The Struggle Within

[1watchman]

As I read so many stories of people suffering within from loneliness, no friends, and people taking their lives for feelings of hopeliness, I have seen one thing in common. Most of them, at least, seem to be people looking within all the time. Instead of investing in other people and seeing what they can do to show kindness and care for others, they are inclined to be introverted and sit back in a morose way and feel gloomy.

Certainly there are cases of biochemical conditions which cause depression, but after their physicians find their livestyle is gloomy and their physical health is adequate, they are then urged to eat right, exercise much, and get involved.

One thing is very important for such ones (and all of us), and that is to come to God (not on their own terms) and be conformed to what God gives and says for mankind. If God is left out of our life the enemy of our eternal soul will take that opportunity to enslave one. We need to know the love and blessings of God (read John 3:16; 1 Jn. 3:9-11; 1 Jn. 5:10-13). Does the reader know the beloved Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ? He loves us more than we know. We need to receive Him soon.

- 1 Watchman

 

[Birthew]

I agree that religion is good in living a happy life. But your average atheist/agnostic has this problem; religion seems to be more of a cultural thing. With people believing the religion that are in the parts of the world they are born in. This make belief and faith seem determined and not a choice someone can make, as where they are born and the family berliefs are ultimately what they will have. There is no way to prove the Christian god has more credibility than Allah.

 

[1watchman]

It is true that people are influenced in religion (as well as in politics) by their family and culture. It really becomes a matter of faith. As individuals we are held accountable to God when we reach age of majority. If one does not question his traditions and seek the universal God of creation, he/she is left to their religious rearing ---not a good thing.

This seems to bring us to seek a standard. Some of us believe that standard is the Word of God as committed to us. If one assays to challenge the Bible and reject it as our Creator's only Word of Truth to man, as He says, then they are left to their own ideas ---not a good thing.

It has seemed to me that if there is a God (which every way I look at life shows to be true) then one must appreciate that the Creator would not leave mankind to wander and wonder; nor hold him accountable for anything without telling him God's expectations. We have the Standard of God in the Holy Bible, notwithstanding some few failures by translators, which have been compared with the original documents and corrected in good versions of the Bible (I recommend the Scofield Edition of KJV).

To compare with Allah, as you say, one should read the experience of a converted Muslim --Walid. You can find his quest for truth and comparison of Islam with Christianity on the internet, or write to me for one of his papers. It is very revealing.

- 1 Watchman

 

[Annoula]

I agree that religion is good in living a happy life. But your average atheist/agnostic has this problem; religion seems to be more of a cultural thing. With people believing the religion that are in the parts of the world they are born in. This make belief and faith seem determined and not a choice someone can make, as where they are born and the family berliefs are ultimately what they will have. There is no way to prove the Christian god has more credibility than Allah.

yes, i believe that religion is a cultural thing, but in our times with all this information coming and going we certainly have great chances to look into other religions, as well as make our own personal seeking journey towards God.

 

[Varicose Brains]

yes, i believe that religion is a cultural thing, but in our times with all this information coming and going we certainly have great chances to look into other religions, as well as make our own personal seeking journey towards God.

Try telling this to Muslims. In some countries in the Middle East, you're a Muslim or you die. So no, I would definitely not say they are free to explore. Here in the West were are pretty much free, as you say, to explore religion and believe whatever we want without persecution. We are even free, in the case of Scientology, to create our own religions.

 

[Hakan101]

I agree that religion is good in living a happy life. But your average atheist/agnostic has this problem; religion seems to be more of a cultural thing. With people believing the religion that are in the parts of the world they are born in. This make belief and faith seem determined and not a choice someone can make, as where they are born and the family beliefs are ultimately what they will have. There is no way to prove the Christian god has more credibility than Allah.

Look up a man named Tim Keller on YouTube, there's a talk he gives where he responds to this argument pretty clearly. Belief is not just a cultural thing. There are also intellectual reasons and emotional reasons that have a hand our beliefs. For instance, many Atheists will claim this thing about religion being purely a cultural thing, but for their own beliefs they say it is based on intelligence. That is contradictory, to say others are being solely cultural and the Atheist is not, while he is using solely his intelligence and the others are not. If someone receives negative experiences from the Church (I believe Gandhi was like this), they will dislike it. Those with good experiences will be more inclined to believe.