/lit/ - Literature

Were against non-whites here

>>12073746
while i would agree, jesus gets a pass

>>12073746
The melting pot is being stirred as we speak whitey

>>12073740
> I've been to hell and back.
you've have intense negative experiences that drove you to 'turn your life around' and you defaulted to Christianity because you're a white man living in a western country.

If you really follow the core teachings of any major religion you can live a Good Life.

If you did try other traditions before jesusism then by all means B me TFO, and we can actually have a much more interesting conversation about comparative religion.

>>12073943
>implying OP's confession of faith has anything to do with you or your beliefs (wrong or not)
I would say try being a better person, anon, but it's clear that's not working out.

>>12073943
>If you really follow the core teachings of any major religion you can live a Good Life

>>12073943
Atheists are just cold people with darkness because they are slowly trying to get themselves out of touch with the idea of God. They are running in a loop thinking that it Will eventually end but they don't realise that the loop they are currently running in can just be stepped off and they can switch over to a better, linear, path

>>12073751
But would Jesus give you a pass?

>>12073951
I don't even understand what you were going for here. OP claims Christianity is the ULTIMATE redpill. That's a really bold claim. This isn't personal for me, I am posting out of a genuine intellectual interest in this topic.

>>12073961
what are your claim exactly? Billions of brown and yellow people are out there faking it, secretly wishing they could just recite the hail mary 50 times to achieve grace?

>>12073968
A fair, if a bit heavy-handed, take. I am not an atheist, since you all insist on making this personal. I'm a sort of syncretist.

You can totally follow the teachings of Jesus without being a Christian

>>12073991
So what's your current, favourite, religion?

>>12073996
Hinduism.

>>12073991
>christianity is a white people religion

>>12073995
>Luke 9:23-24
>23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.

So can you follow this teaching without actually being a Christian? Can you deny yourself to the point of death for the sake of someone who either doesn't exist or isn't who he says he is?

>>12074011
He speaks in parables so those who don't get it, won't get it

>>12074004
All religions (except for small tribal religions) have followers of all races. That doesn’t prove majorities don’t exist

>>12074004
yea, yea, sorry. I was doing 'read' on that guy, using the safest assumptions to get 'hits'. you know.

>>12074011
I think his point there is that Jesus doesn't have a monopoly on being a good person, loving your neighbor, etc. You can do those things without believing in the bible.
If the biblical cosmology is literally true, and Jesus doesn't let you into heaven on the technicality that you were a good person without calling yourself a christian, than he's an petty, egotistical tyrant, and you shouldn't want to go to his heaven anyways.

>>12073991
>I don't even understand what you were going for here.
It was an insult, you dope. You autistically asked OP (or anyone) to match wits with you. The thread isn't about you.

>>12074021
Your post seems like a nonsequitor. These verses aren't a parable anyways.

>>12074027
matching wits with people is the only reason I come on this website.
What WAS I supposed to do in this fucking thread? Accept that vague one-line testimonial at face-value, become a christian, put my pants on and close all my porn tabs?

>>12074037
Take up cross is parable

>>12074039
YES. Actually. Precisely that.

God is always calling. You just have to know how to listen.

>>12073995
Being a Christian == CCRROSS

Creation - God created the world
Sin - God gave humans a choice to live their lives at free will
Cross - Jesus came to Earth and died for our sins
Resurrection - He later resurrected from the dead to symbolize that our faith to resurrect
Only by faith - We can only really believe in Jesus only by faith, as science can be used to prove and disprove God, but never fully succeed
Repentance - In order to seek forgiveness for our sins, no matter how bad, we must pray to Jesus and repent
Surrender - To fully live in the glory of God we have to surrener our sinful lives and must seek change in our sinful lives, while we will still fail.

I surrendered my life since i was 17 and I wanted to share the brief explanation of Christianity. Reading the bible alone will be sufficient enough to be a Christian, no fewer. Churches are important for growth to seek advise, have healthy relationships, question more about Christianity. You have to try to surrender your life in the areas you understand. If you do something that tirns out to be a sin, you must stop doing it.

Yes, you can believe in Jesus but in order to become a Christian you have to follow what the bible teaches. Following churches traditions can be misleading, haveunnecessary baggage (e.g. Catholic fathers were or still aren't allowed to marry, hence the little boys raped memes), or cause sin and corruption.>>12073996

>>12074046

>>12074024
This completely misses the point of Chrisitanity. It isn't about being a good person. Chrisitanity posits that all people are dead since they are separate from the source of all life, God. The only way to become alive is to be united with God, the source of life, which happens by submitting to God, declaring him Lord.

>>12074004
Christianity is for every soul. Genetics don't come into play when it comes to serving the Lord.

>>12074053
What are the experiential differences between these metaphysical 'alive' and 'dead' states? Or do I only find out when I'm physically dead?

>>12074052
Serious question, anon: do you feel bad often? Despair? Unfulfilled? Ashamed?

Get with the program. God is the source of goodness. If you do not feel good, it is for being separate from God. He gave you the choice to stray. I urge you to come back.

>>12074021
>Bible is too philosophical for me to understand

>>12074043
No it's not, a parable is a story. If you mean its metaphorical, then I agree, but I still don't see how that relates to my point.

>>12074058
There can't be experiental data on the metaphysical. To speak of these states in such a way would be reductionary.

>>12074059
I feel great.
Meditation clears my mind of illusions (works great on that ol' christian guilt. You'd love it.)
Devotional Service fills me with equanimity and a sense cosmic belonging.

Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, and the life". "The way" or the path in the Vedas is called Yoga. You say I have strayed, I feel I am on the path.
I could use Jesus' name as my beacon, my mantra. It really makes no difference to me. Another thing most traditions have in common is that God is always known by many names.

The thing is that the Vedas offer more. They are richer. They answer more questions. And they are more beautiful to boot.
It's that simple for me.

>>12074086
>being THIS in denial about your ego and shadow
Enjoy the hot place.

>>12074081
Yet another reason I tend towards Vedanta. It doesn't demand faith. There are real, experiential, consciousness changes that come with the practice.
Many Christian monks have achieved these higher states and acknowledged them. But the institutions never managed to turn this knowledge into a practical tradition in order to offer Grace to it's followers. It's very disappointing.

>>12074088
enjoy being reborn as a cricket. =]

>>12074095
>institutions never managed to turn this knowledge into a practical tradition in order to offer Grace to it's followers
You don't know what you're talking about.

No other religion talks about Sin like Christianity.

It is truth.

>>12074063
a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, My point was that you can follow the teachings of Jesus without being a Christian

Eastern religions are fucking boring.

>>12074060
I was paraphrasing Jesus. Idiot.

>>12074060
cringe

>>12074109
>He speaks in parables so those who don't get it, won't get it
>I was paraphrasing. Idiot
Why insult me when you clearly indicated that some may not get his parables. Isn't this the post i replied to?

>>12074086
Jesus understood what you are saying.>>12074118
I'm new here. Who's side am I on. In my opinion. I have read and understood without whining about it being too philosophical. But we all think that we are the best drivers on the road.

Let thine eye be single. Thoughts?

>>12074125
>we all think that we are the best drivers on the road.
Don't think for me. I'm definitely not the "best driver on the road" and God Himself said that he opposes the proud. Christianity taught me to never raise myself or others above. I take your arguments with all seriousness which is why im still discussing things over. I just didn't understand what exactly you were paraphrasing?

>>12073943
not at all your completely wrong and 100% projecting.

>>12074110
Wow. Thank you. Very nice response.

>>12074095
Well I can speak of "conciousness changes" that directly related to my Christianity just as much as you can with your Vedanta. But ultimately what's the good of these consciousness changes if it all ends in death? From what know of Vedanta I find to be very empty, except perhaps Dvaita. In Christianity I see the way to being a true self in relation to the infinite.

>>12073995
yes you can, doesn't change anything op said. I'm right there with him I also believe it is the truth and the ultimate way to live as a human in our momentary existence

>>12074102
So what's the spiritual lesson from that passage then? Can you explain how you follow that teaching without being a Christian?

>>12074167
Also a figure of speech. Meaning, from our perspective, we see things as we think they should be, but from another perspective, we are wrong. To keep this kosher, (pun intended) this is a conversation about literature and not religion. There is a lost Gospel of Q. It boils down the teachings of Jesus

>>12073991
weak

>>12074182
I am the one who refers to Q. That passage is simply saying "this is how its done boys"

>>12073991
>achieve grace
you have NO clue of what you speak. none.

>>12074187
Yes i agree but in this thread we are discussing why Christianity is the ultimate redpill and my contribution is the explanation of how Christianity benefitted my life.

>>12073740
I'm a formal suicidal, atheist, nihilist..you're a fool if you don't think there is something truly real and life changing following the teachings of Jesus. If you haven't given it a chance because muh "Christianity" living as an edge lord atheist I just feel bad for you and hope one day you will open your mind and heart to a life of meaning

>>12074206
Well, I am new here but understand that a religious discussion is prohibited. We can talk of how this book has benefitted your life. Just staying in the lines so we don't get BTFO as they say here.

>>12074214
they don't say that

>>12073971
probably, it's Jesus

>>12074214
Im actually to lazy to follow the community rules
>those darn subreddits
Yeah I understand but I doubt we will be reported as this whole thread still exists here. Its fine if you don't want to talk about it though.

To switch up tbe discussion i haven't found an author in a long time that has used Christianity as an important element in his works.

>>12074216
It is in the description of "welcome to /lit/".
I read things. It's ok. I think this is an important discussion... about literature

>>12074222
I'm game. Let's stay cool

The teachings of Jesus are, IMHO, similar to Hindu. Buddha was Hindu. Baptism did not happen in Old Testament but does in Hindu. Also the single eye.

>>12074203
The gospel of Q is an outdated theory. And "how it's done" is by declaring Jesus as your personal Lord, meaning you have no say in your own life. I have a hard time believing someone can do that while not being a Christin.

>>12074230
btfo, nobody says that here it's not reddit

>>12074247
A lot of thinking people know that they have no control in life. It can be through the omnipotence of God, or the science of causes and effects.

>>12074249
Noted. I learned it here probably from Reddit peeps.

>>12074245
very wrong but i see the general point your making and I would agree for the most part. A lot of what they both teach is similar if you boil it down to brass tax

>>12074247
Is there a better theory? Q collects the consistency in the New Testament. Analysis of time based on language and a bunch of smart stuff to clarify what was most likely taught by Christ. There are disagreements. Such as where he was born. It is logical to assum that things were added or altered over time.

>>12073740
Why did Jesus tell people to leave their families and follow him? Dude was a cult leader.

>>12074262
Wrong how? There is a large portion of the life of Christ that we are unaware of. Not only did he follow the laws of the Jews, but he added much.

>>12074256
But he specifically says deny youself to the point of death and follow him, not just give up control. Jesus says "do my will rather than your own." And the people you mention might tell themselves they have no control, but they don't ever live like it. Your interpretation cuts out so much of the actual text that there's practically no relation between the verses and your interpretation of them.

>>12074274
As Buddha also says. Our life is a possession. We must give up all in order to gain ourselves

>>12074274
Have you ever epiphanied over the fact that Jesus had access to the prophecy of the messiah and when he rode a donkey into town rubbing his stomach and patting his head or whatever, he was choosing to do as prophet predicted?

>>12074270
He also said that you must hate your parents. I am thinking that this can be read, "forget what you have learned if you want to redpill"

>>12074267
Quite a few scholars would say that there was not a written gospel of Q nowadays, but widespread oral testimonies that were eventually written down in Matthew and Luke, accounting for their similarities. Some would say that the similarities are because Luke used Matthew as a source. Honestly, the gospel of Q theory is over a hundred years old and most of the research you'll find for it is from the 1950's at the latest.

>>12074312
Parents are also possessions. But I am talking to myself now. I'll check back in the morning. Hopes this gets good and stays respectful.

>all the uneducated pseuds in this thread
You are embarrassing yourselves.

Christ was born without sin, but still fully man and fully God. He would prefer to not have to fulfill his destiny. He struggled in the garden of gethsemane. But He chose to fulfill His father's will.

>>12074323
Yes. Q is not a real thing. It is theoretical

>>12074323
Quit all scholars would agree that the Bible, unfortunately, is not the unmolested word of God. Q attempts to find the real Jesus. Also the Jefferson bible. There is plenty of truth and wisdom even without the magic. I believe that with enough truth and wisdom, magic may be possible. But it would still be science

>>12074343
If you think you can get back to a "real Jesus" through scientific/historical analysis, then you are really outdated in thinking. You're straight out of the 19th century.

>>12074371

>>12074371
Well. We are talking about 2000 years ago. Maybe the nineteenth century is closer to the mark. Do you think the book has been unaltered?

>>12074381
The New Testament is probably the most textually reliable document in the entirety of human existence. That doesn't mean it's historically accurate, but it does mean that we have a very clear idea about what it originally said. So I don't think its been altered in a major way, and the few spots it was we are now aware of.