I disagree. I can see how someone might think that if they don't know enough about what a particular faith actually teaches. I'll use Christianity as an example. If you read the Bible, it's pretty clear that God gives us life and it's not to be wasted. We are supposed to make the very most of the time we have. It even gives stern warnings toward being lazy and just cruising through life.

 

i'm not to concerned. I've the earth is heating up, oh well. We're all gonna go out sooner or later right. All it means is longer bbq seanson

 

Religions have a common belief structure that the short, transient life we have here is only a prelude to the never-ending paradise (or torment) awaiting us, no? Eternal pleasure and torment are the ultimate reward/punishment, and so a religious framework makes it easier to convince people to do things they normally wouldn't.

 

I suppose that's true in some religions. That certainly seems to be the case with all of these Muslim suicide bombers. But, I don't really know exactly what the Muslim religion teaches. For all I know, the Koran doesn't even teach that, but some religious leaders have taken things out of context and have been perverting the faith...I don't know. What I can tell you is that the Christian faith does not teach that you can do whatever you want or waste your life because it's only temporary. It teaches the opposite.

 

Here's the thing, we'll ruin the earth for us and most everything on it, we'll die off and the stuff that's left will recover it. The only reason we have to preserve the earth is to preserve our (human) life. So, once we're gone the earth can heal again. I just wish I was around to see it!

 

LOL...it would be pretty funny to see the earth shake it's self off like a wet dog and just start over.

 

Just as you have religious wackos in the muslim camp (suicide bombers) you have just as many wackos in the christian camp (blowing up abortion clinics). I am only begining to understand the muslim faith but to say muslim teaches its followers to kill is simply wrong. And even if the muslim faith encouraged killing, lets not forget what the bible says about non-belivers of the christian faith:

"But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them - bring them here and kill them in front of me."

Anyway, christianity teaches people to pray for change, rather than taking responsibility for their own destiny.

 

No doubt. That's whay it's important to read the Bible for yourself and be very careful of false teachings.
Could you please give the book, chapter and verse in the Bible where that is found. I'd like to read over that in the context where it was written.

No it doesn't. It does teach us to pray for change....but it also teaches us to do our part with the gifts and talents God has given us. We are not supposed to just sit around and enjoy the ride.

 

You took that verse out of context. That is not what the Bible teaches should be done to non-belivers. That verse is part of a parable that Jesus was using to teach about not wasting our time here on earth while just sitting back waiting for him to return. (kinda what I was talking about already)
What the Bible does teach us to do with nonbelievers is to love them. We are to tell them of the sacrifice Jesus has made on our behalves and how He loves us. It also talks about how we are to feed and care for those in need (Not just Christians)

 

I think If you did that we'd be up to our neck in tangents insted of the issue: whether global warming is hype or not.

And about the 'too' comment, we're all perfect here on Scionlife are we not?

Lets be academic in our debates, not twinks.

 

It was a joke, dude. I'm the last person who should be correcting spelling. I can't spell worth a carp.

 

I saw The Day After Tommorow I wonder and hope that what happened n that movie doesn't happen!! I think it is something that should try to be reduced.

 

Unless they happen to be homosexual, right?

For all the talk of helping the poor and assisting those less fortunate, the churches of the west sure do hoarde their money to build impressive alters to God, fund political campaigns, and televise their message of peace to the world. It seems to me that if they sold off all their real-estate holdings, melted down all their gold and other metals, cut up their precious jewels and vestiments, theyd probably have enough money to feed and house the entire third world for some time to come. Id be really impressed with the organized religions of the world if they gave up all their trappings and gave them to the poor. They don't need all that stuff to preach "the true word of God." They can do it just as easily in the alleys and public parks as they can from their high and mighty pulpits. I challenge the religions of the world to do just that: Throw off your trappings and finery, convert all your assets and holdings into cash and feed the world.

 

So it apparently is meant to illustrate what will occur when God judges the world, right?

 

Wrong. The Bible clearly says that we are to love everyone. Don't confuse loving the person with condoning the sin. We are all sinners. Homosexuality is a sin. Love the sinner, hate the sin. Big difference.

I agree. I know there are some churches and some denominations that have amassed great wealth. I think that is wrong too. I go to a very modest church. We do not accumulate large amounts of money. Most of our money is spent on missionaries and various other ministries and charities.

 

No. The parable was meant to illustrate how we aren't to waste time just waiting for God's judgement. As for that one scentence, I guess it's debatable as to why Jesus included it in the story. It could be referring to the end times and his second coming....I'm not sure. But when you read in in context and in light of the rest of Scripture, it's obvious that it doesn't mean what you thought.

 

Huh, maybe someone should go over that with Mr. Bush then, because he (and millions like him) have it all wrong apparently.

And I believe you when you say you believe that.
Unfortunatly, the religion you are a part of does not have the same goals.

If the religious right had their way:
-they would turn our nation into a "christians only" theocracy.
-theyd take away the freedom of speech
-theyd remove a womans right to choose to have an abortion
-theyd make it difficult to obtain reliable birth control
-theyd attempt to frighten children with inaccuracies about sex, disease, and pregnancy
-theyd bring religion into schools and teach it openly
-they'd denounce evolution and return us to a point where nobody challenged "creation science"
-fear and paranoia would reign supreme
-atheism, paganism, and even agnosticism would be deemed illegal

Sounds extremist and down right fascist, doesnt it? Yet these are the things you hear the religious right denouncing and attacking every day. What they really want is control and power over everything we see, hear, do, and think. They pass it off as "protecting children," or "keeping us morally upright". They actually believe that we already are a christian nation, when in fact we are supposed to be a secular one.

In my opinion, if you fancy yourself a true christian, you would distance yourself from such perversion of the faith you hold so dear.

 

You are absolutely correct, which is why president Bush and the religious right are not true representatives of christianity. One of the concepts that is difficult to explain to an atheist or agnostic is that true christianity is demonstrated in the life of Christ. True christians do not look to self proclaimed christian authorities who are human beings, and thus have an agenda that usually incolves benifiting selfish interest. It is a natural human characteristic to think of self and not of how their actions affect others and the environment. If we look at the life of Christ, alot of his actions would today be looked at as anti-the right wing christian agenda. Christ ascociated with the bottom rung of society, he showed love to even the most sinful sinners, and he also respected the boundry between ones obligation to one's country, and one's obligation to one's God and recognized the danger of mixing them. This is why it is wrong to take a religion ordained by God, sometimes corrupted by men, and broad strokingly define it and demonize it right along with those who may perfess it but don't live it. This is exactly what the U.S. has done with Islam.

Back to the issue, it is interesting how the primary benifit of christianity has been minipulated to find fault in it. The idea of eternal life after death is what makes a Christian live his life with an intense sense of purpose. Chriatianity preaches that all have access to eternal life, it is free, however, it warns that it will not be afforded to us because of the way we live are lives. Their must be purpose to our lives and each and everyone of us have been put on this earth for a particular reason. So to understand life after death, is to understand that their is an intense accountability for time spent on this earth. Much more so than someone who beleives that this life is it and therefore things of the world are all that is worth attaining.

So to tie this into our environmental theme, this earth is a gift that god has given to us. Misuse of this gift is just as much a sin as abortion or homosexuality. There is no one sin that is greater than another. All have sinned and all sin is hated in the eyes of God. So everytime you litter or mistreat God's earth, it is the equavalent to murder. This maybe an intense and unpopular view, but it emphasizes the need for us to ask for forgivness and renew our relationships with God and our fellow man everyday.

 

Also there is no need for true
christians to seperate or diffrentiate ourselves from other Christians who do controvercial things in the name of Christianity, because we recognize that Christianity is based on Christ and not man. Because the nature of man is sinful, he will make mistakes and misinterpretations. That does not make it right to label all Christians a followers of the skewed representation these men proclaim in the media. If you want to know what christianity is, read the Gospels and other books of the New Testiment, which decribe the acts and deeds of true christians.

 

What about the Old Testiment?