What Is Monotheism Really About?

[Red Sky at Morning]

Good thing it's not meant to believed.

I've said over and over a dark age may be coming, but it will be based on theocracy.

As you buy into a very different narrative than I do, what do you think this dark age will look like? What (if anything) might our hope be?

 

[TMT]

As you buy into a very different narrative than I do, what do you think this dark age will look like? What (if anything) might our hope be?

Well it might end in nuclear war, as people, both Christian, Muslim and Jewish attempt to manipulate world events in order to fulfill prophecy.

Or it might just be a return to 30's style fascism with a more Christian face, but it won't be free.

As far as hope? A mass spiritual revolution that is inward looking, and the abandonment of conventional literal interpretations of Chirstianity, Judaism and Islam, that would help.

 

[TMT]

But honestly, we need morality. I don't care what people believe if it causes people to act morally. I don't think Noah really put two of any animal on his boat but I really don't care if that's what you believe.... and if you act morally, that's wassup. That what matters- I don't think the goodness or badness of a person is defined by what they believe.... I think it's how you act that makes you a good or bad person and I think that's what matters.

"An it harm none, do what ye will."
-Wiccan Rede

8 words provides a better moral code than is provided in thousands of pages from the Torah to the Bible to the Quran.

 

[DesertRose]

Morality and Religion
http://www.islamicity.org/3373
Excerpt:
Therefore, it is possible to imagine a truly religious but immoral man and vice versa. Religion is one kind of knowledge, and morality is a life lived in accordance with that knowledge. There remains, however, a certain discrepancy between knowledge and practice. Religion is the answer to the question of how to think and believe, while morals are the answer to the question of how to desire and aim or how to live and behave. The tidings of the other world also imply a demand to live in accordance with this wide and infinite vision, although the demand itself is not identical with the vision. Jesus' sublime ethics were a direct consequence of an equally strong and clear religious consciousness. However, the inquisitors' devotions were also sincere, even though this assertion sounds paradoxical. "Believe and do good deeds" - this sentence, which us repeated in the Qur'an more than fifty times, points out the necessity of uniting something that people tend to separate. It expresses the difference between religion ("believe") and morality ("do good") as well as the imperative that they should go together. The Qur'an uncovers a reverse relation and shows how religion can find a strong incentive in morality: "You will not believe until you give amply of what is dear to your heart." It is not: "Believe and you will be a good man," but the reverse: "Be a good man and you will believe." To the question of how one can strengthen his faith, the answer is: "Do good and by so doing you will find God."

 

[mecca]

So apparently, gay people are not hurting anybody but in reality they are earning god's displeasure.

How do you know that God dislikes gays and is displeased with them? He created them and they didn't choose to be how they are, so why would God be displeased in them being who they are?

 

[z gharib]

they didn't choose

THEY CHOOSE

 

[DesertRose]

Is there not a thread for this topic? Suggestion continue this discussion over there.
fyi tomcat Mrs. Rose

 

[grateful servant]

And when god is displeased with us, even the believers too will suffer because their task is to enjoin what is good and forbid what is wrong.

I didn't know that this principle was true for any other religion except Islam.


An-Nawawi on enjoining good and forbidden evil
Abu Amina Elias • May 20, 2013


By Abu Amina Elias

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

An-Nawawi records in his book Riyad us-Saliheen:

Allah said:

وَلْتَكُن مِّنكُمْ أُمَّةٌ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى الْخَيْرِ وَيَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ

Let there arise from you a nation inviting to good, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong, and those will be the successful.

Surat Ali Imran 3:104

And Allah said:

كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ

You are the best nation produced for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah.

Surat Ali Imran 3:110

And Allah said:

خُذِ الْعَفْوَ وَأْمُرْ بِالْعُرْفِ وَأَعْرِضْ عَنِ الْجَاهِلِينَ

Show forgiveness, enjoin what is good, and turn away from the ignorant.

Surat al-A’raf 7:199

And Allah said:

وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَيُطِيعُونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ سَيَرْحَمُهُمُ اللَّهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ

The believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and establish prayer and give charity and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah will have mercy upon them. Verily, Allah is Almighty and Wise.

Surat at-Tawba 9:71

And Allah said:

لُعِنَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِن بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ عَلَىٰ لِسَانِ دَاوُودَ وَعِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ ذَٰلِكَ بِمَا عَصَوا وَّكَانُوا يَعْتَدُونَ كَانُوا لَا يَتَنَاهَوْنَ عَن مُّنكَرٍ فَعَلُوهُ لَبِئْسَ مَا كَانُوا يَفْعَلُونَ

Cursed by the tongue of David and of Jesus the son of Mary were those who disbelieved among the children of Israel. That was because they disobeyed and transgressed. They would not prevent one another from the wrongdoing they did. How evil was that which they were doing.

Surat al-Ma’idah 5:78-79

And Allah said:

وَقُلِ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكُمْ ۖ فَمَن شَاءَ فَلْيُؤْمِن وَمَن شَاءَ فَلْيَكْفُرْ

Say: The truth is from your Lord, so whoever wills let him believe, and whoever wills let him disbelieve.

Surat al-Kahf 18:29

And Allah said:

فَاصْدَعْ بِمَا تُؤْمَرُ وَأَعْرِضْ عَنِ الْمُشْرِكِينَ

Then declare what you are commanded and turn away from the idolaters.

Surat al-Hijr 15:94

And Allah said:

فَلَمَّا نَسُوا مَا ذُكِّرُوا بِهِ أَنجَيْنَا الَّذِينَ يَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ السُّوءِ وَأَخَذْنَا الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا بِعَذَابٍ بَئِيسٍ بِمَا كَانُوا يَفْسُقُونَ

When they forgot that by which they had been reminded, We saved those who had forbidden evil and seized those who wronged with a terrible punishment because they were defiantly disobedient.

Surat al-A’raf 7:165

Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

مَنْ رَأَى مِنْكُمْ مُنْكَرًا فَلْيُغَيِّرْهُ بِيَدِهِ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَبِلِسَانِهِ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَبِقَلْبِهِ وَذَلِكَ أَضْعَفُ الْإِيمَانِ

Whoever among you sees evil should change it with his hand. If he is unable to do so, then with his tongue. If he is unable to do so, then with his heart and that is the weakest level of faith.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 49, Grade: Sahih

Ibn Mas’ud reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

مَا مِنْ نَبِيٍّ بَعَثَهُ اللَّهُ فِي أُمَّةٍ قَبْلِي إِلَّا كَانَ لَهُ مِنْ أُمَّتِهِ حَوَارِيُّونَ وَأَصْحَابٌ يَأْخُذُونَ بِسُنَّتِهِ وَيَقْتَدُونَ بِأَمْرِهِ ثُمَّ إِنَّهَا تَخْلُفُ مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ خُلُوفٌ يَقُولُونَ مَا لَا يَفْعَلُونَ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا لَا يُؤْمَرُونَ فَمَنْ جَاهَدَهُمْ بِيَدِهِ فَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ وَمَنْ جَاهَدَهُمْ بِلِسَانِهِ فَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ وَمَنْ جَاهَدَهُمْ بِقَلْبِهِ فَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ وَلَيْسَ وَرَاءَ ذَلِكَ مِنْ الْإِيمَانِ حَبَّةُ خَرْدَلٍ

Allah did not send any Prophet in the nations before me except that he was given disciples and companions who followed his way and obeyed his command. Then, after them came their successors who said what they did not practice and who practiced what they were not commanded. He who strove against them with his hand was a believer, and he who strove against them with his tongue was a believer, and he who strove against them with his heart was a believer; beyond that there is no faith even the size of a mustard seed.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 50, Grade: Sahih

Ubadah ibn As-Samit reported:

بَايَعْنَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَلَى السَّمْعِ وَالطَّاعَةِ فِي الْعُسْرِ وَالْيُسْرِ وَالْمَنْشَطِ وَالْمَكْرَهِ وَعَلَى أَثَرَةٍ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى أَنْ لَا نُنَازِعَ الْأَمْرَ أَهْلَهُ وَعَلَى أَنْ نَقُولَ بِالْحَقِّ أَيْنَمَا كُنَّا لَا نَخَافُ فِي اللَّهِ لَوْمَةَ لَائِمٍ

We pledged allegiance to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, pledging to listen and obey in hardship and in ease, in pleasure and displeasure even if someone is wrongly favored over us, and pledging not to dispute the rule of those in authority and that we should speak the truth wherever we are and not to fear those who blame us regarding Allah.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1709, Grade: Sahih

An-Nu’man ibn Basheer reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

مَثَلُ الْقَائِمِ عَلَى حُدُودِ اللَّهِ وَالْوَاقِعِ فِيهَا كَمَثَلِ قَوْمٍ اسْتَهَمُوا عَلَى سَفِينَةٍ فَأَصَابَ بَعْضُهُمْ أَعْلَاهَا وَبَعْضُهُمْ أَسْفَلَهَا فَكَانَ الَّذِينَ فِي أَسْفَلِهَا إِذَا اسْتَقَوْا مِنْ الْمَاءِ مَرُّوا عَلَى مَنْ فَوْقَهُمْ فَقَالُوا لَوْ أَنَّا خَرَقْنَا فِي نَصِيبِنَا خَرْقًا وَلَمْ نُؤْذِ مَنْ فَوْقَنَا فَإِنْ يَتْرُكُوهُمْ وَمَا أَرَادُوا هَلَكُوا جَمِيعًا وَإِنْ أَخَذُوا عَلَى أَيْدِيهِمْ نَجَوْا وَنَجَوْا جَمِيعًا

The parable of the one who observes the limits prescribed by Allah and the one who transgresses them is the likeness of people who board a ship after casting lots. Some of them are in its lower deck and others are in its upper deck. Those in the lower deck, when they need water, go to the upper deck and say: If we make a hole in the bottom of the ship, we will not harm you. If those in the upper deck leave them to carry out their plan, they will all be drowned, but if they stop them, then all of them will be safe.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 2361, Grade: Sahih

Umm Salamah reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

سَتَكُونُ أُمَرَاءُ فَتَعْرِفُونَ وَتُنْكِرُونَ فَمَنْ عَرَفَ بَرِئَ وَمَنْ أَنْكَرَ سَلِمَ وَلَكِنْ مَنْ رَضِيَ وَتَابَعَ

There will be rulers from whom you will see both goodness and corruption. One who recognizes their evil and hates it will maintain his innocence; but one who is pleased with it and follows them will be sinful.

It was said, “Shall we not fight them?” The Prophet said:

لَا مَا صَلَّوْا

No, as long as they pray.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1854, Grade: Sahih

Zainab bint Jahsh reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, came to visit me one day while he was frightened and he said:

لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَيْلٌ لِلْعَرَبِ مِنْ شَرٍّ قَدْ اقْتَرَبَ فُتِحَ الْيَوْمَ مِنْ رَدْمِ يَأْجُوجَ وَمَأْجُوجَ مِثْلُ هَذِهِ

There is no God but Allah! Woe to the Arabs because of an evil that is drawing near! Today an opening of this size has been made in the barrier restraining Gog and Magog.

He made a circle with this thumb and finger. I said, “O Messenger of Allah, will we perish while there are still righteous people among us?” The Prophet said:

نَعَمْ إِذَا كَثُرَ الْخَبَثُ

Yes, if wickedness prevails.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 3168, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi

Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

‏إِيَّاكُمْ وَالْجُلُوسَ بِالطُّرُقَاتِ

Beware of sitting in the roads.

They said, “O Messenger of Allah, we have nowhere else to sit and talk.” So the Prophet said:

إِنْ أَبَيْتُمْ فَأَعْطُوا الطَّرِيقَ حَقَّهُ

If you insist, then give the road its right.

They said, “What is its right, O Messenger of Allah?” The Prophet said:

غَضُّ الْبَصَرِ وَكَفُّ الأَذَى وَرَدُّ السَّلاَمِ وَالأَمْرُ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَالنَّهْىُ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ

Lower the gaze, avoid harming others, return greetings of peace, enjoining the good, and forbidding the evil.

Source: Sunan Abī Dāwūd 4815, Grade: Sahih

Ibn Abbas reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, saw a man wearing a gold ring, so he said:

يَعْمِدُ أَحَدُكُمْ إِلَى جَمْرَةٍ مِنْ نَارٍ فَيَجْعَلُهَا فِي يَدِهِ

One of you will take a live coal and put it on his hand.

It was said to the man after the Messenger of Allah left, “Take your ring and use it another way.” The man said:

لَا وَاللَّهِ لَا آخُذُهُ أَبَدًا وَقَدْ طَرَحَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ

No, by Allah, I will not take it after the Messenger of Allah has thrown it out.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2090, Grade: Sahih

Abu Sa’eed Al-Hasan reported: Ai’dh ibn Amr, a companion of the Prophet, visited Ubaidullah ibn Ziyad who was the ruler and he said to him: Dear son, I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, say:

إِنَّ شَرَّ الرِّعَاءِ الْحُطَمَةُ فَإِيَّاكَ أَنْ تَكُونَ مِنْهُمْ

Verily, the worst shepherds are those who are harsh, so beware not to be one of them.

Ibn Ziyad said to him, “Sit down, for you are only a husk among the companions of the Prophet.” Ai’dh said:

وَهَلْ كَانَتْ لَهُمْ نُخَالَةٌ إِنَّمَا كَانَتْ النُّخَالَةُ بَعْدَهُمْ وَفِي غَيْرِهِمْ

Was there any husk among them? Indeed, the husks only came after them and were among others.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1830, Grade: Sahih

Hudhaifa ibn Al-Yaman reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَتَأْمُرُنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَلَتَنْهَوُنَّ عَنْ الْمُنْكَرِ أَوْ لَيُوشِكَنَّ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَبْعَثَ عَلَيْكُمْ عِقَابًا مِنْهُ ثُمَّ تَدْعُونَهُ فَلَا يُسْتَجَابُ لَكُمْ

By the one in whose hand is my soul, you will enjoin good and forbid evil or else Allah will soon send the punishment upon you. Then you will supplicate to Allah and he will not accept it from you.

Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2169, Grade: Hasan

Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

إِنَّ مِنْ أَعْظَمِ الْجِهَادِ كَلِمَةَ عَدْلٍ عِنْدَ سُلْطَانٍ جَائِرٍ

Verily, among the greatest of struggles (jihad) is a word of justice in front of a tyrant.

Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2174, Grade: Hasan

Abdullah ibn Mas’ud reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

إِنَّ أَوَّلَ مَا دَخَلَ النَّقْصُ عَلَى بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ كَانَ الرَّجُلُ يَلْقَى الرَّجُلَ فَيَقُولُ يَا هَذَا اتَّقِ اللَّهَ وَدَعْ مَا تَصْنَعُ فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَحِلُّ لَكَ ثُمَّ يَلْقَاهُ مِنْ الْغَدِ فَلَا يَمْنَعُهُ ذَلِكَ أَنْ يَكُونَ أَكِيلَهُ وَشَرِيبَهُ وَقَعِيدَهُ فَلَمَّا فَعَلُوا ذَلِكَ ضَرَبَ اللَّهُ قُلُوبَ بَعْضِهِمْ بِبَعْضٍ

Verily, the first deficiency in religion among the children of Israel is that a man would meet another and say to him: Fear Allah and leave what you are doing, for this is not lawful for you. Then he would meet him the next day and find no change in him, but this would not prevent him from eating and drinking with him and sitting in his assemblies. When it came to this, Allah led their hearts into evil on account of their association with others.

Then he recited the verses:

لُعِنَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِن بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ عَلَىٰ لِسَانِ دَاوُودَ وَعِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِمَا عَصَوا وَّكَانُوا يَعْتَدُونَ كَانُوا لَا يَتَنَاهَوْنَ عَن مُّنكَرٍ فَعَلُوهُ ۚ لَبِئْسَ مَا كَانُوا يَفْعَلُونَ تَرَىٰ كَثِيرًا مِّنْهُمْ يَتَوَلَّوْنَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا ۚ لَبِئْسَ مَا قَدَّمَتْ لَهُمْ أَنفُسُهُمْ أَن سَخِطَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَفِي الْعَذَابِ هُمْ خَالِدُونَ وَلَوْ كَانُوا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالنَّبِيِّ وَمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مَا اتَّخَذُوهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءَ وَلَٰكِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنْهُمْ فَاسِقُونَ

Those who disbelieved among the children of Israel were cursed by the tongue of David and Jesus the son of Mary. That was because they disobeyed and were transgressors. They would not forbid one another from the evil they were doing. Wretched is that what they used to do. You see many of them becoming allies of those who disbelieved. How wretched is that which they have put forth for themselves in that Allah has become angry with them, and in the punishment they will abide eternally. If they had believed in Allah and the Prophet and in what was revealed to him, they would not have taken them as allies, but many of them are defiantly disobedient. (5:78-81)

Then the Prophet said:

كَلَّا وَاللَّهِ لَتَأْمُرُنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَلَتَنْهَوُنَّ عَنْ الْمُنْكَرِ وَلَتَأْخُذُنَّ عَلَى يَدَيْ الظَّالِمِ وَلَتَأْطُرُنَّهُ عَلَى الْحَقِّ أَطْرًا وَلَتَقْصُرُنَّهُ عَلَى الْحَقِّ قَصْرًا

By Allah, you must enjoin good and forbid evil and seize the hand of the oppressor and make him follow the truth and restrict him to what is just.”

Source: Sunan Abī Dāwūd 4336, Grade: Hasan

Abu Bakr reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

إِنَّ النَّاسَ إِذَا رَأَوْا الظَّالِمَ فَلَمْ يَأْخُذُوا عَلَى يَدَيْهِ أَوْشَكَ أَنْ يَعُمَّهُمْ اللَّهُ بِعِقَابِهِ

Verily, if the people see an oppressor and they do not seize his hand, then Allah will soon send punishment upon all of them.

Source: Musnad Ahmad 31, Grade: Sahih

Success comes from Allah, and Allah knows best.

 

[JoChris]

See what can I say to that? It's a cop-out and it's always the same "they're not christians, really!" or "they're Satanists posing as Christians".

The framework of the bible is control, Christians as a whole are very pliable and that's why I call it a religion of the powerful for the slaves, and you should know why I'm terrified of people who believe in bible prophecy in positions of power.

How do you personally know that claim for sure?
I have never seen that pattern in the bible. I have seen plenty of people misuse passages out-of-context e.g. trying to apply to society today the historical commandments given to Jews (Old Testament).
I also feel concern when I see self-proclaimed Christians sounding like they are trying to make prophecies they made come true. New Apostolic Reformation preachers are not mainstream Christians but it appears in USA they have got the ears of politicians.

Is this the type of weirdo you're especially concerned about? http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/prophets-forecasted-romney-victory-until-he-lost/

 

[mecca]

Simply because it's the truth.

How do you know?

For one, a human being's main love ought to be god himself.

What does this have to do with gayness?

Gay people choose to be gay.

No, they don't.

You firstly have the choice between believing in god and not.

Yeah there are gay people who believe in God. But what does this have to do with gayness being a choice or God hating gays?

 

[mecca]

THEY CHOOSE

How do you know if they choose or not? One of my family members is gay, he didn't choose it. That's just how he is. People don't choose their sexuality... I didn't choose to be straight.

Why would they choose to be gay if being gay is seen as a bad thing? They get hate for it and are sometimes killed for it. Why would they choose to be gay if everyone tells them they'll go to hell for it?... They don't choose.

 

[mecca]

Gay people feel a need to be accepted by society.

Most humans want acceptance because humans are social animals. If you live secluded and people hate you, you will become depressed.

They feel a need to come out and to proclaim their orientation and to make themselves accepted.

Not every gay person thinks coming out is a big deal, they just want to live their lives like everyone else... but sometimes gay people do have to come out because the majority of people are heterosexual and they're not.

God doesn't hate gays. It's rather gays who prefer sexuality over him

So do non gay people also prefer sexuality over god since they also decide to pursue relationships with each other and find love outside of only having God's love?

 

[mecca]

Where does those terms like heterosexual and homosexual even come from?

They are just words used to describe the phenomenon of attraction between humans.

Would you ever say that you're a sexual being?

It doesn't mean you're a sexual being, the word doesn't define you as a person, it's just a definition for an aspect of people's personalitites.

Modesty entails that one should not divulge one's private affairs, whether sexual or otherwise. If one truly believes in god, one will realize that he made everything perfectly. The male having been made for the female, sex is not something to even contemplate while alone. Of course the devil exists to make us lose that modesty through nudity but who will obey their consciences and resist the urges? Only a believer i daresay.

ok

 

[Haich]

Lol wth is a sexual being

Sounds creepy

 

[mecca]

Lol wth is a sexual being

Sounds creepy

Lol, I don't know. Humans aren't sexual beings, our lives have way more purpose.

 

[Haich]

Lol, I don't know. Humans aren't sexual beings, our lives have way more purpose.

I totally agree

 

[Haich]

A relative of mine was gay, and his family weren't happy with it but he still attended mosque and prayed. They came round to the idea but then years later he decided he was trans and started to dress like a woman. It was so odd and came out of nowhere...his father died shortly after his transition and people still think he died of the shock. Obviously he probably died of natural causes but it's a cultural saying in my community, it's like his son's transition sped up his eventual death.

Point being, the guy was devoted to God for a while and I don't believe God rejects your prayers and worship because you're gay.

Hate the sin not the sinner, I remember seeing the relative around and just didn't really know how to advise him. What do you say to someone who believes their gay? Honestly there's more pressing matters in the world and I don't think the community helps by shunning and shutting these people out.

 

[Haich]

Homosexuality shouldn't be a taboo subject and should be discussed in religions. Simple dismissing it as forbidden doesn't help people and more needs to be done from the religious communities to educate their followers on the topic.

 

[TMT]

How do you personally know that claim for sure?
I have never seen that pattern in the bible. I have seen plenty of people misuse passages out-of-context e.g. trying to apply to society today the historical commandments given to Jews (Old Testament).
I also feel concern when I see self-proclaimed Christians sounding like they are trying to make prophecies they made come true. New Apostolic Reformation preachers are not mainstream Christians but it appears in USA they have got the ears of politicians.

Is this the type of weirdo you're especially concerned about? http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/prophets-forecasted-romney-victory-until-he-lost/

An obedient society is a compliant society and the ideal Christian society would be obedient.
https://dailyverses.net/obedience

Look in the Index of a Gideon's bible and they will direct you to a passage under "employee/employer" relationships that's all about submitting to your boss. USA fundamentalism has it's roots in Anti-Labor movements from the late 30's to the 40's, and has since infilitrated all levels of Government/Military/Industry. Research the people behind the National Prayer Breakfast if you want to know who I am worried about.

 

[Karlysymon]

See what can I say to that? It's a cop-out and it's always the same "they're not christians, really!" or "they're Satanists posing as Christians".

The framework of the bible is control, Christians as a whole are very pliable and that's why I call it a religion of the powerful for the slaves, and you should know why I'm terrified of people who believe in bible prophecy in positions of power.

Just to remind you that the Bushes (father and son) are Bonesmen even though they claim to be evangelical christians. So at which altar did they kneel to ask for 'successful' military campaigns?

The Pentagon wouldn't get very far without televangelists.

This article on Mystical Imperialism makes a much finer argument than i ever could make.
In effect what Mystical imperialism became was a philosophy that rationalized the expansion of empire by infusing a sense of the divine into the raw politics of empire building. Today’s version of mystical imperialism
applies to a hardened core of ideological defense intellectuals who combine their own esoteric and religious beliefs with Washington policy making.