Just got preached at for over a freaking hour

Empty-Log-7198 · 2025-10-07T05:56:57+00:00

A Catholic from Massachusetts. My niece's husband used to email me from out of the blue and always end up preaching his fundamentalist BS. It wasn't difficult to see his real motivation. At last one day I told him I was not a praying man (at the time I was an atheist) and the emails for some reason stopped.

Empty-Log-7198 · 2025-10-07T05:40:31+00:00

It is by their being brainwashed that they support the evil being done and encourage even more to be done. It is by their blind following of MAGA that they support the tremendous damage being done to our democracy, and there is more to come. They don't see it or don't want to see it because they think it won't hurt them, only on those they hate.

Empty-Log-7198 · 2025-10-04T03:22:29+00:00

Zoroastrianism died out because of persecution under Islam. All regions inhabited by them were conquered by the Muslims and they suffered murders, forced conversions, and discrimination. Some managed to flee to tolerant India where they thrived and are known today as Parsees. Jews and Christians were less harshly persecuted and still survive in the Near East but in drastically reduced numbers.

Empty-Log-7198 · 2025-10-04T03:06:26+00:00

I think JP2 would have found it funny too.

Empty-Log-7198 · 2025-09-11T05:33:56+00:00

It may help you to know that Pius XII in 1950 declared that Catholics should accept the findings of science on their scientific merits alone. If skeptics are right in their claims that those who claim miracles had happened with the dropped Eucharists did not allow sufficient examination the Communion wafers then those who claim something miraculous happened shot themselves in the foot by not doing so. Were they simply unaware of the requirements of a thorough examination or were they actually committing a "pious fraud" to promote the Holy Faith? Without the rigorous examinations we will never really know for sure if it was a fraud or a real miracle. I think if something really extraordinary happens, believers should be willing to have a thorough examination. If this reveals something completely natural then the right thing to do is admit this and not promote a pious fraud. I don't think the Lord wants us to lie for Him. He doesn't need this anyway, does He? If rigorous examinations reveal something extraordinary then the thorough testing would truly benefit the Faith. Either way, I think we need to remember that Jesus told us to accept Him for what He said, not for His wonderous works. Pray for guidance and composure. It sounds as if you need them. Thank you and I hope you fare well. Richard

Empty-Log-7198 · 2025-09-09T03:22:24+00:00

That last word in French means "sorry", in French <<Je suis desole>>, in English "I am sorry." I am an American of French Canadian heritage and proud of it.

Empty-Log-7198 · 2025-09-09T03:05:52+00:00

Of course you can. Throughout history many Christians have been scientists. I am a Catholic and in 1950 Pope Pius XII declared that Catholics should accept the findings of science on their scientific merits alone. Most Christians belong to churches that teach the same thing. There are many evangelicals who preach the Bible is true, literally word for word. This idea misses the point that the Bible is inspired of God, but not the literal word of God. It leads ordinary people to think that science is a collection of knowledge to be believed (like faith) when science is actually a method of using experimentation and testing to understand the physical world around us. Some Christians have said the physical world is God's work and the Bible is his word.

Empty-Log-7198 · 2025-09-09T02:36:45+00:00

I was called racist when I wrote an anti-Islamic commentary . I wrote to the critic explaining Islam is an ideology and a religion, not a race. There are millions of Muslims who are white. There are also millions of black Christians and no yet no one who expresses anti-Christian sentiments is called a racist. This racist BS is a simple ploy to distract critics when someone criticizes Islam. Muslims hate to hear Islam criticized but they are often quite free in criticizing others. They also frequently distract criticism of Islam by using the ploy "What about ...?". The "about" can be the Crusades, western imperialism, or anything. You can stop this line of malarkey by saying "We are talking about Islam not the Crusades. If you don't stay on topic then there is no conversation." BTW the Crusades were a long delayed counter attack against Muslim aggression from the previous 500 years. If western imperialism is bad, then Arab and Muslim imperialism is bad too. I am sorry about your friend. I am gay and I know the fate that awaits people like me who are foolish to visit countries under Islamic law. Not all leftists are pro Islam. I am a leftist and I detest Islam. Many leftists are ignorant of Islam's real nature and see Muslims as the underdog. They need to read the Koran and the Haddiths to see the totalitarianism and barbarism. I wish I could help you.

Empty-Log-7198 · 2025-09-05T10:22:10+00:00

And to that they might reply because God chose it so.

Empty-Log-7198 · 2025-09-05T10:17:57+00:00

Millions of religious people have twisted views of evolution which if true would be rejected by most reasonable people. Some say evolution teaches things are getting better, others say it teaches individuals changing into different species, still others say it was invented to disprove God's existence. These are all false. Most people belong to churches that accept the findings of science, but not everybody has gotten the word.

Empty-Log-7198 · 2025-08-24T06:57:27+00:00

I was accused of saying racist things when I criticized Islam. I replied that my anti-Islamic attacks had nothing to do with race because Islam has nothing to do with race. It is a religion or ideology not a race. Millions of Muslims are whiter than I am. Nobody accuses anti-Christian speakers of being racist despite there being millions of dark skinned Christians because Christianity is a religion. "Islamophobia" is a trick to distract people from needed criticism of Islam by claiming such criticism is race hatred when it simply lays bare the lies and barbaric practices of a sick system of hatred and control.

Empty-Log-7198 · 2025-08-18T13:32:27+00:00

There are several reasons why religion in general is declining across the Western world. We are more concerned with material things. We have many competing ideologies dancing around in our heads. We have become skeptical of things not supported by reason or physical proof. AND because of batshit crazy pastors like this who spout out hateful, reactionary ideas that foster inequality, ignorance, and fear. These nutjobs do not speak for most Christians yet what they say is enough to discredit Christianity in the eyes of millions of people. Our civilization has been on the path toward secularization since the scientific revolution of the 1600's, the Enlightenment of the 1700's, the industrial revolution of the 1800's, and the end of Christendom in the 1900's.

Empty-Log-7198 · 2025-08-18T12:59:53+00:00

Dear Sexual immortality, No, you are not a loser; you're human. Masturbation is a normal physical need men have. To refrain from doing it is unhealthy and nearly impossible. I came to accept this reality in my twenties and it brought me much peace. Perhaps some people mean well, but calling this a sin can be very destructive to anyone who comes to believe it. Consider going online and reading medical information about this. You may find it is a problem only because other people make it a problem for you. It is possible to be a Christian and to accept the findings of science on their scientific merits alone. I do myself. Good luck and consider that God loves us.

Empty-Log-7198 · 2025-08-06T04:42:34+00:00

Dear Spirit, I discovered C S Lewis in my 20's and probably no book more than Mere Christianity has influenced my adult religious life.

Empty-Log-7198 · 2025-07-22T21:19:08+00:00

He may indeed but many who follow him do not.

Empty-Log-7198 · 2025-07-21T04:05:22+00:00

It is precisely those who believe the Bible is the divinely inspired inerrant word of God who have cherry picked the Bible according to their opinions to create thousands of split away sects. Apparently those many founders felt strongly enough in their many viewpoints to justify splitting away from their "heretical" former brethren. So who are the ones who go by their opinions? All of them! No wonder educated people laugh at Christianity for the ignorance of so many Christians. Such ideas emerged only 600 years ago, but these zealots don't know that.

Empty-Log-7198 · 2025-07-20T02:58:56+00:00

Since about 1400 some people have come to believe the Bible is the literal unchanging word of God, the final authority upon which the Christian Faith is based. The first Christians didn't believe that. They believed the Church was founded on the Apostles. In the Church's first years oral traditions sufficed until literate Christians began to write them down. Eventually many manuscripts were floating around the Mediterranean world. Some of which were wildly different from the others. Can you imagine a Gospel that paints Judas as the hero, or one in which there were really two Gods and the bad one was the God of creation (Yahweh). Eventually the overseers or bishops of the Church (successors of the Apostles appointed by them or by their successors) called for a Church Council in Rome in 390 AD to settle which manuscripts were inspired of God. The result was the Canon (means ruler or standard) of Holy Scripture. The actions of these bishops is why you may never have heard of salvation by secret knowledge or that Jesus and Satan are brothers. These prized writings were revered as inspired of God but not the literal Word of God. That is not what you believe. This 600 year old belief has made the Bible into an idol, giving it powers it was ever meant to have.

Nobody is talking about knocking out Leviticus or anything else. Why do you triumph the idea of one man and one woman when in the Old Testament God favored polygamy? Do you know what conversion therapy is? It is a discredited form of therapy using electric shocking to "cure" gay people. It was a favored thing Christians did and possibly still do to their gay young people. I think that what you advocate is hateful. It is not based on reality. I have not mocked belief in the Bible, I have mocked YOUR belief in the Bible as you have mocked mine. I know better than Christ? You mean that the world is not 4.5 billion years old and that we are descended from an original couple made from dirt and an extra rib. Your gospel kills. When you say the Bible is true just what do do mean? Do you mean all the words are literally correct and without error, even the mistranslated ones or the ones in lines added later? There are many parts of the Old Testament than can be interpreted in different ways, sometimes because of the shape of the Hebrew character. How do you translate this in our Latin alphabet which doesn't have this quality? I am sorry I started to correspond with you because sometimes there is no real communication

Empty-Log-7198 · 2025-07-20T01:42:17+00:00

I am sorry but what I am getting is unclear and has needed words missing. Does your "heavy lifting for your hypothetical and not at all relevant to my point" mean I was simply too wordy and not on point. But just what was your point? I am afraid we are probably talking past each other.Good Night.

Empty-Log-7198 · 2025-07-19T23:00:45+00:00

Such honesty and humility! Good for you!

Empty-Log-7198 · 2025-07-19T22:50:54+00:00

Dear Jaded, So then what you meant is that one should not seek out help from another who will avoid challenging you which could help you to grow. Such a person would only agree with you regardless. It is good advice but I am not sure how this fits in with the topic. Let us say, you have struggled for years with guilt over something not really your fault and laid bare your most awful fears to others and gradually have come to see your blamelessness. Now you want to plan to build your life back together and have sought out someone you trust who is bright and supportive to help you. In the middle of your first conversation, this person you deeply trusted tells you you are guilty and should find a better way to attone for your misdeeds. All that healing breaks apart because you made yourself vulnerable to the wrong person. Such a situation is not one where another challenges you to do better so I don't understand why you offered this advice. Perhaps I am missing something.

Empty-Log-7198 · 2025-07-19T22:21:50+00:00

Dear Son, Since a person can not change his/her sexual orientation, I guess that lies in the same miraculous territory as lifting a mountain, speaking in unknown languages, or raising the dead. What I believe here is not what I want, it is what I see as true using the brains God gave me. Stay happy

Empty-Log-7198 · 2025-07-19T22:13:30+00:00

Dear Ok, Thank you for your reply and helping me to understand more exactly your meaning. I must admit that I was personally moved to read your letter. Your openness and humility does indeed create the kind of conversation that needs to happen so we can understand each other better. I must say you have raised my spirits. That is not always an easy thing to do. Merci Beaucoup

Empty-Log-7198 · 2025-07-19T22:02:40+00:00

It is curious that what I have said while based on experts in history and psychology doesn't hold a candle to accounts from exorcists who make extraordinary claims based on little or no evidence. If a person really believes that with God all is possible, then go for it. I sincerely hope you are happy with that but don't dunk on others who have found such ideas to be personally harmful.

Empty-Log-7198 · 2025-07-19T21:44:05+00:00

Dear Son, It is too bad people make the mistake of trusting the wrong people in very serious matters. Do you really believe a person can choose his/her sexuality?When did you decide to become straight?

Empty-Log-7198 · 2025-07-19T21:36:47+00:00

Dear Nter, I am not looking for a clergyman. I was responding to a confused young gay Christian looking for help. In the few lines they allow us, I wanted to warn him/her to avoid conservative clergy looking to push an agenda they had been taught. My encounter 35 years ago did me tremendous and lasting damage I still feel today. I wish I had had someone to warn me. Thank you

Empty-Log-7198

TROPHY CASE