Anti Christ? Really? In the 21st Century?

[stevew2]

I agree also. Organized religion has always been a problem throughout history. Today, I think megachurches are doing more to harm Bibilcal teaching than anything else. They are the Wal-Mart Supercenters of Christianity, one-stop shops designed to attract people based on material offerings like killer AV systems and built-in Starbucks. The teaching doesn't seem to be too heavy on personal accountability, and often gets flavored with motivational style material -- can't scare away the wealthy donors who pay for the multi-million $ structures, and megachurches usually crop up in the wealthier neighborhoods. I've met many megachurch pastors outside of the pulpit, and like them or not, most came off to me as really driven, type-A personalities -- kinda like politicians. I think the same motivations drive both types. Great careers, both of them. BTW, I don't believe the Bible mentions anything about ministry becoming a paid career. That's just human tradition that's been mixed in over time.

Joel Osteen comes to mind...Just be positive and everything will be OK. Unfortunately, Jesus kind of gets shoved out the back door.

Joel Osteen is awesome

[brywool]

Amen, brother! How can one look at all the beautiful creation and the miracle that is another human and not believe?

As the moral fiber of the world continues to sink to new lows denial of God is one way of not having to feel accountable to anyone. I strongly dislike religious discussions and recognize that organized religion does spawn some real nut cases, as well.

Yet for me, and all the atheists I know, it's the total opposite. We don't believe in some higher power controlling or influencing our lives, so we have to be 100% accountable for ourselves, our actions and the consequences of what we do. It's up to me to live in my community productively, and if I screw up, it is entirely up to me to make amends; I don't have the out of believing that if I simply feel sorry, God will forgive me. (Yes, I know that the docterine of forgiveness actually says to be forgiven, one has to feel contrition and admit to the wrong, make amends for the wrong and resolve not to repeat the wrong, but I know far too many people who ignore the last two parts.) If I jurt someone, or do something wrong, I have to make amends because it's the only way I can forgive me. And I don't have the excuse of 'but the Bible says...' or 'but God wants...' to justify being an intolerant jerk to other people.

Not saying all believers are jerks - far from it; some of the best people I know are firm believers. And I'm not saying all atheists are morally superior - again, far from it; I've known several atheists who are total buttheads. The point is, jerks come in all denominations, as do the irresponsible; you're a jerk because you don't give a shit about other people if it interfers with what you want, not because you do or don't believe in God.

I'm tired of being told that not believing in God is just an excuse to get out of being accountable to society. Shallow, selfish people will use any excuse they can to get out of having to feel accountable to anyone; it's got bugger all to do with faith, or a lack of it.

Great Post.
When you run for president, let me know!

[brywool]

Religion Is based on morality, morality is not based on religion....

I'm agnostic, but live a very moral life.....

Please don't confuse the two.

Religion, to me, is a coping mechanism for some personal shortcoming, or character flaw.

Also a great post!

[conversationpc]

Joel Osteen is awesome

Seek help immediately.

[brywool]

Religion Is based on morality, morality is not based on religion....

I'm agnostic, but live a very moral life.....

Please don't confuse the two.

Religion, to me, is a coping mechanism for some personal shortcoming, or character flaw.

Religion is based on faith.

In cases like this it is faith in 'somebody' rather then God.

That is a huge problem, IMO, in religion of today...the pastor, or preacher, is the one who the people have faith in. The Bible and God are then that one person's interpretation and THAT is what people have faith in. Instead, they should have faith in the God they let reside inside their heart, and the words that THEY read in the Bible, in the context it was meant to be in. But, whatever, I don't think that happens enough nowadays.

Believing in God and Religion are NOT the same.

[brywool]

I got two words for ya:

The Crusades

The Crusades should have been limited to just Muslims and they should have all been killed. This world would be a lot better without them today. Just like Islam now. Kill every one of them.

Maybe if the religion aspect of it was gone- the world could live peacefully....
Nah, we'd find something else to go to war about, like Perry vs. Arnel or something.

[conversationpc]

Religion is based on faith.

In cases like this it is faith in 'somebody' rather then God.

That is a huge problem, IMO, in religion of today...the pastor, or preacher, is the one who the people have faith in. The Bible and God are then that one person's interpretation and THAT is what people have faith in. Instead, they should have faith in the God they let reside inside their heart, and the words that THEY read in the Bible, in the context it was meant to be in. But, whatever, I don't think that happens enough nowadays.

Believing in God and Religion are NOT the same.

Trusting in religion itself will get you nowhere and I think most who believe in God would probably agree with that.

[conversationpc]

Maybe if the religion aspect of it was gone- the world could live peacefully....
Nah, we'd find something else to go to war about, like Perry vs. Arnel or something.

I think religion is a convenient excuse for people who've perpetrated this kind of stuff. Power-hungry individuals will use whatever is at their disposal that most easily assists them in achieving their goals.

[Rip Rokken]

Megachurches feed themselves first, and anything they do for the poor is token. Got to keep those poor wretches at a respectable distance, ya know.

[brywool]

Megachurches feed themselves first, and anything they do for the poor is token. Got to keep those poor wretches at a respectable distance, ya know.

Now they'll be feeding lawyers.

[steveo777]

Megachurches feed themselves first, and anything they do for the poor is token. Got to keep those poor wretches at a respectable distance, ya know.

A friend of mine's brother got divorced because the wife decided to give half their life savings to one of these charismatic churches. Apparently the preacher had a silver tongue and was good at extracting money out of the members. His parking place always had the big Mercedes parked in it on Sundays.

[conversationpc]

Megachurches feed themselves first, and anything they do for the poor is token. Got to keep those poor wretches at a respectable distance, ya know.

A friend of mine's brother got divorced because the wife decided to give half their life savings to one of these charismatic churches. Apparently the preacher had a silver tongue and was good at extracting money out of the members. His parking place always had the big Mercedes parked in it on Sundays.

That's just wrong...I don't think pastors need to be poor or appear to be poor but I do think appearances matter for them. Does he wear bling also?

[steveo777]

Megachurches feed themselves first, and anything they do for the poor is token. Got to keep those poor wretches at a respectable distance, ya know.

A friend of mine's brother got divorced because the wife decided to give half their life savings to one of these charismatic churches. Apparently the preacher had a silver tongue and was good at extracting money out of the members. His parking place always had the big Mercedes parked in it on Sundays.

That's just wrong...I don't think pastors need to be poor or appear to be poor but I do think appearances matter for them. Does he wear bling also?

I wouldn't know. I'd burn in hell before I would go to such a church.

[JasonD]

Joel Osteen is awesome

Seek help immediately.

You can't be serious here.^^^^^^ What do you got against Joel Osteen? Joel Osteen is the only nationally known pastor I listen to. I'm so-so on Joyce Meyer & Rick Warren is ok --- but Joel Osteen is da bomb!!!

If I ever get to Houston, that's who I'm going to see.

[Michigan Girl]

Joel Osteen is awesome

Seek help immediately.

You can't be serious here.^^^^^^ What do you got against Joel Osteen? Joel Osteen is the only nationally known pastor I listen to. I'm so-so on Joyce Meyer & Rick Warren is ok --- but Joel Osteen is da bomb!!!

If I ever get to Houston, that's who I'm going to see.

I saw Joel in Houston a few months ago ...he is very uplifting, but his knowledge is limited!!

[Arianddu]

Great Post.
When you run for president, let me know!

Apparently you have to be born in the USA to be eligible

Besides which, politics has enough jerks already. My whole point was that I try not to be jerk!

[stevew2]

Joel Osteen is awesome

Seek help immediately.

i will ,he is on TV tuesday night at 10:00

[stevew2]

Joel Osteen is awesome

Seek help immediately.

You can't be serious here.^^^^^^ What do you got against Joel Osteen? Joel Osteen is the only nationally known pastor I listen to. I'm so-so on Joyce Meyer & Rick Warren is ok --- but Joel Osteen is da bomb!!!

If I ever get to Houston, that's who I'm going to see.

He was in Washington DC a fews ago, it was a shame I couldnt make it

[Rip Rokken]

Megachurches feed themselves first, and anything they do for the poor is token. Got to keep those poor wretches at a respectable distance, ya know.

A friend of mine's brother got divorced because the wife decided to give half their life savings to one of these charismatic churches. Apparently the preacher had a silver tongue and was good at extracting money out of the members. His parking place always had the big Mercedes parked in it on Sundays.

Seen this happen way too many times. I don't have any problems with pastors being rich at all, unless they get rich thru their fat church salaries. Megachurching is an excellent career opportunity, just like politics. There is a megachurch campus behind my office, where the pastors built themselves a private covered parking pad right by the rear entrance. Show me a pastor who parks in the least desirable spot and hikes it to the office and I'll figure he has something worth telling me. I still stop by there a few times a month because the convenience of the Starbucks can't be beat, nor the prices. I got a Venti coffee this morning w/2 toasted bagels + cream cheese for $4.00.

[Sarah]

The Crusades should have been limited to just Muslims and they should have all been killed. This world would be a lot better without them today. Just like Islam now. Kill every one of them.

Aww, not my roommate, I like her.

[stevew2]

Megachurches feed themselves first, and anything they do for the poor is token. Got to keep those poor wretches at a respectable distance, ya know.

A friend of mine's brother got divorced because the wife decided to give half their life savings to one of these charismatic churches. Apparently the preacher had a silver tongue and was good at extracting money out of the members. His parking place always had the big Mercedes parked in it on Sundays.

Seen this happen way too many times. I don't have any problems with pastors being rich at all, unless they get rich thru their fat church salaries. Megachurching is an excellent career opportunity, just like politics. There is a megachurch campus behind my office, where the pastors built themselves a private covered parking pad right by the rear entrance. Show me a pastor who parks in the least desirable spot and hikes it to the office and I'll figure he has something worth telling me. I still stop by there a few times a month because the convenience of the Starbucks can't be beat, nor the prices. I got a Venti coffee this morning w/2 toasted bagels + cream cheese for $4.00.

your fuckin head is huge,who is that retard in you avatar with you? like im suposed to know who he is? he looks like an asshole

[CatEyes]

How can rational human beings believe this stuff??

Most Christians believe in the Biblical prophesies that the Antichrist will arise in the last days. The part that's really dumb, though, is if they believe in it, why do they think they will be able to fight him? The Bible says that he will be defeated by Jesus, not by any human.

Agreed.

The problem I have with this group is reflected in an interview with one of them.

He said that they were soldiers for Jesus. ok.

and were fighting the anti-christ. ok.

And somehow that got translated to bombing the funeral of a slain police officer because there would be so many other police officers there, including their children.

It is one thing to not want gov't interference in your personal life.

This is psychotic.

Dr. Cateyes.

[KenTheDude]

Joel Osteen is awesome

Seek help immediately.

You can't be serious here.^^^^^^ What do you got against Joel Osteen? Joel Osteen is the only nationally known pastor I listen to. I'm so-so on Joyce Meyer & Rick Warren is ok --- but Joel Osteen is da bomb!!!

If I ever get to Houston, that's who I'm going to see.

Trivia of the day: The famous Journey Live in Houston DVD from 1981 was performed at The Summit which is now Lakewood Church where Joel Osteen does his thing.

[Rip Rokken]

your brain case is huge,who is that rock star in you avatar with you? like im suposed to know who he is?

Thank ya man! And that's Mike "The Doctor" Ellis, bass player for the Sin City Sinners. Very nice guy, and a true rocker 100%! I don't think he has a special parking spot, either.

[KenTheDude]

your brain case is huge,who is that rock star in you avatar with you? like im suposed to know who he is?

Thank ya man! And that's Mike "The Doctor" Ellis, bass player for the Sin City Sinners. Very nice guy, and a true rocker 100%! I don't think he has a special parking spot, either.

I'm sure he's a nice guy, but damn, he looks like an extra on the set of the next Planet of the Apes movie.