This is why I like Jordan Peterson.
He lets you know your actions *do* matter. And that's what the Catholics have been trying to hammer home. Yet if you're honest with yourself for even five seconds, it doesn't matter how religious you are, you realize that the number of failings you have as a person are often nearly limitless. And this is the Protestant view of things, that even if you know how horribly and miserably you've failed as a person, you can't let that mess with the Axiom that life is inherently good and that it has value.

I do like Jordan Peterson as well. His biblical talks, along certain works of C.S. Lewis that were broadcast by The BBC in WW2, are things that helped me to grapple with my own concerns about my faith... Many clergymen and supposed church leaders failed to help as well as two men I've never met did for me.

That may also be because I've accumulated a greater understanding of the world over the last several years that have been rather tumultuous for me.

Well, the more you knowledge you have of the world, the less modern Christianity covers the veneer that "everything is fine because it's in the lords hands" (which seems to be the stance of many modern churches). And if you've built your worldview on that, then it completely crumbles to dust once you exit the cathedral and dive into the real world. I mean, to shelter people to the extent that modern church does, it's a complete disservice to their members. Marx was wrong about just about everything, but as much as I hate to admit it, I can see where he was coming from when he said "Religion is the opiate of the masses." Because if all church exists to do is to pat members on the back and say "Everything will be fine", then there's no hope in that at all.

There aren't a whole lot of churches that give you the truth, which would be something along the lines of:

"Well, actually, everything is NOT fine. It's a hell of a long ways from being fine. It's a raging dumpster fire. But luckily, you're a human, and being human gives you a lot of options as far as how to go about fixing that. So let's dive into this book of ancient wisdom and try and see what we can salvage here."

Individuals will simply put their entire devotion to what they *think* is God. But that could very well cut out the legs from our capacity to even reach out to him... What I mean by that, is that assuming that our actions in this world do not matter, that it's in the Lord's hands, is something that doesn't exactly hold water in a scriptural sense. Jacob wrestled with God/ an Angel of his, Abraham bargained with God to try and spare Sodom to save Lot. Man has been capable of making a deal with God in the past. It means that our will *can* be levied to bring about something better that wouldn't have occurred if we didn't make the jump.

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/796560508097396757/802171062858547200/video0_71-1.mp4

This also shows in people reaching out to those that would otherwise be lost. C.S. Lewis was brought back into the fold because J.R.R. Tolkien decided to take multiple hours out of his day to help a friend. Tolkien's actions brought about a spiritual Awakening to Lewis. Lewis then went on to write multiple works explaining and defending Christianity. There is a possibility that I might have been a non-believer or, worse still, a lukewarm Christian if I never stumbled across Lewis's works... In a way, Tolkien's actions may have very well saved me, a man he never met, someone who was born decades after his death. Our actions, whether good or bad, *do* resonate into the future. "The sins of the father will be laid at the feet of the son." The failure of past generations can derail the future of others. Of all biblical accounts, the one that this is most obvious in is the Fall of Man. Through their defiance of God, the children of Adam and Eve killed one another. This is something that sickens me because I have a brother very close in age to me. I would not mentally survive if he betrayed me, and I'd never forgive myself if I betrayed him.

Good and bad actions act like a chain. Each action is a link. Goodness and mercy can bring light, and greed, deceit, and defiance can lead to damnation and Ruin.

Even the smallest things.

Alright. This has been inspiring. I need to go, but hopefully I'll be back soon.

Same here on this being a good talk, God bless and good luck, man.

Faith and religion are two different things. A "religion" can be anything. Faith is the path you want to approach a belief on. I'm a Christian but I'm not "religious."

Just a reminder: Remember who your master is, there is nothing that God isn't in control of. So if you're worried about whats going on with society right now, or are feeling run down **look up to God and Pray** 1 Peter 5:7 says "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you" Pray to God about what troubles you because he cares, and wants to help. All you have to do is ask. Matthew 7:7 says “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." Use God's gift of communication with him aka prayer. The more time you spend with God, the more you are *intune* with him.

Alright so anyone who wants to debate about why Luther decided not to include the Deuterocanonical books in his version of the Bible I'm here

I hate religion, but love God. So get dunked!

What is your religion based on? where do you derive your faith and beliefs from?

What is <thing that I do not have, religion> based on?

<:KEK:795742276549607456>

What do you base your faith on?

The Word of God.

Which is?

I am all for religion

Hold up.

But when religion entirely defines your moral principles I get scared

sweet we in here now

Why?

Yes

Because now book or priest can tell you to do something horribly immoral but you do it since you believe everything your church says

So.. What is the word of God?

Ie, a church can tell someone to kill someone

Dog, you ever hear of Jordan Peterson?

If the bible said everywhere that murder is ok

Would you feel ok murdering someone?

You wouldn't

In the beginning, the word was with God and the word was God.

dog shutup lmao this isn't the debate

Again, you have to take some things with a grain of salt.

Because morals aren't entirely defined by religion

So how do you know this was said?

There are other factors to morality