Skippy: Thank you.

Woodtsock: You said, "Don't you think that many so called "believers" of today only realize the existence of their God and start praying only when they are in need?" Yes, there are many of them. You pointed out the common weakness of mankind. But it is never too late to realize the existence of God and pray to Him, whether we are in need or in abundance, whether by believers or seekers.

"I really don't like people we got baptized and then abandon their religion in later days." A Christian cannot be an atheist but he can live like atheist. I feel sorrow for these people more than despise them, as the crowns we wear in heaven must be won on earth. Not everyone who claims he is believer (or even baptized) will enter the kingdom of heaven, only those who does the will of God is in heaven.

Since believing in God involves the development of a 'personal' relationship with God, what other Christians or so-called believers do, say and behave should not become an obstacle in the relationship. We need to walk so close to God that nothing can come between.

"...must be serious in choosing our belief. Agree?" Totally agree, should be seriously taking the first step.

If I may add to your group's discussions - since anita's departure, I have been wondering where's anita gone to.
There's nothing much I can do except (since I've got a religion) I often pray to God to bring her to heaven soon (if she's not already there yet). The fact is I don't know but religion seems to connect here.

Grandma: Thank you for your advice especially your encouraging message: "But it is never too late to realize the existence of God and pray to Him, whether we are in need or in abundance, whether by believers or seekers."
...........................

aymy: welcome to our discussion. We all believe that Anita is already in Land of Nirvana, (equivalent to Heaven in your religion), that was confirmed by her teacher of Buddhism. But no harm if you keep on praying for her, that will still be good for her.

Woodstock : Thank you for your 'enlightenment'. Now, I think I'll ask Anita to pray for us (her loyal fans) instead !!

Wow...everyone had a lot of inputs...through reading the discussion I have absorbed a lot. Thank you all so much.

Hi! all...our dearest Gg oodstock is correct...yep, I was on holiday n elated to be back but might consider embarking on a long, long....meditation...yea!

N to Judita, its my pleasure..........always

To our two loveliest n grand ladies, W odstock n gr ndma...very well spoken indeed for your individual views regd the topic of this on going discussion....ummm...well, or ended as the above post suggested. Hope Im not too late to voice mine.....yea?

Perhaps the question we should be asking is whether ppl who call themselves Buddhist/Christian etc...have strong faith in their religion?

At this very moment, there are ppl who are borned w/a religion n there are those who have been reborned. Guess there is no point in having a religion if there was never any faith in the 1st place. We all believe in God n his powers but there are many different ways that we practise our beliefs. Partly it depends on how we perceive each religion. If we look at the 3 major religions on earth, I see many similarities-> such as, we all believe in a God who sent his messages to us thru Holy Messengers. Gods message was for us to embrace Him n to love one another. But it was never enough. Religion is now becoming a political issue too. "united we stand in the face of the enemy but divided in search of power" Why is there a quest to be the strongest religion in the world n why has Christianity been divided into so many denominations for eg. Christian, Catholic, Protestants etc...

Yep! Fear is another factor that droves many to embrace a religion as some believe it would help them to salvage their own souls. I gather no one would wish to go to hell....

Majority may particularly need religious ideas to serve their various emotional needs such as the need to feel loved, the need to belong to homogenous groups. No matter what a persons religious beliefs are/for a non religious person, prayers can be a powerful force for strenthening faith, calming emotions n even improving physical health as in any extreme circumstances. Anyway individually, we should be able to know n recognize what the appropriate values are n so forth......

Does God answer all prayers? Yea? I believe God does indeed which may not be the answer we are looking for but God does answer in His own way n His own time..............

Hi! all...our dearest Gg oodstock is correct...yep, I was on holiday n elated to be back but might consider embarking on a long, long....meditation...yea!

N to Judita, its my pleasure..........always

To our two loveliest n grand ladies, W odstock n gr ndma...very well spoken indeed for your individual views regd the topic of this on going discussion....ummm...well, or ended as the above post suggested. Hope Im not too late to voice mine.....yea?

Perhaps the question we should be asking is whether ppl who call themselves Buddhist/Christian etc...have strong faith in their religion?

At this very moment, there are ppl who are borned w/a religion n there are those who have been reborned. Guess there is no point in having a religion if there was never any faith in the 1st place. We all believe in God n his powers but there are many diff ways that we practise our beliefs. Partly it depends on how we perceive each religion. If we look at the 3 major religions on earth, I see many similarities-> such as, we all believe in a God who sent his messages to us thru Holy Messengers. Gods message was for us to embrace Him n to love one another. But it was never enough. Religion is now becoming a political issue too. "united we stand in the face of the enemy but divided in search of power" Why is there a quest to be the strongets religion in the world n why has Christianity been divided into so many denominations for eg. Christian, Catholic, Protestants etc...

Yep! Fear is another factor that droves many to embrace a religion as some believe it would help them to salvage their own souls. I gather no one would wish to go to hell....

Majority may particularly need religious ideas to serve their various emotional needs such as the need to feel loved, the need to belong to homogenous groups. No matter what a persons religious beliefs are/for a non religious person, prayers can be a powerful force for strenthening faith, calming emotions n even improving physical health as in any extreme circumstances. Anyway individually, we should be able to know n recognize what the appropriate values are n so forth......

Does God answer all prayers? Yea? I believe God does indeed which may not be the answer we are looking for but God does answer in His own way n His own time..............

Oops!...GgWoodstock pls delete the extra post n this,

To Dana: do you have a religion? i am curious.

I was borned w/a religion, Li Shan, ie my dad n mie do have a religion but what I do most is pray to the God above n am praying earnestly for my dearest n most admired of this forum.... + ........