http://www.firesociety.com FireSociety Forums - Culture Fires - Religious Liberty Wed, 11 Jun 2008 07:42:37 GMT admin@firesociety.com FireSociety 60 http://www.firesociety.com/images/home/mainlogo.gif http://www.firesociety.com http://www.firesociety.com/forum/thread/26371/about-Joel-Osteen/?src=103 I just found out this from wikipedia. Osteen received much criticism from many in the Evangelical community, after a 2005 appearance on Larry King Live , when he did not clearly affirm that Jesus Christ is the only way a person can reach Heaven. He stated repeatedly that only God knows a person's heart, but that as a believer in the Christian faith he believes in an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. [14] In late 2006, Osteen again appeared on Larry King Live and clarified his prior statement, saying he does in fact believe a personal relationship with Christ is the only way to Heaven. [14] On the December 23, 2007 edition of Fox News Sunday , host Chris Wallace brought up criticisms of Osteen's lack of Scripture reference in his sermons, as well as his hesitancy to discuss sin as an integral part of life. Osteen responded: "And I am ultimately trying to do that, but I'm trying to teach people how to live their everyday lives, and so I do focus on it, probably not as much as some people would like." [17] Osteen has also received criticism for his lack of formal theological training. Osteen has received ... Wed, 11 Jun 2008 07:42:35 GMT kmcheng http://www.firesociety.com/forum/thread/26371/about-Joel-Osteen/?src=103 http://www.firesociety.com/forum/thread/22764/Oprah-And-Friends-Teach-Course-On-New-Age-Christ-----A-Slain-Christ-has-No-Meaning---/?src=103 I received this in an e-mail and had to share it with as many people as possible!   I went and checked it out myself and sure enough they are in fact teaching the course!  What a bunch of bunk!!! http://www2.oprah.com/xm/mwilliamson/mwilliamson_about.jhtml              "Oprah and Friends" to teach course on New Age Christ     This is very discouraging news to hear about one who has such tremendous influence on the general public.            Just to make sure this was true, I went on Oprah's website and there it is.  The below article is very interesting, so I thought I would share.          http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/007/smith-oprah.htm or < http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/007... size="3">             "Oprah and Friends" to teach course on New Age Christ.         Jesus Christ being reinvented, redefined, and blasphemed and, this false New- Age Christ teaching is about to make huge inroads into the world, with the help of the queen of television talk shows, Oprah Winfrey.           Oprah Winfrey, beginning January 1, 2008, on her daily radio program will offer a year-long course on the New Age Christ , in a lesson a day and completely cover the 365 lessons from the Course in Miracles "Workbook." ... Sun, 02 Mar 2008 02:56:35 GMT Lady Jane http://www.firesociety.com/forum/thread/22764/Oprah-And-Friends-Teach-Course-On-New-Age-Christ-----A-Slain-Christ-has-No-Meaning---/?src=103 http://www.firesociety.com/forum/thread/14523/Wiccans--Pagans--and-Druids........Oh-My------/?src=103 I would like to know whether or not anyone has any decent questions for me about being Wiccan. Please refrain from questions such as "how many babies have you killed" and "can you fly on a broom?"   I will answer questions, and I will argue points of theology, but I will not abide by questions from people with only idiocy and anger in their thoughts....... Wed, 13 Jun 2007 06:32:56 GMT EvilMonkeyPerson72 http://www.firesociety.com/forum/thread/14523/Wiccans--Pagans--and-Druids........Oh-My------/?src=103 http://www.firesociety.com/forum/thread/23479/Pastor-Sued-for-Publicly-Acknowledging-Jesus/?src=103 I received the following disturbing email today and when I searched the forum here I couldn't find anything on this guy so I thought I should share it. This man may need Grassfire help ; (email from www.faithandaction.org ) <Email> Imagine a leading pastor being asked to open a public meeting in prayer—and then being told he can't pray in Jesus' name because it's unconstitutional! That’s exactly what happened to 58 year old Baptist minister, Rev. Hashmel Turner, of Fredericksburg, Virginia. Pastor Turner, an esteemed African-American clergyman, who grew up in poverty, was fed by church people, and gave his life to Jesus Christ in a Billy Graham Crusade, is now going to court to defend the right of Christian clergy to pray in public meetings according to their conscience. Hashmel was sued because he dared to end his prayers at the Fredericksburg, Virginia, city council meetings with these powerful words: In Jesus Name! Apparently, the mention of the name of Jesus in a public meeting is enough to create a constitutional crisis. Now, Pastor Turner is a modern day “David” fighting against “Goliaths” like the ACLU and Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, who brought suit against him, claiming ... Wed, 26 Mar 2008 01:57:04 GMT hall_n_a http://www.firesociety.com/forum/thread/23479/Pastor-Sued-for-Publicly-Acknowledging-Jesus/?src=103 http://www.firesociety.com/forum/thread/25254/Ohio-Senate-Bill-305/?src=103 Friends: As I began to read the details of Ohio Senate Bill 305, I was amazed at how outrageous it is. PLEASE CALL these committee members after you review the bullet points below. Linda Harvey Mission America www.missionamerica.com www.truthatschool.org ·          Requires employers to hire, or to retain if already employed, open homosexuals and cross-dressers. This includes schools with no exemption for religious or private schools, and I think it must apply to churches as well! ·          Requires day care facilities to hire the same (homosexuals , cross-dressers, etc.), and to admit little children who may be cross-dressing or who openly identify as "homosexual." (Seems unlikely, except that openly cross-gender children already attend grade schools in FL, CA, MA, PA and CO, according to press accounts). ·          Requires schools to admit or retain openly homosexual or cross- dressing students. This includes religious and private schools. ·          Requires any business, organization or agency that seeks to bid on Ohio contracts to have a non-discrimination clause for hiring or retaining homosexuals or cross-dressers. There is no religious exemption. ·          Requires landlords or property owners to rent or sell to open homosexuals or cross-dressers. Housing owned by private clubs or religious groups is ... Sun, 11 May 2008 21:26:27 GMT Greg Badger http://www.firesociety.com/forum/thread/25254/Ohio-Senate-Bill-305/?src=103 http://www.firesociety.com/forum/thread/25053/At-issue--Free-speech--military-chaplains/?src=103 Chad Groening - OneNewsNow - 5/6/2008 8:00:00 AM   A free-speech rights group says there have been increasing reports from military chaplains claiming that military commanders are unjustly suppressing their worship services.     The  American Center for Law & Justice  (ACLJ) has been working with Congressman Walter Jones (R-North Carolina) in urging President Bush to issue an executive order to protect the right of military chaplains to pray and worship according to their faith. ACLJ spokesman Colby May says unfortunately there are numerous reports of chaplains being ordered to restrict their prayers while on the front lines in Iraq.   "The forum of worship that they may learn from their tradition -- Baptist, Catholic, whatever -- are [sic] essentially being suppressed," says May. "[C]ommanders are asking that prayers not be in, for example, Jesus' name and that they otherwise sort of be 'non-denominational or not sectarian.'"   May contends that in many of these instances, chaplains believe this is infringing on their expression faith through their "ordaining body." He says chaplains, unlike regular soldiers, are assigned through their "ordaining agency," which means they bring their traditional worship practices with them.   "When the military says you can't do it, ... Wed, 07 May 2008 02:48:51 GMT kmcheng http://www.firesociety.com/forum/thread/25053/At-issue--Free-speech--military-chaplains/?src=103 http://www.firesociety.com/forum/thread/20879/Excuse-me...but-Islam-should-be-outlawed---/?src=103   Paticipating in a "religion" that allows killing is not a liberty...  Another case of a wacko muslim killing his two daughters becasue they dated boys.... Link!   Outlaw Islam Now!!!  Sun, 06 Jan 2008 17:00:38 GMT Rayj00 http://www.firesociety.com/forum/thread/20879/Excuse-me...but-Islam-should-be-outlawed---/?src=103 http://www.firesociety.com/forum/thread/22997/Politicians-and-their-Religion/?src=103 I just read a post on one of the threads discussing the importance of our leaders faith.  I wonder how all of you feel about this: Does it matter if a Politician is a Muslim, Buddist, Hindu, Christian, Jew?   Sat, 08 Mar 2008 13:00:10 GMT elaina http://www.firesociety.com/forum/thread/22997/Politicians-and-their-Religion/?src=103 http://www.firesociety.com/forum/thread/20603/Pastor-Joel-Osteen-speaks-out-on-Mormonism/?src=103 Allie Martin OneNewsNow.com December 28, 2007 The pastor of the nation's largest church has offered his take on Mormonism. Joel Osteen is pastor of Houston's Lakewood Church, which -- according to Outreach Magazine -- hosts approximately 47,000 people each weekend in a renovated former NBA arena. Two days before Christmas, the best-selling author made an appearance on Fox News Sunday with host Chris Wallace, where he was asked about the role of religion in politics. More specifically, Osteen was asked about the Mormon faith, and whether a Mormon could be classified as "a true Christian." "In my mind they are," Osteen said. "Mitt Romney has said that he believes in Christ as his Savior, and that's what I believe. I'm not the one to judge the little details of [Romney's religion], so I believe [Mormons are Christians] and Mitt Romney seems like a man of character and integrity to me and I don't think anything would stop me from voting for him if that's what I felt like." When asked about specifics of the Mormon faith, such as the gold tablets allegedly found by Joseph Smith with the so-called "new revelation" from God, and the belief that humans can become ... Sat, 29 Dec 2007 05:04:20 GMT kmcheng http://www.firesociety.com/forum/thread/20603/Pastor-Joel-Osteen-speaks-out-on-Mormonism/?src=103 http://www.firesociety.com/forum/thread/22747/Bellevue-builds-evangelistic-bridge-with-Passion-Play/?src=103 Randall Murphree - Guest Columnist (first in a five-part series) - 2/29/2008 8:45:00 AM   What's your choice -- word or image, talk or action, sermon or drama? We learn by the use of the senses, and it is common wisdom that some methods of communication are more effective than others. Researchers have long recognized that concepts communicated through a combination of sensory stimuli will enhance the retention rate of what we encounter. (See sidebar)     Against that backdrop, communication through the dramatic arts is having a renewed impact in the church. Dr. Dale Savidge, executive director of  Christians in Theatre Arts , said the variety of forms drama takes in today's culture is amazing. "It would be impossible to describe all of the things people are doing," he said. "Churches have been using drama since the Middle Ages, but it changes very rapidly."   Many of today's Christian artists, professional in every sense of the word, are engaged in full-time ministry. They offer their dramas, monologues, mime, dance and more to enhance the message of the local church.   Other drama ministries are church-based. For example, the Passion Play at Bellevue Baptist Church is a high-profile, professionally done ... Sat, 01 Mar 2008 04:23:34 GMT kmcheng http://www.firesociety.com/forum/thread/22747/Bellevue-builds-evangelistic-bridge-with-Passion-Play/?src=103