That's how I usually interpret this story - though I don't think I'd actually heard the story of the stone soup. However, it could have been told to us in primary school.

I do think that there are religions that have bad things at their core. The individuals may be quite nice, but the church itself can be corrupt.

I have mentioned before that I feel this way about much of the Roman Catholic Church - and I have many friends and relatives who are Roman Catholics.

MY concerns here are with the organisation, more than the people. (Though, I appreciate that organisations are made up of people.)

There are poor sick women having more babies than their health or finances can cope with in some developing countries, yet the church is against contraception.

Many Roman Catholics are very poor, yet the church is extremely rich & flamboyant. Didn't Jesus say something about camels and the eye of a needle?

Many, many children have been abused physically, mentally & sexually by various members of the church - which is bad enough - but the church has then covered up for the criminals and sent them on to hurt others.

This is not an unpleasant member of the congregation with whom you don't get on - this is organised religion doing harm.

PDM,

Understand completely. I think it's very important when an individual decides to join a congregation that they are fully aware of what the universal church policies are. For instance, my church is a United Church of CHrist church. When making the decision to join this church, after attending a few services, I met some of the people & when I walked in there, I felt at home immediately. It was like an "aura" of sorts when I entered. My explanation would be that I could feel the Holy Spirit in the room when I walked in. So before actually deciding to join, I researched the United Church of Christ to see what the policies were, what the universal church's views were on issues, etc.

Personally, the Catholic church is one I wouldn't join. It has nothing to do w/the members of the church or the priests or anything like that. It's just the policies handed down from the Bishops, Cardinals, etc. that I don't agree with. For me to follow their rules would go against some things I don't agree with. I wouldn't be happy there no matter how friendly everyone was. So I quite understand what you're saying.

If more people would actually research the universal church's views, there would be less dissention in the churches. Just MHO though.

I have so many things to respond to - i shall be very brief and to the point - if anyone wants elaboration - please ask for it.

Thanks Jesusfollower - post from 04.11 - for accepting my point re eyewitness accounts and (mostly) re the Gospel writers.

Actually none of Matthew, Mark, John are eyewitnesses either - we are not sure whether this John is John the beloved disciple - some even say that it was written by Mary Magdalene !!

re the 'King' and central position of the throne - i was trying to wind up everybody. However I sill think it is a bit surprising to see Jesus at the centre of the pictures in the throne as the King. I expected some would say that the Father and the Holy Spirit are also in the sentre - usually - not on the throne but in the same line !!!

Also thanks for accepting in general terms that the Magi got it wrong - they did not know what king they were talking about - in other words apart from knowing a king is born - they knew nothing ( have you seen Fawlty Towers btw and do you know the quote 'I know nothing!'? - may be PDM knows )
PDM has dealt with this already - i mostly agree with what she said re this matter.
No i shall not make that mistake again.

Hi WJ,
Not only parents - but from everybody around. Some say that the outside influence is even stronger than parent's - you may see that being exploited by the advertisers!
I am happy if you feel so - i am not comfortable with the idea - that is my personal feelings.

I liked your stone soup story. I have also learnt a plausible explanation for the so called 'Miracle' of Jesus feeding 5000 people with very little substance ( - believe all such 'Miracles' has some simple explanation which was omitted to make them look like miracles ).

Hi kateyes - just some notes Do not you think flood is a very common thing to occur at various parts of the world at different times in the same year ? there is no surprise that ALL great civilisations has some kind of flood myth. The more important question is whether they all describe THE SAME FLOOD or is it just description of similar but different floods ? My guess is nobody can answer this question.
That's what I always thought. The corollary is that now many things are explained - should we not evaluate religion and define its proper place again ?
Not sure about complacence - surely does not encourage questions.

cheers!

How true

This was for WJ - but i thought i just need to say a thing or two.
Well for me - i think my religious belief is spot on (no question of it not being right) - i also think it may not be relevant to everyone. I can only answer for myself!
Do they check first that people want to be saved ? they do not and try to 'save' them - that is where they are insensitive!
Logic says that if Jesus really was sent to save every one of us, regardless of ethnicity or culture, then why in 2000 years - only 30% of world population are Christians?
Logic says that if if Jesus really was sent to save every one of us, regardless of ethnicity or culture - then why bother to become Christian - i am saved anyway !
if they are right - many things need to be assumed and accepted rather than explained logically. Even if they think they are right - they need to put themselves in other people's shoes before insulting their sensitiveness!

I understand where you are coming from. Yes - Christ was and is a role model and anybody can be described as Christlike - just as anybody can be described 'like Mahatma Gandhi'.
christ disliked a lot of his neighbours - like pharisees etc ..... what about that ?
However

[quote]Originally posted by Squeekychimp: [b] As we know, God cannot be reproduced from a kit. I wish I could send all skeptics a ‘God In A Box” kit [/b][/quote]I really liked the concept - if you gt some please send one for me. I shall pay by cash! :) :) :D