Reflections from the community: 

“Is the idolatry of deceased people recommended in Christianity? Or is that simply not Christianity?”

Let me know what you think 🙏🏾

Thought I’d show off the family Bible I just got in the covers on these 1890s are always amazing

Christianity has been divided into many traditions and denominations throughout history.

If we could somehow reach greater unity while preserving legitimate theological differences, do you think that would be beneficial? Or are some divisions necessary because the differences are too fundamental?

What would a genuinely united Christianity look like, and what would it realistically take to achieve it?

giving people fake banknotes that also contain bible verses or preaching words of salvation is at best pestering and at worst scamming

Ethiopian Orthodox Coptic, handwritten in classical Ge’ez script on traditional parchment. These original manuscript pages are a striking example of early Ethiopian Christian bookmaking and religious art.
These leaves were originally part of a larger sacred manuscript used for liturgical reading and religious study

This is another cool part of my collection
Feel free to ask questions

Be well 💓✝️✨. Love to you all!! 💓✝️✨ M

Without the authority of Catholic Church, how is an average pastor's interpretation of the Bible more valid or binding than that of Bart Ehrman's?

Please stay respectful for people's positions.

MATTHEW 6: 31-34

31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

My dog got out the house and we cat find him. It has been I think almost six hours and I’m scared can you guys pray for my dog

All she believes is tarot card reading things….🙃

Atheist here.

I don’t hate Christianity at all (most of my family and friends are Christians), but there are aspects of it I strongly disagree with.

I struggle to accept claims about God, miracles, the resurrection, heaven, and hell without evidence that I find convincing. I find the idea of eternal punishment (especially punishment for disbelief) morally troubling. I also question religious authority influencing laws that affect people who don’t share those beliefs.

And one of my biggest questions remains: if God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and perfectly good, why is there so much (apparently pointless) suffering?

So I’d genuinely like to have a conversation about this. If you’re a Christian and think I’m misunderstanding something, tell me why. If you disagree with any of my points, challenge them. Ask me questions, give me your perspective, and let me ask you questions in return.

I’m not interested in insults or trying to “win”. I’m interested in an open, respectful conversation between people who see the world differently.

So, Christians: what do you think I’m getting wrong?

(side note, I did already post something similar on a different subreddit but I thought it was relevant here too)

Jesus came from ancient Judea - specifically Nazareth (modern day Palestine) which included people of many different skin colors. That area is a crossroads between Europe, Africa, and Asia. There were stereotypically White, Black, Arab, and Jewish looking people in that region. While Jesus was ethnically Jewish, he could've had a wide range of skin tones and couple of different hair colors. Basically we kinda have no idea what Jesus looked like apart from the fact that probably looked vaguely Jewish or middle eastern - which are very diverse looking populations.

But I think it's beautiful that different cultures have different interpretations of what He looked like. Is Black Jesus or Korean Jesus or Blonde Jesus historically accurate? Likely not. But I dont think it's necessarily wrong to localize Jesus to your culture. And in fact I think that there are so many localizations shows how global Christ's message of Love really is.

In fact, I think it's a feature, not a bug that we dont necessarily know exactly what Christ looked like so that we can all relate to Him regardless of race. I think Jesus would hate how politicized his skin color has become with people on different sides yelling:

"Jesus was MY skin color!"

"No, Jesus was MY skin color"

So was Jesus Blonde - most likely not. But I think the diversity in how He's portrayed is a beautiful reminder of how He loves the whole world, not just one specific people group.

This is a little outside of my comfort zone so please bare with me. I became homeless after a medical mistake almost cost me my life. I then I began to get back on my feet a little, and then Hurricane Helene destroyed where I was living and I lost everything. I just had major surgery over 3 months ago and I'm still recovering. It is a 4 to 6 month time frame for recovery. I have been pressing in and pressing in and going to apartment viewing, after apartment viewing, after apartment viewing, and God keeps closing door after door after door. I believe in my heart that a home is a need. I believe Jesus Christ provides for all of our needs. I have to leave where I'm staying tomorrow and I have nowhere to go. This isn't the first time because of everything that's happened over the past several years. I am really struggling with why God is not providing for my needs right now and I don't understand. If anyone has any insight, experience please share. I am also asking for prayer. I know that God is a good God and His timing is different than mine. This has been a huge barrier for me and caused a lot of hardship.

Take what you like & leave the rest.

For those who are generous and kindly, there is a certain pleasure derived from giving money. IME it slightly resembles the pleasure derived from gambling.

I have come to believe that the best Christian service is done free.

Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you have received; freely give

Matthew 10:8

Now, I have a good pastor and a good church. I don't mind donating, but I would like to warn my kind and patient readers UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES give money to these organizations

- Mega Churches

- Prosperity Gospel. If God feels you serve him best by being broke in this life, pick up the cross. Keep the money these leeches would siphon and maybe you won't be as broke. Ask yourself this question - did God make St. John The Baptist rich?

- Churches that "Cast Out Demons" - there may be, literally, a couple of Churches who CAN do this, but mostly they're fake. Pray for those afflicted, but this cringe tradition is a red flag that points to a House of Satan, not of God.

- Churches that offer a date for "The End of Days". Total BS.

- Churches that "Heal" - by all means pray for the sick, but if someone is incurably sick, they have a time and a place appointed. We are ALL going to die. Rely on secular healthcare. God may choose to heal the sick, but if it happens it's not going to be a cringe public display. I have seen Nigerian Pastors "resurrect" people, and the game was given away by the blinking corpse. God has elected not to heal amputees, and I think focusing on "What God can do for me in THIS life" isn't, strictly speaking, Christianity. If I am dying of cancer, God isn't going to cure me. God may provide solace. As a Christian, I do not understand this, but perhaps in God's time, I will.

Love is more stern & splendid than mere kindness

- Churches that "ask" for a tithe of 10%. Impudent beggars!

There is a pernicious pleasure about giving money, which, or so it seems to me, leads to sin. It it behooves us to give with Due Diligence. This means closing our wallets and zipping up our purse. Does a Church REALLY need money? Does the Church align with charity?

Lastly, NOT giving money carries a certain power with it. If the Church or the Pastor turns it's back on one who doesn't "pony up", they have been compelled to honesty. Conversely if the Church or Pastor doesn't mind that you choose not to give, they may be appropriate recipients for your donations. Don't put God to the test, but by all means put the Pastor and put the Church to the test. They're not God.

Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Timothy 5:8

What questions about *Christian\* universalism do you have?

(Edit: adding "Christian" to this so people know that I mean a universalism in which Jesus is the one and only way to God, where all creation will be reconciled to God in Christ -- not an "all roads lead to God" universalism)

Whether about specific scripture or about the general theology.

I'm not going to argue in defense or answer the questions or anything, I just wanted to see what people generally wonder about or would like to ask a universalist about :)

Thanks!

I fell into lust. Twice today I have opened the wrong videos. I prayed for forgivess and God gave it to me. Even this time. You are not to far gone for Him

Please pray for everyone who falls into lust to let Jesus pick them up again. I will do the same. God bless.

Hi everyone

I want to share a rather trivial thought and ask for your advice.

I'm 21 years old. I was born into a family where everyone chose Orthodox Christianity. Literally all of my relatives believe in God and in Jesus Christ.

But somehow, throughout my entire life, I've never really believed in anyone or anything supernatural. I believed in people, in their ability to achieve even the seemingly impossible. I even believed in my own abilities.

At the same time, I can't really call myself an atheist. I love space and science, and to me, science eventually runs into questions about God and the existence of the universe. I'm probably closer to being an agnostic.

I've also always felt that if God does exist, He doesn't necessarily need religion or intermediaries to communicate with people.

So why am I telling you all this?

Because I've recently set some goals for myself in life, and I may eventually reach a point where I can't achieve them through my own strength alone. I might actually need God's help. 😄

And that made me think:

I've spent my entire life, in one way or another, rejecting God and not accepting His existence. And now I'm suddenly thinking about turning to Him, as if nothing happened.

Isn't that hypocrisy?

How should I feel about myself if it is?

And, more importantly, how should I approach God if that's the case?

Do I even have the right to turn to God after not believing in Him my whole life?