To ask if you think there will be a second coming?

[LuluBellaBlue]

This is inspired by the new Netflix show Messiah, about a second coming.

I really hope this doesn’t upset or offend anyone and people can share their beliefs and thoughts openly and without prejudice or judgement as I know this can be very sensitive for some people.

Following on from —binge— watching this series I did a bit of googling and it seems both Christian and Muslim regions predict this. (Not researched if any others do yet)

I’m not very well informed about different regions but the concept of this programme has really interested me, I find it fascinating that this could, maybe? actually happen!

Do you think there could be a second coming?!

(And what would it actually mean for the world? A rise in consciousness? Mass healing???)

YABU - no don't be so daft!
YANBU - yes, this could happen, why not?!

Good posts @SirChing, haven't been on the thread a couple of days due to illness so just catching up.

@lazylinguist And @CardinalSin That's obviously what you believe and that's great. Why do you care what anyone else believes? That's what I don't understand.

Really? People are interested in and care about how people park their cars, how often people wash their towels and what pram people buy on MN. Pretty mundane.

I am interested in and care about what other people believe because what people believe is important. It reveals interesting things about human nature, culture and upbringing. And people's religious beliefs have shaped our world and are still having an effect on people (even those of us who don't believe in god). Why on earth wouldn't I care?

Lazylinguist, the belief in a higher existence is pretty universal. The details of that belief is generally although not always dictated unsurprisingly by the culture they come from. Most religions demand loyalty to the belief.

Well yes, it was universal because a) people wanted an explanation for things they didn't understand and b) they were scared of there being nothing after death and c) it turned out that claiming to be the representative of a god was a really good way to get power and wealth.

But you'd think that when people began to realise that other cultures had been making up gods too, they'd have realised it was all bollocks (instead of waging endless wars about whose 'god' was best).

I don't think any of them would be happy at the idea that their gods were all just different cultural interpretations of some (also non-existent) nebulous 'higher existence'.

I think L Ron Hubbard had the measure of it. He realised that the easiest way to get wealth and power was to invent a religion. And he proved it.

@Walkingdeadfangirl You are very welcome I totally get why you feel the way you do. I used to feel the same way. It's strange how for some people that always remains the same, and for others they become believers. I wonder why? It's weird when you think about it.

@FramingDevice. I do it a disservice? Why? You do know that within Christianity it is very common for people to interpret things differently.

Surely, as you think it's all bunkum, the fact that I am doing it a "disservice" is either irrelevant in your eyes (as it's a disservice to something that doesn't exist, so why would you care? I don't care if someone does a disservice to unicorns) OR it should even be a POSITIVE thing for you. As it may put off people who are wavering. So forgive me for finding your stance illogical.

@CardinalSin I am not part of an organised religion, so that's nothing to do with me. I don't go to church or any of that stuff. And I agree that in a society where there are people with various faith or none at all, that it is unfair that Christianity is so embedded within the structures of our institutions. I mentionned that upthread.

Not all Christians believe that you need to be part of a formal religion or that any religion should inform a society's structure. So again, what's your beef with me? Or did you just assume and use stereotypes to speak about a whole body of people as being homogenous? Rather bigoted approach it seems to me.

Interesting to be called bigoted by a Christian!

As I stated, I find it fascinating how people can believe this bullshit. And I know the bible better than an awful lot of Christians, so I always assume that they believe in what it says until they say otherwise. This is obviously very tricky at times, because it frequently contradicts itself, but that's half the fun...

@Madhairday Thank you, I hope you are feeling better now

To be honest, I will probably back out of this conversation shortly. I am finding it boring and small minded now. No-one is saying anything that hasnt been said a million times, and I don't like the way all believers are seen as a homogeneous lump. It's bigoted.

Plus, I can totally understand people wanting to see evidence and believing in science and that which they can see - hell, I do too for lots of things. But I find it sad how totally closed minded people are, when so many eminent scientists are able to view science and faith as two sides of the same coin to explain the world.

I think some genuinely believe that refusing to have an open mind, about the existence of something more, shows intelligence. It doesn't. Nor does having faith alone and dismissing all that science tells us. Believing in science but accepting that we cannot know all the mysteries of the universe seems far more intelligent.

If anything, I find the nebulous belief in a non-specific higher power more baffling than organised religion. At least organised religion gives you a community to belong to, maybe some nice art and music and a pretty building to meet in. In fact it would be nice if we could keep all that stuff without having to do the actual believing bit.

Interesting to be called bigoted by a Christian!

That very much sounds like you are implying that all Christians are bigots. Why is getting very close indeed to religious hatred.

I am not a bigot. My mum is gay and I gave her away at her wedding. I abhor racism and discrimination in any form. Christians are PEOPLE. We are not all the same, and how dare you imply that we are! Would you find it acceptable to try to attribute a personality characteristic to everyone who is Muslim or Jewish? And if not, why not?

Your prejudice is sickening.

I am now out of this conversation. The narrow mindedness of some posters, and their bigotry in assuming all Christians are the same, would be hilarious in its total lack of scientific rationale, if it wasn't so offensively disgusting.

Thank you to the people who disagreed but were nice about it. To those who weren't, it says so much more about you than any religion. I wish you all well.

@lazylinguist
Funny enough in some small towns/villages the church is still all of those things to non-believers, its a community hub/focal point, and church leaders are really fine with that and aware of it. As the vote of here shows, majority of folks arent religious these days but appreciate the communal aspects and habits that have still persisted

I get from your posts lazylinguist you just think religious people are all just pretty thick?
Humans have universally had a form of religious belief, the oldest generally were pagan beliefs. Monotheism centres around the original Jewish belief of one God which most religious people follow a version of this belief. Doesn’t seem more baffling than believing the universe created itself.

"Jesus brought about a new covenant." Now this is another common claim by Christians which just doesn't work.

Remember we've established that god can't interfere before of free will and that's why he allows suffering. He has this plan laid out for the whole human race and it must be followed exactly, but 2,000 years ago he decided to just change all the rules.

Before that it was fine for god to get involved. Back then it didn't interfere with free will at all.

That wrecks the whole free will excuse completely and god has no excuse for allowing suffering. It's one huge plot hole.

It's interesting that religious people getting offended at being called bigoted , you do realise how much over history your religions treated non believers, or believers of a different faith to them, it wasn't pretty.

This bizarre religious dichotomy that believing in science means you think you know everything! Actually, the opposite is generally true. Science knows it doesn't know everything. Science tried to learn about everything.

Thinking you have an open mind because you've decided that your particular version of the sky fairy did it is frankly a stupid statement!

@SirChing, just so you know I'm not getting at you personally. You just happen to be raising the interesting points. You said "it should never effect schooling/House of Lords etc " and we agree on that and that's where my interest lies. That we cant just ignore it because organised religion won't leave us alone.

Because Satan was being a pain in the arse of an angel and getting right on God's tits, as far as I can remember it being explained. But as God loved him due to him being one of his angels, he didn't want to just annihilate him, but leave the door open for Satan to repent.

But, again, if God is omnipotent, he could sort it out without annihilating him and without getting into stupid deals with him. In any event, entering into a deal with Satan that gives Satan any sort of power to cause suffering is hardly the way to get him to repent.

@stairway
Yessss, I completely get why atheists say those of faith believe in fairies and cant get their head around it.
Because I honest feel the same about the idea that nothingness, complete absence, turned into the vast universe we occupy, by mistake.

I was involved in various scientific areas of STEM industries, before i had kids, and lots of high level intelligent scientists reconciled their faith with science.
But the common theme i encounter from threads like this, is anyone who isnt an atheist isnt an intelligent or critical thinker, urgh

Lmao x-post
@CardinalSin
Is a good example of just that

the poster was demanding proof, forgetting that even if we could, why would we bother?

Nobody has to produce proof for what they believe in, but it is surprising that you would want to believe in something for which there is simply no evidence, and which presents such obvious basic contradictions and problems. And if you could produce proof, really why wouldn't you bother? Surely it would be massive news that would need to be spread far and wide.

@SirChing
"I used to feel the same way. It's strange how for some people that always remains the same, and for others they become believers. I wonder why? It's weird when you think about it"

Why is it weird? Over time the number of 'Christians' in the UK are decreasing massively and the number of Atheists are increasing & now in the majority.

I dont think its weird I think its common sense/science/knowledge.

Surely it would be massive news that would need to be spread far and wide.
Yup that exactly how jesus directed the disciples and those who had seen him, as their proof and evidence. And thats how first century Christians came about, told to knock on every door and share the news.

Which is why i found the netflix show a really interesting portral of how that would look in today's world vs 2000 years ago :)

"Because I honest feel the same about the idea that nothingness, complete absence, turned into the vast universe we occupy, by mistake."

And this shows the lie of your knowledge of STEM, straight away...

Like SirChing - It's bizarre how virtually all the Christians I see on mumsnet have multiple degrees...

@CardinalSin
Dont be silly - so many of your posts are bizzarely dismissive and the point you think you're making doesnt actually make any sense.

STEM is a massive sector.
Eg a doctor/biologist/chemist might be a specialist in their field with a differing view to you on the big bang theory, doesnt mean they've lied about their specific STEM knowledge or experiences within the STEM industry.

Crack on tho :)

No.

Because there wasn't a first coming.

The bible is written by man to control other men.

It's bizarre how virtually all the Christians I see on mumsnet have multiple degrees...
Most people i know have multiple degrees, theyre a mix of Christians and not.
A bachelors and then a postgrad degree. Is hardly bizzarre