"Its definitely a plot though.. because Christians are bound by the great commission.. "Go into all the forums of the world"... or words to that effect.... "and make disciples" ...well.. we will stop when you become a disciple... then you can join us and we can together look further afield for more wheat to harvest..."

Holy cow, Boazy.....I thought for a moment you'd plagerised the paragraph above from the Mozzies and converted to Islam....until I re-read the word "Christians!"

Man has been looking for god ever since the day he looked up and began to think. This is another pondering question and again, there is no answer.
But think about this. If I lived 2000+ years ago and something came down from the sky, I would call it god too. I think god is not what people think it is. I beleve something has come down and helped us just look how fast we have evolved. Some of you may know where Iam going with this but I cant think of any other living thing that has moved forward so fast.
We cant be the only intelligent life in the universe.
One more question. If god is made up of love and kindness, Why is his good book causing so many problems. With all the sadness and cring thats going on, He is just not there or has a very sick sence of humor. I beleve the bible was made by man and was the first type of law and order. It controled millions of people from killing and hurting thy fellow man. But as we can now, I think it has served its purpose. Well! maybe for some of us. Its time to move on. We need to get off this rock. Maybe the bible is gods way of asking us to meet him. Like I said, I dont think god is what we think it is.

Just a thought.

"Go into all the forums of the world"... or words that effect.... "and make disciples" ...well.. we will stop when you become a disciple... then you can join us and we can together look further afield for more wheat to harvest...

Yea, right David. So tell me where else you go to preach. And if you limit yourself to the unwilling targets then such as forum members then I see you and others like you as pests. Some forums allow for a choice to be made as to who goes on to an ignore list where all posts by those on that list do not appear on any thread for members taking up the option of using the feature. If this forum has that option I will be using it. If it doesn't I will lobby for one to be offered.

If you genuinely believe that others are incapable of making up their own minds about what they do or don't believe, you are naive.

You are a thread crapper and this forum is the poorer for your presence.

I would have much more respect for the Bible Thumpers if they actually read their Bible and not just bits of it - those bits that suited them. Exodus 21 is a good one to start at... Hmmmm amazing!

If people want to believe in a God so be it... it doesn't bother me.. but at least read the books that you are relying on in their entirety rather than cherry picking the topics.

Also why do religions need to own God... every religion is right and the rest are wrong. The Catholics own God, the protestants think they are wrong, the Muslims own God etc etc.

Plus in Christianity if Jesus is God why have the so-called Christians broken his religion into over 22,000 sects in just 2000 years plus a few. And why did he say "Father forgive them for they know not what they do"? Who was he saying it to if he is God? Himself?

And if the Bible is so big on prophecy why is it that the religions never tell people that the calendar is out by some 4 - 7 years?

It seems to me that if you call yourself Christian (for example) you should know what the Bible actually says and understand the implications of calling yourself a follower.

As for the big bang ... it is a theory... not proven but not disproven either... The answers may have us all tied up in strings... Ha!

Ditch... most heartwarming words there mate :)

hmm... like this. 'Christian' opinion...is still opinion. Your view would see us either fed to the lions or sent to the gulags.. well. we survived both. Words can't hurt you...can they ?

It's not like you have come up with anything other than 'unworkable_systems' in the political realm.. and the problem with all those 'systems' or ideologies is 'us'..and that is what Christ addresses.. the inner man.. I always maintain that it is not a new 'system' which will solve our social or political problems, but new people.

I don't mind your harsh words... I feel compassion for you.. after all, going around in political or philosophical circles with the overall directiong being 'nowhere' is not something to be envied, and definitely something to be addressed with a message which can save a person from it, and the Gospel of Christ is that message. The great thing about the Gospel also, (and our free society) is that you and anyone can just say 'get lost'... but don't try to shut people up on a forum please.

ALL THE SECTS. Yep.. there are plenty out there..and of course.. it goes without saying that 'mine' is right....right ? :) Well.. how hard is it to understand that the message of the Gospel is not a rigid set of laws.. it is about a relationship.. and that relationship might be expressed in a variety of ways, and with different emhpases. If the Anglicans believe in "Baptidzo-I sprinkle" and the Baptists believe in 'Baptidzo-I drown'... is it a huge question of earth shattering difference?

If the Presbyterians believe in Elders and the Anglicans a heirarchy.. will it damn them ? No.. how people organize their community of faith is up to them, as long as it does not include sin.
So..no self indulgent parties at communion.(as the Corinthians did)
Most Christians from most denominations get along well. No biggy.

It becomes an issue when a 'sect' goes off the rails about Christ, or God, That's why JWs, Moonies, Jim Jones, David Koresh, and Mormons are called 'cults'.

Opinionated.....

'Why do religions need to own God'?

I suppose it might be like for Marxists who like to 'own' atheism ?

But not all religions wish to 'own' God.. Buddhism doesn't even have a god.... Hinduism believes everything IS God.... Bahais are different again.. as are Zoroastrians.

The 3 major faiths of the world Judaism Islam and Christianity all have the same root.. and it is that God has revealed Himself in History.. really.

The divergence comes as follows:

-Judaism has rejected Christ as Messiah. (But believes in the same God)

-Islam has rejected Christ as Messiah (i.e. His true nature of God manifest in the flesh) but claims to believe in the God of Abraham.)and they say Mohammad was the final prophet of God.

-Christianity...believes that God has come in Christ in absolute finality, with no possibility of any other coming after Him. That he died on the cross for our sins, and rose from the dead according to the Scriptures, and ascended to the right hand of the Father, and will return in Glory for those who know Him as Lord and Savior.

Discovering which is true.. is the best thing mankind can do.

"These things are written, that you may know that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing, you might have life in His name"....John 20:31

The 'these things' include healing cripples, restoring sight to the blind, enabling the deaf to hear, casting out demons, calming storms, walking on water, raising the dead... and ultimately, rising Himself.

UNIQUENESS OF CHRIST.
In the history of mankind.. there never has been, is, or ever will be, one who graced the world for a mere 3 yrs of public ministry, who, without weapon, army or sword, has impacted the planet so much.
That the simple Gospel could overcome the might of Rome.. simply by the power of that life changing Word..of repentance,faith and forgiveness is testimony to His true origin.