Religion

First, this is a very controversial topic. I understand that. Considering that fact, I ask that if you are easily offended, you do not read the opinions of others on this topic: that is, go away now. I am allowed my opinion and I am allowed to say what I think. If you do not like that fact, too bad: right now America allows it. (Ten minutes from now, who knows? But right now they do.) If you have a probelm with people quoting things from the Bible, the Koran (Quran), the Torah, the Tanach, the Siddur, the Chatechism of the Catholic church, or any other source I have, then get off this page quickly because there are opinions in this section that will offend you. I study them all; I believe in only one: the Bible. That is my stand and if you have a different opinion, that's okay. God loves you anyways, whether you love Him, know Him, or even give a flip about whether He is real or not. God loves you anyways. Because of that, I cannot and do not hate you if you have a different opinion or belief system. Your beliefs are your beliefs, fine. But don't try to push them onto me. If you think that writing to me and complaining about what I post on this page, and others similar to it, you won't have a leg to stand on because I told you to go away. Run now! Don't allow yourself to get all upset because if you stay and read on, that is exactly what you will be doing: making the choice to stay and read after you have been warned. So, feel free to be angry, upset, irate, hurt, saddened, whatever. I cannot help that you feel that way (ask any psychologist or psychiatrist and they will tell you that I cannot control your feelings); nor do you have the right to complain after I warned you to not read my writing on this subject. So, now that you know where you stand, if you have the courage to read on without whimpering about it, trying to sue me for it, or without complaining until even Mt. Everest was tired of hearing you, read on. Maybe you'll learn something.

I have a code I live by while doing my research into religion: If I am going to research a religion (or religious belief), I NEVER read what others outside that particular religion have to say about it without making that only one-tenth (if that much) of my research. If I am going to learn about Mormonism, for example, I read the Book of Mormon, The Pearl of Great Price, the Doctrine and Covenants and writings by Mormons and the Mormon Church (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints); Islam, the Koran (Quran); Catholocism the Chatechism of the Catholic church and writings of Catholic priests; Judaism the Torah, Tanach, Siddur and writings by Rabbis; Jehovah's Witnesses, the writings of their church. That is my creed. If I want to learn the truth of a particular religion, I go "straight to the horse's mouth" so to speak. I listen to what that particular religion has to say about itself and what it believes rather than reading what the Baptists say about Mormons, Catholics, Jews, or Muslims. I read the foundation books of the particular religion; not just the heart-wrenching stories of hurt, success, failure, love, betrayal and/or jealousies -- stories within the church, but not explaining the truth of what that church believes. Some may call what I read, the "reference manuals" or something similar. And, that is what I read. That is what interests me about different religiions: finding out the truth about what they believe.

Of course, I do compare what I read in the source materials with what the Bible (usually King James Version) says because that is what my source ("reference") material is. The Bible is what I believe (every jot and tittle). I do comparison studies of the sources of a particular religion with the Bible and then I comment. As I said earlier, if you are easily offended, leave now.

So if all of the "easily offended" have left, then on with the show.

Let's start with the facts:

• I believe every word of the Bible to be the Word of God.
• I believe that God created everything, everywhere, everyone.
• I belive that God loves everyone currently alive and loved everyone who has already died and will love everyone who will ever be conceived in the future.
• That means that GOD LOVES YOU no matter who you are, no matter what you have done, no matter what you will do. GOD LOVES YOU.
• I believe that GOD can forgive you for whatever you have done that is considered wrong by either man, yourself or by GOD.
• I believe the way to forgiveness is to acknowledge that God exists, that He is God and that He has a Son, Jesus Christ, and that His Son died on the cross for you and Jesus is the way to God. You must accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior in order to be forgiven your sins and to be given eternal life: "For God so Loved the world [you and I] that He gave His Only Begotten Son [Jesus Christ] that whosoever believeth in Him [Jesus Christ] shall not perish, but have everlasting [eternal] life [even after physical death]." John 3:16 says that and I believe it and I think it applies to everyone on earth.
• I believe that because GOD loves you, I cannot hate (defined as: to wish you to be damned to eternal punishment) you; to do so would be disobedience. Therefore, I want you to accept Jesus Christ as your savior just as I have and therefore, I write these pages. If you do not believe as I do, that's something between you and GOD. But, don't throw this info away and dismiss it until you have given it a little thought, a little prayer and a little reasoning. That's all I ask.
• I believe that there are many people in many religions who have been called by GOD to be saved without really realizing that they are responding to that calling. You have wound up here for a reason. Consider that for a moment. Remember that, no matter what religion (created by man, not GOD because man voted on things to create it) you are, you can still answer the call to come to Christ and be saved to live eternally with GOD and His Son in heaven.
• I believe that when you open your heart and mind to the possibility of GOD'S love for you, that that step is half the battle. Don't stop there; give GOD a chance.

I shall start soon on my bibliography. I have an extensive religion library with books from all of the world's major religions (and some of the not so major) and will list them for you so that you may know my resources. With very few exceptions, when I write about Catholocism, I will quote Catholics. When I write about Judaism, I will quote the writings of the Rabbis, the Talmud, etc.; same for Mormonism (The Book of Mormon, their writings, the Triplet, etc.) so that when I say something about a particular religion, it will be that particular religion's words, not "Religion B's opinions on Religion A". I prefer to quote the horse itself, not the horse's ahem that is commenting on the horse.

So watch for more to come. I won't guarantee it will happen next week, but relatively soon (isn't "soon" always relative?).