Groups

  • Translating God's Word
    Name:
    Translating God's Word
    Category: Science & Religion
    Status: Member
    Description: What do you look for in a Bible translation? Basically, there are two types: a literal (word for word) rendition and a dynamic equivalent (paraphrase or idiomatic). The first clings as closely as possible to the original language, that is, as much as idioms and word choice will allow. In contrast, the paraphrase is a “free” translation in which the translator seeks to express the original writer’s thoughts as he may interpret them rather than the exact words used in the text. ……………………………………………………………………………………………… This group’s primary concern is using good translations as well as using a variety of English translations. However, our discussions can cover any area that is Bible related and, or related to Bible study and research. Our two group texts are Proverbs 2:1-6 and John 17:3. Here are some of the areas of interest for this group. ………………………………………………………………………………………………. • Hermeneutics • History of Judaism • Textual Criticism • Bible Translation • Biblical Greek • Biblical Hebrew • Semantics • Exegesis • Doctrines • Archaeology • Bible Chronology • Theology • Inductive Bible Study • History of Christianity • History of Religion • How the Bible Came Down To Us • Customs and Culture • Study of Bible (Chapter by Chapter) ……………………………………………………………………………………………… This list is not exhaustive, but it should give you some ideas. If anyone disagrees with another, simply quote the person and give your logical reason as to why. Then site a web address or a source, which may be a very good one, also, it may be very informative, but it is up to you to read it and find out how the previous poster is not quite right and explain it to the rest of us. At the end of your explanation you may site that website as your source. …………………………………………………………………………………………….. There are enough hate boards out there tearing the throats of others out in the name of God ironically. That is not the case here. We are going to be Christlike and respect each other. We will pick the kindest of words when we disagree. Like: “I can appreciate where you are coming from, but I feel this…….. is the real reason for this….., do you see what I mean? The other may come back: “Yes, I see how you are getting where you are, but I must respectfully disagree because…. ……………………………………………………………………………………………… Our goal is to do good research, keep digging and show loving kindness to others in the process. ………………………………………………………………………………………………. Your friend, Apologist
  • God-o-Meter Politics
    Name:
    God-o-Meter Politics
    Status: Member
    Description: Did Mitt Romney's "Mormon speech" change minds? Is Barack Obama adopting George W. Bush's church-based organizing tactics? Will evangelicals sit the election out if Rudy Giuliani is the Republican nominee--or does Hillary Clinton's standing ovation at Saddleback mean she'll win more evangelicals than James Dobson would care to admit? God-o-Meter Politics is the place for discussion and debate about the role religion is playing in the 2008 presidential race, moderated by Beliefnet Politics Editor and God-o-Meter blogger Dan Gilgoff.
  • Jewish Humor Enthusiasts
    Name:
    Jewish Humor Enthusiasts
    Status: Member
    Description: Let's admit it: We love to laugh! Whether it's along to a late-night Seinfeld rerun, a quirky Woody Allen flick, or the newest episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm, our thirst for witty, self-deprecating, Jewish humor cannot be quenched! Let's use this group as a way to get a hit of it every day--even when there's nothing on the tube! Talk about your favorite episodes, share your latest finds, or analyze new plot twists--for this, ladies and gentlemen, is your virtual cawfee tawk.
  • The Faith Club
    Name:
    The Faith Club
    Status: Member
    Description: Have you always had questions about Christianity, Islam, or Judaism that you were too afraid to ask? Now you can get your questions answered, and meet people of a wide variety of faiths, in this group led by the authors of the bestselling book THE FAITH CLUB. The book tells the story of Priscilla, Ranya, and Suzanne: three women of three different faiths trying urgently to understand each other in the wake of September 11 and its aftermath. They’re not afraid to ask each other the hard questions about the other faiths — and you shouldn’t be either. THE FAITH CLUB is the November 2007 featured book of the Exploring Faith Book Club. Sign up now to ask your questions and join the conversation!
  • Christian Pop Culture: The Rapture Ready! Book Club
    Name:
    Christian Pop Culture: The Rapture Ready! Book Club
    Status: Member
    Description: Love Christian rock... or hate it? Jesus t-shirts make you praise the Lord... or throw up? Grew up in the Christian "bubble"... or never heard of it? Join Daniel Radosh, author of Rapture Ready! Adventures in the Parallel Universe of Christian Pop Culture, for a fun and thought-provoking conversation about the $7 billion intersection of faith and consumerism. Learn more about Radosh's fascinating journey from Christian music festivals and theme parks to Passion plays and comedy nights. Meet the stars of Bibleman and Ultimate Christian Wrestling. And share your own stories of life in the Christian subculture... for better or worse!
  • Generation X
    Name:
    Generation X
    Status: Member
    Description: A safe place for all of the new children, indigo, crystals, rainbows, Star Children. For all ages. This is a place to grow together, where do we go from here?? Lets share our experiences in a loving atmoshpere.
  • Celebrate Mom
    Name:
    Celebrate Mom
    Status: Member
    Description: Mother’s Day is coming soon – and what better way to celebrate your mom than to sing her praises? We’ve set up this special group on the Beliefnet Community to gather stories about your mother or a special person who has made an impact on you. Let us know what makes your Mom unique and relay the lessons you learned from her. This is your place to tell the Community about your mother and share your memories, stories and photos. After all the stories are in, we’ll create a gallery of the most interesting entries and publish them on the site. So send us your tales of Mom today.
  • Surviving antisemitism - again in the coming depression
    Name:
    Surviving antisemitism - again in the coming depression
    Status: Member
    Description: Topics under consideration: How will we cope with the coming depression, the antisemitism that will follow, and the pressure to accept conversion under an end times scenario. Can we keep our faith, our religious principles, and survive within a hostile world when hard times come? How can we stay connected if we are disconnected from God in a disconnected society?
  • Interfaith Perspectives
    Name:
    Interfaith Perspectives
    Status: Member
    Description: This is an interfaith group who's members are from different spiritual paths and who share their perspectives on various religious topics. Proselytizers need not apply (our first rule) -- there is a difference between sharing your faith's perspective and trying to convince another participant to switch to your faith. At the same time, the emphasis is on discussing what you do believe and / or practice, not on what you don't believe, as we are not a debate group (we are not into wrong making, and this is our second rule.) Our third rule is to share page space in the discussion threads, to allow others to participate, the same way it is done with in-person group discussions.
  • Being Ourself
    Name:
    Being Ourself
    Status: Member
    Description: This is a group for people who recognize in a profoundly personal way that we are all actually facets of one whole interacting with itself, or more accurately, Ourself. It is a place for peer discussion and exploration as we move through the challenges and insights we encounter while participating in the awakening of ourselves to our common fundamental identity, Ourself. As indivisible aspects of the single, infinitely diverse entity of everything/reality/creation we all have an opportunity and a responsibility to deepen humankind's awareness of Ourself, and to enrich our language with new terminology/ideas to more accurately portray that which truly is. We want to support each other as we discover wholeness while living in a society that defines everything (including God) as separate when in fact the creator and creation (including all people, animals, plants, minerals, and seen and unseen forces of spirit) are not in any actual way separate. So don't be shy... your vantage point of the whole is completely unique, and is just as valid and important as anybody elses. Enlightenment is the recognition of the wholeness, which by its very all-inclusive nature negates the validity of any kind of exclusive spiritual authority or guru. To allow ourselves to truly feel and be aware of ourselves as part of the great wholeness we need to stop putting others on a pedestal as a way of avoiding being accountable for shining our own light. Let's get the orchestra of the wholeness playing diversely, brilliantly, and powerfully enough to wake up humankind from the illusion of separateness. We can only accomplish this as a community of distinct voices and insights singing out in the harmony of the whole, and not by silencing our own special voice because we have decided some other "enlightened" teacher has a monopoly on authenticity! So sing out your insights, your questions... cry out your pains and frustrations... and love your neighbor as yourself because in truth they are; we are all precious dimensions of one whole. Let's respectfully, gently, and lovingly be Ourself together.