Wish to Learn

[KENTA]

Hello.

My name is 小林英樹 or Hideki Koboyashi in English. I am 14 years old and live in Kobe of the Hyogo perfecture in Japan. My mother was originally American before moving here so English is spoken in our house between me and my mother on occasion. I also read many English books so luckily I have a good vocabulary, comes in handy when prowling English websites. Anyway, I seem to be drifting from my topic.

In Japan, religions are all kind of mixed and mashed. For example, my father is a Buddhist and a Taoist and we attend many festivals but celebrate Christmas and stuff. Here, all religions are true. Or the ideas behind them, most Japanese would identify themselves as non-religious. However I learned something new today, not all religions are connected, or something along that line. There was some missionaries today by my school talking about Jesus. It was kind of hard for me to fathom Jesus as separate from other religions but now I have been doing research and I see it is a separate religion. I was taught this in school of course but like I said, here religions all carry the same merit of being possible or together.

Anyway, the missionaries gave me a bible and some tracts and other things to read about Jesus and Christianity. However, this book seems to be too intelligent for me.

Why is the beginning as it is? I am currently reading the story of the creation of the Earth, which is pretty interesting, but what does it mean? Unlike our stories, I am having a hard time deciphering any symbols and the like. Care to help also explain your religion please.

 

[ebia]

Hello.

My name is 小林英樹 or Hideki Koboyashi in English. I am 14 years old and live in Kobe of the Hyogo perfecture in Japan. My mother was originally American before moving here so English is spoken in our house between me and my mother on occasion. I also read many English books so luckily I have a good vocabulary, comes in handy when prowling English websites. Anyway, I seem to be drifting from my topic.

In Japan, religions are all kind of mixed and mashed. For example, my father is a Buddhist and a Taoist and we attend many festivals but celebrate Christmas and stuff. Here, all religions are true. Or the ideas behind them, most Japanese would identify themselves as non-religious. However I learned something new today, not all religions are connected, or something along that line. There was some missionaries today by my school talking about Jesus. It was kind of hard for me to fathom Jesus as separate from other religions but now I have been doing research and I see it is a separate religion. I was taught this in school of course but like I said, here religions all carry the same merit of being possible or together.

Anyway, the missionaries gave me a bible and some tracts and other things to read about Jesus and Christianity. However, this book seems to be too intelligent for me.

Why is the beginning as it is? I am currently reading the story of the creation of the Earth, which is pretty interesting, but what does it mean? Unlike our stories, I am having a hard time deciphering any symbols and the like. Care to help also explain your religion please.

If you are going to begin at the beginning, so to speak, you probably just want to read it, take it as it comes, and come back to figuring it out. But you have a heck of a lot of reading ahead of you before you get to the crunch. You might be better off starting off your bible reading not at the beginning but with one of the gospels (the story of Jesus) and coming back to the beginning later.

Trying to summarise Christianity is hard, but it is very much based on a narrative - a story:

Originally there was just God. He spoke the whole of creation into being (Genesis chapters 1 and 2), and intended humanity to be the pinacle, rulers and stewards of that creation, reflecting his glory to the rest of creation. But humanity decided to do its own thing instead (Genesis chapters 3-11) and so creation went wrong. But God, still recognising the inherent goodness in creation under the mess, and the image of God in humanity under the mess, decided to put things right. So he called one couple (Abraham and Sarah) to found a family (Israel) that would be the means of putting the world right. That family were still, though, part of the problem so Israel goes through all sorts of ups and downs in its relationship with God (Genesis 12- through to the end of the Old Testament, Malachi). So eventually God brought that to a climax by becoming himself the promised representative member of that family - Jesus. He brought all the destruction in the world to bear at one point in history and let it do its worst to him by executing him in Roman crucifixion. And yet came out the other side of that death all the more glorious because of it, thereby defeating all that is wrong in the world and beginning the New Creation. We then live in anticipation of that New Creation, when there will be no more evil, no more suffering, no more pain. We are called, like Jesus, to live as though that New Creation were actively present now, thereby both anticipating it and playing a part in making it happen.

 

[TimRout]

You're right. The Bible is a very large, complex book. It might be easier to think of it as a collection of many little books that can each be read on their own. There are two major divisions in the Bible -- the Old Testament, and the New Testament. The Old Testament tells the story of creation and how God chose a special group of people, the Jews, to serve Him. The New Testament tells the story about God's Son Jesus. You might find it helpful to begin with the New Testament.

There are 27 little books in the New Testament. The first four are called Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, after the men who wrote them. These men were special servants of God, and God helped them write their words carefully and correctly. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are referred to as The Gospels. The Gospel of John was written especially for people like you, who want to learn more about Jesus. It's a beginner's book and it's a lot of fun to read.

When Jesus was here on earth, He chose twelve men to follow Him and help Him. These twelve were called "Apostles", which means advocates or messengers. Jesus charged them with the task of telling people about Him, starting the Christian church, and writing the New Testament. Jesus was eventually betrayed by one of His Apostles -- a man named Judas Iscariot; Jesus was then arrested and killed. But He didn't stay dead. On the third day after his crucifixion, He came back to life. Lots of people saw Him alive after His resurrection and some of them wrote about their experiences. You can read what these eyewitnesses wrote in the New Testament.

After Jesus came back to life, He selected one final Apostle to serve Him. The man's name was Saul, though most people know him by his nickname "Paul". Paul would eventually write about half the books in the New Testament. Paul wrote a book called Romans. It is also designed for beginners.

So then, why don't you start with the Gospel of John and the book of Romans. You'll find both of them in the New Testament and they will teach you the basics about who Jesus is and how you can get to know Him for yourself. The Bible says that Jesus is not just human. He is also divine. It's hard to understand, even for someone like me who has studied it for years, but Jesus is God...the Son. He's not a separate God. There is only one God. But this one God exists as three unique persons, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus is the Son, and Jesus is God. More than this though, Jesus is alive. You can talk to Him. You can get to know Him personally. He's not just a myth, or an idea, or a long dead religious teacher; He's a real, living person and He's up in heaven right now.

I love telling people about Jesus. He is my Lord, my Savior, and my very best friend. Please feel free to PM me or ask additional questions in this string. I'd love to help you get to know the one who has completely changed and blessed my life. I'll be praying for you.

 

[KENTA]

Kinda late here, so sorry if this is short.

I will do as you say and start with that book. I am not liking the bibles they sent us. The Japanese in them is horrible so I am looking into an English one, supposebl the KJV is good. Find it odd there are different versions.

Also, is this creation story at the beginning meant to be..literal? I was thinking it was some kind of poetic story like most of the Asian religions because as a factual creation story..I think I would have a hard time believing this.

 

[Merlin]

Most religion is about philosophies. Ways of living well.
Christianity is about restoring a relationship with the one who made us.

 

[HypnoToad]

I am not liking the bibles they sent us. The Japanese in them is horrible so I am looking into an English one, supposebl the KJV is good. Find it odd there are different versions.

The KJV is alright, but depending on your English education, you might want a different version. The English of the KJV is very old, to the extent that many native English speakers sometimes have difficulty with it. You might want to try a translation that uses more modern English, such as the NASB or the NIV, for example.

Also, is this creation story at the beginning meant to be..literal? I was thinking it was some kind of poetic story like most of the Asian religions because as a factual creation story..I think I would have a hard time believing this.

That is actually an issue that many Christians can not agree to.

Traditionally, the creation account was generally accepted as historical. With society's shift to scientific philosophy (i.e., evolution becoming a dominant view), many Christians have begun to take the account as only allegorical or mythical.

So today, many Christians say it's supposed to be historical, and other Christians say it isn't.

As far as looking at Scripture alone, it is related as an historical account, and when mentioned in later parts of Scripture, there is nothing said that presents it as allegorical or mythical.

 

[KENTA]

Well I am chugging along into this book but from what I understand now, this religion is not a philosophy like our religions in Asian but a literal historical thing that happened? Such as the walking on water and the like?

Also.. I am really confused by the Angels and Jesus. According to the first book, there was only 1 god and now there seems to be lots of them.

 

[HypnoToad]

Well I am chugging along into this book but from what I understand now, this religion is not a philosophy like our religions in Asian but a literal historical thing that happened? Such as the walking on water and the like?

Yes, with the exception of the disputed creation account and possibly the Noah's flood, the general view is that the Bible is intending to depict actual, historical events. Christians believe Jesus historically existed and the New Testament is a historical account of His ministry and the early church.

Also.. I am really confused by the Angels and Jesus. According to the first book, there was only 1 god and now there seems to be lots of them.

First, angels are not "gods" - they are spiritual beings that serve God. Although they are powerful, they are not "gods" themselves.

As to Jesus, it gets more complicated. The typical Christian belief is that God is "Triune" (also called the "Trinity"). The Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit are distinct persons, and they are all God, yet there is only one God. It can be difficult to understand, as it does sound illogical. But on the other hand, God is omnipotent, so it is reasonable to think that His form of existence can be different from ours.

 

[KENTA]

From what I am reading, the angels are immortal, can fly and live in the spiritual realm. We in Japan would call those Gods. Is the only difference between them the degree of power?

 

[TimRout]

I will do as you say and start with that book. I am not liking the bibles they sent us. The Japanese in them is horrible so I am looking into an English one, supposebl the KJV is good. Find it odd there are different versions.

The Bible was not originally written in Japanese or English. The Old Testament was written mostly in Hebrew, with a few passages written in Aramaic. The New Testament was written in Greek. That means the Bibles we read must be translated from the original languages. As others have said, the KJV was first translated long ago (1611AD) and sounds like the English of Shakespeare. In more recent times, newer translations of the Bible have been produced in hundreds of languages, including English. These are much easier to read.

I'm sorry your Japanese Bible is posing a problem for you. As a newcomer to the Bible, it might be helpful to get a copy of the New Living Translation. It is easy for beginners. If you have trouble finding a copy locally, they can be ordered online.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/102-0755584-8439332?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=new+living+translation

http://www.newlivingtranslation.com/

 

[TimRout]

From what I am reading, the angels are immortal, can fly and live in the spiritual realm. We in Japan would call those Gods. Is the only difference between them the degree of power?

Angels are VERY different from God. Not only are they much less powerful, they are created beings who had a definite beginning. God has always existed. Time itself is something He created. Angels can only be in one place at a time, while God (through the Holy Spirit) is everywhere all the time. Angels cannot create things. God has created everything out of nothing. Angels can be destroyed in hell; demons are simply disobedient angels. God is impervious to all harm. There are many other distinctions between angels and God, but it is important to remember that angels are not gods.

The term "angel" means messenger.

 

[TimRout]

Also, is this creation story at the beginning meant to be..literal? I was thinking it was some kind of poetic story like most of the Asian religions because as a factual creation story..I think I would have a hard time believing this.

While some Christians try to blend the theories of secular evolution with the teaching of the Bible, the biblical account of creation is intended to be taken literally. I believe God created the universe precisely as the Bible says -- in six days, resting on the seventh. If one follows a biblical time line for history, that places creation between 6,000 and 10,000 years ago. The need for millions of years is eliminated if one does not believe in evolution -- and I don't.

One of the key differences between many Asian religions and Christianity, is that Christianity speaks of real history -- real people and real events. Few scholars doubt that a man named Jesus lived in Palestine 2000 years ago, since there are multiple historical records of His life and work outside the Bible. Roman historians like Tacitus, or Jewish historians like Josephus, make plain reference to Him.

The question on most people's minds is: "Can we be sure Jesus is who He claimed to be -- the Son of God?"

Based on the overwhelming historical evidence at our disposal, I believe the answer to that question is YES.

 

[Emmy]

Dear Kenta. Christianity is a personal relationship, between a Heavenly Father, and his sons and daughters who want to learn to love Him again. That is why we are on Earth, to learn to love God with our whole nature. We also want to learn to love everybody we live with, and everybody we meet, we want to learn to treat everybody, as we would like others to treat us. Our Leader and Teacher, also our Friend is called Jesus, and to really get to know Him, we must read the Bible, it is God speaking to Man. If you really wish to learn, Kenta, read the 4 Gospels in the Bible, to start with. It will take you a long time, but you are still young and have many years to learn more. Try and find some other Christians, maybe your Mother will help you? When you get to know Jesus better, ask Him to help you and to guide you. You will find that it becomes easier all the time. If you really wish to learn, you can ask Jesus, and He will help you. I say this with love and I will pray for you. Kind greetings from Emmy, sister in Christ.

 

[ebia]

Well I am chugging along into this book but from what I understand now, this religion is not a philosophy like our religions in Asian but a literal historical thing that happened? Such as the walking on water and the like?

Pretty much, yes. Christianity is basically a claim about a real event - "Jesus Christ died, resurrected from the dead, and is therefore Lord of all Creation". That doesn't mean that every bit of the bible is meant to be taken literally though - it includes all sorts of literary genres.

Also.. I am really confused by the Angels and Jesus. According to the first book, there was only 1 god and now there seems to be lots of them.

Ok. Angels aren't gods - they are created beings, messengers of God. There is one God, but he exists as three distinct persons - Father, Son (Jesus) and Holy Spirit. It's a concept known as the Trinity. It is somewhat paradoxical, but God doesn't fit our boxes sometimes.

 

[ebia]

From what I am reading, the angels are immortal, can fly and live in the spiritual realm. We in Japan would call those Gods. Is the only difference between them the degree of power?

Angels are created beings. Messangers and servants of God. Anything they do is on behalf of God and through God's power - like us they have no power of their own, they only exist at all through the breath of the one creator God.

 

[ebia]

Kinda late here, so sorry if this is short.

I will do as you say and start with that book. I am not liking the bibles they sent us. The Japanese in them is horrible so I am looking into an English one, supposebl the KJV is good. Find it odd there are different versions.

Translation is a messy an imperfect business. There are a variety of translations - which is best depends on what you are looking for (readability and ease of understanding verses accuracy to the original language), personal preference, etc.
The KJV is very antiquated, the language is out of date, and scholarship has moved on a long way since it was written. Try reading a passage from a variety of translations and see which suits you.

Also, is this creation story at the beginning meant to be..literal?

No. But this is an area where Christians disagree. Taking it as literal is uncommon outside of the United States. It's certainly not compulsory to take a literal view of the creation story.

I was thinking it was some kind of poetic story like most of the Asian religions because as a factual creation story..I think I would have a hard time believing this.

As a literal account it has all sorts of problems - not the least of which being that the version in Genesis 1 doesn't match the version in Genesis 2. But whether it is literal or not, the real point of it is about the relationship between God, creation and humanity and the fact that creation is good but has gone off the rails because of humanity's rebellion.

 

[KarateCowboy]

Dozou yoroshiku Koboyashi-khun! O-genki desk ka? Soregashi wa Karate Kauboyi to moshimasu

I am interested to hear what you have to say. I have a lot of love for my Japanese brethren. Tell me more about your experiences with Christianity and your thoughts!

Angels are not shinigami, that's for sure . But they are kind of similar an idea. I understand what you mean about Japanese religion being a big melting pot. The term in English is 'syncretic'.

Did you know that almost a third of Japan was Christian at one point in time? But then came the kakure kirishitan days and the Shimabara no Ran. You say you read lots of books? If you are interested, one I recommend is Mere Christianity by CS Lewis. It is not difficult to read.

(BTW, the best steak I ever had in my life was matsuzaka-gyu)

 

[ebia]

If you are interested, one I recommend is Mere Christianity by CS Lewis. It is not difficult to read.

Or if you want something more up to date, Simply Christian by Tom Wright.

 

[KENTA]

Dozou yoroshiku Koboyashi-khun! O-genki desk ka? Soregashi wa Karate Kauboyi to moshimasu

Ooh. I hate romaji, hehe. Never quite sounds right when I read it. BTW, it's desu not desk. ^-^

I am interested to hear what you have to say. I have a lot of love for my Japanese brethren. Tell me more about your experiences with Christianity and your thoughts!

あなたは日本人ですか
(Anata-wa Nihon-go desku ka)

Angels are not shinigami, that's for sure . But they are kind of similar an idea. I understand what you mean about Japanese religion being a big melting pot. The term in English is 'syncretic'.

Okay.

Did you know that almost a third of Japan was Christian at one point in time? But then came the kakure kirishitan days and the Shimabara no Ran. You say you read lots of books? If you are interested, one I recommend is Mere Christianity by CS Lewis. It is not difficult to read.

Well, I am having doubts about it. I am not far how far I will look into this.

Angels are VERY different from God. Not only are they much less powerful, they are created beings who had a definite beginning. God has always existed. Time itself is something He created. Angels can only be in one place at a time, while God (through the Holy Spirit) is everywhere all the time. Angels cannot create things. God has created everything out of nothing. Angels can be destroyed in hell; demons are simply disobedient angels. God is impervious to all harm. There are many other distinctions between angels and God, but it is important to remember that angels are not gods.

The term "angel" means messenger.

This is still very confusing to me. They are still Gods to me. For example, the Japanese god 伊弉諾 is the Shinto god of creation..however he always created other lesser Gods such as 天 and and 月読の命 but by definition, they are still Gods.

While some Christians try to blend the theories of secular evolution with the teaching of the Bible, the biblical account of creation is intended to be taken literally. I believe God created the universe precisely as the Bible says -- in six days, resting on the seventh. If one follows a biblical time line for history, that places creation between 6,000 and 10,000 years ago. The need for millions of years is eliminated if one does not believe in evolution -- and I don't.

I do not wish to sound rude..but.. I can't possibly wrap my mind around someone believing that as truth. I am snot sure I want any part of this philosophy.

 

[TimRout]

I do not wish to sound rude..but.. I can't possibly wrap my mind around someone believing that as truth. I am not sure I want any part of this philosophy.

I understand. Perhaps part of the difficulty is your belief that Christianity is a philosophy. It's not. A philosophy is a set of rules on which people base beliefs and behaviors. Christianity isn't about rules. Christianity is about having a personal relationship with the God of the universe. If you're not willing to begin with this basic premise, then you're right -- nothing else I say will be relevant.