Christians, what are you afraid of?

I'm not debating with you the validity of Jesus, why he died, and who he claims to be. We are, at least I feel, discussing the behavior of those who call themselves Christians. You know, it dawned on me.....the early Christians defined themselves only as "followers of the Way". Even members of Islam refer to them as that to this day. Of course that came from one of Jesus' noted sermons "I am the Way the Truth and the Life......"

 

I just learned something. I thought it was "light" and not "life".

 

Yes.

 

Seeing that I'm not a Baptist, or a member of your family, community or their religion, I can't answer your question to them. You're not likely to get a satisfiable answer to your question from anyone else here, either. But then your question is more of a statement. And from my perspective, they do seem angry and judgmental. Baptists, I believe have a reputation for that...hell fire and brimstone. That you are averse to the very concept of God and salvation, then there is no purpose in comparing other sects to Baptists for a more appealing alternative. Likewise you deride and dismiss old testament stories as fantasy, concocted to convey a non existent reality or to establish a lie. So you say of a thing long ago that it is this and that from your perspective, but that those of those times cannot convey with a perspective of their own the things before their very eyes.

 

Wrong again.
Doesn't that ever get tiring? Just being wrong.
There's nothing in Buddhist teachings that suggest or require the use of a mirror.
You lack of knowledge on the subject seems boundless.
Why not, just one time, prove me wrong and say something relevant and correct.

 

First, I judge no one but myself.
I seek no conversations on the subject except within fellow Buddhists.
If someone is curious I point them to the beginning texts but I make no effort to teach them and never to proselytize. I am no teacher and your path is yours.
As for "salvation?" What exactly am I being saved from? And by whom? The "hero" of the theists is, in fact, an admitted murderer, rapist, torturer who, while claim the power to accomplish any goal, appears only willing to use that power to kill, maim, and torture. It's all right there in the Bible. The "Word of God." That is supposedly what the Bible is. If you deny what I say then you, in fact, deny what the Bible says and therefore deny the very foundation of the theist beliefs.

BUT, and do try to pay attention...

I don't care how you believe
As long as you're not harming others in the process
Worship or not as you wish
The presence of a Christian as a Christian does not bother me in the least
So why does my presence bother Christians so badly that they must threaten an eternity of punishment if I choose to believe differently?

 

I don't know, man. I wasn't raised in a religious family. Never even saw the inside of a Church unless someone died or got married. You could say that our religion was family, work, conscience, play, hobbies, and other normal secular stuff. I became a Christian on my own when I was 25 years old. Since then, I have never seen Christian salvation as a choice between eternal bliss and eternal suffering. But rather as a matter of eternal life and happiness or something less. I see God as a perfect, loving Father, rather than an angry threatening overlord. As such, I had rather please him than bring him and myself disappointment. I have concluded that barring conscience and all the fondest hopes and furthest twinkling sentiments tucked within my heart, mind, and being, I would be utter darkness. And so, in the best sense I am like a planters field. And God is the planter. The thing of it is, whatever I bear up or bring to fruition, he will in the end bequeath it to me, as he is already rich beyond measure. It is for us that God does all that he does. And we, imo, are in the making.
One could say my words are the imaginary musings of a simple minded prat. But to me they are progressive rather than utterly vain and self serving. One could also surmise the God of my words to be a mass manufacturer of God bots. But that would necessitate turning a blind eye to our free agency, sentient nature, and the ever pliable parameters of our beings. Such judgment would necessitate a self imposed imprisonment and rigidity of intellect and purpose which is not conducive to grace. But like the seasons, people change. And mercy releases her sparrows. Who then am I to judge? I am smitten not by Gods wrath but by his mercy. And while he or the concept of his existence is much derided, I cannot speak well enough of him.
All of that said, it would amount to nothing if it wasn't reflected in how I treat others. So to me, the bulk of our measure is that. You seem to be an honest, fair minded, live and let live person. IMO, this probably places you nearer to God than those who judge you so harshly. Maybe they are jealous that you are good at heart while they are only good at performing ordinances and quoting scriptures??? Not that there is no place for ordinance and scripture. Speaking of which, there is one that says, "They draw near unto me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me." Hold tight to what you know to be good, Dadoalex. Come hell or high water, it is your foundation and armor, your light and pillow. That's everything I know.

 

I sure appreciate your post, Injeun. You are a Christian and I would ask you one thing. Jesus came to give us Salvation. In other words, we need that. We need to be saved. Everyone must recognize that. Saved from what? That is the reality of following Jesus. It is not to point a finger at others because everyone of us is in the same boat. We that accept this press ahead toward greater things, granted. But the reality of where we have been is not something to be forgotten. "There is a way that seems right to a man/woman, but that way often leads to death". ( a spiritual death if I may paraphrase)

 

All true yab. Truly the first precepts of salvation are belief in Jesus Christ, repentance and baptism for the remission of sins. I do not rehearse these things where they are already rejected as it only serves to create animus and division. Also I am not a missionary or authorized in any fashion to presume to call people to repentance, much less demand it which is obviously impossible. I'm just a person sharing my own limited perceptions and personal experience. A lot of what Jesus taught were principles of conduct such as patience, love, forgiveness, and more. This to me was to realign the fractures and damnations of our understandings. And so appeal to the goodness in every person, to lift up, to heal, invigorate, enlighten, and give us hope.

 

You profess the "Golden Rule," the actual foundation of Christianity.
A foundation share in its entirety with Buddhism.
And if such beliefs added to the mythologies give you comfort
no one on this planet could be happier for you than I.
I would never attempt to deny to you that comfort.
I simply draw my comfort elsewhere.
I do not seek to change Christians
So why do so many Christians insist on changing me?

 

Large spiders, which is ironic considering where I live.

 

Poor judgment? IDK, I've always found people of different beliefs to be interesting.

 

Jhn 16:25 "These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father."

I am of the belief that near death experience accounts that contain a genuine Life Review with Messiah Yeshua - Jesus is a major part of the fulfillment of the promise for Messiah Yeshua - Jesus to speak plainly and clearly in the future.......

https://www.near-death.com/experiences/gay/christian-andreason.html#a04h

Near-Death Experiences and Christianity
By Kevin R. Williams, B.Sc.

1. Howard Pittman
2. Howard Storm
3. George Ritchie
4. Betty Eadie
5. Richard Eby
6. David Goines
7. A Gay Man's NDE With Jesus
8. Christian Andreason
9. Gerard Landry
10. Cindy Massey
11. Valvita Jones
12. Don Brubaker
13. Lorraine Tutmarc
14. Berkley Carter Mills
15. E. Tuwagirairmana
16. Ian McCormick
17. John P.
18. Susan
19. David Dawson
20. Betty Malz
21. Kenneth Hagin
22. Emanuel Swedenborg