Tough Questions

jswain0411 · #11 27th October 2009, 05:17 PM

Thanks for your reply.

I was doing many other things while writing this so "interfering" just came to mind. interacting would probably be a better word to use.

Originally Posted by OpenDoor

hey Josh
welcome to CF

hmm good questions I am no "expert" but I will try my best to answer each one.

BIG question!
First I would need to ask, do you believe there is a God?
If yes, is God good or bad?
If good and He created us for good reasons, don't you think it makes sense that He would want to be a part of our life, or do you believe He created us and ran away?

To me it would not make sense for Him to create us and "disappear", why would He create us in the first place if He wanted nothing to do with us?

So if God is good and He cares about us, He would want to be part of our lives and reach out to us.
So which "religions" make the claim that God did this?

and as you identified Judaism, Christianity and Islam all make this claim.

In the Islamic religion, Mohammad says that an angel spoke to him and told him that the Bible (Christian) and Torah (Jewish) writings were kind of true, but corrupted by men over time.

To me its weird that God could not protect His written word. This also creates a bit of a problem. If God is unable to preserve and protect the scriptures, shouldn't Muslims expect the same thing to happen to the Quron?

Mohammad says, God the Almighty was unable to preserve and protect the scriptures... What do you think about that?

You have to understand Islam does not build upon the writings of the Old and New Testament, as much as it dismisses them.

Ask yourself is God's unable to preserve and protect His written word?

The Quron denies the truth about Jesus Christ and Jesus told us to watch out for anyone who would do that. The bible also warn us "but even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!"-Galatians 1:8.
This is exactly what happened, Mohammad says and angel told him a different truth.

Let me also ask, who would you listen to about Jesus, the people that were their and knew Him, or someone that wrote about Him 500 years later?

Depending on which writings you are talking about, some can be historical accurate without being the Inspired Word of God. The Bible is made of the Inspired Word of God, not just writings of people (even if these people wrote other writings). The scriptures are God-breathed-2 Timothy 3:16-17.

There are writings (not in the Bible) that disagree with the scriptures but God's Word can not disagree with itself, so they are by default not true.

We believe the canon is closed (no new books).
God is still preforming miracles
and He is STILL active in peoples lives today.
God does not change, since He preformed miracles in the past He will preform miracles today.

Does my answer to your first question help with this?

I believe they are literal, are some difficult to understand? Sometimes.
but remember with God anything is possible

If you don't mind me asking, why do you keep on using the word "interfering"?

and I do believe God is still active in peoples lives today.

Hope this helped Josh.

christianmomof3 · #12 27th October 2009, 05:45 PM

Originally Posted by jswain0411

Hi i am new to this forum. I was raised a Christian. While at college I took religion classes based on history and learned a lot, especially about other religions. Now I have been pondering some questions and would like to see if you guys to help me out.

1) What makes Christianity right and every other religion wrong?
I know the Bible is supposed to be the word of God and that is what everyone basis their believes on. But what makes the Bible right and the Quron wrong or any other book that is claimed to be all knowing.
The Christian religion - Christianity is not necessarily right, but Christ is.
As far as what makes the Bible right - it contains the highest standard of morality and all of the books even though they were written over a period of hundreds of years all contain the revelation of the Lord.
Other books that claim to be all-knowing do not have such a high standard of morality.

2) Judisiam was first, then from that came Christianity, after that came Islam. All based on the same God and some of the same Prophets. Why has there not been new books added to the Bible based on the Quron? The new testament was added to the Turoh.
Because Christians do not believe that the Quran was inspired by God.

3) What about the Lost books of the Bible. There were written by some of the same writers. Just bc there were not chosen to be in the cannon, by the leaders at the time. Does that mean that they are not important or true?
Actually, the authorship of many books of the Bible is questionable.
The canon of the Bible was decided based on if they were believed to be divinely inspired or not. The other books may be useful to read for historical purposes or just as interesting reading, but they are not believed to be inspired by God.
4) Will there ever be any new books added to the Bible? Im assuming God did not stop making mericals after Revelations was written. Has he not interfered with people today.
No, there should not be books added to the Bible, but there are many ministry books that have been written that explain what the Bible means.
5) How can we be so sure that we are right? The Egyptians, Greeks and Romans all followed their religions for centuries and they were wrong. I understand its called Faith for a reason but did they not have the same Faith in their religions.
I do not know if the ancient Romans necessarily had the same faith in their religion as Christians do or not. I do not think it is the same.
As far as how we know we are right - that is a matter of faith and experience of the Lord.
6) Are we supposed to take every story in the Bible literay? Did the red sea really part? Did Noah really build an ark with all the animals and survive the rain storm?
These stories can sound as outrageous as the old stories of many other religions. If they did take place, why has God stopped interferring? Why do we not have prophets that have powers in todays time?
Those are good questions. Some of the stories in the Bible were literal and others were meant to be parables or symbolic.
I personally don't get too bent out of shape trying to figure out which are which.
I am not sure that God has stopped performing miracles, but now that He lives within His redeemed and regenerated believers, the nature of the miracles He performs has changed.
I think that there is not a need for prophets with powers as an outward thing when we all can have the Lord living within each one of us now.

Just some questions that were on my mind. I'm sure there is more. Would love to hear some expert opinions on this. Thank You.

Josh

I hope those answeres helped some.

Originally Posted by jswain0411

One more question. To be a good Christian must I choose to be Catholic or Orthodox or any specific denomination? Can I still be saved without choosing which specific things to believe?

You do not need to be in a specific denomination - they generally all think they are right and really none of them is perfect.
You do need to find a group of Chrsitians to meet and pray and enjoy the Lord together with though.
The best way to do that is to pray and ask the Lord to help you to find them and He will.

nhisname · #13 27th October 2009, 05:57 PM

[quote=jswain0411;53348676]Hi i am new to this forum. I was raised a Christian. While at college I took religion classes based on history and learned a lot, especially about other religions. Now I have been pondering some questions and would like to see if you guys to help me out.

1) What makes Christianity right and every other religion wrong?
I know the Bible is supposed to be the word of God and that is what everyone basis their believes on. But what makes the Bible right and the Quron wrong or any other book that is claimed to be all knowing.The Bible is based on fact and prophecy. There were over 500 witnesses that saw Jesus after the resurrection, nothing has ever been documented that these accounts were false. The Koran is based on one man's account with an angel.

2) Judisiam was first, then from that came Christianity, after that came Islam. All based on the same God and some of the same Prophets. Why has there not been new books added to the Bible based on the Quron? The new testament was added to the Turoh. The Jews rejected Christ as savior but thank God Paul(who was a Jew himself) came and preached Christ to the Gentiles. Only the God of the Jews and Christians are the same. Islam is totally different. We call Islam a false religion.

3) What about the Lost books of the Bible. There were written by some of the same writers. Just bc there were not chosen to be in the cannon, by the leaders at the time. Does that mean that they are not important or true?I guess some were not really revelant to our salvation

4) Will there ever be any new books added to the Bible? Im assuming God did not stop making mericals after Revelations was written. Has he not interfered with people today. God's word has been the same for over 2,000 yrs. it will never change, just like him.

5) How can we be so sure that we are right? The Egyptians, Greeks and Romans all followed their religions for centuries and they were wrong. I understand its called Faith for a reason but did they not have the same Faith in their religions.We all have to have an authority of what we call Truth and the word of God is truth for me as a Christian. Mankind has always had a desire to serve and worship something and I'm sure the pagans brought sacrifices to their idols in return for a good crop or rainfall. All false religions have faithful followers.

6) Are we supposed to take every story in the Bible literay? Did the red sea really part? Did Noah really build an ark with all the animals and survive the rain storm?
These stories can sound as outrageous as the old stories of many other religions. If they did take place, why has God stopped interferring? Why do we not have prophets that have powers in todays time? Hey , during Jesus' time he had a lot of people turn against him during the Crucifiction, the same ones that he had probably healed and done miracles for, do you actually think a prophet would make a difference now?

Just some questions that were on my mind. I'm sure there is more. Would love to hear some expert opinions on this. Thank You.

Josh

jswain0411 · #14 27th October 2009, 07:52 PM

Thanks for the replies. My college was a public non religious college. Here are some more questions I have. BTW None of these questions are ever meant to attack anyones believes or religion. Just trying to learn more about Christianity so I can gain understanding about topics I have never heard discuss in my experiences.

1) If the Canon is closed what are we supposed to believe of topics that were not mentioned in there. (I may be wrong if they are in or not I am by far no expert)...Such as dinosaurs and aliens.

2) Does God judge someone for not believe in Jesus if they were never given the chance to. For example, if someone was raised as a Jew or a Muslim was a very devout believer in God but was never taught about Jesus. They pass away. Do they go to Hell?

christianmomof3 · #15 27th October 2009, 07:58 PM

Originally Posted by jswain0411

1) If the Canon is closed what are we supposed to believe of topics that were not mentioned in there. (I may be wrong if they are in or not I am by far no expert)...Such as dinosaurs and aliens.

The Bible tells us about God. It is not meant to be an encyclopedia. There are many topics not mentioned in the Bible and that is ok.
God is real and He is living and we can ask Him about other things.

Originally Posted by jswain0411

2) Does God judge someone for not believe in Jesus if they were never given the chance to. For example, if someone was raised as a Jew or a Muslim was a very devout believer in God but was never taught about Jesus. They pass away. Do they go to Hell?

That is a good question.
I personally think that everyone will have a chance to hear the gospel - if not before death, then after it although I am not sure really how that works. But, the Bible says that the gospel will be preached to the entire inhabited earth. Does that exclude those who have already died? I am not sure.

Pythons · #16 27th October 2009, 08:04 PM

Originally Posted by jswain0411

Hi i am new to this forum. I was raised a Christian. While at college I took religion classes based on history and learned a lot, especially about other religions. Now I have been pondering some questions and would like to see if you guys to help me out.

1) What makes Christianity right and every other religion wrong?
I know the Bible is supposed to be the word of God and that is what everyone basis their believes on. But what makes the Bible right and the Quron wrong or any other book that is claimed to be all knowing.

2) Judisiam was first, then from that came Christianity, after that came Islam. All based on the same God and some of the same Prophets. Why has there not been new books added to the Bible based on the Quron? The new testament was added to the Turoh.

3) What about the Lost books of the Bible. There were written by some of the same writers. Just bc there were not chosen to be in the cannon, by the leaders at the time. Does that mean that they are not important or true?

4) Will there ever be any new books added to the Bible? Im assuming God did not stop making mericals after Revelations was written. Has he not interfered with people today.

5) How can we be so sure that we are right? The Egyptians, Greeks and Romans all followed their religions for centuries and they were wrong. I understand its called Faith for a reason but did they not have the same Faith in their religions.

6) Are we supposed to take every story in the Bible literay? Did the red sea really part? Did Noah really build an ark with all the animals and survive the rain storm?
These stories can sound as outrageous as the old stories of many other religions. If they did take place, why has God stopped interferring? Why do we not have prophets that have powers in todays time?

Just some questions that were on my mind. I'm sure there is more. Would love to hear some expert opinions on this. Thank You.

Josh

They (miracles) still happen to this day.

Girl reportedly guarded by lions - Africa - msnbc.com

No matter what anyone says about "why" she wasn't eaten the fact remains that she should have been eaten.

jswain0411 · #17 27th October 2009, 08:05 PM

"I personally think that everyone will have a chance to hear the gospel - if not before death, then after it although I am not sure really how that works. But, the Bible says that the gospel will be preached to the entire inhabited earth. Does that exclude those who have already died? I am not sure."

Lets hope that if we are wrong, the God of other religions do the same for us

.

Godschild87 · #18 27th October 2009, 08:23 PM

Originally Posted by jswain0411

Thanks for the replies. My college was a public non religious college. Here are some more questions I have. BTW None of these questions are ever meant to attack anyones believes or religion. Just trying to learn more about Christianity so I can gain understanding about topics I have never heard discuss in my experiences.

1) If the Canon is closed what are we supposed to believe of topics that were not mentioned in there. (I may be wrong if they are in or not I am by far no expert)...Such as dinosaurs and aliens.

Why should we entertain ourselves with the past? What's the point of knowing all about dinosaurs if we're supposed to love one another? Why speculate about aliens?

2) Does God judge someone for not believe in Jesus if they were never given the chance to. For example, if someone was raised as a Jew or a Muslim was a very devout believer in God but was never taught about Jesus. They pass away. Do they go to Hell?

We don't know.

PaladinValer · #19 27th October 2009, 08:39 PM

Originally Posted by jswain0411

Hi i am new to this forum. I was raised a Christian. While at college I took religion classes based on history and learned a lot, especially about other religions. Now I have been pondering some questions and would like to see if you guys to help me out.

Personally, I'm glad you took those courses.

Best way to rid the world of its ills to to become better educated about those different from us.

1) What makes Christianity right and every other religion wrong?
I know the Bible is supposed to be the word of God and that is what everyone basis their believes on. But what makes the Bible right and the Quron wrong or any other book that is claimed to be all knowing.

That question is impossible to answer because it asks for evidence that simply doesn't exist. You can insert the name of any religion, theistic or non, and again, it'd be impossible to answer.

Faith is all we have sometimes.

2) Judisiam was first, then from that came Christianity, after that came Islam. All based on the same God and some of the same Prophets. Why has there not been new books added to the Bible based on the Quron? The new testament was added to the Turoh.

Because Islam rejects core beliefs and the Qur'an teaches things that are completely contradictory.

3) What about the Lost books of the Bible. There were written by some of the same writers. Just bc there were not chosen to be in the cannon, by the leaders at the time. Does that mean that they are not important or true?

It depends. Many religious texts were written by devout people. However, there are no "Lost Books" no matter how cool television shows make that title out to be. We have ample evidence of what Christians back then considered canon and we know that the canon was closed back in the 4th century ce.

However, many books that didn't make the canon are considered to be part of Holy Tradition, making them very important and excellent teachers of truth. Then again, there are books that are downright heretical. To make matters worse, there are books that hover right in the middle.

4) Will there ever be any new books added to the Bible? Im assuming God did not stop making mericals after Revelations was written. Has he not interfered with people today.

The Canon is closed.

However, who says God doesn't "interfere" in today's matters? Deism isn't Christianity; we don't believe in a deity that wound the clock and watches it tick.

5) How can we be so sure that we are right? The Egyptians, Greeks and Romans all followed their religions for centuries and they were wrong. I understand its called Faith for a reason but did they not have the same Faith in their religions.

See my answer to number one. You're asking a question that has no answer.

As for whether the strength of one's faith matters, put it this way: I can put all my trust in someone I know who can do a certain job right or I can put all my trust in someone I'm not sure who can do the same job. See the difference?

6) Are we supposed to take every story in the Bible literay? Did the red sea really part? Did Noah really build an ark with all the animals and survive the rain storm?
These stories can sound as outrageous as the old stories of many other religions. If they did take place, why has God stopped interferring? Why do we not have prophets that have powers in todays time?

Literally all the time? No. Many times? Sure. And sometimes, you must, although even then, to say that there cannot be a non-literal interpretation at the same time is simply wrong.

And again, who says God has stopped "interfering"?

E.C. · #20 27th October 2009, 08:45 PM

Originally Posted by jswain0411

Hi i am new to this forum. I was raised a Christian. While at college I took religion classes based on history and learned a lot, especially about other religions. Now I have been pondering some questions and would like to see if you guys to help me out.

Welcome to the forums!

1) What makes Christianity right and every other religion wrong?
I know the Bible is supposed to be the word of God and that is what everyone basis their believes on. But what makes the Bible right and the Quron wrong or any other book that is claimed to be all knowing.

Christianity is not based upon a text, but is based upon God conquering death so that man may have ever lasting life.

2) Judisiam was first, then from that came Christianity, after that came Islam. All based on the same God and some of the same Prophets. Why has there not been new books added to the Bible based on the Quron? The new testament was added to the Turoh.

The Old Testament and all of BC era Judaism were filled will prophesies about the coming of the Messiah, fulfilling of the Law and Christ's resurrection and so forth. The OT shows what the world was before Christ and prophesies His coming.
The Bible is all of that and more because it also records things He did. I believe it is John's Gospel that is the only one that doesn't use the word "miracles", but instead refers to "signs". "Signs" which the OT predicted and prophesied such as the blind seeing, the lame walking, the deaf hearing, the dead living, etc.

The OT of the Bible prophesies and 'predicts' the NT. Neither of them predict anything about Muhammad, the Koran or Islam except for warnings of false teachers, false prophets and wolves in sheep's clothing.

3) What about the Lost books of the Bible. There were written by some of the same writers. Just bc there were not chosen to be in the cannon, by the leaders at the time. Does that mean that they are not important or true?

What "Lost books"? The Gnostic Gospels? The Nag Hammadi Library? Both of those are heretical texts that are in complete contradiction to Christianity.

If you mean instead the Deuterocannon also known as the Apocrypha, than those are completely canonical since they were a part of the OT that the early Christians used, but were removed by the Jews.

4) Will there ever be any new books added to the Bible? Im assuming God did not stop making mericals after Revelations was written. Has he not interfered with people today.

New books, probably not.

Miracles, they certainly do still occur when God allows them to. However, just because they don't all go to the media does not mean they still do not occur.

Google, "John Maximovitch".

5) How can we be so sure that we are right? The Egyptians, Greeks and Romans all followed their religions for centuries and they were wrong. I understand its called Faith for a reason but did they not have the same Faith in their religions.

Well, faith for starters

But also, one will find little grains of Truth in all religions, yet within Christianity one will find Truth. Only within Orthodox Christianity will one find the most Truth.

Did the red sea really part? Did Noah really build an ark with all the animals and survive the rain storm?

Yep

These stories can sound as outrageous as the old stories of many other religions. If they did take place, why has God stopped interferring? Why do we not have prophets that have powers in todays time?

Just some questions that were on my mind. I'm sure there is more. Would love to hear some expert opinions on this. Thank You.

Josh

Well, for prophets due to Christ's Incarnation, death and Resurrection and later Pentecost, prophesy is, for lack of better wordage, not needed since the prophets predicted His first coming per the Gospels. Why continually predict something that has already happened?

Also, roll with me for a moment here.

If some men were to spend their time in continuous and unceasing prayer, would it be fair to say that they are at greater spiritual heights than say, the one who prays once a year?

Would it be fair to say that such continuously praying men would listen to the Holy Spirit within them more so than a man who just sits there reading books with no prayer? Furthermore, if one were to go to such a person for something like counseling, would it be fair to say that one would hear what one needs to hear since the man allows the Holy Spirit to work through himself?

I would think so.

Now, if such a life or way of praying were abandoned, than wouldn't one suppose that those whom have collectively abandoned such a spiritual life are like the blind leading the blind?

In the course of Western Christian history since the Reformation, God has been put in such a smaller and smaller box by the next generations that Western man today can no longer recognize God to the point of Atheism.

Those Gifts of the Holy Spirit which St. Paul speaks of in one of the Epistles are alive and well to this day. Unfortunately, Western Christianity and consequently Western culture expects something as great as the parting of the Red Sea on the miracle scale and nothing less to be considered a miracle.