>>Follow up to Tami:
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<br>::You said:
<br>he was also the founder of Christianity and its principals.
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<br>::No, the APOSTLES founded Christianity in an attempt to follow Jesus' PRINCIPLES but they didn't get it quite right, as is evidenced by the LONG history of Christianity's blatant disregard for its own teachings and equally long history of vicious tortures and killings in the name of Jesus. Can you say, "Inquisition?" Can you say, "Crusades?"
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<br>>>Apparently you are also not well versed in Christian history. The ORIGINAL Apostles were murdered before they created an actual organized church and it is also a recorded fact that Christ turned the keys of his kingdom over to Peter the chief Apostle and also to James and John. The Roman Christian Church was created 200 years after Peter’s death and has no direct lineage to Peter or Christ, so don’t equate the Original Apostles teachings with the many Christian faiths that used killing as their tool. I know someone is going to bring up the point “does one have to have direct lineage to be connected with Christianity” and I will say yes and no, it’s a long topic so email me if you would like.
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<br>::You also said:
<br>Remember Christ is seen as a wise person by the Jews but not the Christ and the fulfilling of prophecies. And must I also reminder you what faith crucified Jesus.
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<br>::Please don't presume to remind me of anything, you aren't that well versed. From your replies it is quite apparent that you haven't been paying too much attention to your own religious teachings. For instance: the Romans crucified Jesus with the complicity of the Jewish priests.
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<br>>>Actually I will remind you of what I am quite well versed in which is the before mentioned statement and also that there is little indication that you can assume I am not well versed from just a few sentences. Once again the Romans are not part of my religious history! Don’t assume every Christian religion sprang from Roman in or around that area because that just is not true.
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<br>::More of what you said:
<br>I have many Jewish friends that will admit to this
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<br>::They're just being polite in the face of your bigotry. You are and remain a shining example of one of the many reasons why I'm NOT a Christian, nor do I subscribe to ANY organized religion.
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<br>>>So I am a bigot for stating the facts, interesting. Actually my Jewish friends are quite open and truthful, and also quit knowledgeable on the topic. Our conversations are based on historical facts not emotions such as your self. I guess anyone that talks about historical facts are bigots. You are not a Christian or subscribe to ANY organized religion, good for you, if thats what makes you happy and fits you belief system!
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<br>::More of your statements:
<br>which of course does not diminish today what a great people and faith they are and in the long run they will blossom as a rose (if it has not already happened but will continue to do so).
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<br>::Oh, I'm sure the entire Jewish community is blessed by your benediction.
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<br>>>Grow up! It is a prophecy that the Jews will return to their homeland and that the city Jerusalem will be one of the most if not the most beautiful city in the world. I am very interested in Jewish history and the predictions of the future for the Jewish peoples bright future as it is quite important to know about it and that is why I also talk regularly with those of the Jewish faith. I might add they know I am not a bigot but a person seeks understanding. Seems you are not well educated about the Jewish people and their teachings so I think you should not be speaking in their behave either. I off course am not expert either but do regularly study with them and others of different faiths.
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<br>::And, thankfully, the last of your statements:
<br>"I know what we will be left with, a few good non-Christian faiths and people standing alone, without the support of their Christian friends."
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<br>::And let me make sure that you understand, there are MANY MANY more people in the world who AREN'T Christian than those who are.
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<br>>>I am talking about the US not the world.
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<br>::They, and I, don't need the support of your self-centered Christian prejudice. In fact, in the thousands of years people existed before Christianity, and in its beginning, Christianity has needed and still needs the help of other religions. YOU should be reminded that Christianity is one of the NEWEST religions on earth. And, I'll tell you also that Christianity is an amalgam of things taken from other religions, and for example you should read about the Osiris (Asra) cult in ANCIENT EGYPT... who do you think the Mother Mary was? Why not take a trip thru history and read about Isis, Mother goddesses, there are innumerable virgin mother cults, ALL predating Christianity.
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<br>>> Once again it is prophesy not a self-centered support, get it straight. The Greeks as well as many others have contributed to many forms of religion but that does not make Christ less unique because there are many teaching within Christianity that are unique and many that are not. It is also known that Christ was not known in much detail to the world during his growing years before his ministry in his late 20’s (until is death at age 34 – it is believed that was his age) and many believe he traveled about the various countries of his time learning from various people and groups. There are actually a few and might add vague records that he was actually sited at non-Christian sites learning from knowledgeable non-Christian people, so it may be assumed he used some of their good teaching with his own teaching. Some Christians think this is blasphemy or that the Bible is the only truth or source of truth, I tend to believe we can learn much from what is not in the Bible (and what is in the Bible), and what God or a Supreme being or what ever you call God has imparted to many people throughout the world. I might add that there are Christian type documents that are not connected with other religions. Have you read the Dead Sea Scrolls? And the interesting documents from South American. I assure there are many documents you have not read just like I have not read. Yes why don’t you take a trip through history other than a trip through the history that supports only your points. Also I am not into Mother Mary as a goddesses, she is the mother of Jesus but not a god or someone to pray to, that is to say in my faith, still I have no problem with those who want to worship her as a god like person, and why should I it their belief and faith. So I suppose you will call me a bigot for not believing Mary is not a god or agreeing with you, or agreeing with you on your take of religion, seems to be the pattern with you.
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<br>>>You call me prejudice and self-centered for talking about religion, how about not calling names and just speaking in an adult manner, try it you might get more understanding and open dialogue.
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<br>::Miles, of course you have the right to make an argument, but please, at least make an educated one.
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<br>>>My arguments are very educated as I was a missionary for over 2 years unpaid and learned and enjoyed the company of many non-Christian faiths, not counting the years I have study religion (not just Christian religion). Seems some enjoy calling names to get more of an emotional response. You know people can talk about religion very openly even though there have been offenses by each faith against the other. I do have to admit that many Christian faiths try to divorce their past due to the difficulty of the offenses of their ancestors inflicted, instead of learning from it.
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<br>>>I think we could go on and on regarding various religious topics so if you want to continue this dialogue please feel free to email me. I apologize if I have offended you but hopefully you will learn that people are not just bigots or self-centered just because they do not fit your take on religion or lack of it. Once again try to understand before calling names through open dialogue and understand if that is a goal of yours! I must add I do not think I am the leading authority on any religious topic but just that I have learned from various religions and documents and it is an interest of mine, nothing more with no prejudice connected. I will try to get a couple of my Jewish friends to email you about this topic sense you think I am a bigot for saying it, I am sure they will wonder why you feel this way.
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<br>>>I will continue this discussion through email because we could go on and on. So please email me if you want and I could also connect anyone here with a non-denominational forum that discusses many of these topics.
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<br>>>Cheers
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