A cult?

[Anonymous]

Anon,
But Christians still judge and do dishonest things. All the forgivness factor does is makes it eventually ok for them to act that way. And I only have this connection to the church because of my parents. It wasnt soemthing I just felt and believed in as an infant on. It was ingrained in me to believe the bible. There is just too much misinformation, too much hypocrasy, too much fear involved in the bible to make me want to believe. I dont think scare tactics are a good way to make someone belive you. In America yes that works alot. But those of us who have a mind of our own can see through the bullshit and cant ignore the unsettling truth that Christianity dosnt make a whole lot of sense. I just cant beleive in something simply because I will go to hell if I dont and that seems like the main reason people believe. Its the difference between doind something because you feel in your heart it is the right thing to do, and doind it because you are afraid of getting in trouble.
Amanda

[Anonymous]

Anon,
In reply to what you wrote to Greg, you may not understand cell phone, electricity, ect. But there is evidence and hard proof it exsists and you can learn to understand it. I dont understand Geometry very much, but I can sure as hell learn. The only book to learn about god and jesus is the Bible and it dosnt explain a whole lot and the stuff it dose explain it dosnt make alot of sense, and not because we cant understand it, but because in all reality, it just dosnt fit. And we dont see miracles or burning bushes or any proof god exists anymore. We just are supposed to trust this really old book written by men a long time ago and trust that they are telling the truth and not leaving stuff out. There was alot about Jesuss' life that wsa left out. Many years of information that no one talks about. I woudl like to know more about that before I just jump into believing soemthing.
Amanda

[GregFL]

Anon, your post was indeed long, but I finally got from you what I was looking for.

You said you don't know, don't profess to know, only believe because you have faith.


This is an honest straightforward answer.

I disagree but that is an argument I can respect.


Most of my points in this thread were to debunk the absolute silly and ridiculous notions that people can prove their faith thru science or history. It can't be done, and when these arguments are brought to someone who is familiar with the falicies of these arguments, those people are exposed for being ignorant, dishonest, or both.

Your argument above is neither.





GregFL...shakes the hand of anon thru cyperspace.

[GregFL]

by the way, I am here in CR on my way to South America. I do this every month.

Today I had dinner overlooking a georgeus valley.  LIfe is good on this fascinating planet.

[Anonymous]

What do you do? Could you post some pics of your trip? Hand shakes back to you!

[GregFL]

Short answer is I own a small corporation in florida with 10 employees, I am an options trader as well, and I live part time in Colombia  with my girlfriend and part time in florida with my daughter.

I live a pretty good life.

[Antigen]

When I was a Presby, I prayed and prayed for a new car and a color TV. Now that I'm a Catholic, I just take the new car and TV and then go to confession. I ask you, how can you beat that?

Never let your dogma run out in front of your karma!

Don't laugh when you leave this courtroom, thinking you have beat the system because you have looked these things up yourself. We are going to get you down the road.
http://proliberty.com/observer/20020101.htm' target='_new'>Washington Superior CourtJudge Rebecca Baker

[Anonymous]

To Amanda,  

When you buy a computer, it comes with an instruction book.  There is only one instruction book for it.  If you don't understand something, or just don't want to read the instructions, you may hire an expert, ask a trusted friend, or purchase other books about computers to help you learn.  The Bible is the ultimate instruction book for me on how to live my life.  When I don't understand, or want/need more information, I read other books by authors I trust, I ask trusted friends, go to my pastor, or seek information thru the internet from other ministers or pastors.  These people are all mere men, but many of them have studied more, researched mor and have more life experiences to give them more insight.  Just as you can get a computer geek that thinks he knows how to fix your computer and can ruin it by messing with it's original intent or design, you can find many religeous geeks that have very odd ways of interpreting the scriptures and it messes with God's original intent or design.  Often you will find that the religeous geek hasn't read the entire instruction book himself, or bothered to study the text in context of the period it was written.  So, while maybe you can learn geometry.  I will never be able to learn tech stuff.  I can memorize junk, but that is not applied knowledge.  The same is true with the Bible.  I know lots of so called Christians that have memorized lots of scripture but don't apply it.  Maybe that is the case with your step mom.  I know lots of loving, Christians that have little memorization of scripture, but know how to live out who Jesus is.  I hope that God puts more of those people in your path.  My job as a believer is to show Christ's love, mercy and grace to all I encounter.  I am not to convince you of anything with words, but my actions should speak for who I am and who He is.  When they don't I have failed.  Thru a forum like this, I cannot convince you of anything.  Words are just type.  I admire you for your thoughtfulness and encourage you to keep seeking.  Once you stop asking questions and think you've got all the answers, you quit learning and growing.

[Anonymous]

Greg, they are lucky girls to have such a well read, thinking man in their life!

[Anonymous]

http://www.landoverbaptist.org/beliefs.html


Who We Are and What We (And God) Believe
Our Bible Based Policy Against The Unsaved

As most churches liberalize themselves and reject the commandments written by God in the Holy Bible, the Landover Baptist Church continues to do exactly what scripture teaches every Christian to do. And that is to keep the temple of the living God a clean vessel, untarnished by even a hint of fellowship with the unrighteous.

"Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds" (2 John 1:9-11).
   
"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you." (2 Corinthians 6:14-17).

We pray that God sends his Holy Spirit upon this Christian Nation and opens up the hearts of other Bible believing Christians so that they will adopt the same Bible-based policy that has kept our church strong for nearly 217 Godly years. For a list of common-sense reasons for keeping unsaved people out of your church click here.

About Us

We are a Bible believing, Fundamentalist, Independent Baptist Church. We are 157,000 members strong. Our Church Campus is located in Freehold, Iowa and rests on 35 acres of some of the most beautiful country you'd ever care to set your eyes upon. Our church holds 28 paid pastors, 131 paid deacons, 412 full time staff members, LCA (Landover Christian Academy), LCU (Landover Christian University), 11 fully equipped chapels, Four 2,000 seat sanctuaries, Three 5,000 seat main sanctuaries, the world's largest Christian Mall, a Christian Amusement Park (Landover Bible Theme Park and Red Sea World), A PGA 18 Hole Golf Course, 3 Fitness Centers, 4 Olympic sized swimming pools, Landover Village, Landover Towers, Landover Retirement Community, Center For 2 Churches On Every City Block Foundation, Leviticus Landing (An Exclusive Gated Executive Christian Community for Platinum Tithers?), Exodus Acres (Gold Tithers' Gated Community), *27 Developments, Landover All Purpose Multi-Temple, Spa and Resort Center, Fire Department, 100,000 seat amphitheater, 12 Television studios, 2 radio stations, A Christian Circus Camp, Retreat Center for Republican Candidates, 3 Corporate Christian Office Parks, hot springs, 8 cemeteries, and 243 fully certified Christian police officers.  

A Godly Warning

We Believe in the WHOLE Bible (1611 KJV). We don't throw out the parts that make us feel uncomfortable, like the book of Leviticus. We bid you greetings, friend.  We do not read, eat, consume, digest, or 'try on' any product that is not made and manufactured by born-again, Bible believing, Fundamentalist Baptist Christians, and we would have you know that we condemn anyone that does, and pray as King David did, 'against them' for a quick end and a speedy journey to a very hot place, where they can spend out all eternity honoring our Lord and Maker in a literal lake of fire, Amen. Please find our site a blessing.!

Christian Attire
Click Here For an Invaluable True Christian? Resource on Proper Womenly Attire

We believe that when a person first gets saved, the first thing they should do is buy a suit and a tie. If the individual is a female, then a dress not raised over an inch above the knee is acceptable. Clothing is perhaps the most important thing about being a Christian. If one is not properly clothed and fully representative of what God would want them to appear like.. well then, that person is probably not saved. Our motto is "get saved, get to a Christian Clothing store, and get fitted for the kingdom." Anyone who does not conform to the dress code at Landover Baptist will be fined no less than $300.00 a violation. It is a privilege to be a Christian and we believe that it is about time folks started acting like it!

Christian Behavior

A man should act like a man, and a woman should act like a woman. That about sums it up. We will go into further detail here by stating that all authority is granted to Pastor Deacon Fred Smith. This is in full accordance with Romans 13. If you are not familiar with Romans 13, well then we suggest you read it. A good ten or twelve readings of Leviticus wouldn't hurt either. Our pastor sometimes uses his godly authority to invoke the Lord's Law from the Bible in Leviticus. This is sometimes too much for some folks. If they refuse punishment, then they have the option of paying a $500.00 fine plus expenses accrued by the planning committee of Levitical Law Implementation. If you haven't cracked a Bible in a few years.. then Landover is not for you.

General Rules

The following violations will result in a monetary fine of no less than $200.00 as to be determined by Church Pastors and Elders: Failure to show up at church on time, Failure to attend a church service without written permission from a pastor or other agreed upon authority, Church parking lot violations, Single males or females caught in the houses of members of the opposite sex without proper supervision, out after curfew, failure to tithe, failure to perform Christian Service obligations, Use of a church key without proper permission, Sleeping and/or horseplay during church services, reading of 'crime oriented' comic books, possession of alcohol outside of Post Communion Party regulations, idol worship, inappropriate dress in town or in church, dress related to 'counter-culture' movement, beards are not allowed except with special permission from Pastor Smith himself, long earrings on women, use of tampons is strictly prohibited, men with earrings or jewelry of any kind, hugging, possession of pornographic material (except for widowed or single men over the age of 65), failure to identify oneself to a church authority, failure to answer a call slip, witchcraft, dancing and/or skipping, association with Catholics, Presbyterians, Mormons, Methodists, Unitarians, Episkypols, or any other occult activity (unless under supervision by Dr. J. Edwards), failure to conform to rules and regulations, failure to submit to authority, the questioning of church authority is not tolerated and may result in dismissal, failure to bring at least one new guest to church a week, failure to win at least one soul a week, disrespect, lying, stealing, cheating, plotting, failure to have a demon-possessed infant sterilized, attendance at non-Christian owned picture houses, and rock music. General Rules are subject to change at any time without notice. Members are expected to find out what the new rules are within two hours. Let us note here, 'A Christian who is interested in doing their own thing, will not feel comfortable at Landover.. we would even go as far to question whether or not that individual is a Christian to begin with.

Visiting Landover Baptist

You will want to make your reservations 2 years in advance for any service where head Pastor, Deacon Fred is preaching. (Please be patient, we are booked solid) Cost is $75.00 per person. Other services and guided tours can be arranged by calling the Landover Information line at: 1-900-976-7867. Reservations for church attendance and payments to hear the gospel of Christ can be arranged through a Christian extension of Priceline.com ticket sales (keyword: priceline.com - landover baptist church ticket sales)

*Affordable housing opportunities available for so-called "minorities" within 100 miles of church campus.



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Please note - If you do not have the same beliefs as we do, you are going to burn in Hell forever.
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[Anonymous]

Some of this is very funny, other very sad.  This has been a great, thought provoking thread.  It is a shame to destroy the intent and content with the previous post.

[Anonymous]

"I woudl like to know more about that before I just jump into believing soemthing."

Amanda, then keep learning, asking questions and look for people that have studied and know what they are talking about.  Write down some of the things that Buzzkill has said and that Greg has said and take them to a third party, off the internet, and ask face to face.  Go to a Bible believing church and ask a pastor.  Then find an atheist you can face to face with.  Honestly, I have never met one as well knowledged as Greg.  But then, read for yourself.  Form your opinion from the knowledge you gain.  Don't take just one or two peoples thoughts and claim one for your own.  Whatever you believe, you need to own.  Don't ride on someone else's faith.  And yes, being an atheist takes faith too, faith, that there is not a God.  I am sure there are things that you enjoy the benefits of without understanding them exactly.  Don't decide to ignore the possibility of God just because you do understand Him.  Keep learning, asking, know that you will never have all the answers.  Just keep looking.

[Antigen]

I think it's silly to discuss the idea that one or another of the bodies of related doctrine and culture have a monopoly on The Truth®

All of these holy texts have been passed down through generations. All of them seek to weave a history and ethos that works backward from experience to something like reason or reconciliation. All of these cultures have created for themselves gods and spirits that embody the best and the worst of us and to explain and make some sort of sense of great tragedies in our histories.

There was a great flood. I believe that. In fact, I think there have been a good many great floods in our history. Probably none that were actually Earthwide. But many that effected all of the then known Earth; known to the weavers of legend and myth. And, not surprisingly, all of the major and most of the minor religions have a tale of a great flood. Not insignificantly, they also nearly all have various forms of the classic tragedies; the prodigal son, thwarted young lovers, tyrants and heros and long lists of cautionary tales.

If you can, entertain for a moment that our European Anglo Saxon version of religion and history is no more or less valid than the Hinus or the Islamists or the Budists or Confucians or the native American spiritual traditions or the Fairies in Finland. When you take a broad look at all of these religions and traditions, it seems clear that they're all stories; well told sometimes and often taken too, too seriously. But they all seek to explain What Is®

What Is® is the laws of nature which no man can fully comprehend and no man or beast or object can ever break. The law is swift and sure; you drop it, it will fall. You neglect it, maybe not today, but eventually it will rot or break or die. This law is all knowing, all encompassing, and evidently loves each and every one of us because it has allowed us to be born and survive.

That's a pretty accurate description of the suspect, isn't it? I could go on. You could probably fill in plenty of good examples for me.

But that's all God is. God is just all that we don't understand and can't control. Your prayer requests don't really compell the universe to suspend it's laws for your favor. If that were true, we'd be screwed because there are like 1000 times as many islamists as Christians. So if their prayers cancel out ours... :eek:

Good thing we don't really have that kind of power or the entire specise and half the rest of the plant's population would be toast!

First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win.
Anonymity Anonymous
return undef() if /coercion/i;

[Anonymous]

Yes, but asking people who refer to the bible for information is the same thing. Your only info is coming from this book that you dont even know is complete or not! The Catholic church is pretty shady and they may very well have left things out they didnt think was necessary because it didnt confirm what hey wanted others to believe about Christianity. Not to metnion how other accounts probably were thrown out. How do you explain Jesus dissaperance in his early years of life? No explanation in the bible. What happened to him as a teen and young man? It is a book full of (I beleive) misinterpretations and misinformation. The church has been using this incomplete book for years to control its people. I cant hang with a religion like that.

And if you beleive that God is real and so over our heads, then no amount of studying a book written by men will ever give you an explanation or understanding of God.

And I know many people who arent christians that live by the same principles as Jesus and are good sweet kindhearted people. You believe they belong in hell because they dont think Jesus is the only answer?

I know how oyu feel about this. I was once a hard core Christian. I was just like you. So I get it. And I know why you need to "spread the word". If you didnt, you would not be practicing good faith. I understand it, but dotn beleive it. And I appreciate your views. Just hope you can see through the BS of religion as well.
Amanda

[Anonymous]

Oh trust me Anon, when I questioned my faith, I searched and searched. and everyone gave me that same openended responses you all have. No real answers. Even from my theologin conservative Christian brother and father. Evertime I have a question he has no answer to, he says I dont know. You just have to believe it and have faith. I have searched for answers and have found very little provided from the Christian side, or any organized religios side. I am not going to ex out the possiblity of a god altogether. MOst of this stems from not knowing much about death. Sure its easy to be ok wiht dying if you are religious and follow your religion to a tee. Then you get to go to heaven and live happily ever after. But what if there is no heaven. This is it. Life ends when you die? That is more what Im interested in. I dotn want to be a Christian just because I am afraid to die, and that is what it always is. Fear of going to Hell if you dotn believe in Christ, god, whatever.
Amanda