MonstersvsMartyrs
Active Member
Well-80% of studies are false, says one study. And I'm not even joking. That was a real peer reviewed finding. Look it up. I guess it's just a matter of who you are going to put your faith in.
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How has physics told us anything about God?Then why did He choose Albert Einstein to head up the great developments in physics and so on - a man who studied physics and maths etc. in order to know more about God whom he did not seem to know personally ?
1. Inefficacy of (Intercessory) Prayer
Studies have shown that intercessory prayer doesn’t work. The Bible says it does – Jesus says it does! – but it doesn’t. It doesn’t have better outcomes for sick people, or make you more likely to succeed in your goals, or anything! We’re supposed to be able to move mountains and be immune to snake venom, but people who truly believe they’re safe still die from Christian snake-charming.
Why would a God who exists and loves us and is all-powerful say that He’ll help us, and then turn out to not do anything at all?
2. Why sin/evil/etc? God can do anything, so why this?
Here’s the thing: this is not the best possible world, with or without Eve’s fruit of the knowledge of good and evil. If God is all powerful, why doesn’t He just make it so that whatever makes us have to go to Hell isn’t necessary in the first place? Not just believers: everyone.
A good God couldn’t possibly want all of those people to go to Hell, right?
There’s the argument that God did exactly that through Jesus, but why? Why would he do that when Jesus’s resurrection happened 2,000 years ago (give or take), and we don’t have any solid evidence that the actual miracle of the resurrection (or any other miracles) happened?
I mean, if God is real, shouldn’t there be a lot more hard evidence?
3. Dead Babies:
Everything that happens is God’s will, or can be made to fit His will, right? So how do dead babies make any [staff edit] sense? Babies don’t sin, and their lives aren’t object lessons.
4. Why doesn’t God communicate with us in ways that are more sensible and direct?
I mean, His presence is everywhere and all, but why doesn’t He find undeniable ways to show us that He is God? More of the clouds opening with a loud accompanying voice, less of the “communicating with us through our consciences” stuff.
I mean, His presence is supposed to be implicit, but it’s not. And even if it were – why couldn’t it be more obvious? Why would the subtlety even be necessry?
Heaven is a big deal in the Bible. Miracles are a big deal in the Bible. But in my own life, and looking at scientific evidence and (not necessarily scientific) well-recorded data, there’s nothing that seems to indicate either one. Few modern-day miracle stories even do anything to prove YHWH, much less the resurrection.
5. Why are all of the arguments used to “prove” Christianity also used to prove basically every other religion?
You can apply them to Islam, to Buddhism, to Hinduism… it’s just the same kind of thinking, the same kind of excuses that don’t quite seem to work, over and over again.
If Christianity is true, and God is real and watching over us, and there is a heaven… why are we using the same logic, reasoning, excuses and cop-outs as everyone else is? Why do we need to?
Well, how else would you explain a fine tuned universe?How has physics told us anything about God?
Just a couple of thoughts.I've been having a lot of doubts in my faith for the past few months. Not the kind that can be easily dismissed, but actual, relatively rational thoughts.
I haven't really been able to talk to anyone about them, since no one in my family is a Christian and neither are any of my friends (online or off). So I'm wondering: how do y'all deal with doubt?
If anyone's interested, my specific concerns in the doubt are:
1. Inefficacy of (Intercessory) Prayer
Studies have shown that intercessory prayer doesn’t work. The Bible says it does – Jesus says it does! – but it doesn’t. It doesn’t have better outcomes for sick people, or make you more likely to succeed in your goals, or anything! We’re supposed to be able to move mountains and be immune to snake venom, but people who truly believe they’re safe still die from Christian snake-charming.
Why would a God who exists and loves us and is all-powerful say that He’ll help us, and then turn out to not do anything at all?
2. Why sin/evil/etc? God can do anything, so why this?
Here’s the thing: this is not the best possible world, with or without Eve’s fruit of the knowledge of good and evil. If God is all powerful, why doesn’t He just make it so that whatever makes us have to go to Hell isn’t necessary in the first place? Not just believers: everyone.
A good God couldn’t possibly want all of those people to go to Hell, right?
There’s the argument that God did exactly that through Jesus, but why? Why would he do that when Jesus’s resurrection happened 2,000 years ago (give or take), and we don’t have any solid evidence that the actual miracle of the resurrection (or any other miracles) happened?
I mean, if God is real, shouldn’t there be a lot more hard evidence?
3. Dead Babies:
Everything that happens is God’s will, or can be made to fit His will, right? So how do dead babies make any [staff edit] sense? Babies don’t sin, and their lives aren’t object lessons.
4. Why doesn’t God communicate with us in ways that are more sensible and direct?
I mean, His presence is everywhere and all, but why doesn’t He find undeniable ways to show us that He is God? More of the clouds opening with a loud accompanying voice, less of the “communicating with us through our consciences” stuff.
I mean, His presence is supposed to be implicit, but it’s not. And even if it were – why couldn’t it be more obvious? Why would the subtlety even be necessry?
Heaven is a big deal in the Bible. Miracles are a big deal in the Bible. But in my own life, and looking at scientific evidence and (not necessarily scientific) well-recorded data, there’s nothing that seems to indicate either one. Few modern-day miracle stories even do anything to prove YHWH, much less the resurrection.
5. Why are all of the arguments used to “prove” Christianity also used to prove basically every other religion?
You can apply them to Islam, to Buddhism, to Hinduism… it’s just the same kind of thinking, the same kind of excuses that don’t quite seem to work, over and over again.
If Christianity is true, and God is real and watching over us, and there is a heaven… why are we using the same logic, reasoning, excuses and cop-outs as everyone else is? Why do we need to?
It looks like you are commenting on my last statement. Romans 1:20 is not about using creation to argue for the existence of God. It is saying everyone already knows of the existence of God from creation and they are rejecting that knowledge with their foolish hearts already darkened. No one is convinced to be come a Christian by rational arguments to the mind. They are convinced when rational statements bring epiphanies into the heart, and this was my point. And those epiphanies only lighten the soul when the Holy Spirit illuminates those statements. Only God knows what is needed to unlock a hardened heart, and statements that are led by the Spirit are the ones He uses.So you dismiss the at least basic argument for a Creator /designer from the order of everything in the universe .
We need to begin with this quote from Romans 1:20 "Since the creation of the world God's invisible attributes ,namely His eternal power ,and Divine nature...so that we are without excuse ..."
And then we need to expand with whatever is neccessary to (physics etc more and more show
God's amazing detail ) help those with rarional minds to come to know Him personally and not dismiss them .
We’re supposed to be able to move mountains and be immune to snake venom, but people who truly believe they’re safe still die from Christian snake-charming.
Though hell be real, it is a spiritual place within, too. Though many perceive as a literal place in a far off place one might go to when their physical body dies. Spiritual death happened to Adam in the garden and Christ is The Way/The Door (back) to being reconciled to the Father and entering into Heaven (within)...If God is all powerful, why doesn’t He just make it so that whatever makes us have to go to Hell isn’t necessary in the first place?
4. Why doesn’t God communicate with us in ways that are more sensible and direct?
I mean, His presence is everywhere and all, but why doesn’t He find undeniable ways to show us that He is God? More of the clouds opening with a loud accompanying voice, less of the “communicating with us through our consciences” stuff.
Miracles are a big deal in the Bible. But in my own life, and looking at scientific evidence and (not necessarily scientific) well-recorded data, there’s nothing that seems to indicate either one. Few modern-day miracle stories even do anything to prove YHWH, much less the resurrection.
If Christianity is true, and God is real and watching over us, and there is a heaven… why are we using the same logic, reasoning, excuses and cop-outs as everyone else is? Why do we need to?
I agree. Reading the Bible and knowing what God promises and gives us is the strongest foundation. It has kept me strong all these years.First of all, I am glad, for whatever reason, that I have never been troubled by an abundance of doubts about God. My grandmother led me to the Lord at age 6. She had a faith so great, that her pastor would say he would always ask her to pray for him when he was flying, because then, even if the wings fell off things would still be OK. I didn't start going to church until I was 19, but have gone ever since (accept one year when I couldn't find a good one), some 45 years. I also have usually had some type of ministry, and not just attending. Along with this I have been a daily reader of the Bible. I will write more, but for now, see that these things I have just written (Christian fellowship and Bible reading) have been my foundation for not being plagued by doubts.
For the most part, all the first Christians and congregations of believers were Jews.So, if the twelve apostles preached to the Jews, why didn't the Jews become Christians? It's remarkable how Paul, a single person, managed to create a religion of almost 2 and a half billion followers, but the other apostles couldn't convince a few hundred thousand Jews.
I've been having a lot of doubts in my faith for the past few months. Not the kind that can be easily dismissed, but actual, relatively rational thoughts.
I haven't really been able to talk to anyone about them, since no one in my family is a Christian and neither are any of my friends (online or off). So I'm wondering: how do y'all deal with doubt?
If anyone's interested, my specific concerns in the doubt are:
1. Inefficacy of (Intercessory) Prayer
Studies have shown that intercessory prayer doesn’t work. The Bible says it does – Jesus says it does! – but it doesn’t. It doesn’t have better outcomes for sick people, or make you more likely to succeed in your goals, or anything! We’re supposed to be able to move mountains and be immune to snake venom, but people who truly believe they’re safe still die from Christian snake-charming.
Why would a God who exists and loves us and is all-powerful say that He’ll help us, and then turn out to not do anything at all?
2. Why sin/evil/etc? God can do anything, so why this?
Here’s the thing: this is not the best possible world, with or without Eve’s fruit of the knowledge of good and evil. If God is all powerful, why doesn’t He just make it so that whatever makes us have to go to Hell isn’t necessary in the first place? Not just believers: everyone.
A good God couldn’t possibly want all of those people to go to Hell, right?
There’s the argument that God did exactly that through Jesus, but why? Why would he do that when Jesus’s resurrection happened 2,000 years ago (give or take), and we don’t have any solid evidence that the actual miracle of the resurrection (or any other miracles) happened?
I mean, if God is real, shouldn’t there be a lot more hard evidence?
3. Dead Babies:
Everything that happens is God’s will, or can be made to fit His will, right? So how do dead babies make any damn sense? Babies don’t sin, and their lives aren’t object lessons.
4. Why doesn’t God communicate with us in ways that are more sensible and direct?
I mean, His presence is everywhere and all, but why doesn’t He find undeniable ways to show us that He is God? More of the clouds opening with a loud accompanying voice, less of the “communicating with us through our consciences” stuff.
I mean, His presence is supposed to be implicit, but it’s not. And even if it were – why couldn’t it be more obvious? Why would the subtlety even be necessry?
Heaven is a big deal in the Bible. Miracles are a big deal in the Bible. But in my own life, and looking at scientific evidence and (not necessarily scientific) well-recorded data, there’s nothing that seems to indicate either one. Few modern-day miracle stories even do anything to prove YHWH, much less the resurrection.
5. Why are all of the arguments used to “prove” Christianity also used to prove basically every other religion?
You can apply them to Islam, to Buddhism, to Hinduism… it’s just the same kind of thinking, the same kind of excuses that don’t quite seem to work, over and over again.
If Christianity is true, and God is real and watching over us, and there is a heaven… why are we using the same logic, reasoning, excuses and cop-outs as everyone else is? Why do we need to?
Jesus said the kingdom of heaven comes not with our careful observation..............ie, it can't be measured or quantified, it can't be seen with our natural eyes or perceived by our natural reasoning. It can only be perceived in spirit after the Holy Spirit comes to indwell the believer when he/she receives Christ by faith (ie, in spirit, by the spirit). Because only the Spirit of God perceives and knows the mind of God.I've been having a lot of doubts in my faith for the past few months. Not the kind that can be easily dismissed, but actual, relatively rational thoughts.
I haven't really been able to talk to anyone about them, since no one in my family is a Christian and neither are any of my friends (online or off). So I'm wondering: how do y'all deal with doubt?
If anyone's interested, my specific concerns in the doubt are:
1. Inefficacy of (Intercessory) Prayer
Studies have shown that intercessory prayer doesn’t work. The Bible says it does – Jesus says it does! – but it doesn’t. It doesn’t have better outcomes for sick people, or make you more likely to succeed in your goals, or anything! We’re supposed to be able to move mountains and be immune to snake venom, but people who truly believe they’re safe still die from Christian snake-charming.
Why would a God who exists and loves us and is all-powerful say that He’ll help us, and then turn out to not do anything at all?
2. Why sin/evil/etc? God can do anything, so why this?
Here’s the thing: this is not the best possible world, with or without Eve’s fruit of the knowledge of good and evil. If God is all powerful, why doesn’t He just make it so that whatever makes us have to go to Hell isn’t necessary in the first place? Not just believers: everyone.
A good God couldn’t possibly want all of those people to go to Hell, right?
There’s the argument that God did exactly that through Jesus, but why? Why would he do that when Jesus’s resurrection happened 2,000 years ago (give or take), and we don’t have any solid evidence that the actual miracle of the resurrection (or any other miracles) happened?
I mean, if God is real, shouldn’t there be a lot more hard evidence?
3. Dead Babies:
Everything that happens is God’s will, or can be made to fit His will, right? So how do dead babies make any [staff edit] sense? Babies don’t sin, and their lives aren’t object lessons.
4. Why doesn’t God communicate with us in ways that are more sensible and direct?
I mean, His presence is everywhere and all, but why doesn’t He find undeniable ways to show us that He is God? More of the clouds opening with a loud accompanying voice, less of the “communicating with us through our consciences” stuff.
I mean, His presence is supposed to be implicit, but it’s not. And even if it were – why couldn’t it be more obvious? Why would the subtlety even be necessry?
Heaven is a big deal in the Bible. Miracles are a big deal in the Bible. But in my own life, and looking at scientific evidence and (not necessarily scientific) well-recorded data, there’s nothing that seems to indicate either one. Few modern-day miracle stories even do anything to prove YHWH, much less the resurrection.
5. Why are all of the arguments used to “prove” Christianity also used to prove basically every other religion?
You can apply them to Islam, to Buddhism, to Hinduism… it’s just the same kind of thinking, the same kind of excuses that don’t quite seem to work, over and over again.
If Christianity is true, and God is real and watching over us, and there is a heaven… why are we using the same logic, reasoning, excuses and cop-outs as everyone else is? Why do we need to?
Continuing: Failure of intercessory prayer. Prayer fails to do what is intended because people don't follow God's written instructions concerning it, or meet the standards for it to succeed.
I believe prayer is simply and sincerely talking to God; thanking Him, giving Him praise for who He is, His love and eternal life, and blessings of this life, sharing with Him concerns and requests for others and oneself with a desire for His perfect will in all situations.How do you pray correctly? What standard is there? I genuinely want to know, because I think I'm struggling with this.