>>>>"that does not preclude" usually means "so long as". <s>
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>>Absolutely.
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>>>>I completely disagree with Rick, but I'll give him credit for greater consistencn y than the mainstream churches you're describing The latter wants to have it both ways.
>>
>>Both ways what? If a mainstream church says that evolution needs to be taught in schools and that science is not a barrier to the presence of a creator or the reality of immortal souls, why would you object more to that? Especially why would you give greater credit to the idea that the world is 6000 years old? Most Christians would discount that idea.
>
>It is entirely true that 'mainstream churches' can have it both ways. Of course, they are political entities disguised in a moral shell. They don't have a problem talking with two tongues at the same time. They say, "The Bible is true and it is the foundation of our faith", and "The Bible is only a mythological picture book and cannot be taken seriously". If in doubt, the mainstream church favors tradition over the Bible, and it favors political power over tradition.


Exactly. I know you know the rest, Christian, but I am writing this for others.

Jesus Christ is about personal relationships. One-on-one. He to us, and us to Him. The individuals who can hear the Truth will know His voice, and will follow Him and not another. And it is a personal walk for each of us. He calls out to us individually, and we must administer our relationship to Him individually. We cannot look to what our neighbors do or don't do, except that we first have that foundational relationship with Him to then know how to guide our neighbors, or to be guided by them should we also be errant.

A life's pursuit of Jesus Christ is not the same as being a member of a religious organization. The two have almost nothing in common.