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Words from our Lord and Master
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Rick C. Hodgin
Sep 27, 2018, 4:22:55 PM9/27/18
to
“Religious exhortation and telling people, telling children, that if they
don’t do the right thing, they’ll go to terrifying punishments or
unbelievable rewards, that’s making a living out of lying to children.
That’s what the priesthood do. And if all they did was lie to the
children, it would be bad enough. But they rape them and torture them and
then hope we’ll call it ‘abuse’.”
“Religion is man-made. Even the men who made it cannot agree on what their
prophets or redeemers or gurus actually said or did.”
“Judaism has some advantages over Christianity in that, for example, it
does not proselytise — except among Jews — and it does not make the
cretinous mistake of saying that the Messiah has already made his
appearance. However, along with Islam and Christianity, it does insist
that some turgid and contradictory and sometimes evil and mad texts,
obviously written by fairly unexceptional humans, are in fact the word of
god. I think that the indispensable condition of any intellectual liberty
is the realisation that there is no such thing.”
“Faith is the surrender of the mind; it's the surrender of reason, it's
the surrender of the only thing that makes us different from other
mammals. It's our need to believe, and to surrender our skepticism and our
reason, our yearning to discard that and put all our trust or faith in
someone or something, that is the sinister thing to me. Of all the
supposed virtues, faith must be the most overrated.”
--
Thank you,
Rick C. Hodgin
don’t do the right thing, they’ll go to terrifying punishments or
unbelievable rewards, that’s making a living out of lying to children.
That’s what the priesthood do. And if all they did was lie to the
children, it would be bad enough. But they rape them and torture them and
then hope we’ll call it ‘abuse’.”
“Religion is man-made. Even the men who made it cannot agree on what their
prophets or redeemers or gurus actually said or did.”
“Judaism has some advantages over Christianity in that, for example, it
does not proselytise — except among Jews — and it does not make the
cretinous mistake of saying that the Messiah has already made his
appearance. However, along with Islam and Christianity, it does insist
that some turgid and contradictory and sometimes evil and mad texts,
obviously written by fairly unexceptional humans, are in fact the word of
god. I think that the indispensable condition of any intellectual liberty
is the realisation that there is no such thing.”
“Faith is the surrender of the mind; it's the surrender of reason, it's
the surrender of the only thing that makes us different from other
mammals. It's our need to believe, and to surrender our skepticism and our
reason, our yearning to discard that and put all our trust or faith in
someone or something, that is the sinister thing to me. Of all the
supposed virtues, faith must be the most overrated.”
--
Thank you,
Rick C. Hodgin
Rick C. Hodgin
Sep 27, 2018, 4:30:15 PM9/27/18
to
On 9/27/2018 4:22 PM, Rick C. Hodgin wrote:
I, the real Rick C. Hodgin, did not write the post that's quoted
below. Examine the headers. I post from Eternal September or
Google Groups only.
> “Religious exhortation and telling people, telling children, that if they
> don’t do the right thing, they’ll go to terrifying punishments or
> unbelievable rewards, that’s making a living out of lying to children. That’s
> what the priesthood do. And if all they did was lie to the children, it would
> be bad enough. But they rape them and torture them and then hope we’ll call
> it ‘abuse’.”
Christianity is not religion. It's a relationship with God Himself.
It is a close, personal, ongoing relationship with Jesus Christ. It
has almost nothing to do with religion.
> “Religion is man-made. Even the men who made it cannot agree on what their
> prophets or redeemers or gurus actually said or did.”
Religion is an outside-in experience. You read a book, are told
something to do or not do, and then you do it.
Christianity is about being forgiven for your sin, being made alive
spiritually, which is eternal life, and which removes your guilt
before God such that you are alive again as God intended you to be
when He created you, before sin entered in and destroyed everything.
> “Judaism has some advantages over Christianity in that, for example, it does
> not proselytise — except among Jews — and it does not make the cretinous
> mistake of saying that the Messiah has already made his appearance. However,
> along with Islam and Christianity, it does insist that some turgid and
> contradictory and sometimes evil and mad texts, obviously written by fairly
> unexceptional humans, are in fact the word of god. I think that the
> indispensable condition of any intellectual liberty is the realisation that
> there is no such thing.”
The Old Testament times were before God gave us His Holy Spirit.
He could only address the flesh at that point, resulting in the
sometimes harsh treatment you see. But God was also looking down
across millennia, seeing the results of people groups being allowed
to live in their sinful state, and recognize that it was better to
remove a few thousand now, than billions later.
God has had man's best interests in His heart and mind from day
one. But man has consistently let God down, turned away from Him,
denied Him, ignored Him. He continues to look at His creation and
reaches in to move to save as many as possible.
> “Faith is the surrender of the mind; it's the surrender of reason, it's the
> surrender of the only thing that makes us different from other mammals. It's
> our need to believe, and to surrender our skepticism and our reason, our
> yearning to discard that and put all our trust or faith in someone or
> something, that is the sinister thing to me. Of all the supposed virtues,
> faith must be the most overrated.”
Faith is a gift from God that allows you to see spiritually, not
only with your physical eyes and flesh-based reason, but through
your spirit, and God's own Holy Spirit guidance.
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things
not seen ... but only from the point of view of the non-believer.
For the believer, there is confirmation in the spirit that the
things of God are true.
It is a new birth. A new life. The old passes away. The new is
here and it asserts itself.
Someday you will understand, Leigh. My prayer for you is that
the revelation comes before you leave this world.
--
Rick C. Hodgin
I, the real Rick C. Hodgin, did not write the post that's quoted
below. Examine the headers. I post from Eternal September or
Google Groups only.
> “Religious exhortation and telling people, telling children, that if they
> don’t do the right thing, they’ll go to terrifying punishments or
> unbelievable rewards, that’s making a living out of lying to children. That’s
> what the priesthood do. And if all they did was lie to the children, it would
> be bad enough. But they rape them and torture them and then hope we’ll call
> it ‘abuse’.”
It is a close, personal, ongoing relationship with Jesus Christ. It
has almost nothing to do with religion.
> “Religion is man-made. Even the men who made it cannot agree on what their
> prophets or redeemers or gurus actually said or did.”
something to do or not do, and then you do it.
Christianity is about being forgiven for your sin, being made alive
spiritually, which is eternal life, and which removes your guilt
before God such that you are alive again as God intended you to be
when He created you, before sin entered in and destroyed everything.
> “Judaism has some advantages over Christianity in that, for example, it does
> not proselytise — except among Jews — and it does not make the cretinous
> mistake of saying that the Messiah has already made his appearance. However,
> along with Islam and Christianity, it does insist that some turgid and
> contradictory and sometimes evil and mad texts, obviously written by fairly
> unexceptional humans, are in fact the word of god. I think that the
> indispensable condition of any intellectual liberty is the realisation that
> there is no such thing.”
He could only address the flesh at that point, resulting in the
sometimes harsh treatment you see. But God was also looking down
across millennia, seeing the results of people groups being allowed
to live in their sinful state, and recognize that it was better to
remove a few thousand now, than billions later.
God has had man's best interests in His heart and mind from day
one. But man has consistently let God down, turned away from Him,
denied Him, ignored Him. He continues to look at His creation and
reaches in to move to save as many as possible.
> “Faith is the surrender of the mind; it's the surrender of reason, it's the
> surrender of the only thing that makes us different from other mammals. It's
> our need to believe, and to surrender our skepticism and our reason, our
> yearning to discard that and put all our trust or faith in someone or
> something, that is the sinister thing to me. Of all the supposed virtues,
> faith must be the most overrated.”
only with your physical eyes and flesh-based reason, but through
your spirit, and God's own Holy Spirit guidance.
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things
not seen ... but only from the point of view of the non-believer.
For the believer, there is confirmation in the spirit that the
things of God are true.
It is a new birth. A new life. The old passes away. The new is
here and it asserts itself.
Someday you will understand, Leigh. My prayer for you is that
the revelation comes before you leave this world.
--
Rick C. Hodgin
Rick C. Hodgin
Sep 27, 2018, 4:34:10 PM9/27/18
to
On 9/27/2018 4:30 PM, Rick C. Hodgin wrote:
> Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things
> not seen ... but only from the point of view of the non-believer.
> For the believer, there is confirmation in the spirit that the
> things of God are true.
The Bible calls this an "earnest," a type of payment made to show
> Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things
> not seen ... but only from the point of view of the non-believer.
> For the believer, there is confirmation in the spirit that the
> things of God are true.
the sincerity of the transaction, that we receive a small portion
now (the gift of the Holy Spirit presence in our lives here in
this world), but that when we pass the fullness of the transaction
will be fulfilled, as we receive our new glorified bodies, and the
gift of eternal life.
Jesus said He would "raise us up on the last day." This en-
compasses all of our sin here on this Earth, even until our last
breath.
Rick C. Hodgin
Sep 27, 2018, 4:42:48 PM9/27/18
to
On 9/27/2018 4:34 PM, Rick C. Hodgin wrote:
> On 9/27/2018 4:30 PM, Rick C. Hodgin wrote:
>> Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things
>> not seen ... but only from the point of view of the non-believer.
>> For the believer, there is confirmation in the spirit that the
>> things of God are true.
>
> The Bible calls this an "earnest," a type of payment made to show
> the sincerity of the transaction, that we receive a small portion
> now (the gift of the Holy Spirit presence in our lives here in
> this world), but that when we pass the fullness of the transaction
> will be fulfilled, as we receive our new glorified bodies, and the
> gift of eternal life.
The "earnest" passage references:
> On 9/27/2018 4:30 PM, Rick C. Hodgin wrote:
>> Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things
>> not seen ... but only from the point of view of the non-believer.
>> For the believer, there is confirmation in the spirit that the
>> things of God are true.
>
> The Bible calls this an "earnest," a type of payment made to show
> the sincerity of the transaction, that we receive a small portion
> now (the gift of the Holy Spirit presence in our lives here in
> this world), but that when we pass the fullness of the transaction
> will be fulfilled, as we receive our new glorified bodies, and the
> gift of eternal life.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+1&version=KJV
10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might
gather together in one all things in Christ, both which
are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being pre-
destinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all
things after the counsel of his own will:
12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first
trusted in Christ.
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of
truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after
that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of
promise,
==> 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption
of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
For any of you who have bought a house, you put up "earnest money"
to show your sincerity in pursuing the purchase. It is similar
here, in that God gives us the new spirit life and the ongoing
presence of His Holy Spirit to guide us, which is that earnest for
the day of redemption when we leave this world, or when we who are
left alive are caught up in the rapture.
> Jesus said He would "raise us up on the last day." This en-
> compasses all of our sin here on this Earth, even until our last
> breath.
44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent
me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
>> It is a new birth. A new life. The old passes away. The new is
>> here and it asserts itself.
>>
>> Someday you will understand, Leigh. My prayer for you is that
>> the revelation comes before you leave this world.
focus, purpose, and discipline.
--
Rick C. Hodgin
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