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Author Topic: for my religious friends...  (Read 8766 times)
Noah
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« on: July 09, 2012, 09:55:53 pm »

I would hate for someone to think that because I do not pray "for" something, that it means I do not care.

I was raised a brainwashed Christian... however, I'm not sure what I would call myself now.  I believe in God for reasons that only I can explain.  I believe he is a good being.  I believe he loves us.  I believe he created all of "this" for us...

Do I pray? Yes.

Just being here to experience life itself is more of a gift that anything else one could ever ask for.  So I do not ask for anything more.  I thank our creator for what each of us has been given thus far and ask for nothing else.  It is what it is.
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« Reply #1 on: July 09, 2012, 10:15:32 pm »

Well said noah, i felt and still feel the same as yourself, growning up catholic, attending a catholic school and being fotrced to attend church twice a week, every week throughout grades school and highschool.....i felt that it wasn't right to force someone to attend something if they didn't want to.

I am a catholic and a believer, i have more or less the same outlook on it as yourself, nice seein others that share the same views.


"the sun is shining somewhere in texas" -Jason Boland
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« Reply #2 on: July 09, 2012, 10:54:52 pm »

Just wondering whAt sparked this post?
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Noah
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« Reply #3 on: July 09, 2012, 11:04:45 pm »

Many of my traditional Christian friends mention "prayer requests", both on this site and in my everyday life.  I don't want them to think that I do not care... because I do.  I just fundamentally believe there is no point in asking God to change his plans if you know what I mean
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« Reply #4 on: July 10, 2012, 01:12:59 am »

Its late and im wooped so if my figures are off a little i apologize but im sure you will get the jist of it:

The bible is 13 books, each of them written a hundred years (give or take) from each other, some in other countries from one another and in different original languages from each other (some not all).  now translate each of those books from one another to one another for a few thousand years and add in a King who changed it to suit him self and what do you end up with?  The metaphorical 5 year olds playin the telephone game.

I believe in God and Jesus Christ, and was raised a christian, but the more i read about different things in college the more i began to doubt my religion.  Over the years i learned there are some things which just cant be explained, and things we walk away from that we just plain shouldnt.
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« Reply #5 on: July 10, 2012, 01:38:10 am »

I posted a prayer request at the beginnin of the year for my dads health. When I posted it I was askin for strength through the troubling times not necessarily to change God's greater plan and that's what I get from the prayer requests here on the board is to pray for strength through there struggles.

I grew up in a very old school small non dominational church where if you didn't go to the Sunday and Wednesday services you where looked down upon and not one of the more 'popular' members. And since they kicked us out of the church for my parents gettin divorced (very old school small town city slicker church) I haven't found one that I enjoyed attending. That doesn't mean I don't accept the Lord as my savior or make me any less of a Christian.
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« Reply #6 on: July 10, 2012, 02:19:42 am »

I agree 100% with both of the above posts, i spend my time talkin to/ praying to my Lord in the woods and on the water......my mom and gf often worry about when I go by myself but sometimes i need to, just to clear my mind and attend my version of church...if that makes sense.


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« Reply #7 on: July 10, 2012, 06:27:23 am »

I also agree with the above posts the woods are where I do most of my praying when I'm going threw hard times I have a few spots I prefer to go hunt they a beautiful spots this is my reasoning for hunting them because I can look at all the gifts we were given verses all my little problems that I could fix my self and as Justin said above I didn't grow up catholic but penicostal and my grandpa who I lived with is a preacher I was at church every time the doors opened I was normally the one opening the doors
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« Reply #8 on: July 10, 2012, 07:00:26 am »

Noah, I understand your post.  I like the people who post on here.  I feel empathy with their struggles when they post a prayer request.  I wish them strength.  But I struggle with how to do that and in the midst of their struggles I do not wish to cause any argument or disrespect to them.  I usually simply decline posting.  The reason is because I am a "non-believer" or athiest. 
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« Reply #9 on: July 10, 2012, 08:55:07 am »

Romans 1:18-25
everyone will be without excuse

James 2:14-19
faith without works is dead

Matthew 7:21-23
do you really know him?



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jimco
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« Reply #10 on: July 10, 2012, 10:17:55 am »

Same outlook here Noah, matter of fact I think we had a similar discussion awhile back. I don't believe in organized religion, however I do believe in god. I also believe he created this great universe for us. I also pray and talk to him but in a different way I guess. I feel close to him when I'm out in nature, or see  young children playing,etc. etc. You just know he created such things. I have absolutely nothing against a person who goes to church and is involved in every aspect of his or her religion. It's just not for me. I love and appreciate god no less than religious folks do and I got a strong feeling he loves me no less.
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marks
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« Reply #11 on: July 10, 2012, 10:34:44 am »

Noah - I want to put a bunch of reasons up why you should go to church but I'm only gonna put up a few verses (I assume if you believe in God you believe in the Bible) because I don't think that is what you are looking for in this thread.  They aren't about going to church but more about prayer. If I read it right you said you don't think God will change his plan just cause we ask. He may not change it but he might and it is worth asking. I pray for things I find important and things that are more selfish as well. Sometimes I just talk about what is going on with me. If God is or 'Father' He wants to hear from us about our day.

Jesus asked him to please find another way.

39 And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.


Abraham made a few requests and God changed his plan because of them.

Genesis 18
22 The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the Lord.[d] 23 Then Abraham approached him and said: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare[e] the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? 25 Far be it from you to do such a thing —to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?”

26 The Lord said, “If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake. ”
 
27 Then Abraham spoke up again: “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes, 28 what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five people?”

“If I find forty-five there,” he said, “I will not destroy it.”
 
29 Once again he spoke to him, “What if only forty are found there?”

He said, “For the sake of forty, I will not do it.”
 
30 Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak. What if only thirty can be found there?”

He answered, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”
 
31 Abraham said, “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty can be found there?”

He said, “For the sake of twenty, I will not destroy it.”
 
32 Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?”

He answered, “For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it.”
 
33 When the Lord had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home.
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jimco
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« Reply #12 on: July 10, 2012, 11:06:49 am »

marks,  Do you think God loves Noah or Justin or myself and others like us any less for not going to church ? As stated, we still pray , just not in a church. Also do you think church goers think of us any less? Just curious as to your thoughts on the questions.
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« Reply #13 on: July 10, 2012, 11:29:41 am »

Not tying to start an argument or anything I saw this post and thought I'd hop in. I grew up in church a lot like most of you and as a kid I was forced to go to church. But as I got older I began to realize that it wasn't about church at all it was about your relationship with God that mattered my grandpa was a pastor pretty old school too then we moved church's when I was 12 we went to a church where most of my family served there now my father is a pastor of the church we served at and. Even him as a pastor doesn't look down on people for not coming. Because that's not what it's about the bible says that God honors what is done in the secret place behind closed doors where no one can see you because anyone can be anything they want to be in front of people but it's who you are when no one is watching that matter it's a heart condition. So my opinion is I don't think God looks down on it there are parts in the bible that's say we should be connected to the body referring to the church body which is the people fellow believers. But God loves us all just the same and honors what is done in the secret place.. If you really have relationship you know right from wrong.
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marks
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« Reply #14 on: July 10, 2012, 11:38:20 am »

marks,  Do you think God loves Noah or Justin or myself and others like us any less for not going to church ? As stated, we still pray , just not in a church. Also do you think church goers think of us any less? Just curious as to your thoughts on the questions.

Of course God loves you just as much. God loves us all the same. Believe it or not I think God loved Bin Laden and Sadam and Hitler just as much too. However (there is always a however) I think God has asked us to do a few things for him that he expects us to do. One is Repent of our sins, do our best not to sin, be baptized, bring others to him, and several other things. I think he seriously expects us to do these things. Who takes over 1000 years to write a book that big if they aren't serious about it.  Also I think a lot of our churches these days get off track. A lot of it has to do with tradition and hypocritical thinking, or that church isn't made for sinners mindset. Church was designed specifically for sinners.
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« Reply #15 on: July 10, 2012, 12:27:43 pm »

Do I pray? Yes.

Just being here to experience life itself is more of a gift that anything else one could ever ask for.  So I do not ask for anything more.  I thank our creator for what each of us has been given thus far and ask for nothing else.  It is what it is.

Noah,

  Do you believe in the power of prayer?  My youngest daughter who is 25 had a lump in her neck and the doc examined her and told her it could be cancer and to get a biopsy. My heart sank, the first thing I did was ask God to take the lump away, my mom started a prayer chain and she went back to get the biopsy two week later and nothing was there.  I thank God and all those who lifted my daughters health to the Lord.   I don't think you have to publicly say, " I will pray" most of the time that is to help comfort those who are asking for the prayer request, but to actually say a prayer for is between you and God.
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« Reply #16 on: July 10, 2012, 12:41:26 pm »

My youngest daughter who is 25 had a lump in her neck and the doc examined her and told her it could be cancer and to get a biopsy. My heart sank, the first thing I did was ask God to take the lump away, my mom started a prayer chain and she went back to get the biopsy two week later and nothing was there.  I thank God and all those who lifted my daughters health to the Lord.   I don't think you have to publicly say, " I will pray" most of the time that is to help comfort those who are asking for the prayer request, but to actually say a prayer for is between you and God.


Amen...100%
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« Reply #17 on: July 10, 2012, 01:10:14 pm »

This is a loaded subject for sure… and is something that I’ve talked/felt about very strongly with friends a few times. LOL! I will start by saying that the bible was written by man… Of course it is through “God’s vision”, but still interpreted and felt by man. And like it was said before, that pretty much leaves it to be passed on from generation to generation of watered down hearsay. Also, if you were to take a man nowadays, and have him say Jesus or God is speaking to me, and have them write a book and say that God said it… they would probably be considered crazy and be locked up…. Just saying…  So the Good Book, IMO, is probably not what is was meant to be when God passed on the information to man. With that being said, I think that God (or whatever you want to call him/her) exists. I do fear something that is greater than any living being, something bigger than myself, and something that I cannot explain.

My main question for that is… if so many people throughout the history of the planet have believed in something bigger than themselves, whether they called him Alah, Buda, Ja, Ra, God, Christ, Jesus, Jehovah, ect… and they did so, some at the same time, without talking to each other about it, or having a book, or news or ect, and being on completely different sides of the globe… would they be considered wrong according to devout Christians or other beliefs? Are they going to hell because they do not believe in God or Jesus? That is something that I do not like about organized religion! The fact and thought of, “you don’t believe in God (or what I believe in)”, is insulting… What if His name isn’t God? What if He doesn’t have a name because it’s already taken by some other religion? I’m not saying that is the way it is for me, but is something that I question.  Are they wrong about who/what they believe in?

I am a God fearing man, but to have to put a name on it, I would not… I talk to the man upstairs on my own time, and I ask for forgiveness, I know wrong from right, and try to live life the best that I can. From what I’ve experienced, this is what life is about and why it was given to us as a gift. To be here on this Earth, and to be the best person you can be, helping others and yourself, becoming a better person through your own experiences is MY meaning of life. To help the people that cannot help themselves and not expecting anything in return shows there is something bigger than you at hand. I take to time to pray for myself and others, and that doesn’t mean that I’m sitting at a church doing it… but does that mean that it is not heard? I do not think so… Does that mean I’m lesser of a person for it, or not as much a believer or as “loved” as the next person? I do not think so because who is to judge such a thing. I go over this a little more than I honestly would like to because of what I’ve seen in my short 27 years… I do know that I am here for a reason and that this life is a gift; but for me to say that I know who and what put me here (other than my parents) and why I am here would be a lie. This is why I just keep being myself, and give thanks where it’s due, and other than that, I’m just here! Grin

Sorry for the long winded reply…
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« Reply #18 on: July 10, 2012, 02:13:10 pm »

I'm learning the Good News of God. More and more each day, God wants us to respond to Him through a conversation about this life we are facing. He wants us to be in reality about what the Bible teaches of Him. We live in a culture that is constantly changing in many ways. We must not let the Good News of Gods love and grace change and get weaker by the day ----if we do, we will get further from the truth that God wants us to know about His purpose and plan. We constantly want to be friendly and tolerant in this culture we face. It's clear that through media and music alone, generations to come are falling away from blessings that the generation before should be teaching and passing down. Now I say, if you are an adult, show the truth of Gods love to the younger generations-live what you believe- just do your homework to believe what the bible teaches is true, that way you are living what is true.
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justincorbell
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« Reply #19 on: July 10, 2012, 02:23:50 pm »

marks,  Do you think God loves Noah or Justin or myself and others like us any less for not going to church ? As stated, we still pray , just not in a church. Also do you think church goers think of us any less? Just curious as to your thoughts on the questions.

Jimco, i know the question was not directed at me but i thought I would share this tidbit (a large reason of why my beliefs are what they are)

My mothers side of the family are devout catholics to say the least(grandparents attend mass daily and are very involved in the church). My family attends church 90% of the time on saturday evenings and goes to dinner afterwards, one particular evening after mass we went to eat with my gparents and roughly 10-15 other members if the church. As conversation began one of the members made a remark i will never forget,  " did you see what Mrs. X was wearing, you think she would take more than a minute to get dressed before mass", this was followed by more snide and rude comments by others. The woman they were referring to was someone I hold very close to my heart, she is a true saint....she has 12 children(most i am good friends with) and works her tail off daylight to dark 6-7 days a week just to keep the lights on, she has more or less fostered other "troubled" youth her entire life, (including myself in a rough patch of my life) never turning a childs friend in need away. To say they are below the poverty line is an understatement. The belitteling comments continued and angered me to the point that i snapped in front of every single one of em, by the time i left they each knew exactly what I thought about their "catholic" holier than thou ways and how big of hypocrits i thought each and everyone of them were. My own grandfather called later that evening in tears apologizing for their words......that day was the last time I attended their version of "church"..........stills blows my mind to this day that these people  consider themselves in higher regard than others who are less fortunate due to their looks!

Sorry i'll get off my soapbox, that incident was over 2 years ago and still frustrates me, after that i decided that my  "church" would be where i personally felt closest to my Lord, not in some fancy building surrounded by people whom i did not care for.


"the sun is shining somewhere in texas" -Jason Boland
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