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Originally Posted by 100thmonkey
WS, you say in your disclaimer that you're not preaching about hell, so, as I said in another post, I'm sorry to be going on about hell (or some other horrible eternal fate) if that's not what you're on about either - but if not then I don't understand what you are warning about when you get so adamant about deception, etc.
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You seem to have missed my point. My point was that I did not come to this forum holding a Bible in the air, to declare that everyone is doomed to hell. I came to this forum, because I have personal experiences to share -- and I am trying to share them. That doesn't mean that I don't "believe in hell", and it doesn't mean that (in the right forum and format) I wouldn't discuss it, but I did not come here to do that. I did not come here as a preacher. I did not come here to declare that everyone is going to hell.
ie: I don't walk around 24/7 declaring people are going to hell. I don't walk into a car dealership and say: "Hey I'm religious - YOU'RE GOING TO HELL! Say, do you have any cheap cars today"? There's a time and place for everything.
I AM HERE TO TALK ABOUT MY EXPERIENCES!
Not to apologise for your church -- what ever they said to you.
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Originally Posted by 100thmonkey
If Jesus is the only 'way' (to what?), what happens if we don't choose that way?
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Jesus states in the Bible (which is not "a book" as many people reiterate, as if I am some sort of retard for reading it -- it is the word of God, and after reading it and getting to know the spirit of the "book", I believe it is the word of God and contains the spirit of God), that he is the way to the "Father", ie: God, the One that gave you your life and the air that you breathe.
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Originally Posted by 100thmonkey
I only hope you understand that for some of us (okay, me in particular) having grown up with bible indoctrination, with all the fear and guilt that brings, the psychological manipulation (that I still get counselling for), the mental trauma's, not from the devil, but from the accusing gaze of Jesus and God on the throne...
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I feel for you. I agree with you. I HATE "religion" and "dogma". However, the Bible is not a religion. It is the word of God. Religion has turned more people away from God than any atheist ever could. It is your whole attitude (and I understand it) that causes me to HATE religion, because religion (and dogma) causes these attitudes, and rightly so. However, God's word is not a religion.
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Originally Posted by 100thmonkey
then going through years of research to learn all it's problems and flaws, facing all the apologetics (and yes I went to christian websites, and many christian forums, to argue and test my arguments) - realising how much of my life was wasted on it, and how wrong my entire upbringing and direction in life was, so that now I am alone and empty... yet have found more spiritually uplifting joy in what you call 'New Age' foolishness than ever I did in christianity.
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Well, I could argue the contrary. However, I will not do it in this thread which was created to explain my experiences to people. If you want to talk about that, please either 1). Create a new thread and invite me, or 2). PM me.
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Originally Posted by 100thmonkey
To see someone promoting the Bible (but not hell?), on a forum I thought may be free from such horror, brings out the defensive instinct.
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I did not say I don't believe in hell. I believe all that is in the Bible -- including hell. What do you want me to do? Follow you around on the forums and DEMAND that you're going to hell? WHY would I do THAT? I don't even KNOW you! I know NOTHING about your life. I know NOTHING about your heart. And most of all, I AM NOT THE JUDGE!
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Originally Posted by 100thmonkey
I at least would like to understand what you are warning against, if not hell.
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You're the one telling me that "I don't preach hell". But listen, I am not a preacher - period. I am simply a guy living on the earth who reads the Bible (and believes the spiritual message). I am not the be all and end all of all understanding of the Bible. Thre's a lot I still do not know and I am sure that in 10 years there will be MORE I do not know. But what I DO know is the spirit of the Bible (God's word), and I trust it -- and "believe" it. Its that alright by you?
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Originally Posted by 100thmonkey
Because otherwise I see you as an agent of a fear based control system, not malevontly or knowingly on your part, yet the same as any Illuminati or dark power you care to mention.
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Listen: I read the Bible. I love God. I love Jesus. I believe the Bible is written by God. I don't know anything about this "agent of fear based control system" stuff. What I DO know is that we must love 1). God 2). Our brothers and sisters. That's what I try to do (even though I get REALLY annoyed with people sometimes).
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Originally Posted by 100thmonkey
In regards to Eternity, promoting fear of some unknown is something I reject.
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Please, please.. don't put words in my mouth. Don't associate me with your hatred of God and the Bible, and the cause of it, and take it all out on me. I didn't do anything wrong to you. When I do something wrong by you come and start on me then. Until then, please just leave me to hold what views I will. I will allow you to do the same. Fair deal?
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Originally Posted by 100thmonkey
I am interested in your story, your encounters with spirit beings, even those that caused you harm, beatings, etc.
I too have faced such a thing once, and would like to understand it. I called on the name Jesus, as that is what I believed in at the time, and it stopped - yet other people call on the name of other things, or even their own true self, or some personal energy shield, or mantra, and that works too.
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And I am happy to SHARE it if you will take note of the title of this thread and all the disclaimers in it. You really need to understand that not all people who love God and read the Bible are going to sit here demanding that you're a wretched horrible bad man that's going to die. Anything you hear from me will be out of LOVE -- and if it's NOT, it's probably just because I'm annoyed, but it will pass in 5 minutes and I'll be back to treating you with love again.
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Originally Posted by 100thmonkey
I know I'm your opposite, but I don't reject you out of hand.
I want to understand.
In regards to Eternity, why should we Fear?
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You're not my opposite. You're my equal. We're children of God.
Why should we fear? Let me answer this way: You have made a whole big lead up how you've associated "ME" with your horrid upbringing of some crazy evangelical church that declared that you're "GOING TO HELL" and now you want me to answer to it? Well I am not going to! Go see the church that made you upset. Don't take it out on me.
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To everyone else.
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I will reiterate again. I am REALLY "over" being expected to apologise for everyone's horrid religious upbringings. Please don't expect me to sit here and defend all the views of what ever church you belong(ed) to.
I came here to share my story. Some of that story includes my biblical beliefs. Get over it.