America is losing its religion — and the effects will be long-lasting

PostmodernProphet said:
being a Calvinist, I obviously inherited most of my beliefs from Calvin......given that I have mentioned that at least five times in this thread so far, your further attempts to lie about "obscure bible thumping American evangelical churches" are noted.......


this overlooks several key facts.....
1) not all protestant denominations share those beliefs....for example the Lutheran tradition still utilizes iconography and ritual....other example is the conflict between those who believe in inerrancy and those who believe in infallibility......
2) many reformers besides Luther and Calvin put forth those beliefs independently, based simply upon scripture.....for example rejection of ecclesiastical authority was an inherent element of protestant reform, not because of Luther and Calvin, but because if you weren't rejecting authority you weren't actually protesting........beliefs in faith, grace and the primacy of scripture also are shared by every reformer, not because of Luther and Calvin but because of scripture......many of their contemporaries taught the same doctrines.......
3) even Calvin and Luther don't agree with each other on all of these issues.....Calvin criticized Luther on his retention of ritual and icons, Luther rejected Calvin' doctrine of election, Calvin does not have the same view of literalism
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Every informed person knows there are distinctions between Protestant denominations.

The theology of justification by faith, the theology of the primacy of biblical authority, biblical literalism, eschewing of ritualism of the Catholic Church, and the rejection of ecclesiastical authority are precisely what sets Protestantism apart from Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy.

Every religious scholar on the planet understands that world Protestantism as a whole was influenced by the Protestant theology originating in western Europe with Luther and Calvin.

I even knew it, and I am not a Protestant.

You, on the other hand, were flabbergasted that I would dare say world Protestantism as a whole has been deeply influenced by the theology of Luther and Calvin. And that is even after you spent good money at some little bible school to supposedly teach you about religious history and theology.
 
Cypress said:
You, on the other hand, were flabbergasted that I would dare say world Protestantism as a whole has been deeply influenced by the theology of Luther and Calvin.
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it wouldn't have bothered me at all if you had said that........but we both know that isn't what you said.......do you lie about it because you are embarrassed by what you actually said?......
 
PostmodernProphet said:
it wouldn't have bothered me at all if you had said that........but we both know that isn't what you said.......do you lie about it because you are embarrassed by what you actually said?......
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Falsely accusing someone of lying is comical coming from you.

You are the dude who made a bet pledging to permanently leave this forum if Trump were impeached, and then you willfully and blatantly welched on your bet.

That ranks as the mother of all lies by message board standards
 
Wolverine said:
Do you claim to be Christian?
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When this question comes up, it always produces a silly game of labels. A very large proportion of those labelled 'Non-' have a high respect for the person and social teachings of Jesus of Nazareth but are baffled by this 'religious' stuff, which belongs to an earlier age, while most of those who claim the label have no respect for Jesus whatever but use him as an excuse to hold various archaic and nonsensical opinions difficult otherwise to justify, and spend much of their time disobeying everything he said (about loving one another, for instance, or never swearing oaths - you name it). The belief was given his own shape by Paul of Tarsus, and to be meaningful today it has to be re-phrased and re-thought in contemporary terms, the last thing American - and many other alleged 'Christians' - would contemplate. What the Trumpers really believe in is conformity and obedience to any unpleasant reactionary leader who happens to be on offer.
 
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Iolo/Penderyn said:
When this question comes up, it always produces a silly game of labels. A very large proportion of those labelled 'Non-' have a high respect for the person and social teachings of Jesus of Nazareth but are baffled by this 'religious' stuff, which belongs to an earlier age, while most of those who claim the label have no respect for Jesus whatever but use him as an excuse to hold various archaic and nonsensical opinions difficult otherwise to justify, and spend much of their time disobeying everything he said (about loving one another, for instance, or never swearing oaths - you name it). The belief was given his own shape by Paul of Tarsus, and to be meaningful today it has to be re-phrased and re-thought in contemporary terms, the last thing American - and many other alleged 'Christians' - would contemplate. What the Trumpers really believe in is conformity and obedience to any unpleasant reactionary leader who happens to be on offer.
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I am not a religious man, I am a Christian! I swear no oaths! Trumpers? see you can't go one post without insult!
 
Wolverine said:
Sure I do, and ask forgiveness for my trespasses, Do you claim to be a Christian? If so, ask God to help you with your language, and anger!
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Matt, you ask for forgiveness with the intent to sin more. That's what what is meant. Making a mistake is one thing, but intending to do harm is another and you are guilty of intent. Repeatedly. Without regret.

You think forgiveness is a get-out-of-jail-free card, but it isn't if you have the intent to keep sinning.

If you keep lying and intend to lie more, you are not a Christian no matter how many times you ask for forgiveness.
 
Dutch Uncle said:
Matt, you ask for forgiveness with the intent to sin more. That's what what is meant. Making a mistake is one thing, but intending to do harm is another and you are guilty of intent. Repeatedly. Without regret.

You think forgiveness is a get-out-of-jail-free card, but it isn't if you have the intent to keep sinning.

If you keep lying and intend to lie more, you are not a Christian no matter how many times you ask for forgiveness.
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That is not true, for instance, I am not here as much because of the nasty vile things say about conservative patriotic people, it tempts me to say nasty things that I immediately feel bad about! Take you for instance you continue with the premise I am someone I am not and say horrible things about me! Pride kicks in and immediately want to respond in kind I will no longer do that! You are free to continue to act a fool I do not care!
Are you A Christian, you seem to be avoiding this question!
 
Wolverine said:
conservative patriotic people
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This guy is a patriot?

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