ITT We Discuss Theology

[aephi alum]

Originally Posted by Psi U MC Vito

Why did you end up choosing Judaism AEPhi alum? Just the egalitarianism? If so, what set it aside from the various denominations of Christianity?

I did investigate Protestant Christianity as part of my search for a faith that felt right for me. I know that some Protestant sects, including Church of England, embrace egalitarianism and ordain women. My mother was raised Anglican and converted to Catholicism... and her parents did not speak to her from that day until the day I was born.

In Judaism, there is a belief that someone who converts was really Jewish all along - it just took him/her a while to figure it out. In my case it's true. Many of my childhood friends were Jewish; I gravitated to the Jewish sorority on campus; I fell in love with a Jewish man.

On the matter of egalitarianism - the rabbi I studied with told me that I should go to an Orthodox service to see what it was like. I refused, and I told him why. He agreed.

[KSUViolet06]

Interesting conversation:

I was telling my friend about my church doing a grocery give-away for local families.

Her repsonse: That's great, but what people need is Jesus moreso than food.

Hmmm.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

Interesting conversation:

I was telling my friend about my church doing a grocery give-away for local families.

Her repsonse: That's great, but what people need is Jesus moreso than food.

Hmmm.

Which is why when he was giving the sermon on the mount and people were like "Hey man we're hungry," he was like "It's cool, you've got me, you don't need food. Oh and let me finish my tuna sandwich before I finish speaking."

[deepimpact2]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

Interesting conversation:

I was telling my friend about my church doing a grocery give-away for local families.

Her repsonse: That's great, but what people need is Jesus moreso than food.

Hmmm.

Yeah, I know so many people who have this mentality.

But I feel like if someone is hungry or has some other need, before you go talking to them about Jesus, you should meet that need.

I hope you get what I'm trying to say.

[Gusteau]

aephi alum, I remember you saying that your parents live on Long Island - did your father go to Chaminade by any chance? I went to Kellenberg.

Anyway, another interesting thing is that many Catholics who convert (that I know of at least) usually don't convert to a Protestant denomination. I think it has a lot to do with tradition and ceremony. I know that my Catholic mindset finds a lot more resonance with Judaism that it does with most Protestant denominations - although this might just be from growing up on Long Island and having a lot of Jewish friends and almost no Protestant friends.

[Psi U MC Vito]

Originally Posted by aephi alum

In Judaism, there is a belief that someone who converts was really Jewish all along - it just took him/her a while to figure it out.

Very interesting belief. Though from what little I know of Judaism it makes sense.
ETA: Actually something I was wondering. Does Judaism have a concept of a baptism like Christians do?

Originally Posted by Gusteau

Anyway, another interesting thing is that many Catholics who convert (that I know of at least) usually don't convert to a Protestant denomination. I think it has a lot to do with tradition and ceremony.

Interesting point. One of the things that attracted me to the Episcopal Church after years as a lost Christian was the fact that the liturgy was so close to what I knew growing up, but the doctrine was different enough for me to embrace. Granted both Episcopal churchs I have been a member of have been distinctively High Church, but judging by the BCP, even without all the pomp the liturgy is similar enough for me.

[Drolefille]

Lifted from LJ's Metaquotes.

But, a One God? I don't know. Maybe I should put out an ad on Craigslist:

Humanoid on planet Earth seeks mega-deity akin to the Judeo-Christian-Muslim God, but less hokey. You must be completely omniscient and omnipresent, everlasting and everbeing. Please fill out the following questionnaire and return it to me via email. Or, if you prefer, via a burning piece of shrubbery or lightning-etched rock tablets. Please, no creepers or weirdos. Demigods need not apply, and mad elder gods are Right Out.

Questionnaire:

1) Please explain everything. You may use your own paper if you run out of room on this form.

2) Why do bad things happen to good people, and vice-versa? Show your math.

3) Do you have a plan for us? Do you have hopes for us? Do you care if we do good or bad things to our planet, and our neighbors? Do you care about anything?

4) Please provide pictures of any possible afterlife you endorse or provide.

5) Do you have a Nemesis? If so, aren't they also You, so...why are you fighting with yourself? Does this mean you are insane?

6) Do you have a Mate? If so, aren't they also You? So isn't your Mate just a little masturbatory?

7) Please list any laws you would have us follow.

8) Do you have a gender? Is it male or female or something else? Do you endorse males or females more over the other? If so, why. If not, why make genders at all, or allow men to (for so long) oppress women?

9) Same question as above, but about race.

10) What are the prerequisites for entering your form of afterlife?

11) Are there lifeforms on other planets, and are they your children too? If so, can we meet them?

12) Please provide a brief outline of the next 100 years. Extra credit if this is extended to 1000 years.

13) Do you care about us? If so, show your work.

14) Did you have any hand in the universe's creation?

15) Essay question -- use telepathy to access this question from my brain, and telepathy to answer it to my satisfaction.

Extra Credit: In 100 words or less, explain Why.


Best of luck in proving you are the One God. If you get the job, benefits include: my worship and undying devotion, donuts whenever you call them into being, and promotion of your miracles. You will be working with a young species, willing to move forward in enlightenment. Must be able to travel faster than the speed of light, receive millions of prayers a day, and show endless compassion for all creatures. You should also have decent hygiene, because nobody loves a slimy, smelly, million-tentacled God.

No dental coverage provided.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Gusteau

Anyway, another interesting thing is that many Catholics who convert (that I know of at least) usually don't convert to a Protestant denomination.

Purely anecdotal, but there are more than a few former Catholics in our congregation -- including one of the ministers. In an odd sort of way, I've always thought of Reformed Christianity/Presbyterianism as the most "Jewish" of the strands of Christianity.

[Gusteau]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Purely anecdotal, but there are more than a few former Catholics in our congregation -- including one of the ministers. In an odd sort of way, I've always thought of Reformed Christianity/Presbyterianism as the most "Jewish" of the strands of Christianity.

LOL - I just KNEW people were going to tell me about all the Catholic converts they know! I think a big reason I don't know any is because on Long Island Protestantism is definitely in the minority already. Everyone you know is Catholic, Jewish, or Eastern Orthodox - I could count the Protestant friends I had as a child on one hand. This obviously colors my experience with the issue.

@deepimpact and KSUviolet, call me crazy but I think Jesus would want me to give a hungry man a sandwich. I think good work like that shows people Jesus, and makes a bigger impact than talking their ear off ever could.

[agzg]

Originally Posted by Gusteau

@deepimpact and KSUviolet, call me crazy but I think Jesus would want me to give a hungry man a sandwich. I think good work like that shows people Jesus, and makes a bigger impact than talking their ear off ever could.

Not to mention that people usually don't CARE whether there's a God and what He's all about when their basic human needs aren't being met.

[deepimpact2]

Originally Posted by Gusteau

@deepimpact and KSUviolet, call me crazy but I think Jesus would want me to give a hungry man a sandwich. I think good work like that shows people Jesus, and makes a bigger impact than talking their ear off ever could.

I completely agree. I've said this before and was met with odd stares by some fellow church members. Go figure.

[Psi U MC Vito]

*bump*

[KSUViolet06]

I thought this would be a good place to share my favorite blog:

Stuff Christian Culture Likes


One of my fave posts: http://blog.beliefnet.com/stuffchris...lar-music.html

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

I thought this would be a good place to share my favorite blog:

Stuff Christian Culture Likes


One of my fave posts: http://blog.beliefnet.com/stuffchris...lar-music.html

LOL @ one of my all-time favorite topics:

http://blog.beliefnet.com/stuffchris...rsecution.html

Christians are persecuted? Yeah, right. At least not in the United States.

[Drolefille]

Bumping this for a question that frequently bothers me:

Prayer - the type where you pray FOR someone/something. Does it work? If so do people who have people to pray for them deserve better outcomes? If not then why do it?

I always got caught in a recursive "can't just pray for one person why not everyone in the whole world well what's the point then" thought process.

/overthinks things, I know