[Ahimaaz Smith]

Re: Hello From An Unrepentant Unitarian

You seem awfully preoccupied with homosexuals for someone who claims not to be one. Is your faith so weak that you aren't willing to listen to what gay and lesbian persons have to say?

We really don't need to be lectured on homosexuality by a "minister" from a church whose symbol is a flaming chalice. Moreover, Brother Joshua served his country and all Christiandom faithfully and courageously in a time of war. You have tried (but failed) to pervert a noble and selfless life of service into a derision.

I agree, you are no minister of God. You are a minister of Fraud.

[One-eyed Jack]

Re: Hello From An Unrepentant Unitarian

SKG: "Would you like me to explain you to them?"

It doesn't really matter. I've made 13 posts and I think most of them had both sober opinion and hairy-eyeballed preachments in them, so the gist should be coming pretty clear. Jack is still in beta on that forum, though.

Many people don't think about writing on a forum as writing -- that is, they don't consciously think that once you put words onto the screen you are unavoidably creating a fictional character. Jack is slightly out of the norm because he is aware that he is a fictional character, and that gives him some latitude for entertaining antics that someone trying to write "as himself" may not think of using.

I don't know that I'll mess with the UU section of the forum much. My concern is much more with the righteous absolutist and dominionist nature of Christianity, and with denouncing the hideous specter of a rational atheist morality.

For that matter, I may not post much more on Beliefnet. I really don't need to spend more time online right now...

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. Galatians 6:7

~~ OEJ

[SalvationSeeker]

Re: Hello From An Unrepentant Unitarian

That’s not a contradiction. This is a contradiction:

1 Samuel 28:6: And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord answered him not.

1 Chronicles 10:13-14: So Saul ... inquired not of the Lord: wherefore he slew him.

No, that^ is what's known as twisting scripture and quoting it out of context.

And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.
Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her.
And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.
And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night:
And he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee.
1 Samuel 28:6-8

So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD,
Which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it;
And enquired not of the LORD: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse.
1 Chronicles 10:13-14

Instead of accepting the fact that God didn't want to talk to him, Saul turned to a witch and inquired of her instead (of enquiring God)
And so God killed him.

There is no contradiction whatsoever there.
As always, the contradiction is with the unsaved person (you), not the Bible.

[StarrKingGrad]

Re: Hello From An Unrepentant Unitarian

[quote=SalvationSeeker;133869]No, that's ^ what's known as twisting scripture and quoting it out of context.[/quoting]

I rebuke you, child of Satan!

1 Chronicles 10 does not say that God slew Saul because Saul was not satisfied that God did not answer. 1 Chronicles 10 was very explicit on this point, Saul did not enquire of God. The context you added does not in any way change that plain and simple truth.

You see, the good people at Landover Baptist Church have convinced me that every single word in the Bible is to be taken completely literally, so I can no longer interpret things however I please or for the sake of convenience like the Unitarians and the Catholics and the other athiests do. If the chronicler said Saul did not enquire of God, then Saul did not enquire of God, and none of your sophistic arguments will convince me otherwise. Case closed.

[StarrKingGrad]

Re: Hello From An Unrepentant Unitarian

Many people don't think about writing on a forum as writing -- that is, they don't consciously think that once you put words onto the screen you are unavoidably creating a fictional character.

Or sometimes two. Or even a trinity.

Jack is slightly out of the norm because he is aware that he is a fictional character, and that gives him some latitude for entertaining antics that someone trying to write "as himself" may not think of using.

Not to mention the latitude to refer to himself in the third-person without feeling at all self-conscious.

I don't know that I'll mess with the UU section of the forum much. My concern is much more with the righteous absolutist and dominionist nature of Christianity, and with denouncing the hideous specter of a rational atheist morality.

There's plenty of rational morality, atheist and otherwise, in the Unitarian Universalist church. That's yet one more reason to throw off the shackles of Joshua's Bendover church and give us a try!

[JennyD]

Re: Hello From An Unrepentant Unitarian

Oh no, now I must abandon my faith. Perhaps I should become a Unitarian!







How tiresome you are! Is this what they teach in high school debate class these days, to avoid discussions of substance? And to claim that you can't answer questions about YOUR faith because someone else of YOUR faith might answer differently?

I fail to see why the men of this forum bother with you. You're nothing but an "artful dodger".

[Ezekiel Bathfire]

Re: Hello From An Unrepentant Unitarian

Ah, contradictions… I’d like you to visit “The Heretic Traps” posted by Brother Jeb Thurmond – they are just that. The Landover Baptist Church Ministers and Congregation can help you avoid an eternity of torment in a pit of sulfur but you must open not only your heart but your mind to the Word of The Almighty.

Free thinking is not entirely forbidden – you can choose your meals to an extent, your clothes to an extent, your occupation to an extent and the freedom not to question your betters.

There are too many Christians out there who pick and choose amongst the verses of the Bible. The simple fact is that a True Christian™ will accept that God’s Word is always correct and instructive or be damned forever.

Wishy-washy people, who think parts of the Bible are too violent, too sexy or too restrictive are not Christians. Why would the Almighty Lord God of Hosts give guidance and example and then not bother if people (whom he created) followed that guidance and example?

Christianity is “All or Nothing”. Times change but the Word of the Lord is everlasting and unchanging.

There is a “However.”

The Bible is the essential Word of God. Clearly the ~6,000 years of the earth since the creation cannot be recorded minute for minute in one book. It would be a magnificent and enlightening tome, but it would be far too big. There are gaps. We do not know what Elisha had for breakfast on his birthday. There is no mention of King David brushing his teeth, Christ is never mentioned going to the rest room – yet all must have happened.

Note first that the thread referred to above is headed “FOR TRUE CHRISTIANS™ ONLY!” Well, let me say that you are not a True Christian and therefore cannot be expected to understand the apparent contradictions. It is quite impossible to come here and expect to be an expert merely on the basis of having to re-sit several years at school and cheated to pass exams.

So to the heretic traps. Is there any contradiction? Well, the first answer is clearly that there is none. Let us look at one pair at random that might, to the Unsaved e.g. you, seem to be a contradiction:

God is all powerful
Jer 32:27/ Matt 19:26

God is not all powerful
Judg 1:19

The question in your mind – because you are a heretic and not that bright – is “How can both be true?”

Well, here God is asking you to fill in the blanks. I told you that not every smallest detail is in the Bible. God does not want those who pick and choose what they will read in His Holy Book – he wants you to read it all – Yes! ALL!

When you have done that, and learned its True Meaning™ the answer will be clear. You will know. But the heretic who merely sips at the fount of knowledge and truth will be caught out – if he knows any answer (unlikely), he will certainly not know more than one.

God, in this “so-called” contradiction is asking you to work it out for yourself. There is only one answer, get it right and a gold star appears in your heavenly records.

See, it’s rather like being a police officer: on Tuesday your informant will say, “Rastus stole the pie.” On Wednesday he will say, “Rastus didn’t steal the pie.” It’s down to you to find the Truth.

(Clearly, in this case, Rastus did steal the pie, but that’s by the by)

The heretic trap is like the lazy detective who will go home saying, “I’ll just say that it wasn’t Rastus, then I won’t have to do any work.” When the real answer is “I need to do more investigation on the case.”

The heretic, the lollygagger, and the smartass will fail the test. The True Christian™ will know the answer: the answer is that it is a trick question designed to catch the unsaved: there are 2 answers but only one meaning.

When a True Christian™, by use of a heretic trap, finds an unsaved person, he will find it his pleasure and duty to instruct the fallen fellow in the hopes of saving his soul. Much as we are doing here for you.

Discard us and you discard your right to eternal life. Accept us and you will see what Truly Good™ people we and you are.

Amen

Bathfire E.

[see_the_light]

Re: Hello From An Unrepentant Unitarian

No, that's ^ what's known as twisting scripture and quoting it out of context.

I rebuke you, child of Satan!

1 Chronicles 10 does not say that God slew Saul because Saul was not satisfied that God did not answer. 1 Chronicles 10 was very explicit on this point, Saul did not enquire of God. The context you added does not in any way change that plain and simple truth.

You see, the good people at Landover Baptist Church have convinced me that every single word in the Bible is to be taken completely literally, so I can no longer interpret things however I please or for the sake of convenience like the Unitarians and the Catholics and the other athiests do. If the chronicler said Saul did not enquire of God, then Saul did not enquire of God, and none of your sophistic arguments will convince me otherwise. Case closed.

Ok, you are a no minister, just a zitty kid lost in your parents' basement...

there is no interpretation, just reading

So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, Which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it; And enquired not of the LORD

You might consider that witchcraft is a no-no (at least for non urticarians)

PRAISE THE LORD!

p.s. do insult back if you must, search harder cases if you want, but don't talk of interpretation on direct and simple quotations

[StarrKingGrad]

Re: Hello From An Unrepentant Unitarian

there is no interpretation, just reading

And, to be blunt, there's not a lot of that going on around Landover, either.

So Saul... enquired not of the LORD

You don't have to convince me, that's what I just said. Yet another point of agreement!

You might consider that witchcraft is a no-no

I did, but the notion is so ridiculous when compared to the ground-truth that I decided to convert back from BBB to UU, where witchcraft is a yes-yes. Many of my parishoners are Wiccans, and they are among the kindest, least selfish people I know. Real salt of the Earth types.

PRAISE THE LORD!

I do, my friend, every day.

[Cheshire]

Re: Hello From An Unrepentant Unitarian

And, to be blunt, there's not a lot of that going on around Landover, either.



You don't have to convince me, that's what I just said. Yet another point of agreement!



I did, but the notion is so ridiculous when compared to the ground-truth that I decided to convert back from BBB to UU, where witchcraft is a yes-yes. Many of my parishoners are Wiccans, and they are among the kindest, least selfish people I know. Real salt of the Earth types.



I do, my friend, every day.

You let WICCERANS get near you? You need jesus's help, doncha?-shudder-

[One-eyed Jack]

Re: Hello From An Unrepentant Unitarian

Just invaded the UU section of the SuperstitionNet forum. Found this:

After reading this thread, I have to ask what the point is in "changing religions" as frequently as one changes one's underclothes.

Do you actually believe in any of the various deities you worship, rider, or do you just pick up what seems interesting one day, then something else the next? Is it all just a game to you?

How many of those various deities have given commandments to their followers to destroy those who would leave their religion? Do you think this means it's OK with them for you to bounce from cult to cult, like a rabbit on crack?

Is "Unitarian Universalist" actually synonymous with "dilettante"?

Good question. The previous posts in the thread boasted of the kinds of superstitious nutcakery the posters were experimenting with, from Satanism to Buddhism to SkyCloudism-with-a-side-of-potato-nuggets.

Sorry, StarrKing. If that's a cross-section of a UU congregation it sounds more like unfettered stupidity than a coherent religion.

~~ OEJ

[StarrKingGrad]

Re: Hello From An Unrepentant Unitarian

And to claim that you can't answer questions about YOUR faith because someone else of YOUR faith might answer differently?

I can guarantee that others of MY faith will answer differently. We don't have a single text like the Bible or a single representative of God on Earth like your Pastor Deacon Fred, or anything approaching the certitude that you True Christians have--faith comes to us in the form of questions and quandaries. So I cannot provide complete, or even representative, answers to your questions.

Asking me to represent the entire Unitarian community in a matter of faith would be like asking you to answer Biblical questions without considering the Book of Leviticus. If it could be done at all, it would be done badly. Surely you don't want me to pretend to be something that I am not?

If you insist on a single source for answers about our faith, you could do worse than turning to the Ask A Question page on the Unitarian Universalist Association website (if you do ask them, please don't start by asking whether the Holy Ghost exists--they get that one a lot, so they're prepared--and please tell them that the devilishly handsome minister from Berkeley with the glib sense of humor says, "Hi."). Somehow, though, I suspect that their answers will leave you just as unsatisfied as I know that mine would.

I fail to see why the men of this forum bother with you.

Of course you fail to see. You are a woman. That is why women are not permitted to teach the Word.

1 Timothy 2:11-15: ...I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing.

I learned that over in the Promise Enforcers forum. So, if you want to chitchat, maybe you could enlighten me as to how your salvation in childbearing is coming along.

[StarrKingGrad]

Re: Hello From An Unrepentant Unitarian

You let WICCERANS get near you? You need jesus's help, doncha?-shudder-

We all need Jesus's help.

I tried to warn you with sarcasm. I tried to warn you directly. Run, Cheshire, run, before it is too late!

[JennyD]

Re: Hello From An Unrepentant Unitarian

Just invaded the UU section of the SuperstitionNet forum. Found this:

Good question. The previous posts in the thread boasted of the kinds of superstitious nutcakery the posters were experimenting with, from Satanism to Buddhism to SkyCloudism-with-a-side-of-potato-nuggets.

Sorry, StarrKing. If that's a cross-section of a UU congregation it sounds more like unfettered stupidity than a coherent religion.

~~ OEJ

. . . much like SKG's posts, Brother OEJ? I note that he had no comment regarding your post.

I'd say I was surprised, but God commands us not to lie.

[StarrKingGrad]

Re: Hello From An Unrepentant Unitarian

Sorry, StarrKing. If that's a cross-section of a UU congregation it sounds more like unfettered stupidity than a coherent religion.

I never said that UU is a coherent religion. Ours is a Gospel not of cohesion, but of hope, inclusivity, and affirmation. After all, we were created in God's image, and nobody dictated to Him what to believe. That means that I am the only person in UU who believes everything that I believe. But, as my personal hero, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., said, "You and God are a majority."