.

To each his own belief, under one god, what ever be he named.

Or she?

Organized religion is a product of man and as such is very imperfect. It inevitably comes to serve those who define it and create it. Faith and belief on the other hand are unto each of us alone our way to live with and serve our creator. We must in the end be true to ourselves in a way that meets the needs and desires of the One we percieve to be over us. In doing so we do what is.... in the end.... best for us and our fellow man. Peace. Love. Charity. Faith. Honor. These are what makes a just and decent society.

The only thing I get annoyed with is the sentiment from some theists that morals, service and charity are somehow imparted from a divine creator and those of us who do not believe in such creator either don`t have these things or have come by them through some miraculous event or contact with religious folk. This is not the sentiment of most religious folk, but there always seems to be comments like ``Wow, he`s an atheist but he is a good, caring, upstanding person. Who would have thought``

You are right amf. They are called values. You may get the from religious beliefs. You may maybe get them from your family background and upbringing and rarely you might develop them for yourself. One thing is for sure there are many sources, not all religious.

There is so much that I have started to say on this subject, and have erased because what I have learn in the past through research would offend those who believe every thing that the Church has drummed into every one of us. When I say church, I mean every type of religious organization. Every time something is discovered that might go against their teachings, it is trashed, and all those that have brought it to light are denounced as heretics. We are talking about teachings and editing that has happened thousands of years ago by superstitious men who looked at a meteor slashing through the sky as a sign from god.
Every body puts the blame on god, saying “It was the will of God” when someone died or the crops were bad. A physician cuts with a dirty blade and the patient died of blood poisoning, but it was the will of god.
GOD is the major excuse for every malady that has happened to man (men, women, children, dogs, cats , whatever). We fear GOD, even though he is suppose to be, merciful, vengeful, and everything outside and in between.
What ever happens, we are responsible for our actions. If your neighbor gets hit by lightning while playing golf, well maybe God did strike him for being Friggin DUMB, and then maybe it was just chance. Whatever, and please, no more, GOD made me do it, sh!t.

Has anyone been successful getting their filthy hands clean using a filthy rag?

In Isaiah 64 it says:

6"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."

So the fact that i shake hands, kiss babies, am peaceful, loving, charitable, have high morals, am caring, an upstanding good person, faithful, honorable, gentle, kind, considerate and handsome........ means nothing in the sight of a perfect Sovereign God.

There was only One way I found to clean my hands.... and that was with His sacrificed blood.

Crier

Ranger you have to admit it is useful to have a hypothetical, inaccessible and invisible entity (or entities) to blame all mans woes on. Otherwise we might have to take responsibility and blame ourselves.

After spending some time here, I've seen a lot of references to the bible, bible quotes and a few mentions of the apocalypse. Are most people here theists or religious? To what extent does your religion inform your prepping plans?

Perhaps I am the odd one out - I am not religious.

Like Ranger I have many things I have started to type/want to type in response to some of the posts here. However I think perhaps we are getting off of the topic here as per the OP above. I do not think we are heading down a very healthy track with the way a few recent posts have gone and do not think we need to continue to risk offending people.

And I am man enough to admit that perhaps I offended someone with my doorknob comment earlier, and if so please forgive me I was off topic as well. I was just trying to get across the idea that perhaps we should accept each other and try to work together rather than against.

Crashed,
Well said

Suck it up buttercups. 😀

I certainly didnt see anything written by anyone that would offend me. Most likely because I'm 100% confident in my faith and beliefs.

Truth be known, I'm more cautious of folks who claim to be Christians than unbelievers.......

And if I wrote anything that offended anyone, I certainly wouldn't offer an apology. Most likely because it is my testimony and everything was directed at myself......

Crier

After spending some time here, I've seen a lot of references to the bible, bible quotes and a few mentions of the apocalypse. Are most people here theists or religious? To what extent does your religion inform your prepping plans?

Perhaps I am the odd one out - I am not religious.

Like Ranger I have many things I have started to type/want to type in response to some of the posts here. However I think perhaps we are getting off of the topic here as per the OP above. I do not think we are heading down a very healthy track with the way a few recent posts have gone and do not think we need to continue to risk offending people.

And I am man enough to admit that perhaps I offended someone with my doorknob comment earlier, and if so please forgive me I was off topic as well. I was just trying to get across the idea that perhaps we should accept each other and try to work together rather than against.

I can only speak for myself but I wasn't insulted at all by your doorknob post. It was obviously a mild joke. No big deal.

I suppose I am a Christian (in training) 😕 . My wife's Christian faith is much stronger than mine. She keeps hoping I will become a more faithful Christian. Unfortunately I just can't seem to get the hang of that whole "Turn the other cheek" thing. 😳

Now getting back to the OP, I believe Jesus is the ultimate prepper.

Is says in John 14:1- 4

1“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions;[a] if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

While I wait, I think it imperative to be gentle as a dove and wise as a fox. 😉

I seriously believe after reading each entry in this thread, that one of the first things we need to know when vetting someone for our groups is where they are spiritually. Along with alchohol and drugs, these are the ones that will divide people down the road.
If we end up in a group or community trying to live together, this can't come up in a pinch. You have to pinch long before that.