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Bad analogy imo,i dont think God cares one iota for politians and the like,but FEAR? you only need to fear Him and not what other`s say you should fear.
Originally posted by saint4God
This fact appears not to apply to me. Sorry, but I wasn't a Bible-fed child (though it might've helped me figure out what was happening later on).
I think this is an excellent point...and the buck stops here. My kid has never believed santa exists, and yes, she is normal. She still gets presents and is equally happy ripping them open with Mom & Dad listed as the gift-giver.
Though I'd like to hear it, I'll throw in my 2 cents. Santa never did anything for me. God gave me eternal life (as well as a rescue from self-destruction). It's that simple, really.
I don't think the bedtime story of Santa was ever represented as truth from adult to adult. If you're saying that Santa is a conspiracy against children, I'll agree.
Originally posted by shaunybaby
so why then do you believe biblical myths if you only knew about them from adulthood. or perhaps, do you not literally believe there was a talking snake?
Originally posted by shaunybaby
i wasn't trying to point out that all kids believe in santa claus. i was pointing out that believing in a fat man in a white and red suit, with flying magic randeer, delivering presents and coming down your chimney was merely as believable as a myth like noah's ark or adam & eve.
Originally posted by shaunybaby
well if you ever see an adult dress up in a santa costume and see the look on children's faces, then maybe you'd change your mind. and that's just someone's parent dressing up in a lame costume that brings happiness, which also keeps the santa myth alive for children by having something physical. ofcourse when you're older you know it was just your dad or your uncle in a costume but it doesn't take away the happy memories.
Originally posted by shaunybaby
there's no harm in believing in santa when you're a kid,
Originally posted by shaunybaby
but as an adult you know it's just a story and myth that holds no truth whatsoever.
Originally posted by shaunybaby
ofcourse it's not represented as truth from adult to adult. but have you ever heard some parents say 'be good or santa won't bring you any presents'. it's like an ultimatum...be good or else. the same as believe in jesus and you will be saved, otherwise you go to hell...believe in santa and you will get presents. it's that same age old be good and recieve something in return.
Originally posted by saint4God
There are no "parents" for adults to dress up as God to fool us.
Actually there is, and you've made that point quite clear here.
There's that point again. If you lie to your kids, how can they know when you're telling the truth?
Originally posted by shaunybaby
they're not parents...they have a different names...'vicars' 'bishops' 'priest' 'the pope'...they do all the dressing up.
Originally posted by shaunybaby
maybe in the same way as children hold on to santa, adults and children also try to hold on to god however mythical it might sound.
Originally posted by shaunybaby
There's that point again. If you lie to your kids, how can they know when you're telling the truth?
because the whole world is built on lies. simple lies like if you watch too much tv your eyes will go square. if you don't eat your vegetables you won't get any presents from santa.
Originally posted by shaunybaby
if you stare at the computer screen too much you'll go blind.
Originally posted by shaunybaby
what people are trying to do when they tell you this is to make you do 'more' of something like eat more vegetables, or do less of something like watch less tv. i don't think it's harmed me too much being told these little white lies, because i grow up and realise adults were just trying to do what was best for me. however, when christians grow up they grow up to carry on believing in 'lies' and 'fabrications' that the church fathers created. but, no one questions that, because if you question the bible, you're anti-religious...
Originally posted by shaunybaby
well i'm questioning it.
Originally posted by saint4God
Sorry to hear people see these people in a parenting role. I go God and the Book. These days, I'll hang with a pastor for 1 1/2 hours Sunday morning who will point out some things I've read and give advice, but he not mah daddy.
Again, it doesn't have to be that way. If/when we're parents, we should be strong enough to suck it up and tell the truth instead of building card houses to get through the moment or force obedience.
Actually my spouse acquired short-sightedness for too much computer screen time during the day...or so the doctor said.
I disagree. I'm Christian and still have questions on the Bible.
Originally posted by RANT
Oh and I totally understand if today's anti-Christian environment precludes anyone from admitting they're Christian. So no worries. Your deep, dark secret is safe with me. Wouldn't want to ruin anyone's chances of running for leader of the free world or anything.
Originally posted by shaunybaby
but they are the parents of the church. they're the people, as you say, you go for advice and help. they might not literally be your 'daddy', but it's nice to know they are there. the same as god is always there. perhaps furthering why people would be part of the church as god and the church parents are always there, for some people that's more than their actual parents would ever be in their lives. so maybe they're not looking for god or jesus, but just someone who is there in their lives to help them, whether that's a physical or spiritual person then so be it.
Originally posted by shaunybaby
i guess your 'daughter' (i'm sure it was daughter), was the one at school who told the other kids santa didn't exist.
Originally posted by shaunybaby
in fact they probably would have laughed it off, saying 'he is true, my mummy says so'. i understand where you're coming from. as i'm not a parent myself maybe i'll find out more sometime in the future. but i know that however little a lie might be, if you tell it to your children, how in the world can you ever tell them lying is wrong.
Originally posted by shaunybaby
you're supposed to set examples. but what you do by making small lies, is teaching your children how to lie, which is actually a very twisted part of growing up nowadays. children from a young age learn to lie. such as, mum: 'did you eat one of those cookies'... son: 'no...' just simple lies, nothing like a story to back up why they didn't eat, but soon they'll have the stories to go with their lies until they are adults who can lie almost perfectly. so i'm sure somehow parent's lying, however small they may be, possibly have an affect on their children lying.
Originally posted by shaunybaby
so sometimes i guess parents are telling the truth, even though they just wanted you to spend less time infront of the tv or computer.
Originally posted by shaunybaby
i do actually have trouble reading from a distance, sure hope that's not my short-sightedness.
Originally posted by shaunybaby
i think there's no point in your life when you wouldn't have a question about the bible.
Originally posted by shaunybaby
do you believe that when egyptians mummified their dead, put them in a tomb, that they then went to the afterlife?
Originally posted by shaunybaby
because that is what they truly believed, afterall they built perhaps the greatest monuments of time to house some of the most important people who died. yet, today their belief system is very much dead, and taught as ancient history. but, to the egyptians it was all so real. the same as your beliefs in christianity are all so real today. the question is, at what point in time will christianity be taught in the same way the ancient greek or egyptian gods are taught?
Originally posted by shaunybaby
i think it's not if, but when, it is most certainly an inevitable outcome. the only way this wouldn't happen is jesus coming back...so he better get his skates on.
Originally posted by saint4God
I guess if one fires enough shots, they're bound to hit a target sometime. Why can't a parent just say, "You've spent too much time in front of the computer/tv. Please turn it off for a while. You can go back to it later/tomorrow."?
I don't know how that would affects either of us. All that matters is what's true.
Originally posted by shaunybaby
that would make sense. trying to remember what my mum would say if i was ever watching tv too much or playing the computer. i probably wasn't on much, just when i got home from school for an hour or so, but most of the time i'd be outside anyways. that's maybe the problem, that kids just aren't outside enough today. i grew up right at the point where computer consoles were big, started of with nes, snes, n64 and so on. however, that didn't really stop me from wanting to go out. the problem today is that these consoles take over kids lives, and we're breeding a load of obese diabetic kids
Originally posted by shaunybaby
true. but, christianity is 'true' today, like the egyptian gods were 'true' yesterday.
Originally posted by shaunybaby
what's 'true' tomorrow...we will have to wait and see.
My mom did say "get outside and play!" and I usually answered, "But there's nothing to do, it's so boooorrrrring." She'd call me by my full name, tell me to get off the game or tv, and do it. So, I did begrugingly. Interestingly enough in my early teens I was an obese diabetic kid. Well, not diabetic really, but did eat too many snack foods and candy bars.
So there ya have it folks, from both sides of the fence. Get your kids outside as much as you can, it'll do them a lot of good.
Originally posted by madmanacrosswater
Reminds me of my oldest son. Grew up playing on the computer. Mocked at school because of weight(300lbs) Went into deep depression.
Originally posted by madmanacrosswater
However, he rallied and lost all of his weight. He has now graduated from college, is now attending police officer training school, and is now a svelte 210lbs of muscle.
Originally posted by shaunybaby
www.timesonline.co.uk...
Your thoughts?
The Catholic bishops of England, Wales and Scotland are warning their five million worshippers, as well as any others drawn to the study of scripture, that they should not expect “total accuracy” from the Bible.
Some Christians want a literal interpretation of the story of creation, as told in Genesis, taught alongside Darwin’s theory of evolution in schools, believing “intelligent design” to be an equally plausible theory of how the world began.
Originally posted by shaunybaby
''They should not expect total accuracy'', then how much accuracy should they expect? is the bible 95% accurate, 5% accurate...or even 0%.
Originally posted by truthseeka
Ok, Saint, you asked for it...
Originally posted by truthseeka
Homosexuals. Any public criticism of homosexuals will soon be considered a hate crime, just as it was for 11 Christians under the Pennsylvania hate crime law on Oct. 10, 2004. These Christians were arrested as “hate criminals” for preaching during a huge “gay pride” rally and faced 47 years in prison and $80,000 fines each.
Originally posted by truthseeka
Women. A woman who claims her boyfriend used a sexist word against her and raped her the last time they had sex, can press charges for a “hate crime” of rape. Punishment will triple the usual penalty, about 30 years in prison.
Originally posted by truthseeka
Jews. Already the Dept. of Global Anti-semitism, being established in the US State Dept., makes it “anti-semitic” to express “strong anti-Israel sentiment” against Israel or its leaders. It also says upholding the New Testament charge that Jews killed Christ is “anti-semitic.” Under “anti-hate” laws in Canada and Europe, such statements are “hate crimes” punishable by harsh fines and imprisonment.
Originally posted by truthseeka
So, there you go, Mr. "'Truthfinda' is making this up." I LOVE how you totally disregarded the meat of my post and focused on how I'm going to laugh when y'all realize the truth. What a shame.
Originally posted by truthseeka
Must feel good to practice doublethink while you accuse others of perpetrating a conspiracy against you, all the while blinding yourself to the REAL conspirators...