Most of my Friday Five Files are gone due to the corrupt database, but I wanted to keep this one because it is truly one of the most controversial posts that I have had. All I did was tell of my faith and people went nutz……… enjoy.
1. Were you raised in a particular religious faith? No. I was actually not raised in any religious faith at all. My parents didn’t go to church, and I only attended a few times as a child with my sister and some friends.
2. Do you still practice that faith? Why or why not? I don’t practice the faith of my youth, which was nothing, but I am now a Christian. Southern Baptist to be exact. I experienced salvation during my Junior year of high school and since then my life has changed dramatically. I began to get involved in the youth group at my church, was saved and baptized, and then accepted a call into ministry. I was receiving my Degree in Electronics when I realized that God was calling me to something more, so from then on I changed my major and I have now completed my bachelor’s degree in religion and am currently working on my masters degree. I am the Youth Minister at my home church now.
3. What do you think happens after death? God makes it very clear what happens after death in his inerrant word. If you believe that Jesus Christ is the living son of God who came to the world to be our propitiation, suffering the consequences of OUR sin (not his) on the cross, and if you trust in him as your savior, allowing him to transform your life through your repentance and faith then it is by the blood of Christ that you are born again and will spend an eternity in the presence of God in his kingdom. For those who make the choice not to believe in, accept, and live a life worthy of Christ, they will not have the righteousness of Christ declared upon them through salvation and will ultimately have to suffer the consequences of their sin in eternal separation from God. According to God’s word we all stand condemned already, but those who are born-again through Jesus are no longer condemned because Christ took their place and his righteousness is decreed upon them by God.
God is eternal. He created the heavens and the earth and all things in them, everything belongs to him. People have sinned against God, which is an eternal crime against an eternal God, so that those who have sinned (which is everyone) deserves an eternal punishment for their eternal crime. In order for God to be just and righteous all people who sin against him deserve an eternal punishment, so we all stand condemned for eternity because we have all sinned. So it took an eternal being (Jesus) to pay the eternal penalty for our sins (on the cross) in order that we may be saved and experience eternal life with God. God makes it clear in His word that there is only one way to be saved, and that is through Jesus Christ.
4. What is your favorite religious ritual (participating in or just observing)? Well there are not a lot of traditional rituals held by our Church that are not part of the weekly schedule, but one that sticks out in my mind that I enjoy is “The Lords Supper.” During The Lords Supper service we take the time to be reminded what Jesus did for us and what it means to us. We are reminded that Christ’s body was broken for us, and sacrificed in order to save His people. It is basically a desperately needed opportunity for us to reflect and remember the sacrifices of Christ.
5. Do you believe people are basically good? Well if I wanted to stride through life believing only what I see as possible, only the things my feeble mind will fit around, and only those things that can be proven with physical sensory evidence then I would probably believe that people are basically good. Why? Because that would be the easiest and safest road for me. As long as I believe that people are basically good and if I try my best I will be ok and then I won’t have to be held accountable for my actions and I won’t have to make changes in my life in order to adjust to any standard that may be set by the Bible or the Church because everything I do would be based off of what I believe about the world, myself and how hard I tried to be good. Therefore salvation lies in my works, and how good I was compared to how good I was able to be.
The problem is that the things I believe about myself and the world do not make reality any more true or false. Reality is not what we make it to be, reality is simply what is. If God created the world then I can believe all day long that the world came about by evolution, but just because I believe in evolution does not make it true, and in the end I would still be wrong regardless of what I believed. Therefore I can’t rely on my own perception or understanding of what reality is because my perception will always be wrong and selfish. I have to rely on a perspective that I know is true, from the creator himself, God almighty. So in looking at God’s perspective instead of my own blind perspective I must understand that people are not basically good, they are actually basically sinful. We are sinful from birth to be exact, and those who are alive now and do not know the saving power of Christ stand condemned already even before they experience death, not because they are basically good but because they are sinful and apart from God. This road is a little more difficult because it involves change and action in peoples lives and it is rather inconvenient for those who want to live however they want and not be subject to rules and moral standards. But in the end our belief will not amount to a hill of beans if it is not based on truth. The easy road is not always the true one, and so wide is the gate that leads to destruction and many the people who pass through it, but narrow is the gate that leads to righteousness, very few will find it and even less will take it.
Posted by Craig Tanner at November 01, 2002 06:09 PM
COMMENTS
I see you have your own weblog. Please do not use mine to spread your dogma.
Posted by: scratchmittens on November 1, 2002 07:54 PM
Ditto. That’s not cool. You have your beliefs and we have ours, and nobody’s better than anybody else, and nobody’s right or wrong–let’s just leave it at that.
Posted by: Smitha on November 1, 2002 11:51 PM
“Nobody’s right and nobody’s wrong”. I’m sorry smitha, but I don’t think that I can “just leave it at that”. How is it that nobody can be right and nobody can be wrong?
If nobody’s right, then I can only see that one of the following must be true: either all of us in the world and throughout history having been worshipping a God or gods that do not exist (i.e. there is no God) or a god does exist and we’ve all been worshipping the wrong one. In other words, if you worship Jehovah God or Sheeva or Allah or [insert your god of choice here], then you are worshipping the wrong God because no one has actually found the real one yet.
In my opinion, the first “nobody’s right” statement (that there is no God) is a step of intellectual arrogance and completely without logic. Check out the archives (September 02, 2002) for thoughts on atheism. The latter (worshipping the wrong God) is a cop out. “Well, for all I know, we could all be worshipping the wrong God so i’m not gonna worship anything at all ’cause we’re gonna end up in the same place anyway, right?” Well, okay. But what if we’re worshipping the right God and there is a certain way to get to heaven? I believe that Christianity is that way. If I am wrong (which I don’t actually think) and we all end up in the same happy place anyway, then I’ve lost nothing by being a Christian. I’ve lived by a way that instructs me to be a good person and havn’t missed out on anything. But what if I’m right? What if there is a heaven and there is a hell and there are consequences for our actions while on Earth? What I’m getting at is this: by taking the passive course of theological inaction, you’re taking a big gamble and stand to loose a lot. If you’re right, oh well. You’ll be fine. But if you’re wrong, look out! By adhereing to a Christian way, you stand to loose nothing and gain everything.
Now, on the second part of that statement that “nobody’s wrong”. If nobody’s wrong, then that must mean that everybody is right. Huh? How can that be? How can a Christian be right when he says that he believes in salvation through grace and a Hindi be right when they say that they believe in reincarnation? How can both a Buddhist and a Muslim know the true nature of God? How can a Wiccan and an Existentialist both be right about life after death? Unless I’m missing something, this clearly does not make any sense.
That’s all for now. Maybe i’ll do a post on this sometime. I’d be interested in hearing your comments smitha.
Posted by: Le Renard Subtil on November 2, 2002 09:11 AM
“You have your beliefs and we have ours, and nobody’s better than anybody else, and nobody’s right or wrong–let’s just leave it at that.” said Smitha.
It seems that if this were true, then life would change dramatically. No where else in the field of knowledge (besides metaphysics) do we make such claims and think that is rational. For example, no matter how hard I believe that gravity does not exist, when I jump off of a building I will hit the ground. No matter how hard you believe 2 + 2 = 732, you are wrong. Yet when it comes to ethics, God and metaphysics, we feel it is ok to make such nonsensical claims as “no body’s right or wrong”.
There must be an one objective standard of right and wrong, of God and His existence, and life after death or there must be no ethics, God, nor afterlife at all. There is no middle ground on this one. Not everyone can be right at the same time. That’s obviously irrational. So, which is it?
Posted by: Jim Shultz on November 2, 2002 09:14 AM
Good grief…I had no intention of turning this into a religious debate of any sort. I don’t have the time and the patience for them because both parties usually end up getting offended or riled up somehow, no matter how civil a discussion it is. So I’m not going to debate with either of you. You’re proving my point, though. I believe everybody has the right to their own opinion, and that if they believe they’re right, then they’re right for themselves. I don’t agree with the Christian view, and I’m not a religious person, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to come out and tell you I think you’re wrong. Christianity and your beliefs on God make sense to you and are right to you. Well, I have a different set of beliefs. And I refuse to go any further than this. What was the point of going around commenting on people’s weblogs that you don’t even know?
Posted by: Smitha on November 2, 2002 09:59 AM
If i have given off a vibe of being “riled up”, i apologize. I assure you, I’m not. I am merely offering up my opinion on things and was interested in your response.
I would like to address your statement about the relativity of being right. Just because one believes that they are right about something doesn’t always make them right. If I say that I believe that it is okay to eat babies, does that make me right? Well, of course not. We do not live in a world absent of any right or wrong. There are absolutes. Now, there are some things in which there is no right answer such as, “What is the best color in the world” and “Where can you find the best food?” and such. When talking of religion and God and things of that nature, it’s a different deal. If I say that I think that God is within the walnut tree in my back yard and I’m gonna worship it, that may be right to me, but does that make me right? Well no. The next time you get pulled over for speeding, tell the officer that you think it’s right for you that you should go over the speed limit and that he is in no position to tell you otherwise. See what he says and let me know.
My point: you are standing on shaky ground when you say that everything in life is relative to what the individual believes. There are absolutes of right and wrong and true and false in this world that will not change just because an individual believes otherwise.
Also, if you are going to post your thoughts on a public forum such as a weblog, expect that you will recieve comments from the public. Even those that do not know you.
Posted by: Le Renard Subtil on November 2, 2002 10:37 AM
From what I could gather the internet is a public forum consisting of millions of different websites and blogs, that are viewable and open to the public. If your only purpose in having a blog is to show only your friends then maybe you should consider using a password protected site so that the public cannot view your site, since it is not right in your opinion for someone who doesn’t know you posting a comment on your site. Also the Friday Five is an interactive blog in which people can answer the questions and willingly open themselves to the general public by posting their questions on their blog and publicly announcing that they did so on the Friday Five website like you did. By doing so you opened yourself up to all who wanted to come in and view your questions, plus you allowed people to make comments. And now your upset about it because I shared with you my Friday Five questions just like I do with every other set of Friday Five questions I have ever answered. I always go to other sites and post my questions as well to let the people know that I was there and that I read their comments. It is not like I only did it with these religion questions to evangelize the world as you so assumed. (This comment was also posted on Smitha’s blog as well. She continues to become angry about this whole thing… It doesn’t make much sense to me since she did post on a public forum sharing the answers to her questions and yet she doesn’t want me sharing my answers… she can share her views, but because mine are different then I am censored. Woe to me for I am but a worthless worm, unworthy to comment on such things, for my views are but dust in the wind to those who disagree. They bring not thought nor understanding of who I am but conviction and anger for those who disagree. Lets join in on quelching the voice of reason because it is inconvenient for us. Sad, sad, sad.)
Posted by: Pressed on November 2, 2002 12:02 PM
Here are my answers you nazi.
Posted by: Christopher on November 2, 2002 12:09 PM
A nazi? Are you saying that I am forcing people to believe what I beleive and destroying those who don’t? Are you saying that I need to be more tolerant of other people and should allow all opinions to count regardless of whether or not I agree with them or not? At least I didn’t censor you!
P.S. I know where you live Chris and I am coming to burn down your apartment and blow up your car, but I have to go shave my head first…
Posted by: Pressed on November 2, 2002 12:23 PM
congratulations on avoiding evil!
no, seriously, i enjoyed a good ten minutes reading what you have to say. i disagree on many points even tho our intent is most likely the same or similar, but whatever. i don’t wanna get into it. i just don’t understand why you felt the need to go around virtually “spamming” other ppl’s blogs (including mine) as if it were some half hearted attempt to get assist the down trodden in finding the light or something. i dunno. eh.
Posted by: twiggy on November 2, 2002 01:43 PM
pressed, i just have a correction to make to your first post (third post from top) allah is not a different god. hes the same god as in judaism and christianity. allah is arabic for the god if you will.
Posted by: phutro on November 2, 2002 02:35 PM
phutro, Allah is not the same God as in Judaism nor as in Christianity. The differences in what they teach are so drastic, it would be violating the law of non-contradiction to assume they are the same.
Posted by: Jim Shultz on November 2, 2002 02:56 PM
Phutro-
That was actually me that made that post. My intent (though not completely clear, I suppose) was to illustrate the different beliefs that are out there which include Christianity (Jehovah God), Sheeva (Hinduism), and Islam (Allah). But thank you for the clarification. Those responsible for any confusion have been sacked.
Twiggy-
Thank you for commenting in a civil way and not flying off the handle. I understand that people have different opinions and are apt to disagree on a lot of things. It’s cool to have people that will offer their opinions and back them up without feeling that anyone who disagrees is threatening them or trying to trample their individual rights.
As far as Pressed “spamming” other peoples blogs, you might want to reference his response above where he says, “I always go to other sites and post my questions as well to let the people know that I was there and that I read their comments. It is not like I only did it with these religion questions to evangelize the world as you so assumed”. Yours just happened to be one of the sites that he checked out this week 
Posted by: Le Renard Subtil on November 2, 2002 02:57 PM
heh, thanks for pointing that out jim. i should have clarified. in islam, we belive that allah is the same god as in christianity and judaism.
Posted by: phutro on November 2, 2002 04:20 PM
Alright, listen up you theological students, evangelists, fundamentalist **BEEP**, and some of you other folk over there in the corner. Let’s get down to business.
1 A) “Nobody’s right and nobody’s wrong”. I’m sorry smitha, but I don’t think that I can “just leave it at that”. How is it that nobody can be right and nobody can be wrong?
1 B) The opposite of right is wrong. The opposite of one profound truth is another. Hmmm…. Now, if I were to guess, I’d say both of those are profound truths. But that’s only a guess. Hint, hint.
2 A) There must be an one objective standard of right and wrong, of God and His existence, and life after death or there must be no ethics, God, nor afterlife at all. There is no middle ground on this one. Not everyone can be right at the same time. That’s obviously irrational.
2 B) If there is, we sure as **BEEP** haven’t found it yet. Get over it.
3 A) My point: you are standing on shaky ground when you say that everything in life is relative to what the individual believes.
3 B) Everything is relevant to what the individual believes. That is, unless you still let everyone decide everything for you.
4 A) phutro, Allah is not the same God as in Judaism nor as in Christianity. The differences in what they teach are so drastic, it would be violating the law of non-contradiction to assume they are the same.
4 B) Allah is the literal translation. Tell me, if my invisible man doesn’t like your invisible man, can I kick your **BEEP**? In any case, if you knew anything at all about the way these religions started up, you’d know that Allah, Yaweh, and God are the smae frikin being.
Okay now, rant ended. I’m sorry this is in such an uncivil tone, but the points had to be addressed. Am I a Christian? In a way, I was born into the Catholic Church and attended Catholic school for 8 years (believe it or not, it’s enough training to last a while). From there, my beliefs altered as I saw some of the ways of the world. Currently, I have been studying the lost legacy, Magic (there’s a new variable to add) and my beliefs call together taoism, zen buddhism, and magecraft. Again, I am sorry if I was rude, but from many of the posts I have seen (I have been keeping track), it had to be done.
Posted by: Jai-Len on November 2, 2002 08:20 PM
I’ve replied. I guess it was a mutual misunderstanding. For one thing, you NEVER made it clear (except for this thread) that your main reason for spamming the Fri5 thread was just to show that you read our answers and wanted us to read yours in return. THAT’S why I got so angry at you, because there was nowhere that stated your intentions openly EXCEPT for this thread. On top of that, the fact that–eh, screw it, just go read, I spent an hour writing that. 
And Jim…grow up. Please edit my link out of that post. I would NEVER do that to you–that’s such a blatant display of immaturity there, siccing people on me to bash my character based on just the several posts pertaining to this.
Posted by: Smitha on November 2, 2002 10:16 PM
Ooops. I got your names mixed up from my weblog–I meant Craig on the 2nd part, not Jim. *embarrassed* But anyway…
Posted by: Smitha on November 2, 2002 11:23 PM
DANG! I almost got away with Jim being the immature one… *sigh*
Posted by: Pressed on November 2, 2002 11:48 PM
Smitha-
Thanks for taking the time to make that post and clear some things up. I’d be interested in seeing a post that goes further into what you believe sometime.
Jai-Len-
Whoa!! Calm down there, buddy. No need to get all rabid on us. Besides, it’s not healthy to let your blood pressure sky rocket like that. You might give yourself a coronary. I’m going to go ahead and continue with your commentary though.
1 C) Huh? It’s pretty late right now and I’m not exactly sure where you’re going with 1 B. Maybe it would help me if you just came out and said what you’re thinking (nicely) instead of dropping hints.
2 C) By what authority do claim that we havn’t found the right God yet? I’m hoping that this was just something that you said in your blind rage and not some sort of intellectual arrogance that allows you to think that not one single person has found the right way to God. Please elaborate.
3 C) Everything is relevant to what the individual believes? I would agree that everyone has the right to choose what they do or do not believe, but the absolute truth cannot be based on individual whims. If I sincerely believe that I can float to the top of my house, does that make me right? Well no. If I were to believe that there were no God, would that automatically mean that He doesn’t exist just because that’s what I believe?
4 C)Maybe you need the two comments that were made before your rant before you go flexing your theological muscles to everyone. That would’ve explained where we were coming from.
Let’s try to have a little less rant and a little more cool-headed, light conversation. The world will be a better place I would like to hear more about your unique blend of beliefs though.
Posted by: Le Renard Subtil on November 3, 2002 12:00 AM
Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you. Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. –Jude 2-4
Posted by: Bryan on November 3, 2002 06:30 AM
The spiritual light shines alone,
far transcending the senses
and their fields;
the essential substance is
exposed, real and eternal.
It is not contained in written words.
The nature of mind has no defilement;
it is basically perfect and complete in itself.
Just get rid of delusive attachments,
and merge with realization of thusness.
- Pai-chang (720–814)
Posted by: Jai-Len on November 5, 2002 02:40 PM
