All Things Religion Thread

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Balance started the topic in Sunday, 29 Mar 2020 at 2:13pm

Here you go optimist

Not sure my motivation...my instinctive need to stick up for the underdog...my secret desire to be one day honoured rightfully with the role of Forum moderator (expecting a call any day)...

But anyway I couldn't help but read your troubles on another thread...unfortunately I found myself siding with everyone's posts...other than your own...except for the part where you were told you can't post here!

So I put my low IQ mind to coming up with a solution that suits all...and here it is...a safe place if you like

You can post anything you like about your beliefs...and no one has to read it unless they want! Easy peasy...

maybe you could even get Jesus, fat Buddha, Mohammed, and friends to converse in adult conversation here

Solving the world problems, one at a time...call it taking a shovel as a way of moving that mountain

All the best...brother

PS...I actually was born again once, but I grew up, and grew a brain of my own...and realised it was all a load of shit!

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Jelly Flater Sunday, 12 Mar 2023 at 11:36am

Haha flopti ;)
Wrong again.

Only fools lie ;)
Fools pretend they know when they don’t - and they also don’t have the balls to admit when and what they don’t know.

Not knowing is a skill to harness.
It’s an exercise in humility ;)

Pretending you have some kind of authority and a special secret connection or relationship with an imaginary power is nothing more than a pure display of ignorance and a game of bluff.

As an adult you should understand that thinking you are separate or beyond others because of your beliefs is not only divisive but discriminatory. It does not and cannot provide unity and togetherness.

A true christian displays empathy, compassion, forgiveness and loves everyone regardless of individual religious or political leanings…

You bring nothing here other than bigotry and resentment and an undeniable lack of respect for anyone who won’t heed your message.

Save your bitterness and wild nonsensical theories for when you meet big george.

You can bend the knee together ;)

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andy-mac Sunday, 12 Mar 2023 at 1:12pm

Jesus was a Buddhist..... Om Mani Padme Hum .....

https://www.feelguide.com/2017/01/19/bbc-doc-proves-jesus-was-a-buddhist...

To paraphrase Ghandi, ' I like your Christ, but not some much Christians'....

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seeds Sunday, 12 Mar 2023 at 2:06pm

That’s really interesting. Where can we see the doco I wonder. Link to YouTube says video not available.

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andy-mac Sunday, 12 Mar 2023 at 2:41pm
seeds wrote:

That’s really interesting. Where can we see the doco I wonder. Link to YouTube says video not available.

Don't know. I haven't seen film but read this book years ago which hits a bit on theory.....

https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/3803088

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Optimist Sunday, 12 Mar 2023 at 7:13pm

Nutters with no clue on history.

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andy-mac Sunday, 12 Mar 2023 at 7:19pm

Yep Earth is 6000 years old, I know my history. Read it in a book!

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Jelly Flater Sunday, 12 Mar 2023 at 8:01pm

You’re a piece of work flopti ;)

Nothing worse than an actual nutter that accuses others of being one…

Your hypocrisy knows no bounds ;)

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Jelly Flater Sunday, 12 Mar 2023 at 8:08pm

- one more time…
Here is the flopti :

“There are actually 3 heavens in translation, the sky above is the first, space is the second and planet Heaven the third. ( paul talked about the third heaven) You get to planet heaven after your spirit leaves your body. When you die your spirit descends into the heart of the earth and waits. Then if approved by God you are lifted up and go through the tunnel which is probably like a wormhole in Sci Fi. If unapproved you will wait for judgement but there is no time there so you wouldn't know if you've been there a year or a hundred years. At the end of the tunnel you will be greeted by The Christ Himself in His glorified form and put on planet Heaven, a very beautiful and physical place and in your brand new physical body. Earth will also be renewed after the great tribulation so for a time there will still be two seperate habitations and eventually just one.
It is comforting to know that on my death, my heavenly father will still look after me and guide my spirit or "actual person" through the maze of death and to the renewed and promised life.
Also, If anyone is interested in the time of the end and the mark of the beast etc. I think I can answer that for you, as I have a theory which has been playing out exactly correct over the last few years.“

Hahaha….

And you have the gall to accuse people of being nutters ;)

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Jelly Flater Sunday, 12 Mar 2023 at 8:13pm

But wait…
There is more ;);)

All aboard the flopti train !
Destination nutville ;);)

- these are your words:

“I don't fully understand the destination heaven. I do know that it is a physical place with buildings plants trees water etc etc. and a city with 12 gates. A physical city etc belongs somewhere physical and with all the universe out there and all those planets I'm making the assumption its one of them and somewhere in the far reaches of the North. I also know that another race already resides there (who we call the angels). and they can interact with us but not us knowingly with them. I have at least once but that's another story. I'm not even going to go down the matter and anti matter road as its a rabbit hole. I'll just stick with what I can touch, see and understand as well as the history and teachings of Jesus.
"In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you"....Jesus...John 14:2
...and again....But as it is written:
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9”

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GuySmiley Sunday, 12 Mar 2023 at 8:17pm
Optimist wrote:

Nutters with no clue on history.

This from the person who just last week was using debunked 1990s far right US christian propaganda to argue the case (with lashings of negative connotations) about the origins of Allah in the Muslin faith dating back to its beginning.

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Jelly Flater Sunday, 12 Mar 2023 at 8:26pm

And now…
Presenting the final piece in the trilogy of the floptiverse ;);)

- The greatest ever tale told by a fake moral crusader, under the guise of religious conviction… yet, in truth, residing only in the realm of absolute delusion and fantasy…

So… all you nutters out there ;)

Behold ! The keys to history and the future !…. The explanation of all explanations guided by divine spiritual knowledge - with no actual understanding or basis in the ‘now’ (reality).

Fraudulent revelations…
- according to saint flopti :

“I'll give you some keys to help unlock things yourselves....This requires some Revelation research and deep thought.
Try and picture the disciple John on a prison Island trying to figure out what Jesus was showing him in the future 2000 years ago with no knowledge of our modern world.
A rough outline but some food for thought.
The first beast is a man empowered by Satan ( from the abyss)
The second empowered by the Vatican . The Vatican (Vaticaanus) means Divining Serpent (from the earth)
The symbols of Satan are the Dragon and the Serpent.
The image of the beast is probably a Quantum computer with A.I. think Skynet. It is given life and also speaks ...A.I. again. and Siri on steroids.
The worlds finance system will be controlled by a global bank using this quantum computer system...a quantum is 100,000,000 times faster than our best now. Just add A.I and you have a real treasure. Google and China already have them.
They are building two giant computers now , one in Brussels for the EU and one in America.
The most corrupt bank on earth is the Deutsche Bank, the biggest bank in Germany and one of in the world with assets of 3 Trillion dollars and is the one that financed the Nazis and sold all the stolen gold from the Jews to finance Hitler. They launder criminal money to this day. Their main share holder is now China (the dragon again) and everyone owes them money.
The swift code for the Deutsche Bank is ...you guessed it 666
Rome and the Vatican sit on 7 hills or mountains
2 of the last 4 popes were Hitler youth.
China the dragon will work with the serpent to bring about a cashless society with a central core and one leader the new anti christ.
The beast will require everyone to be implanted with an RF chip in their right hand or a detailed facial scan"fore head" or they will not be able to trade...Do not get this!
With no cash we will enter into a new age of slavery and the mind programming has already started with the banks and Dept stores selling fear under the covid banner.
The ten kings who give their power to the beast are the new world order which has already been decided by the Club of Rome years ago.
The Club of Rome is a global think tank that has decided to divide the world into 10 financial sectors with 10 leaders (the 10 kings) One of their members is Henry Kissinger who help start the EFTPOS system.
There's more but I'm tired...fact check the lot...sorry to wake you out of your sleepy world but ignorance never ends up bliss.“

You truly are the gift that keeps on giving…
- christ like generosity.
;););)

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seeds Sunday, 12 Mar 2023 at 8:43pm

Oh come on. Why so harsh!
Seems legit.

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adam12 Sunday, 12 Mar 2023 at 10:12pm

Among all the gobbledygook in the above Optimist made a statement that I think is germane.
"It is comforting to know that on my death, my heavenly father will still look after me and guide my spirit or "actual person" through the maze of death and to the renewed and promised life."
For me therein lies the truth behind faith. The great human tragedy, an immortal mind trapped in a mortal being. Death is something we all fear, we are the only species in the animal kingdom that lives it's life in fear of death, it's finality, it's inevitability. We are the only ones who appreciate that one day we will no longer exist. So we do things in response to that primal fear. Some build empires, some leave legacies in the hope to live on, some seek to fill their days with as much happiness as possible, some ignore it and hope it goes away, some even seek scientific ways to prolong the inevitable and some look for answers in divine beings and stories about Gods and heavens and hells. No one really knows what lies beyond this 'mortal coil'. I'm sorry Opti if my musings on God offended you and your beliefs, they are good beliefs and lead many to good and fulfilling lives and charitable work. I have no right really to be offensive or glib. I don't know the answer. Wish you the best, and don't let people like me or anyone else interrupt you on the path you have chosen, it is a righteous path when it is done for the right reasons.

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seeds Sunday, 12 Mar 2023 at 10:30pm

Optimist
Why are you so shy about your church? You preach. Are you the head of your church? Does your church occupy a building for worship or is it more of a bible group?
Does your congregation have rules about people leaving marriage’s or leaving the church through loss of faith? How do you or your superiors deal with sexual abuse. You mentioned ‘wolfs in sheep’s clothing (paraphrasing) that you’ve dealt with. Internally or externally?

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seeds Sunday, 12 Mar 2023 at 10:38pm

Adam12
Surely it’s Opti being glib.
And he is certainly not worried if his views offend you or me.

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wax24 Monday, 13 Mar 2023 at 12:53am

Hey Adam12. I agree with your last post there. Well said, too.
I have a good buddy who has a thing he does when someone is struggling and reaching for drama.... he'll say "hey, Zebras don't go into therapy everytime one of em gets eaten by a lion... they don't lay on a couch and say 'i was just getting a drinka water, then ALL OF A SUDDEN!!! and then Joe was taken, it was AWFUL!' I dunno why, but it amuses me to watch him do that with people.

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soggydog Wednesday, 15 Mar 2023 at 10:30am

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/15/catholic-church-australia-...

Explain this bullshit away Opti. God in whatever form he takes is a complete stranger to these and most Christian organisations.

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flollo Wednesday, 15 Mar 2023 at 10:47am
soggydog wrote:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/15/catholic-church-australia-...

Explain this bullshit away Opti. God in whatever form he takes is a complete stranger to these and most Christian organisations.

God works in mysterious ways - an easy 'out of jail' card when hard questions are asked.

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Optimist Wednesday, 15 Mar 2023 at 12:10pm

You’re getting the Roman Empire mixed up with grassroots Christian’s again. Do you even read what’s been written about the Vatican. The average joe Catholic in the street is OK , just on the wrong team ,but the HQ in Rome is a corrupt evil place that has killed many Christian’s over the years especially during the inquisitions. Look at the behaviour of the popes over the last few hundred years. And yep, they are a powerful bunch running most of the world from behind the scenes so don’t be surprised when they walk out of jail so quick. You’re dealing with a bigger beast than most are aware of and they also infiltrate normal non Catholic Churches as well which I have experienced first hand even had violence threatened against me from one undercover Jesuit priest.

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AlfredWallace Wednesday, 15 Mar 2023 at 6:28pm
Optimist wrote:

You’re getting the Roman Empire mixed up with grassroots Christian’s again. Do you even read what’s been written about the Vatican. The average joe Catholic in the street is OK , just on the wrong team ,but the HQ in Rome is a corrupt evil place that has killed many Christian’s over the years especially during the inquisitions. Look at the behaviour of the popes over the last few hundred years. And yep, they are a powerful bunch running most of the world from behind the scenes so don’t be surprised when they walk out of jail so quick. You’re dealing with a bigger beast than most are aware of and they also infiltrate normal non Catholic Churches as well which I have experienced first hand even had violence threatened against me from one undercover Jesuit priest.

Optimist. Hi. How are you? You’ve been dealing with a lot of traffic of late. Stamina is all i can say.
I still think you are a religious stand-up comedian who is just toying with us all.
I must admit I almost choked on my banana when i read the last line of your paragraph, oh, the possible thoughts and scenarios, cracking myself up thinking about,

“What does an undercover Jesuit Priest look like, this is for my own safety here, i need to know” ?

Can you shine a light (geez ,now I’m,getting religious ) on what he or she may look like ?. A bit of fun A.W.

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soggydog Wednesday, 15 Mar 2023 at 7:05pm

Ok, but the story also referenced the the Marist brothers and the Christian Brothers.

Genuine Question, are they autonomous or affiliated with the Catholics. What I’ve found is devout street Catholics are prepared to stick their heads in the sand and ignore wrongdoings of the organisation as a whole.
I personally would never join an organisation that essentially was/is a criminal entity.

Edit. I googled and yep, Catholics

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GuySmiley Wednesday, 15 Mar 2023 at 8:17pm

More defection

Opti likes to constantly highlight the failures of the Vatican while saying nothing about how christian missionaries have and continue to screw over the developing world and their indigenous cultures over hundreds of years

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frog Wednesday, 15 Mar 2023 at 9:11pm

Here is an interesting observation on the reality of the "we give our lives to do good deeds and are so happy" religious heroes.

They can ironically create some messed up families.

One I know of was always picking up the family and kids to go to Asia to do good works as the family grew up. The parents seemed to be dissatisfied with the routine of a normal family life and chased the "high" of being the great white missionaries helping the poor brown people. The kids had broken schooling, distracted parents and heads full of bible stories.

Late in life the parents had minimal super and had sold their house at the bottom of the market to fund their restlessness and to "save" others. A sense of being doomed to poverty in retirement hung over them.

Their kids as adults were all a bit mixed up changing jobs and states all the time and even though they had supposedly found God, actually appeared to still be searching for something.

They were still lost sheep even as they sat in the glow of the lord's love.

In the end they were not a close family - just a bunch of people scattered to the winds with some resentment at their parent's lack of practical useful guidance in their life choices.

Happiness was still somewhere else.

For all of them the drug fix of good deeds had become harder to score.

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seeds Sunday, 19 Mar 2023 at 4:15pm

Missed your sermon this morning Optimist. Missed your answers to many questions asked of you through out this thread also.
This is Optimist’s cultish fundamentalist church in a nut shell.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-19/spiritual-warfare-christian-funda...

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AlfredWallace Sunday, 19 Mar 2023 at 5:01pm
frog wrote:

Here is an interesting observation on the reality of the "we give our lives to do good deeds and are so happy" religious heroes.

They can ironically create some messed up families.

One I know of was always picking up the family and kids to go to Asia to do good works as the family grew up. The parents seemed to be dissatisfied with the routine of a normal family life and chased the "high" of being the great white missionaries helping the poor brown people. The kids had broken schooling, distracted parents and heads full of bible stories.

Late in life the parents had minimal super and had sold their house at the bottom of the market to fund their restlessness and to "save" others. A sense of being doomed to poverty in retirement hung over them.

Their kids as adults were all a bit mixed up changing jobs and states all the time and even though they had supposedly found God, actually appeared to still be searching for something.

They were still lost sheep even as they sat in the glow of the lord's love.

In the end they were not a close family - just a bunch of people scattered to the winds with some resentment at their parent's lack of practical useful guidance in their life choices.

Happiness was still somewhere else.

For all of them the drug fix of good deeds had become harder to score.

Frog. Hi. Very clever and humorous writing by your good self.

These global religious entities are ‘way’ smarter than most people think. They’ve got us all conned, look how Hillsong and others have convinced or cleverly danced at the feet of national governments wherever they may be geographically.
The bastards DON’T pay TAX on anything, it’s any wonder it’s exclaimed that The Roman Catholic Church is one of the biggest most corrupt organisations on the planet, yes, they don’t pay tax. AW.

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Optimist Sunday, 19 Mar 2023 at 5:17pm

Sorry you missed my so called sermon. Just got home after playing with my grandkids all day. Seeing my kids kids is such an honour I get a very grateful and amazed feeling afterwards. I see you dug up another anti Christian ABC story and I’m sure there are plenty of ex Christian’s around and it’s their choice so be it. The ABC these days will hunt the ends of the earth to find a “Christian’s are no good “ story and it’s mainly because I know from personal experience how decadent some media people have become in their personal lives. Party central alright especially at the ABC. To them , Christian’s are as the bible quotes …” the smell of death”.
Regarding your other questions back a bit from memory, only you can know if it’s right to leave a relationship as God is not keen on divorce but sometimes it obviously is the right thing to do for many reasons. Also people who leave the church are not condemned, there are many reasons for that too as you have pointed out, dodgy dealings from some, infiltrators causing offence, harsh rules not approved by God. Just read the way Jesus dealt with His own so called priests in the gospels. You will also read when Peter asked how many times should I forgive….7 times????…. Jesus replied seventy times seven and then some , showing Peter that Gods door is always open. And your other question regarding my church and role in it is this, I was saved all alone in an open field one night forty years ago. No one preached to me, no one coerced me. I just knew there was God because I could see from the maths and the created things nothing but design. I then challenged Him to show Himself somehow or reveal is a better word and I would follow that path. Well that was that and my life was turned upside down but no regrets at all just wonder….I started on an Aussie kibbutz then but being a pretty individual type who hated exclusivity chose more freedom and joined the Assemblies of God churches which back in its day was a great network. Saw amazing things, heard music that enriched and elevated the soul, made life long friends. Then though, it became the ACC and Brian Houston became head of it and for a while due to the influence of great people who have long since left, hills Christian life centre became an amazing place. …..but…sex and money….don’t they say…the things that corrupt a people….well “Hills Christian life centre” became “Hillsong “and went all corporate and that was the end of that. You'll notice that Christ was left out of the new name …Brian’s prosperity gospel trickled down through the new ACC network and lots of churches adapted to the new theology of monetary success means your blessed. I think the shake up in hills will be a wake up to everyone who tried to parrot Brian’s take on God and I have no doubt God had a hand in rattling that cage. Me personally, I love all churches and now just visit random ones as well as ones where old friends attend. I went to a nice baptist church a few times lately. They were mostly loving oldies and some would find that one boring but I love just seeing people enjoy Gods presence. I can say the best scones are usually found after the service at the Presbyterian, Baptist , uniting and Anglican churches and the best coffee and young families, Music etc at the Pentecostal churches. As far as the best teaching goes the ones with the best minister / pastor regardless of denomination is something you find to suit you.
There are stoic strict types, there are loose happy types but they all have one thing in common….the blood of Jesus Christ shed upon that cross washed away the sins of all the world to all who believe in Him and His name. Blood is the life…the life is in the blood…one life for all…past present and future…..the creator substitutes for the created…the judge comes down from His seat and substitutes for the guilty….takes the punishment for His own children….wow!!!!

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seeds Sunday, 19 Mar 2023 at 5:50pm

Cool story bro. ABC is the enemy now?
And quote
“Regarding your other questions back a bit from memory, only you can know if it’s right to leave a relationship as God is not keen on divorce but sometimes it obviously is the right thing to do for many reasons. Also people who leave the church are not condemned, there are many reasons for that too as you have pointed out, dodgy dealings from some, infiltrators causing offence, harsh rules not approved by God.”
Sounds promising but all you said was they are not condemned. You leave that to God? That’s cool but how are they treated by your church before their judgement day?
Are you claiming your church is different? No real answers as usual!

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indo-dreaming Sunday, 19 Mar 2023 at 6:20pm

Never really noticed the anti Christian ABC thing but it wouldn't surprise me and does make sense, it's part of woke culture to hate on Christianity as perceived as a white mans religion.

Of course Islam is to be protected though, any criticism would label you as Islam-phobic, no such thing as Christian-phobic though you can bag the shit out of Christianity without getting labeled or seen in a negative light, its actually encouraged.

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Optimist Sunday, 19 Mar 2023 at 6:18pm

Seeds everyone has their reasons for doing things and Jesus said to judge not….you can discern if a thing is outright ungodly and anti Gods nature or not….but genuine hurting people respond differently. My father in law hated God all his life because a catholic priest kicked him when he was young. He gave his life to Christ just before his death but missed out on an incredible opportunity to flow along with God in life because of one man and the grudge he carried….and my church?…I’m just a traveller in time and enjoying the ride. I’ve lived to surf all my life and try also to be Gods friend and help people. I’ve never chased wealth but raised a family who all have families and work in successful humble businesses. God blessed me with my own home without any stress….just blundered along doing my thing and it all came together. Taught Jesus in China and Indonesia as well as Australian schools and started successful charities that have for over 20 years helped lots of people to this day….all this and I’m a complete nobody, not that bright with no real skills….just goes to show that God doesn’t need people with any real ability….just availability.

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indo-dreaming Sunday, 19 Mar 2023 at 6:21pm

BTW.Optimist

You really need to hit that return button, way to hard to read when so much text bunched together.

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Optimist Sunday, 19 Mar 2023 at 6:46pm

Thanks indo, yeh your right, I’ll take that onboard.

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seeds Sunday, 19 Mar 2023 at 8:06pm
Optimist wrote:

Seeds everyone has their reasons for doing things and Jesus said to judge not….you can discern if a thing is outright ungodly and anti Gods nature or not….but genuine hurting people respond differently. My father in law hated God all his life because a catholic priest kicked him when he was young. He gave his life to Christ just before his death but missed out on an incredible opportunity to flow along with God in life because of one man and the grudge he carried….and my church?…I’m just a traveller in time and enjoying the ride. I’ve lived to surf all my life and try also to be Gods friend and help people. I’ve never chased wealth but raised a family who all have families and work in successful humble businesses. God blessed me with my own home without any stress….just blundered along doing my thing and it all came together. Taught Jesus in China and Indonesia as well as Australian schools and started successful charities that have for over 20 years helped lots of people to this day….all this and I’m a complete nobody, not that bright with no real skills….just goes to show that God doesn’t need people with any real ability….just availability.

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seeds Sunday, 19 Mar 2023 at 8:29pm

(Well that didn’t work)
God didn’t bless you with anything. We all have what we have through our own work. And luck!. Unfortunately you can’t see the hurt your religion brings. You hate on the big religions and their wealth, rightfully so, but can’t accept any criticism. ABC is religion bashing now. Making it up? Your lack of self awareness is astounding.
When you are are not “condemning”family or friends who leave the church how do you treat them.
These infriltaters are really just members of your church aren’t they. How are they dealt with. Internally or externally?

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GuySmiley Sunday, 19 Mar 2023 at 9:32pm

“Seeds everyone has their reasons for doing things and Jesus said to judge not….you can discern if a thing is outright ungodly and anti Gods nature or not….but genuine hurting people respond differently …”

But judgement is precisely what you do, like how you accused Brittany Higgins of being politically motivated in bringing her alleged rape to the public, not once but on several occasions.

I’m guessing your unbridled sense of grandeur and self righteousness comes from your devotion to and following of Ephesians 5:24, FFS even @ info openly acknowledges that his misses is the brains of the outfit.

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seeds Sunday, 19 Mar 2023 at 10:20pm

‘No one preached to me, no one coerced me. I just knew there was God because I could see from the maths and the created things nothing but design.’
Did you really? Or did you come to that belief after your indoctrination. You said originally you spoke to or was spoken to by God after a 3 day fast. Doodling maths theories whilst fasting were you?
I’ve done a few 3 day fasts and by the 50 plus hour there is a feeling of exalted state but no God. Once into the 60 plus hours there is just hunger. I wish I saw Gozer the Destructor at that stage and I’d be all into that far out shit.
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Optimist Monday, 20 Mar 2023 at 6:23am

It’s obvious you’re searching so keep at it seeds, but do it in a good spirit not an angry one. If you’re genuine He will be watching you,…you’ll get there in the end. You will find Him.

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seeds Monday, 20 Mar 2023 at 9:51am

I’ll pass, thanks.

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Optimist Sunday, 26 Mar 2023 at 6:39am

Our expanding and vibrating universe.
Science and scripture agree that the universe came from a small focal point and is moving and vibrating outward. We who follow scripture understand this theory but I'm amazed that scientists can actually measure this phenomenon. People like Galileo would be impressed with our technology.
It seems that the earth itself is quite an old rock with an unknown history, but this current civilisation is quite new and that is also supported by scripture and all the world population graphs and growth algorithms from all sources.

I love the way John starts his Gospel. John the apostle was the deep thinker and spiritual guy. Very different to the other gospel authors. He starts his record of Jesus this way......

John chapter 1 King James Version. (amplified)

1 In the beginning was the Word, (the son, the speaker, the visible one)... .and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ( same ghost or spirit as God the father)

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made by him; (the son) and without him was not any thing made that was made.

4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. (the baptist)

7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

10 He (Jesus) was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

What an honour, the creator comes, lives among us, becomes one of us , substitutes His life on the cross for ours, blood for blood, life for life and declares forgiveness for us. We were guilty, now through His name we are free...talk to Him...He loves you and the changes we crave in our souls come through the personal connection with your maker, not through other men, though you will find many like minded friends that become brothers and sisters in Christ....
As Easter approaches, ponder these things and their importance to mankind.

suchas's picture
suchas's picture
suchas Sunday, 26 Mar 2023 at 7:31am

In the beginning, God created The Garden Of Eden-

Optimist's picture
Optimist's picture
Optimist Sunday, 26 Mar 2023 at 8:25am

The Roman soldiers mocked Him too….His response…Father forgive them , for they know not what they do.

groundswell's picture
groundswell's picture
groundswell Sunday, 26 Mar 2023 at 8:26am

Leviticus 21:18-21
"For whatsoever man he be that hath a blemish, he shall not approach: a blind man, or a lame, or he that hath a flat nose, or any thing superfluous, Or a man that is brokenfooted, or brokenhanded, Or crookbackt, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken. No man that hath a blemish of the seed of Aaron the priest shall come nigh to offer the offerings of the Lord made by fire: he hath a blemish; he shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God."

burleigh's picture
burleigh's picture
burleigh Sunday, 26 Mar 2023 at 9:00am

Ezekiel 23:18-21: When she carried on her prostitution openly and exposed her naked body, I turned away from her in disgust, just as I had turned away from her sister. 19 Yet she became more and more promiscuous as she recalled the days of her youth, when she was a prostitute in Egypt. 20 There she lusted after her lovers, whose genitals were like those of donkeys and whose emission was like that of horses. 21 So you longed for the lewdness of your youth, when in Egypt your bosom was caressed and your young breasts fondled.

The girls wanted donkey dicks back in the day too

groundswell's picture
groundswell's picture
groundswell Sunday, 26 Mar 2023 at 9:37am

The Holy gospel/bible is full of verses that show it is absolute truth and no need to argue about how forgiving and loving god is.He loves you and your mrs.
Deuteronomy 25:11-12
"When men strive together one with another, and the wife of the one draweth near for to deliver her husband out of the hand of him that smiteth him, and putteth forth her hand, and taketh him by the secrets: Then thou shalt cut off her hand, thine eye shall not pity her.

Jelly Flater's picture
Jelly Flater's picture
Jelly Flater Sunday, 26 Mar 2023 at 9:47am

According to flopti :

‘John the apostle was the deep thinker and spiritual guy’ …

Wtf ? How the Fark do you know that ?
Are you sure you’re not just making shit up again to suit your own ideas… ;);)

https://college.unc.edu/2020/03/gospel-of-john/

burleigh's picture
burleigh's picture
burleigh Sunday, 26 Mar 2023 at 2:10pm

Leviticus 26:27–29

“But if in spite of this you will not listen to me, but walk contrary to me, then I will walk contrary to you in fury, and I myself will discipline you sevenfold for your sins.You shall eat the flesh of your sons, and you shall eat the flesh of your daughters.”

suchas's picture
suchas's picture
suchas Sunday, 26 Mar 2023 at 2:10pm
Optimist wrote:

The Roman soldiers mocked Him too….His response…Father forgive them , for they know not what they do.

So Bart was forgiven? How bout Homer and Marge?

Optimist's picture
Optimist's picture
Optimist Sunday, 26 Mar 2023 at 2:40pm

You’re the mocker Suchas, homer won’t be a substitute for you I’m afraid.
And it’s good to see the others so deeply buried in text written around 3500 years ago. An ancient and different world full of strange rules for humanities undisciplined loose units …..unlike today….or, maybe not….
...and yes some cultures cursed themselves due to their behaviour to the point of war and extreme famine where they wiped themselves out….will history repeat?

burleigh's picture
burleigh's picture
burleigh Sunday, 26 Mar 2023 at 3:08pm
Optimist wrote:

You’re the mocker Suchas, homer won’t be a substitute for you I’m afraid.
And it’s good to see the others so deeply buried in text written around 3500 years ago. An ancient and different world full of strange rules for humanities undisciplined loose units …..unlike today….or, maybe not….
...and yes some cultures cursed themselves due to their behaviour to the point of war and extreme famine where they wiped themselves out….will history repeat?

no flopti, all we are doing is picking writing from a fictional book you choose to somehow live you life by.

The same book that has caused pains to millions of children. The same book that covers up pedos.

basesix's picture
basesix's picture
basesix Sunday, 26 Mar 2023 at 4:26pm

The most sane part of this thread (aside from Adam12’s dissemination – I’d buy that kids book!) was indo-dreaming's advice for Optimist to press return occasionally (not metaphorically, just to make the thread easier), and Optimist's calm concession. A pragmatic exchange between two sentient apes with differing views. Now that’s civilised discourse! Socrates would be proud - not that we have any first-hand accounts from him either...

southernraw's picture
southernraw's picture
southernraw Sunday, 26 Mar 2023 at 8:40pm

This data is actually from nearly 10 years ago...but you get the point
Megachurches and how they siphon peoples blind beliefs into dollars.
"Lakewood church, is attended weekly by 43500 people, and has a budget of $70 million. Joel Olsteen of the Lakewood church, Houston, Texas lives in a luxurious, 17,000 square foot 10.5 m dollar mansion in Houston, Texas. Money made through his books is estimated at $55 m. He has a net worth of $40m (cited in Online Christian Colleges)"
http://www.onlinechristiancolleges.com/megachurches/
dunno if link still works.