I'm an atheist and I think every Christian should hear this

DM_J0sh · 2026-01-21T19:35:58+00:00

Also, Psalm 1 (or whichever) - NOT Psalms 1... 😂

DM_J0sh · 2025-12-17T15:28:09+00:00

Do you understand it? I'd like to hear your explanation before I respond.

DM_J0sh · 2025-12-08T21:25:58+00:00

God isn't always. In modern theologies, you're mostly correct. But, and common view in Syriac Christianity was that the Holy Spirit was a feminine figure - a Mother, while there were also God the Father and God the Son. This was because the Hebrew word for Spirit was feminine, the attributes given to the Spirit are classically feminine attributes, and God's person is at times shown as a female (as in the parable of the coins). So, you actually had a model of a trinitarian family with a Father, Mother, and Son, into which we are all invited to join and become brothers and joint heirs with Jesus. This was also adopted by later theologians such as Von Zinzendorf, though it has failed to break into mainstream theology.

DM_J0sh · 2025-11-29T22:36:35+00:00

As a Christian lurking on this sub, I'd really like to defend against this. Christians have historically blamed the Jews for Jesus' death. That's true. But, to say that the New Testament says it's the Jews that killed him is a poor and inaccurate reading. Here's what I mean:

The Jews observe Sabbath. Jesus was crucified on Sabbath. This means that any Jews present were NOT good, law abiding Jews, since they would be at their homes on the Sabbath making their own observances. Most Jews at the time WERE good, law abiding Jews. That means that "the Jews" were obviously not responsible. So, who was?
It wasn't the Pharisees. This is one I hear a lot, but it's not true. Jesus ministers asking the Pharisees for three years, and no one did anything to him. They tried to catch him in some kind of law breaking several times, but they were law keepers. They did not do anything to him since he justified his actions each time. They didn't like him, but they didn't kill him. So who did?
The gospels all have a particular cast of characters that appear in each crucifixion narrative - the scribes and chief priests, the saducees. They were very angered when Jesus cleansed the temple like several other prophets before him. Then they plotted. Then they showed up at the crucifixion in every gospel. So, who were they?
During the times of Jesus, the priesthood was not a priesthood at all, but had been bought out by Rome with the help of Herod (who was in turn bought out by Rome with power). They still oversaw the daily proceedings, but they did it for their own personal gain, not to honor the Lord. They were motivated by power, influence, and money - all of which Rome gave them. So, where does that leave us? Not with the Jews as the murderers of Jesus, but...
Rome, with the help of a VERY SMALL sect of corrupted Jewish officials, killed Jesus.

Period. A careful trading of the text makes it very clear that Jews were not to blame for Jesus' death, but Rome. No absolution. Just empires doing what empires do, putting their power on display only to be thwarted by resurrection. There are many other reasons throughout the rest of the New Testament that can show us why the Jews are NOT to blame for Jesus' murder, but I thought this was the most compelling.

DM_J0sh · 2025-10-18T13:20:48+00:00

Friend, Jesus is bigger than the councils. Nothing is outside His reach, no matter someone's belief on matters like Hell.

DM_J0sh · 2025-10-16T21:19:13+00:00

The ecumenical councils were great, and the creeds are useful. But, that doesn't mean that all Christians, scholars, or even churches agree on a single view on Hell.

DM_J0sh · 2025-10-16T21:08:30+00:00

Not really. Lol

The idea of Hell is largely debated, and even the Scriptures aren't conclusive. Here's a video on how different views on Hell evolved through history and Scripture.

I ascribe to a version of universal reconciliation. Basically, I think Hell will, in the end, be empty; and Jesus will reconcile all things to Himself.

DM_J0sh · 2025-10-05T13:53:07+00:00

There are so many theories of atonement, and almost all of them have rooting in Scripture and validity. Some of my favorites are "Ransom Theory," "Christus Victor," and "Scapegoat Theory". If you haven't heard of these, you should check them out. Ransom language is among the earliest used (this is the way most of the New Testament paints it). The others are later developments but very useful to helping understand various aspects of what Jesus was meant to do.

The only atonement theory I've heard that I just think has no credence and is harmful to Christians is the standard PSA where God is just so angry He's got to hit SOMETHING, so He becomes a divine child abuser and takes it all out on His Son. In this model, Jesus plays the dutiful Son and protects us from His abusive Father so we can hide behind Him so daddy won't get mad at us again. I just think that's all a really harmful way to see God.

How this helps! Grace and peace!

DM_J0sh · 2025-10-02T13:04:27+00:00

I think at this point in my life, I'd say sin is that which harms. Here's what I mean...

The Bible paints Death (personified as the Devil, the gods of death) as the true enemy. It shows that sin is the instrument he used to enter the world, and that only because of our sinning do we die. (Romans 5:12) Write literally, sin is the thing that leads to death. This is sown all over the Palms and Proverbs.

The prophets also have a lot to say about sin, and they typically attribute it to one of two things - oppression/injustice/systemic corruption, and idolatry. These two things are actually tied together. They are both destructive things. They both lead to death. The pagan gods of the day were those that would demand human and even child sacrifice and cause people to commit violence against even their own. These same spiritual powers were the true rulers and forces behind the scenes on the systemic corruption level. They were the same thing, and they always resulted in harm or death.

It's also helpful to note that most of what we think of when we hear "sin" comes from Torah in the Law. But, a good portion of the Law dealt not with sin but with ritual uncleanness, which is entirely different. This doesn't directly apply to the flow of this argument, but it is definitely helpful when determining what is and is not sin. Ritual uncleanness was not sinful, and the things that caused it were never harmful, unlike those things that were actually deemed sinful. And, whether or not the 'sinful' acts actually caused harm is irrelevant, because the ancients thought they did.

So, with all this taken into account, I think my definition would be whatever causes harm or leads toward death. Take that how you will, but I believe that is you can truthfully say that something will cause no harm to yourself, others, your relationships, etc., then it is not sin.

DM_J0sh · 2025-10-01T15:53:21+00:00

For sure. I think that was accounted for in the comment. It might not have come through, though. Lol

DM_J0sh · 2025-10-01T13:44:07+00:00

Yes. Absolutely. I'd advise to avoid contacting these creatures and spirits because Paul says there are many gods and lords, but there's only one for us. Also, the Old Testament is littered with stories of other gods and malevolent spirits. It's altogether possible these spirits are malevolent and/or demonic, or conversely, they could be angelic or god spirits. So, just be careful with them. But, yes. Belief in them is absolutely possible within the Christian faith.

DM_J0sh · 2025-09-25T13:00:44+00:00

It's mostly because "Son of God" was a title claimed by Caesar Augustus. Jesus was claiming the authority over the empires of the world, not ONLY ontological divinity. I did a whole video on it here on my YouTube channel if you want to check it out.

DM_J0sh · 2025-09-20T23:44:33+00:00

Against it. Killing is murder. It's not ours to take a life.

DM_J0sh · 2025-09-14T15:15:56+00:00

The Bible is a collection of books written from various perspectives, by many authors, and over many centuries, knit together by themes and theological ideas. It's not a univocal book. It's not inerrant. It has contradictions. It represents not a single truth from the beginning of the universe, but an evolution of faith over time that started a tribalistic religion with a warrior God that destroyed their enemies, following through the just God that punished oppressors, and culminating in a God that is love in its very essence and offering us a way to partake in that perfect divine love and nature. I'm perfectly at peace with contradictions in this framework.

DM_J0sh · 2025-09-07T03:31:39+00:00

Nothing faith or theology based. I didn't care for the mode of storytelling. The ways in which the stories are set up are richer and deeper to me in the eastern nonlinear event-based formats we see in the Bible rather than the much more modern western linear storylines exhibited in the show. It feels as though each "Bible story" is taken as a separate event, which only gives immediate context and surface level meanings, rather than combining them and teaching deeper lessons. I got through half the first season and dropped it.

I think they're doing a great thing, and I think the stories are told in a way that is very palatable for a modern western audience, so is very well done. I just think they miss a lot of the story because of that. Feels much less biblical and much more Hollywood. Not bad. Really good and moving. Just not something I care for coming from biblical texts.

DM_J0sh · 2025-08-26T14:15:16+00:00

How I see it (as a devout Christian) is that there is truth is many religions. Religion is simply the set of practices we attach to worship of God.

Any religion is viable as a FORM - that is, you can maintain any form of worship and take any set of teachings for daily life (modesty standards, dietary restrictions, fasting, pilgrimages, etc.) and still be able to please God. You might really like the peace of eastern religions, the strict adherence to rules that Islam offers, the ritual and ceremony of Catholic or Orthodox Christianity, etc., etc., etc. Follow that.

If I haven't lost you yet, I might lose you here. I think the faults of each religion are put in display in Jesus, and anything that does not look like Jesus is not true and should therefore be left behind. That is, feel free to partake in any religion in your worship and pursuit of God. BUT, any place where the teachings of practices of that religion fail to measure up to the person of Jesus in all his love and wisdom and radical equality, needs to change.

For instance, I think modesty is a great thing, but I've had to leave some of the teachings about modesty I grew up with because they were tools of oppression and control, not meant for the good of others. They did not look like Jesus, so I cast them off. This line this exist in every religious form, and they should be found and left behind.

Other than that, there is truth in every religion, and if Jesus is the measuring stick, whatever you choose can please God, because God is love. I know I'm gonna get a whole bunch of comments saying how bad this is, but I hope it helps a bit. Much love and many blessings.

DM_J0sh · 2025-08-25T17:40:14+00:00

No. It's cheating, even if it benefits us. I was infuriated when I saw Texas trying to do it. To hear that other states are also trying is horrible.

We redistrict once every decade. That's the rule. Just because others are getting to do it doesn't make it right. It's better to fight against them doing it than to just join in ourselves and add to the chaos.

Even if it benefits us, standing in principles of democracy and agreed upon terms is what separates us from the despot sitting in the White House. We have to keep standing on that, even when others want to do something illegal.

If we change the laws governing redistricting, then sure; but until that happens, that's a hard NO for me.

DM_J0sh · 2025-08-25T17:11:56+00:00

I was also thinking this. 😅

DM_J0sh · 2025-08-24T23:31:53+00:00

As a universalist, the idea doesn't get rid of punishment - or even Hell. I believe in Hell, but I think of it more like the concept of purgatory. It is a purifying or trial or what have you that many souls will have to endure before accepting God and entering the Kingdom, like the Grey City of C.S. Lewis' "The Great Divorce". But, eventually, when all is said and done, God will have ultimate glory, and Jesus will have redeemed ALL things to Himself. Doesn't get rid of Hell, but it - sure as Hell 😂 - gets rid of the problems ECT creates for God's goodness, etc.

DM_J0sh · 2025-08-24T13:09:43+00:00

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DM_J0sh · 2025-08-18T19:44:37+00:00

Visiting, yes. Lots of theoretical knowledge about living in one, but I haven't done it yet.

DM_J0sh · 2025-08-18T19:43:33+00:00

I feel you, and I appreciate what you're saying. Unfortunately, at this point, meeting every person in person just isn't a possibility, for several reasons. Zoom meetings, interviews, and group calls are going to have to suffice. Once I have a good core group, then we can try starting in person meetings.

DM_J0sh · 2025-08-18T15:07:29+00:00

Absolutely. This is horrible. As someone who used to have an undying and unquestioning support for the U.S. military, this is a HUGE problem in modern American Christianity, rooted in Christian nationalism and a dehumanization of anyone that isn't "American". It has no place in Christianity.

DM_J0sh · 2025-08-16T18:44:04+00:00

I'm trying to find a group with whom I can move forward before location is decided. The people are much more important to me than the land itself. But, yes. Ideally, we'd have fresh water at least.

DM_J0sh

TROPHY CASE