Hi,
I believe that no religion is completely right for the fact that all people are individual and can not follow a list of rules agreed--not entirely--by a group of people who may be "too devout" for their own good. However, I do believe that every religion, no matter how bogus it may be does hold some truth. Religion is an organization and something like faith should not be organized but random and individual. On the other hand, you should have your own methods and ideas for how you follow the "Higher Power". Continuing on that note, do you also believe that what might be considered wrong, evil, a sin(or whatever slang you sling) for one person could be done with the same intention for another person and not be wrong at all?

Please, I welcome your opinions on this topic?

I agree Religion is an organization. It is man made formulas on what man thinks pleases God.
BUT everybody's own ways is not the answer either.
If you truly want God you need to seek God you need to seek him in spirit and truth. The Bible says study to show theyself approved. Thy word have I hid in my heart. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. We all fall short of the glory of God.
So you can't simply formulate your own idea of you and God without getting to know God and what he desires.
Then it is no better than organized religion trying to please God.

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Originally Posted by malenymph13

.... However, I do believe that every religion, no matter how bogus it may be does hold some truth .....

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Not only religion. For almost every idea, view, attitude there will be others to support it.

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Originally Posted by malenymph13

Continuing on that note, do you also believe that what might be considered wrong, evil, a sin(or whatever slang you sling) for one person could be done with the same intention for another person and not be wrong at all?

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As you stated yourself : no matter how bogus it may be...

:)

.

.

N0help4u, You can draw close to God on your own spiritual path but following one that others set for your could possibly draw you away from God(if that is what you prefer to call it).

The bible, is very few things actually handed down by this higher power and mostly idea and plans brought about by the people who wrote it. I definitely do not look to the bible for anything.

Is it possible that the higher power has revealed itself in different forms to the different cultures of the world to see if they would stay faithful. Religion is just a useless trail marked out on the map but do you really believe that you need to have a religion in order to become spiritually enlightened?

I suppose then it depends on how you define what you call your spiritual path.

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Originally Posted by malenymph13

N0help4u, You can draw close to God on your own spiritual path but following one that others set for your could possibly draw you away from God(if that is what you prefer to call it).

The bible, is very few things actually handed down by this higher power and mostly idea and plans brought about by the people who wrote it. I definitely do not look to the bible for anything.

Is it possible that the higher power has revealed itself in different forms to the different cultures of the world to see if they would stay faithful. Religion is just a useless trail marked out on the map but do you really believe that you need to have a religion in order to become spiritually enlightened?

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I absolutely do not believe that you need a religion to be spiritually enlightened. In fact I think it can stifle enlightenment. Deep in our core,if we are truly honest with ourselves, we know the diff between right and wrong. I certainly don't need a bible to tell me what my heart already knows.

I believe the Holy Spirit reveals or enlightens at the will of God, "Our Creator." To think you gain enlightenment on your own is suggestive to your own ability to control.

And different religions are the many members body of the superior God that has permitted the branches of His will. To say they can be stifled is to think God is not power, and authority over all. To suggest man has control over this earth, would be untrue. God reveals what is His will to those who seek Him, and love Him. There is no greater power or authority then Our Lord.

Moral law is by nature, part of God's creation in us. The same can be said as instinctively done or known to you. An (example would be hunger or selfless behavior in times of fear).

The bible is the Word of God made flesh in Christ. It is the inspired Word of the Holy Spirit. "Our Father is powerful," and in His strength, and perfection, the Word exists as His will being done.

It is my choice to trust Our Father, the creator of the world. And to give ear to His heart of love, known as Christ. With my heart and soul knowing that the Holy Spirit is within making intercession for me in all that is God's Will to be done.

To believe you do not need the bible is to say you do not need what God intended for you to read. And it would be prideful to think you hold the controls of life or death.

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Originally Posted by malenymph13

Hi,
On the other hand, you should have your own methods and ideas for how you follow the "Higher Power".

Please, I welcome your opinions on this topic?

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Well I disagree with almost everything you said. There IS a God out there, He can and will reveal himself to anyone who truly wants him to. I don't believe we come to God on OUR terms ( methods, ideas .etc.)... but we come to him on HIS.

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Originally Posted by cozyk

I absolutely do not believe that you need a religion to be spiritually enlightened. In fact I think it can stifle enlightenment. Deep in our core,if we are truly honest with ourselves, we know the diff between right and wrong. I certainly don't need a bible to tell me what my heart already knows.

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We cannot trust our own hearts or understanding. It will lead us astray. Deep in our core, if we are honest with ourselves, we see that we have evil within and Jesus is the only One who can change that. Religion, man's way of attaining righteousness, will never be good enough. We are drawn to Jesus by the Holy Spirit and His religion is to love others, to serve them and to worship the LORD God.

Daniel 12:10
Many people will have their hearts and lives made pure and clean, but those who are evil will keep on being evil and never understand. Only the wise will understand.

Matthew 15:19
Out of your heart come evil thoughts, murder, unfaithfulness in marriage, vulgar deeds, stealing, telling lies, and insulting others.

Titus 2:14
He gave himself to rescue us from everything that is evil and to make our hearts pure. He wanted us to be his own people and to be eager to do right.

Psalm 53:1
[ For the choir director: A meditation; a psalm of David. ] Only fools say in their hearts,“There is no God.”They are corrupt, and their actions are evil;not one of them does good!

[QUOTE=savedsinner7;1539259]We cannot trust our own hearts or understanding. It will lead us astray. Deep in our core, if we are honest with ourselves, we see that we have evil within and Jesus is the only One who can change that. Religion, man's way of attaining righteousness, will never be good enough. We are drawn to Jesus by the Holy Spirit and His religion is to love others, to serve them and to worship the LORD God.

[Right, religion will never be good enough

Think about it this way, god wouldn't say OK... only the Christians can come to 'heaven' with me... but everyone else must die. That would be a contradiction on our God who loves us with unconditional love. God sent Jesus down to show the people (his disciples) that they too, were capable of healing and the miracles in which Jesus preformed. When the hierarchy's heard of such a thing, they couldn't allow people to know what they were capable of so they killed of Jesus and his disciples. My point is that along the way all of the bibles and religious books are based off interpretations not only mentally but from one language to another everything doesn't always transfer over correctly. Therefore, everything in the bible isn't true. What I've always done it looked all at religions... found what was similar or reoccurring in every religion... and based my beliefs off that. I enjoy buddism, wiccan (just the nature part), western philosophy, and so on. Check into Indigo Children/Adults as it sounds like you are in your first stage of awakening. I'm here if you have any questions. Good luck

Peace and Blessings,

Kelsey

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Originally Posted by Peacekelsey

Think about it this way, god wouldn't say ok...only the Christians can come to 'heaven' with me...but everyone else must die. That would be a contradiction on our God who loves us with unconditional love. God sent Jesus down to show the people (his disciples) that they too, were capable of healing and the miracles in which Jesus preformed. When the hierarchy's heard of such a thing, they couldn't allow people to know what they were capable of so they killed of Jesus and his disciples. My point is that along the way all of the bibles and religious books are based off of interpretations not only mentally but from one language to another everything doesn't always transfer over correctly. Therefore, everything in the bible isn't true. What I've always done it looked all at religions...found what was similar or reoccurring in every religion...and based my beliefs off of that. I enjoy buddism, wiccan (just the nature part), western philosophy, and so on. Check into Indigo Children/Adults as it sounds like you are in your first stage of awakening. I'm here if you have any questions. Good luck

Peace and Blessings,

Kelsey

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That's not what God says. Those who don't obey Him will be sent to Hell. Period. Even those who say they believe in Him, if they don't obey will be sent to Hell. He will not allow sin (unconfessed and blood covered) into His presence. There WILL be a day when all who live and have ever lived will stand before Him in judgment. I hope my name is in His book of life. I hope I can remain obedient until that day.

John 14:6
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Luke 13
Repent or Perish
1 There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”

The Narrow Way

22 And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?”
And He said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’ 26 then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ 27 But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’ 28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out. 29 They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God. 30 And indeed there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last.”

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Originally Posted by Peacekelsey

Think about it this way, god wouldn't say ok...only the Christians can come to 'heaven' with me...but everyone else must die. That would be a contradiction on our God who loves us with unconditional love. God sent Jesus down to show the people (his disciples) that they too, were capable of healing and the miracles in which Jesus preformed. When the hierarchy's heard of such a thing, they couldn't allow people to know what they were capable of so they killed of Jesus and his disciples. My point is that along the way all of the bibles and religious books are based off of interpretations not only mentally but from one language to another everything doesn't always transfer over correctly. Therefore, everything in the bible isn't true. What I've always done it looked all at religions...found what was similar or reoccurring in every religion...and based my beliefs off of that. I enjoy buddism, wiccan (just the nature part), western philosophy, and so on. Check into Indigo Children/Adults as it sounds like you are in your first stage of awakening. I'm here if you have any questions. Good luck

Peace and Blessings,

Kelsey

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Beautifully said.:)

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There WILL be a day when all who live and have ever lived will stand before Him in judgment. I hope my name is in His book of life. I hope I can remain obedient until that day.

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So where are all the people that have ever lived now? Are they waiting on that day?

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Originally Posted by cozyk

So where are all the people that have ever lived now? Are they waiting on that day?

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For the Christian the bible puts it this way... to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. For those that died in their sins... they are in hades ( it is a place of torment) the Lord Jesus tells a story about a rich man and Lazarus a beggar. The rich man had no faith and ended up in torment. It will be at the Great White Throne judgement that the small and the great shall stand before him and give an account for their lives IF their names are not written in the Lambs book of life. My name WAS written there.. whoo ho. ( and I don't deserve it... never did)

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It will be at the Great White Throne judgement that the small and the great shall stand before him and give an account for their lives

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Are you meaning this in a literal sense?

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IF their names are not written in the Lambs book of life.

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More literal?

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My name WAS written there.. whoo ho. ( and I don't deserve it... never did)

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Your name WAS written there? Already?? How do you know?

Cozy,

Because I accepted God's gift Jesus Christ as my savior and believe that He is the only way to heaven AND His atoning work on the cross was MORE than enough. My name was written in there when I was a little girl all because I heard the good news and believed it with everything in me. I wasn't good enough and I didn't deserve it... it was GOOD NEWS to my little 4 year old ears.

... What must I do to be saved? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and THOU SHALL be SAVED... Act16:30-31

Then again:

If thou shall confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and shalt believe in thine heart that God raised him from the dead... THOU SHALT BE SAVED!

Your name is written in the Lambs book of Life right after you are saved and there is great rejoicing in the heavens every time it happens. I didn't earn it, I didn't deserve it and I can't lose it. I have a WONDERFUL savior.

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Originally Posted by Peacekelsey

Think about it this way, god wouldn't say ok...only the Christians can come to 'heaven' with me...but everyone else must die. That would be a contradiction on our God who loves us with unconditional love. God sent Jesus down to show the people (his disciples) that they too, were capable of healing and the miracles in which Jesus preformed. When the hierarchy's heard of such a thing, they couldn't allow people to know what they were capable of so they killed of Jesus and his disciples. My point is that along the way all of the bibles and religious books are based off of interpretations not only mentally but from one language to another everything doesn't always transfer over correctly. Therefore, everything in the bible isn't true. What I've always done it looked all at religions...found what was similar or reoccurring in every religion...and based my beliefs off of that. I enjoy buddism, wiccan (just the nature part), western philosophy, and so on. Check into Indigo Children/Adults as it sounds like you are in your first stage of awakening. I'm here if you have any questions. Good luck

Peace and Blessings,

Kelsey

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If the Bible isn't ALL true.. then NONE of us has hope. YOUR thoughts are just that... YOURS. I am only interested in GOD's Thoughts. He is probably smarter than me. Jesus came and said I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH ( get that THE TRUTH) and the Life. NO MAN comes to the Father but by me. You have two choices... you either reject that or believe it. If Jesus is THE TRUTH... why mess with other so called religions. Because they are beautiful , interesting, enlightening? I don't get it... man made them up. According the bible Man hasn't had an original thought. As for me... I believe GOD.

Peace and Blessings,

Tess

I would be interested in what the OP has to say more on this issue.
Not merely starting a thread that is or can be somewhat heated and not following up on it.

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Originally Posted by classyT

If the Bible isn't ALL true..then NONE of us has hope. YOUR thoughts are just that...YOURS. I am only interested in GOD's Thoughts. He is probably smarter than me. Jesus came and said I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH ( get that THE TRUTH) and the Life. NO MAN comes to the Father but by me. You have two choices...you either reject that or believe it. If Jesus is THE TRUTH....why mess with other so called religions. Because they are beautiful , interesting, enlightening? I don't get it....man made them up. According the the bible Man hasn't had an original thought. As for me....i believe GOD.

Peace and Blessings,

Tess

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I don't mean to criticize your beliefs and I don't mean to in any way. But you really have to consider when Jesus came down... he didn't physically sit down and write a book... in fact in every language so that there would be NO mistakes... The bible was written by man... and interpreted many different times... into many different languages therefore altering the meaning of the passages... I'm not saying it doesn't have truth in it... but it's not 100% true. You can live your live by the bible but remember it's not set in stone that everything in there is correct. It causes much fear in your life... if you sin... you go to hell, which in turn brings fear to your life... this is not healthy...

If you can step away from religions all together and take from each of them what is the same in all... then you can learn to live your live happy, well, spiritual, but without fear. You can only be truly happy when you rid fear of your life... hope this helps.