If you want to see a religion-free newsgroup, go to alt.support.diabetes or sci.med.cardiology.
Jeff
======== The "Jews for Jesus" (Messianic Jews) are an extremely small sect, and they identify with Judaism, not Christianity.
Read the full reply
If you want to see a religion-free newsgroup, go to alt.support.diabetes or sci.med.cardiology.
Jeff
What is wrong with finding Jesus? ========
You all insist on going off-topic, which is drawing me off-topic.
Scott, Jews don't believe that Jesus is the Messiah. What's more, many Jews believe Jesus was a criminal. Yes, a criminal.
Most Jews don't much like the historical figure Jesus. Most only like Moses, whereas Christians like Moses and Jesus.
Jews believe "The Messiah" has not come yet, but will eventually come. They're still waiting for their first "coming," whereas we Christians are waiting on our second coming.
Of course, I'm only a Christian by heritage, as I'm atheist/agnostic today.
I'd like to suggest again that the political crap be posted to political newsgroups, and the religious crap be posted to religious newsgroups.
All this religious stuff is delusional. It's acutally cultish. The Jewish cult. The Muslim cult. Even the Christian cult. The smaller the religion, the more cultish it tends to be though. But all religions are cults.
Ever heard of Messianic Jews?
========
The "Jews for Jesus" (Messianic Jews) are an extremely small sect, and they identify with Judaism, not Christianity.
========
The "Jews for Jesus" (Messianic Jews) are an extremely small sect, and they identify with Judaism, not Christianity.
Please pardon a possible duplication of this message.
What do you mean by "even" the Christian cult? You think it's got some sort of edge in terms of validity, due to the number of believers?
Now, don't get me wrong. I'm atheist/agnostic but I don't think Jesus was a criminal. Most Jews, however, do believe he was a criminal. They're taught that at an early age. (This teaching is kinda cultish. It's an example of speaking badly of "the other;" drawing a strong distinction between "us" and "the outsiders." Rather like the Hare Krishnas do, too.)
Within Judaism, Orthodox Jews are the most cultish Jewish sect. I rather like the Reform Jews--they tend to be the most open-minded, and much more scientific. But the Orthos are as bad as the Fundies (Christian Fundamentalists).
The Orthos and the Fundies are actually pretty funny to me. They dress up in wild costumes and have the funniest customs--like the rule of only having sex with a sheet between the male and the female. They are a riot! [chuckle]
(There must be a hole at the bottom of the sheet, I guess. It basically looks like a bed sheet, but must be kept between the man and the woman during sex.) And you thought Scientologists were weird :-)
Orthos also have a strict rule of never, ever stepping inside a church.
They also have lots of sexist rules against women.
God bless'em though. I wouldn't want to see anything happen to them. They're just blinded by their cult.
But they still make contributions to society, just like Muslims, Hindus and others. And everyone has the right to believe whatever they want, no matter how non-sensical or unscientific it is.
As I mentioned yesterday, I believe all religions are cults.
{extraneous stuff snipped}
Your essay didn't answer my question. Here it is again:
What do you mean by "even" the Christian cult? You think it's got some sort of edge in terms of validity, due to the number of believers?
I'll chime in here. It has no edge due to the number of believers. I believe Islam has overtaken Chrisitianity in that respect.
On the flip side, validity is often reflected in not being the majority. Christianity is not a religion in the most strict sense. In other systems of belief, the founder is revered, but not worshipped. In other systems, the adherent is to live his life righteously in order to reach God. In Christianity, you are told it is impossible to reach God through your own righteousness. Since we all fail miserably in this, it was necessary for God to reach out to man. That is the essence of Christianity.
Presuming a belief in God, it is obvious that an omnipotent being would have a far easier time accomplishing this than a mere man.
You're a very perceptive person, JoeSpareBedroom. An excellent question. Would you mind if I got back to you later? Too busy at the moment, and my last message kinda answers you in part.
Busy now, but will get back to you. I ain't retired :-)
Theoretically true, but I've grown bored with the task. Being omnipotent (and omniscient) isn't as great as you might imagine.
Heh. :-)
Be careful where you stand during your next lightning storm. ;-)
Then explain the Jewish Messianic congregations taht are growing world wide!
And rejecting their own Holy writings.
You were NEVER Christian.
Funny that my "cult" gives me peace and guidance and healing, as promised by both Jewish and Christian writings. I have the promised Holy Spirit to guide me around trouble to avoid it and to guide me into blessings.
No need to explain! He said "many Jews", not "all Jews"!!!!!
So? All so-called holy writings were created by humans no different than the rest of us!!!!
He didn't say he was! He said "Christian by heritage", which sounds like his parents were believers, but he was fortunate enough to escape!!!
Good for you! Just remember that certain things need to be kept on your own property, preferably indoors where they won't annoy other people. Religion, dogs and ghetto blasters are three perfect examples!
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Please pardon the duplication of my "Jews for Jesus" post. That was actually sent yesterday, but TeraNews is posting it now.
Mike Dobony says I was "NEVER Christian." I beg to differ. I was, indeed, a Christian. Does being an altar boy at church qualify as being a Christian? Also, I used to believe the teachings.
No, I was never hit on by the priests. They were all good priests at my church.
JoeSpareBedroom, to further answer your question about Christian and Jewish cults, I can tell you that during my Tuesday night religion classes at the church, I was taught to respect individuals of other religions.
Sister Judy did not teach us that so-and-so from Judaism or Islam was a criminal, as the Orthodox and Conservative denominations of Jews teach about Jesus. (Not sure if the Reform Jews teach it or not.) Maybe somebody can tell us.
How do you then explain that these Jews accept that the historical Jesus of the New Testament is in fact their promised Messiah?
The numbers matter not. All religions are equally delusional.
================
Witfal, that's interesting. What made you think Muslims outnumber Christians worldwide? There are about 1.1 billion of our Muslim friends worldwide, which is half the 2.1 billion Christians worldwide. Our Jewish friends number about 15 million worldwide.
I guess for every Jew, there's 70 Muslims in the world, and 140 Christians [chuckle].
Christianity is the largest religion. Of course, I'm an atheist/agnostic, and respect all cults equally.
"JoeSpareBedroom" <
*snip*You'd better *hope* it's a delusion, bubba.
:-P
Natalie
I said "I believe". And what I term "cultural Christians", such as some admit to being, aren't counted.
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