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FreeMason
I would argue that Christianity is the only religion that is centered around God, because it is the only faith which teaches us we need God to save us and nothing we can do will change that.
Every other religion on earth, whether it's Global Warming or Buddhism, is Man centered, emphasizing that you, and what you do will change the way things are, make a better world, or end your suffering.
I'm not necessarily advocated for one or the other, but emphasizing that this God v. Man centric religions are arguable and definable and if someone wants to argue that their religious beliefs or philosophy is not man centered but God centered please do.
And if you believe that it doesn't matter that it's man centered or think that more moral, go ahead and argue for that...we'll see what the concept develops into.
InverseLookingGlass
Locus of control: Is yours internal or external?
It appears to me that the external locus of control is the basis of all Judeo Christian & Islamic memes. IMO, it is also the main benefit.
The human sensation of spiritual salvation is the feeling of abdicating your internal locus of control. Waiting to exhale, so to speak.
It comes off like a ton of bricks off your back. It's the path of "least emotional resistance" for a vast majority of humans. It "clears the table" for activities related to reproduction.
Wouldn't it be ironic if all religion is an evolutionary byproduct?
FreeMason
Every other religion on earth, whether it's Global Warming or Buddhism, is Man centered, emphasizing that you, and what you do will change the way things are, make a better world, or end your suffering.
FreeMason
So far I see a lot of man centered statements, but not a lot of man centered arguments. To whomever denied Global Warming as a Religion think again, people take it as religious dogma, they alter their behavior to try and change the weather. There is in fact no more greater Idolatry than standing on a mountain top with your shaman totem sacrificing birds hoping that your dance will make it rain.
How is that shamanistic approach to changing the weather any different than Global Warming alarmists who go around preaching doom if mankind doesn't change his ways? False Prophet anyone? Absolutely.
Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of
God is within you.
Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of
God is within you.
AfterInfinity
I think we should take care of ourselves first. Let God see to himself. We have bigger problems to worry about.
windword
reply to post by FreeMason
How's this for a "man centered" argument?
Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of
God is within you.
Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of
God is within you.
Christians would have to wonder why they would torture themselves and be such unforgiving pricks to themselves and others.
FreeMason
I would argue that Christianity is the only religion that is centered around God, because it is the only faith which teaches us we need God to save us and nothing we can do will change that. Every other religion on earth, whether it's Global Warming or Buddhism, is Man centered, emphasizing that you, and what you do will change the way things are, make a better world, or end your suffering. I'm not necessarily advocated for one or the other, but emphasizing that this God v. Man centric religions are arguable and definable and if someone wants to argue that their religious beliefs or philosophy is not man centered but God centered please do. And if you believe that it doesn't matter that it's man centered or think that more moral, go ahead and argue for that...we'll see what the concept develops into.
akushla99
There are forms of procedural logic that disappear completely, when paperfolding is taken to its loftiest and more ridiculous heights...origami monsters in overdrive...presumably (unless the pristine soul, before birth, gathers that dirty moss) there is some compulsion from one direction or another to navigate the birth canal into sin; the implication is either, expulsion from wispy spirit realms (away from the bosom of the Creator), or, choice predicated journey into self imposed sin (there may be more speculative reasons - I am open to it, but, only as conjecture).
akushla99
Once encased in the atomic box of slime (having either been expelled from yon wispy realms [reasons unknown] or, having decided to sojourn) the procedural logic requires that you then become saved from a situation you were either put into, or, put yourself into...not strictly either/or...the question then becomes...Why (under condition 1) would a loving God do this, when in the wispy state (before birth) safety was not required, to begin with?...or, (under condition 2) why, when (before birth) safety was not required, would comfy soul (in the bosom of jesus) go from a state of safety to a state where being saved was required...both under the threat of eternal damnation in very ouchy firepits?
akushla99
The etymology of the word religion is a little unknown (perhaps its a secret God word?...that He/She allows even other faiths to use...don't know...could be a good thread) suffice to say, most 'religions' gather themselves around one or more (sometimes one and the same) God/gods...from which man emanates (where else do you think we emanated from?)...to this end, all 'religions' claim (at least) spiritual lineage from God...From Satan?...I don't think I've ever heard that...come to think of it, I don't recall anything this Satan character ever 'created'...not even itself...despite this glaring oversight - I am respectfully informed that the actual Almighty creator of heaven and earth and everything within and without it...has had a somewhat sticky situation for at least since before that unfortunate garden episode...It's all to do with God, and it's all to do with man...and somehow the two are inextricably linked (I say somehow, for effect)...
akushla99
'Centrality'...assumes a connection (otherwise things fly off into nowhere land) and positional nomenclature exists to establish relationship between two or more 'things'...Devising an invented rubric to prove the veracity of one faith over another, is at its core, a competition to judge whose origami monster is the bestest...Å99
akushla99
reply to post by vethumanbeing
We should write a book together and FSU! Å99
vethumanbeing
akushla99
reply to post by vethumanbeing
We should write a book together and FSU! Å99
THIS IS TRUE we should; for whatever reason the wavelength we speak upon seems to beguile others. I dont understand why, its not secret language its just a thoughtform that follows its path and reaches OUTWARD (granted the grace that in one sentence noun/verb/adjective may explain 4 ideas nesting origami style). Not only is it ironic, but funny and to my mind in good humor unless the 10 ton safe has to drop from the 15th floor window to the sidewalk crushing nascent or full blown belief systems to smithereens. I dont get it the ignamosity shown to thoughtful well spoken posts; basically--Im ignoring you GO AWAY. NOT NOPE, IM NOT LEAVING YET (even if Freemason creates another *at the same time* very distracting juvenile HAMPSTER WHEEL thread) so's to not have to answer/pay attention to this one anymore. Adrenalin on fire over there!!, over here? the other thread? just an unforgetting/unforgiving/unrelenting simmering burn. How much fun is that?edit on 16-10-2013 by vethumanbeing because: (no reason given)
akushla99
Its the dropping from a great height, although (and I haven't checked properly) but Safe Class TXTL-60 may have this covered - they say a dime that drops from the Empire State can kill you (not sure this is actually true - Mythbusters?!). 15th or 20th floor, wouldn't matter; at that rate the golden M&M could be dropped and kill (not sure this is actually true - Mythbusters?!). Making that intel spew out of the barely split sides, and arranging itself in chapters before one, would be the problem...'god'' probably could make sense of it in this form, but they would need to open their eyes to read it...
Why can't it be both? That's a good question...But I won't give you a serape, if you already have one...better a quiet summers day of endless sunshine...I think God would want that...for the ones that have trouble adjusting, we at least have to drop the safe and hope for the best...maybe it will be a sunny day, when it happens?! That's a win-win!
akushla99
I don't see the 'versus' being relevant...and I think God and man are very good friends, and the ragging is part of the joke it plays on itself, and, more often than not, it's funny...
Å99
greatest I amChristians would have to wonder why they would torture themselves and be such unforgiving pricks to themselves and others.
afterinfinity
That's a good question. Why would they?