The new lexicon Webster’s dictionary of the English language, might be a good place to start. Religion was began thousands of years before what is now called Christianity/religion. Let’s understand this thing about religions now according to Webster’s (man’s expression of his acknowledgment of the divine a system of beliefs and practices relating to the sacred and uniting its adherents in a community something which has a powerful hold on a person’s way of thinking, interests etc. football is his religion, his name in religion was Damian. Religion has been around for a long long time the Egyptians had their own type of religion, the Mesopotamians had their own kind of religion of their perceived God’s. Hinduism, Judaism, Shintoism, Islam, Zoroastrianism and even today Christianity. In short religion can be anything, your favorite ballgame, your favorite interest, you can even have religion in astrology. We see that religion has a very broad spectrum. Yet if you were familiar with the word or Bible teachings of both Paul and Jesus Christ you would know that what we now call Christianity i.e. religion was not intended to be a religion at all but completely and separately different from religions or religious aspects from the past.

With so many different religions already in effect throughout the world by the time of Christ why would Christ i.e. God want to introduce himself through another religion? We have been so trained sense the beginning of mankind to believe that the only way that we can acknowledge our belief in something is that we first have to put it in a category, in this case religion, the way everybody else describes their feelings for their deity. So for not doing the same thing then are we all odd or or we just wrong by doing so?

What I’m finding hard to understand about all of your comments is why you do not mention either Webster’s nor strong’s concordance. If you’re going to talk about religion shouldn’t you at least apply one or both? Let’s see what strong’s has to say about the word Christianity. The true Greek pronouncing of the word is (chrestotes) simply meaning kindness, goodness, gentleness or good. If you will proceed from here to the New Testament in act’s 11:26 you will see why the first apostles there were called Christians. Because they were good kind gentle loving caring nurturing uplifting people to the community people, the very people that made up the church. People are the church treating people good and kindly and lovingly and carryingly and uplifting and encouragingly helping others, rather it be furnishing them with food, clothing, housing and any other needs they may need while existing here on this earth.

The word religion the word church the word Christianity all of these words have been missed used by others because of their need to be leaders and they teach false teaching about religion and the church and Christianity. Christ did not come down to create a new religion for himself, he came to teach us how to be caring and loving and supportiv of others. The fact that we have been taught that the only way we can support other he loving and caring to others is that we must be members of a religion followers of religious beliefs that we must do certain banks in order to in order to gain favor of a deity that’s religion loving one another caring for one another as brothers and sisters that’s not religion back is loving that is what Christ came to tea just to love one another to For one another to be friends to be family to be a community of loving caring people the church is not a building are a place where people go to of practice their religious beliefs to a deity the church is people people people people caring for people laughing people you can’t find this in this world anymore everyone is out for their own selves and they try to make themselves look good by claiming to be a religious person I question the real people the fact that you don’t even know these this little bit of information right here prove that you have no idea what you’re talking about

ch y the helpless widows without children, orphans, encouragement for those with less self-esteem, sharing from our own abundance with those who have a less. There is so much more so much more so much more that can be said on this but the fact that you believe that the only way that you can center yourself

The best solutions begin in clarity, not relativity.

So let’s have some.

The Bible is chock full of mistatement. I differentiate verses however on a ‘diamond vs dunghill’ basis.

My ‘knowing’ is hardly a belief. When it was proffered to me I had to come to a place of humility, sincerity, simplicity and most importantly a faith in myself (faith in ‘God’ is irrelevant as without life we aren’t talking about this anyway) to trust a gifted teacher.

The gift given is strictly the student’s realized ability to perceive, to directly experience what has no beginning and no end within inside that person including you, cag. See, hear, smell/taste and feel that “phenomena” (if that neutralizes your biases in labeling) when those senses are turned inward. For what ‘reason’ ?

To know (intimately) unconditional contentment; to know (intimately) fulfillment. To be grateful for all of that, first in individual priorities.

If you are misinterpreting that as superstition over substance, you better take your hands off your ears, refocus your eyes and stop saying La-la-la -la -la la.

You have made your beliefs your identity. That is a tiny universe but you rule there, no doubt. I have only mentioned what is available to you outside of beliefs. That universe is experientially very, very big.

You also have an identity in that universe,. Without knowing that, all the tiny universes pass away. That is their nature and we certainly agree on that. However to enter the big universe and stay there (Again, so you do not misinterpret, the direct inward physical experience) for as long as you want, you’d only have to really want to know.

That’s not too expensive, is it?…and not woo-ish at all! But hey, this is only an option, not a requirement. I hope I never intimated the ‘should do’ concept…that gets into religion and that is not what this subject is about. It is more elemental to what it is you and many others want to accomplish (to make this world a much better place) in clear thinking. The best solutions begin in clarity, not relativity.

Superstitious nonsense does not age well so it has to be enforced. This is mostly accomplished through childhood indoctrination and threats of eternal damnation. It does not work on all of us, we can see through the nonsense.

It matters not that there are mis-translations in the bible. It is used as the owners manual for christians, errors and all.

You can sell your beliefs for free, they are still much more expensive than I am prepared to put out. No substance and bad meanings, no thanks.

This notion of leaving home and work was frightening for many of the interested potential students in its implications just like it would be today if it were required (due to the same constraints which of course don’t exist)

Could you imagine your friends and family talking about why you were following this teacher around forsaking your family and your job? Would it be complimentary or highly critical?

The fear of that implication and in some cases, the actual reactions placed that fear ahead of what Jesus was proffering. The living students have the understanding that religion offers a path of least resistence because it is (was) easier to follow a dead master. Just go to church or temple and read (or before books, listen to the readings from) the book.

What was being offered however is not found in any add-on component or measure. The value of knowing/perceiving within what sustains life is free of charge, but it has a price. Those who became disciples in that time had to decide, what was most important. Attachment to worldly expectation or the receiving of the ‘second’ most precious gift in life, life being the first.

Almost all of them returned to their families and their work, but with different priorities from the perspective of the ‘knowing within’ that Jesus Christ had inspired and revealed and would continue to inspire even in physical absentia until his gift indwelt the next master/teacher.

To this day the living students live the challenge(s) and the joy/ecstasy of ‘knowing’, fully comprehending the meaning of first seeking the kingdom of heaven and having everything else follow. (more appropriate translation than “shall be added onto it” – which implies more, in terms of worldly success)

You can see where a couple of tweeks in translation tweek the meaning out of context. This is true in every scripture. Think about what the church was trying to discourage and encourage in their translations just pointed out. Do not look for or follow a breathing master teacher (ignore your Heart of hearts-it is fallible and will cost you dearly); just follow what we prescribe, and you will have a good life and afterlife..

Which camp would current christians be in, er-um, which camp are they in?

Be True, goodbye you bigot. You’ve shown me that christianity leads some to actually believe Luke 14:26, and you want me to emulate that, no way.

cag- you are so resolute and complicated in your hope! Open up your heart to possibilities. The best place to look, or to hide as the case may be, in the game of hide and seek was where? In the most obvious place…but usually it was the last place considered, wasn’t it? Gotta distinguish between head and heart.

If there were a point or a place for something that has no beginning or no end to hide where would it put itself? In the last place you’d ever look – but not to make it impossible to find. When you used the word ‘proffered’ did you realize it essentially means discretionary offering?

That type of offering has been made many many times in the past and the one who offers has discretionary latitude including now. A chip on the shoulder, show me or shut up attitude would probably be discretionarily put off, sometimes eliminated altogether.

Imagine living in your imaginary Jesus’ time (your imagination) where the only way to be revealed the Kingdom of God within was to travel with the disciples. Put aside family, work and all other worldly responsibilities to understand what is the first responsibility. Not likely you admit. Thank you for the assumed honesty.

Without technology now, rarely could anyone now put themselves in position to know the missing piece of themselves. This is a different time however, with multifaceted obstacles and the advent of technology, so the frustration of seeming slow speed realization of what can move humanity toward fulfillment – kindness- dignity- Peace and prosperity should not discourage. It can morph to hyperspeed in an hour’s worth of breaths, or for those poised, an instant – literally. The obstacles could also move as fast, but on the answer track they get left in the dust.

First things first. You (!) sincerely want to learn-recognize-savor your own desire to know yourself while the answers are making themselves known quickly, then, as fast as you wanna go. This is not woo. You will need a seatbelt but no crash helmet.

Be True: I have alot of Christian friends. They are used to me by now. The historical comments boil down to “you’re so close…why don’t you accept Jesus..” Even Wigglesworth says in ” Ever Increasing Faith,”…” the Holy Spirit never comes with condemnation…he is always on hand to help in the seasons of trial and test.” ( The Comforter who would come) What if out of nowhere one of these Comforters got pre-empted? A scheduled showing with an unscheduled appearance

I like Rev 3: 20 instead. There is no need to be threatening. Free will is just that. There’s no condemnation in decisions on this subject. Sooner or later the best choice becomes apparent. I only suggest supplanting patience with a sense of urgency. Why continue to wait when available it is? Hate to cite scripture but Rev 7: 14-17 is literally applicable in the here and now. With one caveat.

It’s not the glory of the revealer. It’s what is revealed that then makes the changes.

This is my final warning – then I will leave this site.

I have had the opportunity to witness your stubbornness. I have seen that your hearts is so calloused and hardened. Unless you Humble yourself and pray, you are heading for destruction.

Take head to my warning it might be your last time you are warned. I will not respond nor look at any comments made hereafter. I believe a lot was said and enough information shared if you re look through some of the threads, to give your life to Christ.

The choice is yours. I pray you choose Life.

Alban: Rev. 3:16 – Go read it. You tend to lend your ears to some weird teaching.