3. "All men are created equal" That is not a mention of God by name, but it is certainly a reference to Him.
But they didn't even believe God was involved with anything, they were Deists, basically NonChristians.
No, some of them believed that. Other's were thiests or at least nominal Christians, perhaps actual Christians.
John Adams, for instance, one of the committee of five who were responsible for the declaration of Independence, was a Christian, to one extent or another, who did believe that God was active in the world, ans thus in providence, revelation, and miracles.
1, that's quite a stretch but its a lesser of 2 evils. 2. America is Evil Murderous Liars, far worse than North Korea as in fooling Christians. 3. Nowhere in the Constitution or Declaration of Independence even mention God, this country has already abandoned the freedom of Religion Stance. 4. I would say its the same, we get "Christian Presidents"
3. "All men are created equal" That is not a mention of God by name, but it is certainly a reference to Him.
Even more so, that particular quote continues..."We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights"
Crimea is 75% Russian, the Ukrainean government persecuted the ethnic Russians, its not an invasion, the people voted to join Russia, infact Ukraine took Crimea from Russia in 1991, we just took back our land.
58% Russian.
Actually, in 1954 the Soviet Union willingly gave Crimea to the Ukraine. So, the Ukraine did not take it.
Said referendum was held after the Russians invaded and practically took over Crimea.
People are well known for voting their honest opinions when armed military men from the world's largest dictatorship are holding you under occupation
But they didn't even believe God was involved with anything, they were Deists, basically NonChristians.
No, some of them believed that. Other's were thiests or at least nominal Christians, perhaps actual Christians.
John Adams, for instance, one of the committee of five who were responsible for the declaration of Independence, was a Christian, to one extent or another, who did believe that God was active in the world, ans thus in providence, revelation, and miracles.
They were all enlightenment Men, putting Science before Christianity.
Actually, in 1954 the Soviet Union willingly gave Crimea to the Ukraine. So, the Ukraine did not take it.
Said referendum was held after the Russians invaded and practically took over Crimea.
People are well known for voting their honest opinions when armed military men from the world's largest dictatorship are holding you under occupation
Russia is a democracy, we have free and democratic elections. In 1954 we had Khruschev who himself was ukrainean, 75% of people in crimea speak Russian. If you disagree ask the people, I have been to Crimea, its Russian.
That Argument is ridiculous, Some say Hinduism is the oldest, does that mean its right? I don't think Orthodox are right either, they are much like Catholics, sure they split in 1054, but they still have horrible faults. Yes but there is more to that, Christ is the Son of God, which I'm sure you meant, but Orthodox don't even really believe that, if that's true why do we need Icons, and Vestments, and Huge Church buildings (which aren't even in the bible)?
It's not ridiculous. Christianity is a fulfillment of Judaism, which also has claims to being the oldest religion. By refusing Christianity's original teachings for a teaching that came about 1800 years later, you're missing the point by 1800 years.
I assure you Orthodox Christians believe that Jesus is the son of God. We say that probably twenty times during services.
We don't need icons, but we have them to commemorate godly Christians in much the same way you probably have a picture of your grandparents in your house.
We don't need vestments, either. That's just a traditional carryover from days when everyone wore robes and the clergy would wear a specific garment to distinguish themselves.
We definitely don't need huge church buildings. One Orthodox church I attended was literally in a rented-out office floor because they couldn't afford to build a church. Another church was about the size of my house, and the next church was smaller. My current church is larger than all of those, but still much smaller than literally every Protestant church I've visited regardless of denomination. The only "huge church buildings" you'll see are in the Middle East and were build in the 400s-800s when the Orthodox church was at its height prior to the Muslim conquests.
You know what else isn't in the Bible? Substituting wine with grape juice during communion. Having a Christian rock group play gospel rock during services. The concept of "Sunday school." You'll find that many common Christian practices aren't in the Bible. That doesn't necessarily make them evil.
If a church claimed that you required non-Biblical things to be saved (such as paying indulgences in the Catholic church), or if they practiced things clearly against God's word (such as selling animals for sacrifice within the synagogue), I would understand your complaint.
Technically, there were plenty of polytheistic religions before Judaism.
To be Protestant just means that you don't have to adhere to any church's set beliefs or customs. You don't have any "rules" other than the ones given in the Bible, and you are allowed to disagree with the pastor or church based on your own knowledge of the Bible.
That's not actually the case. To be Protestant in the strictest sense means that you reject the Catholic and the Orthodox views, originally in favor of Martin Luther's but now in favor of two options:
1. One of the thousands of denominations that have been created since that time 2. Your own personal interpretation
The Church of Christ is Protestant, and yes, you do have to adhere to their beliefs or customs, or you get judged heavily for it. I know because I was judged heavily for simply not being Church of Christ. I never even told them what I did believe.
Martin Luther's idea, though, was that the Catholic Church was adding things to the Gospel and we should just accept God's Word as it is written in the Bible.
Protestantism began when Martin Luther said "We don't have to do what the pope says, we need to be doing what the Bible says." That may have happened a long time after the crucifixion, but the idea was that we obey God's Word as it is taught in the Bible, which has been around much longer.
While I think Luther's intent was good, it's ultimately spawned literally thousands of sects that often stray ludicrously far from God's word as it is taught in the Bible.
True, but the original idea of following what the Bible says is what I hold to.
While I think Luther's intent was good, it's ultimately spawned literally thousands of sects that often stray ludicrously far from God's word as it is taught in the Bible.
I agree. He did have a good point, but it might have been better to try to keep everyone together. As a Catholic, I can say that modern-day Catholicisim is nothing like the church Luther left. We do have gold ornaments, staine dglass windows and fancy robes for ministers, but it is very different to what it was once like. The Catholic church has fixed itself since it was splintered; if everyone had stayed together, I imagine that would also have happened.
Plenty of Protestant churches have stained glass windows too, I don't think that really matters in any way.
To be Protestant basically just means you are a "Bible Christian," as you are free to base your own beliefs on what the Bible says and not the word of any man. So you don't really have to agree with any denomination to be a Protestant.
But which Bible are you to follow?
KJV, NIV, NIRV, NKJV are the most widely used, I believe. But it doesn't really matter as long as they were accurately translated.
To be Protestant basically just means you are a "Bible Christian," as you are free to base your own beliefs on what the Bible says and not the word of any man. So you don't really have to agree with any denomination to be a Protestant.
Yer most aren't true Bible Christians.
Many denominations don't follow exactly what the Bible says, but the original idea that sparked Protestantism was that you should.
It's not ridiculous. Christianity is a fulfillment of Judaism, which also has claims to being the oldest religion. By refusing Christianity's original teachings for a teaching that came about 1800 years later, you're missing the point by 1800 years.
I assure you Orthodox Christians believe that Jesus is the son of God. We say that probably twenty times during services.
We don't need icons, but we have them to commemorate godly Christians in much the same way you probably have a picture of your grandparents in your house.
We don't need vestments, either. That's just a traditional carryover from days when everyone wore robes and the clergy would wear a specific garment to distinguish themselves.
We definitely don't need huge church buildings. One Orthodox church I attended was literally in a rented-out office floor because they couldn't afford to build a church. Another church was about the size of my house, and the next church was smaller. My current church is larger than all of those, but still much smaller than literally every Protestant church I've visited regardless of denomination. The only "huge church buildings" you'll see are in the Middle East and were build in the 400s-800s when the Orthodox church was at its height prior to the Muslim conquests.
You know what else isn't in the Bible? Substituting wine with grape juice during communion. Having a Christian rock group play gospel rock during services. The concept of "Sunday school." You'll find that many common Christian practices aren't in the Bible. That doesn't necessarily make them evil.
If a church claimed that you required non-Biblical things to be saved (such as paying indulgences in the Catholic church), or if they practiced things clearly against God's word (such as selling animals for sacrifice within the synagogue), I would understand your complaint.
Actually I say Orthodox left that original faith and are know something much different. I'm not sure, do Orthodox have Mary Worship? the early Church Fathers didn't have special Clothes, Tradition isn't always right, even Demons know that Jesus is the son of God, that won't save you.
I don't believe in Church Building, there nowhere in the Bible, I don't Substitute Grape Juice, that's wrong to. Sunday school is added, but I mean its still teaching about God, Instruments are wrong, so all those i don't Believe. We currently don't have a church, its grieves us but so many are fool with Heresies. I said I was a lot like the Pilgrims, but had disagreements with them, for example Christmas, I don't celebrate it and neither did they but they made it Illegal which is wrong.
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,
praise him with timbrel and dancing,
praise him with the strings and pipe,
praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals. - Psalm 150: 3-5
Instruments are not wrong.
Also, substituting grape juice for wine is not wrong, either.
Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” - Matthew 26: 27-29
Nowhere does it say what was in the cup. The symbolism works no matter what beverage it is.
That's not actually the case. To be Protestant in the strictest sense means that you reject the Catholic and the Orthodox views, originally in favor of Martin Luther's but now in favor of two options:
1. One of the thousands of denominations that have been created since that time 2. Your own personal interpretation
The Church of Christ is Protestant, and yes, you do have to adhere to their beliefs or customs, or you get judged heavily for it. I know because I was judged heavily for simply not being Church of Christ. I never even told them what I did believe.
I'm afraid most have a big Problem with Baptism, I think Infant Baptism is fine but most don't and some even get baptized multiple times, they only recognize their own Denominations' Baptisms so they virtually decide you aren't and need to get Baptized, on the Other hand they ignore the Lord's Supper.
Infant baptism isn't really the same, because baptism is supposed to be your proclamation of faith in Christ and infants are not yet old enough to understand Christ and his sacrifice. Although I suppose it does work as a way of "dedicating" your child to God.
You can book a trip around North Korea, and in that trip you will visit a Buddhist temple. (Depends on the tour you take)
They're evil liars. They lie. What they say and what they do are not the same thing. What they show you when they take you to their country is not going to be an honest representation.
China claims to have freedom of religion, but persecutes Christians.
