Can a christian answear these questions?

Temrek said:

I have several questions that I would like answeared, that you do not know is not good enough. If you can answear all these in a satisfactory way I will convert to christianity. These are serious questions and not an attack on christianity, so please dont interpet them as such!

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As someone who was raised Christian, I don't know what it would take to convert someone. I doubt that satisfactory answers to the following questions would be enought -- I think an experience, a model of good Christianity, or some prayer would be required.

Since my answers are likely to not be satisfactory, however, it's probably a moot point.

1: How can god be omnisentient and we still have free will?

Those does not go together, knowing everything that will happen, has happened and is happening means there is no choice to make, if there where omnisentience would be impossible.

Omniscience is just knowing everything. I think it's possible to know everything without controlling everything. I've heard many Christians describe God as outside of tme, so while we're going through this linear time, He is at all places and occurences at once, and He can see how they connect.

Now... you get into some crazy time travel paradoxes here, of course. If God, for example, tells me what's going to happen tomorrow, whose to say that I will react in the way He says I will? And if I don't, would God be a liar? Or would I react that way because my future self had already had God's warning and that's how I'd react with God's warning? Perhaps the situation would be such that I couldn't react another way?

Headache-causing, yes... but I honestly don't see omniscience as an impediment to free will.

2: If god is omnipotent, why is there evil?

That humans has free will is not good enough answear, god can physically stop any evil act from happening without removing free will by doing something like this: If a would be murderer fires a gun at someone, the gun jams. Also, if free will leads to evil why do we have it? As god is omnipotent he could very well have made us without free will and still experience true happiness.

How do we grow without obstacles? Maybe Eden was great before the fall, but I have to honestly say it sounds pretty boring.

Do I hate the evil in the world? Yes. But that evil also gives me purpose -- it gives me something to fight and something to, ideally, conquer.

To me it's the whole idea that nothing exists without it's opposite. I appreciate beauty because I've seen ugliness. Perhaps we wouldn't be able to recognize God's goodness without evil to compare it to.

3: I was born with a disability, its called CMT or HMSN. It slows the speed of my nerves to about 20% of normal, giving me extremly bad balance, weak muscles, I get exhausted extremly quickly and much more. Why was I born with it? I am a pretty selfless person (likely becouse I have this disability) and help others as much as I can. Why are there evil people that does not have any disability?

You say you are likely selfless because of your disability. I am likely generous because of my poverty... Maybe we are each given challenges that will bring out the best in us if we react to it in a good way.

If you go with the belief that our time in this world is temporary, then your disability and my poverty are really unimportant except for how they help us relate to others and to God.

That may not be any comfort to a nonbeliever, but I think that kind of thought process is the reason there is religion at all -- we need meaning in our lives.

4: If god loves everyone, why does he bring eternal punishment on people? Punishment I could understand but what purpose does eternal punishment have? Also, why does he commit genocide several times according to the bible?

You got me there.

I've never been a fan of eternal punishment nor or smiting.

5: If god is omnipotent and good, why is there an all evil entity known as Satan?

How is this question different than #2?

6: If god punishes those that does not worship him, why does he doom people to punishment in areas that never even heard of any abrahamic religion? Why is the spread of christianty dependant on the effort of man? Dosent god want to save as many as possible?

See my answer for #4.

7: What makes christianty more belivble then say, hinduism?
Most likely just the culture you grew up in... what you understand to be true.

I think a lot of aspects of Buddhism make more sense than Christianity (particularly reincarnation vs. eternal heaven or hell), but my experience supports my belief in God, so I take the whole package of my faith.

That doesn't mean I don't hope that God is like a parent or a teacher who threatens a certain punishment but then realizes he's gone to far and only keeps us in hell for a little bit and then gives in.

http://www.livingwaters.com/witnessingtool/browse.shtml#questionsobjections

Here's a list of Q&A's you asked.


Dan~~~>saw most of them on the list

Temrek said:

I have several questions that I would like answeared, that you do not know is not good enough. If you can answear all these in a satisfactory way I will convert to christianity. These are serious questions and not an attack on christianity, so please dont interpet them as such!

1: How can god be omnisentient and we still have free will?

Those does not go together, knowing everything that will happen, has happened and is happening means there is no choice to make, if there where omnisentience would be impossible.

2: If god is omnipotent, why is there evil?

That humans has free will is not good enough answear, god can physically stop any evil act from happening without removing free will by doing something like this: If a would be murderer fires a gun at someone, the gun jams. Also, if free will leads to evil why do we have it? As god is omnipotent he could very well have made us without free will and still experience true happiness.

3: I was born with a disability, its called CMT or HMSN. It slows the speed of my nerves to about 20% of normal, giving me extremly bad balance, weak muscles, I get exhausted extremly quickly and much more. Why was I born with it? I am a pretty selfless person (likely becouse I have this disability) and help others as much as I can. Why are there evil people that does not have any disability?

4: If god loves everyone, why does he bring eternal punishment on people? Punishment I could understand but what purpose does eternal punishment have? Also, why does he commit genocide several times according to the bible?

5: If god is omnipotent and good, why is there an all evil entity known as Satan?

6: If god punishes those that does not worship him, why does he doom people to punishment in areas that never even heard of any abrahamic religion? Why is the spread of christianty dependant on the effort of man? Dosent god want to save as many as possible?

7: What makes christianty more belivble then say, hinduism?

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The first five are mysteries and no one knows this. These concepts came from phillosophers that rebel
against God and hopes to seek the destruction of other
souls. no. God can save anyone he wants wherever
they are. As for the last question Christianity appeals
to reason in its pure form. As for the rest of the
religions, it would be charatable to pray for them

Ron

1: How can god be omnisentient and we still have free will?

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Cos we can still make a choice. He knows what we will do, He doesn't make us do it. Like if I were to go to the future and see what you do. Did I make you do it??

Temrek said:

1: How can god be omnisentient and we still have free will?

Those does not go together, knowing everything that will happen, has happened and is happening means there is no choice to make, if there where omnisentience would be impossible.

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There is no conflict between foreknowledge (exhaustive definite) and free will (libertarian). The constraints are on God's knowledge, not man's decisions. It's not that we must do what God knows, but rather, God must know what we will do. God sovereignly chose to give men libertarian agency and thus chose to only know what they will do without causing it.

The omnipotence question is a bit easier. The answer is free will.

Temrek said:

I have several questions that I would like answeared, that you do not know is not good enough. If you can answear all these in a satisfactory way I will convert to christianity. These are serious questions and not an attack on christianity, so please dont interpet them as such!

1: How can god be omnisentient and we still have free will?

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We are inside of time, and exercise our freewill within it. God is outside of time. His ability to observe my actions next monday no more removes my freewill than somebody next tuesday knowing what my actions were on the monday does.

2: If god is omnipotent, why is there evil?

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God wishes us to have genuine choice. For the choice to be genuine, the consequences of bad choices can't be removed - he has to take that risk. The possibility of us freely making good choices is (apparently) worth that risk.

That humans has free will is not good enough answear, god can physically stop any evil act from happening without removing free will by doing something like this: If a would be murderer fires a gun at someone, the gun jams. Also, if free will leads to evil why do we have it? As god is omnipotent he could very well have made us without free will and still experience true happiness.

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We might be 'happy' (whatever that would mean) but we wouldn't be what he wants us to be.

3: I was born with a disability, its called CMT or HMSN. It slows the speed of my nerves to about 20% of normal, giving me extremly bad balance, weak muscles, I get exhausted extremly quickly and much more. Why was I born with it? I am a pretty selfless person (likely becouse I have this disability) and help others as much as I can. Why are there evil people that does not have any disability?

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God doesn't use disabilities to punish people. "Why does God allow good people to suffer?" is the whole theme the book of Job explores, and in the end it's one we are left to continue to explore, not given an entirely satisfactory answer to.

4: If god loves everyone, why does he bring eternal punishment on people?

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I do not believe he does.

Punishment I could understand but what purpose does eternal punishment have? Also, why does he commit genocide several times according to the bible?

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The bible is a set of narratives describing people's encounters with God. All the way through the writings are written within the understanding of the people writting them. The point of the stories is that "this is our God, he is the one and only God - creator of all. We are his people being shaped to fulfill his mission. and so forth" The people writing the stories understood powerful Gods to smite (and require the smiting of) their enemies, so that's what they portray their God doing.

5: If god is omnipotent and good, why is there an all evil entity known as Satan?

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Satan is the personification of evil, which is label given to the concept of us making bad choices.

6: If god punishes those that does not worship him, why does he doom people to punishment in areas that never even heard of any abrahamic religion?

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He doesn't.

Why is the spread of christianty dependant on the effort of man?

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Because God chooses to work through people 99.999999 % of the time. That's how he transforms us - restoring the image of God within us.

Dosent god want to save as many as possible?

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And constant divine intervention wouldn't achieve that. Shortcuts don't work when it comes to the inevitable and messy process of learning.

7: What makes christianty more belivble then say, hinduism?

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Believabilty isn't the correct test. Truthfullness is the correct test; sometimes the more incredible option is the correct one.

I thought the omnisentient , omnipotent, omnipresent concepts were created by 19th century German theologians. Even Jesus indicates that birth defects can happen for no particular reason.

Freewill and predestination are actually different than what many think. Ok here goes.
God set up a series of laws and decided that those who violated those laws were doomed.
Individuals have the free will to obey the laws or not.
Simple huh?

I can't find an eternal hell or heaven in the Torah. I think they are pagan concepts just like the Reform Jews stated.

Satan is a RC fiction. God does send evil spirits to accomplish certain things at times. See the books of Samuel.

Temrek said:

I have several questions that I would like answeared, that you do not know is not good enough. If you can answear all these in a satisfactory way I will convert to christianity. These are serious questions and not an attack on christianity, so please dont interpet them as such!

1: How can god be omnisentient and we still have free will?

Those does not go together, knowing everything that will happen, has happened and is happening means there is no choice to make, if there where omnisentience would be impossible.

2: If god is omnipotent, why is there evil?

That humans has free will is not good enough answear, god can physically stop any evil act from happening without removing free will by doing something like this: If a would be murderer fires a gun at someone, the gun jams. Also, if free will leads to evil why do we have it? As god is omnipotent he could very well have made us without free will and still experience true happiness.

3: I was born with a disability, its called CMT or HMSN. It slows the speed of my nerves to about 20% of normal, giving me extremly bad balance, weak muscles, I get exhausted extremly quickly and much more. Why was I born with it? I am a pretty selfless person (likely becouse I have this disability) and help others as much as I can. Why are there evil people that does not have any disability?

4: If god loves everyone, why does he bring eternal punishment on people? Punishment I could understand but what purpose does eternal punishment have? Also, why does he commit genocide several times according to the bible?

5: If god is omnipotent and good, why is there an all evil entity known as Satan?

6: If god punishes those that does not worship him, why does he doom people to punishment in areas that never even heard of any abrahamic religion? Why is the spread of christianty dependant on the effort of man? Dosent god want to save as many as possible?

7: What makes christianty more belivble then say, hinduism?

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The first six questions are still debateable even among christians so if one were to answer these that is'nt going to draw anyone to faith.
As for the seventh question, christianity is believable because the christian is drawn to faith by the hearing of the gospel and by the conviction of the Holy Spirit, as it is written.
You can make all the promises that you will become a believer if you can get an answer to your questions, but there is only one way: through the hearing of the gospel and conviction by the Holy Spirit Himself.

Temrek said:

I have several questions that I would like answeared, that you do not know is not good enough. If you can answear all these in a satisfactory way I will convert to christianity. These are serious questions and not an attack on christianity, so please dont interpet them as such!

Click to expand...

Respected, I see so many come here to debate, and it would be wonderful if this was not the case with you, however, if you need more or an answer, or do not grasp something, please let us know.

1: How can god be omnisentient and we still have free will?

Those does not go together, knowing everything that will happen, has happened and is happening means there is no choice to make, if there where omnisentience would be impossible.

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Knowledge and Action are not one and the same. If I know you will drink a can of soda at 2 Pm, tomorrow, the fact that I know this, does not impede or impose on your personal choice (The limited scope that you have personally made the choice) to have that can of soda.

See, we have Free Will in the sense that we are able to make our own choices, formulate what that choice will be, and execute it. We are not forced or prevented from making a choice, save by instinct (IE: You would have a strong desire not to pull your own eye out) but, the presence of survival instinct, or mothering nature, or cultural influence, and all those things, we do not view as an imposition on our free will, as such, simply because God knows what we will do, does not mean that God has forced us to do.

God Bless

Key

Misty Minister said:

Satan is a RC fiction. God does send evil spirits to accomplish certain things at times. See the books of Samuel.

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Misty Minister, just to bring up, satan is mentioned in the New Testament. I don't believe he is just RC fiction. (I am not RC bytheway). thankfully Jesus is better than him though.

Search Results: 47 Verses and 63 Resources containing 'satan'

http://www.studylight.org/desk/?l=e...s&oq=de%2022:14&new=1&sr=1&nb=de&ng=22&ncc=22

Search Results: 32 Verses and 71 Resources containing 'devil'
Search Results: 28 Verses and 26 Resources containing 'demon'
Search Results: 42 Verses and 23 Resources containing 'demons'
Search Results: 1 Resource containing 'demonized'
Search Results: 12 Verses and 3 Resources containing 'possessed demon'
Search Results: 2 Verses containing 'possessed demons'
Search Results: 11 Verses and 3 Resources containing 'evil spirit'
Search Results: 6 Verses and 3 Resources containing 'evil spirits'

Temrek-
1: How can god be omnisentient and we still have free will?

WE have the opportunity for the growth of our souls.

2: If god is omnipotent, why is there evil?

Evil is the nature of the world. Human instincts for evil or unhealthy choices sometimes overrides good. In other words, we are weak and give into all the temptations of the world, some more than others. Not everyone born is saved. We have the opportunity to make the choice to save ourselves and show our love for God. God does not want to force people to come to him, IMHO.


3: I was born with a disability, its called CMT or HMSN. It slows the speed of my nerves to about 20% of normal, giving me extremly bad balance, weak muscles, I get exhausted extremly quickly and much more. Why was I born with it? I am a pretty selfless person (likely becouse I have this disability) and help others as much as I can. Why are there evil people that does not have any disability?

I do not believe that your disability is a punishment for you. It may even be an example of courage to others depending on how you relate to it. Some of the wicked are punished after death, some are punished in this world through various means.

4: If god loves everyone, why does he bring eternal punishment on people? Punishment I could understand but what purpose does eternal punishment have? Also, why does he commit genocide several times according to the bible?

First, I would like to answer your question about "genocide". The Hebrews were expelled from Babylon. They lost their homeland, homes, some lost family members and sometimes all they owned. The Hebrews wandered far and wide looking for a place to settle. Places to settle in that area of the world are few. Water and good grazing lands were scarce. They came to Egypt, then they were led out of Egypt. When they were led out of Egypt, the Amalakites attacked them. Saul was ordered to kill them all. He disobeyed God and spared the king and certain choice animals from the Amalakite herds, thus leaving descendants that would come back later to destroy the Hebrews. They were often attacked by aggressive, pagan tribes. God promised to protect the Hebrews and commanded that they protect themselves as a nation. They had a right to protect themselves. God proved mightier than the gods of the pagans.

There are Jews who believe that there are desecndants of the Amalakites in modern history. Some believe that Hitler was from the line of Amalakites because he was seeking the destruction of the Jews.

If God had not protected the Hebrews and the line of David from which our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ came. It might have been the Jews who were victims of genocide had they not fought against other tribes. God was fulfilling his promise and paving the way for Christianity so that all people of the whole world might be saved by his Word. God's plan, IMHO, was to make way for Christianity through his way. His ways are not our ways.

There may be eternal punishment for those of the greatest evil and who have not been saved by giving their lives to Jesus and following God's commandments. Even the Ancient Egyptians supported the annihilation of the soul by the goddess Ammit (eater of souls) for those who were condemned in the Hall of Judgement.


5: If god is omnipotent and good, why is there an all evil entity known as Satan?

The world's religions are full of this dichotomy of good against evil. There is good and evil in most religions that I have studied and practiced. Human beings are susceptible to evil behavior especially if they have not been saved. Those who have been saved are weak also but much less so and usually have the opportunity to repent and amend their lives if they follow Christ. Evil beings have no wish to amend their lives or repent. They allow themselves, by their own choice (free will), to be led by Satan,the enemy within.

6: If god punishes those that does not worship him, why does he doom people to punishment in areas that never even heard of any abrahamic religion? Why is the spread of christianty dependant on the effort of man? Dosent god want to save as many as possible?

IMHO,God want to save everyone, Everyone does not hear him or take the hint. It took me over 40 years to convert to Christianity. He stuck with me though, he did not give up on me and one day I asked what he wanted me to do, and he told me, I obeyed and here I am. I was baptized on Jan. 7, 2007.

7: What makes christianty more belivble then say, hinduism?[/quote]

I was a Hindu for a time and a Buddhist for almost 30 years. Certain philosophies are very good and very moral, although I know of no philosophy or religion that has the Son of God who died for the mistakes (sins) of all of us and that are forgiven if only we give ourselves to Jesus.

It isn't that they are unbelievable, it is that some worship idols and other gods, their works are ineffective both on the physical level and the spiritual, at least for me, and all do not have Jesus Christ. Most of them do not follow God's commandments. I wish to obey God because he told me to follow his Son.

What makes Christianity more believeable to me? The miracles God has provided for my life.

I hope this answers your questions. I think you have had some very good answers from other posters.
The best way, IMHO, to know God is to talk to him, invite him into your life. "I am yours, save me," is all I needed to say.

Blessings, Fortuna

Temrek said:

1: How can god be omnisentient and we still have free will?

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God knows what decision you are going to make before you make it. Even though He may not like the decision you make, He accepts it. Even though He could change your choice, He won't.

Temrek said:

2: If god is omnipotent, why is there evil?

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You already answered this. Because humans have free will. Not everyone accepts Christ's teachings.

Temrek said:

3: I was born with a disability, its called CMT or HMSN. It slows the speed of my nerves to about 20% of normal, giving me extremly bad balance, weak muscles, I get exhausted extremly quickly and much more. Why was I born with it? I am a pretty selfless person (likely becouse I have this disability) and help others as much as I can. Why are there evil people that does not have any disability?

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This is a tough one. My sister was born with a major disability too and I have mild scoliosis. I think God gave some people problems like these becuase then it is an inspiration to others. I personally (and my sister) do not go and curse His name because of this. It is part of who we are and we can use it as an example for this. It is kinda like why am I having to grow up without a dad who cares about me or why did my mum get cancer? I can be an inspiration to others that, yeah, things can be tough but you still need to praise Him for the good things, even though they may be small.

Temrek said:

4: If god loves everyone, why does he bring eternal punishment on people? Punishment I could understand but what purpose does eternal punishment have? Also, why does he commit genocide several times according to the bible?

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God give us ample oppourtunity to accept Him through our lives. If not, we are well warned what the result will be - eternal punishment. As for the genocide, I am not sure exactly where you are referring to, possibly Sodom and Gomorrah (sp?) Could you please clarify that one for me?

Temrek said:

5: If god is omnipotent and good, why is there an all evil entity known as Satan?

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Becasue Satan used to be like God but then took some of the angels and himself and created a place of hate.

Temrek said:

6: If god punishes those that does not worship him, why does he doom people to punishment in areas that never even heard of any abrahamic religion? Why is the spread of christianty dependant on the effort of man? Dosent god want to save as many as possible?

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I personally believe that if one does not ever heard of God, He will not allow them to suffere forever. It is not their fault that they lived in a place that did not expose them to Christianity.

Temrek said:

7: What makes christianty more belivble then say, hinduism?

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I personally do not know what hinduism beleives so I cannot respond to this answer.

I hope I was able to help you a bit!

Kristy

Temrek said:

I have several questions that I would like answeared, that you do not know is not good enough. If you can answear all these in a satisfactory way I will convert to christianity.

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Honestly?

That's a terrible reason to convert to Christianity.

I could answer your questions (and I may, still) but it would miss the point.

You see, pews in churches all over the country are filled with people who've decided to follow Christ based on an intellectual assent or out of a sense of emotion, but they've never truly surrendered to Christ or been crucified with Him. They're false converts and they're just as much on their way to Hell as any other unrepentant sinner.

So, sure, I could go down the list of questions but (a) God is to be revered, not to be made the object of such a wager and (b) to lead you to believe that this is a legitimate reason to follow Christ would be doing you a grave disservice.

What you need to do is to take some time and to consider your standing before God.

The Bible tells us that each one of us has sinned before God and that our sins have made us an enemy of God.

If you were to die today and stand in judgement before God, would you go to Heaven or to Hell? Why?