Disqus - Latest Comments for brucetheagnostic

Re: New Disqus Comment System

BG — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 20:35:07 -0000

Come on Michael..........you know there is a demon in the comment system. :)

Take authority over it and cast it out.

Seriously......if you see any bugs or quirks holler.

Bruce

Re: New Disqus Comment System

BG — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 20:33:32 -0000

I see your long comment OK. I imported all the old comments so they should all be there

Re: How to Handle Hecklers in Church

BG — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 19:34:58 -0000

Hey Chris,

Good to see your comment.

Yes you wonder what his story is.

He gave it away a bit when he mentioned his grandma's Bible where she wrote AIDS next to verses on homosexuality. This shows he is second/third generation with this kind of thinking.

Bruce

Re: Christians Are to Blame for U.S. Economic Mess

BG — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 19:33:14 -0000

I smell,

Yep. Group think is the norm these days.

Don't be messing with my social security now. Ten more years to go for me til I get my check. :)

Bruce

Re: How to Handle Hecklers in Church

BG — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 19:31:43 -0000

Michael,

Yep. Followers.

And sadly 25 years ago? I was almost as extreme, especially on the abortion, homosexuality, and political issues.

It all seemed so normal years ago. Now I hear it and see it and it makes me sick.

Bruce

Re: How to Handle Hecklers in Church

BG — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 19:29:18 -0000

Angela.

You are so funny.

We had the TV Guardian for awhile.(back in the 90's) For those who don't know what TV Guardian is......It is a box that sits between your satellite/cable box/antenna and it "bleeps" the curse words on a program (using the closed captioning feed)

So we were able to get plenty of sex and violence but by God nobody cussed :)

Kinda like Walmart. Lyrical content doesn't matter, but let a group use a swear word in a song and they won't carry it or they require the group to put out an edited version. I give Green Day credit.........they told Walmart to take a hike rather than put out an edited version of their new CD.

Bruce

Re: New Disqus Comment System

BG — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 19:21:53 -0000

Test

Re: The Devil Made Me Do It-Thoughts on Demon Possession

BG — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:36:04 -0000

Wes,

I think demons and devil in our culture became popularized in the 70's. Certainly demons and the devil have a long history from Bible times forward. Guys like Bob Larson, Mike Warnke, etc helped to fuel the demon/devil frenzy.

Bruce

Re: The Devil Made Me Do It-Thoughts on Demon Possession

BG — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:32:55 -0000

Angela,

I am of the opinion that all demon possession is mental illness of some sort of another. Some cases might just be people pretending to be demon possessed so they can be part of the group.

People do bizarre things but that does not mean the devil and demons are real. This is the flip side of the argument "well there are things we can't explain so that means there is a God." No all it means it that there are things we can't explain.

It seems if people go looking for demons and the devil they find them. Those who don't look never find.

Peretti was required reading in the Churches I pastored. At the time his books "made sense." Now they seem, uh, well, crazy............ :) But good fiction.

Bruce

Re: The Devil Made Me Do It-Thoughts on Demon Possession

BG — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:27:27 -0000

Wayne,

What "God's word" hasn't changed? A translation? A manuscript? The originals?

Besides you misquoted God's Word. Hebrews 13:8 says Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Not God's Word, The Bible. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. Is Jesus the Bible?

Man invents variations but you being a man don't, right? You have God's word. You know what it means. How did you get this special gnostic gift?

So..........do you want to discuss this...........or is this the typical Christian drive-by?

Bruce

Re: The Devil Made Me Do It-Thoughts on Demon Possession

BG — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:04:47 -0000

Geds,

Different people. Different stories. One interesting phenomena with Church. You get what you emphasize. Emphasize demons you get demons. Emphasize alar calls you get people coming to the altar. Emphasize speaking in tongues you get speaking in tongues.

Ah yes Satan can't read your mind so don't say anything out loud. I was taught the same.

Bruce

Re: The Devil Made Me Do It-Thoughts on Demon Possession

BG — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 23:13:22 -0000

Nohm,

Scam is right.

I watch Christian TV from time to time. Helps me to remember why I still write about religion :)

I watch Paul and Jan Crouch, Benny Hinn, Creflo Dollar, Joyce Meyers, etal. Modern Elmer Gantry's everyone of them, yet millions follow them and give them hundreds of millions of dollars each year. They are one of the reasons I question the whole God thing. If there is a God why doesn't it slay every last one of these prophets of Baal?

Bruce

Re: The Devil Made Me Do It-Thoughts on Demon Possession

BG — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 23:01:40 -0000

Hey Sue,

I think in Conservative, Evangelical Christianity belief in a literal devil and demons is a given. The farther left you move from Evangelicalism the less likely there is belief in a literal devil and demons.

Perhaps some of my liberal Christian readers can address this?

I am saddened to hear how your depression was handled. Sadly, your parents response was pretty typical. I can only wonder at the number of people who are emotionally scarred for forever due to this type of response.

I just watched the movie the Soloist. Jamie Foxx plays a schizophrenic, homeless, Julliard trained musician. The movie was a great reminder of how we DON'T handle the mental problems of others very well. One would think the Church would be sympathetic towards those with mental health issues. Unfortunately the Church often pretends mental illness doesn't exist or that it is a result of "sin", demonic possession, etc.

Bruce

Re: The Devil Made Me Do It-Thoughts on Demon Possession

BG — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 22:52:55 -0000

April,

Thanks.

For me, God doesn't enter the discussion. God may or may not exist, and I am inclined to think he does BUT God is not going to rescue us or fix our problems. Human history makes that very clear.

We are agents for good or ill. The choice is ours.

No waiting on God to come through. Dos not the Bible say "whatever your hand finds to do,do it with all your strength , soul and might?"

If God is saying anything he is saying "you do it!"

The challenges of the 21st century are enormous, yet to whom much is given much is required. (I can still use the Bible when it fits my agenda. Still a good preacher I guess) :)

Bruce

Re: Another Letter From Concerned Friends

BG — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 23:23:51 -0000

C.B.

I see it differently. My former friends are more concerned about being right. I am a threat. I cause them to doubt. Instead of considering what I have to say or what I believe, they preach at me. Do they think I have never heard what they wrote? Are they really going to say anything that I have not heard or said myself a hundred times? Better not to send such foolishness than to send it and then say "we won't debate this with you." Imagine trying such a line of thinking with your spouse or a co-worker? True, honest relationships require respect for the other person. Telling someone they are controlled by Satan is not respectful.

I am a very nice man. I am no different man now without God than I was before with God. Well, one difference.......I cuss more. I still love my wife, kids, grandkids, friends, and cats. I found I can love without God.

I am not a Christian, so no BEMA seat for me. Great White throne awaits me.

I will add your name to the people who are praying.

Bruce