Dear Prasad There are couple of things whether God Exists or whether you need God are two different things. The purpose of all these teachings is to make us good people, and not for us to fight in his name and destroy our life or our peace of mind. I had the opprtunity to read the Bible especially the New Testament. I found a lot of good things in that, really good teachings which if followed could make a peaceful society. I should really appreciate Prasad for finding out such quotes from a book which has a lot of good things. It is good if it is done with good intention. As Prasad rightly pointed out everybody has the right to read and criticise any book and it should be that way. For that matter all the religious teachings are for all the people in the world and it is not the property of a select few. It is for you to select the good things and follow it if it is good and you could as well go through all these quotes here and there and quote it out of contest and feel that you have done a great thing which nobody has identified it in the last so many centuries. One concept which is put in the Bible, New Testmaent is the concept of a loving God than a powerful God , A forgiving God rather than one who is out to punish you for all little misdeeds. An average man like me is quite content with a loving and forgiving God. When one reads a religious book, a believer believes and justifies everything, one who wants to discredit it will go through all these quotes here and there, an impartial, nonbeliever analyses the merits and demerits assess it in a neutral way. For that matter what is written that the New Testament is the teachings of a person who lived just for 33 years , did not have any formal education, did not have facilities like Prasad and me to check in the internet and wikipedia. His teachings were written by four ordinary people who were his followers and that book has lot of wisdom, and lot of good things. Try to appreciate the work and of course all of us have the freedom to criticise but try to be moderate. I have gone through some of the quotes, the quotes about destruction and all. What Jesus taught us is to forgive and help your enemies and not to destroy anything, There are lots and lots of good teaching. Have the broadmindedness to accept those things and be moderate in criticism Regarding the question of whether God exists I believe so but others have the right not to and there should not be any compulsion. Whether we need God is a different question, If the concept of God is making us better individual and helping to create a peaceful and harmonious society where we help the needy, support them, contribute constructively for the development of the society, definitely we need that concept. But on the other hand we use this concept to provide destruction, hatred- and mistrust in the society, we have to reconsider our action, probably we are doing a disservice to our society which God does not want us to do. If there is God there is only one God and we are all children of the same God and he does not want us to fight in his name, we may find some quotes here and there to justify our deeds as Prasad has shown us. Every religion has two sides, one is the good one which makes us better people, create better society, help and support each other, peaceful society and gives inner peace to individuals. The bad face is the fanatism which forces us to hate and destroy people of other religions. When we dislike a person in the name of his religion we become a fanatic. We may dislike a person because of his misdeeds and not because of his religion. Every religious leader has the duty to make good people and not fanatics. When we create a lot of fanatics we do a disservice to the society which God does not want us to do. Thanks to Mr Prasad for his open views about the subject WITH REGARDS Dr Joseph-- On Sat, 11/26/11, Prasad N <prasad_n83@yahoo.co.in> wrote:
From: Prasad N <prasad_n83@yahoo.co.in>
Subject: Re: [www.keralites.net] Do you need God?
To: "Keralites" <Keralites@yahoogroups.com>
Date: Saturday, November 26, 2011, 7:35 AM
Dear Mr John/Binil,
I never misquote any of the statements from bible. You can search in the bible with clause which I had given after each statement. If you think that I misquoted any statements please clarify with the meaning & evidence. Let people know the fact. What I shared is my point of view, after reading the bible regarding some of the quotes from bible. For that ,you don't need to increase your blood pressure if you think that your belief is correct, rather the right way of replying is to clarify each statement one by one and not just blaming the person who said the facts ,or better not to reply. What I wrote here is only just 5% of bad & rude statements which I found in Bible. There is balance 95% which I did not write and not planned to. As you said these types of statements are only in Old Testament I am writing here a quote from New Testament which is from Jesus. Think & analyze whether these are the words of divine & peace. Do not think that I have come to bring peace to world. No I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. I came to set sons against their fathers, daughters against their mothers, daughter –in-law against mother in law. Your Worst enemies will be the members of your own family. (Mathews 10 – 34, 35) The reason why I said "terrorists are better than the god mentioned in bible" is as follows:- # The god said my anger will be directed to their destruction (Bible: Isaiah 10 -25) Why the god is so angry always, like ordinary people? We always consider and say that god is merciful and filled with divine quality. Then why this god is always getting angry and directing his anger towards somebody whom he does not like? Directing the anger for destruction? Destruction is always a negative quality (as seen in terrorists), if it is not for the destruction of the evils. Here the destruction is to demonstrate the super power of god. # Behold your god will come with vengeance (Isaiah 35- 4) How can a good god always move with vengeance? Vengeance, anger, arrogance etc are the emotions and feelings of Satan. The threatening words are usually used by devils, burglars and thieves. Anyone good at heart will definitely talk good and sweet words. Never use the words with poison, like killing, destroying, revenging, and so on. Sweet words of guidance, blessings, guidance, motivating, appreciating are divine in nature. In Bible Jehovah mainly used threatening words. Let these words never be used for threatening the common poor people by the missionaries for spreading Christianity. We have seen thousands of missionaries using these threatening words of gods to create fear in the mind of the people and force them to embrace Christianity. What I found is that the whole bible says if you believe in me (Jehovah/Jesus) I will give you good else I will destroy you by spreading plague, by cutting hand, by sending lion etc etc. God created fear in the mind of people for getting their salute. This is the terrorists' way; to kill a few people so that others will automatically be scared and start following and supporting the terrorist. God destroyed everything which did not consider him as god. So that all those who watches will be scared and will start doring and worshipping this god. Is this not terrorism of the modern world? God becoming jealous, cruel, egoistic, revengeful, angry, and so on not against the men doing the sins, but for not bowing their head before the god that too in the 21st century! Understanding Spirituality is not believe without questioning and don't think that those who question are spiritually deaf, blind &dumb. People should think & analyze the statements from any of the books rationally, logically and scientifically and to take only good from that, accordingly should reject the bad too. My intention is to read as much lines as possible from the holy book and inform the world that such instructions of the god should not be practiced. If people start literally following these messages of the god, in the 21st century, what would be the fate of the world? Think it over again and again. Go through the holy book!
Have a Great Day Thanks & Regards Prasad
From: John cherian <john_cherian15@yahoo.com>
To: Keralites <Keralites@YahooGroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, 26 November 2011 12:22 AM
Subject: [www.keralites.net] Do you need God?
Do you need God?
Few quotes from Old Testament of Bible which is the story of Israelites who are selected by the Supreme Power to set an example to all Human beings. Old testament speaks about the holy and unholy things happened in relation to Isralites and gentiles around them. But Jesus Christ came to this world for the redemption of all people from their SINS , the people ever lived and going to live in this world till the Kingdom of God is established in this earth. The New Testament reveal about the Love of God to Man. God the Father so loved the people so that He has given His Begotten Son to us, by His Blood ( His Sacrifice) we are set free from Sins, for those who believe in Him. That is Gods Justice or righteousness. Think about this do you sacrifice your son for your enemy? How you call this Loving Father, a terrorist. One thing keep in your mind, we are just a creature, He is the Creator of this whole universe. We will be judged according our deeds and words. You have the choice to Believe or not, you have no choice to insult any bodys belief. Why you cannot understand spirituality, only because you are spiritually deaf, blind and dumb. So do not blame something if you do not understand. You can never see the Sun with a powerful torch, unless and until it shines by itself. Since you have BIBLE with you, read the following from Old testament itself, you will realize why you do not understand word of God. johnmcherian@indiatimes.com
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