You should let humans decide for themselves if they prefer to fiddle with their iPhones or rather die of the plague in a ditch. I think it's highly offensive to human accomplishment to suggest that we're worse off today than we were in the past. But of course it's nothing new that the Church hates progress. Progress means humans no longer need the cheap and artificial comfort of religion anymore.

You're telling me that I cannot live a good life if I don't pretend that some magical entity is ruling over me? Offense taken.

Let them be slaves in heaven when they leave this earth and we the free spirits ,will make our own kingdom. :p

Probably not enough thoughts and prayers.

...Jokes aside, it's a societal issue, usually because of poor economics, planning and funding. - It's a catastrophic issue in developing nations that's for sure.

Seems like a silly argument. Don't you think that people going to church and tithing have wasted more of their time and money than the average person has on iphones?

You should let humans decide for themselves if they prefer to fiddle with their iPhones or rather die of the plague in a ditch. I think it's highly offensive to human accomplishment to suggest that we're worse off today than we were in the past. But of course it's nothing new that the Church hates progress. Progress means humans no longer need the cheap and artificial comfort of religion anymore.

You're telling me that I cannot live a good life if I don't pretend that some magical entity is ruling over me? Offense taken.

Good one. lol. People being 'good' because it's just naturally right doesn't fit in this case. Plenty of possessions that could be sold, or never held in the first place, leaving plenty for others, and lot's of time wasted that could be used to help others, instead of over helping ourselves. There was a guy who preached this stuff, which we call religion, but that's dumb and wrong somehow? No wonder why they put him to death for talking sense.

That smells like an assertion. - Got evidence?

People being "good" has helped a ton. - Bill Gates with his foundation and the Billions he has donated to assist those in need.

But materialism that you are eloquently describing isn't inherently a religions/non-religious affair... The Church essentially is one of the wealthiest organizations on the planet with a store-front in every town/neighborhood/state/country on the planet who avoid paying taxes and always have their hands out for donations.
They likely own Trillions in just property across the Globe alone.

Nope don't need it either, as I was poking holes through your assertion.

Why does he donate?

True but if the church was dirt poor would anyone pay any attention to it? How much more or less good does the church do with it's wealth as compared to others?

True but if the church was dirt poor would anyone pay any attention to it? How much more or less good does the church do with it's wealth as compared to others?

Leaving out your full reply because what you said falls under the same assertions my point did? That's pretty MSM of you.

How do you know if there is a God that they couldn't die? Where did you learn that? It sure wasn't science class.

He donates because he probably likes to help others? Not entirely sure on the exacting reasons.
Why am I a firefighter? - To help others.
Why am I an emergency services officer? - To help others.
Why am I a carer? - To help others.
It's called empathy and the drive to help others, no God needed to be a decent human being.

My point of view:

One and only one meaning makes sense with the other things that Jesus taught here: Jesus was warning his disciples that their love for him would not be peacefully accepted by people who don't believe. At the time, people were hoping that the messiah would bring political peace but that was a false hope and Jesus was warning people not to cling to that false hope. You will notice that there is a lot of venom aimed at Christianity, with the martyrdom of early Christians in the roman times, to the  silent execution of Christians in the middle east, Jesus was correct.

See my point above. Jesus does not want pain, but to stand for what is true will lead to martyrdom of Christians. Non-believing Brothers deliver their  Christian brothers to death, this happens in worlds that are hostile to Christians be it today around the globe or during history. Non believing children rebel against their believing parents, and cause them even to be put to death in some countires. Don't underestimate the evil in human nature. The instigator of all this is Satan, who wants the blood of innocents, this is not Jesus' work. Jesus calls Christians to submit to one another and non-believing brothers, parents, etc. You really got this one upside down.

Jesus claims to be the path to salvation. This is a serious warning not a judgement, so they can take it seriously for the salvation of their own souls.

In this passage, Jesus is not asking for Jews to put their children to death. If that were true he would not have put a stop to the execution of the adulteress (John 7:5-8:1) This passage rather criticises the concept of avoiding the duty to honor one's parents in order to respect a tradition that intervened with the 4th commandment, in such way causing the children to disobey out of respect for a false rite.

This truly is the tip of the iceberg that demonstrates the enormous, underwater titan of a need for research, soul-seeking and honesty when it comes to how you read the bible. It is urgent that you throw away the hate-tinted glasses you were raised with and put on a new set of glasses to help you understand what the bible actually is trying to communicate to you and to all the other souls out there. This transformation is called being born again, a term many despise because it is Satan's worst nightmare, the conversion of a soul to the kingdom of heaven. Through That healing process, you will be able to finally read what the bible says without twisting it completely out of form. It will no longer be disgusting, but a font of wisdom and peace, and Jesus the role-model you like I and many others desperately need.