Excuse me. I never used the word evil.

"We kept some Pagan traditions so their conversion would'nt be like throwing out all of the minority's culture for ours."

Nice parlor trick, that. I answered this before so I'll let it slide.

BTW, I didn't call YOU pagan. All I said was that the pagan influences were incorporated into traditional Christianity, and became some of the cornerstones of the faith. It's pretty obvious if you get outside the box and look back in.

I didn't call you unpure, either. Read my post.

"The Church I believe in is the one that Christ gave to Paul".

According to the bible, he gave it to Peter, not Paul. Paul simply had a bad dream with Jesus in it, where Jesus 'appeared' and chastized Paul, and then Paul, plagued by guilt had a psychotic episode, did a 180 about face, and began to his religion building.

Paul (as Saul of Tarsus) was not a disciple, had never met Jesus, and in fact he persecuted Christians, was a Sanhedrin thug, a tough guy, a person sent to Damascus to find and harass Christians, accuse them, have them arrested.

Text: Acts 9:1-20
1. But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2. and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.



If you read further in Acts, it has God talking to everyone again, telling them what they must do. God told Bush to Invade Iraq (not in Acts, but in the White House), and he told Paul to convert the Gentiles. (actually he told Ananias, who told Paul)

I like the God who wanted to convert Gentiles somewhat better than the one who wants to kill Iraqis, but the idea is the same. Some sanctimonious, self-righteous bloody fool claiming he hears God telling him what he 'must' do. It certainly abrogates personal responsibility doesn't it?



"and if God can't convince you, keep on doing your thing"

I don't need God to convince me of anything. God resides in my heart and is already a part of me.

You don't seem like a bad sort, Mr. Duck, however you are a pretty typical example of someone who has been indoctrinated with church dogma. And even at that, you have some of the historic events and doctrinal rules a bit muddled.

It's no big deal, if you are happy this way, however you can always grow beyond where you are.

I don't suggest you abandon your faith, but you might try expanding it. You can learn the how, what, when and why of your beliefs if you choose, and perhaps feel better for it, or you can continue to stick with what you were taught.

Whatever, huh?

As for me, I continue to learn and to grow. It's a beautiful thing...

;0)

Wiz