Anonymous wrote:When I read these professions of faith in a supernatural being, I feel embarrassed for the adults who still buy into these fairy tales. I feel like I am in a room of adults who still believe in Santa Claus. I'm like - Yes, I liked the story, and yes I like all of the movies and the songs and the art inspired by Santa, but you can't HONESTLY believe that stuff? Really?

And we feel embarrassed for somebody who thinks analogies to Santa are at all relevant, and who uses too many question marks in the process.

When I read these professions of faith in a supernatural being, I feel embarrassed for the adults who still buy into these fairy tales. I feel like I am in a room of adults who still believe in Santa Claus. I'm like - Yes, I liked the story, and yes I like all of the movies and the songs and the art inspired by Santa, but you can't HONESTLY believe that stuff? Really?

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Anonymous wrote:Mithraism took hold in the Roman Empire, largely among the military, in the first century AD until about the fourth century AD. From the rvidence it is perfectly plausible that Mithraism borrowed from Christianity, rather than the reverse.

Mithraism originated in ancient Persia, long before Rome. What you suggest is not plausible. Plus, there are other dying and rising gods besides Mithras which also preceded Christianity. But none of this matters to the person of faith. They don't need to prove their religion is accurate based on historical information. They know it is right in their heart.

Intelligent people of faith will accept logic as long as it supports their faith or doesn't interfere with it. But if facts start to threaten faith, then the person of faith turns away and protects their faith -- a gift from God that promises eternal
life.

God created existence , time , physical laws and logic. God is love . Selfless Love will be accommodated above all.

Selfless love for God will be rewarded with a life with him forever. How could any intelligent person turn down an offer like that offered freely from the supreme being who sent his son to die for us?

That's assuming a lot there, chief.

It's only assuming what's in the Bible and taught in churches around the world.

And around we go again. You can't use the Bible to prove the Bible. Something isn't true just because someone says it is.

That's where faith comes in. Faith is required for religious belief. Having faith can be hard, especially these days, when so much information is freely available and so much more is known by scholars who have committed their careers to understanding the origins and growth of world religions. Given all the new information, some people develop doubts about what they were taught as children, but as long as their faith eventually overrules their doubts, they will still have a spot in heaven when the time comes.

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mithraism took hold in the Roman Empire, largely among the military, in the first century AD until about the fourth century AD. From the rvidence it is perfectly plausible that Mithraism borrowed from Christianity, rather than the reverse.

Mithraism originated in ancient Persia, long before Rome. What you suggest is not plausible. Plus, there are other dying and rising gods besides Mithras which also preceded Christianity. But none of this matters to the person of faith. They don't need to prove their religion is accurate based on historical information. They know it is right in their heart.

Intelligent people of faith will accept logic as long as it supports their faith or doesn't interfere with it. But if facts start to threaten faith, then the person of faith turns away and protects their faith -- a gift from God that promises eternal
life.

God created existence , time , physical laws and logic. God is love . Selfless Love will be accommodated above all.

Selfless love for God will be rewarded with a life with him forever. How could any intelligent person turn down an offer like that offered freely from the supreme being who sent his son to die for us?

That's assuming a lot there, chief.

It's only assuming what's in the Bible and taught in churches around the world.

And around we go again. You can't use the Bible to prove the Bible. Something isn't true just because someone says it is.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mithraism took hold in the Roman Empire, largely among the military, in the first century AD until about the fourth century AD. From the rvidence it is perfectly plausible that Mithraism borrowed from Christianity, rather than the reverse.

Mithraism originated in ancient Persia, long before Rome. What you suggest is not plausible. Plus, there are other dying and rising gods besides Mithras which also preceded Christianity. But none of this matters to the person of faith. They don't need to prove their religion is accurate based on historical information. They know it is right in their heart.

Intelligent people of faith will accept logic as long as it supports their faith or doesn't interfere with it. But if facts start to threaten faith, then the person of faith turns away and protects their faith -- a gift from God that promises eternal life.

God created existence , time , physical laws and logic. God is love . Selfless Love will be accommodated above all.

Selfless love for God will be rewarded with a life with him forever. How could any intelligent person turn down an offer like that offered freely from the supreme being who sent his son to die for us?

That's assuming a lot there, chief.

It's only assuming what's in the Bible and taught in churches around the world.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mithraism took hold in the Roman Empire, largely among the military, in the first century AD until about the fourth century AD. From the rvidence it is perfectly plausible that Mithraism borrowed from Christianity, rather than the reverse.

Mithraism originated in ancient Persia, long before Rome. What you suggest is not plausible. Plus, there are other dying and rising gods besides Mithras which also preceded Christianity. But none of this matters to the person of faith. They don't need to prove their religion is accurate based on historical information. They know it is right in their heart.

Intelligent people of faith will accept logic as long as it supports their faith or doesn't interfere with it. But if facts start to threaten faith, then the person of faith turns away and protects their faith -- a gift from God that promises eternal life.

God created existence , time , physical laws and logic. God is love . Selfless Love will be accommodated above all.

Selfless love for God will be rewarded with a life with him forever. How could any intelligent person turn down an offer like that offered freely from the supreme being who sent his son to die for us?

That's assuming a lot there, chief.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mithraism took hold in the Roman Empire, largely among the military, in the first century AD until about the fourth century AD. From the rvidence it is perfectly plausible that Mithraism borrowed from Christianity, rather than the reverse.

Mithraism originated in ancient Persia, long before Rome. What you suggest is not plausible. Plus, there are other dying and rising gods besides Mithras which also preceded Christianity. But none of this matters to the person of faith. They don't need to prove their religion is accurate based on historical information. They know it is right in their heart.

Intelligent people of faith will accept logic as long as it supports their faith or doesn't interfere with it. But if facts start to threaten faith, then the person of faith turns away and protects their faith -- a gift from God that promises eternal life.

God created existence , time , physical laws and logic. God is love . Selfless Love will be accommodated above all.

Selfless love for God will be rewarded with a life with him forever. How could any intelligent person turn down an offer like that offered freely from the supreme being who sent his son to die for us?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mithraism did have roots in ancient Persia, but it was largely forgotten after Alexander the Great conquered Persia. Remnants of the former worship of the god lingered in the western part of Persia, and, for reasons unknown was picked up by Roman soldiers at the beginning of the second century AD.

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/386080/Mithraism

Actually, that source says that Mithraism existed in Greece and India and Turkey as well. He got around and was a contemporary of Jesus for a while too. These kinds of dying and rising gods were quite popular for centuries before and after the time of Christ. But dedicated Christians know that only one of them is real.

dedicated?
How do you make the connection btw "dedicated" and truth?

They're all stories. But b/c humans could be controlled by belief systems, Christianity took off.

How difficult is it to control people who are illiterate? Look at the liturgical plays. and prior to that - the Greek dramas!

What a fantastic way to brainwash the masses.

What you call brainwashing, others call faith -- and they find great comfort in it. Besides, many people are not really that brainwashed. They may have been forced to believe some things as kids, but as they got older, some of them developed their own belief system, based on empirical information, personal experience and personal experience - and in some cases, social pressure.

Some of these people gave up religious belief because it didn't make any sense to them, but others, who have more faith and hope to have an eternal life, turn to Christianity.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mithraism did have roots in ancient Persia, but it was largely forgotten after Alexander the Great conquered Persia. Remnants of the former worship of the god lingered in the western part of Persia, and, for reasons unknown was picked up by Roman soldiers at the beginning of the second century AD.

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/386080/Mithraism

Actually, that source says that Mithraism existed in Greece and India and Turkey as well. He got around and was a contemporary of Jesus for a while too. These kinds of dying and rising gods were quite popular for centuries before and after the time of Christ. But dedicated Christians know that only one of them is real.

dedicated?
How do you make the connection btw "dedicated" and truth?

They're all stories. But b/c humans could be controlled by belief systems, Christianity took off.

How difficult is it to control people who are illiterate? Look at the liturgical plays. and prior to that - the Greek dramas!

What a fantastic way to brainwash the masses.

It's not logical to me that the shroud of Turin was made by man thousands or hundreds of years ago but we have no idea how to duplicate it today. It is like having a UFO or Bigfoot in our possession ,

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mithraism took hold in the Roman Empire, largely among the military, in the first century AD until about the fourth century AD. From the rvidence it is perfectly plausible that Mithraism borrowed from Christianity, rather than the reverse.

Mithraism originated in ancient Persia, long before Rome. What you suggest is not plausible. Plus, there are other dying and rising gods besides Mithras which also preceded Christianity. But none of this matters to the person of faith. They don't need to prove their religion is accurate based on historical information. They know it is right in their heart.

Intelligent people of faith will accept logic as long as it supports their faith or doesn't interfere with it. But if facts start to threaten faith, then the person of faith turns away and protects their faith -- a gift from God that promises eternal life.

God created existence , time , physical laws and logic. God is love . Selfless Love will be accommodated above all.

Anonymous wrote:Mithraism did have roots in ancient Persia, but it was largely forgotten after Alexander the Great conquered Persia. Remnants of the former worship of the god lingered in the western part of Persia, and, for reasons unknown was picked up by Roman soldiers at the beginning of the second century AD.

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/386080/Mithraism

Actually, that source says that Mithraism existed in Greece and India and Turkey as well. He got around and was a contemporary of Jesus for a while too. These kinds of dying and rising gods were quite popular for centuries before and after the time of Christ. But dedicated Christians know that only one of them is real.

This excerpt from the Guardian article you are relying upon makes no sense:

"The general symbolic story of the death of the son (sun) on a cross (the constellation of the Southern Cross) and his rebirth, overcoming the powers of darkness, was a well worn story in the ancient world. There were plenty of parallel, rival resurrected saviours too."

The Southern Cross is seen exclusively in the southern hemisphere, while all the myths referred to you and the author of the Guardian article are from the Northern Hemisphere. The Southern Cross couldn't possibly have figured into these myths.

Anonymous wrote:Is it Christianity, Judaism, Islam? The Mormons? Is the Bible the true?
Does anyone else think this is all ridiculous? I respect people but I don't respect silly ideas no matter how old they may be.
The way I see it you're all arguing over nothing and wasting what precious time we do have.

It all comes down through the Jews. The other ideas are afterthoughts.

Mithraism did have roots in ancient Persia, but it was largely forgotten after Alexander the Great conquered Persia. Remnants of the former worship of the god lingered in the western part of Persia, and, for reasons unknown was picked up by Roman soldiers at the beginning of the second century AD.

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/386080/Mithraism