What were you taught

[turtle (turtle)]

What were you taught in sunday school or church about scripture that you dont' agree with after studying the scriptures for yourself and using other sources. Realize your answers could cause a debate.

[arron (arron)]

i was taught in the wesylen methodist church that GOD did not have a body that we were HIS BODY. i have since seen in THE BIBLE that GOD does have BODY PARTS , eyes ears hands feet

[godchild (godchild)]

My first sunday school experience was in a Baptist Church. I suppose it was the fear of punishment, because as a child I didn't understand God's forgiveness. Then I became a mormon at age 13 which really had me messed up for many years. (Too many false doctrines to name here, and a lot more of the 'punishment for not doing works'. It would have to go to the mormon thread.) I believed God loved me only when I was 'good' which was impossible. I was taught the Holy Spirit comes and goes, which I no longer believe. God doesn't give gifts then renig on them when I don't please Him.

[godchild (godchild)]

I don't mean to sound like I didn't learn gospel truths in the Baptist Church. I did. My best memories are of singing gospel songs, which I remember the words to, to this day and still enjoy. The words have carried me through many tough times, and good times too. I have no complaints. God has been very good to me.

[rabbit (rabbit)]

To honestly answer your question, pretty much everything.

I went weekly to protestant churches until I was 16, at which point I decided I did not want to whole heartedly believe in anything just because a person or a book tells me it is true. I became agnostic which I still am to this day. I study any and all religions and see no reason to believe one over the other. Some make more sense with less holes, but they all are unproven.

Just as many Christians unwaveringly believe in their teachings because of feelings or experiences they have had, so do Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, etc. To this day it bothers me to see people let their religion blind them to other possibilities.

The problem with most religion is that you cannot be totally pious and believe there is a chance you are wrong. And for this reason, I will probably remain agnostic until I die, either ceasing to exist or burning in whatever hell turns out to be the right one. But at least I will know I died without placing my beliefs in the wrong place.

*Note* I didn't come here to argue this point, just saw the topic and couldn't resist. But I do enjoy debating about it since it helps me to understand the truth of it all.

[godchild (godchild)]

Rabbit, do you believe in a 'higher power'? Or does life seem to be a 'cosmic joke'? I have wondered the same things myself in the past. I have a great deal of respect for other people's religions. I will let God work that out, and will try to set the type of example that people may have a desire for. Believing in God is not a matter of; if you do, you're good, and if you don't, you're bad.
I was married to an agnostic and yet he told me he appreciated my prayers when he worked in a dangerous job.
One of the greatest people, in my opinion, who ever lived, was Ghandi. He respected the christian religion, though it is said, he did not convert. No one knows but God and him.
I'm a little confused about your statement, 'The problem with most religions is that you cannot be totally pious and believe there is a chance you are wrong.' The only totally pious person who ever lived was Jesus Christ, and we can never be Him. You might think that is not true, but there is no evidence to the contrary. Faith is something you cannot see with the human eye. Neither is love or hope. Those things are real for me. As real as the nose on my face. God bless you. Your not resisting the temptation to speak here says something.

[godchild (godchild)]

"At least I will know I have died without placing my beliefs in the wrong place." What a fascinating statement for someone who does not believe in an after-life (you mentioned hell and nothingness). Methinks thee protests too much. http://www.factnet.org/discus/clipart/happy.gif Don't worry. God's ways are not our ways. For some reason I have a good feeling about you. Call it intuition, (maybe).

[wyoming (wyoming)]

Rabbit,

The "other possibilities" turn out to be the substitute religion. A person's religion, or God, is that which they turn to for security. Everybody is religious!

So, you havn't found God yet, and most people believe in God if for no other reason that we observe creation of an orderly universe with laws of chenistry and physics, which suggest a Creator. Are you denying yourself the opportunity to discover a creator of the creation? Or, are you the negative type that find security in the insecure position of skepticism? Do you believe anything? To believe anything it takes faith. Some people say that all things are relative. They don't know anything for sure and they take pride in it.

True Christianity is a relationship with the infinite God. But Man seeks to create a finite God in their own image, rather than concede that God created man on God's terms however infinite for us to try to understand. There's nothing else like a whole World full of confusing ideas about God. You aren't going to find the answers by looking at what man has done to confuse it all.

I'm a Bible believing Christian but I am an iconoclast and I believe all incorporated man-made religion is wrong and misleading, although correct inasmuch as it is in adherance to the Bible; and almost everybody who is caught up in sectarianism do not realize that they are mis-representing Christianity. All the varieties, divisions, inconsistencies, and confusions of teaching are enough to drive away anyone like you. I advise you to take your eyes off of the human beings and look to the truth that can be found in a God who is the one and only Creator God. Don't miss out on a relationship that can be yours. Don't sell yourself short. You would like to know the truth, for real, wouldn't you? Would you be afraid to say out loud, "God if you are for real, I will accept you. Just reveal yourself to me somehow, that I now do not understand." You won't get a call on the red phone from heaven, but you could receive some revelation that would be just enough for you to believe by faith. Everybody has the capacity in them.

[overseas (overseas)]

Quote: I did not want to whole heartedly believe in anything just because a person or a book tells me it is true.

For me it worked the other way round. I was raised atheist but then I discovered the Bible and the way of personally approaching God and making an informed personal decision. So I did not wish to stick to atheism only because my family or background.

God bless.

[godchild (godchild)]

God speaks to me in blooming flowers. At very specific times in my life, (great sadness or gladness)flowers bloom at the oddest times. A rosebush in bloom in February and lots of snow on the ground; a christmas cactus blooms in May; and just yesterday two huge blooms from an unknown named tree outside my window and directly in my view. I have learned to 'watch' and appreciate this gift from Him. I never 'expect it'. It's always a surprise which makes it more profound. He gives each of us 'gifts' which are not just talents. Jesus said "Watch". (in faith believing)

[turtle (turtle)]

Rabbit,
I guess what you really want is cold hardcore facts to prove the existence of God and not all the emotionalism. You need it to be made real for you by God himself.

I reemember this joke but it has some truth in it. I do not know who wrote it originally or the name of it. If someone knows please let us know.

There once was a man who believed greatly in God. He had no question God existed. Will it began to rain and then it began to flood. The water got up to his porch and a u boat came by.

The man said "I believe in God Go on and save the rest."

Will the flood continue and got the first floor of this man's house and another uboat came by.

The man said " I believe in God he will save me, Go and save the rest."

Will few minutes later the man is standing on his roof. And a helicopter came by and tossed him a life ring.

" Go on the man said, " God will save me"

So the man dies and goes before God.

God said " Why are you here I sent two boats and a helicopter."

Impling that the man would of still been alive if he taken the help the man sent him.

I would hate to neglect the help God sends me to finding his truth and stand before God with his judgement ready and waiting asking why I try to show you me all this time. Just because I did not call your name in a disguished voice or put a unexplained sign in the sky you rejected me and my existence.

[grace2u (grace2u)]

I was taught that you had to be a member of the Church of Christ to go to heaven. I was taught that this was the only right church. I was taught that I had to work my way to get into heaven.


But I am not dumb . . . it became obvious to me pretty quickly (ok . . . maybe not that quickly, I was in my 20's) that no one would ever be good enough to make it to heaven based on what they did and they certainly could not continue life without sinning even with God's help. All have sinned and fall short. . . so to the dismay of my folks, I became Baptist. Ironically, they left the C of C too later in life and began going to a nondenominational church that grew out of the C of C. Still very similar to the C of C in a lot of ways though.

Still I find myself struggling with with judgmental tendencies in my own church . . . like we are the right way (not necessarily the only true church though) still and if you want to fellowship with us you have to be baptised in our church. Unity is something that has been neglected in the churches I have attended. I think it is challenging trying to find unity yet at the same time not be deceived on more major doctrines.

One thing I know is that when Christ returns and gathers His own, we will be unified and I look forward to that day.

[stabidak (stabidak)]

<font color="0000ff">Funny thing, when I was young, like 13 or 14 much to my grandparents dismay I left the Baptists church and joined a Church of Christ and was baptised for the remission of sins, that church actually believed that without water baptism for remission of sins you would burn in hell even if you had accepted Jesus!
My grandparents were dismayed, but they allowed me to make my own decisions even then at my young age, just so long as I was going to church, lol.
in HIS grip, Stabi</font>

[easeltine (easeltine)]

Hi,

I was taught the following false doctrines as a teenager that I no longer believe. These are just examples of some wild things, I have since cut them off, however, I have not been able to forget these teachings. We had to go to school all day Saturday. It was called RTC, Revival Training Class. This was from my "mothers" church. It is actually a bunch of manure, pure crapola:

The O.T. Tabernacle representative of different Christian Churches and different doctrines revealed to the Church throughout history.

The Brazen Altar - Lutheranism - Justification By Faith
The Laver - Baptist - Water Baptism
The Shewbread - Holiness - Methodist
The Candlestick - Pentecost - Pentecostalism
The Altar of Incense - Revival Church - Present Truth
The Ark of the Covenant - The future truths - The Manifested Sons of God - Overcomers
*
30 Fold = Salvation, 60 Fold = Baptism of the Holy Spirit, and 100 Fold = Manifested Sons of God
*
Jesus was to return before 1984. Israel, (the fig tree), becomes a nation in 1948 + 40 years,(a generation) = 1988 - 3 1/2 years (Mid-Trib) = 1984 (within that time). If you were a Manifested Son of God you would never die and teach the church in the last 3 1/2 year period.
*
Not the church I went to, but a Camp Elim we went to. In the kid's portion they were going to "teach" us how to prophecy. A 13 year old gets up and says, "Praise the Lord." The teacher said, "Oh, that was beautiful, that was prophecy." Another girl about 14 years old gets up and said words beyond her years. It did not seem like God even at that age. I know now that this was from a spirit of divination. My friend and I ditched the remaining classes, (with our minister's and parents consent). They sent people after us, but they couldn't find us.
*
Just a few little pcs. of junk from the past....

Erich

[daikon (daikon)]

I learned Jesus isn't a blue-eyed blondish brown haired European and...
God isn't a guy with a long white beard and a fierce, thousand yard stare.

I learned to seek God in the spirit with the Holy Spirit's help rather than blindly accept what leaders told me. In that I understand why Jesus makes it clear you can speak against the Son of Man and be forgiven but don't you go speaking blasphemy on the Holy Spirit -- that's death.