Is anybody else here a Christian?

[cheezMcNASTY]

So I can not convert and become Jewish just because I was not born Jewish? I think religion and race should be separated. Jews are Jews both in a religious and racial sense? It's illogical.

You're welcome to become one, but it involves taking study courses and the like. You can't just pick it up and put it down, there's no clause in the religion that accommodates converting to something else. If I wanted to become a Christian, I could. But I would still be able to go back to Judaism without ever being considered a non-Jew. You don't need to be a Jew in the genetic sense to join the religion. Because it actually takes work to get involved with Judaism, only people who truly want to adopt it into their lives and live that way end up joining. There is no "well I think I'll try it out and see if I like it." There is virtually no growth in the number of Jews in the world because of that, and also because they don't try to encourage anyone to get involved with them.

Because, throughout history, Jews have always existed as sub-communities and never truly mixed with the other cultures, (well, in some cases they adopted languages and parts of outside culture) they've largely only married other Jews which has preserved the Jewish genes and traits. This isn't as true these days, but there's still a lot of evidence remaining of the thousands of years where this was the case. I didn't mean to say you need to be genetically Jewish to join the religion, but the word Jew is used to refer to people both in the sense of faith and in the sense of their heritage.

 

[L]

So I can not convert and become Jewish just because I was not born Jewish? I think religion and race should be separated. Jews are Jews both in a religious and racial sense? It's illogical.

If you are not born Buddhist, you can not convert to Buddhism, if I am correct. I'm not sure if it is the same for Judaism, however.

 

[Romero]

I didn't mean to say you need to be genetically Jewish to join the religion, but the word Jew is used to refer to people both in the sense of faith and in the sense of their heritage.

That last part is what I find illogical, there should have been two words for it, one with a religious meaning and one with a genetic meaning. But maybe there is - "Judaism" means Jew in the religious sense?

It just struck my mind, didn't Madonna convert to Judaism?

 

[L]

That last part is what I find illogical, there should have been two words for it, one with a religious meaning and one with a genetic meaning. But maybe there is - "Judaism" means Jew in the religious sense?

It just struck my mind, didn't Madonna convert to Judaism?

I've always known them as Jewish for the race and Jew for someone who believes in Judaism. It probably isn't correct, but it works for me.

 

[cheezMcNASTY]

^ It is correct.

"Judaism," however, refers only to the religion. I think the reason the word Jew came to refer to people racially is because
A) They were born into jewish families and therefore Jewish.
B) Most all Jewish families were of the same race.

I guess you're welcome to hate on the word's multiple uses, but I don't really understand how someone could come to dislike something as abstract as the uses of a word.

Tying this back into the topic, this sort of thing wouldn't really work for Christians because of how Christianity has spread to every continent and has a large number of members in just about every race on the planet.

 

[Romero]

^ It is correct.

"Judaism," however, refers only to the religion. I think the reason the word Jew came to refer to people racially is because
A) They were born into jewish families and therefore Jewish.
B) Most all Jewish families were of the same race.

I guess you're welcome to hate on the word's multiple uses, but I don't really understand how someone could come to dislike something as abstract as the uses of a word.

Tying this back into the topic, this sort of thing wouldn't really work for Christians because of how Christianity has spread to every continent and has a large number of members in just about every race on the planet.

Thank you, you taught me something today.
I didn't hate on the words multiple meanings, I just found it illogical and confusing. But your explanation makes sense.

 

[La Femme Fatale]

If you are not born Buddhist, you can not convert to Buddhism, if I am correct. I'm not sure if it is the same for Judaism, however.

Really? Could you provide some sources with this information... not that I'm saying this is incorrect, merely that I've never heard this before and it's quite surprising to me. Buddhism seems to be the most 'lax' of all religions in the sense that it's very 'take what you need', so the idea you cannot covert is a bit odd. That, and I've frequently harped that if I'd ever adopt a faith or religion, it'd be buddhism through and through. It's the only one that for me, makes sense.

 

[VP-70]

Really? Could you provide some sources with this information... not that I'm saying this is incorrect, merely that I've never heard this before and it's quite surprising to me. Buddhism seems to be the most 'lax' of all religions in the sense that it's very 'take what you need', so the idea you cannot covert is a bit odd. That, and I've frequently harped that if I'd ever adopt a faith or religion, it'd be buddhism through and through. It's the only one that for me, makes sense.

Is a good word.

I studied Buddhism for 10 years and i have to say it's as backward as any other religion you can put your hands on. It gets away with alot more stuff because it's public image is of harmless little chilled out bald headed asian guys meditating. You'll find just as much Child buggering in Buddhist temples as you will in Roman ones.

Over the past 15 years the west has become utterly glued to eastern religion and spirituality.

3 things that stick in my mind about Buddhism is,

1, most countries that has buddhism as it's religion, has a communist government.

2, for a religion that sells the idea of ridding your ego, it isn't half run by the most egotistical of minds.

3, when you look at their beliefs with proper concentration it is heavily flawed to a deadly conclusion.

Organized religion will always fall foul to the failings of men.

Eastern philosophy btw, is joyful, they've a way with words.

 

[Angel]

Edited. Load of nonsense.

 

[La Femme Fatale]

3, when you look at their beliefs with proper concentration it is heavily flawed to a deadly conclusion.

Can you explain this?

 

[Capcomplicated]

Just to be a massive troll, I've always wanted to visit one of these Westboro' Baptists Church-type places and cause a whole heap of trouble. I know, I know - it's wrong. But you have to admit it would be SO much fun

I think you'd accidently like Red State

 

[Storyofmylife]

Orthodox Christian. It's kind of like the Christian fight-club... You DON'T talk about it lol. Were really similar to Catholicism aside for all the judging and disrespect to women.

 

[Capcomplicated]

well...heres my 2 cents: I'm not christain for many reasons. There are too many questions in the good book for me to say that, unanswerable ones. Questions that will probably take more than mere words to answer. However i dont forcibly deny there is a benevolent force behind it all. I guess you could say i'm Agnostic but i really dont consider myself to be one. I dont like to consider myself as part of a collective because i dont agree with label association. I DO however take things from the bible like core values and guidelines that i believe were meant to better the human condition. In the end i think its safe to say i have faith

 

[Sonnentreppe]

No. I go by what I believe. I do believe in God, and I pray on occasion. I don't know if I believe in the Bible, but belief in the Bible is pretty moot to me because there are so many interpretations of the word. And, people often twist it to justify their own agendas. I could go into detail, but I think that would only open a can worms that I don't feel like sifting through. Bottom line is, I believe in the religion which doesn't teach hate or self-righteousness--only God can judge me--, and unfortunately, that's not any denomination of Christianity I've encountered. However, I do think religious belief can be a good thing in many cases, so I don't often speak my conflicting opinions on it.

 

[VP-70]

Can you explain this?

Certainly can, lemme find my old stuff!

 

[Hoady]

No.My girlfriend defines herself as christian and i have been to the church with her multiple times but i reject the teachings for a 1000 reasons, which i should probably leave to myself. I believe anyone can become a Jesus, Buddha and the small handful like them.They all have pointed to this place(truth or god,reality,love,conciousness etc) we must go into it. It is to me our 'true' humanity but i don't think it can be attained in the confines of any church,religion, indoctrination,walking around with a begging bowl or changing your life in any way. I believe we can only understand it right now, through our daily living.

 

[Silverback]

Theres certainly something there. Too many people on Earth that share the same sentiments on a higher power. Some have even claimed to have had experiences with God.

Heidi Baker, Dave Roberson. Even Brian "Head" Welch, Ex-Korn musician has had encounters with God.

 

[Romero]

Theres certainly something there. Too many people on Earth that share the same sentiments on a higher power. Some have even claimed to have had experiences with God.

Heidi Baker, Dave Roberson. Even Brian "Head" Welch, Ex-Korn musician has had encounters with God.

Maybe they have had encounters, maybe they just think they had, or maybe they lie. I'm skeptical and think it's more likely that they experienced something they could not explain, and assumed it had to be God. I don't know what each of them have said (and I don't care to find out either), but some of them might have had a dream that seemed real. Maybe some of them are well-known people who desire more fame and made up a story. Similar scams have happened before, for instance comedian Lucille Ball claiming to have picked up Japanese radio signals with her teeth fillings during WWII.

 

[Silverback]

Maybe they have had encounters, maybe they just think they had, or maybe they lie. I'm skeptical and think it's more likely that they experienced something they could not explain, and assumed it had to be God. I don't know what each of them have said (and I don't care to find out either), but some of them might have had a dream that seemed real. Maybe some of them are well-known people who desire more fame and made up a story. Similar scams have happened before, for instance comedian Lucille Ball claiming to have picked up Japanese radio signals with her teeth fillings during WWII.

While that is true, Heidi Baker is a genuine Christian, and genuine Christian's don't lie. I just wanted that cleared up. You can tell by her behavior that she's overfilled with Holy Spirit. She lives somewhere in Africa, helping those who are dying of disease, starvation, ect.

Although some people do indeed claim to be Christian, tell lie's for fame, attention and so on, I don't deny that much. She's basically doing what God tells us to do in the Bible: Give to the poor. Sorry, I guess I strongly believe she stands for truth and justice, as does God.

Thank's for your input.

 

[Meg]

While that is true, Heidi Baker is a genuine Christian, and genuine Christian's don't lie.

I'm sorry, but just because you are a genuine Christian doesn't mean you never lie. Everyone does at some point in their life after all.