Religion and Ethics and Health BBS

Religion and Ethics and Health BBS
[ Religion and Ethics and Health BBS ]

Holy Week brings to mind so many thoughts.

Posted by observer on March 30, 2026, 11:51 am

As it becomes less holy, it reminds me that widespread Biblical illiteracy is the primary reason. People simply feel they do not need a Saviour. They may need addictions of all sorts, alcohol, drugs, lust, therapy, and other ways of addressing a need that all humans have.

The Bible informs us of the two important truths we need to know.
God is Holy. Sin is a great offense to him. ( He is perfect without sin.)

We aren’t perfect and, if we want to please God and to spend eternity with Him - an eternity glorious and joyful, no sin at all,
we need to be saved from our sin. But, it is not a self-improvement project, although we are improved by a life that that recognizes and depends on God, but it is about worshiping that God as we commune with Him. Therefore, Jesus died and accepted our guilt for Himself, in that we were powerless without him to be sin free before our holy God.

The obstacle for many is that faith comes first, the choice to believe there is a God. Some people come to believe by reading and understanding His Word. Some come by examples they’ve seen in the lives of others. Some come from their own felt need.

Those who do make that choice know they’ve moved from despair to hope, from darkness to light, and from death to life.

But, without faith, it means nothing but foolishness to a non qqbeliever, the irony being that the Bible teaches the opposite about where the foolishness lays.

That faith is life changing long before death and the reason for hope in a maddening world. For those who believe, Happy Resurrection Day is what it’s all about.

I wish that for everyone.

Thank you.

Posted by GOG on April 15, 2026, 10:42 am, in reply to "Holy Week brings to mind so many thoughts."

Resurrection Sunday is the make or break for Christians

Posted by BornToFarm on April 1, 2026, 11:47 am, in reply to "Holy Week brings to mind so many thoughts."

We have been having Bible studies the past 5 Mondays or so on Holy Week, the time between the triumphal entry into Jerusalem and Resurrection Sunday. Each week we go over a day during that week.

I wasn't aware of this, but around 1/3 of the four gospels take place during that week. That seemed unreal, so I went home a counted up chapters and Pastor was right!

Lots of symbolism in the last supper. His blood replaces an earthly lamb's blood to save us all.

Paul says the resurrection is the defining moment for Christians. If it is false, than all Christianity falls apart.

I agree

Posted by observer on April 1, 2026, 3:42 pm, in reply to "Resurrection Sunday is the make or break for Christians"

because Jesus’ divinity was proved and man’s reconciliation to God established - God’s love, power, sovereignty, et al.

Quite a few people have church Friday, but we have it Tomorrow

Posted by BornToFarm on April 1, 2026, 5:20 pm, in reply to "I agree"

Thursday was the last supper with Jesus and the disciples, so we have communion and foot washing on Thursday evening. Nothing wrong with meeting on Friday; that is just the way we choose to do it.

This year we aren't having a sunrise service, as this will be one of the earlier Easter Sundays. It is supposed to be cold and wet and the old folks (I am one now) don't like that. We have an amphitheater built into the side of a hill in the ravine behind the church building. It does get cold down there. But we will all have breakfast together before Sunday School and then worship after that.

Looking forward to all that.

Re: Quite a few people have church Friday, but we have it Tomorrow

Posted by observe on April 2, 2026, 11:18 am, in reply to "Quite a few people have church Friday, but we have it Tomorrow"

Sounds like a nice way to celebrate Holy Week!

I just want some good ham. Other than that, it’s a regular weekend.

Posted by KR on March 31, 2026, 6:11 pm, in reply to "Holy Week brings to mind so many thoughts."

Pork?!!!

Posted by GOG on April 1, 2026, 1:37 pm, in reply to "I just want some good ham. Other than that, it’s a regular weekend."

Porky pagan.

With br sugar and pineapple?

Posted by trish on March 31, 2026, 7:02 pm, in reply to "I just want some good ham. Other than that, it’s a regular weekend."

I like to take a smoked carver ham….

Posted by KR on March 31, 2026, 7:07 pm, in reply to "With br sugar and pineapple?"

…and heat it up slowly on my pellet smoker. I put it in a foil pan with some apple juice and honey. I don’t want it to sit in the juice so I cut up an apple into large chunks and use it to elevate the ham. About 20 minutes before it is done I glaze it with some maple syrup and a little whiskey.

Pray tell, what is a carver ham?

Posted by GOG on April 1, 2026, 2:29 pm, in reply to "I like to take a smoked carver ham…."

I prefer Smithfield, biscuit sandwiches, and a bottle of Lillet thoroughly chilled. And of course some choral oratorio liturgical chants en a cappella. One only can be holy with a proper thematic frame of consciousness. And good food, vino, and deep seated music can that vaunted state of the soul. All is well with one’s soul. Those of us who have a soul.

Never mind. Google.

Posted by GOG on April 2, 2026, 3:16 pm, in reply to "Pray tell, what is a carver ham?"

Yankee fare.

I love the apple idea

Posted by trish on April 1, 2026, 4:13 am, in reply to "I like to take a smoked carver ham…."

I got myself a smoker a while back. My son has officially "stolen" it ROTFLOL. Loves the thing and I get great food.

I do wish you a glorious week but one doesn't need

Posted by TRISH on March 31, 2026, 4:33 pm, in reply to "Holy Week brings to mind so many thoughts."

faith to have hope

One doesn't need "god" to be moral

One doesn't need to follow Jesus to have ethics, kindness, and empathy

Now, for many, faith is a deep part of their life. If that helps and brings joy, great. BUT to laud that belief as being better, greater, more powerful than any other belief or non-belief system is simply the ego speaking. Humans want to be "right" - so much so that they get stuck in ideas that actually hold them back (look at cults).

No one can define god. If there is such a thing, it is way too big for human words, ideas, dogma.

Not so again.

Posted by observer on April 3, 2026, 10:17 am, in reply to "I do wish you a glorious week but one doesn't need"

Even Ai recognizes the vast difference between how you see things and how the Bible and its believers see things. It applies to so many things. We’ll start with “hope”.

“Biblical hope is a certain, confident expectation of future good based on God’s promises and character, while secular hope is a desire for a specific outcome without assurance of it happening (wishful thinking). Biblical hope is anchored in the resurrection of Jesus and eternal life, whereas secular hope is often dependent on changing circumstances, self-reliance, or temporary earthly comfort.”

Of course there are other life qualities that can be common to all, such as kindness and empathy. Degree and application may differ.

What you contradict is not me, but the Bible. It is the basis for what I believe. I consider it, God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, to be absolute. It is a firm foundation.

What is the basis for your objections? Do you claim a firm foundation for them? Do you believe truth can be defined?

Biblical hope can't be certain because god isn't certain

Posted by trish on April 8, 2026, 7:35 am, in reply to "Not so again."

really logical.

You use the word "absolute" but then use the word "believe" they are very different

I object to not separating belief from fact.

I have beliefs too. Let's use soemthing that isn't a hot button topic. I do believe in ghosts but know full well I cannot prove them. Therefore they come under the label of faith. Ice cream, on the other hand is quite provable.

I see no issue with self-reliance based hope. It's what keeps many people going toward security and success. There is also nothing wrong with adapting to changing circumstanses (survival of the fittest depends on that very idea)

I believe we speak two different languages and have yet to find a translator

That God isn’t certain is your BELIEF, a belief not shared

Posted by observer on April 8, 2026, 12:52 pm, in reply to "Biblical hope can't be certain because god isn't certain"

by those who experience His reality.

What is neither acknowledged or understood, much less believed by the faithless is the way God operates.

The faithless say “show me the evidence for God and I’ll believe” and God says “believe and I’ll show you the evidence”.

So, you cannot convince the faithful of your mere belief when they are experiencing the reality of the triune God, His absolute sovereignty, love, provision and salvation.

That very faith is what enables the trust necessary in a strong loving relationship.

I would argue that no translation is needed. I understand what you are saying. I think understanding is the issue, understanding the Biblical God, the theology vs religion.

heh you use faith and faithful...

Posted by trish on April 9, 2026, 5:36 am, in reply to "That God isn’t certain is your BELIEF, a belief not shared"

faith is based on spiritual conviction rather than proof.

That is the differentiation people should make. The sentence, "I Believe" does not magically transform anything into a fact.

It's really so simple.

And “faithless”,

Posted by observer on April 9, 2026, 9:53 am, in reply to "heh you use faith and faithful..."

and the fact that faith comes first, THEN comes evidence.

yes, and there is no evidence of god

Posted by trish on April 10, 2026, 6:01 am, in reply to "And “faithless”,"

you can claim there is, and I am sure you believe down to your toes there is, but if someone were able to prove god they would be the most famous person in history.

Now, if god wishes to hide and demand faith before evidence, that's kind of manipulative and bullyish. You would think a being so grand could have a better plan than hide and seek

No, I wouldn’t think that at all.

Posted by observer on April 10, 2026, 9:35 am, in reply to "yes, and there is no evidence of god"

I don’t need to.

That God isn’t certain is your BELIEF, a belief not shared

Posted by observer on April 8, 2026, 11:14 am, in reply to "Biblical hope can't be certain because god isn't certain"

Great post … Bravo!!!

Posted by Mondo Fuego on April 6, 2026, 3:46 pm, in reply to "Not so again."

The Bible is a story book. Strong, smart people don’t need it.

Posted by KR on April 4, 2026, 5:31 pm, in reply to "Not so again."

You do realize. . .yes?. . . that you will never

Posted by Dancing Digits on April 2, 2026, 8:46 pm, in reply to "I do wish you a glorious week but one doesn't need"

convince observer of what you say.

Everything, everything, I mean everything you’ve said here

Posted by observer on March 31, 2026, 8:59 pm, in reply to "I do wish you a glorious week but one doesn't need"

is your opinion relegating fact, history, God and the Bible to your mere opinion. Sorry, Trish, too much to prove you wrong.

you can't prove anything

Posted by trish on April 1, 2026, 4:12 am, in reply to "Everything, everything, I mean everything you’ve said here"

you know that.

faith cannot be proven by definition

and everything you post is also your opinion.

So .. there you have it.

You don't understand. Believing it makes it true.

Posted by Mugwump on April 8, 2026, 1:08 pm, in reply to "you can't prove anything"

Wasn't there something similar about Tinkerbell?

Don’t you get tired of being wrong,

Posted by observer on April 1, 2026, 3:46 pm, in reply to "you can't prove anything"

of thinking you can be the subjective arbiter of reality?

The Bible, history itself, the changed lives of believers aren’t my opinions: they are reality. The fact that you and others don’t believe it addresses your issues, not the truth claims.

honey history is one thing. Proving God is another

Posted by Trish on April 1, 2026, 4:12 pm, in reply to "Don’t you get tired of being wrong,"

But ya knew that.

Do you think you can be the sole arbiter of what is truth

Can you prove god

Nope. Case closed

God proves Himself.

Posted by observer on April 1, 2026, 4:21 pm, in reply to "honey history is one thing. Proving God is another"

Our opinions do not matter.

So then…

Posted by Skye on April 1, 2026, 8:07 pm, in reply to "God proves Himself."

Stop being so judgmental. Your opinion counts for no more than anyone else’s..

If there is a God, s/he will speak to whomever whenever however s/he chooses to, or not, regardless of whatever religious texts, beliefs, opinions, or experiences you or anyone else may or may not have. You have no more right to push your beliefs upon others than others have to push their beliefs upon you. What is it about “do unto others…” that you do not understand?

Re: So then…you didn’t read the post.

Posted by observer on April 1, 2026, 9:59 pm, in reply to "So then…"

I said our opinions didn’t matter. And btw God has spoken. The Bible is full of what He has to say.

You’re concerned with religion which is a focus on what men say. I’m interested in theology, learning about God.

You

Posted by Skye on April 2, 2026, 8:37 am, in reply to "Re: So then…you didn’t read the post."

are clueless.

Everyone is!

Posted by observer on April 2, 2026, 10:04 am, in reply to "You"

Speak for yourself.

Posted by KR on April 4, 2026, 6:26 pm, in reply to "Everyone is!"

Another pagan without one plea.

Posted by GOG on April 1, 2026, 1:46 pm, in reply to "you can't prove anything"

Not to a higher power it seems. God wants volunteers, not recruits. If there were the test tube style proof then there would be no faith. Given the awful state of mankind since human history started, humanists have sought the worship of human flesh and achievements. That is the sad recipe for disappointment. Hope for a recalcitrant wayward creature caught up in collective and individual guilt is why God is a built in need. Assuage assuage assuage. Without forgiveness there is no future….for human beings. That is sadly obvious.

It seems

Posted by Trish on April 1, 2026, 4:14 pm, in reply to "Another pagan without one plea. "

You would be wrong. I am a deist just not one whose outlooks locks step with yours

Thomas Jefferson was a deist

Posted by GOgG on April 1, 2026, 8:28 pm, in reply to "It seems"

Are you of that august ilk?

a basic deist believes in a divine being

Posted by trish on April 3, 2026, 7:22 am, in reply to "Thomas Jefferson was a deist "

but not miracles, dogma, scripture, or revelation, instead relying on human reason and scientific observation

I am not certain about the "clockmaker" element, but it would certainly explain why horrible things happen to very good people. Hands off policy ya know

Do you believe in a divine creator?

Posted by GOG on April 6, 2026, 6:06 pm, in reply to "a basic deist believes in a divine being"

First Source might be a better word

Posted by trish on April 8, 2026, 7:37 am, in reply to "Do you believe in a divine creator?"

I feel there is something far greater than us, and that something most certainly cannot be framed in limited human terms.

If we call that something god, a whole lot of people try to box that in and claim it as their own, claim their box is perfect. It's not. It cannot be.

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[ Religion and Ethics and Health BBS ]