church observation

my daughter read at mass this morning for the first time (3rd grade), so i went to watch her.

everyone in church was at least 60+. i'd say most were in their 70s and 80s. granted, it was a weekday and most folks are at work, but what happened next gave me pause.

i had some old guy come up to me and clutch my hand after mass and say "it's so nice to see someone young at the church." his wife was nodding in agreement. i'm 40 in january. i'm not young.

i said thanks, exchanged pleasantries, etc.

i don't know why, but it freaked me out. it occurred to me that once these people die, church might just be empty.

scares the piss out of me, actually. a whole society running around devoid of any kind of spiritual guidance makes me stop for a moment and think.

i try to stay out of church/bible arguments on here, but it was a weird experience. just had to share.

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a whole society running around devoid of any kind of spiritual guidance

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Don't ya love it when a plan comes together?

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Originally Posted by midnight rambler

Don't ya love it when a plan comes together?

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i grasped it intellectually, but today, i had the "holy shit" moment.

I got your spiritual guidance right here fella.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FA-_SSO_hhI

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kUQvtcubhi...ollarbill2.jpg

IF the entire CATHOLIC church died in America, it would be a great day indeed. America was built on Christian beliefs and ideas, NOT catholic ones. You couldn't even BE a Catholic in congress untill the 1800's. when the stinking Jesuits influenced the lawmakers to allow Catholics.

Catholicsm = Satanism

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Originally Posted by chad

my daughter read at mass this morning for the first time (3rd grade), so i went to watch her.

everyone in church was at least 60+. i'd say most were in their 70s and 80s. granted, it was a weekday and most folks are at work, but what happened next gave me pause.

i had some old guy come up to me and clutch my hand after mass and say "it's so nice to see someone young at the church." his wife was nodding in agreement. i'm 40 in january. i'm not young.

i said thanks, exchanged pleasantries, etc.

i don't know why, but it freaked me out. it occurred to me that once these people die, church might just be empty.

scares the piss out of me, actually. a whole society running around devoid of any kind of spiritual guidance makes me stop for a moment and think.

i try to stay out of church/bible arguments on here, but it was a weird experience. just had to share.

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I have had similar experiences in Europe; though on Sundays you do see more young people.

Our Mass is full to the limit 3 masses a day plus pretty full for 3 others. We are one of the "super Churches". We live in an area with a lot of families. I think it depends on the parish.

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Originally Posted by StreetsOfGold

IF the entire CATHOLIC church died in America, it would be a great day indeed. America was built on Christian beliefs and ideas, NOT catholic ones. You couldn't even BE a Catholic in congress untill the 1800's. when the stinking Jesuits influenced the lawmakers to allow Catholics.

Catholicsm = Satanism

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man, those 24 years must have been the halcyon days!

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Originally Posted by midnight rambler

I got your spiritual guidance right here fella.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FA-_SSO_hhI

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kUQvtcubhi...ollarbill2.jpg

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Attachment 1185

Attachment 1186
George Washington's masonic apron
worn at inaguration

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Originally Posted by StreetsOfGold

IF the entire CATHOLIC church died in America, it would be a great day indeed. America was built on Christian beliefs and ideas, NOT catholic ones. You couldn't even BE a Catholic in congress untill the 1800's. when the stinking Jesuits influenced the lawmakers to allow Catholics.

Catholicsm = Satanism

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Let's not forget the founders were also masons, and the Catholic Church stood firmly against masonry.

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Originally Posted by chad

it freaked me out. it occurred to me that once these people die, church might just be empty.

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This is a dangerous reality.



We are commissioned to tell people about Jesus, Chad.

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1 Corinthians 1:17
For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not in wisdom of speech, lest the cross of Christ should be made void.

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Now I want to share this piece from one of my favorite books, Jude. I love the book of Jude. This piece is written in a certain context which should be understood: Jude is warning Christs followers about the infiltrators in the Church (Yes, they were active back then, and even before Christ came), and speaking on the sinful ways that people are conducting themselves because of the false teachings by the infiltrators.
So in relation to the the sinners and the victims of deception, Jude says in the name of Christ:

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[21] Keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, unto life everlasting.
[22] And some indeed reprove, being judged:
[23] But others save, pulling them out of the fire.

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These are critical statements.

Firstly, "And some reprove, being judged" - Most people are familiar with the "Judge not, lest ye be judged" attitude of the Church and Faith, however, as far as the Church Militant is concerned, when it come to the preservation of the purity and intent of the teachings of Jesus Christ, we Christians have a duty to make a judgement call, and reprove (rebuke) the deceivers, as they are doing to work of satan, not the Lord.

Secondly, "But others save, pulling them out of the fire" - This reiterates the point that we are to spread the Gospel of the Lord, as the salvation of souls can hinge on the works you choose to do or not do. In a world where the population is like ship-tossed overboard people stuck in a whirlpool, swirling around the drain and about to go down, we need to throw ropes out there. We can't make anyone grab the rope, but we can offer it. Maybe that's a bad analogy, but it's the first thing that came to mind.

So then, while we are commissioned to preach the Gospel, we are not commissioned to inculcate people.
See here:

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Matthew 10:14
And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words: going forth out of that house or city shake off the dust from your feet.

Mark 6:11
And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you; going forth from thence, shake off the dust from your feet for a testimony to them.

Luke 9:5
And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off even the dust of your feet, for a testimony against them.

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Of course Chad, I know you know all this. I'm just writing for the lurkers.

Also for the lurkers, Jude is a short book, only one Chapter, and goes right into the meat of the matter. It is a great book for non-Christians to pick up and read in 5 minutes. Right away the false teachers are brought to the forefront. I recommend it. Here is a link:
http://drbo.org/chapter/72001.htm

If you had attended a weekday mass 40 years ago, you would have seen the same thing.

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Originally Posted by StreetsOfGold

IF the entire CATHOLIC church died in America, it would be a great day indeed. America was built on Christian beliefs and ideas, NOT catholic ones. You couldn't even BE a Catholic in congress untill the 1800's. when the stinking Jesuits influenced the lawmakers to allow Catholics.

Catholicsm = Satanism

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WOW !

You and some of your ignorant friends on here are not for real.

" Catholics are kabballists ", " Crosses are satanic" , " stone the Orthodox ",
you people are haters and destroyers of Europe and the planet.

Learn some history, Catholics and the Church are builders of Europe,
every single one of you would be bowing down and praying to Mecca
if it was not for them. That is just one fact. Despite it's excesses.

One liner haters with their troll posts Vs indisputable history.

" PEARLS BEFORE SWINE " ANTY EP, before he left for good.

Rabbi "Gentiles only exist to serve jews"

Rabbi Ovadia Yosef: Gentiles Exist Only to Serve Jews
http://www.crownheights.info/index.php?itemid=29404

StreetsOfGold's Rabbi speaks, he defends him.

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Originally Posted by StreetsOfGold

Oh I wouldn't let what one rabbi says bother you. Afterall, EVERY pope for the last 1650 years have taught that EVERY person on earth should be under his authority and not unlike muslims believe that those who resist should be killed. Neither are in position to accomplish this on a mass scale so why worry about it. Worry is a sin anyways.

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Originally Posted by MAGNES

WOW ! Every single point you made stinks worse than most bullshit on here.

This is Israel's Chief Rabbi, the Pope can't even quote Constantine without riots.

If someone would of told me 10 years ago I would be actively defending the
Catholic Church and a Popes comments I would of laughed at them at minimum.

Many of you promote propaganda on here, but you are on the wrong forum for this.
Your comments are an insult and troll comments to educated people here.

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Originally Posted by po boy

Why defend a church that covers up pedophilia?

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Originally Posted by MAGNES

" WHY SUPPORT THE USA AND THE CONSTITUTION ? "

" After all the Founding Fathers were all slave owning racists. "

ROFL !

http://www.omdurman.org/martel1.jpg

http://www.historyofjihad.org/crusades18.jpg



http://www.themiddleages.net/people/charlemagne.jpg

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Some Protestants treat each other like viruses in many cases,
they are dividers and they hate the builders that matter, they talk
like the Occult in many cases.

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Originally Posted by StreetsOfGold

IF the entire CATHOLIC church died in America, it would be a great day indeed. America was built on Christian beliefs and ideas, NOT catholic ones. You couldn't even BE a Catholic in congress untill the 1800's. when the stinking Jesuits influenced the lawmakers to allow Catholics.

Catholicsm = Satanism

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Ok, now I take issue with this, and I will show you based on scripture.

Before I get into it, I will say that I recognize that the (Catholic) Church is corrupted from within, but that also goes for all other sects of the Christian faith. In fact, going back to the book of Jude which I exhorted above, you can see plainly that the conspiratorial decievers were already hard at work infiltrating and working towards the destruction of the Christian Faith right at its inception:

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Originally Posted by Jude

[1] Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James: to them that are beloved in God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called.
[2] Mercy unto you, and peace, and charity be fulfilled.
[3] Dearly beloved, taking all care to write unto you concerning your common salvation, I was under a necessity to write unto you: to beseech you to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints.
[4] For certain men are secretly entered in, (who were written of long ago unto this judgment,) ungodly men, turning the grace of our Lord God into riotousness, and denying the only sovereign Ruler, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
[5] I will therefore admonish you, though ye once knew all things, that Jesus, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, did afterwards destroy them that believed not: [6] And the angels who kept not their principality, but forsook their own habitation, he hath reserved under darkness in everlasting chains, unto the judgment of the great day.
[7] As Sodom and Gomorrha, and the neighbouring cities, in like manner, having given themselves to fornication, and going after other flesh, were made an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire.
[8] In like manner these men also defile the flesh, and despise dominion, and blaspheme majesty.
[9] When Michael the archangel, disputing with the devil, contended about the body of Moses, he durst not bring against him the judgment of railing speech, but said: The Lord command thee.
[10] But these men blaspheme whatever things they know not: and what things soever they naturally know, like dumb beasts, in these they are corrupted.

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Also, in 1 John, chapter 2, starting at verse 18 you can read about the deceivers at work, the antichrists:

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Originally Posted by John

Children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrists is coming, so now many antichrists have come; therefore we know that it is the last hour.
They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out, that it might be plain that they all are not of us.

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The point I am making is that the Church has been under attack since day one. Humanity and our salvation was under attack long bfore Christ came, which was the reason for his coming to begin with: To save us.


So then scripturally I take issue with your statement, as if Lutheranism or whatever other protestant version of Christianity which holds strict adherance to the KJV is "better than" or more "pure than" the Catholic faith.

I give thanks to the Lord that I have a friend who pointed this out to me when I was bent on discovering "What is the closest version of Christianity".

In the book revelation there are 7 letters to 7 Churches. John was given this revelation by Christ on the Island of Patmos, and was told to write these letters to the 7 Churches. I will not repost them all here, but they are found in Revelation right at the start of Chapter 2.




So then let's look at a significant difference in what Jesus had to say to the 7 Churches that Jesus addressed through John:

Ephesus:
He finds good work and praises their efforts, and He finds bad and scolds their misdeeds. (Rev2:4)

Smyrna:
He finds good work and praises their efforts, and warns them against the synagoue of Satan (Rev2:9)

Pergamum:
He finds good work and praises their efforts, and He finds bad and scolds their misdeeds. (Rev2:14)

Thyatira:
He finds good work and praises their efforts, and He finds Jezebel teaching immorality. (Rev2:20)

Sardis:
He does not find too much of good work, except for a few, and He finds bad and scolds their misdeeds. (Rev3:1)

Philadelphia:
He finds good work. The Lord mentions no fault in this Church. (Rev 3:7)

Laodicea:
This Church is found neither cold nor hot, but Lukewarm, and the Lord says they will be spit out as a result. (Rev 3:140


So then, where are these Churches now? The Catholic Church is not perfect, but then neither is Baptist, Pentacostal, Lutheran, or whatever other label you want to put on it. Simply put, none of the current modern day Churches are the Church of Smyrna or Philadelphia, and whether you like it or not, those are the only two Churches that Jesus Christ Himself addressed and found no fault in.

As I Christian, I find strength in this knowledge. I attend a Catholic Church, but I don't consider myself a "Catholic".
I am a "Christian". I am not a "Protestant" or anything else.
I love Jesus, and Jesus Christ is my Lord, and my faith needs no label put on it, nor do I need other people to agree with me. My faith has been steered and shaped by the Lord through Prayer, Scripture and friends/angels that the Lord has put in my life to help me along the way as I seek the truth.




I am getting sidetracked. The essence is this:
This division in the Christian faith is the work of the synagogue of satan, and there is ample warning of this group of conspirators all througout the Holy Scriptures.


I doubt very highly that any of the modern Churches meet the Holy expectations of Jesus Christ, the Father and the Holy Spirit.

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Originally Posted by Awoke

...
This division in the Christian faith is the work of the synagogue of satan, and there is ample warning of this group of conspirators all througout the Holy Scriptures...

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I would say the division in the Church is part of the action of Beast of the Apocalypse (BotA). The reference to the s-o-s in Apoc. refers to the present time for St. John (though it may still have relevance today). The BotA is an agency which has the singular purpose to destroy Christianity. The 7 heads can be thought of as different approaches used by the beast to accomplish it goal, or more precisely, different areas of human thought to control and distort to its purpose (i.e., politics, economics, science, media, etc.). The BotA interacts with the whore and the little beast (who may represent false prophecy which is part of what has lead to the current divisions in Christianity, and to other religions). This is based on the amillenial view- the view the Church has held since Augustine, and which some protestant churches also hold.

meanwhile the snyagouges are bursting at the seems with the young who are eager to read the torah and talmud

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Originally Posted by JohnQPublic

I would say the division in the Church is part of the action of Beast of the Apocalypse (BotA).

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Agreed, but I'm saying it is the work of satan at it's core.

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Originally Posted by JohnQPublic

The reference to the s-o-s in Apoc. refers to the present time for St. John (though it may still have relevance today).

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Without a doubt the SOS is active today. They are reading every word we type on this forum.

Chad, I go church hopping with my neighbor in my county. Regardless of the religion, it's all old people, and very few people our age. The same was true when I was out on the road. I always thought the old-people-factor was because of my location in the country (God's Waiting Room), but in all different kinds of churches, I saw the same thing: almost completely old people.

PS - I think it's absurd that people argue over which flavor of Christianity they believe in. It always reminds me of this Emo Phillips bit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2y_k...eature=related

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Originally Posted by k-os

Chad, I go church hopping with my neighbor in my county. Regardless of the religion, it's all old people, and very few people our age. The same was true when I was out on the road. I always thought the old-people-factor was because of my location in the country (God's Waiting Room), but in all different kinds of churches, I saw the same thing: almost completely old people.

PS - I think it's absurd that people argue over which flavor of Christianity they believe in. It always reminds me of this Emo Phillips bit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2y_k...eature=related

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Die heretic!!

I'm curious to know what Chud thinks of all this...

Try going to a Catholic church that serves the Mexican part of the Catholic population and see what happens.

wow....I didnt think that many here went to church or even have faith.

what ever happened to stackerken anyway?

I have such a hard making myself go to church, haven't been in ages, cause I sit there and the preacher starts speaking and in my head round and round it goes, I think what a liar, lies, lies, lies... (sorry thats just how I feel sitting there) They go on and on about how if you just pray god will answer all your prayers he hears you he will do this or that,

I guess I am just jaded or cynical, and I have made the little one go to Sunday school, then she comes back talking about this or that and I think to myself am I just having her brainwashed in all these nice pretty fantasies?

I don't know......

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Originally Posted by zap

I have such a hard making myself go to church, haven't been in ages, cause I sit there and the preacher starts speaking and in my head round and round it goes, I think what a liar, lies, lies, lies... (sorry thats just how I feel sitting there) They go on and on about how if you just pray god will answer all your prayers he hears you he will do this or that,

I guess I am just jaded or cynical, and I have made the little one go to Sunday school, then she comes back talking about this or that and I think to myself am I just having her brainwashed in all these nice pretty fantasies?

I don't know......

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Try a Catholic Church and try understanding the theology and the Mass. It is real. What happens at Mass is real and directly involves God. If you are really brave, try the Latin Mass (you need a Missal to understand it). This is close to how the world worshipped God for almost 1500 years (there were minor changes until the new mass).

A lot of protestant churches (not all) have stripped themselves of most of the theology and the sacraments, and what you are left with is a supposedly wise talking head. In modern days it is often like the pastor is a psychologist or counselor, not a priest. It is similar to comparing temple Judaism of the pre New-Testament days to today's talmudic religion.

The Judean temple religion lost the priesthood. Now it is the Catholic Church, as well as some splinter sects (i.e., Orthodox) that still retain it. This is a real priesthood (regardless of the foibles and massive failures regrettably which have occurred in recent times). Many protestant groups explicitly reject it.

Until I started to study the issue, I had no idea how real it was.

Read John chapter 6.

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Originally Posted by ShortJohnSilver

Try going to a Catholic church that serves the Mexican part of the Catholic population and see what happens.

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I'm curious, but just not curious enough to go find out myself. So can you just tell us what it is that happens? TIA

We left the Catholic church a few years ago over their catering to the illegals, spanish masses, spanish signs all over the place, etc. Illegal immigration is a huge problem in this country and the Catholic church encourages it so they can get more $$$.

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Originally Posted by sunshine05

We left the Catholic church a few years ago over their catering to the illegals, spanish masses, spanish signs all over the place, etc. Illegal immigration is a huge problem in this country and the Catholic church encourages it so they can get more $$$.

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Perhaps had you just gave more, they wouldn't have needed their "money".
...and isn't that what it all comes down to, more "money"? More, more, more! ::)

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Originally Posted by StreetsOfGold

IF the entire CATHOLIC church died in America, it would be a great day indeed. America was built on Christian beliefs and ideas, NOT catholic ones. You couldn't even BE a Catholic in congress untill the 1800's. when the stinking Jesuits influenced the lawmakers to allow Catholics.

Catholicsm = Satanism

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I'm an atheist and even I know this. Catholicism is just a cover for the occultic religion the Illuminati push on us and the foundation of the New World Order. It is the religion of Semiramis and Nimrod (her son and lover) from Babylon. When you worship the Virgin Mary, you are worshiping to Semiramis. This is where the concept of God and Goddess comes from.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=221sYyagu2I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSK5GYUOB5I

Isn't there a religion & philosophy subforum somewhere around here?

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Originally Posted by StreetsOfGold

You couldn't even BE a Catholic in congress untill the 1800's. when the stinking Jesuits influenced the lawmakers to allow Catholics.

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Please tell me where you saw this....

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Originally Posted by Silver Rocket Bitches!

Isn't there a religion & philosophy subforum somewhere around here?

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The title gave fair warning. :)

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Originally Posted by Silver Rocket Bitches!

Isn't there a religion & philosophy subforum somewhere around here?

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You should watch the movie Red State by Kevin Smith.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ate_Poster.jpg

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Originally Posted by joboo

You should watch the movie Red State by Kevin Smith.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ate_Poster.jpg

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I just watched that movie. Super creepy - it's a very scary movie.

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Originally Posted by MAGNES

WOW !

You and some of your ignorant friends on here are not for real.

" Catholics are kabballists ", " Crosses are satanic" , " stone the Orthodox ",
you people are haters and destroyers of Europe and the planet.

Learn some history, Catholics and the Church are builders of Europe,
every single one of you would be bowing down and praying to Mecca
if it was not for them. That is just one fact. Despite it's excesses.

One liner haters with their troll posts Vs indisputable history.

" PEARLS BEFORE SWINE " ANTY EP, before he left for good.

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I've done my research and you did not nor could not disprove ONE iota of what I said. Islam was created BY Jesuits in 600ad.

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Originally Posted by steyr_m

Please tell me where you saw this....

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I believe this article addresses some of the history http://www.smithsonianmag.com/histor...tml?c=y&page=2
but if you want a really good history of Christianity in America, then no one on earth knows the founding fathers and early America history better than David Barton, David Barton was THE main consultant for American History for many years by anyone in Congress who wanted to know what the founding fathers thought about various issues, of course all that has changed as they don't care anymore.

David Barton website ---> http://wallbuilders.com/

Here is David Barton's sworn AFFIDAVIT during a 10th commandment court case

Affidavit in Support of the Ten Commandments
David Barton - 01/03/2001
(View the footnoted version on Liberty Council's website)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY

LONDON DIVISION



SARAH DOE and THOMAS DOE, on behalf

of themselves and their minor child, JAN DOE

Plaintiffs,

v Civil Action No. 99-508

HARLAN COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT;

DON MUSSELMAN, in his official capacity

as Superintendent of the Harlan Country

School District,

Defendents.

______________________________________________

AFFIDAVIT OF DAVID BARTON IN SUPPORT OF DEFENDANTS' OPPOSITION TO PLAINTIFFS' MOTION FOR CONTEMPT, OR, IN THE ALTERNATIVE, FOR SUPPLEMENTAL PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION


STATE OF TEXAS

COUNTY OF PARKER


Upon being duly sworn by the undersigned officer empowered to administer and attest to oaths, the Affiant, David Barton, testifies as follows:

1. I am a recognized authority in American history, particularly concerning the Colonial, Revolutionary, and Federal Eras.

2. I personally own a vast collection of thousands of documents of American history predating 1812, including handwritten works of the signers of the Declaration and the Constitution.

3. As a result of my expertise, I work as a consultant to national history textbook publishers and have been appointed by the State Boards of Education in States such as California and Texas to help write the American history and government standards for students in those States. Additionally, I consult with Governors and State Boards of Education in several other States and have testified in numerous State Legislatures on American history.

4. I am the recipient of several national and international awards, including the George Washington Honor Medal, the Daughters of the American Revolution Medal of Honor, Who's Who in America (1997, 1999), Who's Who in the World (1996, 1999), Who's Who in American Education (1996, 1997), International Who's Who of Professionals (1996), Two Thousand Notable American Men Hall of Fame (1995), Who's Who in the South and Southwest (1995, 1999), Who's Who Among Outstanding Americans (1994), Outstanding Young Men in America (1990), and numerous other awards.

5. I have also written and published numbers of books and articles on American history and its related issues. (Original Intent, 1996; Bulletproof George Washington, 1990; Ethics: An Early American Handbook, 1999; Lives of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, 1995, and many others).

6. I offer the following opinion regarding whether the Ten Commandments are a historical document in America's civil and judicial history based upon my expertise and study in the areas of American history and the forces and ideas that formed the basis for our system of laws and government.

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Originally Posted by StreetsOfGold

I've done my research and you did not nor could not disprove ONE iota of what I said. Islam was created BY Jesuits in 600ad.

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What an idiotic statement. The Society of Jesus wasn't even founded until 1540AD, over 900 years after the creation of Islam.