@Boallods Amen to that!!

@DoubleRings Your observations are very interesting. Thank you. Those would be good reasons, and they do, but only for those who truly know Christ, not those who think they do, as the Holy Spirit is the Great Comforter. Without Him, no hope can be established when it comes to eternity and where one will spend it, but do you really think people care about other people, that they would invent this "just because they care"? I highly doubt it. Most people only care about themselves.

As for moral order, I can't see that either, because even in the old Roman days, history shows, now and then, that people will act any way they want and are immoral. It is the Holy Spirit that brings conviction, and if one does not have that, they would not care if God approved of their actions or not. Especially if they do not believe in God. So I cannot see that as stopping anyone from being immoral if they so choose. We see that in society today.

We will have to agree to disagree. @LadyGrace

@DoubleRings Thanks honey.

@SW-User It certainly does, because He revealed His plan in His Word. We are seeing prophecy unfold before our very eyes. What God is showing us now, is what this world looks like without Him and exactly why we need Him. He is the remedy, but people turn Him away, so you see the condition man has put himself in, with his rebellion towards Christ and appetite for evil. God has never forced man to rape, steal, or destroy.

@LadyGrace I would believe this if the followers of god would be left out of the struggle. That’s not the case. A serial killer’s child can be happy,rich and famous while a follower can lose the child to terminal illness.

@SW-User Remember that this world has sin in it. That makes all susceptible to diseases, etc. What about people who do not take care of themselves, then develop cancer? God did not cause that. There are many factors to consider. The way everyone learns and grows throughout their lives, are by trials and challenges. Jesus never promised life would be easy. He promised to help us through our problems. This is a part of life we'll face until we die. Problems can help us grow stronger in many ways. They aren't there to hurt us. They are there to help us. The only tragedy is when we don't learn the lesson. Then we don't learn, grow, or advance. We just stay stuck. Not all are teachable.

@SW-User MAN is all about control. What he doesn't understand, he tries to manipulate and control. That can't be done with God. But you are right. Religion is all about control. Jesus is not. Huge difference.

Taking one's own life is a sin, yes. That's because if one has not been saved and they cut their life short, they can't repent if they are dead, and therefore would still be cut off from God and Heaven. For a Christian, it is an even greater tragedy because it is a waste of a life that God intended to use in a glorious way. The Bible clearly expresses the sanctity of human life (Exodus 20:13).

@LadyGrace
All religious belief systems have been corrupted by men to serve their agendas of control and coercion.

The rumor is that the Vatican is hiding teachings of jesus that reject the church and tell that the temple of God is in each of us and we don't need priests to teach us God's word or places of worship to gather together..

It's easy to imagine why such teachings would be hidden by the church.

Where so ever two men gather together in my name, there to am i..

@SW-User I'm sure all "religious" belief systems have, that is correct, but those in Christ, who have a personal relationship with Him, are free in Him, not slaves, but freed from the grips of sin over them. Any who know Christ, understand that and what it means.

I take no stock in rumors.