calls to prayer...

[Furn_Darkside]

Again to anyone I may have offended I apologize and I will say no more on the subject.

Salutations,

No worries- It seems I stick my foot in my mouth every other post. Give me a moment and I am sure you will have an example.

FD

 

[Squire James]

Here in Florida I think the dominant religion is air conditioner worship. It turned out to be surprisingly evangelical this year (ie: it spread to regions normally not known for it, like Massachusetts).

 

[jhilahd]

Darraketh,

No worries here either. I'm glad you felt comfortable enough to share you story.

You see people tend to forget(not you, but the example of your former pastor, or was it someone elses) that the Christian faith is based upon freedom.

To quote a famous piece of scripture, "the truth shall set you free". That truth being, that Jesus was/is the messiah. The Christ. The Redeemer. And all people have to do is accept him as King of their lives. Boom.

It doesn't matter if you roll d20's, pierce your nose, dye your hair. And somehow... that message always gets lost.

But-back to the original request/post, I think it's a strong statement of faith to show the world, believers and non-believers that this is a hobby. And hobbies tend to build relationships. Relationships build trust, and lead to things like prayer requests. (please, no Yoda jokes, I could hear his voice as I wrote that last bit. Fear leads to potatoe chips, potatoe chips leads to dip, dipping leads to double dipping...)

I, for one, think it is a good thing. And those of you who are not of the Christian walk and have posted. Thanks. It takes an open mind and heart to post here. I haven't read much in the way of flaming/mocking. And if there were, I didn't construe them in any troll-like fashion. Only matter-of-fact.

But I digress...

-Jhilahd

{edited for bad, bad spelling]

 

[Darkness]

I'm not a member - nor do I follow the doctrine, even loosely - of any church or other religious organization.

AFAIC, my faith is between god(s) and me. Which has worked well enough so far.

I have some interest in Buddhism, though; maybe I'll follow that path in earnest some day - who knows...

 

[jester47]

What amazes me to this day is, we were still allowed/encouraged to believe in Santa, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy.

Because, its the subconscious idea of the trinity manifesting itself in a consumer culture shell.

Father = Santa Claus - Brings the gift (jesus) into the world. Who's got more patriarchal trappings than old saint nick? Elves = Angels.
Son = Easter Bunny
Holy Spirit = Tooth fairy.

 

[jester47]

As for god, I was raised that there is only one true god and if you don't believe in him, you and all the other sinners and worshippers of false gods are going to be cast into a lake of fire and burn for eternity and there was no leeway for muslims, catholics, jews, buddists, mormons, presbyterians or any others.

Ironicly such behevior is, in my opinion and upbringing and study, very unchristian. These are almost like the people that open the Bible and read things out of context like "Wives in the same way accept the authority of your husband" but miss the part half way down the page that says "Husbands, in the same way show consideration for your wives..." The same thing happens in the Koran where it says "you can have up to five wives... If you can take it, why would you want to?"

I had a lady come to my door quoting a single line of scripture. "The wages of sin is death" I then made her spend 10 minutes reading Romans 6 in its entirity. Then I told her what I thought the chapter meant.

Geeze people like that annoy me!

Aaron.

 

[Furn_Darkside]

Geeze people like that annoy me!

Haha, you rule 47.

Forget everything I said about the other 46 jesters.

FD

 

[dave_o]

Taoism Now!

I'm Taoist.

What do I worship? Everything.

Yes, even that.

 

[CrazyMage]

We still haven't nailed the real key item--is there an objective reality to the items discussed by religion? Is there a God? What is he like? Heaven and hell? How does one get to each?

If there is no absolute reality to these things, then it matters (for eternity) very little what one believes.

If there is an objective reality (God is and acts a certain way, whether I like it or not), then it becomes an issue when one rejects that reality. Then you can speak of this religion being Right, and that one being Wrong.

Much of current culture and thinking has completely eliminated the idea that there is an objective reality behind any religion, and therefore correct and incorrect religions. Instead, its "Believe what you want, what comforts you, makes you a better person," etc.

If I want to speak about what the Bible says (to use the earlier quoted example, "The wages of sin is death" and which continues, "But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.") and I'm talking to someone who equates the Bible with the latest Tom Clancy as far as containing Truth and Divine Revelation, I'm not going to get very far, though the Word can still work.

I can only operate from the position that the Bible is indeed the inerrant, inspired Word of God. This fact alone puts me in opposition to many people in a discussion on religion.

 

[Tewligan]

Eh...youve got at least 1 pagan here who plays D&D. I have a Druid friend that plays, and another gamer friend is an ordained minister of the Universal Life Church. I wont hold your Christianity against you though.

Feh. Anyone can be an ordained minister of the ULC if they're willing to take the 90 seconds to fill out the online registration form - _I'm_ an ordained minister, and I'm an atheist. In keeping with your generosity, though, I won't hold your "religion" against you.