Rant: Repent THIS. [Archive]

SilverKnight

02-26-2002, 09:30 AM

"Repent, for the end is near."

At the risk of sounding preachy, am I the only one who is getting sick and tired of seeing that scrawled across IMs and boards at every possible convenience? I'm not a particularly religious person, but even I know what said statement above is supposed to be hinting at.

The Apocolypse. Armaggeddon. Ragnorok. World-go-boom time.

Now, I can understand why those who repeatedly chant this mantra would. Society is not at its personal best. Too many are asking for too much too quickly, with too few ways to circumvent or otherwise slow ourselves down. However, does that mean the world is coming to an end? Does that mean that we should give up and cower in a corner, waiting for whatever God or Fate you may believe in to get it over with already?

Personally, I say no.

Who are we do decide if, when, and how the world is coming to end? Furthermore, even if the world is going to be turned into space dust, why should we drop what we are doing and immediately change into something we're not? If I'm doing no harm to anyone or to myself, why should I fear what happens? I realize I'm not a very strong person in any sense of the word. However, I'm not going to drastically alter my lifestyle just to accomodate an event that might happen in the future.

"Repent, for the end is near."

I'm not a religious person. I don't go to church, I swear, and I eat meat on Friday's. Should, then, I take said statement to mean that I'm going to burn in firey pits of Hell for eternity if I don't immediately drop to my knees and say the rosary fifteen times? Could you imagine if such strict standards were put in real-life situations? Teacher: "You missed one question. Die." Somehow, I don't think that's what God was trying to get across.

We shouldn't do the right thing simply because we fear the consequences. We should do the right thing because it's the right thing to do. Doing what you're supposed to just because you don't want to get in trouble sounds not only flat, but idiotic as well. I'd like to think that I do the right thing because I enjoy helping others. I'd like to think that I'm a good person. I should repent that?

"Repent, for the end is near."

Repent this. I'm not going to live my life in fear of an inevitability that may or may not come in my lifetime. Life is complicated enough as it is, without having to add in the "we're all gonna die" factor. Maybe I'm being pig-headed, or small-minded, or blasphemous (I can see that smite comin'), but this is what I believe.

"Repent, for the end is near."

No. (I'd love to say that, just once.)

Clayface

02-26-2002, 09:54 AM

Get used to it. Unfortunately, there have been people spouting the end of the world for as long as man has been in existence on this planet. And there always will be.

SilverKnight

02-26-2002, 10:05 AM

I am used to it, more or less. I usually ignore them as quacks and psychos. :) But, this one dude sent me fifty emails that said nothing but that in the subject and text. It also crashed my computer. That kinda pissed me off. >grins< Thus the reason for said post. :D But, I'll shut up now.

Clayface

02-26-2002, 10:10 AM

Originally posted by SilverKnight
But, this one dude sent me fifty emails that said nothing but that in the subject and text. It also crashed my computer.

Hehe - probably an automated system set up to flood your box. Gotta love those internet nuts.

Calhoun07

02-26-2002, 11:48 AM

Without getting into any religious controversy, I will just repeat a good saying I've heard in the past: Live your life as if God is coming tomorrow, but plan it as if you have the rest of your life. Not that I am advocating any one religion here, I just thought that was a good statement.

SilverKnight

02-26-2002, 12:44 PM

Good statement. :)

The Game

02-26-2002, 12:49 PM

Good statement.

I second that. :)

Kylewayne

02-26-2002, 01:02 PM

Love the statement there Cal. :)

Feslmogh

02-26-2002, 01:16 PM

I can see where SilverKnight is comming from.

I'm a christian and I am also bothered with that letter that SilverKnight got in his inbox. You may skip this post you you don't like "religous" talk

Now, I can understand why those who repeatedly chant this mantra would. Society is not at its personal best. Too many are asking for too much too quickly, with too few ways to circumvent or otherwise slow ourselves down. However, does that mean the world is coming to an end? Does that mean that we should give up and cower in a corner, waiting for whatever God or Fate you may believe in to get it over with already?

Personally, I say no.

Who are we do decide if, when, and how the world is coming to end? Furthermore, even if the world is going to be turned into space dust, why should we drop what we are doing and immediately change into something we're not? If I'm doing no harm to anyone or to myself, why should I fear what happens? I realize I'm not a very strong person in any sense of the word. However, I'm not going to drastically alter my lifestyle just to accomodate an event that might happen in the future.

Hey, NO ONE exactly knows, even Jesus himself dosn't know , when the end will come. But the bible did leave a few clues. Have you ever read the Left Behind series? We should not give up and wait on the second comming. It's like sitting on a train track waiting to get hit by a train or not wanting to drive a car of fear of get smashed by another.

I'm not a religious person. I don't go to church, I swear, and I eat meat on Friday's.

I'm not either. I eat meat every day! In fact I had two hambers and red hots for lunch! (BURP)

Should, then, I take said statement to mean that I'm going to burn in firey pits of Hell for eternity if I don't immediately drop to my knees and say the rosary fifteen times? Could you imagine if such strict standards were put in real-life situations? Teacher: "You missed one question. Die!"/QUOTE]

Nah! That would be hopeless!

[QUOTE]Somehow, I don't think that's what God was trying to get across.

AMEN, Bother! It's faith in Him, not works by man!

We shouldn't do the right thing simply because we fear the consequences. We should do the right thing because it's the right thing to do. Doing what you're supposed to just because you don't want to get in trouble sounds not only flat, but idiotic as well. I'd like to think that I do the right thing because I enjoy helping others. I'd like to think that I'm a good person. I should repent that?

I still don't know how to put this quote without being preachy or infringing! But, yes, we should do the right thing to help others.

Repent this. I'm not going to live my life in fear of an inevitability that may or may not come in my lifetime. Life is complicated enough as it is, without having to add in the "we're all gonna die" factor. Maybe I'm being pig-headed, or small-minded, or blasphemous (I can see that smite comin'), but this is what I believe.

I'm not gonna smite ya. You are asking the right questions and I'm sure with a little more research, you'll see "the light"

Remember John 3:16-17...God so lovedthe world that he sent is only Son, Not to condem, but to SAVE!

READY FOR THE FLAMERS!!!

Karkull

02-26-2002, 01:17 PM

You make some good points, SilverKnight, but who exactly was asking you to repent?

Terminatah

02-26-2002, 01:31 PM

Originally posted by Calhoun07
Without getting into any religious controversy, I will just repeat a good saying I've heard in the past: Live your life as if God is coming tomorrow, but plan it as if you have the rest of your life. Not that I am advocating any one religion here, I just thought that was a good statement. I got a similar saying here in my apartment: Clean your room as if your parents are coming tomorrow, but plan it as if you have the rest of your life. The result is I keep planning to clean it the next day.

When does the room get cleaned? The day my parents call and tell me they're on the way.

-Terminatah

oranthal

02-26-2002, 01:59 PM

not to worry, Shinji will save us all when he decides to choose individuality even though that might bring pain caused by the emptiness in ourselves, so we must seek out people to validate our existence.

SilverKnight

02-26-2002, 02:46 PM

Originally posted by Karkull
You make some good points, SilverKnight, but who exactly was asking you to repent?

I don't know. Some guy that sent me fifty damn emails about the end of the world, or something. After the first one crashed my computer, I went back and deleted them all. Ah well.

batboy2001

02-26-2002, 05:18 PM

RockItShipper

02-26-2002, 11:39 PM

I think I got a 'repent' flyer with Kitty Hermione in an ebay transaction. Dumped it quickly, though.

Sango

02-27-2002, 12:31 AM

I agree with you for the most part on what you said. I'm really tired about hearing all of this end of the world stuff, too. Nobody knows when it's going to happen. It always makes me wonder how some people are so sure of when it will happen. =\

BTW, I don't eat meat on Fridays and I sometimes say the rosary...I suppose I'm the odd one of the forum! :cool: What's so bad if a person does that anyway? You guys make it sound like it's terrible...lol :D

Karkull

02-27-2002, 12:54 AM

Originally posted by SilverKnight
I don't know. Some guy that sent me fifty damn emails about the end of the world, or something. After the first one crashed my computer, I went back and deleted them all. Ah well.

Man, that guy sucks. Sorry he chose to mess with you, Silver.

SilverKnight

02-27-2002, 07:18 AM

Originally posted by Karkull

Man, that guy sucks. Sorry he chose to mess with you, Silver.

It's all good. My computer, such as it is, is still working. I haven't heard from the dude since, and I ranted, so I'm happy again. :D

Calhoun07

02-27-2002, 11:55 AM

I just wish that these people pushing off tracts and spam mail would realize it's not going to win people over to bang this message over the heads of people. What will win people over is your LIFESTYLE. If you live what you belive in, people will see that. And if a Christian is living their life right, people will be able to see the difference. They won't need a tract for every person they meet or have to send out 50 emails to each person's email address they get to let people know. And if a person is curious, they will ask. To witness by your lifestyle is far more effective than anything you can say.

Squall

02-28-2002, 07:03 AM

God put me on this planet to accomplish a certain number of things. Right now, I am so far behind, I will never die. :D

That must be Vandal Savage's secret! To become immortal, stay busy, and NEVER finish what you start! Keep those projects for World domination going on forever... :)

Feslmogh

02-28-2002, 11:19 AM

Originally posted by Calhoun07
I just wish that these people pushing off tracts and spam mail would realize it's not going to win people over to bang this message over the heads of people. What will win people over is your LIFESTYLE. If you live what you belive in, people will see that. And if a Christian is living their life right, people will be able to see the difference. They won't need a tract for every person they meet or have to send out 50 emails to each person's email address they get to let people know. And if a person is curious, they will ask. To witness by your lifestyle is far more effective than anything you can say.

AMEN, BROTHER!

James

02-28-2002, 09:32 PM

Originally posted by SilverKnight
"Repent, for the end is near."

At the risk of sounding preachy, am I the only one who is getting sick and tired of seeing that scrawled across IMs and boards at every possible convenience? I'm not a particularly religious person, but even I know what said statement above is supposed to be hinting at.

The Apocolypse. Armaggeddon. Ragnorok. World-go-boom time.

People like this have a personality problem. They use religion as a crutch to self define their own existence and bolster self esteem in what they are.

Personally, I don't see any relevance in trying to work out what is coming - end of the world or otherwise.

When it comes to 'the lord almighty' - there is no validation in my eyes what a God would truely want. I'm not a believer in the Bible - the NT had some nice guidelines on how to live in a society - philosophy which is relevant to all - but as a religious text, well to me it has as much chance of being accurate in the concept of Judgement as you and I (I don't believe in it being Word Of God - sorry!)

We can make assumptions what will get us into heaven/hell, but you could be just as likely to find out that God has a particular ove for grass and all those little blades are going to make up for a great deal of time in purgatory! You may scoff at the idea, but as God by definition is beyonds us, how can you define his objectives?

All in my opinion and I have no problems with anyone who is fortunate to have found something they genuinely believe in - in fact, I envy you. It must make existence a far less complicated affair.

I'm not so lucky.

I'm what you'd be probably best to describe as a Secular Humanist (from a few internet tests I've taken!). The belief does not involve the existence of a god, and that we are all responsible for our own actions. It goes further to say that what we do and how we live does define ourselves. You work for the greater good despite there being no rewards at the end.

This is not a preach as I have no interest in offering the information other than as a point of interest. While, say Christianity is broken into sects, agnostics and atheists rarely are and considered as a singular concept with no other defining beliefs.

Just some points that just came to my head - I hope this will just interest people as much as Feslmogh and like Feslmogh I have no intention of promoting or creating any religious arguments.

Just so any antagonistic peeps know that I have no intention of fighting any of these concepts out.

Take 'em or leave 'em.

SilverKnight

03-03-2002, 11:44 PM

Well said, SJJ. Well said.

Sango

03-04-2002, 07:36 PM