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originally posted by: FlyersFan
Absolutely.
That's why I said ... it's okay to have a faith or belief in something that hasn't been proven to be true. That's why it's called faith. Maybe it is true and maybe not, but you choose to think it probably is true. But having faith in something that has been proven false? That makes no sense.
originally posted by: DarknStormy
It's because it doesn't matter whether it is historical fact or not, the teachings are a very good way for people to apply themselves in this life if they are followed correctly.
originally posted by: DarknStormy
It's because it doesn't matter whether it is historical fact or not, the teachings are a very good way for people to apply themselves in this life if they are followed correctly.
originally posted by: stumason
For normal folk, perhaps, although I subscribe to the belief that you can be a perfectly good human being with no religion whatsoever, but when you have fundamentalists (of whatever flavour) taking it literally as "the word of God" - despite huge evidence to the contrary - that's when you have problems.
originally posted by: McGinty
originally posted by: FlyersFan
originally posted by: McGinty
But wasn't Jesus himself not that fond of churches?
Just the opposite.
Scripture states that Jesus was 'in the habit' of going to the synagogue .
"And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read." (Luke 4:16)
Mark 1:21 says, "And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.
And Jesus established His own church on Earth - Matthew 16:18-19 (Jesus speaking) - And I tell you that you are Peter,[a] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be[c] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be[d] loosed in heaven.
Well it's been a couple of years since i read the new testament end to end, but i certainly recall Jesus making it clear that the 'church' is an idea, rather than a venue. That he was the church...
That last passage you quoted about Peter being the rock the church is built upon is clearly (at least to my mind) not talking about venues of worship or even an institution. It talking about an idea - that Peter will have followers and those followers will have followers and in this way his teachings will propagate.
Sure, church buildings don't in themselves hinder this, but could aid it and it's hard to imagine such a large flock growing without eventually building places to gather and meet. But it's no secret that these places, as symbols of God, can be utilised and built by people with less pious intentions. Here's something i just found via google which sums this this up pretty well:
...the "Church" and the "church system" are two different things entirely.
The Church: The Ecclesia, the Elect, the Bride of Christ, the true believers, the assembly of those believers, the 80 times in 79 verses that word is used in the King James version of the New Testament.
The church system: The organization of man meeting in defined buildings erroneously called "church". A system based on political motivations to prey on the peoples' wealth and control their minds for the selfish purposes of those who are in control and at the top of the system.
Deeptruths.com
This first line of that piece is what's pertinent to this thread - that there's 2 ways of reading ISIS actions/intentions:
Are they out to destroy the 'Church' (the followers of Christ and Mohammed), or are they out to destroy the 'Church system', in which case they may be defining the church system as defined above,
The organization of man meeting in defined buildings erroneously called "church"
It's not about our personal opinions on the meaning of scriptures, since you know what they say about opinions. It's about analysing ISIS possible opinions about scripture in order to understand them and understand potential malice and threat - only then can we avoid it.
Those here that ring the bell for a new 'anti-christ' on the march, sell themselves short. If i'm correct then ISIS are pro-Christ in eliminating what they may see as a corrupted church system that needs decapitating - first Mecca, next perhaps the Vatican.
Maybe they're right, maybe they're wrong, but all that really matters is preventing innocents getting hurt.
originally posted by: FlyersFan
originally posted by: DarknStormy
The argument can be made for both religions.
Absolutely.
That's why I said ... it's okay to have a faith or belief in something that hasn't been proven to be true. That's why it's called faith. Maybe it is true and maybe not, but you choose to think it probably is true. But having faith in something that has been proven false? That makes no sense.
originally posted by: demus
we are always thought to think belief in one God came after the polytheism; what if that is not the case?
It is the most sacred point within this most sacred mosque, making it the most sacred location in Islam.[
The Hajj pilgrimage is one of the Pillars of Islam, required of all able-bodied Muslims who can afford the trip. In recent times, about 6 million Muslims perform the Hajj every year.
Some of the rituals performed by pilgrims are symbolic of historical incidents. For example, the episode of Hagar's search for water is emulated by Muslims as they run between the two hills of Safa and Marwah whenever they visit Mecca. The Hajj is associated with the life of the Islamic prophet Muhammad from the 7th century, but the ritual of pilgrimage to Mecca is considered by Muslims to stretch back thousands of years to the time of Sayyidna Ibrahim (Abraham).
originally posted by: mahatche
People didn't worship the tombs and mosques that have been destroyed either. If we are hearing the truth, I don't think it matters to ISIS. They are the type that kills over cartoons. They have their mind made up that your god wants them to do it.
originally posted by: hoochymama23
Wow, this site has now truly amazed me. Do you all not think we have no Idea what "ISIS" is doing??
Who is "ISIS" being ran by??
Just the fact that were using "ISIS" to name them should be a Red Flag.
I thought Osama Bin Laden was dead. Now Iran is our alley against "ISIS"??
Russia has sent there Fighters before we were able to??
You all can argue Muslim facts all you want, but there is something much Bigger happening here.
originally posted by: phinubian
a reply to: MX61000
Is that not the site of an ancient Hindu shrine? and the lingam, or omphalos ? I read that Muhammad's father actually worked in some relation to it's construction or maintenance, but again in the context of the shrine being there as a Hindu symbol of sorts standing there long before Islam makes you wonder what is really sacred and pure as a symbol of a religion if it existed in tribute to a completely different God or Gods?