Am I expected to lie to myself?

[Sojourner1]

Upon what basis do these thousands upon thousand of Christian people believe they are right? Have they ever heard first hand accounts of someone who went to heaven?

You might want to read the book "To Hell and Back" by Maurice S. Rawlings.

 

[Cieza]

Because if a physical being can't create the universe. Only a metaphysical one can. The physical exists only within the universe, and something that is within the universe can't create the universe.

Upon what reasoning do you come to the conclusion that the universe must have been created?

Yes, for most of us it is. Nothing can be proven for certainty, but I am reasonably sure that God exists.

Upon what basis are you reasonably sure that God exists?

Not really. You seem to place such tight restrictions on what you actually consider to be evidence. Most people accept far much more, and thus have much more available.

What do you consider to be evidence that God exists?

God doesn't bow to you. He does what He wants, which is what is holy and righteous.

I guess that means it is holy and righteous to be stubborn and to be a fool.

If He's not revealing Himself to you in the way that you want, it probably means you are the one asking too much. You're refusal to consider any evidence that doesn't fall into your neat little categories is your own foolishness and stubborness, not His.

If God can do anything, then it would be as easy for him to do what it would take for me to believe he exists as it would be for either you or me to take a breath of air. Since it would be that easy for him to demonstrate to me that he exists, it could not be possible that I'm asking too much.

If God can do anything, I'm only asking that he does things that he is capable of doing. How could that be asking for too much?

 

[Cieza]

I don't know (or care) who falls into each category. But I do know all bodies fall into the grave besides that of Christ. If His body fell into the grave (but did not conquer it, then what hope do we have? )

I assume when you say "besides that of Christ", you mean "next to".

If so, then what you're saying is an outright lie. I have been at burials where dead bodies were placed in coffins and lowered into the ground. And some of these burials were across the country from other burials. That means that there is no single body that both these bodies are next to.

 

[DCJazz]

If God is real, then he would be fully aware of the predicament I'm in. But he doesn't do anything. Is this because he doesn't care? Because he is incapable of doing anything? Or perhaps he isn't real.

And who are you that you deserve above all others who suffer more greatly than you, that your every whim and desire shall be satisfied? Even if God did alleviate whatever suffering or discontent you are going through, you would not credit Him, would you?

Perhaps it is not because he doesn't care or is incapable of rectifying your 'predicament'. Perhaps it is because even if He did, you would not believe, or that you would even credit yourself with the glory that belongs to God, yes?

Please don't misunderstand, I don't mean to scold or lecture you. But why is it that you feel you are so entitled? I have problems too, and though God has not alleviated those problems, I still believe and trust that He knows what is best for me.

If your life was perfect... what reason would there be to turn to God, even if He was the reason for your perfection in the first place? He would be doing more harm than good in that case.

Eh, sorry, I'm rambling. I'm not trying to prove or disprove anything. I just want you to think about a few things. Just because you're not happy with your life... that doesn't mean God doesn't exist. I see no promise in the bible that says your life will be perfect if you choose to follow Christ. In fact, he has promised that "all men will hate you for my name's sake".

God cares for you, and if you would only reach out to Him in repentance, He would give you much more than this world can offer. But no one can force that decision on you. If you will not believe, that is your choice.

But no matter what you believe, the fact remains that God is very real.

 

[DCJazz]

Upon what reasoning do you come to the conclusion that the universe must have been created?

No matter your definition of 'created', you cannot say that the Universe is and always has been in existence. From the death of the lowest organism, to the death of stars themselves, it is quite obvious that this universe is a very finite thing. It had to have been created, in one way or another. It is not eternal, nor infinite.

Logic dictates that something or someone must have created the universe. Why do you think the big bang theory was presented in the first place? Because even if the ones who presented that theory didn't believe in God (I have no idea), they believed that the universe sprang into existence, whether by God's hand or completely by chance.

 

[ChristianT]

I assume when you say "besides that of Christ", you mean "next to".

If so, then what you're saying is an outright lie. I have been at burials where dead bodies were placed in coffins and lowered into the ground. And some of these burials were across the country from other burials. That means that there is no single body that both these bodies are next to.

Then don't assume. by besides, I meant:

PHRASES
beside the point irrelevant.

I guess besides wasn't an accurate word of what I meant... let's try this again. Replace "besides" with the synonyms: "apart from," or "except." This is the version of "besides" I meant.



ALSO...

think for a second (please?), if besides in my post meant "next to," that makes the second part irrelevant and gibberish. I am glad to say I have no idea how to speak nor write gibberish (isn't that the point ). What I Meant to say was;

I don't know (or care) who falls into each category. But I do know all people go into the grave except* Christ. If His body went into the grave (but did not conquer it, then what hope do we have?**

*Every person's destination because of their sin–disobedience towards G-d is the grave. Christ however didn't have to die because He never sinned. He didn't even get killed by the romans nor the wooden cross. He literally gave up His life (sort of as a "spiritually suicide" where He simply let His soul go to G-d... basically in secular terms: Jesus went into the light on His own.) I also think He went to Hell, and received all of the people who loved G-d in the OT but never heard the name of Jesus (if they loved G-d, the title, then they loved Jesus). If of course people such as Abraham, Jacob/Israel, David, etc. didn't get into heaven by following all of the Law. I think Abraham and Jacob/Israel had a sort of advantage in that they didn't have the Law, so they could not keep what they did not know. However the word of G-d was their law, anything He told them to do was their Law... so I think they were fine.

**ALL questionable words were edited for the clearest possible translation from you.



About the bolded but not underlined section of your post I quoted, I agree, it is physically and logically impossible to lie in a grave next to the same person as the one in Guatemala or Japan.

 

[Kristen.NewCreation]

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