I think I found God...am I crazy.

Watched this recently and found it very powerful, i pray that you truly find God and that you accept Jesus as your savior.

Matthew 7:13 - Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

a reply to: Openeye

To the OP headline question: No, you're not crazy, but you might be if you listen too much to some people here and elsewhere. Trust me, I've been through quite a bit since I found God in a book on geometry and suddenly found meself floating in space observing what I thought was the universe seen from the outside.

My best advice to you, is to get a new and updated edition of the Bible, and read it from cover to cover. I can highly recommend the ESV (English Standard Version) or the NIV (the New International Version). The King James Version (KJV) is about as terrible as a bible translation can get. When it was released it was better than most other ones available, but since then, tons of research and new material have come to light. I own several versions, historical ones like the KJV and the Geneva, the Clementine Vulgate and the Greek Septuagint and the Leningrad Hebrew OTs and a couple of critical Greek NTs-- and different new ones. I ALWAYS end up with the ESV being the most correct one.

Important: Until you have read through the whole thing the way it is meant to be read, leave out "jumping" or opening the bible at random to typically "see what the Spirit has in store for you today". That's crap and leads to madness. Trust me, I did that a lot, and look at me. I used years to recover the true meaning of certain verses, because I read not what the book said, but what the written words could mean to me in my personal context at the moment. Read it like what it is-- a book to be read from cover to cover.

a reply to: Openeye

People will call you crazy, but you aren't. God is calling you to HIMSELF, and so, now that you know somewhere deep in your heart that HE exists, then ask HIM to guide you into the truth.

I was Muslim, not atheist.. and a month ago I was saved. I became Christian, but the walk was a road ... I learned a lot along the way. One of the things that I learned is that, if you want to know the truth, then ask HIM, and he will begin leading you to the truth, in a way that you best understand HIM.

He does have direct interaction in our lives.. so ask of HIM, who HE is, and what is HIS truth. HE will answer you.

I am changed, absolutely completely 100% changed. It's amazing.. Don't let people deter you. HE is amazing!

a reply to: canucks555

Looking with lustful eyes is different than seeing beauty in a creation of God. there really is a difference.

I wouldn't recommend any of the 3 big religions either (or any religion for that matter). They claim to nurture spirituality but in reality they cut it off. Being spiritual is knowing yourself, not someone who wrote something or lived a few thousand years ago. Finding god is a personal experience, don't listen to those who claim to know through a book or dogma, they are blind in my opinion.

Reading holy books isn't a bad thing though, they have lots of wisdom within them, it is the interpretations and outright lies surrounding those teachings that obscure their meanings. If you do decide to seek guidance from a holy book do it without any preconceived notions whether you believe in them or not. Atheists have preconceived notions when reading the bible, the notions religion created, and they unknowingly adopt them. Whether they believe those notions or not doesn't matter, they base their studies around those notions. Don't make that mistake. Make your own conclusions.

Just some friendly advice from a former Christian/atheist/agnostic.

I don't think anyone can recommend or not recommend. Its between HIM and God. God is pretty powerful, and can lead people to HIMSELF..

originally posted by: Utnapisjtim
a reply to: Openeye
My best advice to you, is to get a new and updated edition of the Bible, and read it from cover to cover. I can highly recommend the ESV (English Standard Version) or the NIV (the New International Version). The King James Version (KJV) is about as terrible as a bible translation can get. When it was released it was better than most other ones available, but since then, tons of research and new material have come to light. I own several versions, historical ones like the KJV and the Geneva, the Clementine Vulgate and the Greek Septuagint and the Leningrad Hebrew OTs and a couple of critical Greek NTs-- and different new ones. I ALWAYS end up with the ESV being the most correct one.

The authorized king James bible is the only INTACT English bible there is, the new editions have many purposeful and deceptive misleading translations, look up pastor Sanderson on youtube about this. Infact ill post a very interesting docu with him containing allot of info about this.

I guess I just am stuck on the description of the porn actress's you give. I have known women in the adult industry (one a former girlfriend).
Yes, some come from rough upbringings, but many, most in fact from what I have seen, have plenty of options and simply want to do it due to a number of reasons. that being money, fun, and a bit of fame.

Your blanket statement of how all women in porn are victims do nothing but belittle women for their personal choices. Also, shaming them, and also those whom are biologically attracted to intercourse (all humans to some degree).

I would say you didn't find any sort of loving god, but rather went to a very dark place mentally..you have decided to up yourself (without you realizing it) by demonizing the rest of the world, and because you convinced yourself your view must be right, it puts you above these slimy men and victim poor dumb women.

truth is, how you were personally viewing the women in porn says nothing about them, or those who watch them..it says only what motivates you personally...don't paint the world with your judgement.

I know you didn't mean to. I understand it was a honest caring motivation that lead to that assumption..but take a step back and look at how belittling you are..then ask yourself once again, are you truly finding god with these sweeping brutal judgments on your fellow humans, or are you simply finding comfort in your newfound self righteousness.

Not sure if Jesus ever called Mary a victim..he seemed to simply understand she did what she did because it was her decision.

originally posted by: OpinionatedB
a reply to: canucks555

Looking with lustful eyes is different than seeing beauty in a creation of God. there really is a difference.

heh
Lustful eyes is simply a biological signal to the brain encouraging reproduction. there is a reason it feels good (and a driving force for all things from all animals).

No, there really isn't a difference.

Now, if you see women (or men) as little more than things to mount, then you got a psychological problem, but seeing someone as highly sexually desirable is not a sin, its biology..and if that is a sin, then that is a hard coded sin that must be run by all biological creatures based on familiar triggers.

Puritans got it wrong.

originally posted by: SaturnFX
.............
Not sure if Jesus ever called Mary a victim..he seemed to simply understand she did what she did because it was her decision.

..

Just to clarify this statement only (and not the rest of your post)..Mary Magdalene was not a whore or a demoniac.Those are just extrapolations and transposition .The new testimony scriptures don't say that at all.Those were 3 different women.

That perversion has parallels to your post of how some woman are "demonized" without a cause.Mary Magdelne was far far from a whore or even "Jesus" wife as slandered and libeled in the Davinci Code and other nonsense writings and movies now widely believed as fact with zero evidence just lurid speculation.

It's bad enough when most of Christianity believe Mary Magdalene was a whore demoniac and are the main perpetuated of that myth it's unfortunate when people with reason begin to believe it also.

originally posted by: Rex282

originally posted by: SaturnFX
.............
Not sure if Jesus ever called Mary a victim..he seemed to simply understand she did what she did because it was her decision.

..

Just to clarify this statement only (and not the rest of your post)..Mary Magdalene was not a whore or a demoniac.Those are just extrapolations and transposition .The new testimony scriptures don't say that at all.Those were 3 different women.

That perversion has parallels to your post of how some woman are "demonized" without a cause.Mary Magdelne was far far from a whore or even "Jesus" wife as slandered and libeled in the Davinci Code and other nonsense writings and movies now widely believed as fact with zero evidence just lurid speculation.

It's bad enough when most of Christianity believe Mary Magdalene was a whore demoniac and are the main perpetuated of that myth it's unfortunate when people with reason begin to believe it also.

Perhaps you're right, lots of people twist stories and characters throughout history for their own choice.

So, lets move beyond that and simply go with the whole jesus discussing who should toss the first stone at the adulterer. That pretty much summed up a lot. Not saying he condoned such behavior, but certainly wasn't gonna condemn it either.

And more curious about that story..he set the rule (he without sin)...he..said the first stone will be cast by the sinless.

...

he..didn't throw the first stone.
one could then speculate....

Anyhow, the point wasn't even about it being a sin or whatever, rather, its a biologically driven vice all animals (from bee to me) deals with. controlling it means not being a dog and mounting the leg the moment you meet someone..doesn't mean pretend it never exists..and certainly not condemn everyone for having such thoughts and desires..bit like condemning water for being wet.

originally posted by: SaturnFX

originally posted by: Rex282

originally posted by: SaturnFX
.............
Not sure if Jesus ever called Mary a victim..he seemed to simply understand she did what she did because it was her decision.

..

Just to clarify this statement only (and not the rest of your post)..Mary Magdalene was not a whore or a demoniac.Those are just extrapolations and transposition .The new testimony scriptures don't say that at all.Those were 3 different women.

That perversion has parallels to your post of how some woman are "demonized" without a cause.Mary Magdelne was far far from a whore or even "Jesus" wife as slandered and libeled in the Davinci Code and other nonsense writings and movies now widely believed as fact with zero evidence just lurid speculation.

It's bad enough when most of Christianity believe Mary Magdalene was a whore demoniac and are the main perpetuated of that myth it's unfortunate when people with reason begin to believe it also.

Perhaps you're right, lots of people twist stories and characters throughout history for their own choice.

So, lets move beyond that and simply go with the whole jesus discussing who should toss the first stone at the adulterer. That pretty much summed up a lot. Not saying he condoned such behavior, but certainly wasn't gonna condemn it either.

And more curious about that story..he set the rule (he without sin)...he..said the first stone will be cast by the sinless.

...

he..didn't throw the first stone.
one could then speculate....

Anyhow, the point wasn't even about it being a sin or whatever, rather, its a biologically driven vice all animals (from bee to me) deals with. controlling it means not being a dog and mounting the leg the moment you meet someone..doesn't mean pretend it never exists..and certainly not condemn everyone for having such thoughts and desires..bit like condemning water for being wet.

I agree....... and that's why I said "to clarify" what you said about Mary Magdalene...e.g. she wasn't a whore...which the verse you just quoted is the subtext and is not Mary M.

Yes and in a similar context Yahoshua is accused of saying and doing many things he did not and are easily discoverable in the new testimony scriptures yet.....the lies continue to be propagated.That's why people of reason at least need to "know" what is in the scriptures and not perpetuate the myths they probably don't believe in (or care about). Almost everything most Christians can be nullified by a quick search and common reason....for example there is no such thing as the infinite punishment of Hell being taught by Yahoshua or the disciples yet BILLIONS whole heartedly believe it without any questioning.

You don't have to study to know this(literally because it's common reason) but the source material to propagate that doctrine is not supported by the scriptures.It is in effect having the "sword" turned on them when you know what the scriptures really are."It's all part of the great motto of this website...deny ignorance.Especially in this forum where ignorance abounds.

originally posted by: Rex282
You don't have to study to know this(literally because it's common reason) but the source material to propagate that doctrine is not supported by the scriptures.It is in effect having the "sword" turned on them when you know what the scriptures really are."It's all part of the great motto of this website...deny ignorance.Especially in this forum where ignorance abounds.

you know whats interesting to me, to go slightly off topic for a moment.
But I think people have in innate BS detector. Religion in general has to really grind into you day after day their stuff to counter the natural reaction to scream bull...eventually you get worn down and simply accept a religion...giving up your quest to understand yourself/universe, and in a greater respect, give up your own sense of spirituality through tools of humiliation, threats, ostracizing, and other methods of conformity.

Not a fan of religion, or thought police in general.

a reply to: Openeye

That way of thinking resembles the True Way, which was a set of laws going back before the time of Moses, back to the times of Enoch. The people who had control over the world wrote the law, but the people who followed the law became a secret society, and nobody was given a chance to know the True Way based on purity reasons. But now 2,000 years later we have evolved to a point at least that more people deserve to know the real laws, for a chance for a peaceful world.

Sometimes in this respect it seems that the Romans and Greeks did want to convey the truth to the generations 1,000s of years thereafter, but only the knowledgeable will be given the chance to learn the laws. But even in their 'Gnostic' gospels and documents, it is so obvious to a learned researcher that these documents were a deliberate attempt to confuse people and dig them deeper into the grand delusion of their design.

Some people will mistake the New Covenant for a law of the prophets: do unto others as you would have them do unto you. An important study of the Essenes was to learn the sayings of the prophets, but the New Covenant was a new teaching in addition to the laws of Moses. The New Covenant is to Love the Creator with all of your heart, to Love yourself as much as you love the Creator, and to Love Other People as much as you love yourself.

Religious people Love Christ more than they love themselves, and love Christ more than they love other people. Who knows how much they love the Creator. But does Christ love them? No, Christ taught us to hate the world - because the world is stubborn and does not listen. And 90% of all modern Christians simply do not listen to the teachings of Christ, yet they tell us that we will not have eternal life for following the teachings of Christ. They are Hypocrites, and even though they speak of 'Jesus' every day, I am sure Christ does not know them.

a reply to: greyer

Some people will mistake the New Covenant for a law of the prophets: do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

It is not a "mistake" if you believe this verse:

"Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." - Matthew 7:12

or this one:

"For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." - Galatians 5:14

or this one:

"For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." - Romans 13:9

God is Love. It's the same thing. This is why to know Love is to know God:

"He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love." - 1 John 4:8

As a person focuses on treating others as they would like to be treated, which is Love/Compassion, that love will heal/transform them. The fruits of the flesh like greed, impatience, and revenge will decrease and the fruits of The Spirit like generosity, patience, and forgiveness will increase.

Love does not dishonor others, is not self-seeking, nor does it hold a record of wrongs (1 Corinthians 13:5)

Love is The Narrow Path because God is Love.

a reply to: One_Love_One_GOD

Ah, right, intact. Are you joking? Can you please quote for me Revelation 13:1?

originally posted by: arpgme
a reply to: greyer

Some people will mistake the New Covenant for a law of the prophets: do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

It is not a "mistake" if you believe this verse:

"Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." - Matthew 7:12

or this one:

"For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." - Galatians 5:14

or this one:

"For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." - Romans 13:9

God is Love. It's the same thing. This is why to know Love is to know God:

"He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love." - 1 John 4:8

As a person focuses on treating others as they would like to be treated, which is Love/Compassion, that love will heal/transform them. The fruits of the flesh like greed, impatience, and revenge will decrease and the fruits of The Spirit like generosity, patience, and forgiveness will increase.

Love does not dishonor others, is not self-seeking, nor does it hold a record of wrongs (1 Corinthians 13:5)

What exactly is your point in all that? You admitted they were laws, so you are not in disagreement with me.

Love is The Narrow Path because God is Love.

Is that a quote? I know one thing, in all your propaganda of delusion you cannot give me a quote from any ancient Jewish sect saying that 'God is love,' because the Most High is much more than just love.

For you to understand the New Covenant you have to understand the difference between the teachings of Moses and the Teachings of Christ. Loving others is the difference. This sect was around since before the times of Moses. It was all secret. They knew the reason behind loving other people, which translated as being a servant, a mark of their practice was to offer to wash the feet of another person, they would get down in humility and wash the feet of another man. Is that the way you think? Do you make sacrifices daily to show that you love other people? Or do you just tell people about quotes written from ancient literature that you know was centuries after Christ?

a reply to: Utnapisjtim

Revelation 13:1Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)

And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

a reply to: greyer

I know one thing, in all your propaganda of delusion you cannot give me a quote from any ancient Jewish sect saying that 'God is love,

Because The Truth wasn't revealed to them yet. They weren't worshiping The Most High - "the merciful heavenly father", they were worshiping yahweh - "the jealous god".

yahweh wanted to be exalted among the nations and earth (Psalm 46:10). People were saying "yahweh-elohim" and "yahweh elyon" trying to replace The Truth with yahweh. They didn't understand The Truth.

Jesus told them:

"All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." - Luke 10:22

The Truth about The Most High:

"But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful." - Luke 6:35-36

We are told to be merciful just as The True God - Our Merciful Father who is The Highest is merciful. Many Christians are deceived and are worshiping yahweh without realizing it. This is why they don't turn the other cheek to live through mercy to be a child of The Highest.

The doctrine that you can just believe that "Jesus died for your sins" without living through mercy to be a child of Our Merciful Father The Highest is also false according to these verses:

"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." - Matthew 6:14-15

"And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" - Luke 6:46

"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?" - Matthew 5:44-46

You have to live through Mercy first, only then do you get your REWARD being a child of The Highest - The Merciful Father who is kind even to the unthankful and evil. Believing in wrath/revenge/jealousy is all of yahweh the war god. The writings about yahweh (torah/old testament) even admits that he is a war being (Exodus 15:3) and he will keep you away from The Truth (Our Merciful Father).