Lectori Salutem

[DLH]

Greetings readers, my name is Christian Lehrer, I'm a former atheist who became a Bible believer and I love talking about the Bible.

[RabbiKnife]

Welcome to our own little twisted corner of the universe

[Fenris]

Welcome to our own little twisted corner of the universe

Reminds me of how Clint Eastwood's character in "High Plains Drifter" changes the name of the town on the sign.

Or maybe that's just NYC now.

[RabbiKnife]

Welcome to our own little twisted corner of the universe

Reminds me of how Clint Eastwood's character in "High Plains Drifter" changes the name of the town on the sign.

Or maybe that's just NYC now.

I think NYC just changed its name to the same on the sign in High Plains Drifter...
Need some red paint?

[Fenris]

Need some red paint?

Not necessary, I'm sure there will be plenty of red blood will be flowing in the streets once he's done defunding the police.

He's going to disband the SRG unit, whose primary mission is to police events like protests.

He's also going to disband the Hate Crimes Task Force. Over 60% of bias crimes in the city are directed against Jews. I'm sure there's no connection though.

[Fenris]

Greetings readers, my name is Christian Lehrer

Your name means "Christian Teacher".

Accident? Coincidence?

[Fenris]

He's also going to disband the Hate Crimes Task Force. Over 60% of bias crimes in the city are directed against Jews. I'm sure there's no connection though.

I mean I guess it won't make a huge difference. Over the last two years, dozens of people have been arrested for crimes against Jews just for being Jews: assaults, property damage, harassment...

Precisely one was given jail time. Just one.

[RabbiKnife]

He's also going to disband the Hate Crimes Task Force. Over 60% of bias crimes in the city are directed against Jews. I'm sure there's no connection though.

I mean I guess it won't make a huge difference. Over the last two years, dozens of people have been arrested for crimes against Jews just for being Jews: assaults, property damage, harassment...

Precisely one was given jail time. Just one.

Head on a swivel and watch your six.
24/7
You are in a combat zone
And you. Your family.  Your friends.  Your house of worship are in my prayers

[Fenris]

Head on a swivel and watch your six.
24/7
You are in a combat zone
And you. Your family.  Your friends.  Your house of worship are in my prayers

Your prayers are always welcome, my friend.

I don't live in the city, fortunately.

But my daughter does, and my wife works in the city. We are concerned about the coming crime increase.

[DLH]

Greetings readers, my name is Christian Lehrer

Your name means "Christian Teacher".

Accident? Coincidence?

Sorry. I'm distracted by health issues the last few days. I should have waited to join. The name I picked for the forum is from a fictional character and in hindsight I didn't like it as a screen name. Hopefully I can participate after a few days but right now lurking is about as good as it gets.

[Fenris]

Sorry. I'm distracted by health issues the last few days. I should have waited to join. The name I picked for the forum is from a fictional character and in hindsight I didn't like it as a screen name. Hopefully I can participate after a few days but right now lurking is about as good as it gets.

Sorry to hear about the health issues. I hope you don't abandon us after just three posts. That might be a record.

[DLH]

Sorry to hear about the health issues. I hope you don't abandon us after just three posts. That might be a record.

Here's the thing, maybe you can help. I've not posted on a believing website since the mid 1990s. It went fine there, we had some great discussions, all got along well together though having little to nothing we agreed upon. Since then I have posted on many unbelieving forums and I can tell you, I've been kicked around enough. I don't mind there being no agreement but I don't want to waste my time or anyone else's time either.

I have never belonged to any political or religious group, but my beliefs are similar (though not exactly the same) as the Jehovah's Witnesses. Do you think it would be possible for us to have a meaningful and respectful discourse? 

[RabbiKnife]

We can certainly be respectful and have discussion, but you must know that is a Christian forum that isn’t bashful about its faith.

Various stripes of Christians, and of course, our friend Fenris, a devout son of Abraham, who probably knows more Christian’s theology than half the folks in your typical evangelical church on any given Sunday.

Fenris is also a deep well of info on all things Jewish, both faith and culture… and is a long loved friend.  We try not to eat bacon in front of him.

[DLH]

We can certainly be respectful and have discussion, but you must know that is a Christian forum that isn’t bashful about its faith.

Various stripes of Christians, and of course, our friend Fenris, a devout son of Abraham, who probably knows more Christian’s theology than half the folks in your typical evangelical church on any given Sunday.

Fenris is also a deep well of info on all things Jewish, both faith and culture… and is a long loved friend.  We try not to eat bacon in front of him.

I am of the opinion that in general, organized religion leaves little to be respected but the individual beliefs of other's should be respected no matter what they are or how much or little thought they may have put into it. In short, it's none of my business. But, on the other hand interpretation, doctrine, etc. varies a great deal. I think the variation becomes problematic only when ideological fixation becomes insistence.

When someone tells me that it isn't Christian to believe in the immortal soul of Socrates, the trinity of Plato, hell from Dante and Milton, the cross from Constantine, Easter from Ishtar, Christmas from Saturnalia you friend Fenris may or may not see the point in that but many Christians would object to it. Me, I understand that I have my reasons for rejecting those things but others do not.

From an intellectual or academic - theological perspective, it becomes a matter of scripture over doctrine. Immortal soul Phaedo, 80, D, E; 81, A or Ezekiel 18:4 and Matthew 10:28, but those aforementioned intellectual, academic, theological perspectives are between the individual and their God. I'm not the arbiter of those things. We can civilly discuss our variations but we can't enforce them. When it becomes a matter of ideological fixation posting on forums isn't possible if one doesn't agree with the general consensus. I discovered that with unbelieving forums.

Anyway, I'm having these terrible chest pains like I had when I had my first set of (6) heart attacks so I'm distracted and my concentration isn't what it normally is, but I'm going to give it my best shot. Keeping in mind for the reader, that my variation in belief doesn't intend to negate or supersede your own.

[RabbiKnife]

Get the cardiac issue squared away.

That’s got to be a priority