Why Christianity?

Flax · #1 16th October 2009, 09:00 PM

Hello there!

I just joined this forum, and so far it looks like there's a lot of interesting discussions going on. I'm a pretty subtle person, so you probably won't see me posting much - but I sure will be reading

Anyway, I'd like to introduce a question which is giving me a hard time. Please do refer to other threads of this subject if they've already been made - I just find the forum too grand to cope with just yet

My most basic religious foundation doesn't point directly at Christianity - it points more towards a God and creator. I rely on philosophizing over how wonderful this world truly is, and how everything just fits together - I do not believe this is merely a cause of nature. This gets me to the point where I believe there must be an intelligent designer, but it does not at all point toward Christianity as a religion.

Therefore, when, for example, the statement "You believe what you believe because it was forced upon you during your childhood", it is really hard to counter. I can't deny it - at this point I am Christian because I've been raised in a Christian environment. I can simply not confirm that I wouldn't have been a Muslim by now if I would've been raised in a Muslim family.
Sure you can list all the things that makes Christianity better than other religions, but that all comes down to a matter of personal preference if I were to "choose" one religion over another.

I'm probably at this point of doubt because I haven't ever had a distinct religious experience. The question is - how then can I tell that Christianity is the one true religion, when every other religious person is just as convinced?

Looking forward to see your points of view, thanks.

wayseer · #2 17th October 2009, 12:06 AM

Originally Posted by Flax

Hello there!

Hi - and welcome.

... I am Christian because I've been raised in a Christian environment.

I agree. What religion we inherit is an accident waiting to happen - it largely depends on where we are born.

Yarddog · #3 17th October 2009, 01:18 AM

Originally Posted by Flax

Hello there!

Hi back. Welcome to the forum.

The question is - how then can I tell that Christianity is the one true religion, when every other religious person is just as convinced?

The only way for you to really know that belief in Christ is the one true religion is for that to be revealed to you through the Spirit of God.

ebia · #4 17th October 2009, 06:40 AM

Originally Posted by Flax

Hello there!

I just joined this forum, and so far it looks like there's a lot of interesting discussions going on. I'm a pretty subtle person, so you probably won't see me posting much - but I sure will be reading

Anyway, I'd like to introduce a question which is giving me a hard time. Please do refer to other threads of this subject if they've already been made - I just find the forum too grand to cope with just yet

My most basic religious foundation doesn't point directly at Christianity - it points more towards a God and creator. I rely on philosophizing over how wonderful this world truly is, and how everything just fits together - I do not believe this is merely a cause of nature. This gets me to the point where I believe there must be an intelligent designer, but it does not at all point toward Christianity as a religion.

Therefore, when, for example, the statement "You believe what you believe because it was forced upon you during your childhood", it is really hard to counter. I can't deny it - at this point I am Christian because I've been raised in a Christian environment. I can simply not confirm that I wouldn't have been a Muslim by now if I would've been raised in a Muslim family.
Sure you can list all the things that makes Christianity better than other religions, but that all comes down to a matter of personal preference if I were to "choose" one religion over another.

Well, it can come down to all those things, but one does have to allow for the idea that one religion might actually do a better job of making sense of reality and experience than the others, or that the claims of one might not ring true.

I couldn't say how I would feel if I had grown up in Islam, but from outside when I look at the claims of what the Koran is supposed to be (a timeless, eternal, book divinely dictated) and compare that to what it appears to be (very much imbedded in the time and place of its writing) I can't square one with the other.

At this point I think it is worth noting that the type of central claim made by Christianity is distinctive. Most faiths make timesless, essentially unverifiable, claims and stories essentially set "a long, long time ago in a land far away". Christianity's central claims revolve around the claim of a historical event that is, at least in principle, open to historical investigation - the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth.

jttartar · #5 17th October 2009, 12:01 PM

Originally Posted by Flax

Hello there!

I just joined this forum, and so far it looks like there's a lot of interesting discussions going on. I'm a pretty subtle person, so you probably won't see me posting much - but I sure will be reading

Anyway, I'd like to introduce a question which is giving me a hard time. Please do refer to other threads of this subject if they've already been made - I just find the forum too grand to cope with just yet

My most basic religious foundation doesn't point directly at Christianity - it points more towards a God and creator. I rely on philosophizing over how wonderful this world truly is, and how everything just fits together - I do not believe this is merely a cause of nature. This gets me to the point where I believe there must be an intelligent designer, but it does not at all point toward Christianity as a religion.

Therefore, when, for example, the statement "You believe what you believe because it was forced upon you during your childhood", it is really hard to counter. I can't deny it - at this point I am Christian because I've been raised in a Christian environment. I can simply not confirm that I wouldn't have been a Muslim by now if I would've been raised in a Muslim family.
Sure you can list all the things that makes Christianity better than other religions, but that all comes down to a matter of personal preference if I were to "choose" one religion over another.

I'm probably at this point of doubt because I haven't ever had a distinct religious experience. The question is - how then can I tell that Christianity is the one true religion, when every other religious person is just as convinced?

Looking forward to see your points of view, thanks.

Flax,
First, the name Christianity comes from Jesus. It means a follower of Jesus Christ.
Who was Jesus, and why was he called Christ??? Jesus was the son of The Creator, The Almighty God, whose personal name is JEHOVAH. The Giver of Life to every living thing!!! Jesus was the Messiah, a Hebrew name, Christ in Greek. The Messiah was prophesied to come to earth and give his life for man so that we could gain back everlsting life that Adam and Eve lost when the rebelled against God.
The reason you could be changed to any other religion is; you have not seriously studied God's word. The Bible itself says that we should PROVE to ourself, what the good and acceptible and perfect will of God is, Rom 12:2. The scriptures also say that we should make sure of all things to make sure that we do not stumble others, the very people who Jesus died for, 1Cor 8:11,12, Phil 1:9,10, Col 1:9,10, 1Thes 5:21. Concider also what a Christian should be able to do when asked, 1Pet 3:15, Every Christian should be able to explain to, anyone who asks him, the reason why he believes as he does.
If you had studied God's word so as to fulfill these mandates, no one on earth could ever change you from Christianity. Your problem is the same as most people, they have not studied enough to have real FAITH that what the Bible says, is really the WORD of GOD.
The God of the Bible is the FATHER of Jesus Christ. Adam lost everlasting life for all mankind. Jesus, the only other perfect man, came to earth to give his life as a perfect man, a CORRESPONDING RANSOM, to free any who have faith in that ransom, from the consequenses of sin and death. In the Hebrew Scriptures there are scores of scriptures that prophesy about the coming of the Messiah, who turned out to be Jesus. Theologians and even mathematicians have calculated that it is impossible for any man to have fulfilled even 7 scriptures about the Messiah. Jesus fulfilled scores!!!
Think about this: No other inspired scriptures even CLAIM that the prominent one of those scriptures CREATED the HEAVENS an the EARTH, and all the things in them. None of these other Gods even CLAIM to be the GIVER of LIFE to all living things.
No other book gives us the information about the fall of mankind and the return of mankind to God's grace.
No other book, but the Bible tells about The Almighty God saying that He is going to destroy all other gods, because there is no other god, and He will destroy all who worship those nonexistent gods, Jere 10:10,11, Ps 115:1-8, Isa 40:18-26, Acts 17:24-31.
As for a religious experience; God does not work at EMOTIONALISM or THEOPATHY. The right way is to study God's word and you will be satisfied and TREASURE all the true doctrines as you learn them. You will learn the real meaning of life a God's purpose for the earth.

Emmy · #6 17th October 2009, 04:16 PM

Dear Flax. You had some good replies, and now it is up to you. You believe in a God, a Creator, and now you ask " why Christianity?" The best way is always to find out for yourself. There are 2 ways that I can advise, humbly and with love, Flax. You choose which you want to do first. 1) ask God yourself, He will know how serious you are, Or read the Bible. I daresay you know that it is God talking to Man. Read the Gospels to start with, give yourself time and get to know Jesus Christ. Keep asking Him, you have heard that Christianity is more than a Religion, Christianity is a loving Relationship, between our Saviour/Leader, and our brothers and sisters. Love is our greatest weapon, Love is our highest goal, and Love is the key to God`s Kingdom. " Ask and you will be answered" is a promise from God. You will only truly know, when you find out for yourself, and unless you try, you will never know. Greetings from Emmy, sister in Christ.

EveryTongueConfess · #7 17th October 2009, 05:57 PM

The Bible has never had contradictions unlike all other religious books

Christianity has the perfect mediator, Christ, that links a Righteous God to a sinful man
no other religion has that

what other religions are there? its easier to refute those...
basically when you find a flaw in the Bible then you should reconsider your faith, because if the Bible is wrong the whole concept of Christianity will be brought down, but until then there is no other religion that comes close to the authority of the Bible

its just plain logic really

why not believe in a perfect book? if it is false then reconsider but until then it is truth

I am a Christian because i believe and there is compelling evidence for me to, i am a stronger Christian because i am in a Christian home but i would NOT believe in Atheism or any other religion once i find faults in their books, which there are

JuliusRaphael · #8 17th October 2009, 06:32 PM

Hi!

I was looking around on the internet and read your post and thought I might could help.
I was borned up in a very non-religious family, I don't think I've even had meet a real Christian since two years ago. Anyway when I was around 13 I started to think about a intelligent designer of the universe just like you, although I did certainly not believe in miracles or anything like that and I often mocked religion.

Then two years ago I meet a Christian girl in school and we discussed Christianty alot and it came to a point where I wanted to be a Christian but couldn't.
All I ever relied on before was my head and somethings just feelt too far fetched and somethings I'd heard so much about I was practically brainwash into "knowing" the Bible was just some old myths and bedtime stories.
Then the girl from school gave me a book "The case for Christ" by Lee Strobel this book made me believe with my head that Jesus actually was the son of the creator I had believed in for a few years and that allowed me to start believing with my heart.

So I would really suggest you read that book, I read it in swedish so it's probably translated into danish too.

/ Regards your swede neighbour

Jazmyn · #9 17th October 2009, 07:44 PM

Originally Posted by Flax

My most basic religious foundation doesn't point directly at Christianity - it points more towards a God and creator. I rely on philosophizing over how wonderful this world truly is, and how everything just fits together - I do not believe this is merely a cause of nature. This gets me to the point where I believe there must be an intelligent designer, but it does not at all point toward Christianity as a religion.

Perhaps this passage in the bible could help, since it is addressed to people who recognize a God and creator:

"While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean.” (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)
Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’
“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man’s design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.”
When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.” At that, Paul left the Council. A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others."

Acts 17:16-34

So, this God and creator wants people to repent and believe in His Son, Jesus Christ, and gave the sign of this by raising Him from the dead. That is in essence Christianity, and who we should believe in.

Flax · #10 17th October 2009, 09:00 PM

Thanks a lot for the replies!
I'm just stopping by to say that I have read all of them and will reply properly shortly (posting from my iPod at the moment, which is kinda painful)