Richard Dawkins Laments The Decline Of Christianity In England, Calls Himself "Culturally Christian"

I would add that these core religious tenets are not unique to Jesus’ teachings, and they are the centerpiece of both faith and civility.

 

I say “Come on, man!”, from time to time, but I’m not the President.

 

Well said @ajoseph.
@Contra
It’s not that the teachings of Jesus aren’t of sound principles.
My understanding is that most all religions use the same premises and underlining as what Jesus preaches. It’s the son of god thing that gives me apprehension.
Didn’t Hammerabi’s Code 1750 bc include some of the same ideas as the 10 commandments? It seems like Christianity is based on some of the most basic tenets of civility and from human nature.

 

I beg your pardon, but yours is not so much a question as it is a peculiar position. Again, my response: “The only difference between Bible-believers and Bible-skeptics is that Bible-believers allow for a few more miracles.” Signed, Dreamliner.

 

Contra, I introduce you to our Former President, Donald J. Trump …

 

I read this several times, and I just don’t get it. If you’re saying you disagree with me, I say … there’s a long line.

 

I’m addressing the Jesus said the same stuff as Buddha trope. Another moral exemplar, etc. It’s more Buddhist than Biblical. But it does make for a shorter Bible.

 

I wonder what he believed:


Abraham Lincoln confided to a friend, “I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go.” In the horrific years of the American Civil War, President Lincoln not only spent time in fervent prayer but also called the country to join him. In 1861, he proclaimed a “day of humiliation, prayer and fasting.” And he did so again in 1863, stating, “It is the duty of nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God: to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon.”

 

Why wasn’t Lincoln pilloried for breaching the Separation of Church and State ?

 

Wait … you believe the above originated with Jesus’ teachings?

 

Why would he be “pilloried” for practicing his faith?!?! Every citizen, including the President, has the right to freely practice his religion.

 

Remember the uproar when Dubya talked about Jesus ? Even Jimmy Carter’s reference to “adultery of the heart” produced endless titillation.

 

No, I can believe that someone, somewhere before Jesus probably thought it was a good idea to be nice to people. My point is that for Jesus, that was a low bar.

 

Will Jesus/God understand if I chose the wrong religion? What about those folks who never heard about Jesus? Those who live in the Amazon rainforest without electricity…
It’s a bit too much for me. Just being human and knowing I’m going to die someday is hard enough without worrying about whether a god will judge me or not.
Appreciate your reply though. Hope I’m not being glib.

 

According to Lucuna?

The essential message of Jesus, according to Jesus (per his hand picked successors):

"Jesus saith to him: I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No man cometh to the Father, but by me."
--John 14:6

"26 Jesus answered them, and said: Amen, amen I say to you, you seek me, not because you have seen miracles, but because you did eat of the loaves, and were filled. 27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that which endureth unto life everlasting, which the Son of man will give you. For him hath God, the Father, sealed. 28 They said therefore unto him: What shall we do, that we may work the works of God? 29 Jesus answered, and said to them: This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he hath sent. 30 They said therefore to him: What sign therefore dost thou shew, that we may see, and may believe thee? What dost thou work?

...40 And this is the will of my Father that sent me: that every one who seeth the Son, and believeth in him, may have life everlasting, and I will raise him up in the last day.

41 The Jews therefore murmured at him, because he had said: I am the living bread which came down from heaven. 42 And they said: Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How then saith he, I came down from heaven? 43 Jesus therefore answered, and said to them: Murmur not among yourselves. 44 No man can come to me, except the Father, who hath sent me, draw him; and I will raise him up in the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets: And they shall all be taught of God. Every one that hath heard of the Father, and hath learned, cometh to me.

... I am the living bread which came down from heaven. 52 If any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever; and the bread that I will give, is my flesh, for the life of the world. 53 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying: How can this man give us his flesh to eat? 54 Then Jesus said to them: Amen, amen I say unto you: Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, you shall not have life in you. 55 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath everlasting life: and I will raise him up in the last day.

56 For my flesh is meat indeed: and my blood is drink indeed. 57 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, abideth in me, and I in him. 58 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father; so he that eateth me, the same also shall live by me. 59 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead. He that eateth this bread, shall live for ever. 60 These things he said, teaching in the synagogue, in Capharnaum.

61 Many therefore of his disciples, hearing it, said: This saying is hard, and who can hear it? 62 But Jesus, knowing in himself, that his disciples murmured at this, said to them: Doth this scandalize you? 63 If then you shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?​

Perhaps. I can't really answer the question, since I have in fact witnessed and been the beneficiary of miracles.

Would I have beleived, if my prayers were ignored?

Woud I beleive if prayer was a one way silolquy, with nothing in return?

Would I believe, if I did not feel the presense of Christ, and the Holy Spirit?

I can't really say, as I've never been hung out to dry and left alone in a vaccuum by my God or my Redeemer.

...but if I'm being honest, hollow words alone, however pretty and eloquent, I would probably not find fulfilling enough to beleive unto death. Or even for entertainment value. In fact, I'd more like likely than not, find them annoying, if not offensive.

So I can't really say I do not require miracles, but they damn sure go a long way to buttressing the claims of super naturality. I do however, require some sort of feeling of presence. That appears to me to be rather important.

Quite frankly, Jesus' claims of 'turn the other cheek' and 'love thy neighbor' would resound incredibly hollow, and amount to next to foolishness, if not for the FACT that he speaks on His Father's--God the Father's--behalf.

Let evil prevail, answer with meekness and softness???

That's nothing short of a formula for hatred to prevail, absent the perspective afforded by an after life, a Higher authority to answer to, the promise of a kingdom wherein Love reigns supreme...

What's more, what pray tell is 'love' even, but warm fuzzy pleasant feelings--easily replicated/immitated through deceit--without a firm authority that IS Truth?

"I AM = the way, the TRUTH and THE LIFE".

Ain't no love without Truth, period.

...and ain't no Truth, without God.

(^^^the unintended point of Pontius Pilate's question "What is truth?", and why it has featured so prominantly in the Tradition of the Faith passed on through the centuries. NB: he *thought* Truth was negotiable).

 

^^^follow up:

Also, to clarify--my point re. miracles, goes beyond the miracles attested to in the Bible.

Miracles and the Catholic Tradition
Miracles are an important aspect of the Catholic faith, and the Church teaches us that they’re a reminder of the power and glory of God. One of the most important aspects of miracles in Catholicism is that they show God is willing to intervene in someone’s life to take away their suffering and share His love and compassion. Learn more about Catholic miracles unexplained by science.

What Are Catholic Miracles?
The Catholic Church believes in miracles. These works of God can be manifested directly or indirectly through the intercessions and prayers of specific Catholic saints. Catholic miracles are a sign of wonder attributed to divine power and God’s mercy, such as control of nature or healing from a grave medical condition. For an act to be considered a Catholic miracle, it must meet specific requirements set forth by the Catholic Church, including:

• Attributable to divine power: One of the most important requirements for an act to be considered a Catholic miracle is if it can be directly contributed to divine power, as God is the only one who can be the cause behind a miracle. Any incident that may have stemmed from created causes, such as nature or man, cannot be considered a miracle. While these effects may be beneficial and marvelous, the Church does not qualify them as miraculous.
• Beyond the abilities of nature: Another important aspect to consider is if the effect is beyond nature’s capabilities. First, a miracle surpasses created powers in the produced effect. While nature creates life in humans, it cannot do this in somebody who is no longer alive. Additionally, the subject rather than the effect defines the miracle. While God can cause an effect that nature can produce, He does so in a way nature does not. While it is natural for a fever to pass, it can be miraculous if it leaves by command or prayer.
• Beyond nature’s order: A miracle must be God’s direct work and beyond all created powers.
• Seemingly extraordinary: A miraculous event is extraordinary, meaning it is contrary to the ordinary course of events. While the creation of human life is awe-inspiring, God decrees that creating life is part of the normal course of events.
• The ability to sense: Finally, a miracle will need to be perceptible by the senses. Miracles are meant to prove God’s revelation and must be marked with a divine character that can be sensed, and even those ignorant will realize its authenticity.

Miracles and the Catholic Tradition - Catholic World Mission
​

Also, miracles such as the apparitions at Fatima, Lourdes, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Eucharistic miracles... regular indications/communications from God, confirming His presence, His Love, His Truth.

Add on--Miracles of the 21st Cencury:

4 Approved Eucharistic Miracles from the 21st Century

 

What if your faith does not believe in a final “judge”? And that faith just proves to be wrong? Eternal damnation due to a “bad education”?

Speaking only for me, I think it is best to try and live a good and moral life, recognizing there is but one life to live, so that those who remember you do so in the light you want to be remembered.

 

I don’t know. However, my guess would be how Americans defined the concept of “separation of Church and State” was different than how it is used/misused/abused today. Just my opinion…… in the 1860s the concept was the State not becoming involved in religion which is far different than the definition “assumed” by many, today …. especially by anti-Christian and irreligious progressives.