Religious views? - Page 4

ducktapehero · 12-16-2005, 04:50 PM

I was raised Catholic but quit going when I was 18 or so. I never stopped believing in God but I was doing the typical things a 20 something year old does. After my divorce I about had a total breakdown and that soured me on God. For a few years I did not care.

While sitting at VA one day waiting for my appt. I was reading a Time magazine or something and they were talking about the "Left Behind" series and I decided to read them. I didn't finish them but they did relight the fire if you will and I decided to be "born again". My wife and I tried a couple of Churches but I didn't like them. A friend suggested we go to his Church and it was exactly what we were looking for.

So now I go to small Southern Baptist Church in the Ozarks. I recommitted my life to Jesus and was Baptized. I have been going for almost a year and I'm happier than I've ever been. I go twice on Sundays and on Wednesday night. My wife and I are already considered "Core Members" and we have been trusted to carry the keys to the Church. I don't consider myself a Southern Baptist but I do consider myself a Christian. I try to read the Bible every day.

I have a New Living Translation version. It may not be the most accurate but since it reads so easily I can actually understand it and look forward to reading it. I get the overall idea of what is being taught which is what is really important.

BattleRifleG3 · 12-16-2005, 09:01 PM

Not sure what the "New Living Translation" is, but that which was called "The Living Bible" isn't very good at all. The NIV may not be perfect but the footnotes help understand the original words a bit better.

BattleRifleG3 · 12-16-2005, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fordruid

Celtic Druidism. (not sure which column to pick)
(btw, we had the December and the spring holidays first

)

I'd put that under spiritism and nature religions.

ducktapehero · 12-16-2005, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BattleRifleG3

Not sure what the "New Living Translation" is, but that which was called "The Living Bible" isn't very good at all. The NIV may not be perfect but the footnotes help understand the original words a bit better.

I got the New Living Translation at Mardels. I like it a lot, I also have a NIV Bible too. That one is good too.

troy2000 · 12-16-2005, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BattleRifleG3

Not sure what the "New Living Translation" is, but that which was called "The Living Bible" isn't very good at all. The NIV may not be perfect but the footnotes help understand the original words a bit better.

Once you get used to the out-of-date language and cadences, it rolls like thunder in the hills. Nothing else I've read even approaches the glory and the majesty, except for Shakespeare.

I cheerfully understand it may not be the most accurate version. But it gets the idea across, and I'm not much into religious quibbling anyway.

troy2000 · 12-16-2005, 09:52 PM

By the way, we have people in my neck of the woods who believe that the King James Version of the Bible is the only divinely inspired,true Word Of God. Everything else is an abomination, in english or any other language, including even the texts it was translated from.

They actually run around with bumper stickers that say, "if it ain't King James, it ain't Bible."

I've never stood next to one of them long enough to discuss the subject; I figure there's no sense even getting started.

ducktapehero · 12-16-2005, 10:15 PM

My preacher usually uses the King James but will sometimes use the NIV too during Sunday service. However on Sunday night and Wednesday night Bible study we also use the one I have on occasion.

troylaplante · 12-16-2005, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bulletproof

I have a hard enough time understanding the archaic language in the bible..I also don't understand why the King James version is so widespread

If you would like a different translation, I will be glad to send you one. I will even send you one on CD or mp3 format. Just PM me. I am certainly no KJV only fanatic. I have numerous translations with plenty of extra copies. Also, I will be glad to point you to software versions that you can have free. I literally have several dozen translations on my PC. They are available online.

12-18-2005, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fordruid

Celtic Druidism. (not sure which column to pick)
(btw, we had the December and the spring holidays first

)

it sounds like you're a Nature religions, Wiccan, spiritist, Voodoo, some tribal religions, some fertility stuff

gunssb · 12-18-2005, 03:15 PM

I like swiss cheese, but really prefer cheddar.

With respect my faith is my own business

fordruid · 12-18-2005, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bulletproof

it sounds like you're a Nature religions, Wiccan, spiritist, Voodoo, some tribal religions, some fertility stuff

Actually, we were into science and medicine, education and record-keeping which is why the christains slaughtered our people (for the charge of witchcraft, only their god should heal people or read or go to school or any of those evil things

)

BTW, Ever notice the doctors symbol? A wizards staff, the wings of an owl for wisdom and entwined serpents to show the power of life and death.

But I stray from your original threads intent, sorry.

troylaplante · 12-18-2005, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BattleRifleG3

Not sure what the "New Living Translation" is

If memory serves correctly (and I may be wrong on this one), the NLT is a "gender neutral" Bible, where the references to God in the masculine has been changed throughout the text. I was listening to a translation expert just a few weeks ago that was reviewing the NLT (or whatever translation, but I think I got it right) and he discussed the gender neutral revisions. Many of them completely changed the context of passages.

troylaplante · 12-18-2005, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fordruid

BTW, Ever notice the doctors symbol? A wizards staff, the wings of an owl for wisdom and entwined serpents to show the power of life and death.

Yes, and there is good reason for the medical symbol using the serpent. IThe brazen serpent in the Old Testament has long been used as symbology for healing. It was reinforced in John 3.

BattleRifleG3 · 12-19-2005, 01:13 AM

Tangents are probably somewhat appropriate here.

What's interesting is that medieval European aversion to chemical and biological science happened to coincide with a much stronger effort in material and mechanical technology. In many senses, the east had chemistry, the middle east had biology, and the west had physics and engineering. Look at the effect that had on world history.

Another interesting fact is that while there was ignorant accusation of chemical science by Church as witchcraft (while accusations relating to physics were heresy, a totally different matter), their suspicions were not unfounded. In the Bible, there are cases where various different occult activities are listed and condemned alonside each other, which we might think are the same thing. The word that was translated "sorcery" was pharmacaea - relating to our words for medicine. Now the Bible isn't condemning medicine at all, however people in the past may not have known the difference. No, what the Bible is naming as sin is the recreational use of mind altering drugs. I and many other Christians hold that there is a connection to the occult in mind altering drugs, not one I claim to understand. While I would not defend the persecution of medical and chemical science by Christians in the past, I do hold that it was based on an inferior understanding of science to what we know today.

Of course, the discussion of whether it is the state's job to fight drug use and other offenses against faith is another matter entirely. I, as many Christians did long before the 1st amendment (including John Calvin), hold that the state and church do each other the best favor when letting each other be what they should be. Not that people should not exercise their faith in public office, but that the institutions and laws of Church and state should be separate and not inappropriately interact with one another.

Calvin · 12-19-2005, 01:50 AM

Was born to Southern Baptist parents. Never was Baptised, though. Haven't been to church in over 10 years, either. Too much pulpit-pounding, Bible-thumping, and finger-pointing for my likes. I will answer to God when the time is right and hopefully he understands my reasons. No one can stand in and be a proxy for me then.

BattleRifleG3 · 12-19-2005, 12:35 PM

Pulpit pounding and finger pointing definitely aren't what it's about, nor are ministers supposed to be any sort of proxy. If they didn't teach that then they're not a particularly good example of a Christian Church. The RC church is a little different there, (though they could use a little more Bible thumping), but that's connected with their views on penitential reconciliation.

silentknight · 12-19-2005, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BattleRifleG3

penitential reconciliation

Now he's using fancy schmancy college terms on us now

BattleRifleG3 · 12-19-2005, 11:26 PM

If I may bash for a moment, it was the medieval RC church that made theology unneccessarily complicated in order to confuse folks into submission and convince the theologians of their own righteousness. A few folks looked at it and realized it was nonsense, and that's where the reformation come from.

The above is far from a precise historical account, but is an opinionated response to the above comment.

Andrew · 01-18-2006, 09:03 AM

when you say Jedi do mean like in Star Wars?

iflylow74 · 01-18-2006, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Logansdad

I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

:right:

Thats my religion!!

View Poll Results: What are your religious views or background?
Christian from the Catholic Tradition, emphasizing order of life and obedience to God and Church - Includes Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and high church Anglican	8	15.09%
Christian from the Reformed Tradition, emphasizing assurance in God - Includes Presbyterian, Protestant Episcopalian, Reformed, most Congregationalists, Puritans, Lutherans, some Wesleyans/Methodists, some independent churches, United Church of Christ	16	30.19%
Christian from the Anabaptist or Charismatic tradition, emphasizing personal commitment, relationship, and holiness - Includes Baptist, Pentecostal, Assemblies of God, some Methodists and Nazarenes, Mennonite, many independent churches	19	35.85%
Jewish	0	0%
Muslim	1	1.89%
Atheist or Agnostic	4	7.55%
Pantheist, Deist, Buddhist, Jedi, New Age, some tribal religions	0	0%
Nature religions, Wiccan, spiritist, Voodoo, some tribal religions, some fertility stuff	0	0%
Polytheistic, including Hindu, Classical Greco-Roman, Ancient Egyptian, some tribal religions, some fertility stuff	0	0%
Other (what, I haven't summed up world religions in 9 choices?) If you worship swiss cheese or your favorite actor or a guy with lots of guns, this is for you.	11	20.75%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 53. You may not vote on this poll

12-16-2005, 04:50 PM	#61
ducktapehero Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Southern Missouri Posts: 319	I was raised Catholic but quit going when I was 18 or so. I never stopped believing in God but I was doing the typical things a 20 something year old does. After my divorce I about had a total breakdown and that soured me on God. For a few years I did not care. While sitting at VA one day waiting for my appt. I was reading a Time magazine or something and they were talking about the "Left Behind" series and I decided to read them. I didn't finish them but they did relight the fire if you will and I decided to be "born again". My wife and I tried a couple of Churches but I didn't like them. A friend suggested we go to his Church and it was exactly what we were looking for. So now I go to small Southern Baptist Church in the Ozarks. I recommitted my life to Jesus and was Baptized. I have been going for almost a year and I'm happier than I've ever been. I go twice on Sundays and on Wednesday night. My wife and I are already considered "Core Members" and we have been trusted to carry the keys to the Church. I don't consider myself a Southern Baptist but I do consider myself a Christian. I try to read the Bible every day. I have a New Living Translation version. It may not be the most accurate but since it reads so easily I can actually understand it and look forward to reading it. I get the overall idea of what is being taught which is what is really important. __________________ Is it Duck or Duct Tape? http://www.octanecreative.com/ducttape/duckvsduct.html "Me fail English? That's unpossible!!"----Ralph Wiggum

12-16-2005, 09:01 PM	#62
BattleRifleG3 Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Western PA Posts: 11,401 Images: 13	Not sure what the "New Living Translation" is, but that which was called "The Living Bible" isn't very good at all. The NIV may not be perfect but the footnotes help understand the original words a bit better. __________________ Trust is earned, not... GIVEN away. - Worf

12-16-2005, 09:52 PM	#66
troy2000 Resident Armed Liberal Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Southern California Posts: 9,506 Images: 9	By the way, we have people in my neck of the woods who believe that the King James Version of the Bible is the only divinely inspired,true Word Of God. Everything else is an abomination, in english or any other language, including even the texts it was translated from. They actually run around with bumper stickers that say, "if it ain't King James, it ain't Bible." I've never stood next to one of them long enough to discuss the subject; I figure there's no sense even getting started. Last edited by troy2000; 12-16-2005 at 09:55 PM.

12-16-2005, 10:15 PM	#67
ducktapehero Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Southern Missouri Posts: 319	My preacher usually uses the King James but will sometimes use the NIV too during Sunday service. However on Sunday night and Wednesday night Bible study we also use the one I have on occasion. __________________ Is it Duck or Duct Tape? http://www.octanecreative.com/ducttape/duckvsduct.html "Me fail English? That's unpossible!!"----Ralph Wiggum

12-18-2005, 03:15 PM	#70
gunssb Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: socal Posts: 1,833	I like swiss cheese, but really prefer cheddar. With respect my faith is my own business

12-19-2005, 01:13 AM	#74
BattleRifleG3 Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Western PA Posts: 11,401 Images: 13	Tangents are probably somewhat appropriate here. What's interesting is that medieval European aversion to chemical and biological science happened to coincide with a much stronger effort in material and mechanical technology. In many senses, the east had chemistry, the middle east had biology, and the west had physics and engineering. Look at the effect that had on world history. Another interesting fact is that while there was ignorant accusation of chemical science by Church as witchcraft (while accusations relating to physics were heresy, a totally different matter), their suspicions were not unfounded. In the Bible, there are cases where various different occult activities are listed and condemned alonside each other, which we might think are the same thing. The word that was translated "sorcery" was pharmacaea - relating to our words for medicine. Now the Bible isn't condemning medicine at all, however people in the past may not have known the difference. No, what the Bible is naming as sin is the recreational use of mind altering drugs. I and many other Christians hold that there is a connection to the occult in mind altering drugs, not one I claim to understand. While I would not defend the persecution of medical and chemical science by Christians in the past, I do hold that it was based on an inferior understanding of science to what we know today. Of course, the discussion of whether it is the state's job to fight drug use and other offenses against faith is another matter entirely. I, as many Christians did long before the 1st amendment (including John Calvin), hold that the state and church do each other the best favor when letting each other be what they should be. Not that people should not exercise their faith in public office, but that the institutions and laws of Church and state should be separate and not inappropriately interact with one another. __________________ Trust is earned, not... GIVEN away. - Worf

12-19-2005, 01:50 AM	#75
Calvin Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 2,000	Was born to Southern Baptist parents. Never was Baptised, though. Haven't been to church in over 10 years, either. Too much pulpit-pounding, Bible-thumping, and finger-pointing for my likes. I will answer to God when the time is right and hopefully he understands my reasons. No one can stand in and be a proxy for me then.

12-19-2005, 12:35 PM	#76
BattleRifleG3 Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Western PA Posts: 11,401 Images: 13	Pulpit pounding and finger pointing definitely aren't what it's about, nor are ministers supposed to be any sort of proxy. If they didn't teach that then they're not a particularly good example of a Christian Church. The RC church is a little different there, (though they could use a little more Bible thumping), but that's connected with their views on penitential reconciliation. __________________ Trust is earned, not... GIVEN away. - Worf

12-19-2005, 11:26 PM	#78
BattleRifleG3 Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Western PA Posts: 11,401 Images: 13	If I may bash for a moment, it was the medieval RC church that made theology unneccessarily complicated in order to confuse folks into submission and convince the theologians of their own righteousness. A few folks looked at it and realized it was nonsense, and that's where the reformation come from. The above is far from a precise historical account, but is an opinionated response to the above comment. __________________ Trust is earned, not... GIVEN away. - Worf

01-18-2006, 09:03 AM	#79
Andrew Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 46	when you say Jedi do mean like in Star Wars? __________________ :full: :full:Just get in yer crosshairs and start shootin'!!! :full: :full: