Originally Posted by
roadmaster
That wasn't an attack, I thought you said in another thread you did not believe. Sorry if I made a mistake. But I agree, we shouldn't have special interest groups in any other country that puts our country second running our nation or buying off our Politian's.
No worries, I didn't take it as an attack. You have never once attacked me. I was just confused, sometimes it is hard to understand a post here and there. I didn't take offense at all. I like to ask when I don't understand something even if it makes me look unintelligent.
As per my religious views it's complicated. I do not consider myself as having a religious designation. I do not agree with "modern" Christianity and the interpretation of the bible. I do not agree with how many of them say their religion is Christ based, but they consider his teachings to be near blasphemy, and practice more of the old testament style, or what Paul taught. This has been my experience, so it is just my opinion on the matter.
I have read the bible countless times. I am not fond of the old testament. I am fond of the 4 gospels though Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the words of Christ. I have also read all of the gnostic gospels many times. I find them to be relevant. They have the same gospels in them that are found in the bible, but they also have more gospels. I have also read the entire Buddhist cannon, as well as many other religious texts. I have spent a large part of my life studying religious texts.
I grew up as a Christian. I lived across the street from a church as a child. I was the only real church goer in the family. I went to every sermon for a large part of my childhood. There was church on Sunday and Wednesday and sometimes there was morning and evening sermon. I went to them all. It was an all adult church too, I was the only small child there. At a young age I begged the church to baptize me. They said it was not permitted that I was much too young. I was relentless. I had been reading the bible and wanted saved. I finally convinced them. So I got baptized even against protocol. I was weird then too I guess.
I was disappointed when I got baptized. I thought that something supernatural was going to happen. But it didn't. I had felt what some would call the presence of God strongly during prayer I thought that when I got baptized that something similar would happen. But it didn't. I then realized that what Jesus said is true, that we are the temple of God. He says do not shout on the street corners, and synagogues as the hypocrites do, when you talk to god go in a room in secret. As a young adult I baptized myself again in a river. But not for the same reasons other Christians do.
But all that being said I do not have a religion. But I do believe literally the words of Christ. So I am not an atheist by any standards. But I also do not believe in god the same way many others do. I do not believe God is a man sitting on a throne in heaven dictating the world. I do believe that the name of God cannot be uttered, and that The Kingdom of God, is as the Gospel of Thomas says, inside of you and all around you. And as Jesus said, we are the temple.
I normally stay away from most religious discussion as it is something that most disagree strongly on. I am not against others religious beliefs, or non beliefs, and that is why I don't talk religion on this forum. Everyone has the right to their own religious beliefs it is very personal. Perhaps it was inappropriate for me to share what I did, but it is just for the record. :)