Latest activity

RileyG · Wednesday at 10:22 PM

ViaCrucis said:
There were literally "graven images" of cherubim upon the Ark which covered the kapporet where the Divine Glory--the Shekinah--dwelt.

So clearly depictions like this were not violations of the 1st Commandment's prescription against worshiping other gods and idolatry.

-CryptoLutheran

Amen, my brother in Christ!

Statues and icons are NOT idolatry because they aren’t being worshipped.

God alone is worshipped. Period!

RileyG · Wednesday at 10:21 PM

ozso said:
Not off topic. The Ark is a great point. I offered a counterpoint. That's my job as CF's contrarian pain in the neck.

Ok!

RileyG · Wednesday at 10:20 PM

FaithT said:
Last I heard, he was wanting to change the laws so he could run again.

I don’t think that can happen. He’s not supreme.

HARK! · Wednesday at 10:16 PM

JosephZ said:
more recent poll from CBS/YouGov:

This one is even more recent:

62% back Trump’s larger push to remove migrants who entered the US illegally

Most Americans OK with Trump migrant policies — except deportations to foreign jails and without court hearing: poll

More than 60% back President Trump’s larger push to remove migrants who entered the US illegally, the survey said.

nypost.com

BCP1928 · Wednesday at 10:13 PM

RDKirk said:
It looks like the National Guard is traveling unarmed, but in groups to lessen the chances of them being attacked. I'm not sure what they're supposed to do if faced with real trouble.

But, frankly, the DC Metro is quite safe. They are nowhere near as scary as NYC subways.

Login to view embedded media

It's becoming obvious to everyone that they don't venture into SE, armed or otherwise.

sjastro · Wednesday at 10:08 PM

AV1611VET said:
Thank you for your reply.

I appreciate it.

But show me one post in this thread that talks about the age of Andromeda.

I was careful to frame my posts so as to contain lookback time, not age.

You must think the readers of your "challenges" are totally braindead, completely illiterate or a combination of both.

AV1611VET:
I've read every post so far, and I don't see anyone confusing lookback time with the age of Andromeda.

Andromeda is as old as God willed it to be when He created it in 4004 BC.

It is also as far away as He willed it to be when He created it in 4004 BC.

Yet the light of Andromeda was on the earth before Adam was created two days later.

If you give me the exact date when the Andromeda Galaxy was created according to your version of the Bible it is either 6028 or 6029 years old

1Tonne · Wednesday at 10:06 PM

Xeno.of.athens said:
Your statement reflects a sincere engagement with eschatological themes, yet it diverges from Catholic doctrine in several key respects. The Church teaches that Christ will return in glory at the end of time, not merely at the "end of the age," and that this Second Coming will be definitive, ushering in the resurrection of the dead, the final judgement, and the fulfilment of the Kingdom of God (Catechism of the Catholic Church [CCC], §§675–682). The notion of a literal 1,000-year reign of Christ with martyrs, as described in Revelation 20:4–6, has been interpreted symbolically by the Church and is not affirmed as a future historical epoch. The Church rejects millenarianism in all its forms, including the idea of a temporal messianic kingdom prior to the final judgement (CCC §676).

Furthermore, the Catholic understanding of the resurrection and judgement is universal: all the dead will rise, both the righteous and the wicked, and each will be judged according to their deeds (John 5:28–29; CCC §§1038–1041). The imagery of meeting Christ "in the clouds" (cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:17) is understood as a metaphor for the final gathering of the faithful, not a separate event preceding judgement. You are encouraged to read these passages within the broader context of the Church’s magisterial teaching, which safeguards both the mystery and the unity of God’s salvific plan.

I do recognise the Catholic Church’s official teaching on these matters, but I hold to a different understanding based on the plain reading of Scripture.
Revelation 20:4–6 explicitly speaks of martyrs coming to life and reigning with Christ for a thousand years. John then says, “The rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished.” This seems to clearly distinguish between a first resurrection (of martyrs) and a second resurrection (of all people for final judgment). To interpret this entirely symbolically, in my view, undermines the natural flow of the passage.

I agree with you that at the end of time, all the dead will be raised and judged (John 5:28–29). But prior to that, Revelation points to a unique period where Christ reigns with those who laid down their lives for Him. This fits with passages like 2 Timothy 2:12, “If we endure, we shall also reign with Him.”

Regarding 1 Thessalonians 4:17, Paul says believers will be “caught up… in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” While Catholic teaching tends to see this as purely symbolic, the language seems to suggest a literal event tied to Christ’s coming.

I fully agree that Christ’s Second Coming will be glorious and final in the sense that it ushers in judgment and eternity. Where we differ is in whether Revelation 20 describes a literal intermediate reign. I believe Scripture teaches it does.

Ultimately, I think it’s wise to elevate Christ’s own words and the straightforward meaning of Scripture above later doctrinal developments. As Jesus Himself said in John 17:17, “Your word is truth.”

FaithT · Wednesday at 10:05 PM

FAITH-IN-HIM said:
I am a born-again Christian and do not identify as Republican or Democrat. I believe voting is a personal decision, and everyone should choose what they feel is best for the country or society. Whether someone votes for Trump or Harris, it doesn't matter to me. I really don’t care either way.

In America today, Christianity has become associated with individuals who have divorced and remarried multiple times, display disrespectful behavior, make false statements, and brag their sexual immorality openly. Some Christians appear to accept these behaviors because they support certain policies from this individual.

This thread discusses whether asking for forgiveness from God is important. Seeking God's forgiveness is a fundamental tenet of Christianity, but some defend President Trump to the extent that they support spreading false teachings.

Will an unbeliever who reads this thread, after seeing what’s been said about forgiveness, be open to a Christian asking them to seek God’s forgiveness for salvation? Wouldn’t they want to know the context in which they should ask?

Is it appropriate for Christians who accept multiple marriages and divorce to address the sanctity of marriage? Additionally, is it effective for a pastor to preach about humility, respect, and loving one's enemies while simultaneously praising and defending an individual whose behavior is characterized by name-calling, demagoguery, and frequent dishonesty?

If Christians choose to vote for President Trump or support his policies, that's their decision. However, why do they feel compelled to justify his actions that conflict with Christian principles?

It is possible for Christians to state that they supported President Trump because of certain policies, while acknowledging that his sexual behavior and approach to marriage do not align with Christian values or biblical principles.

Is it possible for Christians to state, "I voted for President Trump because of his policies, though his personal character or the way he treats others does not align with the Christian lifestyle"?

The events taking place today will have a lasting impact beyond President Trump's tenure in politics. Eventually, President Trump will leave the White House and his influence on American politics will diminish. What will remain, however, is the manner in which the majority Christian population supported a leader whose actions often did not align with traditional Christian values. That will be the legacy of this era.

As a Christian, I am concern about that.

i agree with you. My cousin is a very strict Catholic who voted for Trump and doesn’t like his personality but she admires his love for his country.

JosephZ · Wednesday at 10:05 PM

HARK! said:
The American people are delighted with this Administration's enforcement of the law.

HARK! said:
View attachment 368866

Democracy wins.

A more recent poll from CBS/YouGov:

A few other polls:

Americans largely oppose recent efforts by Donald Trump’s administration to scale up its deportation program, a new CNN poll conducted by SSRS finds, with a rising majority saying the president has gone too far in carrying out deportations.

In the latest survey, 55% say the president has gone too far when it comes to deporting immigrants living in the US illegally...

Only 38% of Americans support deporting all immigrants who are living in the United States illegally back to their home country according to this Gallup poll.

The Economist/YouGov Poll August 15 - 18, 2025

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling these specific issues?

53% Disapprove
43% Approve

Pew

65% of Americans say there should be ways for immigrants who are currently living in the country illegally to stay legally if certain requirements are met.
61% disapprove of deporting some immigrants who are in the United States illegally to a prison in El Salvador
60% of Americans disapprove of the suspension of most asylum applications.
59% disapprove of ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for many immigrants who came to the United States escaping war or other disasters at home.
54% disapprove of increasing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids on workplaces where people who are in the U.S. illegally may be working.
Only 31% of U.S. adults say there should be a national deportation effort.

PTW · Wednesday at 9:59 PM

Xyber 9: New Dawn

wing2000 · Wednesday at 9:58 PM

Trump stated that if he could save 7,000 lives...he might get to heaven.

And the tens of thousands of people that could be saved with U.S. aid (vaccines, food, etc)?

It was under his authority that US AID was shut down as well as funding for other humanitarian efforts around the world.

Say it aint so · Wednesday at 9:56 PM

Tuur said:
What power block? Christians don't all vote alike.

White Evangelical Christians. The Moral Majority. And yes, Trump does see it as a power bloc where he shares nothing come that faith.

ViaCrucis · Wednesday at 9:51 PM

ozso said:
The Ark wasn't a personification though. Nor was it personified.

There were literally "graven images" of cherubim upon the Ark which covered the kapporet where the Divine Glory--the Shekinah--dwelt.

So clearly depictions like this were not violations of the 1st Commandment's prescription against worshiping other gods and idolatry.

-CryptoLutheran

DragonFox91 · Wednesday at 9:50 PM

JAM2b said:
I would say so, in an indirect way. I was taught Gods will was for men and women to be married, have children, and the woman's place was to submit. Being equally yoked with a believer was drilled into us.

Higher education and a job or career was seen as a positive thing for women if your husband gave permission and you could do it without neglecting your duties at home and not deprive your husband of attention.

Also if you were tempted to have sex it was important to get married quickly so you weren't at risk of indulging. So any amount of lust or arousal, even without acting on it, ment you better get married. Rather than teaching realistic strategies for abstaining, we (meaning all singles) were told we were already sinning in our hearts and needed to get married to make it right.

Here is the miracle: despite all that, you didn't walk away from the Lord. You could've saw the lies you were told & connected those lies to God, & told him you had enough, the church let you down, how can you believe him on anything now, who cares, & other things really terrible I can't even think of right now. It's possible you could've become a real bitter person, but I doubt that. It's far more likely you'd have righted yourself, but w/out the Lord. So that you can still call yourself a Christian & be devoted to the Lord, that's the power of the God & the Gospel.

I hear about these churches that really push for marriage. As someone who's single & would like to be married, I used to wish I could go to a church like that, then I could be married! But lately I've been learning the truth: it's a mask. And eventually that mask comes off.
I remember growing up wanting to go to the 'fun churches'. The truth is: who knows what I was being saved from.

Say it aint so · Wednesday at 9:50 PM

Vambram said:
They were actively targeting their political opponents. It was not fraud at all that was targeted, but political opponents.

You just read what they were doing. That's ok, I expect nothing less.

ViaCrucis · Wednesday at 9:48 PM

Daniel Carlton said:
Is this not a problem for certain churches who claim to be following apostolic teaching?

No.

See: The Second Council of Nicea.

Iconoclasm is heretical for a reason.

-CryptoLutheran

Say it aint so · Wednesday at 9:48 PM

BeckyJ said:
"Biden was not letting people come in illegally."
Yes he did, by the millions.
Jesus Christ was not a displaced immigrant

That is false. And yes, Jesus was in fact a displaced immigrant. Go read your bible.

Say it aint so · Wednesday at 9:47 PM

Always in His Presence said:
Prove it - I showed you three years of Government employees being attacked - the Congress having a hearing on the issue and words from your own link.

You have alleged this twice now - time to prove it.

Crime is down 35%. Crime is NOT down to zero, which means crime happens. And LOL, a congressional hearing by the GOP.

FaithT · Wednesday at 9:42 PM

Akita Suggagaki said:
and Ukraine has nothing to do with it. Part of his problem is that he thinks he can do anything or buy anything.

True. I wonder how he got to be this way?

Tuur · Wednesday at 9:40 PM

AV1611VET said:
Neat.

What's this have to do with reconciling Genesis 1 with a product of theoretical physics?

It eliminates wormholes as a theoretical work-around. Even if a stable wormhole were possible, it would have to be huge not to show a parallax and there are more distant objects in the sky to account for than the Andromeda galaxy.

If you want to tinker with making creation in a literal six days fit, try time dilation so that six days from the standpoint of an observer is about 4 and a half billion by our perception. Then think of a way that it would work.

FaithT · Wednesday at 9:39 PM

RileyG said:
He’s no spring chicken. He won’t be around forever. We have term limits, after all.

Last I heard, he was wanting to change the laws so he could run again.

FaithT · Wednesday at 9:38 PM

ozso said:
I don't think that's what he meant.

Excuses

ViaCrucis · Wednesday at 9:37 PM

RDKirk said:
Doesn't that mean the heavenly relationships between people who had a relationship in this life will be the same quality (not any more or less special) as the heavenly relationships between people who had no relationship in this life?

That would seem to mesh with the biblical understanding of justice; the child who died in infancy will not have any less joy than the person who had a full and rich childhood. The one who was shunned in this life will discover an abundance of fellowship in the Age to Come.

-CryptoLutheran

Konnie King · Wednesday at 9:36 PM

Wally Gator

Latest activity

Latest activity

Filter

Forum statistics

Share this page