Why is Christianity so mysterious and self-contradictory?

James_Lai

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Most of the contradictions comes from Christianity's fragmented nature since the two great divisions of Rome and Byzantine and then Rome and everybody else.

Also the contradictory Biblical text and some doctrines of Christian theology, in my opinion
 
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James_Lai

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I think there is a lack of clarity or a mismatch between what Christians see they experience vs. what everyone else sees. I think that Satan is winning the war on people, at least for right now. Yet, I always hear platitudes like "God is in control" or "Satan is weak" while they ignore the problems and situation in this world down here right in front of their eyes and ears, or at least they try to downplay or justify it as being "good" in the end, despite God hating Satan and evil works the most times in the Bible. How could I take such paradoxes or contradictions seriously? If you insist seriously that Satan is weak or losing now and God is "winning", clearly what I see going on right now is exactly the upside-down opposite?

Why does Christianity speak like this?

Probably influence of Satan and own sinful tendencies have to be separated. My understanding is Satan can’t make people make the wrong choices, but he can amplify the wickedness already present… It’s my opinion that Satan has greatly intensified his activity around the world in the past 2-3 years… So I recommend to be extra vigilant about your thoughts and actions and to really try and exert more self-control and wisdom…
 
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timothyu

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It’s my opinion that Satan has greatly intensified his activity around the world in the past 2-3 years… So I recommend to be extra vigilant about your thoughts and actions and to really try and exert more self-control and wisdom…
Think of the Adversary as a being who over time incorporates all the world into a system of oppression over man by man which in turn increases our focus on self rather than others and the ultimate incorporation being one CEO over all. Think of it as an unhostile takeover of mankind until there is no other physical choice. That is where the counter-culture of the Kingdom comes in. Man will finally realize the dispute is not between ourselves but between the two systems, one of the Adversary and man and the other of God.
 
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CuriousPagan

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Probably influence of Satan and own sinful tendencies have to be separated. My understanding is Satan can’t make people make the wrong choices, but he can amplify the wickedness already present… It’s my opinion that Satan has greatly intensified his activity around the world in the past 2-3 years… So I recommend to be extra vigilant about your thoughts and actions and to really try and exert more self-control and wisdom…
Many spiritually attuned folks from many faiths have noted an increase in evil. I think everyone has noticed it.
 
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timothyu

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Many spiritually attuned folks from many faiths have noted an increase in evil. I think everyone has noticed it.
What better way for a fake saviour to set the stage for itself than by first giving the impression of an increase in evil. Meanwhile the fake saviour has already set up it's government under the distracted noses of the world.
 
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CuriousPagan

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What better way for a fake saviour to set the stage for itself than by first giving the impression of an increase in evil. Meanwhile the fake saviour has already set up it's government under the distracted noses of the world.
It's things like that that keep me up at night. And what better way to set the stage than for the Communist/Satanic (as if there's a difference) government of China to unleash a lab made virus?
 
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James_Lai

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What better way for a fake saviour to set the stage for itself than by first giving the impression of an increase in evil. Meanwhile the fake saviour has already set up it's government under the distracted noses of the world.
I disagree with futuristic interpretation of Daniel and Revelation. Historic. So looking at all references to the anti-Christ in the entirety of the NT, I see that it’s not a single figure that’s coming in the end times to lead the one-world gov’t and religion in Left Behind series style of Nicolas Carpathian… The anti-Christ is rather a spirit of rejection of Christ in any age or situation…
 
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timothyu

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It's things like that that keep me up at night. And what better way to set the stage than for the Communist/Satanic (as if there's a difference) government of China to unleash a lab made virus?
Relax. Communism is no longer the threat it was once made out to be. Consider that along with many nations including most of the big players, the British monarchy and even the Pope, that capitalism and communism are all aligned as one in the new global government of Corporatism born of the WEF. You have a new enemy.
 
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James_Lai

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It's things like that that keep me up at night. And what better way to set the stage than for the Communist/Satanic (as if there's a difference) government of China to unleash a lab made virus?


Well, I know it’s a very unpopular view in the West, but the virus has hurt China more than most countries. And it was the last thing the central govt wanted for the people… So I reject the accusations
 
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timothyu

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The anti-Christ is rather a spirit of rejection of Christ in any age or situation…
Actually one might better say it is the spirit of anti-Kingdom, the Kingdom being the very thing the Messiah came to announce and which it's opposing world of man rejects. Of course Christianity says Christ as it already rejected the Kingdom centuries ago to team up with the governments of man and accept the rulership that Jesus rejected in the desert.
 
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James_Lai

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Relax. Communism is no longer the threat it was once made out to be. Consider that along with many nations including most of the big players, the British monarchy and even the Pope, that capitalism and communism are all aligned as one in the new global government of Corporatism born of the WEF. You have a new enemy.

I don’t think there’s capitalism or communism. The world has been changing… Post-capitalism, post-communism maybe… Globalism for sure
 
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James_Lai

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Actually one might better say it is the spirit of anti-Kingdom, the Kingdom being the very thing the Messiah came to announce and which it's opposing world of man rejects. Of course Christianity says Christ as it already rejected the Kingdom centuries ago to team up with the governments of man and accept the rulership that Jesus rejected in the desert.

Agreed, as Kingdom was the central message of Jesus
 
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It's things like that that keep me up at night. And what better way to set the stage than for the Communist/Satanic (as if there's a difference) government of China to unleash a lab made virus?
I don't know if there is a difference between Communism and Satanism, but there is a lot of overlap. Is Satan like what we would call a more small government kind of libertarian or a fascist/communist? In the Bible where it talks about Satan's rebellion in Heaven, he wanted to do things differently from the one God who had sole absolutist control of creation and the world, I don't really see anything at face value un-libertarian there. But we also know Satan is the father of all deceit, so I wouldn't be surprised at all (and probably it's even the case) if he said he wanted something when he truly has the opposite agenda.
 
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Presbyterian Continuist

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I think there is a lack of clarity or a mismatch between what Christians see they experience vs. what everyone else sees. I think that Satan is winning the war on people, at least for right now. Yet, I always hear platitudes like "God is in control" or "Satan is weak" while they ignore the problems and situation in this world down here right in front of their eyes and ears, or at least they try to downplay or justify it as being "good" in the end, despite God hating Satan and evil works the most times in the Bible. How could I take such paradoxes or contradictions seriously? If you insist seriously that Satan is weak or losing now and God is "winning", clearly what I see going on right now is exactly the upside-down opposite?

Why does Christianity speak like this?
Is this Christianity speaking, or religion having the badge of Christianity pinned on to it?

Genuine Christianity involves a compassionate and loving Saviour whose primary mission is to seek and save sick, discouraged, suffering, unemployed, suicidal, lonely, unloved, rejected - in other words, the dregs of society. He uses loving and compassionate people as His means of searching for and reaching them. We don't often see them featured on Youtube, because most of their work is away from the public eye. We don't see the real servants of Christ dressed in white suits, addressing mass meetings in great stadiums. It is more like the unknown priest, clergyman or chaplain working out of an obscure church in the poorest part of our cities who are showing the real Christ, giving hope to the hopeless.

Perhaps you have not yet encountered genuine Christianity, and the Saviour is still searching for you. Maybe one day He will find you and then you will discover what Christianity is all about.
 
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bèlla

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He doesn’t have free reign. Jubilees expounds on the topic.

Jubilees 10:5. [Noah speaking to God]

And You know how Your Watchers, the fathers of these spirits, acted in my day: and as for these spirits which are living, imprison them and hold them fast in the place of condemnation, and let them not bring destruction on the sons of your servant, my God; for these are malignant, and created in order to destroy.

And let them not rule over the spirits of the living; for You alone can exercise dominion over them. And let them not have power over the sons of the righteous from henceforth and forevermore.'

And the Lord our God bade us to bind all.

And the chief of the spirits, Mastêmâ, [<Satan] came and said: 'Lord, Creator, let some of them remain before me, and let them listen to my voice, and do all that I shall say unto them; for if some of them are not left to me, I shall not be able to execute the power of my will on the sons of men; for these are for corruption and leading astray before my judgment, for great is the wickedness of the sons of men.'

And He said: Let the tenth part of them remain before him, and let nine parts descend into the place of condemnation.'

~bella
 
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Alistair_Wonderland

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As a pessimist, I can assure you that perception is key. We see what we are inclined to see. People who believe the world is a terrible place will see the bad and ignore the good. (Speaking form experience here.)

However, there is validity to your argument. I believe God is supreme; his followers, on the other hand, have been a motley, messed-up group full of crazy ideas from the start. (How many times did Jesus have to correct His own disciples, after all?)
It is easier to say that something is God's will rather than blame our own negligence as His hands. Much of the evil that exists in the world exists because of the negligence of others.

Okay, why didn't God just create us to be in Heaven then instead of having to be down here and getting to acquire the desires of being down here? It's not fair. If I was able to have my own afterlife, it would be relatively CONSISTENT with this life now and it would be a true paradise where I can do anything I can practically imagine. The only thing I'd take is no more murder.

Otherwise, I don't feel a purpose here. Sometimes I wish I was never born or existed at all if I knew I was going to be here and have to make a choice between a Heaven or Hell.

While I hardly think I am gifted enough to explain the question of why suffering exists (many more intelligent people than I have debated the question), my humble opinion is summed up in this:
1: Life is like a vaccine. We suffer a little now so that we may learn form our mistakes in a non-eternal setting.
2: Without free will, there is no love. With free will, there is the option for mistakes. With mistakes comes cause-and-effect, which leads to harm and pain. Love and free will therefore cannot exist without the possibility of pain. (Point 1 repeats itself here.)
3:You are assuming the desires we have down here are entirely wrong; they rarely are. Rather, they are often just a bit skewed, enough so to cause us harm. Very often, our desires reflect, like a broken mirror, good and godly desires. One example would be how Christians seem to villainize sexual desire, when the Bible actually celebrates it in the Song of Solomon. Not all your desires are wrong. God made rules to protect us from harmful activities, nothing more. And who knows? Perhaps in Heaven, that which would be sin here, because of the harm it would cause, may not be so there.
4: The only choice you have to make between Heaven and Hell is choosing Jesus as your savior. all other actions are an act of love, a natural response to trying to do your best to be your best for someone you care about (that someone being God). And God's pretty lenient with mistakes; in fact, He already took them all on Himself, and washed them away. The only choice you have to make is to hand them over to Him and say "Man, I need help. Mind giving me a hand?"

Sorry if I blather. I just want to give you a clear view of what I think, and whether or not you agree, it will at least give you something to consider.
 
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Hawkins

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I think there is a lack of clarity or a mismatch between what Christians see they experience vs. what everyone else sees. I think that Satan is winning the war on people, at least for right now. Yet, I always hear platitudes like "God is in control" or "Satan is weak" while they ignore the problems and situation in this world down here right in front of their eyes and ears, or at least they try to downplay or justify it as being "good" in the end, despite God hating Satan and evil works the most times in the Bible. How could I take such paradoxes or contradictions seriously? If you insist seriously that Satan is weak or losing now and God is "winning", clearly what I see going on right now is exactly the upside-down opposite?

Why does Christianity speak like this?

Have you ever set up an aquarium? Planet earth is the filtration system while Heaven is the aquarium. Every single dirt will show up on earth such that it will be removed legitimately through a legal process known as the Final Judgment.

Your question here is rather why the filter is often dirty.

Earth is for every evil to show up such that they will be eradicated legitimately to secure a clean Heaven. In that sense, Satan is actually helping to filter out the dirt. Satan is stupid enough to keep all the dirt with him on his full effort.

God's sheep on the other hand will hear His voice to be saved, just as predicted with the Book of Life.

That's what Christianity would like to say!
 
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