Canada should contribute funds to a U.S. plan to resettle Palestinians in other middle eastern countries

[blackbird]

On 2/5/2025 at 3:53 PM, Queenmandy85 said:

It was a mistake to put Israel into Palestine. A better move would be to move Israel to Oregon and allow the Palestinians to reclaim their land. Oregon has a similar climate and the neighbours would be more welcoming. 

That is a bizarre comment.

The area called Palestine is historically the land of Israel.  The Arabs who live there and in surrounding countries have one thing in common.  They hate the Jews and think they have no right to exist.  Israel has historically and biblically a right to their homeland.  They are surrounded by tens of millions of Arabs much of whom are Islamic.  The Jews were dispersed from their land 2,000 years ago by the Romans.  Now they came back in the 20th century.  

You idea of moving them to Oregon is nonsensical because that is not their homeland and belongs to America.

The Jews around the world have been persecuted for 2,000 years and they have a right to return to their homeland where they can have some sovereignty and not be persecuted for being Jews.  No other place on earth would welcome them or respect their right to be Jews.

[Queenmandy85]

1 hour ago, blackbird said:

Israel has historically and biblically a right to their homeland.

No, they have a right to a homeland. There is no reason to have that homeland in Palistine. What makes Palistine so special? It is special to Palistinians because that is where they happen to live. 

 

1 hour ago, blackbird said:

They are surrounded by tens of millions of Arabs much of whom are Islamic.

So why put Israel in the middle of that?

1 hour ago, blackbird said:

You idea of moving them to Oregon is nonsensical because that is not their homeland and belongs to America.

And Palistine belonged to the Palestinians. The UN did not consult with the people who lived there. 

Since the US is a great supporter of Israel, shouldn't the US provide the land? Oregon is larger, has a better climate and the neighbours are friendlier. 

There seems to be a perception that God is some king of real estate broker and an entity that plays favourites. (God's chosen people, etc.) God is managing over 28 Trillion star systems just in our little observable spot in the universe. God does not care whether you are Irish, communist, or Jewish. God does not play favourites. God only judges us by how we treat our fellow creatures and how we cherish the gifts we are given. 

 

[eyeball]

14 minutes ago, Queenmandy85 said:

So why put Israel in the middle of that?

Anti-Semitism - to prevent European Jewish refugees from coming here.

It's easy to see why this is so verboten with Israel's supporters - it shines a spotlight on our role in the creation of Israel and laying the foundation for a conflict that is now consuming the ME.

Accepting that of course will leave us liable for damages, reparations and peacekeeping for generations.

[blackbird]

1 hour ago, Queenmandy85 said:

God does not play favourites. God only judges us by how we treat our fellow creatures and how we cherish the gifts we are given. 

That's not what the Bible says.

quote

1  Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2  And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3  And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. 

4  So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. 5  And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came. 

6  And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land. {plain: Heb. plains} 7  And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him. 8  And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.  unquote

Genesis 12:   1-8  King James Bible

God made a covenant with Abraham.

quote

1  And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. {perfect: or, upright, or, sincere} 2  And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. 3  And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, 

4  As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. {many…: Heb. multitude of nations} 5  Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. {Abraham: that is, Father of a great multitude} 6  And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. 

7  And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. 8  And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God. {wherein…: Heb. of thy sojournings} 9  And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations. 10  This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. 11  And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you. 12  And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed. {he that is eight…: Heb. a son of eight days} 13  He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. 14  And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant. 
unquote

Genesis 17: 1-14 King James Bible

If God appeared to you and told you he had a certain plan for you and a covenant he is making with you, what would you do?  Would you listen, accept it, and do what he told you to do?

Do you know God?

Edited March 2 by blackbird

[eyeball]

7 minutes ago, blackbird said:

If God appeared to you and told you he had a certain plan for you and a covenant he is making with you, what would you do?  Would you listen, accept it, and do what he told you to do?

I'd go see a doctor assuming I still had the wits to think for myself.

[blackbird]

19 minutes ago, eyeball said:

I'd go see a doctor assuming I still had the wits to think for myself.

It is easy to say that now, but if God actually spoke to you, you know you would listen.  

"The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. 2  The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. 3  They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one."   Psalm 14:1-3 KJV

You need to be born again.  Without the new birth, there is no eternal life.  You must come to know God.  

I know you can do it.  "4  Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. {again: or, from above} 8  The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. "  John 3:4-8 KJV

Read the gospel of John.

 

[herbie]

If God ever speaks to me endorsing ethnic cleansing, I will have the brains to know it's not Him.

[Queenmandy85]

35 minutes ago, eyeball said:

I'd go see a doctor assuming I still had the wits to think for myself.

I respect Blackbird's devotion his beliefs. 

My beliefs have recently altered when I saw some of the images from the JWST. We are beginning to ask if there ever was a beginning and if there is any limit to the universe. What this reveals is we do not have the capacity to have any true concept of the nature of God. It is far beyond out ability to conceive. 

What I do know is we have worshipped God for two hundred thousand years and possibly longer than that. There have been thousands of religions in that time. What is consistant in human history is a belief in God, but the manner of the expression of that belief varies widely. 

The bible is just one expression. The old testament was written by neolithic scholars. Genisus was written be several people, including, at least one woman. The gospels of Matthew and Mark were also the work of a number of people. Revelations was a last minute and contentious addition with little credibility in my personal view. We cannot expect people living 2 - 4 thousand years ago to have the knowledge we have. Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Zoroastrianism all have the same sourse in Zoroaster in Persia. 

We each have our own view of our faith. It is incumbant on all of us to respect the theology of others. 

Edited March 2 by Queenmandy85

[blackbird]

41 minutes ago, Queenmandy85 said:

The bible is just one expression. It was written by neolithic scholars. Genisus was written be several people, including, at least one woman. The gospels of Matthew and Mark were also the work of a number of people. 

No, that is not true.  Skeptics likely made those claims.  But that is not the traditional historic belief.

Have you actually done some reading or listening to videos on why the Bible is true?

There are many of them.

This link is just one of many.  It would be wise to read/watch videos to learn why the Bible should be believed.

Is the Bible True? Here Are 8 Reasons You Can Believe It

Why Christianity is the One True Religion – 7 Biblical Reasons - Growing in Time

I do not know what your mind is on the subject.  But if you are willing to consider what others say and what the Bible itself says, you should be able to find the answers.  I wish you well on this.

52 minutes ago, herbie said:

If God ever speaks to me endorsing ethnic cleansing, I will have the brains to know it's not Him.

That's not what this is about.  You need to read the Bible.  Start with the gospel of John.  Ask God to give you an open mind as you read.

[eyeball]

14 minutes ago, blackbird said:

It is easy to say that now, but if God actually spoke to you, you know you would listen.  

I doubt you'd like my response anymore than he would if he was a reflection of you.

21 minutes ago, Queenmandy85 said:

My beliefs have recently altered when I saw some of the images from the JWST.

I owned my first telescope when I was 12 in Toronto and now I live where the skies are really dark at night. Stargazing with my grandkids when they visit from the city is gold. It was reading the thoughts of scientists like Hawking and Sagan who suggested that consciousness gives the universe a means to appreciate itself that grounded me and made believing and having faith in myself easier. All that from stardust and a telescope. It's better than theology or any miracle, it's physics.

28 minutes ago, Queenmandy85 said:

We each have our own view of our faith. It is incumbant on all of us to respect the theology of others. 

Not when disrespecting others is such an integral part of their theology.

[blackbird]

21 hours ago, Queenmandy85 said:

Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Zoroastrianism all have the same sourse in Zoroaster in Persia. 

We each have our own view of our faith. It is incumbant on all of us to respect the theology of others. 

We respect the right of everyone to their own belief.  That does not mean someone with one belief must agree that a different belief system is also correct.  The world is full of different belief systems.

Here is an article which explains the difference between Christianity and other religions.  Sorry for it being a bit long on here but I felt the information is important to the discussion.

" 

As I see things, here are the main differences between Christianity and the other world religions. The goal here is not to be frivolously insulting towards them. Rather, let’s simply spell out the differences as coolly and objectively as we can.

These differences are being played out in culture and quality of life, right before our eyes, in the spreading of religions, as we scan the globe.

Let’s begin.

1. Incarnation: Some world religions teach that God reaches down to people through a book, for example, Islam and Sikhism. Christianity reaches out to people with a book, true, but it goes more deeply and farther and teaches the Incarnation of a living person. In other words, Christ is the ultimate reaching down to humanity. It is true that in later Buddhism a Bodhisattva could achieve Nirvana, but instead chooses to remain here to help people. But the deficiency here is that this man (or woman?) is strictly a human and has always been a human. Or a Buddhist could claim that the Bodhisattva is a divine being. But this doctrine developed hundreds of years after original Buddhism, so the doctrine could be just an invention in faraway Japan or elsewhere. In contrast, Christ is the God-man who came down from heaven, a doctrine taught in the epistles shortly after the Resurrection and in the Gospel of John and implied in the Synoptic Gospels, particularly through the virgin birth and his bringing about the  redemption of humanity. Only the God-man could achieve this. Finally, polytheism says that the gods pop down into the human realm–usually to start wars or pursue sexual relations and sometimes just to speak to humans. However, these stories cannot be tracked through history. In contrast, Jesus lived for over 33 years with his people in Israel, four decades before the destruction of the Jerusalem temple in A.D. 70. He was crucified under Pontius Pilate, a real person. Then his disciples–500 of them–saw him alive and proclaimed him to be Lord of all. And so there is a qualitative difference between the stories in Greek and Hindu polytheism and the Main Story in Christianity.

See my post 4. Did Jesus Even Exist?

2. Good works and the afterlife: All world religions emphasize humankind’s doing enough good works (50.001%?) to secure a place in some sort of afterlife (let’s call it heaven for shorthand). Islam, Sikhism, and Buddhism are good examples. To get to heaven requires all work, all the time! In contrast, the fullest explanation of New Testament theology says that a personal God offers salvation to people through imputed or gifted righteousness. He has to do this because humans cannot perform enough good works to be assured of their place in heaven in the presence of the thrice-holy God. After they receive this free gift of righteousness, their place in heaven becomes secure.

3. Full grace: From the second point flows another difference. Only Christianity has a fully developed doctrine of grace. Judaism has something similar, and grace is found in the Tanach (Hebrew Bible or Old Testament), but the emphasis is more heavily on law-keeping. Why else do Jews reverently and joyfully touch the Torah scroll at a synagogue service? Muslims say that grace exists in the words “merciful” and “compassionate” that appear at the top of nearly every chapter in the Quran (Koran). However, the doctrine is not developed. And Islam, mimicking Judaism, is steeped in law keeping. In contrast, the Apostle Paul clearly teaches in his epistles to the Galatians and Romans that grace and righteousness are free gifts, apart from law keeping (and after the free gift is given, then Christians obey moral law)..

See the posts:

God Is Love

What Is Grace?

Law versus Grace

4. Moral law: Some world religions teach moral law with no personal deity or barely a deity (of sorts). Confucianism and Taoism are examples here, which are considered religions because they do seem to honor Something or some deities (of sorts) above the human, and Taoism may contact spirits through rituals and magic. Other religions that have clearly defined deities proclaim moral law, which is beneficial to humanity, on the whole. Christianity also teaches moral law, but offers a personal, intimate relationship with the merciful Lawgiver. The Islamic deity is far removed from humankind because Islam doesn’t have a full doctrine of the Spirit (see no. 8). A person can love moral principles, but it is better when the person realizes that a moral God loves him.

5. Spirits and gods: Some religions worship various spirits and gods. Hinduism and Shintoism are examples. A recent half-hour program on NHK world, a Japanese channel that broadcasts here in the US (with subtitled or voiceover translations), showed a tour guide leading people through two Shinto shrines where people worship a mountain deity that manifests through snakes. Then the TV channel took a tour In a shrine where Shintoists believe that a spirit communicates through a white fox. Children even dress up in white fox makeup to honor this deity. In contrast, Christianity says that demon spirits exist and can harass and deceive people. Any worshiping of spirits opposes Christ and is dangerous to the worshipers’ mind. In Christ, no one has to fear evil spirits.

6. Judgment and karma: Some world religions teach karma, for example, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Sikhism. The problem is that karma seems to be impersonal. Who controls it? In Hinduism even the gods and goddesses are subjected to it. In Christianity, God is sovereign, and no impersonal law or principle rises above him and controls him. He’s the ultimate, personal Lawgiver and Judge of good and bad.

7. Rebirth: Some world religions teach samsara or the birth-death-rebirth of humanity: Buddhism and Hinduism, for example. However, Christ teaches in John 3:1-16 that a human is born once through his mother (no prior life), is born again by the Spirit of the living and loving God, lives his life in Christ, and then dies to encounter a personal, loving and merciful God who judges humankind. Samsara is broken in Christ.

8. Pneumatology or the doctrine of the Spirit: It is more fully developed in Christianity than any other religion. Zoroastrianism, founded in ancient Persia, now modern Iran, comes closest, but this poor religion has been beat down almost out of existence by Islam. And Zoroastrianism teaches that the Good Spirit and the Evil Spirit are equals, fighting it out. Christianity says that the Evil Spirit is Satan with his horde of demons, and they are not equal to God. The Quran (Koran) mentions the spirit about 20 times, but Muslims have to demote “it” to Gabriel because otherwise the full person of the Spirit wreaks havoc on their strict unitarian monotheism. Judaism has something of a pneumatology because the Tanach (Old Testament) mentions the Spirit, but it has been reduced to an impersonal force in some circles of Judaism; otherwise, a full person co-equal with God also wreaks havoc on a strict unitarian monotheism. And the Spirit in the Tanach came on people only intermittently, not as an abiding presence. In contrast, in Christianity, the full person of the Spirit gave birth to the Church in Acts 2. The Church could not exist, let alone thrive, without him. Someone who claims to be a Christian without the Spirit is just a law keeper, not a born-again believer. The Spirit lives in each believer to guide and comfort him and to assure him of God’s love and a secure place in heaven. Christians attribute the spread of Christianity around the globe even today to the Spirit (not the military).

9. Father God: Perhaps the biggest difference is the absence of a loving Father in other religions. Even Judaism falls a little short here. In the Tanach, “father” is mentioned, but not very often. Hinduism doesn’t offer a loving Father because the multiple gods seem to be in competition with each other, and goddesses exist too. Islam doesn’t offer a Father because Muhammad lived in a polytheistic culture, and the gods had sex and produced children. (He misunderstood the Christian doctrine of Fatherhood and Sonship.) Zoroastrianism, as noted, says there are two co-equal deities, one good, the other bad, who are locked in a struggle. It’s hard to see a loving Father there. In Buddhism, it’s difficult to find a personal deity, let alone a loving Father. In contrast, Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God (so he is not sexually procreated in heaven!), and through him we enter into a personal, intimate relationship with his Father. All of us are now his sons and daughters. It’s a privileged position to be, but only by God’s grace

10. Monotheism: In some of the points, I have mentioned the Father, Son, and Spirit. Christianity is a monotheistic religion, but it is a very special version: Trinitarian monotheism. God exists in three persons who share the same essence or substance in perfect unity–as One God. Picture an equidistant triangle (three persons) within one circle (one God). We don’t need to get any deeper than that!  As for other religions, Hinduism proclaims polytheism, but it is completely different from Trinitarianism. In polytheism the gods don’t share the same essence, certainly not in the Christian sense of the word. In ancient Greek polytheism, the gods fought and competed with each other or at least kept their domains separate. Further, Judaism and Islam have to deny Trinitarian monotheism to keep their strict unitarian monotheism. In reply, Christians ask what God was doing all by himself before he made angels and the heavens and the earth. A unitarian Muslim or Jew could point out that God is self-sufficient and needs no one. This is true and Christians affirm his self-sufficiency. However, in the Trinity, as Augustine explains, God is love because from eternity past he shares love with the Son through the Spirit, and the Son reciprocates this divine love through the Spirit. As a result, the love of a personal God as a fully developed doctrine doesn’t exist in most religions and is downplayed in a few, in favor of religious law (e.g. Islam and Judaism). The three persons of the Trinity did not need to share law keeping or the Ten Commandments between each other. That is, it’s deficient to believe that each person of the Trinity communicated moral law to each other. Rather, in Christianity love describes God’s essence and is shared among three divine persons and now us. We Christians now experience God’s love in the Spirit through Christ for the glory of the Father in our daily lives.

unquote

Ten Big Differences between Christianity and Other Religions | Dr. Jim's Essential Bible Teaching

 

[blackbird]

Are you heading for heaven or hell?   Do you know?  Listen to this message.  It may help answer that question.  This is for eternity.  

Strong Holds and Places For the Devil

[eyeball]

Pat Robertson once described heaven as being like Sunday school that went on for eternity. I couldn't stand Sunday school. My parents only tried to make go because some of their parents said they should.

Except Nana, she gave me her science fiction books when she was finished with them.

[carepov]

On 3/2/2025 at 11:51 AM, Queenmandy85 said:

No, they have a right to a homeland. There is no reason to have that homeland in Palistine. What makes Palistine so special? It is special to Palistinians because that is where they happen to live. 

Jews are the closest thing that this region has to indigenous people.

There is plenty of room for for all the 14 million Jews, Arabs (Palestinians) and others to live peacefully between the river and the sea.  This is what the vast majority of Israelis want (including Arab-Israeli's).

[eyeball]

3 hours ago, carepov said:

Jews are the closest thing that this region has to indigenous people.

So is this place to human beings. But yeah, sure looks like plenty of room all right. 

[taxme]

On 3/1/2025 at 8:23 PM, CdnFox said:

And the Palestinians are responsible for both.   all the more reason to get rid of them

Come on, will you? You know as to who the real culprit and crap disturber is in the Middle East. Hint: you support them. Let's get rid of them instead. Just saying. 🤔

[eyeball]

15 minutes ago, taxme said:

Come on, will you? You know as to who the real culprit and crap disturber is in the Middle East. Hint: you support them. Let's get rid of them instead. Just saying. 🤔

C'mon on, everyone around here knows you're the sort of disturbed culprit that caused millions of Jews to flee Europe in the first place. Just saying.

[taxme]

Just now, eyeball said:

C'mon on, everyone around here knows you're the sort of disturbed culprit that caused millions of Jews to flee Europe in the first place. Just saying.

Everything is always about the poor pampered pooches of the world. They are the only ones that whine and cry about how hard they have been done by, but yet, they are the most riches people in the world. For people that were so despised and kicked out of Europe, many centuries ago, they sure are doing pretty dam good. They somehow have managed to end up with their own country, legally or illegally.  

There have been so many sad and tragic holocaust like events that have happened in the world, in the past, but yet all we ever hear about is the Jewish holocaust event. What? Do you think that everybody is that stupid not to note as to what else is going or has gone in the present and past of world events? The Jews are not the only people in the world that have suffered holocaust like events. You people need to quit with your constant poor me nonsense. Just saying. 😇 

[CdnFox]

5 hours ago, taxme said:

Come on, will you? You know as to who the real culprit and crap disturber is in the Middle East. Hint: you support them. Let's get rid of them instead. Just saying. 🤔

 well I ran and it's proxies I've certainly been making every effort to do just that.

 It isn't going well  

from the looks of things it's going to be a lot easier to get rid of the Palestinians    

[Gaétan]

On 3/2/2025 at 2:00 PM, herbie said:

If God ever speaks to me endorsing ethnic cleansing, I will have the brains to know it's not Him.

Lots of religions take the devil for God

[blackbird]

On 3/3/2025 at 11:38 AM, eyeball said:

Pat Robertson once described heaven as being like Sunday school that went on for eternity.

There is nothing in the Bible to support that claim.  Heaven is not like Sunday school.

Pat Robertson has made his share of bizarre statements, some of which he has walked back.  Other TV evangelists have often made bizarre claims as well.  

[blackbird]

6 minutes ago, Gaétan said:

Lots of religions take the devil for God

Have you figured out what the gospel is or means yet?  You cannot get into heaven on your own righteousness.  Nobody can.   "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God".  - Romans ch3

[blackbird]

On 3/3/2025 at 11:38 AM, eyeball said:

Pat Robertson once described heaven as being like Sunday school

Nothing like Sunday school.

One of the criminals hanging on a cross next to Jesus's cross spoke to Jesus.  He believed in Jesus Christ.

" 42  And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43  And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. "  Luke 23:42 KJV

 

Edited March 5 by blackbird

[Gaétan]

10 minutes ago, blackbird said:

Have you figured out what the gospel is or means yet?  You cannot get into heaven on your own righteousness.  Nobody can.   "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God".  - Romans ch3

You take the devil for God. You should consult a psychologist to deprogram the stupidities that have been put in your head

[blackbird]

28 minutes ago, Gaétan said:

You take the devil for God.

You're not making sense.  I never mentioned the devil.   I simply asked you if you have figured out the gospel yet.  Do you understand you can't get into heaven on your own righteousness or good works?