Yet you refuse to take responsibility for yourself, choosing to call on something else for assistance.
So what does eternal life and eternal damnation really mean? Are there such things as demons, devils, spirits, ghosts, angels, gods, heaven, hell, good, or evil?
Not when it's presented by fundamentalists as fact. There are rightwing christian nutjobs that want this taught in public schools. That is dangerous.
The same guy wrote both verses, supposedly. Moses. Why the need to expand his own set of instructions?
Yes. You can never get 2 christians to agree on what the bible says or means. Every person interprets it different.
I understand it. Christians understand it. So, it's good communication. The Bible is excellent communication if the person's main goal isn't to have contempt for it. I understand the importance of Noah bringing a male and female of each species. That command deserved it's own....space. it was that important. But on top of that main and crucial point, was the command to bring additional pairs of certain species. Mention the most important point and then expand into further detail is how we communicate. It gets bad when people start criticizing writing style.
Science is under constant attack by religious nut jobs - and other nut jobs, too. I agree this is an incredibly serious problem that deserves our total attention.
I think you confuse "faith" with "blind faith". In Hebrew, the word for "faith" means a logical and robust (well thought out) confidence in the truth, and because it is logical and robust the faith is unwavering. Believing without any understanding is simply stupid. Does it make any sense to claim that people without any reason or understanding make a life changing decision to accept and follow a religion? Of course not. People believe in a religion because of the evidence in their lives and their own study, it is a rational decision. And on that foundation they accept the items they cannot explain or understand. Not having all the answers is not a reason for discarding a philosophy, if it were then all of science would have to be discarded as well.
Why is it dangerous? Christianity was a fundamental part of American society until after the 1960's. The Greatest Generation learned to read from the Bible, were taught Christian values in school, and yet that generation won WW2, put a man on the moon, invented the microprocessor, and basically laid the foundation for the current technological world..
How many of each were brought onto the ark? And Christians don't understand it, most will say 2 of all kinds.
Definition of religion 1a : the state of a religious a nun in her 20th year of religionb (1) : the service and worship of God or the supernatural (2) : commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance 2: a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices 3archaic : scrupulous conformity : conscientiousness 4: a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith Religion has nothing to do with works. Now many religious institutions will do works, but being a religion or religious has nothing to do with works.
Definition of evidence 1a : an outward sign : indicationb : something that furnishes proof : testimony; specifically : something legally submitted to a tribunal to ascertain the truth of a matter 2: one who bears witness; especially : one who voluntarily confesses a crime and testifies for the prosecution against his accomplices They don't come to a belief because of evidence. But because they haven't found evidence and make some sort or rational decision to them. But it's not evidence or fact, and many don't choose the same logic or rational. That is the reason for many different gods in the world and thousands and thousands of religions.
Works can refer to any act recommended or forbidden, such as attending church, being charitable, not drinking coffee, not eating certain foods, prayer, attire, follow the 10c, etc. I agree faith is central, but religions do include works.
The institution believing in the religion does the works. As I tried to point out. But religion by itself is void of works, for it is attitude, belief, and practices. Now a religion could put into practice, works.
Actually, people believe due to indoctrination and peer pressure. This is why religions are geographical.
Your little definition includes this...".2: a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices". Practices would involve works. So How can you say religion has nothing to do with works? How many "hail Mary's " must one say to be pleasing to God?? How often must you appear before a man to confess your sins??? Those ideas are what religion is all about. How many pat prayers can you recite and how often do you recite them?? .....that's religion. What I allude to as faith is a deeply held conviction in a "relationship" through faith with the One that has my back! You choose to be my adversary.....but I'm not playing your game. There are others that want to play.
