And the idea that Protestant Christianity (there you go again using "Christianity" to exclude Catholicism) doesn't say anything about requiring repentance is, um... interesting.
I guess I'm not making it clear on how I view things, I know Protestants have repentance but it's less... "drilled in" than it is with Catholics? Catholics sin and they have to confess and then do something to "make up" for it. Say prayers, light candles, whatever. A Protestant sins and he asks for forgiveness directly or just has to realize he's sinning. As I understand it Jesus died for our sins and we're supposed to respect that and realize it but at the same time sin is forgiven because no one can live without sinning. Best we can do is try not to sin and feel "bad" about or sins.
As for excluding Catholics from Christianity, I realize they're the same religion but at the same time I see them practiced very differently to the point, for me at least, them almost being different religions. Catholics follow the Pope, pray to God through saints and idols, seek direct forgiveness for their sins, etc. Christians pray directly to God/Jesus, don't follow the pope, and feel their sins are already forgiven by Jesus dying on the cross.
Catholics "break" the Second Commandment as seen by Christians (Protestants) by praying to idols. In fact, IIRC, Catholics follow a different list of Commandments to "get away with" following other idols.
I realize Protestants, Catholics, Baptists and others are all the same religion (Christianity) but, at the same time, they all pretty much practice the same religion in different ways. And often just simply call Protestants "Christians" out of bad-habit/laziness and just my personal view on things.
Really, I think we as a species need to give up on the whole "God"/"Gods" thing because I think it causes more trouble than it's worth. If you need a being that may or may not exist to tell you to not kill other people and to be a good person then you have deeper problems. Then there's cases like with Phil Robertson where his religious following makes him say things against entire groups of people. Hell, religion has been used to constrain, control and dominate groups of people for centuries. Slavery, denying inter-racial marriage and controlling of women was all done in the name of The Bible.
Religion is a mess and, really, I think it causes more problems than it solves or prevents. It holds us back as a people. The biggest hurdle we're struggling with right now, equal-rights and protection of homosexuals, is being stymied because of the Religious Right who want to define marriage and love with how The Bible does.
Me? As someone who doesn't practice any religion, doesn't really follow The Bible? I think I'm more advanced than people who DO follow The Bible because I think we should treat all people the same no matter what. Are homosexuals living in sin? Perhaps they are. But I don't think we should judge them, punish them or control them on Earth for it. Let them live their lives how they see fit and The Constitution, laws and rights should not be made based on a religious text.
If homosexuals really are an offense to God, and their sin really is something that cannot be forgiven or their living in sin, knowing it's a sin, regardless of their Belief in Jesus in God is too much for God to accept then let Him deal with it in the end. Really, who are we to judge if they want to sin?
And, again, God sees all sin as the same. Why is homosexuality the one so many want to focus on? There's quite a bit of other things God doesn't like even in The New Testament that people do all of the time. Why are they not speaking out against that? Where are the wacko-sects of "Christians" protesting businesses that stay open on Sundays? Why isn't there a mass movement to put an asterisk in the First Amendment that says that "Goddammit" and other blasphemous phrases cannot be said?
Why is homosexuality the one so many want to focus on?
Because some people find it icky. It's got nothing to do with God, The Bible, Jesus or any of that. That's the excuse, that's the drum they can beat to justify their bigotry. Just like all other forms of bigotry and control of groups throughout history. It's "icky" that blacks and whites marry/love one another, it's "not right" that women have rights, and the Bible "proves" that God doesn't like it either. I'm justified! That's all there is to it. People find it icky and The Bible is their excuse to hide behind on why they're right in their beliefs.
Growing up, my mom really wanted me to read The Bible because she felt with my intelligence I could really understand it and could've been a great "scholar" of sorts with The Bible and understand it better than her and possibly as well as/better than her Pastor. In fact, I'm pretty sure she wanted me to BE a Pastor. Which, hey, the church she goes to pays the head Pastor there pretty damn well. So it could have been lucrative.
Dealing with a deep depression in my teenage years I never took much interest in The Bible and struggled to read it (King James version, I sort of had trouble with the older English in it.)
But what I've read of The Bible, what I know is in it (again even in the New Testament) and what I've actually seen and experienced on what it does to people. No thanks. I think it closes people's minds and puts them in this narrow path of thinking that *everyone* must be absolutely perfect and as Godly as possible to be accepted. My mother absolutely *refuses* to accept gay people as being "equals" and as people who'll get into Heaven. My mother is a lovely woman, I love her as much as a good son should love his mother.
But she's had her mind closed and trapped by this book so many put their faith into. Everyone must be the personification and living embodiment of Jesus to be accepted. Sure, we can allow some sins but, apparently there's some sins one just cannot accept.
I don't want my mind closed by The Bible into a narrow way of thinking and thinking only certain people are "good" because of how they live their lives. Honestly, I think I'm more Christ-like without having read The Bible than I would be if I had. Because I accept everyone for who they are and do not judge people based on who they love, the color of their skin or even what belief system they have.
I'm open minded on what people want to believe, I personally don't have strong beliefs in The Bible, Jesus, or God and as I get older the more I think it's hocus-pocus people want to follow and that we're better off without it but if people want to believe in it and follow it they're welcome to and I think no different of them. I see Athirst, Christians, Jews, Islamics as all the same. I'm not the one who gets to judge people on their beliefs or how they live their lives.
If there IS a God then only He gets to judge and decide who is worthy of entry in to Paradise. How about the rest of us just live our lives as best as we can, not pass judgment and let God sort it all out?
No seriously.... what? This is just goofy nonsense.
I just have my own opinions and interpretations on things.
