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I find it funny

Digit

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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Yes Christianity shares a lot of the same morals with Buddhism but in the end faith in a certain deity or person is stressed more in Christianity, leaving the non christian in a fiery oven for all eternity.

[/FONT]This is illustrating what I was talking about, reading/understanding. This concept of Hell is not shared by all Christians, and indeed looking to scripture to see what it says, is a very interesting study.
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]I don't find the idea of taking responsibility for your actions to be selfish at all. In fact I find it the opposite of selfish.

[/FONT]It's not the responsibility of your actions that is selfish, it's that focus on your actions, whereas Christianity the focus is on others'. There is a difference, albeit a subtle one.[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]

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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Buddhism doesn't teach that a simple answer can change us, it takes work. I am not trying to create my own religion I am searching for what belief or practice can help make me a healthier person spiritually and give me the mindset and peace of mind to influence others around me to be better people

[/FONT]Awesome! :D

The reason I say 'create your own religion', is because it appears on the outside you are religion-shopping. Looking for one that makes sense to you. The danger of this, I feel, is that there will always be one that makes sense to a person. If people can see merit in scientology, then they can see merit in Bhuddism and Christiantiy too. My suggested approach, would be to find one that offers a complete picture of things. As illustrated, there are differing beliefs on Hell, and an eternal loving God and eternal conscious shame, don't really gel very well, there is a reason for this. :)[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]

[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]I am not looking to have an ideology that puts me above people because I believe in a certain way. They do share good moral teachings and if following Christianity equips you to become a better person (like i said before) than I fully support you being a christian. I am glad however that I am giving this more thought and consideration because I am really discovering what I value and what is most important to me.
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I think one of the best ways to find out what you value and what speaks to you, is to discuss with others. So in that, I applaud your approach and I'm really glad that these things are helping you in that area. :) So, yay you. :p

Cheers!
Digit
 
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Awesomegirl

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I have to give you credit you did remind me of the Anglican church I visited which they taught hell is a state of mind and that was a belief i could live with, i had forgotten about that and I thank you for bringing it back up. I can also see where your going with the selfishness thing, I think you should read the [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Tipitaka just for educational purposes, you will find the goal of Buddhism is for much more than ones self, it is about world peace and tranquility. I will give it more time, because this is a big descision, I am choosing how I am going to live my life and I don't want to waste my life. Thanks for helping me through this and I am going to be busy for the next few weeks studying. I do know that Buddhism isn't an exclusive religion and it can be mixed with other beliefs. I also think you were getting some of the Hindu stuff mixed with Buddhist stuff. The Buddha was a Hindu prince that rejected the caste system, and spiritual unjustness of the Hindu reincarnation system. Buddhism doesn't stress the supernatural much, it states we have a spirit or soul that we should elevate to nirvana. Just wanted to clear some stuff up. I am still reading the book so I will let you know more about it as I go, esp the spiritual stuff which right now it is more about the tree main tenets or truths.
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EternallyPierced

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I wasn't planning on posting a real response to this yet but on the way to lok up some scripture for my blog I ran across this.

1 Corinthians 2:9-10
9 However, as it is written:
"No eye has seen,
no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived
what God has prepared for those who love him"
10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.

I've often thought of the things you mentioned. After thinking for a few minutes I realize I just can't comprehend such things. Then I realized all that I do know is a revelation from God. Sure I can read the bible and know what it says but that doesn't mean that I understand it or that it speaks to me (kind of like algebra). It's His Spirit inside us that makes things make sense. That's the amazing thing about the Bible, you're never done reading it because God always has something else to reveal to you. I can't explain everything but I know God is opening my eyes up to knew things everyday. Things that didn't make sense yesterday are crystal clear today. Only God can make things make sense, only He can answer those unanswerable questions. You may even find that one day that you don't need to know the answers to those questions. I don't know what tomorrow holds but I know who holds it and that's enough for me :D Good luck my friend and may your eyes be opened to a life and love you never knew existed. :hug:
 
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Awesomegirl

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well after extended research I don't think I'm going to become a Buddhist any time soon. Actually I have came to the conclusion that I don't need to label myself with a group or belief to be a good person and to help others. I'm just Sarah and I think ill stick with it.
 
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I find it funny how when I explain my reasoning for being agnostic is because I believe matters such as the existence of a god and the origin of our universe are beyond human comprehension and unknowable people tell me that the answer is simple and that God created everything. Well the funny thing is when I ask them questions like who created God or if god is infinite what was he doing before the universe was created I get the answer "well god is beyond human comprehension. Well that's is exactly what i believe but I take it a step further and say the existence of the supernatural is unknowable. Some people can admit to uncertainty in some aspects but if you cross into their no fly zone you get treated like an evil person. It's like they hate it when people challenge their beliefs. I don't understand why my beliefs about the universe, or lack thereof, makes it just for people to threaten me with an infinite torture. I didn't grow up in knowing this kind of cruelty but it makes me sad that people would even think about such a horrid idea.

can you take a bunch of scrap metal, throw it into a swirling tornado and get a B52 bomber?

can you leave your car in the garage for 1000000 years and see it mutate into an airplane?

if evolution is true then in 1 million years from now, your decendants will no longer look like a human being...evolution is said to be continuous right?

i wont get into scientific stuff because im no scientist..but my question to you is this. How do you know that a supernatural being who we know Him as God, is unknowable? How do you know that you cannot know Him? Have you ever tried getting to know Him yourself?

How do you know that the guy sitting across from you in math class will not talk to you if you don't walk up to him and start talking to him?

anyways, God is very knowable and the Bible persistently states that if we seek Him, we will find Him. Its a promise that has been fullfilled throughout history of mankind and there are millions of Christians witnessing to this.
 
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well after extended research I don't think I'm going to become a Buddhist any time soon. Actually I have came to the conclusion that I don't need to label myself with a group or belief to be a good person and to help others. I'm just Sarah and I think ill stick with it.

your own self righteousness is not good enough to make it to heaven. a sheep appears white but if snow came falling down, the sheep wont seem so white anymore.

no person alive or in the past has ever been righteous. if you lie once, that disqualifies you as a "good person"

its only when you stand next to God's moral standards that you realize you are not as white as snow.

Only Jesus Christ can save you.
 
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Awesomegirl

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lol your def no scientist as your examples are stereotypical poor examples of the intelligent design theory. If you read into any evolutionary science or atheist literature that will be torn apart quickly. Honestly have you ever read any Hawkings , Dawkins or even Darwin? You do not seem to understand evolution from a scientific point of view, just stereotypical slander. I don't believe any one can honestly make the judgment of who gets into heaven and if there even is one, and an old book isn't going to change that for anyone. Also no is perfect and I never said I was, and if believing in an invisible deity out of fear of hell is the best argument you can make for your religion than I just lost what respect i had for your belief. Besides a one size fits all punishment is completely unjust if you have the slightest understanding of justice. I also do not support any form of torture as a punishment or practice, it is the most repulsive and horrid practice of mankind. To wrap things up I have sought god once in my life, I did for the first 18 years of my life and you know what I still have not found any shred of him once, and I was the kind of person that would pray non stop. Have you ever seriously sought Allah or Krishna? Maybe you should seek them out and give them a try. Also being responsible for your own actions and being self reliant is not selfish, selfish people aren't happy with the life they have and selfish people parade around acting like they know the truth when they have no hard evidence to back up their beliefs.
 
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Digit

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Hey Awesomegirl,

Again I want to stress that all these things: evolution, Hell, relative 'good'/'bad' are branches of what should become a faith. None of them are worth basing your faith on. Which I think you pretty much agree with, from your responses. Whilst they are not something to base your faith on, they are also not things that should eliminate possible faith choices. I feel the door should swing both ways.

I started reading a really awesome book today, which reminded me of a lot of things, it's a book called Alpha by Nicky Gumbel, who is the author of the Alpha course. I would like to take some time later today to write them up as, they reminded me of some of the core differences between Christianity and other religions, and also some of the more interesting questions that need answering.

So yeah, give me a few hours as I'm at work and I will come back at lunchtime. :D

Cheers!
Digit
 
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tapero

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lol your def no scientist as your examples are stereotypical poor examples of the intelligent design theory. If you read into any evolutionary science or atheist literature that will be torn apart quickly. Honestly have you ever read any Hawkings , Dawkins or even Darwin? You do not seem to understand evolution from a scientific point of view, just stereotypical slander. I don't believe any one can honestly make the judgment of who gets into heaven and if there even is one, and an old book isn't going to change that for anyone. Also no is perfect and I never said I was, and if believing in an invisible deity out of fear of hell is the best argument you can make for your religion than I just lost what respect i had for your belief. Besides a one size fits all punishment is completely unjust if you have the slightest understanding of justice. I also do not support any form of torture as a punishment or practice, it is the most repulsive and horrid practice of mankind. To wrap things up I have sought god once in my life, I did for the first 18 years of my life and you know what I still have not found any shred of him once, and I was the kind of person that would pray non stop. Have you ever seriously sought Allah or Krishna? Maybe you should seek them out and give them a try. Also being responsible for your own actions and being self reliant is not selfish, selfish people aren't happy with the life they have and selfish people parade around acting like they know the truth when they have no hard evidence to back up their beliefs.

Hi, you said to the poster your reply to above, about fear and then losing all respect for our beliefs.

Some come to Christ from some preachers teaching fear instead of Christ.

That's minority. We come to Christ, because we believe in Him, and many of us don't even have clue to hell before Christ, as we don't read hte bible till after Christ.

So, i didn't come to christ out of fear, nor do many.

As to evolution again, not a problem..God does not care what we believe about creation as pertains to salvation. It doesn't matter. I believe he created all things..

As to how old the world/earth is, no clue.

Chrisitians, many say 6000 years old due to 2 things, perhaps 3.

One is by genealogy listed in bible, they count back, and come to then day man was created.

They also see 2 scriptures wholly unrealted to creation which say a day to the Lord is like thousand years.

hence God made the world in 6 days, so they figure, means six thousand.

How can the world be six thousand years old when we have stuff millions of lightyears away.

So we've no clue ot how old the earth is by the bible. As after day one, millions of years could've gone by, or after day 2, etc.

So, again, tho doesn't matter as God doesn't say believe i created the world and be saved.

Says believe in Christ and be saved.

I agree it is not selfish in any way to be self reliant.

Many people forget that they were once non christians, and for some reason can not relate any longer.

As a non christian had no clue or thought of God ever, till shortly before coming to Christ.

For name calling to be done by christians to a non christan is not right..

actually many selfish people are very happy..the world revolves around them and their wants and desires... they don't know their selfish or if they do realize, they desire to be that way..but many selfish people are happy for their world is the way they wish it to be as they won't do other than satisfy selfishness..this is only in reply where u said they are not happy..not true.

some are some arent'..

all people, many of us with our flaws, we don't see many of our own flaws ourselves, but others do... this is true of many to all of us, which is why Gods word tells us to be renewed, and to examine our selves. However, we are all human, and the examining we do, is a step by step process and so there's much in us always will be needs changing.. Some seek such, some don't..it is okay, but a person growing in christ will do so, one who doesn't do so, is just at a stage where they don't..they may later, may never...doesn't matter in regards to salvation, still saved..

If you prayed to God and were not a Christian, I can see why you saw it as futile.

See whatever you prayed to was your concept of God.

So, if you prayed to your concept, without belief in Christ, then you weren't praying to God. You were praying to whatever you believe God to be.

In old testament, people prayed to idols, wood, etc. and other little g gods, for weathr, sex gods, etc..

there is only one God.

When people today pray to God, unless they are praying to Christ, Father or Spirit, which to know about they are praying to a god created in their minds.

And without Christ we don't pray to God.

Before i came to Christ, very shortly before, I screamed, God help me. no clue why as didn't know God, never thought of Him in anyway at all.

Within a month approx. I was a Christian

So appears, God heard my non chrisitan prayer, God please help me, and things occured which led me to Christ and salavation.

As to hell you mention above called torturing etc...God is the Creator, we are the created. We do not know better than God, nor do we love more than Him, nor do we have more knowledge than Him.

He doesn't explain why eternity in hell I don't believe, so we just know that for His reasons, He ordained hell to exist and for those who dont believe in Christ to go there on judgement day.

God can do such, and as we've no clue to the many things God does, and not all is given us, we don't know the why's behind things. No one wants anyone to go to hell. But in no way are we better than God to say, i am bettr than God, hence no hell should exist.

blessings,
tapero
 
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Digit

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Hey Awesomegirl,

Ok, lunchtime and I planned ahead today and brought sammiches in with me, which also means I can put money into the 2007 Kittenfund(tm) as I don't have to buy lunch, but most importantly, it means I can take some time to post here. :)

Your current view is that of an agnostic, which is that you are not sure if there is a supreme being and that you believe that it is unknowable. Whilst reading today a few things jumped out which distinguish Christianity and define some areas I like about it which I rarely think of. As follows:

Bernard Levin, who is not a Christian has observed some things in his life which have lead him to ask questions. He wrote an article once called "Life's Great Riddle, and No time to Find It's Meaning" where he expressed concern over his life, and if he had indeed wasted it, and not left enough time to find it's purpose:

"To put it bluntly, have I time to discover why I was born before I die?... I have not managed to answer the question yet, and however many years I have before me they are certainly not as many as there are behind. There is an obvious danger in leaving it too late... why do I have to know why I was born? Because, of course, I am unable to believe that it was an accident; and it it wasn't one, it must have a meaning."

He recognised that there must be an answer out there, and only later in his life, after he had done and experience much, he recognised that he may have left it too late to find out.

He went on to write later:

"Countries like ours are full of people who have all the material comforts they desire, together with such non-material blessings as a happy family, and yet lead lives of quiet, and at times noisy, desperation, understanding nothing but the fact that there is a hole inside them and that however much food and drink they pour into it, however many motor cars and television sets they stuff it with, however many well balanced children and loyal friends they parade around the edges of it... it aches."

Jesus said, "I am the bread of life." and this is not just a flowery phrase, it is Him saying that He is the only thing which can fill that void we feel. I am not saying that right now, in this precise moment in time people are feeling empty, I am saying that nothing satisfies that hole other than a relationship with Christ. Perhaps you do not feel it, I can't say I did when I was younger either, I believe for each person it manifests differently, and becomes apparent, critical at other times.

Professor Thomas Arnold, who was appointed to the chair of modern history at Oxford University, testified as to the historical merit of the events of Jesus' life, saying:

"I have been used for many years to studying the histories of other times, and to examining and weighing the evidence of those who have written about them, and I know of no one fact in the history of mankind which is proved by better and fuller evidence of every sort, to the understanding of a fair inquirer, than the great sign which God has given us that Christ died and rose again from the dead."

This old book, this Bible, is not irrelevant and boring as many think. There is a wealth of evidence for it's claims, both inside and outside the New Testament. Lastly, one of my favourite Christian authors points out something that we often miss:

"One part of the claim tends to slip past us unnoticed because we have heard it so often that we no longer see what it amounts to. I mean the claim to forgive sins: any sins. Now unless the speaker is God, this is really so preposterous as to be comic. We can all understand how a man forgives offences against himself. You tread on my toes and I forgive you, you steal my money and I forgive you. But what should we make of a man, himself unrobbed and untrodden on, who announced that he forgave you for treading on the other men's toes and stealing other men's money? Asinine fatuity is the kindest description we should give of his conduct. Yet this is what Jesus did. He told people that their sins were forgiven, and never waited to consult all the other people whom their sins had undoubtedly injured. He unhesitatingly behaved as if He was the party chiefly concerned, the person chiefly offended in all offences. This makes sense only if He really was the God whose laws are broken and whose love is wounded in every sin. In the mouth of any speaker who is not God, these words would imply that I can only regard as a silliness and conceit unrivalled by any other character in history."

So, either Jesus was and is God, or He was an idiot. All these things demand answers. Lastly, the most unique thing about Christ, which Lewis touches on later, is that He points to Himself. All other religions point to you as the key, or the way a direction they shift focus onto a thing, a method a belief and lifestyle. Christ points to Him and says that, "I am... the life". He forgives sins, removes the barrier, unlocks eternity, fills the void, grants mercy and lights the darkness. Nothing else. Only Him.

Right, back to work for me. Good luck with your study on Bhuddism. Oh and btw, in regards to Hell, I am still researching it, but I wasn't hinting at a state of mind, I was meaning that Hell is the second death. Actually I think the Bible refers to death, in any form as sleep. That is, it is temporary, like sleep in the real world for us. The second death is permanent, I do not think we will awake from it if we suffer it.

Cheers!
Digit
 
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Awesomegirl

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he was or is god, was an idiot, or was a fictional character in a story written 30 years after he died. I think what you do with your life is what gives it meaning not where i came from. My beginning is not going to help others, it is the way i treat and love my fellow human beings that will have an influence. I am fine with the answer that my life was a product of evolution, it is what i do with my life that drives me to live, and on my deathbed i will be a happy lady knowing that I had a positive effect on others whilst I go into the unknown, be it non existence or another life. Believing in something I cannot prove isn't going to make me happier, heck I'm a happy person, I am happy everyday I wake up and breath because I know I'm fortunate to live another day.
 
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Digit

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he was or is god, was an idiot, or was a fictional character in a story written 30 years after he died. I think what you do with your life is what gives it meaning not where i came from. My beginning is not going to help others, it is the way i treat and love my fellow human beings that will have an influence. I am fine with the answer that my life was a product of evolution, it is what i do with my life that drives me to live, and on my deathbed i will be a happy lady knowing that I had a positive effect on others whilst I go into the unknown, be it non existence or another life. Believing in something I cannot prove isn't going to make me happier, heck I'm a happy person, I am happy everyday I wake up and breath because I know I'm fortunate to live another day.
I didn't deal with Him being fictional, as honestly I don't think even Athiests believe that. As shown, recognised historians feel His existance is one of the most documented facts in history. The main point of contention is whether He is divine or not.

Again, I reiterate that this is not about our origins. Whether you feel evolution has merit or not, it doesn't impact scripture at all, and these things are not foundational points of a faith.

I think that whilst we have time, we don't feel it's effects. Yet as life goes on, this perception changes. You begin to feel the end of the line drawing near and even if you don't feel the hollow that the one writer described, now, I will bet my last dollar that you will at some point in your life. I feel the difference comes from whether you recognise it for what it is, or whether you try to fill it with the next thing that comes along.

But anyway, you are happy now and I'm glad, as life is good when things go well. :)

Cheers!
Digit
 
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Digit

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again circular logic is illogical, bible doesn't prove bible, other holy books are just as convincing and well written.
There are numerous documents that support what is written in the NT Bible:

Herodotus - 8 copies.
Tacitus - 20 copies.
Thucydides - 8 copies.
Caesar's Gallic War - 9-10 copies.
Livy's Roman History - 20 copies.
New Testament - 5000+ Greek copies, 10000+ Latin copies and 9300 others.

All validate the events in each other.

Cheers!
Digit
 
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Digit

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Actually, let me put it like this:

When you are given a history book, it's nearly always written after the time and based on events recorded around the time. For some reason no one ever questions those events, yet for the Bible, everyone questions them. Why? Why has it become so accepted to question Christianity and so common to doubt it, no matter what is put forward? There isn't half the evidence for things in history that there is for Jesus' life on Earth, and we still don't want to accept it. When you put that in light with what the Bible says about our inherent nature being evil, it seems that the only reason I can draw from it, is that we don't want it to be true.

Especially when, given that so many non-Christians that post here, basically admit to leading Christian lives, but not believing in God.

Odd.

Cheers,
Digit
 
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Awesomegirl

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so your trying to tell me that all the people of other religions, of different faiths, in this world are sad and feel hollow at one point in their lives? I think other religions can make people just as happy, please don't start acting like you have entered the minds of every human and know what they feel. Also yeah bad stuff happens, and I know what being hurt feels like, i do find it pretty tacky for you to act like I have never been through pain. Last year one of my best friends shot herself due to the depression suffering in her from countless abuse as a child. I know what pain is, I have seen death, I have seen people and family go through suffering and I know that it is real, i am insulted you would say I have never felt it when you are not me, heck today I had to witness another best friend who is bi sexual be discriminated against rudely whilst holding hands with her girlfriend. Being a pessimist about the hard times in life is not the way to live, we must live on and understand it is a natural part of life. Yes there are many historical documents that support each other about the man jesus of Nazareth, but that doesn't mean his story has been exaggerated, I was referring to the supernatural depiction of Jesus, look at Christians today, so many denominations and versions even modern Christians cannot agree on the past, and also think about the countless times the bible has been translated and various parts have been changed, it is not inerrant, just like documented history is not inerrant. Have you ever heard the phrase, "history is written by the conquerors and winners." I dunno I am upset that you would think of me as just a naive child that hasn't been through anything and has no clue on how to deal with problems.
 
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Awesomegirl

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there is absolutely no evidence that jesus performed the miracles and who he was, heck he doesn't even meet tons of the requirements by the Jews to be the messiah, let alone god. I think WW2 and stuff of that nature has tons more historical evidence, photos, actual pieces of equipment, etc. How about the fact that the tomb of jesus was discovered a couple of years back with his family buried in it. Jesus's body was in the tomb. The part that a lot of apologetics don't like to let slip is the fact that the gospels were written more than 30 years after the time jesus was on earth, maybe he was a normal man who's death and popularity as a teacher died so people decided they had to write books to regain the people's popularity, but this time make him more than man to give it staying power. Humans are not born evil, we are not born good, we have minds and we make choices, now those choices can have harmful effects or beneficial effects, that is where the idea of good and evil came from, it is the outcome of choices that we gave a name to. To judge a man evil while he is an infant is not just at all and is just as bad as judging a man by his fathers actions. The bible does do that though when cities and generations are destroyed because what their past generations did, imagine trying to justify that in the modern time period. Lets completely bomb Germany off the face of the earth because of what the Nazis did, doesn't seem fair to you does it.

You can call me selfish all day long for reasons you can imagine, but I can call you selfish for wanting more than this life, and not being happy with the time you are given

Odd.
 
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Digit

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so your trying to tell me that all the people of other religions, of different faiths, in this world are sad and feel hollow at one point in their lives?
Yes, I think at some point in every single persons life, bar none, they feel like something is missing.

I think other religions can make people just as happy, please don't start acting like you have entered the minds of every human and know what they feel. Also yeah bad stuff happens, and I know what being hurt feels like, i do find it pretty tacky for you to act like I have never been through pain.
I don't believe I did act like you have never experienced pain, I simply said that if you do not feel this way now, which I find quite acceptable that you do not, as I didn't for many a year, then that's fine. But I will bet anything that at some point you will feel that way. 20 years ago I would not have said this, after experiencing it myself I can think back to so, many, times in my life when I now recognise that feeling as being present. I can't prove it to you, it's just my experience, and I think too that many if not all Christians would testify to feeling that void filled as well.

i am insulted you would say I have never felt it when you are not me
Like I said, I didn't... can you point me to where I did say this? *confused*

Being a pessimist about the hard times in life is not the way to live, we must live on and understand it is a natural part of life.
Ok, either you have totally misunderstood something I've said, or we have crossed wires somewhere, as I'm a little lost now...

Yes there are many historical documents that support each other about the man jesus of Nazareth, but that doesn't mean his story has been exaggerated, I was referring to the supernatural depiction of Jesus, look at Christians today, so many denominations and versions even modern Christians cannot agree on the past
I think you misunderstand denominations. Yes, some have differing views on things, yet all, without exception believe in God - that is the most important thing, and in that we are united. Also denominations focus on different areas of the Bible, on things they think are important.

and also think about the countless times the bible has been translated and various parts have been changed, it is not inerrant, just like documented history is not inerrant.
Translation errors aside, it's pretty concrete, unless there is something you are concerned about in particular?

Have you ever heard the phrase, "history is written by the conquerors and winners." I dunno I am upset that you would think of me as just a naive child that hasn't been through anything and has no clue on how to deal with problems.
Again, I don't know where you got that from? If you quote my response when replying, it may help me to understand. I don't actually think that at all, and I haven't ever pointed the finger at you and said, "This is how you feel/act/are." so I'm quite confused here.

Cheers,
Digit
 
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Digit

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there is absolutely no evidence that jesus performed the miracles and who he was, heck he doesn't even meet tons of the requirements by the Jews to be the messiah, let alone god.
The latter I know nothing of, the former - well, again, seems you don't want to accept what is presented to you. What is evidence of a miracle? Would it not be the person testifying to it? If they die, would it not be recording it? Honestly, I fail to see how an intelligent person can believe anything they read on the net or see in a book, yet when it comes to something like this, to the hope of eternal life, we don't want to believe it. We want our tiny 70 year window on Earth, and then nothing.

I think WW2 and stuff of that nature has tons more historical evidence, photos, actual pieces of equipment, etc.
And also, real live witnesses and footage of the event. C'mon now, the two are not comparable.

How about the fact that the tomb of jesus was discovered a couple of years back with his family buried in it. Jesus's body was in the tomb.
No, it wasn't I'm afraid. That was not His tomb.

The part that a lot of apologetics don't like to let slip is the fact that the gospels were written more than 30 years after the time jesus was on earth, maybe he was a normal man who's death and popularity as a teacher died so people decided they had to write books to regain the people's popularity, but this time make him more than man to give it staying power. Humans are not born evil, we are not born good, we have minds and we make choices, now those choices can have harmful effects or beneficial effects, that is where the idea of good and evil came from, it is the outcome of choices that we gave a name to. To judge a man evil while he is an infant is not just at all and is just as bad as judging a man by his fathers actions.
As long as people can distance themselves from the suffering, they are happy to continue life in ignorance. Factory farming supplies the majority of all restaurants in the world, and the conditions in it are worse than I expect your image of a literal Hell may be, yet as long as we can distance ourselves from it, we are ok with it. We live good lives, yet we live in ignorance, is that 'good'? Seems a pretty grey shade to me, good on the surface, yet willfully ignorant for our own selfish needs. I watched a fireworks display in the UK last Christmas, £5000000, and it lasted for 10 mins. Imagine what that money could do elsewhere... I wonder how the people in in poverty stricken nations would react when I tell them the reason their child starved to death was because I wanted to watch some fireworks. The good you are talking about is a shallow, hollow shell of the kind of good that God demands we aspire too. Nothing can compare, and that is why we need Him.

You can call me selfish all day long for reasons you can imagine, but I can call you selfish for wanting more than this life, and not being happy with the time you are given
You can call me selfish because I do the exact same things as you, as the person opposite you, as your parents, as some random guy in China. We all do the same things, all fall short of the glory of God, is what the Bible says and the only difference between you and me, is that I have God in my life, and as such I have a release from the bonds of sin. You seem to think I believe myself better than you, let me clear this up, I do not, in any way at all believe that.

Cheers,
Digit
 
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