h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

It seems that there are three types of Christians.

First is the lifelong Christian. Born, and raised as such. Nowadays, they seem to have very little spirit, though not all. They follow God, but some do not realize that they are lost. Like one who has always lived in the light, they can take it for granted.

Next is the Christian who has fallen from Grace, and come back. One who has always lived in light, and suddenly realized that there is no light, and when they finally find it, they never let go. That would be me. And they find Joy. They are very strong in their faith.

Last, is the atheist. He who has never seen the light, and comes into it. They are the greatest of all. Knowing what there was once, and where they are know. They know Joy, like nothing else.

There is no real good way to describe that joy. People can describe feelings like “Heart in your throat” or “Heart in your feet”. The state in-between would have to be “Heart in your chest.”

Well, joy is like, “Heart where it was meant to be in the first place.” And even that can’t describe it. When you see people with their hands in the air, praising God, you think that that’s kinda silly. Joy makes you feel that way. True joy. Like the joy you feel on an amazingly beautiful summer day, and know nothing is going to go wrong. Like that, only better...

So much to say, and not enough words to do it in.

i would disagree with that. to me, there can only be 1 type of christian - the one who has accepted Jesus as their saviour, who has seen the light and has asked God into their lives.

Tis true that there are many ways of becoming a Christian, But I believe all true believes are all really the same at heart. Yes there are those who say they believe, but don't live their faith. Those are not true believers. Yet, don't get me wrong, I don't think you should go around shoving the Bible down everyones thoats. I'm not one to be forceful of my belifes on other, but i do live my life as a Christian and I'm open and willing to tell that to anyone.

Yes. There are those who believe now in religion, most not realizing that their faith has slipped through the cracks. I'm ashamed to say I was one of them, but once you realize what you've lost... there's nothing like the feeling of God patting you on the back, as if to say, nice to see you again.

That's the truth.

You know, I never realised there were quite so many of us kicking about on h2g2. It feels even better now.

On this subject, have any of you (probably UK only) seen this news?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/2644331.stm

i hadn't heard that, but it doesn't sound like a bad idea.

i live in Christchurch, and there are many different church types in Christchurch. C of , Elim, Baptist, Family Church, Evangelical, however, they keep in contact and now and again have united church evening services, and they change the place it is held at each time.

i think it is good when churches unite together to worship God.

spook

Yeah. Is it just me, or do the... what is that word? Denominations.
What's the point?

Well. Where to begin...

*LONG WORD ALERT*

Denominationalisation is really another word for splitting hairs, for the most part. Especially between Protestant groups. (The differences between Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox are a bit more meaningful).

In Scotland, we had the Church of Scotland (the Kirk), a presbyterian-style church. At times, different factions within the church have disagreed with the main body of the Kirk to such an extent that they have split off, although if one looks carefully the reasons are often trivial, not even entering into the substance of the faith. Some have rejoined over time, some have become extinct.

Personally, I don't know how compatible each system will be with the others. The Episcopalian Church in Scotland has a radically different form of government than the others, I can see problems cropping up there.

*steps onto soap-box*

Being a follower of a slightly more (shall I say) "pagan" path, I have only ever really recieved disdain from christians in general. They are some of the most judgemental and unaccepting beings on this planet, and quite frankly I'm sick of the useless crap they try to put in the pliable minds of youth. Sheep, the lot of them.

I put aethiests in a completely different class; one that I actually respect. Most of them are not judgemental of my beliefs in the least, (as they once had some themselves), and actually appreciate my oppinions.

So yeah. denominations, boosh. (They're all the same anwyay, except for little tiny [and decidedly insignificant] differences) Christians, boosh. Sheep, all...! Gya. (With the possible exceptoin of aetheists.)

*steps off again*

...and just so as you lot know, don't try to tell me about the grace of your god. It will only annoy me and cause me to want to do inetersting things with your entrails. *grin*

what about agnostics then...

i don't really mind what or who anyone worships,my wife is a catholic & i was christened c of e.

i don't disbelive but show me th proof.

anyway averyone to ther own if you want to dance naked in the moonlight ....don't forget my invitation.

anyway the only thing that affects me as a direct result of my wife being a catholic is the fact that i have to get up early on a sunday to wake her up...bloody annoying.

jade - i'm a christian and i'm not judgemental. of course, i am a bit off an od christian who is fine with things other christians wouldn't be fine with, but on the whole, i simply think people should live however they like, and believe whatever they like. it don't bother me one bit.

spook

I think I'm a Carrotologist,
but since I haven't met any
other Carrotologists I'm not
sure there really is such a faith.

if u get 10,000 people to put that they are Carrotologists on the 10 yearly national cencus, then it becomes an official religion. That happened in 1991 when 12,000 people said their religion was Jedi.

i'm thinking about starting a new brand of christianity called spookism, which is more accepting of everyone and everything then the traditional ways.

spook

Its odd, methinks on the rules and regs of denominations. They never actually show up in scripture...

Or, I'm speaking for my own town, which is really...

*Is, for once, actually going to swear*

...F****d up. I recently overheard someone saying if you weren't a baptist christian, you were going to Hell. What the hell do they mean by that?!

Ghrrr... me angry...

that is just stupid. the reason there are diffrent christian denominations is because christians disagree on styles of worship and interpretations of texts and certain traditions, hence they are not mentioned in he bible. i find it annoying when people say they are methodist or bapist or catholic. those names mean nothing - u r either christian, or you are not, diffrent denominations donot mean different religions!

spook

Exactly! I'm christian, and certainly proud of it!

Same here!

On the first comment there, spook, don't bloody patronise me. It's annoying.

And as for Myst, yeah, I was a baptist once (like when I was six,) and actually my family stopped going to church because the pastor went mental and went on and on about how if you weren't a baptist then you were going to hell (like, reguardless of what you are, even different branches of christianity, you were /still/ gonna burn.). And my mum got annoyed and said, screw it, I didn't set out to raise my children to be judgemental fundamentalist morns with no oppinions of their own.

And she just stopped taking us, and then we watched cartoons on Sundays.

That's really too bad. Honestly, I knew all ABOUT God for seventeen years or so, I knever KNEW God until I started reading, and really trying to learn.

*sticks her fingers in her ears*

la la la la laaaaaaaaa.....

*takes her fingers out*
Honestly, I don't want to know about your God. Sorry hon.

*replaces fingers in ears*

la la la la laaaaaaaaaa.....