I'm reading this now. I figured ya'll might like to take a look at this.

http://www.realtruth.org/articles/523-acj.html?gclid=CP...z094oCFRssVAodrQOPqA

Hm. It's the first piece in English (for me, of course) that openly talks about turning contemporary worship into entertainment and shifting from the spiritual aspects of faith to emotional ones. I am impressed, but the following should be added: Orthodox churches are very strict about preserving old ways of worship and paying attention to spiritual meaning of the ceremony, however it does not help. For various reasons, other emotions than in Protestant and Catholic churches come into play, and the end result is practically the same.

As a Christian, I find the article and another I read interesting. I think many Christians are misled these days. And it has been extremely difficult for me to find a church.

But I think their comparisons are a bit off base of the Christian beliefs. I tend to like traditional services better myself anyways. I think their comments about Jesus teachings and views accepted are not backed up very well. I've been to many different churches of many different types and I have never heard translations like that. Their interpretation leaves one alot to think about I have to admit.

Thank you for posting the articles. They seem to be objective and thats hard to find when discussing issues such as these.

I love this board.

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Originally posted by metal chick:
But I think their comparisons are a bit off base of the Christian beliefs.

To put it more precisely, they are off base of mainstream beliefs for Protestant flavor.

quote:

I tend to like traditional services better myself anyways. I think their comments about Jesus teachings and views accepted are not backed up very well.

They are brief pointers, and to me seem to be right on the spot. Backing it up would turn an article into a multi-page saga, don't you think so?

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I've been to many different churches of many different types and I have never heard translations like that. Their interpretation leaves one alot to think about I have to admit.

It's King James Version. With the general tendency to simplify and modernize, I doubt many churches are using it.

quote:

Originally posted by CoffeeOwl:

quote:

Originally posted by metal chick:
But I think their comparisons are a bit off base of the Christian beliefs.

To put it more precisely, they are off base of mainstream beliefs for Protestant flavor.

Thats a good way to put it.

quote:

I tend to like traditional services better myself anyways. I think their comments about Jesus teachings and views accepted are not backed up very well.

They are brief pointers, and to me seem to be right on the spot. Backing it up would turn an article into a multi-page saga, don't you think so?

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Sure, your right. I simply disagree with the Nullifying the law section. I have never heard an interpretation of Jesus' words like that.I think the problem with many Christians is they don't follow the teachings of Jesus when they behave the terrible way some do. Some of the people who have hurt me the most in life have been Christians.

I've been to many different churches of many different types and I have never heard translations like that. Their interpretation leaves one alot to think about I have to admit.

It's King James Version. With the general tendency to simplify and modernize, I doubt many churches are using it.

I grew up on that version. And I think your right. To me, this article brings out the fact that many Christians and churches are not following Jesus' teachings. I think If they were, they wouldn't continue to get such a bad rep and the commercialism would decrease. Just a thought, but thats what I got out of the article. If theres one thing I have learned from these boards, its to be more objective and open to different beliefs.

quote:

Originally posted by metal chick:
To me, this article brings out the fact that many Christians and churches are not following Jesus' teachings. I think If they were, they wouldn't continue to get such a bad rep and the commercialism would decrease. Just a thought, but thats what I got out of the article. If theres one thing I have learned from these boards, its to be more objective and open to different beliefs.

Well yes, all that and loosing the point (bettering yourself and taking care of others) in the process. Lazy way instead of spiritual work, a lowest common denominator that would fit everybody, and a lip service to God. It's one of dominant themes in Russian religious publications, although the clergy rarely go past the words themselves; the higher their ranks, the less they actually do besides preaching and sighing...