Can Christians offer a money-back guarantee?

[unknown soldier]

We've all heard the sales pitch in which a business offers a money-back guarantee to all unsatisfied buyers. The business will tell consumers that they're so confident that purchasers will be pleased with the product, that the business can offer that kind of guarantee. The logic is that if a seller is sure that the seller's product is worth the purchase price, then the buyers will be pleased with that product and will not ask for their money back.

I agree with that logic. If people are confident that what they have to offer will please those who accept the offer, then there is no need to fear that anything exchanged for the offer will be demanded back. They can readily guarantee satisfaction accepting the risk of loss.

Why, then, do Christians not offer a money-back guarantee to any disgruntled person who tithed and donated money to a Christian group or church? It seems reasonable to me that if Christians truly believe that their religion is actually founded on a perfect God, then they would be completely confident that all comers would be pleased.

Maybe the clergy wants to cover itself just in case.

[brunumb]

And the passages that I quoted are teachings from Christ - He (not the bible) is the Truth and the Image of God. He is the One to whom God said to listen. Not the Bible. Not religion. Not the doctrines and traditions of men. Just His Son.

The only source for those alleged teachings is the Bible. Without the Bible you would not even know about Jesus Christ. Nothing written in the Bible can irrefutably be said to come from the Christ. All we have are the writings and opinions of human beings who decided to attribute them to God/Jesus. So, as much as you might prefer to believe otherwise, you are really just listening to the doctrines and traditions of men.

[tam]

Peace to you,

And the passages that I quoted are teachings from Christ - He (not the bible) is the Truth and the Image of God. He is the One to whom God said to listen. Not the Bible. Not religion. Not the doctrines and traditions of men. Just His Son.

The only source for those alleged teachings is the Bible.

That is not true (and "the bible" didn't just pop out as one book; it is a collection of books, including witness testimonies to Christ), but even so... isn't the instruction at the conclusion of that book (as well as various places earlier in the book), to listen to Christ, telling us that Christ is the Truth, that Christ is the One who reveals God to us, that Christ is the One we are supposed to come to, obey, follow...?

So as I said to unknown soldier, even if you are only willing and/or able to look at the bible, shouldn't you at least be putting the words of Christ first?

"The bible" contains instructions and teachings that contradict at times (and some laws were given NOT because they were true from the beginning, but because the hearts of the people were hard). How are you going to know which is true?

You know by holding all things up against THE Truth, the Light: Christ.

Without the Bible you would not even know about Jesus Christ.

"Jesus" is not and never was His name (and I did not learn that from the bible).

Nothing written in the Bible can irrefutably be said to come from the Christ.

Unless He were to confirm it to you, Himself.

All we have are the writings and opinions of human beings who decided to attribute them to God/Jesus.

How do you know that these are opinions of human beings who decided to attribute them to God (or Christ)? Is that irrefutable? Or just what you prefer to believe?

So, as much as you might prefer to believe otherwise, you are really just listening to the doctrines and traditions of men.

See above.


Peace again to you,
your servant and a slave of Christ,
tammy

[unknown soldier]

Like I said, we are in agreement that man, not God, did those things.

Clarymda did not blow up the WTC! She is not to blame for the acts of her creatures.

When they try to make a god in their own image, according to their own desires, yes, that is often true.

The Celestial Goddess was not made by man. She is not made at all but has existed from eternity. Consequently, she is not tainted by sinful and foolish people who would make their own deities for their own selfish gains.

Isn't that what you're doing, not just with your new pretend game, but previously just in our conversation?

Now who was it that was griping about loaded questions?

But no, I did not and could not have created Clarymda. She is reality itself.

Regardless of your opinion, though, my God requires that I listen to His Son - His Truth - and that Son teaches those things that I posted about love. I believe you called it 'cherry-picking' but you are the one cherry-picking which verses in the bible you think represent God and which verses do not.

I must listen to Clarymda whenever she speaks to me. She has taught me the truth I have shared in this forum. She has taught me that the Bible was made by people, and I should believe the Goddess and not man.

Some of His words and teachings and deeds are recorded there, yes. Even if you were only able to go by what is written, shouldn't His words come first?

"This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to Him."

Did you overlook that? Not understand it?

I have read the Bible but was freed from it when the Celestial Mother saved me from my error. I have left all false gods behind and listen to Clarymda only; her words come first.

You can only have peace and love from Clarymda.

Since I have these already from my Lord, this is obviously false.

Let's be logical. Just because you already have peace and love doesn't mean they were not from Clarymda. She grants goodness to all people and not just her followers. So even though you are an unbeliever, she still blesses you.

What does that say about your 'made-up' goddess being the truth? In fact, what does it say about you that you are just making stuff up that you know to be false?

More loaded questions!

Anyway, you are simply in error blindly attributing your blessings to a false god. What I say in Clarymda's name I say as a prophet revealing her reality to the world.

I'm not doing that. You are the one choosing to do that. I didn't come to you to talk about some god that you made up; you can do whatever you want. What is it to me? You are the one asking Christians questions, and just because you don't like the answers you have received, you're playing some silly game. That is your choice as well, but I feel no need to waste my time on it.

Why should I believe you when you say you speak for a made-up god? It's a silly game that I cannot take seriously. Clarymda has warned me of such false prophets. She has revealed that I can spot a false prophet as any person who denies her and any person who only makes a lot of false claims with empty words.

Because it is more like this... if even man can know something simple about parenting, how much more must it be known by God?

I would never be so foolish as to compare the Celestial Goddess to imperfect human parents. Unlike them, she is perfect and has no limits in the goodness she can bestow upon all those she chooses to bless.

And I said that this is not much different than the question 'have you stopped beating your wife?'

Well, that's a good question to ask anybody known to have beaten his wife. Since I know the Bible god to be both stupid and cruel (within the context of the Bible's mythology), it is perfectly legitimate to ask which property of his (stupidity or cruelty) is the more pronounced.

Nothing was solicited. And Christ had no place to even lay his head, remember?

Well, I don't remember anything Christ did or did not have, but I have read his story and according to that tale he had trouble getting enough money to buy a decent pillow. If he had the miraculous power to heal lepers, then it's odd that he could not conjure bedding for himself.

There are no such foolish questions to ponder about Clarymda. Her story is consistent and perfectly reasonable. She is what you would expect of a Goddess!

[EarthScienceguy]

[Replying to koko in post #83]

But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

from your own quote:

Are you serious? This is your quote Mark 10:30.

But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands ...

Last I check a sentence which would constitute a complete thought ends in a period.

those are material things - thank you for proving my point

But you are not asking the correct question. Yes, they are material things but whose material things? Every Christian when they go to church have a brethren, they have sisters and mothers and children to look after. They have a house to sleep in when then need it. The church is to help those that are in need especially those in their own congregation. Just a few verses before this Jesus just told them that it was hard for the rich to enter into the kingdom of Heaven. So why would Jesus tell them they would be material wealthy if they followed him?

[brunumb]

How do you know that these are opinions of human beings who decided to attribute them to God (or Christ)? Is that irrefutable? Or just what you prefer to believe?

That is a two-way street. You really have no way of knowing that what is written in the biblical anthology represents the truth or the teachings of any God. Faith can lead you to believe what is false as easily as it can lead you to believe what is true. Indoctrination works that way too. Inculcated beliefs are usually not amenable to scrutiny and examination so the believer invariably doubles down whenever they are challenged. It would appear that they just prefer to believe.

[koko]

Are you serious? This is your quote Mark 10:30.
Last I check a sentence which would constitute a complete thought ends in a period.
But you are not asking the correct question. Yes, they are material things but whose material things? Every Christian when they go to church have a brethren, they have sisters and mothers and children to look after. They have a house to sleep in when then need it. The church is to help those that are in need especially those in their own congregation. Just a few verses before this Jesus just told them that it was hard for the rich to enter into the kingdom of Heaven. So why would Jesus tell them they would be material wealthy if they followed him?

Am requoting what you quoted.
Ellipsis shows that the idea rendered is complete in itself so the rest is verbiage.
The materiality is listed. To some people who have nothing, a 100 fold may not be quite as much as that owned by wealthy elites. Perhaps those wealthy people Jesus talked about stole all the wealthy they accumulated. We do not know so I am not the one to ask. All I know is what the verse plainly states - give and you get back a 100 fold reward.

[tam]

Peace to you,

How do you know that these are opinions of human beings who decided to attribute them to God (or Christ)? Is that irrefutable? Or just what you prefer to believe?

That is a two-way street.

Yes, I believe that was my point to you. I see also that you did not answer the questions I asked.

You really have no way of knowing that what is written in the biblical anthology represents the truth or the teachings of any God. Faith can lead you to believe what is false as easily as it can lead you to believe what is true.

Depends on who or what you have placed your faith in/built your faith upon.

Indoctrination works that way too. Inculcated beliefs are usually not amenable to scrutiny and examination so the believer invariably doubles down whenever they are challenged. It would appear that they just prefer to believe.

Do they double down by avoiding questions asked of them?


Peace again to you.

[unknown soldier]

Why, then, do Christians not offer a money-back guarantee to any disgruntled person who tithed and donated money to a Christian group or church?

Churches and other Christian groups could offer a money-back guarantee, but they won't. These groups know full well that any satisfaction people might get from the Christian experience is hit and miss at best. To offer any monetary guarantees for them is financially risky. Only funding can save churches from failure--help from Jesus through prayer is only to be preached rather than practiced.