Donny

Lazonby,

It's hard to quote and reply to one word replies, so I'll just type to ya.

You don't believe heaven is a place up in the sky. Neither do I. I believe, as you do, that there are "other dimensions". And one of those could definitely be "heavenly".

This is just me: when I look at the Bible I see ancient writers trying to describe something they don't understand because they lack the education and scientific breakthroughs of today. I look beyond their ignorance and instead become excited because here are primitive, uneducated individuals describing, as best they can, other dimensions and "mystical" aspects of life. I believe people have simply misinterpreted what these people were trying to tell us. In fact, the writers themselves may not have fully understood what they were describing.

For example, in Revelations the author is supposedly seeing into the future. If you lived more than 2000 years ago and were able to look into today to see nuclear explosions, helicopters, and other aspects of modern technology, how would you describe it? That's what he faced. And before you ridicule John's "vision", let me point out something: Nostradamus is easily accepted by some of the same people who reject the Bible. Why is one "mystical" teaching accepted while anything "mystical" from a Bible writer is rejected? It's all because the followers of the Bible have really screwed things up for the rest of the world on numerous occasions. People who don't "believe" therefore naturally discount anything that relates to the Bible in any way.

Through the centuries, people have been brainwashed into taking everything in the Bible to be literal. Personally, I hated almost everything about the Bible because of that. The hatred remained until recently when I discovered some Christians are beginning to catch up with science. Some Christians are realizing that many parts of the Bible were "dumbed down" so that others could understand basic concepts. How would you possibly explain quantum physics to your 6 year old? You'd dumb it down, wouldn't you? That's exactly what you read when you see the Bible: a book written at a time when practically nobody was educated or could even read.

My problem had always been with "God's people". I've been interviewed on camera recently for a movie that's being shown at the Sundance film festival about the porn industry. I hope the part makes the cut where I tell the man interviewing me that some of the Christians I've known were far more horrible people than the most vile pornographers I've met. In fact, I say something similar in the radio interview I did for the Canadian talkback show the Drew Marshall Show. If I push out the memories and experiences from all the retarded Christians I've known, I have no problem with Jesus. The entire Bible takes on new meaning.

For centuries the Biblical texts weren't available to the general public. People relied on their religious leaders to TELL them what the Bible said, and what it meant. Everything the religious leaders spoke about was taken literally. That always bugged me because Jesus always spoke in parables, which kinda reveals the nature of God since Jesus is supposed to be God in the flesh. Many modern religious leaders are finally beginning to realize this. And THAT, my friend, is why I'm able to see Christianity in a whole new way.

Yes, some Christians will stick to tradition because they're afraid of change. But many churches are guiding their people into the changes I'm talking about. And I love that. The Bible and science are finally inching toward the place where they are able to work hand in hand.

You said:

Your damned right, most of those other Christians have it wrong. And now many are starting to realize it, which is why I recommend you read the book I mentioned before. It's a Christian best seller, and it points out how badly Christians have "had it wrong". The fact that it's a bestseller and is highly recommended by so many Christians sheds light on the fact that more and more Christians are beginning to realize they've been stupid. The word "Christian" is supposed to mean "like Christ". How many Christians do you see following his example? He judged no one. He loved everyone. The only time he got angry was when yelling at "pharisees". For centuries Christians have acted like the pharisees Jesus couldn't stand.

People are finally opening their eyes. The problem is, unless you're a Christian yourself, you don't know about this, because what sells newspapers and attracts TV viewers are scandals and idiots like Westover Baptist Church (the "God Hates Fags" group).

Fortunately for me, I ran into people who let me know that times are changing and I should at least look again. Once I did so, I found hundreds of thousands of evangelicals around the world are finally STARTING to "get it".