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Thank you. Yes, I've been thinking I should read the bible again, but I know I tend to read it through to alternating sets of "eye glasses": the Christian set, that assumes it makes sense and is coherent, and the sceptical set, which assumes it's just one of many religious books.
I get where you are coming from. To be honest I think in a way you are acting like a Christian by putting the needs of your loved ones before the comfortably of yourself. As i am a firm believer in owning who you are and what you believe I would have a hard time in your situation too. I know that what I say offends many because though I wholeheartedly believe in God and redemption through his son Jesus, I will not attend a church, Have no use for false organized religion, and have little to no tolerance for people that call themselves Christian but have no idea why the believe the way they do. I'd like to share this with you even though this is not the advice you were looking for. From a small child I spent my life in and out of churches and each were of different denominations and beliefs. This led to the feeling and knowledge that I was saved but also brought with it many questions. My so called redemption felt hollow and I couldn't escape the feeling deep in my bones that all of what i was told was complete nonsense. By the grace of God and through the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, I studied about all of the doubts and questions I had and the complete opposite was revealed to me that was to you. First, the God of OUR Bible is real, second 2,000 years of being lied to by greedy people who exploited our faith for money and power has made almost every single Christian not only be misled, but caused them to worship a fake, false God. An Anti-Christ if you will. This not only makes people believe they are redeemed when they aren't, it makes everyone, especially atheists look on Christians like they are primitive idiots. I'm sorry about my tangent, maybe some where down the road my opinions may help you at a cross roads. As for the situation with your parents I say this. Having children of my own and being less than 24 hrs at the time i write this from having my second grandson bless my life, I know the heartbreak and worry from my child making what I feel is the wrong choice, or see them doing something that I know will cause them trouble. Saying that, I don't always agree with what they do and sometimes I yell because I want them to realize that I've been through it and I know better but I would NEVER disown my child, let alone let their lifestyle decisions or beliefs crush me. Anyone that has had a loved one die especially a child will tell you that even though its said that them being saved gives them solace, it's a bunch of lies. Nothing, not even knowing God will console a terrible loos like that. I truly say that hiding who you are is a terrible thing for everyone. You and your parents can never be as close as you could be with a secret that big being between you because like you've admitted you will hide from a conversation that may bring up your beliefs. Add that to the guilt you feel and its a recipe for not enjoying your loved ones wile they are here. My advice is, if you do not want to come right out and say you do not believe, talk to your parents about doubts you've had to cause your loss of faith. This will alleviate your guilt because though you have blatantly said that you do not acknowledge God, it will let you have an honest conversation. Who knows maybe your parents may be open or better yet, say something that might peak your interest. Sorry for the length, this is an important topic for me. I pray for you and yours and also apologize for the abhorrent punctuation.
I haven't been on here for a little while. I came across a podcast with an NT scholar, a former believer, who now reads the scriptures in a very different way, that is, without the assumption that they must be true and coherent. I've always been aware of many of the inconsistencies and contradictions; some of them I had been told more or less reasonable rebuttals to, the rest I basically ignored, assuming that the apparent fault was, well, just apparent. But there's so much of it. It makes complete sense if the bible is a collection of writings by mere humans, but it just seems totally unreasonable to think that it's infallible and/or the word of God. I don't like saying it, there's still something in me that wants to defend it. But at the same time it's like I can finally let it go, if you know what I mean.
"Better to be a living dog than a dead lion".
It was on Sam Harris' podcast. I know, he's been known to attack a lot of strawmen when it comes to religion, but that's why I was very interested to hear him talk with an NT scholar who also knows personally what it means to believe (Bart Ehrman). I wish they'd gone a little deeper in both Ehrman's personal journey and into the history of the NT. I did know about much of it from before, like how the bible contradicts itself on which day Jesus rose from the dead and so forth. But in short, I was reminded that I (with my very limited knowledge) don't really have good reason to presume that the bible is inerrant or anything like that, any more than, say, the koran or the hindu scriptures (which I have never read). Presumption is the key word... and could you please share a link to the podcast? Thank you
Thanks for that. I listened to a fair bit of it. The first thing that stood out though, and it immediately discredited his authority to teach about Christianity, is that 6:00 Bart Ehrman shows that he doesn't really grasp the meaning of being born again. He described that he had said a prayer and felt momentarily euphoric, but it just sounds like a typical hypnosis (1 Timothy 4:1) and receiving of an empty assurance from a man without having a personal relationship with God (John 5:41-44) - quite the opposite of being born again!
It sounded pretty standard salvation story to me. Are you suggesting that stories like that mean people aren't really saved? If so, there are a LOT of unsaved Christians out there.
Sure, there's a lot of wisdom in the bible. But if it's not factually correct, that's all there is at best. Wisdom, poetry and history.
What angel are you talking about?
No I am rather making a distinction between the kingdom of God and salvation .. where Jesus says many are called but few are chosen, He is talking about the kingdom of God, the heavenly Jerusalem as described in Hebrews 12. The final judgement and salvation, as it were, is described in Matthew 25, where Jesus separates the goats from the sheep, saying "come you who are blessed, because I was hungry and you gave me food, thirsty, naked, poor and sick etc" .. but to the cursed He says "depart from me, into the everlasting destruction, for I was hungry and you gave me no food, thirsty, naked, poor and sick" .. "as often as you did it to even the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, it was me you did it to."
It takes faith like a mustard seed for it to grow into a tree.. that which you do not yet have (Matthew 13:31-32).
There can only be one winner of a race. If He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world, and we are co-heirs with Christ, then the logical conclusion is that an angel is either a fellow servant with us, or an adversary (Hebrews 1:14, Revelation 22:9, John 10:10, 2 Corinthians 11:14).
