The following was taken from the Gallileo Project:”The Inquisition was a permanent institution in the Catholic Church charged with the eradication of heresies. Unlike many other religions (e.g., Buddhism, Judaism), the Catholic Church has a hierarchical structure with a central bureaucracy. In the early years of the church, there were several…[Read more]

Quote (Gene Balthrop @ April 23 2008,04:55)cato…….true but you must have the Spirit of truth in order to reconize spritual truths and that comes from God and all men do not have that at this time, But will in the future.peace to you and yours…….geneIf we must have the spirit of truth to recognize such and that spirit comes from God and all…[Read more]

David,You are right that there are many groups and beliefs that contain after death realms of darkness or torment and that they may have influenced today's Christianity is probable.  Many have been saying all along that much of current Christianity was influenced by older ideas.  Which then would tend to indicate the Bible is either not a direct d…[Read more]

WJ,How are my criticisms of a collection of works that say God came down to earth and wrestled with a man unwarrented?  That the Lord of Creation negotiated with his creation?  That a being capable of creating the universe can say, oh I made a mistake let me kill everyone and start again?  That God empowers curses by  holy men to get bears to att…[Read more]

WJ,You question Kevin and my views of God based on the premise that a God who doesn't step in to save us in case of mortal injury or damage is not really benign (your why doesn't he stop the rape example).  Yes this seems uncaring, yet that is the price of having free will, the ability to make mistakes, if God steps in to constantly save us we…[Read more]

Quote (Not3in1 @ April 22 2008,15:35)[Hi Cato,I have a close friend who is a Buddhist and she believes in reincarnation.  I think the idea of birth and rebirth is facinating, however I wonder if there is such a thing as “getting it right”?  Say someone was on their third life and they finally “got it right” – do you think we would be able to p…[Read more]

Quote (seekingtruth @ April 22 2008,07:02)What is God to do with those choosing disobedience (so they will not ruin heaven)? 1 Modify them by change their nature, and as cato said you're left with automatons 2 Contain them in a separate area, then you've got prisoners 3 Do all you can to save what is possible then remove that which would bring…[Read more]

I actually spent a couple of  hours reading through the portions of the book from their organization's web site this weekend.  It was an interesting read.  Yet, I must confess it reminded me of the “Star Gate” brand of science fiction.  They certainly didn't ascribe to a Star Trek like, prime directive.In all seriousness though, that is just a fir…[Read more]

I think it all goes back to the various hypotheses on why we exist as a race.  If God did make man, I am sure he did not do so without purpose or forethought.  I would venture he would have anticipated the various problems of creating beings having both spiritual and material natures.  Furthermore if we were to be, in truth, more then au…[Read more]

I didn’t see a single question in your above proclamation, and Deist also have many views. Yes, and JW’s believe that they are the only church. And I have never resorted to the Catholic Church as being the whore, for I believe that all dead religion is part of the whore.So I don't misunderstand and mischaracterize, which religions are dead and so…[Read more]

Quote (WorshippingJesus @ April 19 2008,08:41)For someone who claims that God’s perfection goes outside of our understanding, you sure seem to have all the answers. I think it is more like, because the scriptures are the truth there is dispute and misunderstandings. I cannot answer for what others do in the name of God. Your response is just a…[Read more]

Quote (WorshippingJesus @ April 19 2008,02:59)catoYes. And it is your right to believe that way. But the Bible is a gathering of 66 books with thousands of scriptures that “Christians” believe in. Do they all agree? No. Do all Deist agree? No.Basically this is the difference between a “believer” and an “unbeliever”.Most of your comment is summed…[Read more]

Quote (david @ April 18 2008,16:50)Quote Now I wonder…….  I wonder if a Unity church, that accepts all beliefs, would be a good place to raise my children in?Well I know Jesus certainly accepted all beliefs.  As did his Father, God.  Wait, or did they?We know the 'wizard' likes the idea.  So that's something.  Questions:  Is this unity churc…[Read more]

Quote (WorshippingJesus @ April 18 2008,12:54)God is not some pansy God that cannot or will not judge evil and bring it to an end.You will need to throw away a good part of the NT as well as the OT to hold the view that God is some mushy teddy bear that you can just kick around or do what ever you want to him without consequence. Those of us who…[Read more]

Check it out, a lot of couples with husband and wife coming from different faith backgrounds choose such for their families and children. As always a lot depends upon that individual congregation.

I can look at that in two possible ways: One, the Old Testament is wrong and the whole favored people bit was a conceit of the authors (who just so happened to be members of that group).Two, the other way it can be looked at is the God of Abraham is also the God of Zarathustra, the Great Spirit, what ever, being one and the same, they are not…[Read more]

Quote (seek and you will find @ April 14 2008,11:53)Charity! That is scary stuff and i would not touch it with a 10 foot pole. Freedom of choice is divine? Chose progress and promote the world? Known by a new name? Mazda Abyra? Sounds pretty much like the same as the New Age religion, and that I would not touch either. My place is with Jesus…[Read more]

Quote (Nick Hassan @ April 16 2008,07:12)Hi cato, Was he a member of the synagogue of satan?Acts is much more reliable than this fellow.Nick, I thought it an interesting take on the Apostle from a Jewish Rabbi, I don't know whether or not I accept all his views, but they were well thought out and offered a unique perspective.  Go ahead and…[Read more]

Getting back on topic, I brought this up in a thread in the believers section ( which didn't go over too well).Is homosexuality a choice, in so far as orientation?  Personally I don't think any naturally heterosexual person decides to be gay.  The few gays I have known in my life always felt they were different, it wasn't a choice per say.  …[Read more]

Quote (Stu @ April 16 2008,18:14)Quote (TimothyVI @ April 16 2008,12:04)May GOd forgive me if anything that I said should turn a single soul away from God.I believe in God. I love my God. My God loves His creation.My God is love. Love could do none of those things said of God in the bible.Therefore, the bible must be mistaken.TimHow then, TimVI,…[Read more]