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The number of denominations is pretty huge, I'll admit. Unfortunately, many of them don't even teach from the bible. I believe some actually discourage it, and have people rely on interpretations from the pastor alone. Others focus too much on one aspect while paying little attention to what's important. My own view is to simply read God's word and pray, without the man-made religious aspects that end up confusing things.
Thank you for sharing your story!
You say they pay little attention to what is important. How are you sure your opinion on what is important, is better than someone else's?
Thank you for asking. Not many people are willing to listen. So thank you.
As for the texts of the bible, they've been through a lot of research for accuracy. They've been compared to each other, and they fit together even though they were written by different people inspired by God over thousands of years. I think some of the original texts still exist, so that we can see what they said as they were originally written. But indeed, people sometimes distort what it says in order to control people. That's why people need to be able to read it themselves and ask questions. Sadly, some religions discourage that.
Yea, that's a good point. And this is in no offense to you, personally halfsaved. But, it's a definite sticking point for me, when it comes to religion, in general. Not just Christianity.
But, all religions...they seem to denote that one is 'better' than another. Everyone can't be right, so to me, that is why I tend to believe they are all man made.
I'm not buying it.... If your God needs me to know something, He needs to find a better way to say it.
Christianity is actually not a "religion" as it normally is defined. Here's something I found that describes the difference better than I can:
Christianity is unique in the fact that it is the ONLY faith which is not a religion- as a 'religion'- by definition means "to be bound" by rules and regulations and rituals in order that one MAY attain salvation. (whatever their definition of salvation may be)
This is in stark contrast to the teachings of THE most anti-religious person there ever lived- Jesus the Christ.
Jesus taught that the truth would SET YOU FREE and that it would be faith ALONE in His sacrificial death and resurrection for our sins which would save us and NOT our good deeds.
By "important things", I guess things like the existence of God in the first place, Christ's sacrifice for our sin nature, and our fellowship with Him. Some denominations (I'm going to get some hate mail for this!) focus on Jesus's earthly mother and they pray to her rather than to God, or they focus on their gathering together on a certain day of the week, or they focus on eating only certain kinds of foods, etc. But in scripture, we see that the big focus is that we are born as sinners and need the gift of Christ's death and resurrection in order to be reunited with God. It's after midnight and I'm tired, so I may not be describing all this as well as I should be.
Christianity is actually not a "religion" as it normally is defined. Here's something I found that describes the difference better than I can:
Christianity is unique in the fact that it is the ONLY faith which is not a religion- as a 'religion'- by definition means "to be bound" by rules and regulations and rituals in order that one MAY attain salvation. (whatever their definition of salvation may be)
This is in stark contrast to the teachings of THE most anti-religious person there ever lived- Jesus the Christ.
Jesus taught that the truth would SET YOU FREE and that it would be faith ALONE in His sacrificial death and resurrection for our sins which would save us and NOT our good deeds.
"For it is by God's grace that you have been saved, through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God's GIFT, so that no one can boast about it." (Ephesians 2: 8-9).
This is a really nice post...so much so, I have tears in my eyes reading it.
I sometimes think...suppose I'm wrong...and Christians are right. Suppose, I'm right, and they're wrong. In the end, if there is a god, and he speaks to me...what would i say?
what would any of us say? You know?
I think about things like this.
Well, I've always figured that if I believe in God and Jesus Christ, then I have nothing to lose in this life by believing, but everything to lose if I don't. He actually has spoken to us all through his word, and sometimes people claim that he speaks to them personally. Often it happens through thoughts and prayer. Sometimes it can be a feeling or revelation.
He's God. He makes the rules.
Well, I've always figured that if I believe in God and Jesus Christ, then I have nothing to lose in this life by believing, but everything to lose if I don't.
Question for the group: If you are an atheist, what would it take to convince you that there truly is "something" rather than "nothing"?
He's God. He makes the rules.
GoldenYak,
...so, you stopped sinning recently, then?Good for you!
Didn't you just say Christianity isn't a religion because it isn't bound by rules. What rules are we talking about now?
No. How does a claim become more plausible when you decorate it with drama?What about the possibility of living in Hell for all eternity because you refused to believe? Wouldn't that at least cause you to see if maybe there is some possibility of God's existence?
It seems to me that the very moment you guys had defined "God" as exceptional, supernatural you had already given up on the possibility of proving Its existence. So, tbh, I see little chances.What would it take to disprove atheism?
Well, I've always figured that if I believe in God and Jesus Christ, then I have nothing to lose in this life by believing, but everything to lose if I don't. He actually has spoken to us all through his word, and sometimes people claim that he speaks to them personally. Often it happens through thoughts and prayer. Sometimes it can be a feeling or revelation.
Well, I've always figured that if I believe in God and Jesus Christ, then I have nothing to lose in this life by believing, but everything to lose if I don't.
I have never figured that. I could very easily lose my integrity, both intellectual and ethical. I could lose everything -- my entire life -- to spineless obedience to falsehood.
And I am certain that I have this life, and no reason to think that I will have another.
eudaimonia,
Mark
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