07-03-2012, 12:06 AM
|
#1 |
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Leith
Posts: 11,659
|
Positives about christianity
Almost every humanitarian organisation in this world has it's origins in Christianity Salvation Army Red Cross Christian blind mission World vision Care Australia Save the children I have encountered a lot of Christian charitable or groups during me travels overseas Wot about the hospitals , Schools, Nursing homes and hospice centers built by christians? Millions of poor, sick children and adults are benifited from these acts and without these humanitarian organisations these poor and sick people will be suffering or dead So why do you reject the good deeds ? http://au.answers.yahoo.com/question...3042359AAqvx0z
__________________
"One should never believe everything one reads on the internet." -Abraham Lincoln Last edited by blackyblue; 07-03-2012 at 12:07 AM. |
|
|
|
07-03-2012, 12:09 AM
|
#2 |
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Leith
Posts: 11,659
|
good things christians have done in society
Impact on modern society
Have Christians positively effected our society? It's been claimed that committed Christians have laid a foundation of compassion and caring in Western societies. Is this true? Here are some examples along with links for further reading. The Church is the largest single provider of healthcare and education in the world, working especially in some of the poorest countries where there is no other care available. (Catholic church that is. Adding Evangelical church schools/hospitals means there is no close second provider.) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Role_of...tion#Education The Church pioneered modern Social Work. Eg: Jane Addams London Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (London SPCC) After campaigning from SPCC and the wider Church, the UKs first ever law to protect children from abuse and neglect came into being. See Lord Shaftsbury , Rev B. Waugh http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nationa...ildren#History Save the Children. This large relief agency was founded by Eglantyne Jebb who also campaigned for social reform in this area. The Declaration of the Rights of the Child was adopted by the League of Nations. She also pioneered the Child Sponsorship program. Barnardos homes worlds largest orphanage system. Founded by Thomas John Barnardo. Churches were the first orphanages In the High Middle Ages, abandoning unwanted children finally eclipsed infanticide. Unwanted children were left at the door of church or abbey, and the clergy was assumed to take care of their upbringing. This practice also saw the birth of the first orphanages. From Roman times, advocacy against infanticide and polygamy etc. Early Church Fathers advocated against polygamy, abortion, infanticide, child abuse... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Role_of...n#Roman_Empire Strengthening of marriage from Roman times Church teaching heavily influenced the legal concept of marriage. During the Gregorian Reform, the Church developed and codified a view of marriage as a sacrament. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Role_of...n#Roman_Empire Protection of young people in our society: English Factory reform bill and anti-poor movement,- Richard Oastler http://www.christianhistorytimeline....-29-2002.shtml Campaign for the protection of children from abuse. Passionate Christian Josephine Butler campaigned for the age of consent to be set and was a key figure in other social reforms. Care for the elderly and disabled in society. Christians birthed Almshouse institutions as early as the 10th century. Conditions in these Almshouses were not always good and there was a social stigma attached to them, however, Almshouses did their best to serve the local community with the little resources they had and cared for those who were abandoned by society. They were the forerunner of nursing homes and hospitals. They sought to provide care for those who were no longer able to work. Almshouses are still active today with some 2,600 in the UK alone. Impact on language, literature and culture The Authorized Version of the Bible has been called "the most influential version of the most influential book in the world, in what is now its most influential language", "the most important book in English religion and culture", and "the most celebrated book in the English-speaking world". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Authori...sion#Influence Impact on civil liberties The Magna Carta is considered one of the most important documents in human history; vitally important as an early foundation of law in Western society. It is considered the founding document of English liberties and hence American liberties. The influence of Magna Carta can be seen in the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Lord Denning described it as "the greatest constitutional document of all times the foundation of the freedom of the individual against the arbitrary authority of the despot". The man responsible for drafting it's content was Stephen Langton (Archbishop of Canterbury). Various "Barons" were also implicated in the construction of the Magna Carta, but Stephen Langton is believed to be the central architect. Impact on civil liberties Rev.Martin Luther King Jr., a man of great courage and faith who was at the centre of the civil rights movement. He continued despite attempts on his life including a fire bomb attack on his family home. In 1964, King became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his work to end racial segregation and racial discrimination through civil disobedience and other nonviolent means. His father and grandfather were both ordained ministers. The U.S. have declared the 3rd Monday in January to be an annual public holiday in his honour. Written on his memorial are the concluding words from his "I have a dream speech": ""Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!" http://www.biography.com/people/mart...ing-jr-9365086 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King,_Jr. Prison reform. The Quakers pioneered prison reform during the Victorian age. Suggested basic human rights for prisoners and teaching prisoners a trade etc. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prison_...United_Kingdom Today, Prison Fellowship International (amongst other Christian ministries) works around the globe in prisons to help reform and rehabilitate prisoners: http://www.pfi.org/media-and-news/ne..._of_index_html The 7th Earl of Shaftsbury was inspired by his faith to do many things. He became a Tory MP (Member of Parliament) in 1826, and almost immediately became a leader of the movement for factory reform. He was responsible for promoting a plethora of reform causes, including the Factory Acts of 1847 and 1853, the Ten Hour Bill, as well as the Mines and Collieries Act 1842 and the Lunacy Act 1845. One of his chief interests was the welfare of children, and he was chairman of the Ragged Schools Union and a keen supporter of Florence Nightingale. He was also involved as patron and president in the field of model dwellings companies, which sought to improve the housing of working classes in England. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony...of_Shaftesbury Braille worldwide system used by blind and visually impaired people. Louis Braille was an innovator. Lying on his deathbed he said, God was pleased to hold before my eyes the dazzling splendors of eternal hope His system is now used on a worldwide basis. http://74.84.206.112/ChurchHistory/11630360/ Pioneering free or low cost health care for the terminally ill in our society dying of cancer. Macmillan nurses. Douglas Macmillan. Rose Hawthorne Lathrop created the first homes/treatment centers for cancer patients in the US. St. Rose's Free Home for Incurable Cancer Promotion of International fair trade for the poorest societies in the world. Tearfund. Trade justice movement, Make Poverty History. Richard Adams OBE. Habitat for Humanity, one of the largest charities in the US which internationally provides housing for the poor. Founder Millard Fuller Salvation Army, caring for poor and downtrodden in many different countries. Founder William Booth Leprosy Missions. Dr. Paul Wilson Brand was a pioneer in developing tendon transfer techniques for use in the hands of those with leprosy. He spent 19 years serving in India. During his career, Dr. Brand received many awards and honors. He was awarded the Hunterian professorship of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1952 etc Leprosy Mission International has over 130 years experience working with people that are considered untouchable in some societies. Founded by Wellesley Bailey in the 1860s. http://www.leprosymission.org/ Sight to the blind. Dr. Victor C Rambo was a passionate Christian who could have made a lot of money as a doctor in the US. Instead he lived in India where he worked from dawn til dusk operating on cataracts where little or no other help was available. Literally thousands of patients were helped through his ministry who would have otherwise been left seriously visually impaired or gone blind. http://www.philadelphia-reflections.com/blog/695.htm Ministry to young people in our society YMCA founded in 1844. Nobel Peace Prize winners. John Mott: Founded by George Williams: World Vision, 1950 child sponsorship, one of largest relief and development agencies in the US. Founded by Dr. Robert Pierce Samaritans Purse. Humanitarian organisation reaching those suffering in war, poverty, famine, disease and disaster. Franklin Graham Education UK. An overwhelming number of early education establishments were Christian before the State took over. http://www.jstor.org/pss/1050784 In the UK, faith schools (Christian and Jewish) dominate the league table of performance. Two thirds of the 50 best performing institutions were Church of England, Roman Catholic or Jewish. This comes despite the fact that faith schools account for only one in every three schools. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ue-tables.html Lech Wałęsa. Devout Christian and charismatic president of Poland 1990-95. World renowned human rights activist. Winner of numerous international awards including the Nobel Peace prize 1983 and awarded over 30 honorary doctorates from universities worldwide. Co-founder of Solidarity, the Soviet bloc's first independent trade union. David Bussau AM (born November 10, 1940) is a pioneer of microfinance, having founded Opportunity International Australia and co-founded the Opportunity International Network. He has been hailed for his innovative approach to solving world poverty by challenging the conventional wealth distribution model of development, addressing the root causes of poverty through responsible wealth creation. According to the World Bank, micro-enterprise has proven to be one of the most effective and sustainable ways to solve poverty. Rev. Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, LL.D., (December 10, 1787 September 10, 1851) was a renowned American pioneer in the education of the deaf. He co-founded and raised funds for the first institution for the education of the deaf in North America. For many years he was principal of that institution. His son Edward Miner Gallaudet (18371917) founded in 1864 the first college for the deaf which in 1986 became Gallaudet University. Charles Loring Brace (June 19, 1826 in Litchfield, Connecticut - August 11, 1890) was a contributing philanthropist in the field of social reform. He is considered a father of the modern foster care movement and was most renowned for starting the Orphan Train movement of the mid-19th century, and for founding The Children's Aid Society. Despite being crippled himself, John Pounds (1766-1839) was the man most responsible for the creation of the concept of Ragged Schools (charitable schools dedicated to the free education of destitute children). Working in the poorest districts, teachers initially utilised stables, lofts, and railway arches for their classes. The success of the Ragged Schools definitively demonstrated that there was a demand for education among the poor. Robert Raikes ("the Younger") (14 September 1736 5 April 1811) was an English philanthropist and Anglican layman, noted for his promotion of Sunday schools. Pre-dating state schooling and by 1831 schooling 1,250,000 children, they are seen as the first schools of the English state school system. The movement started with a school for boys in the slums. Friedrich Wilhelm August Frφbel (or Froebel) (April 21, 1782 June 21, 1852) laid the foundation for modern education based on the recognition that children have unique needs and capabilities. He developed the concept of the kindergarten, and also coined the word now used in German and English. Supporting mothers and families worldwide - The Mothers' Union (founded 1876) Mothers Union is an international Christian charity that seeks to support families worldwide. It main aim is to support marriage and family life, especially through times of adversity. Particularly concerned with the plight of women in the world, its projects include literacy and development, parenting, micro finance and campaigning against violence against women and the trafficking of women. The Mothers' Union is part of Make Poverty History and the Jubilee Debt Coalition. Pioneering education for women. Mary Lyon 1797-1849. She valued socioeconomic diversity and endeavored to make the seminary affordable for students of modest means. Royal Society for the prevention of cruelty to Animals founded by Christians (William Wilberforce). It is the oldest and largest animal welfare organisation in the world and is one of the largest charities in the UK. One of the largest international literacy organisations in the world, SIL International, brings literacy to thousands of the world's poorest language communities. Frank Laubach. Committed Christian and pioneer of world literacy. Known as the Apostle to the Illiterates the programs he developed have been used to teach about 60 million people to read their own language. He was deeply concerned about poverty, injustice and illiteracy, and considered them barriers to peace in the world. Food for the Poor. Since 1982, Food for the Poor has distributed more than $8.2 billion worth of food, medicine, housing materials,water and other aid to the poor of the Caribbean and Latin America Meeting the needs of children in poverty-stricken areas. Mission Of Mercy http://missionofmercy.org/home/index.cfm?flash=1 George Mueller - orphanages and education Mueller took no salary for himself. By 1870 his orphanages had multiplied and they were caring for two thousand children. He was well-known for providing an education to the children under his care, to the point where he was accused by some of raising the poor above their natural station in life. http://74.84.206.112/ChurchHistory/11630420/ Pioneering International orphan care. Amy Wilson Carmichael Christian Aid. Christian Aid is one of the biggest international development agencies in the world. It was formed and is still supported by the major Christian churches in the British Isles. Its headquarters are in London. It works with local partner organizations in over 70 countries around the world to help the world's poorest communities. Christian Aid states it works where the need is greatest, regardless of religion, nationality or race. Trade Justice Development projects Education US. Out of the initial 110 universities started in the US, 100 had Christian foundations. Temperance Movement to address the abuse of alcohol in society. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tempera...ent_by_country Pioneering surgery on infants. Dr. C. Everett Koop. Koop performed groundbreaking surgical procedures on conjoined twins, invented techniques which today are commonly used for infant surgery, and saved the lives of countless children who otherwise might have been allowed to die. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C._Everett_Koop#Career Michael Faraday. Contributed extensively to the fields of Electromagnetism and Electrochemistry. Known as one of the most influential scientists in history. Historians of science refer to him as the best experimentalist in the history of science. Discovered Benzene, invented early form of Bunsen Burner. Alcoholics Anonymous helps 2 million people. It's emergence was inspired by the Christian "Oxford Group". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol...oup_beginnings Co-founder Bill claimed a dramatic spiritual experience of God. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_W....m_for_recovery Co-founder Dr. Bob Smith said that AA's basic ideas came from their study of the Bible; the Steps, in essence meant "love and service." Narcotics Anonymous is also based on the above mentioned 12-step program. Pioneers of professional nursing and caring. The first official nurses training program, the Nightingale School for Nurses, opened in 1860. The mission of the school was to train nurses to work in hospitals, work with the poor, and to teach. Florence Nightingale "the mother of modern nursing". She said that God had called her just before her 17th birthday. Although later in life it is said that she wrote a document questioning the divinity of Christ, so it it unsure if she held to an orthodox Christian theology at that time. Amnesty International. Justice and liberty for oppressed people all over the world. Started in 1961 by two Christians Peter Beneson and Eric Baker. Nobel Peace prize 1977 for campaign against torture. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amnesty...tional#History (UK) Recent research showed that 81% of evangelical Christians do some kind of voluntary work at least once a month. This compares with a much lower figure of 26% for the population at large, obtained in citizenship surveys by the Department for Communities and Local Government, and is consistent with comparable differences identified by researchers in North America. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisf...voluntary-work Similar results were confirmed through a five-year study by the political scientists David Campbell and Robert Putman. http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion...umn15_ST_N.htm Oxfam was one of the pioneers of modern famine relief. It works to address famine and injustice on a worldwide scale. Founded by Quaker Christians in Oxford in 1942. The good works still continue. Here is a sampling of more recently established charities: Kindernothilfe (KNH) is a charity organization and was founded in 1959 by a group of Christians in Duisburg, Germany, in order to help needy children in India. Over time, it has become one of the largest Christian organizations in Europe for children's aid. Today it supports more than 580,000 children and young people in 28 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe. KNH aims to give needy children in the poorest countries of the world a chance to a good start in life. Caritas Internationalis is a confederate of 164 Roman Catholic relief, development and social service organisations operating in over 200 countries and territories worldwide. Collectively and individually their mission is to work to build a better world, especially for the poor and oppressed. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caritas_(charity) Children of the Nations (COTN) was founded in 1995 and exists to partner with nationals in poverty-stricken areas of the world to provide care for orphaned and destitute children. Operating in Malawi, Sierra Leone, the Dominican Republic, and Uganda, COTN helps nearly 7,000 children on a daily basis. COTN's stated goal is to "Raise children who transform nations." Christian Foundation for Children and Aging (CFCA) is a nonprofit sponsorship organization headquartered in Kansas City, Kansas. CFCA was founded by lay Catholic workers acting on the Gospel call to serve the poor. Its Hope for a Family sponsorship program provides basic necessities like food, education, clothing and access to medical care to children and elderly in some of the world's poorest communities. Today, CFCA sponsors support more than 300,000 children, youth and aging persons in 22 countries http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christi...nd_Aging_(CFCA) CORD (Christian Outreach Relief and Development) - New life after conflict CORD is a humanitarian organisation working with displaced people and communities affected by violent conflicts around the world. Established in 1967 and rooted in Christian faith. Located in the UK. Christians Against Poverty (CAP) is a Christian charitable company in the United Kingdom founded in Bradford, West Yorkshire by John Kirkby in 1996. It is a national organisation specialising in debt counselling for individuals in financial difficulty, including those in need ofbankruptcy or insolvency. Compassion International is a Christian child sponsorship organization dedicated to the long-term development of children living in poverty around the world. Compassion International, headquartered in Colorado Springs, functions in 26 countries such as Bolivia, Colombia, Mexico, Haiti, Kenya, and India. They also currently help more than 1,200,000 children. Cross International Alliance (Cross) is an inter-denominational Christian relief and development organization based in South Florida that provides food, shelter, education, medical care and emergency aid to the poor in over 30 countries across the globe. Cross was recently recognized for its work in Haiti, receiving a $4.8 million grant from the U.S. government for a new program seeking to care for children and families impacted by AIDSin the country. From its headquarters in Pompano Beach, Cross raises millions of dollars through donations each year to fund development programs that target the poorest of the poor in developing countries, and it ships millions of dollars worth of humanitarian goods to high-need areas such as Kenya and Nicaragua. Hope UK is a national Christian charity located at 25(f) Copperfield Street, London, England which educates children and young people about drug and alcohol abuse. It began as the Band of Hope in 1847 in Leeds, to teach children the importance and principles of sobriety andteetotalism. In 1855, a national organisation was formed amidst an explosion of Band of Hope work. Meetings were held in churches throughout the UK and included Christian teaching. Medair is an international non-governmental organization NGO of humanitarian aid with a stated mission, "to seek out and serve the most vulnerable people affected by crises." Medairs core competencies are emergency relief and rehabilitation. Medair lists its values as: hope, compassion, dignity, accountability, integrity, and faith. Medical Teams International (formerly Northwest Medical Teams) is a non-profit humanitarian aid and global health organization. Medical Teams International has mobilized 2,000 teams since 1979, shipped $1.3 billion in medical aid since 1986, provided care to 4.5 million people in 53 nations in 2008, sent more than 2,600 volunteers serving annually in its various programs all over the world. Mercy Ministries is an international, Evangelical, charismatic, Christian, charitable organization that offers a long-term residential program for young women aged 1328 who struggle with various "life controlling" issues. In 2008, the top issues that Mercy Ministries reported themselves to be dealing with were: eating disorders (69%), self-harm (60%), sexual abuse (55%), emotional/verbal abuse (55%), depression (55%), chemical dependency (49%), physical abuse (37%) and pregnancy (6%) The Message Trust is an award-winning Christian charity working to improve the lives of young people in Greater Manchester, UK and beyond through the Eden Network. Working in schools, in local communities and in prisons, The Message is in contact with around 100,000 young people across Greater Manchester each year. The Message was founded by well-known speaker, author and current chief executive, Andy Hawthorne OBE. Prospects is a Christian charity in the United Kingdom whose aim is to support learning disabled adults, and to enable them to reach their full potential. It was founded in the mid-1970s by David Potter, a Christian minister, who was drawn to the needs of these adults because he and his wife had a daughter with Down's syndrome. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prospects_(charity) Tiny Hands International (THI) is a Christian nonprofit organization dedicated to helping orphaned and abandoned children and fighting sex trafficking in South Asia. Tiny Hands operates through national non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Nepal, Bangladesh, and India. VisionTrust is an international, non-denominational non-profit organization that assists orphanedand impoverished children around the world. The organization works alongside Christian Nationals to help children gain education, nutritional support, medical assistance and spiritual discipleship. VisionTrust works in schools, orphanages, learning centers and medical clinics. They offer child sponsorships, short-term mission trips, and assist churches with educational materials to promote participation in this effort World Concern is a Christian humanitarian organization that operates relief and development programs in 13 countries, and funds partnership programs in nine other countries. The organizations mission statement is, World Concern provides life, opportunity and hope to suffering people around the world, through disaster response and development programs. Motivated by our love of Christ, we bring hope and reconciliation to those we serve, so they may in turn share with others. http://christiangoodinsociety.blogspot.com/
__________________
"One should never believe everything one reads on the internet." -Abraham Lincoln Last edited by blackyblue; 07-03-2012 at 12:10 AM. |
|
|
|
|
07-03-2012, 12:10 AM
|
#3 |
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Leith
Posts: 11,659
|
good things christians have done in society
Impact on modern society
Have Christians positively effected our society? It's been claimed that committed Christians have laid a foundation of compassion and caring in Western societies. Is this true? Here are some examples along with links for further reading. The Church is the largest single provider of healthcare and education in the world, working especially in some of the poorest countries where there is no other care available. (Catholic church that is. Adding Evangelical church schools/hospitals means there is no close second provider.) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Role_of...tion#Education The Church pioneered modern Social Work. Eg: Jane Addams London Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (London SPCC) After campaigning from SPCC and the wider Church, the UKs first ever law to protect children from abuse and neglect came into being. See Lord Shaftsbury , Rev B. Waugh http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nationa...ildren#History Save the Children. This large relief agency was founded by Eglantyne Jebb who also campaigned for social reform in this area. The Declaration of the Rights of the Child was adopted by the League of Nations. She also pioneered the Child Sponsorship program. Barnardos homes worlds largest orphanage system. Founded by Thomas John Barnardo. Churches were the first orphanages In the High Middle Ages, abandoning unwanted children finally eclipsed infanticide. Unwanted children were left at the door of church or abbey, and the clergy was assumed to take care of their upbringing. This practice also saw the birth of the first orphanages. From Roman times, advocacy against infanticide and polygamy etc. Early Church Fathers advocated against polygamy, abortion, infanticide, child abuse... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Role_of...n#Roman_Empire Strengthening of marriage from Roman times Church teaching heavily influenced the legal concept of marriage. During the Gregorian Reform, the Church developed and codified a view of marriage as a sacrament. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Role_of...n#Roman_Empire Protection of young people in our society: English Factory reform bill and anti-poor movement,- Richard Oastler http://www.christianhistorytimeline....-29-2002.shtml Campaign for the protection of children from abuse. Passionate Christian Josephine Butler campaigned for the age of consent to be set and was a key figure in other social reforms. Care for the elderly and disabled in society. Christians birthed Almshouse institutions as early as the 10th century. Conditions in these Almshouses were not always good and there was a social stigma attached to them, however, Almshouses did their best to serve the local community with the little resources they had and cared for those who were abandoned by society. They were the forerunner of nursing homes and hospitals. They sought to provide care for those who were no longer able to work. Almshouses are still active today with some 2,600 in the UK alone. Impact on language, literature and culture The Authorized Version of the Bible has been called "the most influential version of the most influential book in the world, in what is now its most influential language", "the most important book in English religion and culture", and "the most celebrated book in the English-speaking world". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Authori...sion#Influence Impact on civil liberties The Magna Carta is considered one of the most important documents in human history; vitally important as an early foundation of law in Western society. It is considered the founding document of English liberties and hence American liberties. The influence of Magna Carta can be seen in the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Lord Denning described it as "the greatest constitutional document of all times the foundation of the freedom of the individual against the arbitrary authority of the despot". The man responsible for drafting it's content was Stephen Langton (Archbishop of Canterbury). Various "Barons" were also implicated in the construction of the Magna Carta, but Stephen Langton is believed to be the central architect. Impact on civil liberties Rev.Martin Luther King Jr., a man of great courage and faith who was at the centre of the civil rights movement. He continued despite attempts on his life including a fire bomb attack on his family home. In 1964, King became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his work to end racial segregation and racial discrimination through civil disobedience and other nonviolent means. His father and grandfather were both ordained ministers. The U.S. have declared the 3rd Monday in January to be an annual public holiday in his honour. Written on his memorial are the concluding words from his "I have a dream speech": ""Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!" http://www.biography.com/people/mart...ing-jr-9365086 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King,_Jr. Prison reform. The Quakers pioneered prison reform during the Victorian age. Suggested basic human rights for prisoners and teaching prisoners a trade etc. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prison_...United_Kingdom Today, Prison Fellowship International (amongst other Christian ministries) works around the globe in prisons to help reform and rehabilitate prisoners: http://www.pfi.org/media-and-news/ne..._of_index_html The 7th Earl of Shaftsbury was inspired by his faith to do many things. He became a Tory MP (Member of Parliament) in 1826, and almost immediately became a leader of the movement for factory reform. He was responsible for promoting a plethora of reform causes, including the Factory Acts of 1847 and 1853, the Ten Hour Bill, as well as the Mines and Collieries Act 1842 and the Lunacy Act 1845. One of his chief interests was the welfare of children, and he was chairman of the Ragged Schools Union and a keen supporter of Florence Nightingale. He was also involved as patron and president in the field of model dwellings companies, which sought to improve the housing of working classes in England. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony...of_Shaftesbury Braille worldwide system used by blind and visually impaired people. Louis Braille was an innovator. Lying on his deathbed he said, God was pleased to hold before my eyes the dazzling splendors of eternal hope His system is now used on a worldwide basis. http://74.84.206.112/ChurchHistory/11630360/ Pioneering free or low cost health care for the terminally ill in our society dying of cancer. Macmillan nurses. Douglas Macmillan. Rose Hawthorne Lathrop created the first homes/treatment centers for cancer patients in the US. St. Rose's Free Home for Incurable Cancer Promotion of International fair trade for the poorest societies in the world. Tearfund. Trade justice movement, Make Poverty History. Richard Adams OBE. Habitat for Humanity, one of the largest charities in the US which internationally provides housing for the poor. Founder Millard Fuller Salvation Army, caring for poor and downtrodden in many different countries. Founder William Booth Leprosy Missions. Dr. Paul Wilson Brand was a pioneer in developing tendon transfer techniques for use in the hands of those with leprosy. He spent 19 years serving in India. During his career, Dr. Brand received many awards and honors. He was awarded the Hunterian professorship of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1952 etc Leprosy Mission International has over 130 years experience working with people that are considered untouchable in some societies. Founded by Wellesley Bailey in the 1860s. http://www.leprosymission.org/ Sight to the blind. Dr. Victor C Rambo was a passionate Christian who could have made a lot of money as a doctor in the US. Instead he lived in India where he worked from dawn til dusk operating on cataracts where little or no other help was available. Literally thousands of patients were helped through his ministry who would have otherwise been left seriously visually impaired or gone blind. http://www.philadelphia-reflections.com/blog/695.htm Ministry to young people in our society YMCA founded in 1844. Nobel Peace Prize winners. John Mott: Founded by George Williams: World Vision, 1950 child sponsorship, one of largest relief and development agencies in the US. Founded by Dr. Robert Pierce Samaritans Purse. Humanitarian organisation reaching those suffering in war, poverty, famine, disease and disaster. Franklin Graham Education UK. An overwhelming number of early education establishments were Christian before the State took over. http://www.jstor.org/pss/1050784 In the UK, faith schools (Christian and Jewish) dominate the league table of performance. Two thirds of the 50 best performing institutions were Church of England, Roman Catholic or Jewish. This comes despite the fact that faith schools account for only one in every three schools. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ue-tables.html Lech Wałęsa. Devout Christian and charismatic president of Poland 1990-95. World renowned human rights activist. Winner of numerous international awards including the Nobel Peace prize 1983 and awarded over 30 honorary doctorates from universities worldwide. Co-founder of Solidarity, the Soviet bloc's first independent trade union. David Bussau AM (born November 10, 1940) is a pioneer of microfinance, having founded Opportunity International Australia and co-founded the Opportunity International Network. He has been hailed for his innovative approach to solving world poverty by challenging the conventional wealth distribution model of development, addressing the root causes of poverty through responsible wealth creation. According to the World Bank, micro-enterprise has proven to be one of the most effective and sustainable ways to solve poverty. Rev. Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, LL.D., (December 10, 1787 September 10, 1851) was a renowned American pioneer in the education of the deaf. He co-founded and raised funds for the first institution for the education of the deaf in North America. For many years he was principal of that institution. His son Edward Miner Gallaudet (18371917) founded in 1864 the first college for the deaf which in 1986 became Gallaudet University. Charles Loring Brace (June 19, 1826 in Litchfield, Connecticut - August 11, 1890) was a contributing philanthropist in the field of social reform. He is considered a father of the modern foster care movement and was most renowned for starting the Orphan Train movement of the mid-19th century, and for founding The Children's Aid Society. Despite being crippled himself, John Pounds (1766-1839) was the man most responsible for the creation of the concept of Ragged Schools (charitable schools dedicated to the free education of destitute children). Working in the poorest districts, teachers initially utilised stables, lofts, and railway arches for their classes. The success of the Ragged Schools definitively demonstrated that there was a demand for education among the poor. Robert Raikes ("the Younger") (14 September 1736 5 April 1811) was an English philanthropist and Anglican layman, noted for his promotion of Sunday schools. Pre-dating state schooling and by 1831 schooling 1,250,000 children, they are seen as the first schools of the English state school system. The movement started with a school for boys in the slums. Friedrich Wilhelm August Frφbel (or Froebel) (April 21, 1782 June 21, 1852) laid the foundation for modern education based on the recognition that children have unique needs and capabilities. He developed the concept of the kindergarten, and also coined the word now used in German and English. Supporting mothers and families worldwide - The Mothers' Union (founded 1876) Mothers Union is an international Christian charity that seeks to support families worldwide. It main aim is to support marriage and family life, especially through times of adversity. Particularly concerned with the plight of women in the world, its projects include literacy and development, parenting, micro finance and campaigning against violence against women and the trafficking of women. The Mothers' Union is part of Make Poverty History and the Jubilee Debt Coalition. Pioneering education for women. Mary Lyon 1797-1849. She valued socioeconomic diversity and endeavored to make the seminary affordable for students of modest means. Royal Society for the prevention of cruelty to Animals founded by Christians (William Wilberforce). It is the oldest and largest animal welfare organisation in the world and is one of the largest charities in the UK. One of the largest international literacy organisations in the world, SIL International, brings literacy to thousands of the world's poorest language communities. Frank Laubach. Committed Christian and pioneer of world literacy. Known as the Apostle to the Illiterates the programs he developed have been used to teach about 60 million people to read their own language. He was deeply concerned about poverty, injustice and illiteracy, and considered them barriers to peace in the world. Food for the Poor. Since 1982, Food for the Poor has distributed more than $8.2 billion worth of food, medicine, housing materials,water and other aid to the poor of the Caribbean and Latin America Meeting the needs of children in poverty-stricken areas. Mission Of Mercy http://missionofmercy.org/home/index.cfm?flash=1 George Mueller - orphanages and education Mueller took no salary for himself. By 1870 his orphanages had multiplied and they were caring for two thousand children. He was well-known for providing an education to the children under his care, to the point where he was accused by some of raising the poor above their natural station in life. http://74.84.206.112/ChurchHistory/11630420/ Pioneering International orphan care. Amy Wilson Carmichael Christian Aid. Christian Aid is one of the biggest international development agencies in the world. It was formed and is still supported by the major Christian churches in the British Isles. Its headquarters are in London. It works with local partner organizations in over 70 countries around the world to help the world's poorest communities. Christian Aid states it works where the need is greatest, regardless of religion, nationality or race. Trade Justice Development projects Education US. Out of the initial 110 universities started in the US, 100 had Christian foundations. Temperance Movement to address the abuse of alcohol in society. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tempera...ent_by_country Pioneering surgery on infants. Dr. C. Everett Koop. Koop performed groundbreaking surgical procedures on conjoined twins, invented techniques which today are commonly used for infant surgery, and saved the lives of countless children who otherwise might have been allowed to die. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C._Everett_Koop#Career Michael Faraday. Contributed extensively to the fields of Electromagnetism and Electrochemistry. Known as one of the most influential scientists in history. Historians of science refer to him as the best experimentalist in the history of science. Discovered Benzene, invented early form of Bunsen Burner. Alcoholics Anonymous helps 2 million people. It's emergence was inspired by the Christian "Oxford Group". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol...oup_beginnings Co-founder Bill claimed a dramatic spiritual experience of God. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_W....m_for_recovery Co-founder Dr. Bob Smith said that AA's basic ideas came from their study of the Bible; the Steps, in essence meant "love and service." Narcotics Anonymous is also based on the above mentioned 12-step program. Pioneers of professional nursing and caring. The first official nurses training program, the Nightingale School for Nurses, opened in 1860. The mission of the school was to train nurses to work in hospitals, work with the poor, and to teach. Florence Nightingale "the mother of modern nursing". She said that God had called her just before her 17th birthday. Although later in life it is said that she wrote a document questioning the divinity of Christ, so it it unsure if she held to an orthodox Christian theology at that time. Amnesty International. Justice and liberty for oppressed people all over the world. Started in 1961 by two Christians Peter Beneson and Eric Baker. Nobel Peace prize 1977 for campaign against torture. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amnesty...tional#History (UK) Recent research showed that 81% of evangelical Christians do some kind of voluntary work at least once a month. This compares with a much lower figure of 26% for the population at large, obtained in citizenship surveys by the Department for Communities and Local Government, and is consistent with comparable differences identified by researchers in North America. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisf...voluntary-work Similar results were confirmed through a five-year study by the political scientists David Campbell and Robert Putman. http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion...umn15_ST_N.htm Oxfam was one of the pioneers of modern famine relief. It works to address famine and injustice on a worldwide scale. Founded by Quaker Christians in Oxford in 1942. The good works still continue. Here is a sampling of more recently established charities: Kindernothilfe (KNH) is a charity organization and was founded in 1959 by a group of Christians in Duisburg, Germany, in order to help needy children in India. Over time, it has become one of the largest Christian organizations in Europe for children's aid. Today it supports more than 580,000 children and young people in 28 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe. KNH aims to give needy children in the poorest countries of the world a chance to a good start in life. Caritas Internationalis is a confederate of 164 Roman Catholic relief, development and social service organisations operating in over 200 countries and territories worldwide. Collectively and individually their mission is to work to build a better world, especially for the poor and oppressed. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caritas_(charity) Children of the Nations (COTN) was founded in 1995 and exists to partner with nationals in poverty-stricken areas of the world to provide care for orphaned and destitute children. Operating in Malawi, Sierra Leone, the Dominican Republic, and Uganda, COTN helps nearly 7,000 children on a daily basis. COTN's stated goal is to "Raise children who transform nations." Christian Foundation for Children and Aging (CFCA) is a nonprofit sponsorship organization headquartered in Kansas City, Kansas. CFCA was founded by lay Catholic workers acting on the Gospel call to serve the poor. Its Hope for a Family sponsorship program provides basic necessities like food, education, clothing and access to medical care to children and elderly in some of the world's poorest communities. Today, CFCA sponsors support more than 300,000 children, youth and aging persons in 22 countries http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christi...nd_Aging_(CFCA) CORD (Christian Outreach Relief and Development) - New life after conflict CORD is a humanitarian organisation working with displaced people and communities affected by violent conflicts around the world. Established in 1967 and rooted in Christian faith. Located in the UK. Christians Against Poverty (CAP) is a Christian charitable company in the United Kingdom founded in Bradford, West Yorkshire by John Kirkby in 1996. It is a national organisation specialising in debt counselling for individuals in financial difficulty, including those in need ofbankruptcy or insolvency. Compassion International is a Christian child sponsorship organization dedicated to the long-term development of children living in poverty around the world. Compassion International, headquartered in Colorado Springs, functions in 26 countries such as Bolivia, Colombia, Mexico, Haiti, Kenya, and India. They also currently help more than 1,200,000 children. Cross International Alliance (Cross) is an inter-denominational Christian relief and development organization based in South Florida that provides food, shelter, education, medical care and emergency aid to the poor in over 30 countries across the globe. Cross was recently recognized for its work in Haiti, receiving a $4.8 million grant from the U.S. government for a new program seeking to care for children and families impacted by AIDSin the country. From its headquarters in Pompano Beach, Cross raises millions of dollars through donations each year to fund development programs that target the poorest of the poor in developing countries, and it ships millions of dollars worth of humanitarian goods to high-need areas such as Kenya and Nicaragua. Hope UK is a national Christian charity located at 25(f) Copperfield Street, London, England which educates children and young people about drug and alcohol abuse. It began as the Band of Hope in 1847 in Leeds, to teach children the importance and principles of sobriety andteetotalism. In 1855, a national organisation was formed amidst an explosion of Band of Hope work. Meetings were held in churches throughout the UK and included Christian teaching. Medair is an international non-governmental organization NGO of humanitarian aid with a stated mission, "to seek out and serve the most vulnerable people affected by crises." Medairs core competencies are emergency relief and rehabilitation. Medair lists its values as: hope, compassion, dignity, accountability, integrity, and faith. Medical Teams International (formerly Northwest Medical Teams) is a non-profit humanitarian aid and global health organization. Medical Teams International has mobilized 2,000 teams since 1979, shipped $1.3 billion in medical aid since 1986, provided care to 4.5 million people in 53 nations in 2008, sent more than 2,600 volunteers serving annually in its various programs all over the world. Mercy Ministries is an international, Evangelical, charismatic, Christian, charitable organization that offers a long-term residential program for young women aged 1328 who struggle with various "life controlling" issues. In 2008, the top issues that Mercy Ministries reported themselves to be dealing with were: eating disorders (69%), self-harm (60%), sexual abuse (55%), emotional/verbal abuse (55%), depression (55%), chemical dependency (49%), physical abuse (37%) and pregnancy (6%) The Message Trust is an award-winning Christian charity working to improve the lives of young people in Greater Manchester, UK and beyond through the Eden Network. Working in schools, in local communities and in prisons, The Message is in contact with around 100,000 young people across Greater Manchester each year. The Message was founded by well-known speaker, author and current chief executive, Andy Hawthorne OBE. Prospects is a Christian charity in the United Kingdom whose aim is to support learning disabled adults, and to enable them to reach their full potential. It was founded in the mid-1970s by David Potter, a Christian minister, who was drawn to the needs of these adults because he and his wife had a daughter with Down's syndrome. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prospects_(charity) Tiny Hands International (THI) is a Christian nonprofit organization dedicated to helping orphaned and abandoned children and fighting sex trafficking in South Asia. Tiny Hands operates through national non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Nepal, Bangladesh, and India. VisionTrust is an international, non-denominational non-profit organization that assists orphanedand impoverished children around the world. The organization works alongside Christian Nationals to help children gain education, nutritional support, medical assistance and spiritual discipleship. VisionTrust works in schools, orphanages, learning centers and medical clinics. They offer child sponsorships, short-term mission trips, and assist churches with educational materials to promote participation in this effort World Concern is a Christian humanitarian organization that operates relief and development programs in 13 countries, and funds partnership programs in nine other countries. The organizations mission statement is, World Concern provides life, opportunity and hope to suffering people around the world, through disaster response and development programs. Motivated by our love of Christ, we bring hope and reconciliation to those we serve, so they may in turn share with others. http://christiangoodinsociety.blogspot.com/
__________________
"One should never believe everything one reads on the internet." -Abraham Lincoln |
|
|
|
|
07-03-2012, 12:13 AM
|
#4 |
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Leith
Posts: 11,659
|
__________________
"One should never believe everything one reads on the internet." -Abraham Lincoln |
|
|
|
|
07-03-2012, 12:16 AM
|
#5 |
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Leith
Posts: 11,659
|
Christians on the KKK and crusades
What good has Christianity done?
Quick-read this article: While evolution's philosophy of “survival of the fittest” has brought overwhelmingly harmful movements such as Nazism, Stalinism, and eugenics, Christians following Christ's teaching of “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” have established hospitals, welfare agencies, orphanages, charities, relief agencies, universities … and fought for prison reform, abolition of slavery, better education, and treatment for alcoholics. Jesus Christ said: “A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit” (Matthew 7:18). The frightful evolutionary catchphrase of “survival of the fittest” has led to many harmful movements, such as Stalin's murderous rampages, Francis Galton's appalling eugenics ideas, and Hitler's master race program. (See the article What harm can come from believing in evolution?) Is Christianity any better? Atheists and skeptics sometimes say that Christianity is no better — just look at the crusades, the Ku Klux Klan, slavery in the American South, etc. Yet true Christianity is based on Jesus Christ's Golden Rule — Do unto others as you would have them do unto you (Matthew 7:12). None of the movements they mention — the crusades, the KKK, slavery in the American South, etc. — have been based on this principle or any other of Jesus Christ's teachings. In fact, if you want to compare the fruit, you will find there are no Skeptics' or rationalists' hospitals, charities, or aged-care homes, no evolutionists' orphanages, welfare agencies, or relief agencies, or any other life-improving institutions such as those founded and funded by Christians who have followed Jesus' teachings. Christianity has always been humanitarian The early church in Jerusalem appointed deacons and elders to care for widows and the sick (Acts 6:1, James 5:13), and churches still do this today. In the Middle Ages, the monasteries created hospitals. Burgeoning numbers of pilgrims to the Holy Land were cared for by the Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem. The noble nursing reformer Florence Nightingale received her training at the first Protestant hospital — at Kaiserwerth in Germany. While Charles Darwin was finalizing publication of his Origin of Species in 1859, Swiss humanitarian and Bible-believer Henri Dunant was planning the Red Cross and negotiating the Geneva convention for the care and treatment of wounded soldiers. Dunant was co-winner of the first Nobel Prize for Peace in 1901, and his inspiring Red Cross committee later won the award three times. It was the Bible-believing Christians in England in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries — not the evolutionists of the day — who tackled the illiteracy problem, adult education, abolition of slavery, prison reform, and treatment for alcoholics. The Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) was formed in 1844, the YWCA a decade later, and the Salvation Army launched its multinational welfare organization based on Christian ethics and precepts six years after the release of Darwin's Origin of Species. Care for those who are troubled Christians have always offered pastoral care to those who are hurt, troubled, grieving or alienated. Christians set the foundations for education in North America, including the establishment of universites such as Harvard and Yale. It is unlikely that the evolutionary world view would ever allow significant humanitarian causes to arise and flourish, because if you believe you are the product of purposeless evolution through “survival of the fittest”, there is little incentive or reason to help the weak. Hence we get monumental abominations under the likes of Stalin, Galton, and Hitler. The concept of humanitarianism comes from Christ's teachings. That is definitely not a “corrupt tree” or “corrupt fruit”. History shows that it is the Christians who have made this world a better place for all — even for Skeptics, anti-Christians, evolutionists and atheists. http://www.creationtips.com/christianity.html
__________________
"One should never believe everything one reads on the internet." -Abraham Lincoln Last edited by blackyblue; 07-03-2012 at 12:17 AM. |
|
|
|
|
07-03-2012, 12:20 AM
|
#6 |
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Leith
Posts: 11,659
|
A negative about christianity
I got to about word 31 and did not read any further, so i dont know what the document below says..Certainly is not Christian anyway, although it is pretending to be, i think
http://www.jewcy.com/religion-and-be...cal_christians I live in the Bible Belt, so I know a thing-or-two (or twelve) about the Religious Right in this country. The one thing I know for sure: they are smart as shit. Am I saying that I want to leave the Chosen People for Protestant Paradise? Fuck no! But I do have to give credit where credit is due. See, the Evangelicals in this country are amazing communicators, sales people, networkers. All the things that Jews pride themselves on being, Christians have managed to do, times one-thousand. And it’s time that we learned the secrets of the Christian world, in order to better improve things for our slice of society. What I have done is laid out ten things that I watch my Evangelical neighbors do, that I feel would strengthen the Jewish community. Call it, "Habits of Highly Effective Hebrews." FreeBreakfast: if you want to see the smartest Christian ministry inthe world, visit www.freebreakfastchurch.com. The site of The Courageous Church (an urban, contemporary evangelical ministry),"Free Breakfast Church" offers free breakfast every Sunday, open to the public. You are invited afterwards to attend services, but are not compelled. It’s better than one of those Timeshare Condo deals! And it works. The church is growing like a wildfire. The funny part is, they stole this from the Jewish tradition; oneg is an important part of the Shabbat ritual. So why not take the oneg concept, and flip it on its head. "Free Dinner Synagogue" could open up the floodgates to new people taking part in the Jewish experience. To stay in accordance with kashrut, meals would be vegetarian…or better yet…vegan! A Kabbalat Shabbat with vegandinner would be huge in metropolitan areas! Having Some Fucking Pride: an annoying thing about the Christian Evangelicals: they’re just so full of themselves. And damn right for it. They think they have the monopoly on the afterlife. Wouldn’t that make you feel proud, too? Jewish pride is a strange thing. We’re proud about surviving Hitler and our kugel recipes, but you never see Jews openly talking about the transformative experience of lighting a menorah or watching your child’s bar/bat mitzvah. Christians will go on for hours about how great Jesus has been in their lives. Jews will go on for hours about how they saved money on their car insurance. The bottom line is that we need to make Jewish spirituality so magical that it makes you bust apart at the seams. Make Denominations Irrelevant: luckily this is already happening,although the different "brain trusts" in the Reform, Conservative, Orthodox and Reconstructionist movements are trying their best to combat it. The Evangelical movement is decentralized,yet they talk about "The Church" as if all Christians, regardless if they go to Faith Harvest Ministry or Harvesting Faith Ministry, are a part of one body. Jews tend to pick their shul based on family background, location, whether ornot they feel like they "fit in" with the congregation andif the synagogue addresses their issues the way they want them to. But in reality, the distinction between Conservative and Reform, Reconstructionist and Renewal is blurred beyond belief. This will help us a lot by getting more Jews involved in fewer congregations. This concentration of power, with the right tools and leadership, could create a Jewish Spiritual Renaissance. Getting Involved: it’s all about Tikkun Olam, baby! The problem is, when we try to repair the world "Jewishly", our Jewishness tends to overshadow the good we are trying to do. Saving Darfur is great, but relying on Holocaust guilt and the local Jewish Museum to help is not the way to do it. And come one, people, not everything has to dowith Israel or Zionism! If you look at Christian ministries that work in social activism, the heart of "why" they do it is the love of G_d. When you look atwhy Jews do social activism, it seems to be less invigorated. We dothings because its "the right thing to do" but this doesn’t have the spiritual power that it needs to convey the importance of the mission. Instead of saying, "Jews believe in Tikkun Olam, so we started an anti-hunger program, hope you like it", Jews should say, "G_d commands us to feed every poor person in the world. By donating to the food bank, you are doing G_d’s will on Earth. Would you like to be a part of G_d’s plan?" Reaching Out To Young People: Christian Hardcore was the best thing that happened to the Christian community in the past twenty years. And they capitalized on it: Christian record labels, the Christian version of Youtube, Rock For Life rallies. This is all an effort to bring people to Jesus through a medium that works. Jews could do this. Websites like G-dcast.com break the mold of Judaism by injecting youth culture into Jewish tradition, in a spiritually positive way. I hope that the lyrics I write in my band Can!!Can do the same. JDub Records is another great leader, introducing the worldto new artists that give a pro-spirituality spin to the otherwise secular Jewish world. The key to reaching young people is to not have an agenda, speak their language, and be honest. Church basement shows do not involve preaching,tattoos and piercings are welcome and the music is good. Sure, limits are placed on drinking/smoking/violence/foul language, but other than that, it’s a free for all. There’s no reason why synagogues couldn’t do the same thing. Create New Traditions: this is something that I’ve seen the Evangelical World do, really well. Ever heard about "Hell Houses", the Evangelical version of a haunted house which literally scares-the-devil-out-of-you? Or what about Promise Rings and Abstinence Pledges? These are all the new traditions of the Christian faith, and Jews could do the same thing. And in fact, some already do. I love the line, "the spirit of our tradition is innovation." I stole that from Rabbi Josh Lesser, the openly gay rabbi at Congregation Bet Haverim in Atlanta. Rabbi Josh has done some cool stuff over his ten-year tenure at CBH, including the Mount Sinai Mountain of Ice Cream on Shavuot and the free-form Passover Seder, where the entire congregation was asked to shout out the Passover story, in any order they chose with Rabbi Josh simply connecting-the-dots to create a linear tale. This guy is a great example of creating your own tradition, when there isn’t one already there. Reach Out To People: Jews have this bizarre "if we build it, they will come" attitude about houses of prayer. We somehow think that if we create a congregation and let Jews know about it, that people will naturally come in. Once we have them in, we just worry about keeping them there. Christians see it differently. They see any opportunity to get-the-word-out about their church as some kind of divine mandate. When I go to the county fair, I’m surrounded by church booth after church booth, many of the same Southern-Bapti-Costal blood. But they push and push to make themselves known. Jews, traditionally, don’t care. We get some families together, pool somemoney together for siddur and oneg, and hope to one day have a building with a bitchin’ Judaica giftshop and day care center. If we really cared about what we are doing, we’d get out there more! So many secular, atheist and unaffiliated Jews would have interest in what your synagogue had to offer, if only you would throw them a rope. People don’t often go "searching" for a spiritual home. Often, it takes a caring person to bring them in. So myquestion to you is, which of these habits are you going to pick up?
__________________
"One should never believe everything one reads on the internet." -Abraham Lincoln Last edited by blackyblue; 07-03-2012 at 12:20 AM. |
|
|
|
|
07-03-2012, 12:22 AM
|
#7 |
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Leith
Posts: 11,659
|
Positives
Christianity and your well-being
The Gospel is not to be preached to people with the promise that it will bring health, wealth and happiness. The cross of Christ is something we carry. We are called to give our lives sacrificially in obedience to Jesus, blessing others and overcoming evil with good. That can be painful. However, it does seem that as a side-effect that we are blessed with the fruits of the Holy Spirit which include joy, love and peace. Recent research has backed up the fact that faith can add to your well-being. I say this and give a list of references, because in the future the Christian faith may be attacked in terms of it being "harmful". This is a move on behalf of the Political Correctness spirit, and is untrue. Very interesting article in a British national newspaper about mental and physical wellness being connected to a belief in God: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/ar...healthier.html More references: • In 2006, the American Society of Hypertension established that church-goers have lower blood pressure than the non-faithful. http://www.webmd.com/balance/guide/2...blood-pressure • Likewise, in 2004, scholars at the University of California, Los Angeles, suggested that college students involved in religious activities are more likely to have better mental and emotional health than those who do not. http://badgerherald.com/news/2004/11...s_link_bet.php • Meanwhile, in 2006, population researchers at the University of Texas discovered that the more often you go to church, the longer you live. • The American Journal of Public Health, which studied nearly 2,000 older Californians for five years. Those who attended religious services were 36 per cent less likely to die during this half-decade than those who didn’t. • In 1990, the American Journal of Psychiatry discovered believers with broken hips were less depressed, had shorter hospital stays and could even walk further when they were discharged compared to their similarly broken-hipped and hospitalised, but comparatively heathen peers. • In 1998, the American Journal of Public Health found that depressed patients with a strong ‘intrinsic faith’ (a deep personal belief, not just a social inclination to go to a place of worship) recovered 70 per cent faster than those who did not have strong faith. • In 2008, Professor Andrew Clark of the Paris School of Economics and Doctor Orsolya Lelkes of the European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research conducted a vast survey of Europeans. They found that religious believers, compared to non-believers, record less stress, are better able to cope with losing jobs and divorce, are less prone to suicide, report higher levels of self-esteem, enjoy greater ‘life purpose’ and report being more happy overall. • 'People who attend church regularly seem to be happier than people who are not religious,' Prof Headey said. Read More: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...stay-thin.html
__________________
"One should never believe everything one reads on the internet." -Abraham Lincoln Last edited by blackyblue; 07-03-2012 at 12:22 AM. |
|
|
|
|
07-03-2012, 12:28 AM
|
#8 |
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Leith
Posts: 11,659
|
Christian meditation
My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises. (Ps 119:148)
Perhaps one of the most neglected disciplines in the Christian life these days is that of Meditation. I believe that very few Christians have been taught how important it is to pay close attention to what they think about. Consider the following: Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny. Author Unknown We have all heard the expression, "you are what you eat", but is also true to say "you are (and are becoming) what you think." Here is a challenge for you. Over the next few weeks take special note about what things you spend your time thinking about. Consider the following questions. Are you critical of others? Do you mope because you do not receive the praise you feel you deserve? How much time do you spend worrying about this or that? How much time do you spend grumbling or complaining or feeling sorry for your self? How much time do you spend thinking about the TV shows you watched last night? How much time do you re-live the bad things people do to you? Do you list out all your misfortunes? Do you allow yourself to be angry for long periods of time? Do you think about bad things happening to the people you are angry with? Do you think about bad things happening to yourself? Do you rejoice in the misfortunes of others? Do you dwell on lustful and impure thoughts? Do you glory in the important position you hold in church? Do you review reasons why you are better than others or better suited than others? Do you list reasons why others you know are deficient in some way as compared to yourself? Did you know that you are what you are right now - not what you would like to be, nor what you ought to be, nor are you what you used to be. You are what you are today. Today, the 'real you' is shown by what you do and by what you think about in your heart - what you meditate on. Further, the things that you allow your heart to dwell on today is building what you will be for tomorrow and the tomorrow after that. Let's look at some verses which illustrate that you act out of and can be judged by the state of your heart. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. (Lu 6:45) But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man `unclean'. (Mt 15:18) "What comes out of a man is what makes him `unclean'. For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man `unclean'." (MA 7:20-23) As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man. (Pr 27:19) Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. (Pr 4:23) Your 'inner life' is an accurate representation of the real you. No matter what service you perform for God, or what you appear to be to others, the important thing is the purity of your inner self. Consider the words of Christ as he speaks to the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. (Matthew 23:25-28) The Pharisees were an obvious case of hypocrisy. But not so obvious that they noticed. They spent all of their time making sure that they obeyed the letter of the law perfectly. From the outside, it appeared that they were keeping God's law perfectly and were therefore righteous men. In spite of all their work, they are all dismissed as being filled with greed, self-indulgence, hypocrisy and wickedness. What a shock this accusation must have been to them. You see, our God is not impressed with what we appear to be. We are all very good at 'playing Church'. No, God is most interested in what we are like on the inside. He wishes to change us from the inside out. His goal is to make us clean on the inside so that we would naturally be clean on the outside. If you are clean in your heart, then you will automatically be clean on the outside. Paul talks about the importance of having a loving heart. If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3) Paul says that I can have great gifts, give everything I have away to the needy, and even give up my life for Christ, but if I do not have love, it counts for nothing at all. But what does all this have to do with meditation? Let's start by asking the question 'what is meditation?'. This is what Webster's says concerning a few related words: Meditate: to engage in contemplation or reflection, to focus one's thoughts on: reflect or ponder over. to plan or project in the mind Think: to form or have in the mind, to have as an opinion, to regard as or consider, to reflect on or ponder, to determine by reflecting, to call to mind or remember, to center ones thoughts on or form a mental picture of, to have in the mind engaged in reflection, to consider. reflect: to think quietly and calmly ponder: to weigh in the mind, to think about, reflect on, to think about - esp quietly, soberly and deeply. Also, according to Webster's: The words Ponder, Meditate, Muse, and Ruminate are synonyms and mean to consider or examine attentively or deliberately. PONDER implies a careful weighing of a problem or, often, prolonged inconclusive thinking about a matter; MEDITATE implies a definite focusing of one's thoughts on something as to understand it deeply; muse suggests a more or less focused daydreaming as in remembrance; RUMINATE implies going over the same matter in one's thoughts again and again but suggests little of either purposive thinking or rapt absorption. Meditation is a function of the mind and the heart. It is what we think about in our hearts and it is something we each do every day. Whether we realize it or not, we all spend a large portion of our time in some form of meditation. The thing is, what we meditate on may or may not be worth while. In fact, what we habitually think about is frequently unhealthy for our growth as Christians. Often it is simply sinful. This is why I asked you earlier to spend some time making notes about what you thing about. This is the first step in the process of training ourselves to think correctly. Firstly, let us look at what the Bible says about meditation: Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this. (2TIM 2:7) May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Ps 19:14) Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. (Jos 1:8) Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love. (Ps 48:9) I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds. (Ps 77:12) I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. (Ps 119:15) Though rulers sit together and slander me, your servant will meditate on your decrees. (Ps 119:23) Let me understand the teaching of your precepts; then I will meditate on your wonders. (Ps 119:27) I lift up my hands to your commands, which I love, and I meditate on your decrees. (Ps 119:48) May the arrogant be put to shame for wronging me without cause; but I will meditate on your precepts. (Ps 119:78) Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. (Ps 119:97) I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. (Ps 119:99) My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises. (Ps 119:148) I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done. (Ps 143:5) They will speak of the glorious splendour of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works. (Ps 145:5) May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the LORD. (Ps 104:34) Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. (Php 4:8) Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. (Psalm 1) Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. (Romans 12:1-3) The verses quoted above describe to us what we should be doing. But this type of meditation does not come naturally. By nature, we stir up and act out that which is in our hearts. If your heart is filled with good things, you will have a tendency to meditate on good things. If your heart is filled with bad things, you will naturally think about and meditate on these things. Here are some comments on the thoughts of heart of the 'natural' man: The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time (Ge 6:5) The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: "Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have (Ge 8:21) Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. (Isa 55:7) Their feet rush into sin; they are swift to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are evil thoughts; ruin and destruction mark their ways. (Isa 59:7) O Jerusalem, wash the evil from your heart and be saved. How long will you harbour wicked thoughts? (Jer 4:14) Like it or not, this is what the heart of the natural man *is* like. Some more and some less noticeably depraved, but depraved just the same. But we are children of God and have been called to something better. We are told to live lives of true purity, and this purity must start from the inside out. I firmly believe that through God's grace and the power of his spirit, and through the prayers and ministry of our brothers in the Lord, we can (and must) train ourselves to have a pure thought life. If we do this, we will start to see changes in our attitude and behavior. Our hearts will start to become pure and we will enjoy the pleasure of the Lord. But how do we accomplish this? First, we must become consciously aware of what we spend our time meditating on now. We must take a detailed account of what we think about and based on biblical principles decide whether it is good or bad. When you catch yourself meditating on something undesirable, renounce it and cast it away. Imagine yourself throwing it to the ground and stepping on it to kill it. Then immediately choose to replace the thought with a good one, such as a prayer, a memorized scripture or song. Do not be discouraged if you find yourself thinking about that same thing only a minute or two later. Simply recognize sin as sin, renounce it again and choose to replace the thought with something worthwhile. You will find that many of your personal idols are firmly attached to your hearts as if with elastic bands so when you through them away they just snap back at you. But eventually the elastic will break and you will be free. Similarly, do not think it strange if you find it difficult to cast off the undesirable thought pattern. Remember that your heart has a basic tendency to enjoy such things; you will be fighting with yourself. But you do not have to give in. Consider Paul's attitude about discipline in the Christian life: Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last for ever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. (1 Cor 9:24-27) Please note that the Greek word translated 'beat my body' has a literal meaning of 'to bruise under the eye'. So, if you desire to overcome a certain sin, and are fighting it, why not choose to bash your head against the wall (figuratively speaking) and say "I will not do this". For we are told if we resist the Devil, he will flee from us. Jesus took an extreme view of the fight against sin. This is why he said: If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. (Matthew 5:29-30) Some days you will win and some days you will lose, but do not give up! Feed your mind, feed your heart ... Your mind and your heart are both like clay - being shaped and formed with each passing day. There are some questions to be asked: Whose hands are forming my heart and mind? What are they being formed into? What is my responsibility in the process? Whether your realize it or not, your character is being formed and solidified with each passing day. This is true whether you plan through what you want to be or if you just let life happen. Some of the most powerful influences on the development of your character come from the following sources: What you read What you look at What you listen to The people you associate with What you think about All these things feed your brain and together are a significant influence in the way your mind is programmed. Piece by piece, like bricks in a wall, this programming trains you how to respond, how to think, what to think, what to value and pursue, how to treat others and what you should/should not do. Do not be deceived, even small amounts of negative input has a noticeable effect over the long run. You have heard the expression that applies to computers - "garbage in, garbage out". This applies to your mind as well. You can be holy in an unholy world, but it's hard to avoid being effected by the ungodly influence that society has on you. It's all around us every day. Society does not teach godly behavior. Each day we are exposed to a great deal of negative re-enforcement. But, we can limit this negative input by carefully selecting the things we do when where there is a choice. For example: Avoid watching television shows which suggest ungodly behavior is acceptable. Do not rent or go to see movies which expose your minds to crude and unacceptable behavior. The images on a TV screen are very strong and have a powerful teaching influence on the mind, especially young minds. Many things we see on television are entertaining, but not helpful for building ourselves up in the Lord. Do not read books which glorify ungodliness. Avoid pornography of all forms. Artwork and anything else we have in our houses should be in good taste and not conflict with the teaching of Christ. Refuse to listen in on dirty jokes or gossip. Do not participate in the activities of crude people. I hesitate to say do not be friends with crude people, because our primary goal is to be witnesses for Christ. Rather, don't participate in or enjoy their activities. Be salt and light. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. (Eph 5:4) Do not listen to music which promotes sin and ungodliness. Much of the above should be repulsive to a Christian anyway because they are opposed to God. But now to the point of it all. Instead of filling your mind with even more rubbish than you get from the world everyday anyway, see to it that you fill your mind with good things instead. And do not nurture the bad which is already there, rather get rid of it as garbage. There is plenty for us to do. Do not feel obligated to watch much television. In Canada and the US there is literally an unlimited number of good Christian books to read. There are many Christian tapes and videos as well. There is no shortage of good Christian music as well. There is a lot of programs, books, music, activities and other things which are not known as 'Christian things', but are still good. Participate in fellowship with Christians and associate yourself with godly people. The point is, you need to deliberately avoid certain types of input and replace it with others. In doing so you will begin to find that you are free to live a life pleasing to God. Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. (Col 3:1-3) The following are only some of the additional things we can do to support a healthy heart. Productive work/Christian service. Bible Study Prayer Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs Fellowship with other believers Meditation on the things of God The value of Christian meditation What then is Christian meditation? It is the deliberate practice of turning our hearts and our minds to the full time task of bringing the word of God to life in the daily activities of our lives. As I said earlier, God wants to change us from the inside out. He wants to renew our minds and hearts so they will become more like his own. However, it is *only* by God's grace and power that this could ever happen. We *cannot* change ourselves. God uses a number of things to accomplish this. But the primary tool he uses is his own word recorded in the Bible. If we ignore it, he cannot work in us. If we use it and put it to use, he will be able to enter into our lives and form us into what he wants us to be. Meditation on the word of God allows its transforming power to renew our minds and change our hearts. Meditation as a lifestyle (How do I meditate on God's word?) Meditation on the things of God yields wisdom and purity. It yields spiritual maturity and communion with God. Here are a few of the things we can meditate on. The things God has done for me and others I know. The holiness and perfection of God. The Beauty of Christ Our meeting with God after our life here is complete Our eternal fellowship which we will have with Him The meaning/application of any specific passage of scripture. Anything God has just taught us or made us aware of Questions regarding the will of God. The salvation he has given us The life he has freed us from You see, much of this is reflection on the relationship we have with God, it is thinking about His love and influence in your life, it is wondering about His awesome power and mighty deeds. It is joyfully giving thanks to Him for all he has done. It is sitting in awe and appreciation of his works. It is using all your energy to understand and obey his word. Just as your digestive system processes the food you eat so it can be of use to your body, so also meditation digests all things concerning God and makes them a power which can renew your heart. (1) Meditation centers on the relationship we have with God that comes through Jesus Christ. It seeks to improve this relationship by allowing God to use his word to renew our minds and our hearts through knowledge of his will. The word of God plays a central role in meditation because it is the place where our knowledge of God originates. We must therefore determine to know the word of God so that we have the material we need for meditation available to us. This involves diligent study and memorization of the scriptures. This will make sure that everything in the scriptures will be at your fingertips when you want it. Memorized scripture plays an important role in the art of meditation. I have written two articles on the subject of memorizing scripture: Why Memorize Scripture How to Memorize Scripture Meditation can be done at all times of the day. It requires a bit of planning and extra effort to keep focused becuase it is work. It is also foreign to the natural state of your heart. It is something you choose to do. Meditation can be done both on planned, pre-arranged times and informally, whenever your mind is free. During your morning quiet time While you do household chores or waiting for something While you drive to work While you are waiting to sleep When you wake in the middle of the night Not all types of meditation are Christian Some types of 'meditation' are not helpful to the Christian. Do not confuse these thinks with true Christian meditation. The religions of the East fall into this category. Even some forms of meditation taught by some Christian groups are not really helpful. One teaching on meditation tells you to clear your mind, sit comfortably and repeat a phrase 'Ma-ra-na-th' over and over again until you feel at peace. I don't get the point of it. There is no benefit to it because it neither promotes the repentance and fellowship with the Spirit that God enjoys http://www.memoryverses.org/how3.shtml
__________________
"One should never believe everything one reads on the internet." -Abraham Lincoln Last edited by blackyblue; 07-03-2012 at 12:30 AM. |
|
|
|
|
07-03-2012, 06:38 AM
|
#9 |
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: My world
Posts: 11,377
|
The thing is, the charitable work done by Christian organisations is usually after other organisations representing the religion have shafted the nations in question.
Nonetheless there are good people within the religion - it's just that the good guys were never in charge.
__________________
"Thinking outside the box" inevitably becomes another 'box'. |
|
|
|
|
07-03-2012, 06:42 AM
|
#10 | |
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Leith
Posts: 11,659
|
Quote:
Like evrything else, Order is good, order is bad, order is mixed
__________________
"One should never believe everything one reads on the internet." -Abraham Lincoln |
|
|
|
|
|
07-03-2012, 07:13 AM
|
#11 | |
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: My world
Posts: 11,377
|
Quote:
In other words, I don't see 'good Christians' and 'bad Christians' - I see good and bad human beings, wise actions and unwise ones. In all honesty, it's difficult for me to find the good points about the religion, because throughout history, its influence upon other institutions has been a huge part of the problems we're now encountering. I still see the same process at work today. Sorry - I won't belabour the point on your thread.
__________________
"Thinking outside the box" inevitably becomes another 'box'. Last edited by decode reality; 07-03-2012 at 07:34 AM. |
|
|
|
|
|
07-03-2012, 07:34 AM
|
#12 | |
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Leith
Posts: 11,659
|
Quote:
__________________
"One should never believe everything one reads on the internet." -Abraham Lincoln |
|
|
|
|
|
07-03-2012, 09:32 AM
|
#13 |
|
Banned
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: here now
Posts: 4,746
|
I think christian/religeous charities do so well is because they all have a single aim and the god helps them to form fellowship. Its why the Indians had the totem pole it helps to strengthen the community.
If you look at strong communities muslims,christians,hindu's etc they are strong because they have unity. None religeous charities can do alot of good but they do not have this strength . The truth/conspiracy movements can never really change the system because we are all going in different directions and a divided people are easier to manipulate. I think tptb hate religeon because they know it strengthens people to much in the beginning religeon maybe was about control but its also offers strength in numbers which protects more than a divided people. |
|
|
|
|
07-03-2012, 09:45 AM
|
#14 | |
|
Inactive
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Beware of the person of one book.
Posts: 1,622
|
Quote:
I'm not convinced that Christians telling hundreds of millions of Africans that they should not use contraception and that they should live in abject poverty and put up with their wretched lives because, when they die, they'll have a good life in heaven is actually doing them any good either. |
|
|
|
|
|
07-03-2012, 10:04 AM
|
#15 | |
|
Banned
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: here now
Posts: 4,746
|
Quote:
I dont know why christianity has a monopoly on good deeds and charities. But if you take away christian charities. Most homeless hostels,drug rehabs,detox centres,etc would be lost. In a way it is sad that we still need religeon to form proper fellowships. Maybe in 2000 years time the truth/conspiracy movement will be more than just movement of idealism. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
07-03-2012, 10:19 AM
|
#16 | |
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: My world
Posts: 11,377
|
Quote:
Christianity doesn't unite Christians because the western family classic model in which it emerged is the nuclear one. In the west, you can reject tradition, even your family, and not face the same wrath as you would in a Muslim context, for example. Guilt tripping doesn't work any more, so people reject the church. If the above religions are supposed to be the protector, looking at the world we can safely say they've either dropped their guard or were set up do something quite different. The truth/conspiracy movements are just a mirror of the religions and fall short for similar reasons.
__________________
"Thinking outside the box" inevitably becomes another 'box'. |
|
|
|
|
|
07-03-2012, 11:06 AM
|
#17 | |
|
Inactive
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Beware of the person of one book.
Posts: 1,622
|
Quote:
Most of the schools, hospitals and charities here were started by socialists (who also happened to be Christian) so why should Christianity take all the credit when most Christians were more than happy to see these people starve in the streets for the previous 1,500 years? For example some of the charitable organisations mentioned in the first post, such as the salvation army, save the children and the red cross, were founded by socialists. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Henri_Dunant I'm not sure about the origins of the other groups. Last edited by selig; 07-03-2012 at 11:26 AM. |
|
|
|
|
|
07-03-2012, 11:41 AM
|
#18 | |
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: My world
Posts: 11,377
|
Quote:
__________________
"Thinking outside the box" inevitably becomes another 'box'. |
|
|
|
|
|
07-03-2012, 11:43 AM
|
#19 | |
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Ohio, to my misfortune.
Posts: 3,780
|
Quote:
__________________
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:5) He who does not love does not know God; for God is love. (1 John 4:8) Gloria in excelsis Deo. Last edited by saint_frankenstein; 07-03-2012 at 11:43 AM. |
|
|
|
|
|
07-03-2012, 11:53 AM
|
#20 | |
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: My world
Posts: 11,377
|
Quote:
__________________
"Thinking outside the box" inevitably becomes another 'box'. |
|
|
|
|
 |
| Bookmarks |
| Thread Tools | |
|
|
|
|
