DOS Games Discussion

God gave mosus the TEN, count it 10, commandments.

BTW: Where did you hear that?

I dont get teh comedy network, and i didnt see it in a movie. My religion teacher told me, so i looked it up in this huge ass bible and saw it for myself.

Get your teacher a new Bibile. I personally like the NIVs.

Dogbreath wrote:Unknown_K: I'm sorry you had such a crummy example of a Christian for a workmate but, your argument here is logically false. You are using the Hay-man arguement here... essentially, you are judging an entire faith by the actions of a few people. The pope, the preists you speak of, your work companion, despite what they have done are only a small part of a huge faith... we are all eligible to sin, just because we are redeemed doesn't mean we are perfect, there are bound to be a good deal of bad apples in any movement. (This is, once again, why I am against "religion" in its man-made, organized, controlled form. To many people simply take up a faith simply so they can have the protection of "the church" to shield whatever wrong they do.)

My problem is that I think organized religion is a sham run by many people who have other motives or get lost in the power of their position. I also think that alot of people who thump the bible the most are the ones who are using it for their own purposes. I have seen the other side of the spectrum where people are very religious, dont push it or even mention it to others unles asked, and are very good people who help others sometimes to a fault. I think those people would have ended up doing good with or without religion, but use it for a guideline to reinforce what they already know is the best way for them to act. So on a personal level I have no problem with religion, on a organized level I think there are big problems.

Dogbreath wrote:Kazer0: Let me guess, you got that from a movie on Comedy Network?

Listen, it's either Comedy Central or Cartoon Network. Do not take the name of television networks in vain!

*watches too much television*

Forgive me father Daniel, for I have sinned against thy TV.

Unknown K: My sentiments exactly. I have seen organized religion, and I don't like it. On the other hand, if ones organized religion works for you and doesn't attempt to extort, control, manipulate, or deceive you, but instead uplifts one and inspires one to do good, then I think it's great and I'm all for it.


For the most part, I like to keep my thoughts on politics or religion private, arguing has almost never changed ones view on such things. "You can lead a horse to the water, but you can't make him drink." Likewise, you can argue until you're blue in the face about religion or basic political theory, but it requires a change of spirit and thought patern to actually change the core of your oponant, something logical reasoning can seldom achive.

Of course, who ever said we couldn't try?

We've written 'bout 3 things on t'is topic: Iraq war, biology and now religion. Lets give it a better name than 1 o' it's contents'.

The only reason I bring it up is because people still have so many misconeptions. I, honestly, would never start a topi on it, but I'll defend what I believe in.

Medieval catholic?

What?

You're off by about 800 years, 486.

Wow, I just found this thread, and I must say that I'm impressed that such an intelligent discussion is being conducted here without resorting to the typical Internet stereotypical 'flaming' message board posts. Truly inspiring for those who still believe that the Internet should first and foremost be a forum for the free discussion of ideas, and only second as (it is now seemingly most used) as a marketplace for marketing, and pushing products.

As a recently converted Christian (I have not yet been baptised but plan to be next Christmas) this topic is naturally quite interesting to me.

I don't want to really get directly involved in this argument, since as a new Christian who is still struggling to understand some parts of the faith I don't want to be spouting half-baked answers as if I knew what I was talking about. So, instead, please permit me to tell my story of how I came to have faith in God.

Ahem. *cracks knuckles*

I have spent most of my life up to this point as agnostic; ie, believing in a God of some sort, but not necessarily subscribing to any religion in particular, mostly for the reasons that Unknown_k has been pointing out in this thread, ex "My problem is that I think organized religion is a sham run by many people who have other motives or get lost in the power of their position."

Last September, shortly after moving back to school for yet another semester of rote learning funness , I became depressed. This is/was not altogether unusual for me, I've had spells of depression throughout my life. For some reason though this time I decided that it was time to make some changes in my life. I wrote out a list of ways I wanted to improve myself, and how I planned to accomplish these changes. One of the ways I decided to try was to read the Bible.

Both my parents are Christian (one Catholic, the other United) but I had never been to church before; they both stopped attending church after they were married. The real antecedent to my decision to try reading the Bible was that I met some friends last year who are now very close to me who are Christian. I figured that if these people who are so wonderful so strongly believe in this religion, I might as well investigate it.

So, I got myself a copy of the Bible and started reading a chapter or two each night. I was reading by myself, you understand, because I didn't want to be influenced in my opinion one way or another (by my Christian friends or by my non-Christian friends, or my dad who is now somewhat anti-Christian.) As I read, I wrote down questions I had. In December I finally phoned my closest friend and started asking her all these questions I had written down. She was rather surprised with the abrupt call, as you could imagine, but tried to be helpful nonetheless.

Hmmm I think I'm being rather verbose here. I'll try to "cut to the chase" so to speak.

So anyways, I was becoming more and more convinced, due to my reading of the Bible, and some other books which dealt with some more intellectual discussion (I highly recommend both Christians and atheists alike check out "<A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de ... 9307">Case for Christ</A>, a former atheist journalist's investigation into the evidence for the validity of the gospels and Jesus) ..... however I wasn't ready to make the final leap, to accept Christ ... to have faith! I wasn't really sure what was missing. Sure I had doubts (still do!) but that wasn't really the problem.

I decided in early January that I'd try attending a bi-weekly event on-campus called "Church in the Ring". It's basically a modern, easy-going church service held on the school campus on Sunday nights. I honestly didn't get much out of that service, but one thing the pastor said stuck with me. He mentioned how people have their "wow moment" with God, where they feel especially close to Him. It could happen in a church service, in private study, out walking around outside ... it depends on each particular person. I realized that THAT was what I was lacking; for all my reading, all my studying, I had never felt that way. I never had that feeling that God was close to me. That's what I needed.

So that night, I prayed ... I prayed really hard, to have that kind of close moment with God.

The next night I was reading my Bible as usual. I had had a tough day and was kinda tired, so I wasn't even really paying much attention to what I was reading. The Bible that I have is "The Student Bible (NRSV)", which includes some stories/quotes/explanations to complement the Bible text. I came to one of those stories (inbetween Mark 3 & 4) and started reading it ... here is that story, if you want to read it before continuing (if you aren't already bored with this post by now ... I believe this is the longest forum post I've ever made! ... I think it's still a great story though so I recommend reading it):

<A HREF="http://www.christianstories.com/stories ... shtml">Why Jesus?</A>

As I read that story I started to cry. Now, I am not one to cry often. In fact before that instance on January 13th of this year I cannot recall a specific instance where I previously cried. But I did that night, and it was took awhile before I was able to stop. I felt such a feeling of release, of total warmth and love that night. I had asked, and had received the very next night ... that was the night I was convinced.

Not to say that I didn't still have doubts. But I think that's okay. Every time I start to doubt, to lose faith, something always seems to happen to restore my faith.

I'm not trying to preach to anyone here. After all I was agnostic (and, I think, early in life, atheist) for the first 20-odd years of my life up to this point. I am very interested in the theoretical/intellectual debates around God, and will definitely continue my study and reading of both the Bible, and books about Christianity and faith. I'm merely presenting my story.

So, errrrm ...... thats my story!

Ooooooooooo-kay now.

It was funny. ANd Emzees post is the longest in the entire forum.. not only for him, but for everyone.

I personally am roman catholic, but i consider myself to have my own religion..... call it andrew catholic.

I dont pray, because if god knows our thoughts and feelings, whats the point in repeating.

Why go to church when in the bible it says not to be greedy, but according to the church, everybody has to worshop god and give him money is not greed.

I like my ways. I still believe in God and Jesus and all that.

That was rude guys. Emmzee just spilled out your heart, and you start talking about elftor.....

whats elftor?

the site td linked to.

oh, that..... well im not being mean. I support what emmzee is doing 100%.

I deleted the Elftor comments… they were unnecessary and cruel.

Emmzee: Your story is of great interest to me, don’t let the constant debate that you’ll often find on the Internet or Usenet drag your spirit down, but instead seek God with all of your heart. If your IRC isn’t still lagging at 17 seconds, I would recommend #Christian on Austnet. It’s run by a movement I’m part of known as DoveIRC and is great if you have any questions about your faith, need support, or just want an environment where you can talk to other Christians in general. I’m afraid I won’t be there for a few days as my IRC-computer died thanks to a problem relating to this weird, heavy, sticky dust on the fans. It’s fixed, but the power outlet that I use for it is totally screwed now…

As far as the size of this message is concerned: rec.games.roguelike.adom had a topic on religion 5 months ago that existed for 500+ posts. It has happened twice a year for the past seven years so I’m expecting the next one in a month or so. (It also, following the Usenet discussion stereotype, branched out into politics and sexual orientation as well.)

My experence (of coming to Christ) was not so pleasent. When I truned 13 I left Christianity, because, I don't care to remember. It was just a dark time. Anyhow, when I turned 15 I truely started to understand just what God was. I have no friends to "fall" on. So here I'm now, tring my best to live for God. Lets just say I feel a fool for what I did in that span of time.