JohnnySmum

Christians don't (or at least shouldn't) do good things in order to gain eternal life, because their salvation isn't based on that. Rather, becoming a Christian genuinly changes the person's values, so that they want to be more Christ-like, which can only be a good thing. Christians could just sit back and live as they did before - after all, what does it matter how they behave - they're guaranteed heaven. But they don't. They actively take it upon themselves to live a life pleasing to God, despite their assurance of salvation. Christians don't have to be good to people, and the fact that they are should illustrate the positive effect Christianity has both to the individual and the community. Mr Einstein and his special theory of relativity would beg to differ ;). Time is a very real, if not tangible, thing. He (speaking reverently) wasn't a very good conman, if that's all He was! Not my idea of success; being hated by everyone and killed by crucifixion. You may be onto something with that one ;)

Nothing said about aliens in the Bible. We'll cross that bridge (if and) when we come to it?

And conversly couldn't godly people do the opposite? Satanist acts if you will. Therefore balancing out the two greater and lesser equals leaving 1 defined equal state of life. Godly people can still do ungodly things, but I'm not sure what you're getting at with the Satanism and equal state of life?

I'd disagree: God's character defines morality. Being God-like is moral, and conversely, being ungodly is immoral. Christians didn't invent the morals, but they are the people that are supposed to follow them. Technically, Matt giving food to the poor man was the Godly thing to do. I'll try to use an analogy to help make my point. A person writing a poem could use literary devices such as metaphors without knowing so. The fact that the person didn't know he was doing so doesn't change the reality that what he did was use a metaphor. In the same way, ungodly people can still do godly things, regardless of whether they did them to fulfill God's moral code or not.

Some Christians don't do as much practical work as perhaps they should, I agree. Very similar in idea to thses Bible verses: You didn't do it for any Christian beliefs, but what you did was Christian. Your analysis of some Christians who don't do as they preach is a good one, as you see in those verses I quoted. That's debatable ;) If God created time, then we can say that He exists outside of its influence. You only have a "beginning" or "end" within time, so God just was. It's tough to think about, but pretty reasonable too. I do believe thats the biggest cop out of an answer ever. How come?

If God created time, then we can say that He exists outside of its influence. You only have a "beginning" or "end" within time, so God just was. It's tough to think about, but pretty reasonable too.

A Christian defines sin as disobedience to God's will, ie. not doing what God would have done. At the risk of getting sidetracked, homosexuality is a sin because it is disobeying God's plan - that man should be with woman (woman being made for man as well as from man). It offends our egos to think that someone else knows better than we do, but God genuinly has our best interests in mind when allowing only heterosexual marital relationships. Don't get me wrong: heterosexual intercourse outside of marriage is just as wrong as homosexuality. Many people focus only on the deviancy on homosexuals, which leads many to beleive that Christians are prejudiced against them. This shouldn't be the case - we teach in love the commandments of God, not in judgement. Consider this: sexually transmitted diseases would not exist if people had only one (heterosexual) partner for their entire life - as God intended. I believe that the scourge of sexually transmitted infections is no less than a punishment for our immoral behaviour in this area. The Church doesn't need followers: the followers need the Church ;). The Church's views weren't popular back in ancient Rome, where many were killed for their views. Popularity has never been the principal issue for real Christians. God loves everyone, regardless of sexual orientation or any sin they're comitted. It's the fact that many Christians focus on this issue that breeds the idea that "God hates homosexuals." You're missing the point here somewhat. A part of being a Christian is repenting, or turning around, from your old ways of behaviour. This is the same for a homosexual that becomes a Christian or a murderer. You wouldn't expect a man that's just got married to go out drinking every night and generally live as he did before: it's a contradiction. Likewise, you wouldn't expect to see a "Christian" homosexual or murderer, as they're in direct violation of the beliefs they claim to hold! I'm sure you wouldn't hold what someone's done in the past against them, and neither does God. Anyone can repent and become a Christian, no matter what they've previously done.

Indeed, the Catholic Church was, and still is, very corrupt. Look at all the heresy: transubstantiation; homosexual priests; women priests; worship of Mary (nothing short of idolatry). To an extent, I can see why some people are apprehensive of Christianity. Christians certainly have done some very unchristian things in the past (just look at the Crusades). I'd say the major distinction between Christianity and other religions (that is evident to a secular audience) is that Christianity, when followed properly, is advantageous to its members and other people.

No matter what you've done, if Jesus has taken your sins away, you're saved from judgement. God doesn't want anyone to perish, but that all would come to Him. But you see, a true Christian wouldn't do those things. This is addressed in the Bible, where people claimed that Jesus was their Lord, yet continued living as they had been. You can recognise true Christians by the fact that they are different: they don't blaspheme, get drunk, have sex outside of marriage etc.

There are various scientific evidences, which I'll go into if you'd like. Christianity isn't primarily concerned with the fact that Genesis is correct (although it does confirm its authenticity). Of more importance is getting your relationship right with God and avoiding judgement.

The definition should've explained it. Apparently Christian morals come from the bible god. God is then a dictator. A tyrant oppresses his subjects. God does the opposite. A tyrant forces his subjects to follow him. God doesn't. Why is God a dictator or a tyrant?

I see where you're coming from. While humans were created perfect, God gave them the ability to rebel, and knew that they would. Why He did this I don't know. A hard concept to grasp it that everything works to give God the most glory: all the murders, deaths and distasters ultimately serve to glorify God. We don't see it, but it's what Christianity teaches.

Explain please. Thats a rather harsh thing to say without support and if you really believe it you know nothing of Christianity. from http://www.hyperdictionary.com/dictionary/tyranny Is that a better explanation? As long as the dicator is good (and God is perfect), a dictatorship is the best type of governing system. The only reason we associate dictatorship the tyranny is that all of the dictators we have known (Stalin, Mussolini etc.) are only human, and therefore make mistakes. Think of your parents: when you're only a kid, they have absolute authority over you in the same way that a dictator does. They know what's best for you, even if you don't realise it at the time. In the same way, God knows what's best for us.

1. Vanilla Sky 2. Terminator 2 3. Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace 4. The Matrix 5. Gladiator 6. The Matrix Reloaded 7. Leaving Las Vegas 8. Twelve Monkeys 9. Judge Dredd 10. The Substitute

I've seen it on lots of other forums - a thread where everyone posts their works in progress and other bits and pieces that don't warrant their own thread. I'll get the show started - Just experimenting with Photoshop here; trying to get a cold, confused look. Got the idea for this from a tutorial I saw a while back. I know everyone hates Terragen, but... meh

www.mmorpg.com That site has all the latest news about new and old MMORPGs (the same game genre as RS).

1 million cabbages! In your face mr. cabbage run 2004! :D :twisted:

The detail is absolutely amazing. It matched the avatar, both in terms of artistic composition and skill. You've got great talent 8) . How long did they take to make?

I'd just like to point out a medical use for aborted foetuses (foetii? meh). We can use their immature brain cells for invasive brain surgery to those who have had strokes. It's either that or using pig brain cells, which aren't as good. Hmph, until the Western government lets us clone human tissue, we'll have to use aborted baby brains :evil: .

Nice post Nathaninch. A teacher of mine once argued that you have to be religious to lead a moral life, but that's not the case at all. All morality is based on a Judeo-Christian ethic (the Bible). I'd agree with your teacher. The concept of morality is only sensical when applied to religious people (there has to be an absolute reference (as found in the Bible) to compare one's actions to, as otherwise anyone could do anything, with the excuse that it conforms to their personal morality (eg. that guy in America who killed the abortion doctor thought it was a morally justified action). I'd die for my beliefs in Christianity, but for my country I'm not so sure.

Sperms arent "Human" u tool technically nor is a foetus. it has the same dna structure as an ape at that stage. its not even close to becoming a baby. I think the point he was trying to make was that as soon as the sperm and egg fuse, there is all the material required for a potential human to form.

By the way, did you take the picture, and what did you use to take it?

Nice composition using the default Bryce objects :wink: . As said above, model a palm tree yourself, and perhaps rotate the sun position to the centre of the piece?

Ah, I thought you were Stephanieis from the old forums. She was 30+ - my bad >_<

The pixel man strikes again :) . Very nice job on Mel Gibson.. er Braveheart. Awaiting the finished piece!