Hi there,
I know nothing about D&D apart from what I have read about it here. All I know is that I had never heard of it at all til last year (perhaps its not popular in England I dunno) but anyways, the first I heard of it was at a talk about the occult at a christian camp and D&D did come into it and it was talked of in a negative manner and very harmful. Not just to Christians, but to anyone who plays it as with any other form of occultism. It might not seem harmful at the time, but it is one of those shiny, exciting things that draws people in. I expect True Christian's who play D&D understand that it is 'just a game' the same way that reading Harry Potter books is 'just a story' but to others it can be the start of a slippery slope into the 'dark'.
Just my opinions, from what I have heard!
Marie

I mainly use the NIV because I find the translation easy to understand. I really like the KJV because I love the language used in it but i don't have one of my own.

Thank you IconHis and MalkeyEl! A really truthful and interesting answer and great scripture to back it up! I really appreciate you taking the time to answer!
God Bless,
Marie

I don't agree. I don't think God or Jesus would either - sorry, I don't want to sound like I'm condemning you at all! I just think that if Jesus was alive today he would want to spend more time with unbelievers than with the people who are already saved. Afterall, we aren't supposed to keep our faith hidden under a bushel. lets not be selfish, but share it with everyone.

If atheists want to come here to try and disprove christianity, let us let them try. But remember that with God on our side nobody can beat us down!

I'd like to post these 2 verses:

If God Is for us who can be against us? Romans 8:31

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. 1Peter 3:15

Why would it be wrong to date someone who is not brainwashed.  They were born into this world like everyone else as an atheist.  Everyone is born an atheist by default.  

I’m sorry, but I really don’t believe that I have been brainwashed. When you are brainwashed you have absolutely no choice about the things you say, do or believe. I know that at any point in my life I could walk away from my faith and stop believing in God (you did after all) – I am not planning on doing that EVER as I have seen God at work in too many ways and I completely trust and believe in Him.

They were born into this world like everyone else as an atheist.

Again, I simply don’t agree with you that everyone is born an atheist. An atheist is someone who has formed the opinion that God doesn’t exist. When you are born you cannot possibly have beliefs such as this because you don’t know anything about God at all. The same goes for people who live in the most remote parts of the world, who never hear anything about God – I would not call them atheists either. They simply haven’t had the chance to hear anything about Him to form their own opinions

And like a cult but on  a much larger scale, which makes it easier to believe, you are coerced and ridden with guilt (sins, sex) to believe, be afraid, in this God.

No, no and no again. Christians are not brought up with guilt. That is not what the faith is about at all. YES you have to admit that you are a sinner – you cannot deny that you have never done anything wrong in your whole life. Even if you haven’t broken a religious law such as one of the 10 commandments, I am sure you have, for example, lied to someone, which is seen as wrong by everyone, not just Christians! Christianity is actually about having no guilt, because Jesus paid for all the sins we were ever going to commit when he made himself a perfect sacrifice on the Cross.
Yes I do fear God, but I also love Him and want to do my best for Him. It is not a fear in the way that I am scared of violent people, but a respectful fear, in the same way that I fear my earthly parents.

Christian morality is backward and ancient

Please can you explain how it is backward? Just because it is ancient, doesn’t mean it is irrelevant – I believe that although Christian morality that you find in the Bible was written thousands of years ago, it is ‘alive’  - Perhaps a Christian Cliché, but it works so I’m sticking with it! It is still as relevant today as it was back in Jesus’ day.

The Bible is filled with murder, rape, and child abuse.  Most of this is done or defended by God

Can you back this up please? Perhaps it is in there, but I would encourage you to show people where exactly so that they can form their own opinions instead of blindly following what you say.

If you completely believe in the Bible, how do you know the Bible was influenced by God and not Lucifer.  Theoretically couldn't Satan have used the Bible as a way to divert everyone away from the real truth

I’m not entirely sure about what you are saying here…
The Bible clearly says that God is love and the Devil is completely Evil.
Are you saying that the Devil could have influenced people to write this?
If you are, what do you suggest his motives are? To conceal WHAT truth from people exactly? I don’t get it.

I don't want any of you to call me satanists because all of you are the satanists since I don't believe in Satan and you do.

I’m not going to call you a Satanist, but neither would I call myself one. Yes, I believe in the devil, but I do not worship him. I know he exists, and that he is the father of lies and evil.

I too love the harry potter books. Read them all more than once and can't wait to see the film on saturday!  

Thank you so much MalkyEL! That certainly helps a lot!!
Marie

That final quotation should read:

"For everything got started in him"

I know that God created us, but why did he put us on earth?  And if he is all knowing, then why did he allow Adam and Eve to fall?  What is the purpose?

I believe that God created us for many reasons.
Firstly for his pleasure. Our God is a creative God. He has a need to create and he loves everything and everyone he has ever created. He loved humankind so much that he placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden - in His BEST place, and put them in charge. Because we were created for God's pleasure everything we do should please him!

Secondly, We were created to be a part of God's Family. God Loves family life. He wants us, as his children, to share in his Glory (See Hebrews 2:10 and 1John 3:1)

"When we become Christians, God becomes our father, we become His children and other Christians become our brother's and Sister's and the Church becomes our Spiritual family" (The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren)

Thirdly, we were created to become like Christ. Only Human beings are made in Christ's image!!
Remember, Jesus was the image of God made man - We should all strive to be like Jesus, the perfect human!!

Fourthly, we were created for serving God. Again, we should follow Jesus' example in being a servant and doing good deeds for others. (Ephesians 2:10)

Finally, we were created for a mission. Each of us has a purpose in this life and God has equipped us to do it. It is one of our tasks as a Christian to discover our gifts and talents and find out what Mission God has got planned for us.

Let me finish off with this verse...

For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visitble and invisible... Everything god started in Him and finds its purpose in Him!" Collossians 1:16 (Message)

Hope that helps!
God Bless,
Marie

Ok, here is my two pennies worth...

Being a Christian, and having the beliefs that I have, I couldn't ever see myself going out with a Non-Christian (least of all an atheist) again. I believe that you have to be very careful when getting into relationships with people. Really pray about it!! You have to know that it is God's will that the relationship happens - and you will know!!

I went out with my last boyfriend for 2 years. He is a Christian and we thought we would be together forever, however, we split up and I couldn't understand why. Now, a year on I am beginning to understand why. Although I prayed about getting into the relationship and heard a 'yes' from God I can now see why we split up. I really believe that as Christians we need to be with someone who will strengthen our faith - someone who we can read the Bible with, and learn and grow in faith with. The biggest thing i think is that we can pray with our partner! I didn't really do any of those things with my last boyfriend. I don't think that is particularly why we split up - I truely believe that it was Gods will and plan for that to happen so that I could learn from the experience. Otherwise he wouldn't have said yes to the relationship in the first place would he!?

Anyways, sorry for my ramblings - I will just reiterate my main points:

I believe that you should be able to read the Bible, Grow and learn more together and most importantly be able to pray together.

This is purely from my experience in the past. I know everyone is different. Some Christians I know have married their Non-Christian partners and are still married - My parents are two such people, but I have seen the problems it has caused. I may post more about this another time, but i think I have probably said enough for now!!

God Bless,
Marie

Thanks for your responses!
I have personally never been the teeniest bit tempted to get involved in magic, oija boards or anything else to do with the occult. I was just interested to see what others thought.
It is something I worry about a lot because it is so attractive to non christians - especially séances and going to visit mediums, because they don't know what happens to their friends and family when they die. I guess they find it a comfort. I really pray that people wouldn't be tempted and fooled by it!!

I also want to ask about Masons. Does anyone know anything about them? I ask because a lot of the men that go to my church are involved in masonry. They call themselves Christians and do a lot of good work, but I have heard that some of the rituals and vows they perform and take are definitely not Christian. Other than that I know nothing about it. I just get a feeling that it has its roots in evil - Can anyone help?

Thanks again!
Marie

Thanks for all the welcome messages!

Hi there,
In England on Monday night there was a programme called 'Derren Brown - Séance' on TV. For those of you who don't know, Derren Brown is an illusionist. He basically got a few students together - about 15 i think and did a oija board with them and performed a séance. I did not watch this programme as I believe what the Bible says about the occult here > Isaiah 8:16-20 Deut 18:9-13, 1Sam 28:3-25 and 2Kings 17:17.
I suppose what I want to ask is why do people get so sucked in to things like this? I believe it is both pointless and dangerous to get involved with the occult, so why do you think it is such a tempting thing?
Also along these lines, what do you think about Harry Potter? - I personally love the books, but witchcraft and wizardry is completely forbidden in the Bible. Do you think it is ok to read these books having a really strong grounding in the Christian faith, or do you think it can be really damaging?
I look forward to your replies!
God Bless,
Marie
xxx

Hi there!
Welcome from one newbie to another!
I just joined yesterday. I too run my own forum - you can see it by clicking on my profile! I would love to have a look at your forum too!
God Bless,
Marie

Hi all!
I just registered and thought I would introduce myself.
My name is Marie and I am 21 from England. I have just finished uni so am currently doing all the hours I can at our local gymnastics club coaching 6-15 year olds. I'm really loving it.
In my spare time I like to read, generally hang out with friends, do a bit of photography and I also spend a lot of time on the internet, chatting to friends on MSN or updating my website.
I look forward to getting to know you all! This seems like a really good forum!
God Bless,
Marie