Are people that brainwashed they dont even stop and question their religion?

[Man of Steel]

You're very ill.

But you won't recognize and acknowledge this, because you're ... ill.

It's unfortunate you feel that way, but I've been called far worse by many others.

[bigmikecox]

Lots of good points made in this thread

[da_vinci]

I appreciate your evaluation of my testimony.  I don't know what "your psyche tyring to not overheat" or "intoxication by these magical thoughts" means, but that's ok.  

Great news is I'm no longer a weak person.  I have strength and confidence in Jesus Christ now.  Feel wonderful actually....never better.  

Now I'll will give you another link to consider:

http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?topic=585299.0

  

Have you solved real life issues? If so - why didn't you do that without imaginary friend? It makes no sense. What exactly have made you "strong"? People who are buzzed from alcohol for ex. feel like they finally have no issues too, but that's not the case when it comes to a factual reality.
 

[Man of Steel]

Have you solved real life issues? If so - why didn't you do that without imaginary friend? It makes no sense. What exactly have made you "strong"? People who are buzzed from alcohol for ex. feel like they finally have no issues too, but that's not the case when it comes to a factual reality.
 

Yes, I have solved real life issues.  What other issues are there but real life issues?

In my day-to-day I simply function in accordance with the Lord's will for my life.  I attempt to represent him in all that I do and say.

The Holy Spirit of God that now lives within me as a believer in Jesus Christ has delivered me from fear, anxiety, jealousy, bitterness, depression, etc.... and brings about joy, happiness, compassion and strength in my soul.  It literally pours out of me.   I have good days and bad like everyone, but my response to both today is different than it was without Christ.  Today my bad days really aren't that bad anymore....just opportunities to abide by his will and draw closer to him.

Fact is Christ is the reason my life has improved leaps and bounds and I give him the glory and take no credit for myself.   I want others to come to the same understanding and relationship with Christ.  Be made free from sin and the trappings of this world and enjoy the glory that is his righteousness.  I believe a lot you men to be good men and I don't want to see any of separated from God for eternity in hell.

I hope that helps you understand my perspective a bit more.

[da_vinci]

Why is it that people at their weakest, that hit rock bottom, often find Jesus?   

Like me, they run headfirst into him because in his grace that's where he waits on us.  Jesus is the rock....our foundation....the cornerstone.

The tangible revelation of his reality in my life changed me forever and I will never deny him and will encourage others to seek him.   

One of my religious friends once said "If you'd face death - you'd know what I mean, what faith is.", and I answered him "I did face death, twice, it was very close and you know what? The last thing I thought about was god and my calm and rational mind and fast thinking saved me from death, NOT god.", he had a blank stare for a while and changed the topic.

[Man of Steel]

One of my religious friends once said "If you'd face death - you'd know what I mean, what faith is.", and I answered him "I did face death, twice, it was very close and you know what? The last thing I thought about was god and my calm and rational mind and fast thinking saved me from death, NOT god.", he had a blank stare for a while and changed the topic.

You can overcome all sorts of things in life - including escaping death - and remain completely Godless the entire time.   I'm glad to hear you are alive and well and have learned from your experiences. 

What you can't do on your own is atone for your sins and be made righteous before God the Father.  It's only through Jesus Christ, the Son of God, that we can be made right before God and sanctified for his good and will purposes in our lives.   There is no eternity with God without Jesus Christ....there is only eternal separation from him based upon your choice to reject him.

[da_vinci]

Exactly. MOS is twisting his words around.

Interestingly enough, I knew someone who was in a worse spot than MOS. He was an atheist. And is currently an atheist. Never relied on religion to pull himself back up. Relied on himself and a good support system. Some people need the clutch like MOS, and others do not.

Even when I was going through some scary medical stuff, I never prayed, and never looked toward religion. Again, some people need the crutch, and others do not. It definitely says something about personality differences.

This is how you weed out strong from the weak, simple as that. Life is often rough, merciless, unfair and only strong survive, the rest are doomed to indulge in alcohol, narcotics, andtideressants OR religion, to be able to sustain their somewhat sane mind and not off themselves.

[da_vinci]

Actually I don't know he means in those circumstances.   A "psyche overheating" or "magic intoxication".....sorry, never heard/read those expressions.  Hopefully he can clarify.

When a person (animal) feels weak, constantly weak, not being able to control ones life - all of it's survival systems are sending signals that something is wrong, the survival is at stake, a prolonged state like this means a big confusion, depression, being miserable, scared, basically going out of your mind, thus... "overheating" would mean commiting a suicide by not being able to live in that hell anymore. Your "relief" came from religion, simple as that, it's funny to witness how you try to steer away from this understanding, but it's expected. Religion is a "weed for a soul".

[Fortress]

Yes, I have solved real life issues.  What other issues are there but real life issues?

In my day-to-day I simply function in accordance with the Lord's will for my life.  I attempt to represent him in all that I do and say.

The Holy Spirit of God that now lives within me as a believer in Jesus Christ has delivered me from fear, anxiety, jealousy, bitterness, depression, etc.... and brings about joy, happiness, compassion and strength in my soul.  It literally pours out of me.   I have good days and bad like everyone, but my response to both today is different than it was without Christ.  Today my bad days really aren't that bad anymore....just opportunities to abide by his will and draw closer to him.

Fact is Christ is the reason my life has improved leaps and bounds and I give him the glory and take no credit for myself.   I want others to come to the same understanding and relationship with Christ.  Be made free from sin and the trappings of this world and enjoy the glory that is his righteousness.  I believe a lot you men to be good men and I don't want to see any of separated from God for eternity in hell.

I hope that helps you understand my perspective a bit more.

Your mental stability is hanging by a thread. I fear you're quite close to a massive emotional and spiritual implosion. No one is as close to the edge as someone who spouts off like you do.

Explore a backup plan for when your god fails to deliver/your delusion hits a brick wall.

[da_vinci]

You can overcome all sorts of things in life - including escaping death - and remain completely Godless the entire time.   I'm glad to hear you are alive and well and have learned from your experiences.  

What you can't do on your own is atone for your sins and be made righteous before God the Father.  It's only through Jesus Christ, the Son of God, that we can be made right before God and sanctified for his good and will purposes in our lives.   There is no eternity with God without Jesus Christ....there is only eternal separation from him based upon your choice to reject him.

I hope you realize that I don't have even slightest issue about not reaching the "eternity" or about my "sins". I literally don't care, when I die - I die, game over, lights out baby, I do not sweat that at all. Why are you afraid of death? There's nothing to be afraid about it, just "remember" the time you were still not here, was it all that bad?

[King Shizzo]

MOS may deny it, but doubt lies in even the most devout. I 100% believe he is sincere in his belief that Jesus is his savior, but that does not stop the constant battle between questioning/reassuring going on, in the back of his mind.

He may be right, he may be wrong, but Man of Steel has placed his bet for everyone to see (including God)

I respect him for that. I respect anyone who sticks by their convictions. If there is a God, he would respect that too.

[Skeletor]

Gotcha.  Yes Constantine certainly helped pave the way for Christianity and the early organized church of Rome.   After centuries of persecution Christians finally had a advocate in him.   It was Constantine that was responsible for establishing the Council of Nicea so I would definitely agree he helped shape the predominance of Christianity in the West today.

A bit more than an advocate. After this mongrel followed even kinder Christians like Justinian, Constantius II and Theodosius I.

[Parker]

I think the only real answer is terrorist action against religion. Start blowing up Churches, Mosques, Synagogues etc regardless of the domination, just target religion in general and this will start making folks think twice about where they go on Sunday or when they hear call to prayer etc etc.  Religious fuckers have made the average man's life more dangerous anywhere he goes, why can't we return the favour.  Religion just needs to be seen like any other fascist movement or organization, a danger to civilised societies everywhere and needs to be attacked and defeated.

Won't work. You cannot kill ideology. Furthermore, it is the religions that want what you want---patriachial families. So, you want to wage war against those who agree with you?

[da_vinci]

MOS may deny it, but doubt lies in even the most devout. I 100% believe he is sincere in his belief that Jesus is his savior, but that does not stop the constant battle between questioning/reassuring going on, in the back of his mind.

He may be right, he may be wrong, but Man of Steel has placed his bet for everyone to see (including God)

I respect him for that. I respect anyone who sticks by their convictions. If there is a God, he would respect that too.

The only reason he's actively participating in these religious sections and threads is because he obviously feels that it may be bullshit. Like "prove me wrong", then when someone does that, such a person refrains for a while, recollects himself back up and repeats the routine. It may be a rational mind trying to overtake the delusions in this subtle way. Sometimes it succeeds, sometimes it is numbed for ever.
 I do not believe in god and I don't have any urge to participate in religious section for ex, because... I just honestly don't care, I've long ago realized that it's all smoke and mirrors and I rely solely on myself, no need for an external "force", sometimes I win, sometimes I fall hard, suffer, but for fucks sake - I'd be out of my mind if I'd try to seek "help" outside the physical world (which is all that matters). It's usualy a conditioning from a family or other weak people who influence a person at the right time. If there would've been appropriate strong influences for such a person (for ex. like I had) he/she would react to the challenges of life in a completely different way.

[King Shizzo]

The only reason he's actively participating in these religious sections and threads is because he obviously feels that it may be bullshit. Like "prove me wrong", then when someone does that, such a person refrains for a while, recollects himself back up and repeats the routine. It may be a rational mind trying to overtake the delusions in this subtle way. Sometimes it succeeds, sometimes it is numbed for ever.
 I do not believe in god and I don't have any urge to participate in religious section for ex, because... I just honestly don't care, I've long ago realized that it's all smoke and mirrors and I rely solely on myself, no need for an external "force", sometimes I win, sometimes I fall hard, suffer, but for fucks sake - I'd be out of my mind if I'd try to seek "help" outside the physical world (which is all that matters). It's usualy a conditioning from a family or other weak people who influence a person at the right time. If there would've been appropriate strong influences for such a person (for ex. like I had) he/she would react to the challenges of life in a completely different way.

True, but the opposite also occurs. People who do not believe in organized religion (like myself) still ponder from time to time, "what is all of this here for?" Which is why I categorize myself as Agnostic. I do not believe humans were meant to solve the mysteries of the universe.

Science helps, but even that is still a guessing game, that constantly changes.

[da_vinci]

True, but the opposite also occurs. people who do not believe in organized religion (like myself) still ponder from time to time, "what is all of this here for?" Which is why I categorize myself as Agnostic. I do not believe humans were meant to solve the mysteries of the universe.

Science helps, but even that is still a guessing game, that constantly changes.

I used to think about that, sometimes I still think, but in a romantic kind of way, like watching the stars at night you know, but overall I just said fuck it, it seems there really aren't any purpose, it just is, it must not have a purpose (it's our minds creation), I even think that humans may very well solve the "mysteries" and the funny thing is - if they will, then nothing is left to solve further. It's like a universe solving and experiencing itself, once you do all the math there is - it's over, no more math, because it exists in the same universe, it began in the same universe and it's somewhat "finite". Humans trying to solve the mysteries are actually an introspective of the universe, like a gigantic "mind", enrmous calculator/processor, based on 011001010100 type of code.
 All that aside - I don't care. While I'm here - I just try to "level" in this survival game, to score points, bonuses, it's fun, we, humans, create video games of the same kind - going through checkpoints until it's over. Maybe we are in a game too, in an artificial AI that recreates itself indifinitelly, thus creating more and more "universes". That would be cool!

 But god? Show me that fucker, I will ask him why the hell pharma grade GH is so damn expensive and I prayed for like ten years to make it cheap, TEN YEARS! Wrong god?? Fuck me then..

[Man of Steel]

When a person (animal) feels weak, constantly weak, not being able to control ones life - all of it's survival systems are sending signals that something is wrong, the survival is at stake, a prolonged state like this means a big confusion, depression, being miserable, scared, basically going out of your mind, thus... "overheating" would mean commiting a suicide by not being able to live in that hell anymore. Your "relief" came from religion, simple as that, it's funny to witness how you try to steer away from this understanding, but it's expected. Religion is a "weed for a soul".

Thanks for the clarification.

Actually my "relief" didn't come from the generic "religion".  Religion in and of itself is basically nothing.

My hope, peace and joy came from Jesus Christ.

[Man of Steel]

MOS may deny it, but doubt lies in even the most devout. I 100% believe he is sincere in his belief that Jesus is his savior, but that does not stop the constant battle between questioning/reassuring going on, in the back of his mind.

He may be right, he may be wrong, but Man of Steel has placed his bet for everyone to see (including God)

I respect him for that. I respect anyone who sticks by their convictions. If there is a God, he would respect that too.

Thank you friend, I do my best to be truthful and sincere.

But, I do have full assurance in the heart of who Jesus Christ is and that I am eternally secure in him.   I no longer have any doubt.

[Man of Steel]

The only reason he's actively participating in these religious sections and threads is because he obviously feels that it may be bullshit. Like "prove me wrong", then when someone does that, such a person refrains for a while, recollects himself back up and repeats the routine. It may be a rational mind trying to overtake the delusions in this subtle way. Sometimes it succeeds, sometimes it is numbed for ever.
 I do not believe in god and I don't have any urge to participate in religious section for ex, because... I just honestly don't care, I've long ago realized that it's all smoke and mirrors and I rely solely on myself, no need for an external "force", sometimes I win, sometimes I fall hard, suffer, but for fucks sake - I'd be out of my mind if I'd try to seek "help" outside the physical world (which is all that matters). It's usualy a conditioning from a family or other weak people who influence a person at the right time. If there would've been appropriate strong influences for such a person (for ex. like I had) he/she would react to the challenges of life in a completely different way.

No, I just love God and want to share Jesus Christ with others.

[Man of Steel]

Your mental stability is hanging by a thread. I fear you're quite close to a massive emotional and spiritual implosion. No one is as close to the edge as someone who spouts off like you do.

Explore a backup plan for when your god fails to deliver/your delusion hits a brick wall.

I'm doing great actually.  I get tired of some of the characters on these boards, but I'm doing great.

I did speak to a couple folks that I confide in about taking some time away from the boards.  A little recharge.

Speaking to folks about God can be taxing at times, but I do it out of love.   Still, recharge is good sometimes.....not sure yet what I'm going to do.

[Man of Steel]

I hope you realize that I don't have even slightest issue about not reaching the "eternity" or about my "sins". I literally don't care, when I die - I die, game over, lights out baby, I do not sweat that at all. Why are you afraid of death? There's nothing to be afraid about it, just "remember" the time you were still not here, was it all that bad?

Well, that's exactly why I'm speaking to you.  I'm called to spread the gospel to those that are do not know Christ.

I speak to you out of a love grounded in Jesus Christ, but I legitimately and sincerely don't want to see you spend an eternity in hell separated from all that God is.

I realize you don't belief and aren't phased by the notion of sin, but I'm called to warn you of its effects, to share the gospel and to share how it's impacted my life.  Sometimes I engage in some back and forth debate/discussion as well.  Today I'm just sharing my faith a bit.

[da_vinci]

Thanks for the clarification.

Actually my "relief" didn't come from the generic "religion".

My hope, peace and joy came from Jesus Christ.

Yes, this is what most of religious persons I've ever met say. My question to that is always: So what is that "Jesus Christ" without "generic" religion? How do you even know what it's about then? Or is it just....believing that he....well... exists? What's the point?

[King Shizzo]

Thank you friend, I do my best to be truthful and sincere.

But, I do have full assurance in the heart of who Jesus Christ is and that I am eternally secure in him.   I no longer have any doubt.

Bullshit. You are only human. Doubts are what make us normal.

If you were knelt, being judged before god, you would not dare lie to him about your fears of his existence. He is all knowing, therefore why lie to us.

MOS, I know you believe, but you cannot control every thought or emotion that happens within you.

I would advise you to ask for forgiveness every night, because you sin everyday.

[da_vinci]

Well, that's exactly why I'm speaking to you.  I'm called to spread the gospel to those that are do not know Christ.

I speak to you out of a love grounded in Jesus Christ, but I legitimately and sincerely don't want to see you spend an eternity in hell separated from all that God is.

I realize you don't belief and aren't phased by the notion of sin, but I'm called to warn you of its effects, to share the gospel and to share how it's impacted my life.  Sometimes I engage in some back and forth debate/discussion as well.  Today I'm just sharing my faith a bit.

Man, what are you talking about? I do NOT CARE what's after death, hell, heaven, nothing - I simply do not care, I don't ponder about that, I don't fear it, I just don't care. And if there's hell somewhere, it's here already, on earth. But at least it's not boring. If there's a heaven, I sure do not want to go there, I'd die again out of boredom.

[da_vinci]

Thank you friend, I do my best to be truthful and sincere.

But, I do have full assurance in the heart of who Jesus Christ is and that I am eternally secure in him.   I no longer have any doubt.

Every wise person is in doubt all the time. Only thing that is sure is that everything is an assumption. I mean - yeah, I leave a chance that there actually is god (just like an unicorn and bigfoot) and if anyone would prove me - I'd adjust my beliefs, too bad I only see scared and weak people who are reaching for straws when life hits them hard and they doesn't have much to lean on.