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Hi Marion;
I meant, that why don't Muslims try converting Christians, rather than killing them. You see, the problem here is that Christians think their religion is THE religion, just as Muslims do. Every religion feels that way about being the one.
I've read my Bible, and the problem that I have with Christian religions is that every one of them interprets the Bible differently. Like the people who believe that the Bible tells them to handle poisonous snakes, or that it is ungodly to celebrate birthdays, Christmas, or Easter. Each Christian religion takes what it wants and leaves the rest. It's all a matter of interpretation.
Fighting wars in God's name is a sin. God gave Moses the ten commandments, and one that tops the list is, "Thou Shalt NOT Kill." It doesn't say, thou shalt not kill except for... God is quite specific in not killing, but people do it in His name all the time. Moses couldn't enter the promised land because he killed an Egyptian. It didn't matter why he killed him, just that he did; and he killed the Egyptian, prior to receiving the commandments.
The best thing that all of the other religions of the world have going for them is at least they, as a religion, can all agree on what their holy book says. You don't have 50 different denominations of Jews, Muslims, or Buddists. Their holy book says one thing, the same thing, to them all.
Fellowship can be had in many places. People can get together and discuss God anywhere, and many do. Churches just provide a gathering place where only like-minded people get together. A Southern Baptist wouldn't be caught dead in a Catholic church, for example. You'd never find my Catholic mother at a revival meeting either.
There is only one God. It doesn't matter what name you call him by, or where you choose to pray to him, or what holy book you read. One God!
Jesus taught to love thy neighbor, not to chastise, ridicule, or kill him if he doesn't believe what you believe.
My relationship with God is between He and I. If I feel that I am in need of repenting, I take it up with Him, not someone who calls himself a pastor, or priest. I talk to God all of the time, whether I am sitting at my desk, hanging laundry, fixing dinner, or out for a walk. He doesn't care where I am when I talk to Him, just as long as I do. I pray with my children, not just for them, and I give thanks every day for everything in my life, great or small, good or bad. I give thanks for bad things, because I choose to look at them as challenges and experiences to learn.
I don't need a church/religion. God is in my heart and He knows me; I know Him.
I think that if more people looked at it the way I do, there would be a lot less killing going on, especially in the name of God.
When has God ever told anyone that they need to be Christians to get to heaven? Christ himself was a Jew. I will not rot in Hell because I don't belong to a Christian church. The Bible doesn't even say that I will.
I wonder what God thinks of all of the Catholic (Christan) priests who have been raping children.
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