On the brink of not beleaving (please comment need help).

[Gracious Gift Of God]

Apparently at this moment in your life, you see no need for diven forgiveness at all. Let me tell you a story.

Many years ago in an American frontier town a young man shot and killed a friend in a fit of rage. The act was totally out of character. The fellow had no previous criminal record. An upstanding citizen in the community, he was well liked throughout the country. The judge in the case sentenced him to death by hanging. Shocked, his family and friends circulated a petition throughout the state. Thousands of people signed it. They appealed to the governor to pardon the young man. The public response touched the governor's heart. After giving the case considerable thought, he decided to pardon the young man. But to test his sincerity, the governor planned to visit him personally with the pardon. Disguised as a clergyman, the official proceeded to the prison with the document in hand. The prisoner, however, refused to see him. The warden urged the young man to at least allow a brief visit, but he vehemently refused. Why should he see any clergyman? He had no time for religion. A couple hours later the warden visited the prisoner and shared with him the fact that the governor had come with a pardon. Deeply disapointed, the young man wrote the governor a letter of apology. The official simply scrawled across the top of the letter, "No longer intrested in this case." Before the authorities hanged the prisoner, someone asked him, "Do you have anything to say?" His response was brief, but telling. "I am not being hanged for my crime. The governor pardoned it. I am being hanged because I refused the pardon." God appeals to us to worship him as creator, savior, and Lord. If you were to die today, you would not be seperated from God because you have sinned, because he has Pardoned you for your sins. You will be seperated from him because you refuse his pardon. It takes deep faith from within you to acknowledge Christ as your Savior. Satan was cast out of Heaven for rebelling against GOD and so were 1/3rd of the angels. God is not an entity that desire our worship by force. Who would want a GOD who forces one to worship him by force? There is no joy in that. So he cast Satan out of heaven because Satan refuse to worship him out of love, because GOD is love. Satan wanted to be GOD. As for all the horrible stuff that goes on here on earth, it happends because GOD is showing that he is not forcing anyone of us to follow him. He is giving each human being a chance to worship him out of love or the devil. And you can just look around you in the world and see what this planet is like now all because people prefer to worship Satan instead of GOD. If one likes all the Chaos and likes to see other people hurt and all the cries and tears and heartache that goes on in this world, then they like Satan as their Father. If they hate it all and truly want piece in their heart and life, they will turn to Christ because he is a loving GOD. GOD does not love us for who we are. If he did, he would love our sins and there would be no need for the devil. But God loves us inspite of what we are. Look, you have to be alone. Look up into the sky look deep into your heart and with all your heart, mind and spirit, tell God how you feel and tell him what you want. I promise you, when it is from your heart, he will hear you and answer you.

 

[heymikey80]

I think what you're running into is a desire to be reductionistic. It's easy to "pan" something you haven't checked into, that doesn't seem to have a lot of positive impact on your life. I felt the same way; until I realized that it does have a significant, positive impact.

Christianity has been around longer than science, longer than the Englightenment period, longer than just about every area of western thought except philosophy and astronomy. As a body of knowledge its theology alone far outstrips them all. How much are you aware of? Just the statements of people around you?

Does that really do Christianity justice?

You may be surprised at the variety of opinion on evolution. But evolution is a mechanism, and in some senses it's an arguable mechanism. There's more to it than that.

http://www.asa3.org/

As others pointed out, a few comments really give cosmologists and scientists fits over these issues.

Even among biologists, an origin of life and an initial construction of life forms has not been figured-out yet. But in cosmology, in my lifetime we've found that the universe had a starting point. Robert Jastrow, a 20th Century astronomer wrote as the Big Bang was being accepted as a sea change in cosmology. I actually learned cosmology initially from him when I was younger than you. In his last book I slammed right into this statement: "For the scientist who has lived by his faith in the power of reason, the story ends like a bad dream. He has scaled the mountains of ignorance; he is about to conquer the highest peak; as he pulls himself over the final rock, he is greeted by a band of theologians who have been sitting there for centuries."

The idea of single-cellular evolution across species boundaries is more due to the definition of "species boundaries" than something that would be hailed as a highly significant DNA change. I'm not saying this doesn't happen -- in point of fact I'd tend toward the more "liberal" end of this, as my pointing out asa3.org would indicate above. But progress in this regard is surprisingly slow. Especially considering how massive the agreements are and how advanced the study of biochemistry has become, it's particularly hard to demonstrate things like retroviral restoration of Y chromosomes and other things that we expect to have happened in the past.

I don't have grudges about homosexuals or atheists either. I've found some have grudges against me. Are you telling me their grudge against me for the actions of other believers is "right", while my pointing out that their actions are considered wrong along with adulterers, the promiscuous, as well as more violent or abusive or thieving people is "wrong"?

As for clear evidence of God, that would indeed depend on what you were talking about. The clearest evidence to you that the earth is round -- what would that be? It's actually something mundane, but you don't think about its implications. Most of the clear evidence of God's existence is that way. True, this mundane evidence doesn't prove every attribute of God all at once. But existence is reasonable. True, you'll have to grow into it. The last 500 years have developed a whole new set of principles in philosophy. You'll have to develop them, too. I'd probably start by suggesting C.S. Lewis (particularly "Mere Christianity"), and I'll tell you I moved on to Spinoza and Descartes before taking a lot of time focusing on Christianity in terms of apologetics first, and then history and theology. There are fairly good starter books on that, too. And I'm sure you can find people trying to tear down every part of them, too. People don't like being told there are expectations on them.

As for the unreliability of the Bible -- I'd highly suggest you take a closer, unbiased look at your basis for this. While the more provocative (read: grandstanding) radical scholars start with this as a tenet, most have biases that can be seen a mile away. The 20th century was essentially a realization that it can't really be said the New Testament is "unreliable". For instance, sad as it may be, Christianity splintered early in its history (pre-100: marcionites; shortly after: coptics; and there're others). The texts couldn't be controlled in this way. And we have a number of early texts.

Finally, if you haven't read the New Testament -- are you entirely certain it says what people are saying it says?

These were the kinds of things I slammed into years ago. There is not an easy answer. It's not a reductionary problem. If you miss something small, it has a big impact. And to Christian theology you're not an "impartial observer". So don't expect to observe things as you might in a science lab or "out in the field", as if you've hidden yourself enough from your Subject that you're not impacting what you see. That's simply not possible with God. It takes different methods, and it takes your involvement.

 

[chosenpath]

yytr2,

Welcome to what I hope and pray will be a start to your new life in Yahweh through his son Jesus Christ.

Wow 15 years old. I remember when I was 15 years old. I still had my whole life ahead of me. Hopes, dreams, aspirations and not a very real concept of who God was. I believed in God and Jesus Christ. I even knew the same as you quoted:

"I know the whole story of the birth, death, and Resurrection of Jesus.
even without reading the bible."

But you don't know the whole story! Evolution? Hmmm. Let me tell you the very real side to evolution and it's damaging effects. I hope you pay close attention this reality! Will it hold water well scientifically speaking just do the statistics on how many people presently suffer from some sort of mental illness. By the way not all mental illness is caused by chemical imbalance. It's caused by the imbalance of family life and society! All of which is an evolutionary process.

Back to when I was 15. I knew God existed and he sent his son Jesus Christ to save us from our sins. Now on top of that I was also being taught some other things. This was due to the environment in which I was surrounded. You better be careful because you run the risk of becoming a product or commodity of your environment. This is why everyone who has replied to your post has recommended you read the bible. Do not go by hear say. I trusted my family and people they hung around with. Why would I question that they would tell me something that could harm me. Whether it be physical harm or spiritual harm. Well they did.
A matter of fact they say I am responsible for the choices I made in the past, however those choices were based upon learned behavior by their actions and words. Evolution my dear Watson. Which I can tell you had nothing to do with God's statues, principles, or commands. Well from 15 to 31 my life was a series of bad marriages, which I might add included a husband who was agnostic. By the way none of my hopes, dreams or aspirations came true. Finally, I was approached by two wonderful women who wanted to teach me the Word of God. Then I started to learn the right way to live according to God. I started to make changes in my life. My family wasn't too happy about this because it caused them to look at their own sinfulness. They didn't like the fact that I wanted to discuss the bible. Just for the record I didn't point out their sins. Actually I was so excited by learning God's word with comprehension that I wanted to share this Joy with them. Like a counselor told me while in the presence of my Sister. Your sister is not doing anything wrong. Your family has a comfort zone and because your sister has made healthy changes in her life she rocked the boat. I want to repeat HEALTHY CHANGES!!! Well unfortunately those healthy changes were made too late.
I have cancer. It's a shame I didn't know the accurate knowledge of God when I was 15!!! Now I will answer your questions.

1. Am i going to go to this proverbial Hell?
That depends on whether you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and obey his fathers commands.
2. Why has god not given me any signs that he is real?
Matthew 12:39
But He answered and said to them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
My Father died on my eighth birthday and my mother kept saying it was a good omen from God. No where in the bible does God speak of good omens, but he does command this:
Deuteronomy 18:10
There shall not be found among you [anyone] who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, [or one] who practices witchcraft, [or] a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer,

3. If there is a hell why would god not put any effort into steering me away?
I would say you've already had many servants of God steering you away. Are you going to take heed and listen?
4.If god loves us all why does he seem like such a wrathful and angry god when i read about him?
Because your heart is not ready to see truth.
Psalm 51:16
For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give [it]; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God [are] a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart-- These, O God, You will not despise.

5. Why in all my life have I yet to see any HARD proof of god?
Read the Bible, Read the Bible, Read the Bible, and Read the Bible.

 

[carmeneterror]

Hi! There's so much I'd like to say to you but I'll do my best not to be too long-winded.

13 days ago I was a nonbeliever, a militant atheist even. 12 days ago, for the first time in seven years, I asked God to help me to believe in Him and I did this genuinely. In the past I had said things like, "reveal yourself to me!" and etc but I did so out of the desire to see nothing happen and to have my lack of faith justified. And these were things I said not very seriously because I had already rejected God.

I realized all the times I had claimed to be such an "open-minded" individual, I had already been biased toward religion, especially Christianity. I hadn't read the Bible since I was extremely young but rather I had always gone on what others say about Christianity (tv shows, music, the behavior I see from certain 'Christians'). So after I prayed to God, a few things happened that made me think that He had answered my prayer and proven Himself to me. I'm not going to go into these things because they'd require a lot of back story regarding my life and what the events meant to me and I'll spare you unless you're interested in knowing!

So then I had this feeling that God was real, that He was really at work around us. I didn't know where to go from there though so being relatively internet savvy I visited a few forums and the like for answers to my questions. Like you, I was disturbed because it had always seemed to me like Christians hated homosexuals! I couldn't get over this and I knew I could not put my faith in God until I reconciled this issue because to be honest, I love everyone and I don't think we should judge others so harshly.

But that's the thing! The Bible tells us NOT to judge others! The following quote made me realize that:

"Early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people were coming to Him; and He sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, they said to Him, 'Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?' They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, 'He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.' Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. Straightening up, Jesus said to her, 'Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?' She said, 'No one, Lord.' And Jesus said, 'I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.'"

(John 8:1-11)

And I also came to understand that no human is perfect! We all sin! We all face our own battles to overcome this sin. For some of us it's sexual promiscuity, for others it's drug abuse, for others it's indulging in homosexual behavior (all of these for me)! Does that give me the right to point the finger at another? No! It is not always easy but we must prove our love and dedication to God.

Belief is the first step and I know it seems impossible right now (I'm not just saying this, I really do understand). Open your mind and pray to God with genuine intentions and He will answer you! And when you've got that first inkling that maybe He -is- real, take it and run with it. Do as much research as you can. Read the Bible, check out gotquestions.org, pray, pray, pray. That isn't to say there is no struggle after that, I will admit at least once every day for the past 12 days I have doubted God (two days ago I even began cursing Him for giving me the knowledge of Him because how could I turn away and do whatever I wanted now?). I feel my faith getting stronger every day though (and I also feel myself becoming a better person).

OK OK I'm done! If there is anything you want to know, feel free to ask.

 

[jellybean99]

So Paul, standing before the council, addressed them as follows: “Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way, for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: ‘To an Unknown God.’ This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I’m telling you about.

“He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need. From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries.

“His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ And since this is true, we shouldn’t think of God as an idol designed by craftsmen from gold or silver or stone.

“God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him. For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead.” Acts 17:22-31

 

[salida]

Christians don't have grudges against homosexuals. Visit http://www.livingwaters.com/good/ - its a spiritual issue. Can you keep all 10 Commandments 100% of the time all the time? Only Jesus did. Mankind is fallen and needs therefore a Lord and Savior - its by grace through faith. Signs Gods real? Romans 1:20 - Men are without excuse because of his creation. God stirring you away - your not here by accident. God doesn't send people to hell. People send themselves. Hard evidence? Yes, read the Evidence That Demands A Verdict by Josh McDowell and The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel(former athiest). There is overwhelming compelling evidence about the Bible more than any book in the world. Oh, I'm a scientist - I believe in microevolution and some macroevolution. Something coming from nothing farce.

Biblical Evidence (Scratching the Surface Only)

Internal Evidences
Prophesies that are confirmed within Bible

- Life of Christ
The Tribe of Judah, Gen 49:10 - Luke 3:23-28
(Genesis was written 4004 BC to 1689 BC)
(Luke's time period is 60-70 AD)

Royal Line of David, Jer 23:5 -Matt 1:1
(Jeremiah 760 to 698 BC)/(Matthew 60-70 AD)

Born of a Virgin, Isaiah 7:14/Matt 1:18-23
(Isaiah 760 to 698 BC)/(60-70 AD)

**I can list at least 20 more of these.
-Rise of Empires
In the book of Daniel, Chapter 2 - four kingdoms are described in the interpretation of the dream of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon: Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greek - Daniel 8:21, 10:20) and a fourth great kingdom to follow - part iron and clay - which is the Roman Empire - during this empire Christ came and the church was established - Daniel 2:44.

-Historical Accuracy
The Bible is loaded with historical statements concerning events hundreds of years ago, yet has not been proven incorrect on any.
(Bible compared to other ancient documents):
New Testament - starts at 25 years - between original and first surviving copies
Homer - starts at 500 years
Demosthenes - at 1400 years
Plato - at 1200 years
Caesar - at 1000 years

Number of Manuscript Copies
New Testament - 5,686
Homer - 643
Demosthenes - 200
Plato - 7
Caesar - 10

Consistency
Written by at least 40 men over a period of time exceeding 1400 years, and has no internal inconsistencies.

Claim of Inspiration
It claims to be spoken by God, 2 Tim 3:16-17). No other religious book makes such claims.

External Evidences
(Prophesies Outside the Bible)
These cities were prophesied to be destroyed and never be built again.
Nineveh - Nahum 1:10, 3:7,15, Zephaniah 2:13-14
Babylon - Isaiah 13:1-22)
Tyre (Ezekiel 26:1-28)

Bible before Science
He hangs the earth on nothing - Job 26:7
(Job was written at least 1000 years ago - some scholars think it could be even 3000 years ago)
Note: Man only knew this for 350 years
Earth is a sphere, Isaiah 40:22
Air has weight, Job 28:25
Gravity - Job 26:7, Job 38:31-33
Winds blow in cyclones, Eccl 1:6

Documents that Prove Bible is True
Gilgamesh Epic, The Sumerian King List, Mari Tablets, Babylonian Chronicles

Archealogoical Finds
Excavations of Ur, Location of Zoar, Ziggurats and the foundation of Tower of Babel

 

[gennaoanothen]

Hi I am 15 years old and the best description of myself is, Agnostic.

As put in Merriam dictionary so people do not get it mixed with Atheism.
Also please read everything

I think i believe in evolution.
my reason being?
There is a lot of evidence backing up evolution, not to mention scientists who have watched single celled organisms evolve (since they evolve at a considerable rate).
To some of you this may sound absurd but please hang with me!
Also I have no grudge against Homosexuals, Atheists, or anyone normally hated by Christian beliefs.
I have not read the Bible and I am not baptized.
Also I know this is for "new Christians" I did not know were else to post it.
Religion Also perturbs me in the fact that it is somewhat (not always) a shelter for ignorance an example would be --

^ the sun....

But i have had mant doubts, and I would like to ask a few simple questions.

1. Am i going to go to this proverbial Hell?
2. Why has god not given me any signs that he is real?
3. If there is a hell why would god not put any effort into steering me away?
4.If god loves us all why does he seem like such a wrathful and angry god when i read about him?
5. Why in all my life have I yet to see any HARD proof of god?

This is not an attack on the faith, just simple questions Thank you in advance for your answers.

(PLEASE forgive any grammar and/or spelling mistakes, I am quite sleepy right know.)

greetings yyttr2,
glad to hear you are agnostic and not atheist, and you are open to truth.
you have asked some good questions.
yes the 2nd law of Thermodynamics contradicts evolution.
another contradiction for evolution would be the great number of people who actually believe in a creator.
I like what Louis Pasteur said, "A little science estranges men from God, but much science leads them back to Him".
Could I recommend a book for you to review? It will cover a lot of your questions.
"How to know God exists, scientific proof of God" by Roy Comfort

I will try and answer some of your questions.

1. Am i going to go to this proverbial Hell?
Revelations 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
2. Why has god not given me any signs that he is real?
the complexity of creation, your consecience, the fact that you question if there is a God, shows that He is drawing you to know that He is. The vast number of Christians that knows He is and have a relationship with Him.
3. If there is a hell why would god not put any effort into steering me away? 2000 yeras ago God delivered you from hell, through His Son Jesus Christ, but you have to choose God, through Jesus.
4.If god loves us all why does he seem like such a wrathful and angry god when i read about him?
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
5. Why in all my life have I yet to see any HARD proof of god?
God has promised in His Word that if you diligently seek Him you will find Him. also if you receive Jesus He will make Himself known to you.

 

[Lemmiwinks]

Hi I am 15 years old and the best description of myself is, Agnostic.

But i have had mant doubts, and I would like to ask a few simple questions.

1. Am i going to go to this proverbial Hell?
2. Why has god not given me any signs that he is real?
3. If there is a hell why would god not put any effort into steering me away?
4.If god loves us all why does he seem like such a wrathful and angry god when i read about him?
5. Why in all my life have I yet to see any HARD proof of god?

This is not an attack on the faith, just simple questions Thank you in advance for your answers.

I think you are brave for admitting your doubts. When I was 15 I was too scared even to admit to myself that I had doubts.

 

[ebia]

Hi I am 15 years old and the best description of myself is, Agnostic.

As put in Merriam dictionary so people do not get it mixed with Atheism.
Also please read everything

I think i believe in evolution.

So do I.

Also I have no grudge against Homosexuals, Atheists, or anyone normally hated by Christian beliefs.

Me neither.

I have not read the Bible and I am not baptized.

That can be fixed

1. Am i going to go to this proverbial Hell?

Which "proverbial Hell" did you have in mind.
God is putting the world to rights. Fixing up all that has gone wrong. He invites us to be part of that - fixed up in and for that New Creation to enjoy it and contribute to it. But he will also respect your choice not to be part of that if that's what you choose. Call that 'hell' if you want.

2. Why has god not given me any signs that he is real?

Are you sure he hasn't? What would it look like if he did?

3. If there is a hell why would god not put any effort into steering me away?

That's not the historic Judeo/Christian picture.
The historic Christian picture is the one I've outlined:

• God created a very good creation with humanity as the pinacle of that creation bearing God's image in and for creation
• Because of humanity's failure to live up to our role creation is marred and suffering and death results
• Through Abraham, Israel and Jesus - climaxing in Jesus' death and Resurrection - God has acted to put creation right.
• God invites us to be part of that putting right - to be put right ourselves in and for that New Creation that began in principle on Easter morning and will be finally consumated at the final resurrection.
• When that final consumation of God's Kingdom happens all that is not transformed will necessarly be excluded - including those who ultimately reject God's transformative, restorative, mercy.

4.If god loves us all why does he seem like such a wrathful and angry god when i read about him?

(re)-read the New Testament in the light of the above.

5. Why in all my life have I yet to see any HARD proof of god?

What most people mean by 'hard proof' is the wrong sort of thing. And, in reality, we don't depend on hard proof for much in life.

 

[FutureAndAHope]

But i have had mant doubts, and I would like to ask a few simple questions.

1. Am i going to go to this proverbial Hell?

Not yet, God has a good plan for you. Only you can mess that up by refusing to believe God when he does show up in your life.

2. Why has god not given me any signs that he is real?
3. If there is a hell why would god not put any effort into steering me away?
5. Why in all my life have I yet to see any HARD proof of god?

I will attempt to give you some proofs from my own life that God is real, to help steer you away from hell. They are true stories from my life.

One morning I got up and walked into the hall and I heard a voice say "How would you like to be stabbed in the Valley". The Valley was the rough end of town, and the voice scared me a little, I wondered if I had done something to offend God. I had planned to go down to the Valley to ask people out to church as was my habit at the time. In the end I went anyway regardless of the fear. I walked up to the first person I met and asked him if he would like to go out to church. He said to me "I am an atheist, I don't believe in God". I just said "fine", but hoped to change his mind. He then proceeded to unbutton his shirt and showed me scar marks up and down his chest and stomach. He said to me, "I was attacked by a knife wielding man in the Valley some time ago and spent months recovering in hospital, How could God allow that to happen to me". Then I knew why God had said in the morning "How would I like to be stabbed?". God understood this man, but had a good plan for him. Some weeks latter this man came out to church and became a Christian.

Some time after the second Gulf War an Australian man Douglas Wood was captured by terrorists in Iraq, who made demands for a ransom or he would be executed. I set about fasting and praying for his release, I said to God "You know where he is....tell me". Three words entered my mind ABC, Bizaar and "A-meal". I thought "I am going crazy what has all that got to do with him. Bizaar I though "this is Bizarre". I thought maybe "A-meal" is a town so I searched a map of Iraq for a town of that name, but found nothing that really matched. Some time latter Douglas Wood was freed by US troops who came across his captors. It was not until latter that I actually discovered what the three words meant. I was on a forum libertyunites.us and came across a post by a user called ABC in the post she appealed to the captors to release Douglas Wood because he had gone to a/or the Bazaar and bought food for homeless people and had provided them with "A-meal". I believe God saw this action too and blessed Douglas Wood with an escape from his captors.

One time I thought about suing some one but felt bad about it because I did not want to give a bad impression about what a Christian is like. SO I prayed and asked God to show me clearly what to do. Latter that day I opened my bible at random, selecting a random verse and it opened to 1Co 6:7 "Nay, already it is altogether a defect in you, that ye have lawsuits one with another. Why not rather take wrong? why not rather be defrauded?" So I knew what God was thinking, no lawsuit.

At one point in my life I was praying for scientific cures for illnesses like cancer. Because I was on a science kick I thought would it not be fun to create a real life dinosaur. I wanted Jesus just for fun to show me how to create a Real Live Dinosaur, he can show us anything you know if he wants, but when I asked him how to start recreating a Dinosaur. Jesus spoke into my head the sentence "I bood", it entered my mind when I was awake, a term I had never heard before. I decided to look it up on the Internet and I found out the following: You see, the children of Semai are taught from an early age, the concept of "bood." If a parent asks a child to do something and the child replies "I bood," in other words, "I don't feel like doing that," the matter is closed. Bood means gently No.

One day I was witnessing to a Muslim and he asked me why we ate pork. I used the verse out of the bible which says "It is not what enters the mouth that defiles a man but what comes out of the mouth". After some general discussion I finished for the night. I asked God to give me a verse from the bible to encourage me. I opened the bible at random and selected a random verse. It opened to the exact same verse that I had used with the Muslim. The one about food not defiling. So I knew that God was approving of what I had been talking about.
"What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him "unclean.'"- Mat 15:11

4.If god loves us all why does he seem like such a wrathful and angry god when i read about him?

When you actually meet God you will notice that he is not a mean as you might expect. He is actually quite kind. It alll depends upon what you focus on, there is good to be found.

 

[Freethinker11]

"1. Am i going to go to this proverbial Hell?
That depends on whether you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and obey his fathers commands."
I guess free will is out of the question then?

"Christians don't have grudges against homosexuals"
That's why the bible says to stone them to death, right?

 

[Ryft]

I realize this post is old (from 28 December 2008) but I wanted to chime in with my perspective on these issues. Whether or not this person still follows this thread he started is another matter, but in the event he does... here is my contribution for his consideration.

I think I believe in evolution. My reason being? There is a lot of evidence backing up evolution ...

First of all, the evidence that supports evolution in this particular sense is not something that Christians disagree with anyway, as many posters have demonstrated. But there is more than one definition of 'evolution' at play here. If you are being educated in the public school system, then it is practically guaranteed that you're not being taught the difference. Change in allele frequencies is one thing (and supported by scientific evidence); universal common descent from a 3.9 billion-year-old ancestor is quite another (and supported by myth told in scientific jargon). Furthermore, universal common descent is an entirely meaningless conversation without the existence of reproducing organisms; i.e., the overarching myth of evolution never bothers to explain the most fundamental question out there: the fact that life exists. It is an irony that The Origin of Species never actually explains origins.

Secondly, evolution—under either definition—is not even relevant to the core issue of your original post anyway; i.e., the existence of God or the uniqueness of the religion of Jesus Christ. It is not even involved in such conversations. So although it tells us something about you, that's as far as it goes.


Also, I have no grudge against homosexuals, atheists, or anyone normally hated by Christian beliefs.

Neither homosexuals nor atheists are "hated" under Christian beliefs. They are loved. There is an important difference between the person and his beliefs, the person and his choices, the person and his lifestyle. I said to an atheist friend of mine, "What if I told you that my sister and I are in love, that we live together in an intimate relationship and would even get married if it were allowed?"

"Gross," he responded. "That's disgusting."

"That's morally repugnant to you, then?" I asked him.

"Well yeah."

"So then it could be said that you hate me," I continued. "You wouldn't allow me in your home, you wouldn't even talk to me."

"I didn't say that," he replied. "I'd still have you over. I'd still talk to you. I couldn't agree with your chosen lifestyle, but I still think you as a person have value."

"That is very similar to the Christian stance on homosexuality," I said. There is a difference between homosexuality (lifestyle) and the homosexual (person); we condemn the former but love the latter, inasmuch as we are called to love any sinner. If you feel about incest the same way my atheist friend does, then you understand the Christian stance in principle. (And the scenario was an hypothetical, by the way; I am not actually in love with my sister.)


I have not read the Bible ...

Then two things can be concluded: (1) you are not in a rational position to critically evaluate the Bible, and (2) you have no way to tell if criticisms of the Bible are accurate; they could be handing you a large steaming pile of nonsense and you wouldn't know.

As G.K. Chesterton so astutely framed the issue, "Any number of people assume that the Bible says that Eve ate an apple, or that Jonah was swallowed by a whale. Yet the Bible never says a word about whales or apples … It is unfair to turn round and blame the Bible because of all these legends and jokes and journalistic allusions, which are read into the Bible by people who have not read the Bible."


Religion also perturbs me, in the fact that it is somewhat (not always) a shelter for ignorance. An example would be ...

So much can be said to this part.

1. What you need to understand is that ignorance stems from a lack of education, not from religion.

2. And furthermore, that ignorance can happen even when there is a wealth of education available; e.g., the overflowing wealth of scientific, philosophical, and theological material made available by the rich history of the Christian religion.

3. Religion is susceptible to your criticism only if it encourages ignorance, and Christianity certainly does not.

4. If it's true that "a shelter for ignorance" is something that perturbs you, it is exquisitely ironic that you confess agnosticism.


Am I going to go to this proverbial Hell?

Whether you specifically are going to hell or not is something that no one can answer. You know what you believe now and what you used to believe, but neither you nor anyone else knows what you will believe in the future. I was an atheist until I was 27 years old. I am now Christian. If someone had told me back then that I was going to hell, would that still be their answer today? We have the luxury of hindsight but zero foresight.


Why has god not given me any signs that he is real? ... If there is a hell, why would God not put any effort into steering me away? ... Why in all my life have I yet to see any hard proof of God?

Here is a more interesting question to reflect upon: Why should he? There is an extremely rich and revealing conversation to be had over that.


If God loves us all, why does he seem like such a wrathful and angry God when I read about him?

Let me draw your attention back to the fact that you have not read, much less studied, the Bible; i.e., you are unable to determine if what you've read outside the Bible accurately reflects what's in the Bible. (And given the "2nd law of thermodynamics" nonsense you cited earlier, I cringe to think of what you have been reading.) In other words, this question of yours may not even be valid; it takes studying the Bible to make that determination. Your question is extraordinarily premature.


(Hopefully you are still following this thread you started, still invested in these questions you've pondered.)

 

[ANM29]

Hi I am 15 years old and the best description of myself is, Agnostic.

As put in Merriam dictionary so people do not get it mixed with Atheism.
Also please read everything

I think i believe in evolution.
my reason being?
There is a lot of evidence backing up evolution, not to mention scientists who have watched single celled organisms evolve (since they evolve at a considerable rate).
To some of you this may sound absurd but please hang with me!
Also I have no grudge against Homosexuals, Atheists, or anyone normally hated by Christian beliefs.
I have not read the Bible and I am not baptized.
Also I know this is for "new Christians" I did not know were else to post it.
Religion Also perturbs me in the fact that it is somewhat (not always) a shelter for ignorance an example would be --

^ the sun....

But i have had mant doubts, and I would like to ask a few simple questions.

1. Am i going to go to this proverbial Hell?
2. Why has god not given me any signs that he is real?
3. If there is a hell why would god not put any effort into steering me away?
4.If god loves us all why does he seem like such a wrathful and angry god when i read about him?
5. Why in all my life have I yet to see any HARD proof of god?

This is not an attack on the faith, just simple questions Thank you in advance for your answers.

(PLEASE forgive any grammar and/or spelling mistakes, I am quite sleepy right know.)

I would first tell you that you must take a step of faith toward God. It can be as simple as coming to him like a child and asking him to reveal himself to you in a way you will know that you know, that you know that you know it is God.

I could write a lot of stuff, but I believe God wants you to take a step of faith, not knowing what will happen, and ask him to reveal himself to you and he will.

 

[huggybear]

Hi I am 15 years old and the best description of myself is, Agnostic.

As put in Merriam dictionary so people do not get it mixed with Atheism.
Also please read everything

I think i believe in evolution.
my reason being?
There is a lot of evidence backing up evolution, not to mention scientists who have watched single celled organisms evolve (since they evolve at a considerable rate).
To some of you this may sound absurd but please hang with me!
Also I have no grudge against Homosexuals, Atheists, or anyone normally hated by Christian beliefs.
I have not read the Bible and I am not baptized.
Also I know this is for "new Christians" I did not know were else to post it.
Religion Also perturbs me in the fact that it is somewhat (not always) a shelter for ignorance an example would be --

^ the sun....

But i have had mant doubts, and I would like to ask a few simple questions.

1. Am i going to go to this proverbial Hell?
2. Why has god not given me any signs that he is real?
3. If there is a hell why would god not put any effort into steering me away?
4.If god loves us all why does he seem like such a wrathful and angry god when i read about him?
5. Why in all my life have I yet to see any HARD proof of god?

This is not an attack on the faith, just simple questions Thank you in advance for your answers.

(PLEASE forgive any grammar and/or spelling mistakes, I am quite sleepy right know.)

hi buddy do yourself a favor and dont bother with any of this religious rubbish, just live your life the best you know how and forget about god, your right there are too many questions about god to believe it, what type of god would create a world like this one where one man is born rich happy beautifull and healthy and the next man is born poor ugly and sick, its evolution we are the same as the animals and are subject to natural selection, that is all, if there is a god he is not worth knowing

 

[PuzzledBread]

Evolution is not in conflict with most forms of Christianity. Either way its optional. Abiogenesis on the otherhand is another matter...

Sorry to butt in, but why is it completely out of conflict for god to guide evolution, but not for him to guide the creation of life through natural means? Abiogenesis is the idea that life began by chemical means, do you propose that evolution happened, god guided, however god reached down to create the first primitive life form instead of simply guiding its means?

Just wondering

Just to clarify, there seem to be a lot of people who agree with a passive definition of Evolution, but to the OP, there is no conflict among scientists regarding evolution as fact, if you'd like, I recently came across a youtube channel which presents videos explaining some of the mechanisms of evolution based on well cited scientific papers, send me a Private Message if you'd like me to send it to you, all the means are based on pretty simply physical and chemical concepts which anyone can understand with a high school level education in physics and chemistry, as well as the obvious biology.

Evolution has an incredible amount of evidence, and at this point it is considered factual (The use of the word theory is to imply the means that life evolved, which is also very accurate based on the evidence.) Don't denounce your faith based on sciences of Biology and Chemistry, all they do is show the bible can only be taken literally if its assumed that god bent all the constants of physics at once to allow for a young earth, but provide contradictory evidence (Which doesn't make much sense...)

ANYWAYS, take this advice from a fellow Atheist, denounce a faith based on its own merits, not based on science. Its perfectly possible to believe the bible is a metaphoric tome, so if you want to have faith, than you should, if you want to have faith and have half of an education, just avoid Baptist Christianity, or other groups which take the Bible as absolute. Its also possible to find a way to believe that avoids hating others for sexual preference and faith, or the idea of a wrathful god which doesn't send everyone to hell. You seem to have problems with a lot of the concepts and based on the questions you've asked, I'm pretty sure you've already made your choice of faith. I hope whatever path you go down you are happy with your choice

 

[huggybear]

"1. Am i going to go to this proverbial Hell?
That depends on whether you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and obey his fathers commands."
I guess free will is out of the question then?

"Christians don't have grudges against homosexuals"
That's why the bible says to stone them to death, right?[/quote]

stone them to death ? seems a bit harsh a lot like alqueada not that i am defending homosexualality but the bible also says that a womans period is a SIN yes you know and have always wondered about that scripture YES that scripture is COMPLETE "BS" as many scriptures are