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Love the Lord God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. And love your neighbor as yourself.
Thought I would ask what you guys think this looks like practically?
For me:
1. Before I get in or out of bed I pray.
2. Acting honestly and in good faith towards everyone.
3. Knowing the Lord more deeply by reading the Bible.
I just ordered my mother a $219.00 goatskin bible, lol! I'm a Christian at heart, man.
Here's the thing, God never outright demanded worship, but Jesus said we are to love him, right? Now, I'm a liberal Christian, and 1 John defines God as love (Twice) so to love God, to me, means to simply love - Love, and then to extend it over towards your neighbor. Comandment fulfilled!!! :thumbsup:
:D
Thats pretty much how I live as well Junk. Just trying to do right by everyone and trying to maintain my sanity at the same time. I consider myself a liberal conservative (mostly because of politics and weed). I was reading some posts awhile ago that you had posted about your mom. She sounds like a nice lady who really means well man. I have had those "sit down" talks with people I know my whole life.
Most people fail to realize we all have faith. Its just a matter of Whether thats Jesus, Budda, Science, Self, whatever. Peace :jointsmile:
Quote:
Originally Posted by RichieRich
Here's a simple, yet profound truth you may want to consider, "You can please some of the people, some of the time, but you cannot please all of the people, all of the time"
So, in reality, there's no point in attempting to please anyone, is there? Just be who you are, and believe what you believe. That way you always stay true to self. ;)
I've been doing some soul searching lately, and I feel like I'm where I'm suppose to be. I don't have all the answers, but the answers I have found work wonders for me, lol! I suspect, you have found your's in the Christian dogma, and that's great, bro. I have a lot of respect for that cat Jesus. He's been a real inspiration to me, and I'm not sure if I'd be as happy as I am w/o his influence.
Junk~
its love baby...not dogma :)
That it is, man! :D I think it's hard for many to come to find that in the bible, but if a person would just give Jesus a good look, and attempt to see where he was coming from, it's almost impossible not to see it, lol!
Love and Spirit . .. . that was the way of the Christ man.
word man. so you should try it without the dogma. throw that archaic, outdated instruction manual out the window and just live.Quote:
Originally Posted by RichieRich
Some people feel great comfort in that book, man. I have mine, and still pull it out from time to time just to refresh a bit, lol! I tend to agree that much of it is outdated, but there are still things in it that are applicable for the modern world.
I like my bible, and don't think I'll ever permanently part with it. Far too many of my current views stem from its teachings, and I find a lot truth in a much of it. I suspect that Richie feels the same way.. . ..
junk~
A lot of people seem to think that they're reading the bible. I suspect the book tends to read them instead.
If people are looking for justifications of hate, passages for why god hates homosexuality, darker ethnicities, or certain economic classes, you can find them. If you're looking for passages that say women should be subserviant and never think to question a man, you can find them.
If you're looking for a calling to love your neighbors and fellow man, you can find that too. If you're looking for a code of ethics for righteous people, you can find it.
Like reading a horoscope, some of it sounds right, some of it is a little odd, but we hear what we want to hear and ignore the rest.
But I don't need to be told to love man in order to do so. I don't need to be told about divine ethics in order to live by them. And I don't think you do either. If you can read the bible, and know what is good, and what is outdated drivel... then why do you need the book at all?
I know what you mean, poly and you're exactly right. You can find justification for almost anything in there, but the fact is that many people still believe that it is inerrant, and that it's the uncoruptable "Word of God". I don't think too many will be putting it down anytime soon.
I for one love to read (at times), then there are times that it weighs so heavy on me, I can't stand it. I don't feel like I need it, but I am attached, as it has been a companion since childhood. I'm like a little kid with a binkie, lol!
that's exactly my problem with religion. far too many people use their faith as a crutch to force them to do the right thing. it seems to me that you should do the right thing not because of fear of eternal damnation, but just because it is the right thing to do. at some point there must be a step in our ethical evolution at which humanity can put aside this carrot and stick thing we have going with religion and simply be moral creatures.Quote:
Originally Posted by JunkYard
I personally don't do anything because I fear damnation. Like a child wants to please his daddy. Thats how I want to please my Lord. I want to do the right thing because I know its the right thing to do. I think being immoral is the easy way out. Peace...:jointsmile:Quote:
Originally Posted by delusionsofNORMALity
^^In the beginning it was about fear for me, then it turned into a want to please God, and then it turned and became about the freedom derived from these two comandments.
Lets get this straight, tho. To love isn't about romanticism, or about fluffy mush. It is a truly freeing spirit, and something you may never understand until you utilze it in your everyday life. The Christ man said that his yoke was easy and his burden light. (He's speaking about love here and not about his person)
Junk~