Greetings-
I am a young male curently seeking a true meaning in life. I have been studying and going through a few of the other religions and i find that many of them have many flaws, and depend soley on self and other humans (i do not agree on this, and i do believe there is a god), and I am beginning to think that Christianity could be an answer, but still have questions/doubts, which is why i am posting on this forum. To introduce my question, I would like to give a small intro with an interesting story that has to do with my uncle.
I was talking to my father a few nights ago about a story my uncle had told my father (my uncle believes in aliens, conspiracy, trust noone type guy. Not a christian).The story goes something like this. When my uncle and father were somewhere around 10 (so this would have taken place in the mid 50's), a priest came to visit my father and uncle at their school. He asked my uncle if he believe in God i presume, and then somehow began talking on the subject of Noahs Ark. He asked my uncle is he thought that Noahs Ark was actaully on Mount Arat. *NOTE* -Becuase this happened so long ago, and because i have waited so long to tell this story, this may not be EXACTLY right, but it is as much as i can remember-**. My uncle replied that he didnt know, and the priest pulled out a picture or drawn map of the ark from an aieral view on Mount Arat. My uncle, obviously interested, continued talking to the man. My uncle says that later in the talk, the priest pulled out a ring-holding type container that he claimed contained a splinter of the cross that christ died on, and showed it to my uncle. The conversation ended, and the priest then said something to the effect of, make sure you know where you stand with God now, because the time is close, and told my uncle about prophicies presented to people through the letter writting by sister Lucia given to her by the virgin Mary.
Now that is the end of the story, I just thought i would present it for interest or whathaveyou. After talking to my father recently about this, i became interested in the story. For all of you who do not know this story, i will lay a basic overview out. Between May and August 1917, Mother Mary appeared to 3 sheperd children and told them 3 great secrets, 1 of which, from what i understand, was a prophecy that has come true about WWII and russia, and the other being a depiction of hell. The third has controversy as it was supposdley read but MANY people believe it was lied about or not fully explained. This story also led me to the story of the Lady of the Lourdes, which basically is about Mary appearing to another young girl (forgot her name). Mary commanded her to starting digging in the ground and a well sprang up, and people could drink/bathe from the well and be healed. Interestingly enough, people STILL go there and are healed, there are willchairs and crutches hanging from the trees at the spring. EVEN MORE INTERESTING is that her body, after nearly 150 years, is on display in europe somewhere IN PERFECT CONDITION. NO DECAY AT ALL.
Now, before i present my question, I would like to say a few things. 1) If you do not believe that these stories are true or that i am making it up, you can look ANY of it up and find that the stories have been around since they happened. 2) Even though I am not a believer at this point, these stories seem true and appeal to me very much. The face that the spring still heals people and that her body is in tact is undeinably amazing. The fact that the letters of Lady Fatima exsist, and that 70,000 people witnesses the miracle of the sun as the children prayed to mary is also amazing. The evidence that these events happened is overwhelming. 3) I am looking for some feedback from REAL christians, and though the answers i might get might change my outlook on my skeptisism of christianity, I want REAL answers please.
NOW, my question is, do christians believe that MARY is divine? I know CATHOLICS in gerneral pray to christ through mary, but i know others dont. I want to know if christians believe she is divine, and if these stories are TRUE or NOT?
I am a young male curently seeking a true meaning in life. I have been studying and going through a few of the other religions and i find that many of them have many flaws, and depend soley on self and other humans (i do not agree on this, and i do believe there is a god), and I am beginning to think that Christianity could be an answer, but still have questions/doubts, which is why i am posting on this forum. To introduce my question, I would like to give a small intro with an interesting story that has to do with my uncle.
I was talking to my father a few nights ago about a story my uncle had told my father (my uncle believes in aliens, conspiracy, trust noone type guy. Not a christian).The story goes something like this. When my uncle and father were somewhere around 10 (so this would have taken place in the mid 50's), a priest came to visit my father and uncle at their school. He asked my uncle if he believe in God i presume, and then somehow began talking on the subject of Noahs Ark. He asked my uncle is he thought that Noahs Ark was actaully on Mount Arat. *NOTE* -Becuase this happened so long ago, and because i have waited so long to tell this story, this may not be EXACTLY right, but it is as much as i can remember-**. My uncle replied that he didnt know, and the priest pulled out a picture or drawn map of the ark from an aieral view on Mount Arat. My uncle, obviously interested, continued talking to the man. My uncle says that later in the talk, the priest pulled out a ring-holding type container that he claimed contained a splinter of the cross that christ died on, and showed it to my uncle. The conversation ended, and the priest then said something to the effect of, make sure you know where you stand with God now, because the time is close, and told my uncle about prophicies presented to people through the letter writting by sister Lucia given to her by the virgin Mary.
Now that is the end of the story, I just thought i would present it for interest or whathaveyou. After talking to my father recently about this, i became interested in the story. For all of you who do not know this story, i will lay a basic overview out. Between May and August 1917, Mother Mary appeared to 3 sheperd children and told them 3 great secrets, 1 of which, from what i understand, was a prophecy that has come true about WWII and russia, and the other being a depiction of hell. The third has controversy as it was supposdley read but MANY people believe it was lied about or not fully explained. This story also led me to the story of the Lady of the Lourdes, which basically is about Mary appearing to another young girl (forgot her name). Mary commanded her to starting digging in the ground and a well sprang up, and people could drink/bathe from the well and be healed. Interestingly enough, people STILL go there and are healed, there are willchairs and crutches hanging from the trees at the spring. EVEN MORE INTERESTING is that her body, after nearly 150 years, is on display in europe somewhere IN PERFECT CONDITION. NO DECAY AT ALL.
Now, before i present my question, I would like to say a few things. 1) If you do not believe that these stories are true or that i am making it up, you can look ANY of it up and find that the stories have been around since they happened. 2) Even though I am not a believer at this point, these stories seem true and appeal to me very much. The face that the spring still heals people and that her body is in tact is undeinably amazing. The fact that the letters of Lady Fatima exsist, and that 70,000 people witnesses the miracle of the sun as the children prayed to mary is also amazing. The evidence that these events happened is overwhelming. 3) I am looking for some feedback from REAL christians, and though the answers i might get might change my outlook on my skeptisism of christianity, I want REAL answers please.
NOW, my question is, do christians believe that MARY is divine? I know CATHOLICS in gerneral pray to christ through mary, but i know others dont. I want to know if christians believe she is divine, and if these stories are TRUE or NOT?
