And frankly, if that were the only reason, Judaism would be one religion like all others with its own mythology. Is this how you view Israel?
*Actually, one of the reasons that I rejected the Tanakh (besides what seemed to be contradictions) along with the NT was the mythological copy-cat tales that are littered all throughout. What made the difference? An enlightened view to the Law of God according to Proverbs 2:1-7. It happened quite unexpectedly really, Lapell. Truly, if I could extract what I have experienced over the last couple of years and inject it into the veins of those around me, I would… then, you all would understand. But I can’t make you throw the curse from out of your minds… that is something I had to do myself and expect that you all have to do the same first as well. Jeremiah 17:5 <---- the curse. And it is truly a terrifying thing to shed for one as drenched into the christian mindset as I was… *
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*Think eternal suffering in hell is scary? Just you wait if you are ever blessed enough to experience the TRUE fear of God… the reward? wisdom!

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Why spill the blood of an animal if it is only symbolic? Why slain lambs?
*Lapell… BETTER the blood of an animal than that of a human… which was common back in the ancient times. One word: EVOLVING! *
And… why do you always have to add a “blush” sign? What do you mean in putting it? Ben uses to do that often… Are you he?
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shrugs I do not answer for Ben. I can’t say why he uses it. I use it either because I am embarrased for
you and all the others who believe the things you are supporting or because I am embarrased that I bought into some of it myself. But here…

<----- because I no longer am delusional and thus, a different smilie for your viewing pleasure. *
What has “abusing power” anything to do with it? And what do you mean by “all those things”? And how do you tell your sins from what you may think are sins but aren’t? And how do you tell what isn’t a sin from what you wrongly think not to be a sin?
*By all “those things” I meant … confessing sins to a priest, the rosary, and whatever else it is that you all do. When I wrong someone, I go straight to them and set things straight (no matter what) and when I wrong God, I go straight to Him. I get fed straight from the mouth of God as it is promised by Him to do… and I never expected such a thing, but it is happening (proverbs 2:1-7) … and the great thing is that I am not the only one… thus, I know that HE IS speaking to others for truly, these things could only be taught by Him. Have never heard them from a man’s mouth other than recently… as others are coming and testifying to hearing His teachings as well. AS the great testimonies say, “In the latter days, they will consider it perfectly.” … we weren’t set apart from the animals to end up being just like them, you know.

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Conscience alone is not sufficient if it doesn’t have sufficient light and sufficient knowledge…
*Perhaps not in those who are unaware of God… for me, it was sufficient. My conscience was enough to clue me into a GREAT WORK going on. I can only explain it in the comparison to gravity. That it is there is enough to know it came from somewhere though I can’t explain all the inner workings of it… but
that it is there, I know there is a reason. Just like the tides of the oceans are affected by the moon (something outside of our world), my conscience is affected by something outside of myself… there is a reason… and that is one of the reasons that even when I called myself an atheist, I never truly believed there was not a God… and certainly I knew that He was trying to grab my attention.

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