tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5356114186987252972.post6241020763694757654..comments2024-03-28T22:09:54.924-04:00Comments on The Closet Professor: Deus Caritas Est, Veritas Est AmorJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05299122685163501819noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5356114186987252972.post-18726600470298639382011-07-04T19:42:03.625-04:002011-07-04T19:42:03.625-04:00Jim, I believe that there are many answers to God,...Jim, I believe that there are many answers to God, and it is when people become unwavering believers in only one way, then they have lost the true message. I think people place to much faith on the "intra and inter denominational battles." The Church of Christ for me is what I am comfortable with but unlike many members of the Church, I do not believe that we are the only answer. I am very humbled that you enjoy my blog so much.Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05299122685163501819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5356114186987252972.post-44343768823318011102011-07-01T23:24:16.809-04:002011-07-01T23:24:16.809-04:00Thanks, GP. I have read all of your posts so far,...Thanks, GP. I have read all of your posts so far, and I have to say you have a fantastic blog. I just haven't had a chance to comment yet.<br /><br />From what I've read and what some of my readers have said, the DoC is supposed to be more open about homosexuality, or at least not completely opposed to it like many churches. I'm glad you are able to identify with some of this. The DoC and CoC had the same origins in the Restoration Movement, but split over a few differences about a hundred years ago. They still have a lot of similarities though.Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05299122685163501819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5356114186987252972.post-29195545197497988212011-07-01T15:43:39.010-04:002011-07-01T15:43:39.010-04:00I love the series so far Joe! Keep up the good wor...I love the series so far Joe! Keep up the good work! It has been very eye opening for me to read about this topic as I never really heard much discussion about homosexuality in the Church. <br /><br />I actually was raised in a DoC church myself, so I can relate to much of what you have written. <br /><br />God bless!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5356114186987252972.post-60792495432786540792011-07-01T15:04:43.662-04:002011-07-01T15:04:43.662-04:00Tom, I do think a lot of people use the Bible as a...Tom, I do think a lot of people use the Bible as a scare tactic. The evil that mankind has done in the name of Christianity and the Bible has, as far as I can tell, been for political reasons. Christian leaders have long used Machiavellian tactics, that show no relation to the true message of God.<br /><br />The Machiavellian message is that "the ends justify the means," but it really should be the other way around, because if we follow the ideas of God's love with practice, faith, and perseverance, then we will find the ultimate reward of eternal life in the end.<br /><br />And thanks for reading. I am humbled that you enjoy reading my blog.Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05299122685163501819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5356114186987252972.post-63105308832050988962011-07-01T14:59:50.477-04:002011-07-01T14:59:50.477-04:00Mack, I agree, it is not as easy to get them to st...Mack, I agree, it is not as easy to get them to stop as I make it out to be. It is hard to even shame these people because piety knows no shame. I once came in contact with Fred Phelps and Westboro Baptist Church. The only thing I could do was to pray that maybe one day that they would eventually learn of the truth of God's love.<br /><br />You are right also that too many people do not understand the truth of God's love and his commandment to love all. It is the saddest part of misguided Christians to me that they hate, and do so with greater passion than they love.Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05299122685163501819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5356114186987252972.post-21256170589541990572011-07-01T10:32:30.405-04:002011-07-01T10:32:30.405-04:00I grew up raised in the Roman Catholic faith. I th...I grew up raised in the Roman Catholic faith. I think I have mentioned in the past that I have a quite different perspective today...<br /><br />While I believe the bible exists, I am not sure that the interpretation over time, is anything more than "the" churches way of using the same scare tactics used in politics today. After all, the church was governed by men, men that sought power and used that power to intimidate the commoners into their way of thinking...<br /><br />Don't get me wrong, I still have faith, but honestly subscribe and believe in fate even more...<br /><br />Great post, I love reading you...<br /><br />TomThomas (Tom) Rimingtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02305225999248242356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5356114186987252972.post-80927829942002186692011-07-01T10:02:25.498-04:002011-07-01T10:02:25.498-04:00One of the problems with believing that the Bible ...One of the problems with believing that the Bible is self-evident and doesn't need explaining, is that most people seem to not understand it. <br /><br />My personal believe is that everything that is given to us in Scripture was given to us so that we could love one another and treat each other as decent human beings. This goes from the purity codes in Leviticus to the Sermon on the Mount to the Pauline Epistles. The problem is that most readers forget this point and read the Bible as if it's a set of strict rules that must be adhered to without question. The line "On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." gets ignored or forgotten when it comes to reading scripture from ones own hateful or closed-minded perspective. Believe it or not, I once in college had a conversation with a group of evangelicals who were talking about "right living" and I made reference to Matthew 22:26-40 - the summation of the law - and not one of them had even heard of it. One even said "That must be in YOUR church's Bible."<br /><br />To your first point, I don't think it's so easy to stop someone when they say that "God hates", because they will scream at you even louder. I also don't think they really know God.Mackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02417879115453658262noreply@blogger.com