I personally believe that Christianity has walked away from what Jesus spoke... those words that have been attributed to him have been passed on, through word of mouth and translation. The gnostic gospels have quite similar parables along with some which teach of what is within... gnosis teachings.These have still made it through all of the translations...

somehow...

someway...

the words' meaning have lasted, although the 'religion' has all but completely disregarded what I believe the true intention was...

Many of the parables and words which are reported to have been spoken by Jesus follow closely along the lines of Eastern teachings from long before the time of Christ.

If one can separate themselves from what they have accepted regarding Christianity's teachings of the purposes of the parables and words of Jesus, one could find the deeper meanings within them...

Do a comparison... read the 'spoken' words of Jesus... read the bloodshed and hate in the Old Testament...

Enter through the narrow gate...

Christianity is wide open... and far from the meaning that I believe Jesus intended...

Ghandi said it best...

'I like your Christ, I just don't like your Christians.'

So many parables concerning what is within you... so, so many...

NONE which are of crucifixion for redemption...

Are you stating that Christians have moved away from the idealism of complete and utter devotion to the words of Jesus? (F.Y.I..I'm agnostic).

I am saying that Christianity made Jesus their "christ" with complete fabrication of stories and addendums which supported the notion... perpetuated by the early teachings of Paul, John, Luke and who else knows... picked up and extrapolated by the Catholic church...

I am saying that Christianity was started by 'Christians' not Jesus....

dear creative soul....

there are good and bad people in every type of group of people

"there is bad in the best of us, and good in the worst of us "


while we are very much within our rights to say how we feel...

i think it is easy to generalize and lump everyone into a box

~ as if to say that we ALL possess ALL of the qualities
or ALL of the shortcomings as some others
who may share SOME common beliefs ...
but nothing anymore is just black or white...
there are many shades of grey...
not everyone thinks or feels or behaves the same way ...
i am so non traditional as far as a Christian goes,
yet I still love Jesus and I know He loves Me...

just as Christianity walked away from God's word in the Old Testament because if was impossible for the average person with a conscious to follow God's word as it is impossible for the average educated person to follow the teachings of Jesus and the claim that Jesus is God or the son of a God and that is why Christianity has little choice but to evolve into "New Age"

Of course you are right. The bible is a compilation of stories written by authors of old. The "creators" of the bible edited not only which books went into the bible but the stories were edited to fit the story line they wanted it to portray. And to make it worse, other books, versions and stories were destroyed as sacriligious to the form of the book that was "created". If we could read the originals, impossible because of destruction for many of the writings, I am sure there would be a different picture created there.

Rapunzel stated:


Rapunzel, I am within my right and not at all unjustified to claim that someone who says that they are a "Christian" believes that Jesus was the christ, and died on the cross for humanity's sins...

It would be absurd to suggest that this is not true.

EDIT:

Ooops... maybe not. 'Someone' can say just about anything... Allow me to re-phrase that...

Someone who professes and believes in the salvation principles which are inherently contained in Christianity's teaching(s).

I do and I have.....and I think it's rather bold for you to assume that some that are Christians don't follow Christ's teachings as Christ intended them to be.

And again as I have said on many occasions someone's beliefs or relationships with God, Christ are very personal and you don't really know what is in each persons heart....so therefore you really should not judge. There are people with all different religious backgrounds that don't live up to what their beliefs are, but I don't judge them.....because there is in the end only one judge.

I have also said on numerous occasions that I don't care what religion people are.....that for me it's all about God, and his only begotten son....who did die on the cross for us.....and if you don't want to believe that...again your choice...but don't say that I don't have the right to believe it...because I most certainly do.

not quite sure what your meaning is here ..

i never questioned your right to post this...

i am basically saying that

"not every one falls into the same mold

or category "....dear man of my friend Art Gurl

I couldn't agree more rapunzel....and here with her and I you have a classic case. I would not call rapunzel a Christian....I would say she is spiritual and believes what she does for her own reason.....yet I am a Christian and I not only respect rapunzel on may different levels but I also consider her to be one of my best gal-pals here. Now we know what each other believes but it does not define our relationship. Which brings me to this point.

You can have a whole lot of people believing a whole lot of different things. Having diverse backgrounds, cultures, and also religions....but then there is a common ground and when to know when to step down. I can take anyone bashing christianity but I won't and never will back down to people who call My Lord Jesus Christ a myth or my Bible full of stories that are just told by men.....I don't and won't ever believe that....And what I have to back it up is 2000 years of it being so.

Debbie....i love the Lord....and i am a Christian

Im sorry V.....I didn't think you were...I thought you were just more spiritual....Please I humbly apologize.....forgive me....

you got it ~ Lady i totally forgive you....

i just had to clarify that

i love you lots....

I love you too sweets......big time...and again I am soooo sorry.

This is a little ironic...

Was not I being falsely accused of judging another earlier?

I so love all my new 'badges', Artsy makes me a new one every time another labels me...

Hmmmm.... lemme see...

Christian...
Atheist...
New Age Christian...
Pantheist...
A wolf in sheep's clothing...
Etcetera, etcetera...

And this is directed to??????

Whomever has placed a label upon me...



I am good, no worries...

I attempt to love all in spite of my own faults...

feral, I hope you take this the right way...

You said:




I wonder how bold you would think me to be if I were to say that all who believe that the only way to heaven is through Jesus...





Who believe that 'God' sent Jesus to die for our sins...






That believe that Jesus believed that he was sent to die for man's sin...






Who cherish the notion of the murder of Jesus, and call it 'salvation'...






Those who do not believe that 'God' and the 'kingdom of heaven' is found within one, without the need for murder...






Those who believe in 'God' having human emotions...







Those who believe that 'God' has a name...






Those who feel that they are 'made in God's image' from the rib of Adam or are descendants of Adam and Eve...







Those who feel as though Christianity is being persecuted in Jesus' name...






Those who believe in the devil...







In the 'antichrist'...








In revelations...







Those who think 'God' needs your money...








Those who believe that there are roads paved with 'gold' in 'heaven'...







Those who believed that Jesus walked on water...






Etcetera, etcetera...





Well I think that those people are just plain....






Um....






Er....








Ummm....









Well lemme see....








Ummm.....





How can I put this?...







I think ALL of those people are just as wonderful as any other, and walk their own path for their own reason(s)...


Just keep your hell to yourself, if you don't mind... it is not mine, it belongs to you and your belief system...


I would rather not have you 'praying' for me...


Respect this, if you would...


If you could be so kind...

I find it 'offensive' that so many Christians want to pray for the 'unrepentant' soul of another, only to be offended themselves when another feels sorry those same Christians because (in his/her opinion) Christianity has been dupped!