agnostic and christian relationship

[meson]

Yes, oi. From what I have learned about the how the gospels were put together there is no reason to think they are completely accurate renditions of what happened.

 

[bling]

It's only her problem insofar as she is the one that has an issue with premarital sex. I don't think there is anything intrinsically wrong with it- the only reason I feel bad about that in this case is because she does and I am sorry that I made her feel rotten. Obviously that she is pregnant as a result is a mutual problem. I don't have a problem with her being a Christian, it doesn't bother me.

I'm not really looking to make any big changes. I realize that as a human being there are always things I could improve on in every area. I'm looking to understand Christianity as well as possible at the moment, I will only become a Christian if I see that it is true.

Thank you for being so honest.

The problems I see are as follows:


1. “I'm not really looking to make any big changes.” For the most part people that call themselves Christians are very little different than agnostics, but if you want to be a true “Christian” (Christ like person) that is hugely different than an agnostic.


2. “I will only become a Christian if I see that it is true.” There is no academic “proof” for the skeptic (not that being a skeptic is wrong). The way to overcome your skepticism is with a big enough reason to believe. To understand how it works you might want to read (Luke 15:11-32) a person sometimes has to really reach the bottom before he is willing to accept pure charity from God. I do not see you as being there yet.

Do you understand you earthly objective, do you know why you were created, do you know why everything is happening that does happen?

 

[meson]

My earthly objective is what I set out for myself. I want to be a decent person, make some kind of positive impact in this world, attempt to excel at my profession, have a loving family etc. Stuff happens because the laws of physics are the way they are.

I can't believe in stuff I don't have reasons for thinking is true, it's just not possible. So there are two objectives in terms of my investigation into Christianity. One is to understand it so that I can better empathize with my gf, which is rather important to me. The second is to see if there are any reasons to think it could actually be true.

 

[Lukaris]

My earthly objective is what I set out for myself. I want to be a decent person, make some kind of positive impact in this world, attempt to excel at my profession, have a loving family etc. Stuff happens because the laws of physics are the way they are.

I can't believe in stuff I don't have reasons for thinking is true, it's just not possible. So there are two objectives in terms of my investigation into Christianity. One is to understand it so that I can better empathize with my gf, which is rather important to me. The second is to see if there are any reasons to think it could actually be true.

The only thing I can tell you is that you basically seek to live the same life a Christian wants to live. There are Christians & non Christians who will do right or wrong. A Christian who truly knows Jesus Christ will realize that their conscience cannot save their soul & realize that whatever wrong he or she does in life must be repented of as we live. A Christian must strive to love God & neighbor knowing that love is of God & that human concepts of love are imperfect. A Christian must also realize that anyone (Christian or non Christian) may have a God given disposition to be loving & not judge such a person (& strive not to judge anyone really). A Christian must discern the good from the bad:
Philippians 4:8

New King James Version (NKJV)

Meditate on These Things

8Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.





Yes there are stern warnings on discernment in other epistles:


1 John 4:1-3

New King James Version (NKJV)

4 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess that[a] Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.



These are applied to spirits & great care must be applied to not be hysterical in our actions. These are for Christian soul survival unto salvation when external oppression & even martyrdom await those of the faith & not to be taken casually towards anyone. For in the same epistle we are previously told to not forsake mercy because our Lord was merciful to us:


1 John 3:16-17

New King James Version (NKJV)

The Outworking of Love

16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?



I hope this can be of persuasion actually or at least helpful.

 

[oi_antz]

Yes, oi. From what I have learned about the how the gospels were put together there is no reason to think they are completely accurate renditions of what happened.

Read this part and tell me whether you believe it or not:

Luke 23

New Living Translation (NLT)

Jesus’ Trial before Pilate

23 Then the entire council took Jesus to Pilate, the Roman governor. 2 They began to state their case: “This man has been leading our people astray by telling them not to pay their taxes to the Roman government and by claiming he is the Messiah, a king.”
3 So Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
Jesus replied, “You have said it.”
4 Pilate turned to the leading priests and to the crowd and said, “I find nothing wrong with this man!”
5 Then they became insistent. “But he is causing riots by his teaching wherever he goes—all over Judea, from Galilee to Jerusalem!”
6 “Oh, is he a Galilean?” Pilate asked. 7 When they said that he was, Pilate sent him to Herod Antipas, because Galilee was under Herod’s jurisdiction, and Herod happened to be in Jerusalem at the time.
8 Herod was delighted at the opportunity to see Jesus, because he had heard about him and had been hoping for a long time to see him perform a miracle. 9 He asked Jesus question after question, but Jesus refused to answer. 10 Meanwhile, the leading priests and the teachers of religious law stood there shouting their accusations. 11 Then Herod and his soldiers began mocking and ridiculing Jesus. Finally, they put a royal robe on him and sent him back to Pilate. 12 (Herod and Pilate, who had been enemies before, became friends that day.)
13 Then Pilate called together the leading priests and other religious leaders, along with the people, 14 and he announced his verdict. “You brought this man to me, accusing him of leading a revolt. I have examined him thoroughly on this point in your presence and find him innocent. 15 Herod came to the same conclusion and sent him back to us. Nothing this man has done calls for the death penalty. 16 So I will have him flogged, and then I will release him.”[a]
18 Then a mighty roar rose from the crowd, and with one voice they shouted, “Kill him, and release Barabbas to us!” 19 (Barabbas was in prison for taking part in an insurrection in Jerusalem against the government, and for murder.) 20 Pilate argued with them, because he wanted to release Jesus. 21 But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
22 For the third time he demanded, “Why? What crime has he committed? I have found no reason to sentence him to death. So I will have him flogged, and then I will release him.”
23 But the mob shouted louder and louder, demanding that Jesus be crucified, and their voices prevailed. 24 So Pilate sentenced Jesus to die as they demanded. 25 As they had requested, he released Barabbas, the man in prison for insurrection and murder. But he turned Jesus over to them to do as they wished.