you stack up to God's righteousness. When you find yourself lacking, know that Jesus lacked nothing and that He paid the full penalty for our unrighteousness on the cross and whoever believes in Him shall be saved.

April 4, 2010 at 12:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

create (anonymous) says...

Jeez, you're using bibilical reasoning again.

Tell me this. What about all the books written by the followers of Christ that were never allowed to be put into the new testament by those who decided to publish only certain books and thoughts? Many had ideas that were questioned by those in power at the time. Apparently they're still in power.

While you are busy quoting scripture, I am going outside to enjoy my garden. I give up arguing with you because you will do nothing more than quote scripture. I can quote the Dalai Lama, but why bother. You have your belief system, I have mine.

Wanna know something? When my husband was dying, he told me that he had had an experience and that there really was a Jesus. Coming from a man who never believed before, I wondered what had happened, but it was just too late to ask for particulars. Before long, he was dead. I believe there was a Jesus too. He was a great teacher, especially about treating others with respect. The Buddha also said that we should treat others as we want to be treated. Another great teacher.

I'm going to my garden. I have spinach and peas growing.

April 4, 2010 at 1:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

eucharistandcannabis (anonymous) says...

I am spiritual. For a long time, I wasn't, because I refused to participate in organized religion because of so many with extremist beliefs who choose to manipulate the word of God.

I left the Midwest. I got away from the cults. And, thankfully I found a welcoming church which chooses only to preach love and compassion, and nothing more. I believe spirituality is a personal (none of your business) relationship with a higher being that helps us to stay focused with love, compassion, tolerance, acceptance and ultimately making this small world a friendlier place.

For those who are not spiritual, I do not judge, in fact I embrace their choice. For those who follow another religion other than Christianity, I embrace their equally-important spiritual beliefs.

If all spiritual persons were to keep to themselves the fire and damnation speeches, I bet you would find more persons seeing spirituality in a more positive light.

April 4, 2010 at 1:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

eucharistandcannabis (anonymous) says...

Years ago, I met a preacher. Two of his three children are gay. In his Baptist church, he preaches tolerance. He told me, "The Bible is not the final word of God. He's still making decisions, he's still talking. Are you actively listening?"

So, to my earlier point, enough with the fire and damnation lectures if you want persons to respect your spirituality.

If you begin to bleed religion into politics and civil rights, then you will only see a rise in the number of persons condemning your spirituality. Because, then you have crossed the line and are demonstrating that you have not respect for those with different points of view than your own. Then, were back at square one.

Take Prop 8 in California, for example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNiqfR...

So, extend the olive branch. Call a truce. Let your spiritual beliefs be your own. Show respect.

April 4, 2010 at 1:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...

"Today, they tell me I have to go to church on Sunday or I'll be damned for eternity."

Who said that here?

"...enough with the fire and damnation lectures if you want persons to respect your spirituality."

Who was giving those here?

April 4, 2010 at 5:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...

Matthew 5:22
But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca, ' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.

Jesus talked about hell more than anyone else in the Bible. If I believe that hell is what waits for people outside of Christ after they die, how is it not loving to warn them and tell them that they can have forgiveness through faith in Him? Sometimes the worst news comes just before the best.

As far as Prop 8 goes, I was asked once on here if I wanted my marriage voted on and I said I didn't care. Vote on it, tell me that my marriage isn't recognized by the law. That will not change my marriage in the least. My life and beliefs don't have to be validated by the government of this state or country. I understand that you fell oppressed(I hope that is the right word) and I can understand that and I'm sorry you feel that way, I truly am. I don't see homosexuals as worse than anybody else. I see us all as sinners for we all fall short of the glory of God, the gospel is a message to everyone equally. No one wants to get a diagnosis of cancer but they are relieved when they hear it can be treated.

April 4, 2010 at 5:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...

Please review the video God save America again....

April 4, 2010 at 11:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

HillsReader (anonymous) says...

Godwin'd 4-2, thread over! lol.

April 5, 2010 at 2:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

HenryVIII (anonymous) says...

create,
Thanks for your comments, but what's up with you referring to me as a "her"? That hurt my manly sense of pride. :-(
'enry

April 5, 2010 at 2:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )