My feeble attempt at the explanation of Christianity., You ask questions, and I'll try to answer. Rating Options

[monster]

Prove there is a God.

I'm creating this thread to see if I myself can try to answer questions that question or even contradict myself and the religion that I believe in.

Here's how it goes, all of you ask me questions about Christianity, and I'll try my best to answer them with the little theological knowledge that I know.

[brooklyneast05]

good topic idea

first though,
are u someone who takes the bible 100% literally or not?

[Sandraaa]

Wow, brave one dude!

OK. Here's mine: I've been told so many times that I'm doomed, that my destiny is in hell because I don't believe in God/doubt his existence. Well, I don't understand the concept of 'believing in God'. How can you believe in someone with whom you haven't had any contact; physical or mental? (this isn't a question directed to you).

Question; why am I doomed for doubting?

[monster]

good topic idea

first though,
are u someone who takes the bible 100% literally or not?

We are taught that the Bible is God-Breathed. It is known that the Bible was superintended ( God guided the authors to write the story ) composed, ( they were active, not passive ), without error ( perfect ) and that they were the original writings.

So being that the Bible is God-breathed, it means that God breathed his word into the authors, meaning they are his literal words, so the Bible must be taken literally.

Of course, this has a few exceptions with the obvious metaphors that it gives, ( Matthew 5:29, 29If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. )

[Sandraaa]

^ Above you.

[monster]

Wow, brave one dude!

OK. Here's mine: I've been told so many times that I'm doomed, that my destiny is in hell because I don't believe in God/doubt his existence. Well, I don't understand the concept of 'believing in God'. How can you believe in someone with whom you haven't had any contact; physical or mental? (this isn't a question directed to you).

Question; why am I doomed for doubting?

You are not necessarily doomed for doubting. This is bad theology in itself, and is mainly our faults as Christians who say the right things at the wrong time.

But if you want to truly know why non-believers generally all have to go to hell ( sadly ) is because of the fact that God is holy. He is so holy that he cannot be near any type of sin at all, nor be a sinner himself; even if he were to be next to sin, it would be a contradiction to himself. That's why there is Jesus as a walking board through the gap of one side to the other.

-edit

Also, I wouldn't know if you were to be truly doomed or not. I'm not God. ;)

-edit again

I just wanted to add that everyone doubts. Literally everyone doubts. It doesn't matter if you doubt or not. It's about whether or not you go back to Him, whether or not you see certain things going on.

[Sandraaa]

I also find it strange that someone'll consider him/herself as holy but w/e.

So God is automatically condemning me for my beliefs? If it isn't his way, then hell? I thought he was loving. Isn't he the one who talks about forgiveness?
You should know, we're not alike. There are people who decide to believe without understanding why. There are people, Christian friends of mine who go to church out of habit, who fast because they're used to it, who have no clue WHY they believe in God.

Personally, I find it stupid to believe in something/someone without completely understanding and knowing the concept.

[brooklyneast05]

why is there suffering to such an extent? if god is all powerful, why couldn't he step in. i know there's the whole thing about preserving our free will and what not, but still. the holocaust for example, did 6 million jews need to die? he could have stepped in earlier and our free will would have still be intact, and millions of innocent people would have been saved

which also makes me wonder why hitler was even born. if god is omniscient and omnipotent then he knew before hitler was born what would happen. if i was all knowing, and i was going to have a kid with someone, and i knew that they would turn out to be the next hitler...i wouldn't do it. i wouldn't have a kid

[Sandraaa]

Podo, I read all your edits. Man, haha!

[monster]

I also find it strange that someone'll consider him/herself as holy but w/e.

So God is automatically condemning me for my beliefs? If it isn't his way, then hell? I thought he was loving. Isn't he the one who talks about forgiveness?
You should know, we're not alike. There are people who decide to believe without understanding why. There are people, Christian friends of mine who go to church out of habit, who fast because they're use to it, who have no clue WHY they believe in God.

Personally, I find it stupid to believe in something/someone without completely understanding and knowing the concept.

This is true, and this causes many Christians to cripple and to wander with many doubts. This often happens because of again, bad theology and because as a Christian, we are told to equip ourselves with the Bible and to truly learn it. I personally believe that all Christians should learn some basic theology so they can debate and discuss with others ( i.e nonbelievers ) about the whole concept of Jesus, without talking only about " Jesus loves you, blah blah blah. "

God is love. Let me give you an example. I love children ( I hope you do, too! ) so thus I hate abortion. I hate abortion with a passion because I love children. God is perfect. That is why he is two-dimensional. He is a lover and a judge. He judges sin fairly without bias or bribery. He loves all without judgment or prejudice.

And yes, I know we're all different. Many Christians go to church just because whatever. It's just another routine, and another schedule, and another " thing to do. " I would accredit this to many of them not knowing what Christianity is really about.

[Sandraaa]

God is love. OK. So, what's up with Christians dying of horrible diseases? What's up with poverty? Like someone said, can't He push his magical buttons (over imagining probably) and prevent these?
What is he trying to prove?

Edit//

In response to your response () to JC's post:

But God does choose his favorites. There are people who he saves from disastars. It makes me wonder about how fair he is.

[monster]

why is there suffering to such an extent? if god is all powerful, why couldn't he step in. i know there's the whole thing about preserving our free will and what not, but still. the holocaust for example, did 6 million jews need to die? he could have stepped in earlier and our free will would have still be intact, and millions of innocent people would have been saved

which also makes me wonder why hitler was even born. if god is omniscient and omnipotent then he knew before hitler was born what would happen. if i was all knowing, and i was going to have a kid with someone, and i knew that they would turn out to be the next hitler...i wouldn't do it. i wouldn't have a kid

Suffering is unfortunately, necessary for humans. For example, many humans learn from pain and suffering. ( Ever been burned by fire? )

Through suffering comes eventual progress. We are still using a lot of technology that still is based off WWII designs and inventions. But that really doesn't justify all the suffering, I know.

But this is human nature. If God were to be here to help us all the time when we are hurt, then eventually we would become soft...almost jelly-like. We wouldn't be able to anything without God. God gave us free-will, and the will to do whatever we want. So others will abuse this, and others will become a victim to this. So basically, God doesn't help us because we need to become stronger. We need to be able to fight for ourselves, to some extent.

But does that really justify the killing and almost near extermination of millions of JEWS? GOD'S OWN PEOPLE? Not necessarily, I wouldn't know. But again, like I told sandraaa, if I knew everything, I'd probably abuse it, like all humans.

[monster]

God is love. OK. So, what's up with Christians dying of horrible diseases? What's up with poverty? Like someone said, can't He push his magical buttons (over imagining probably) and prevent these?
What is he trying to prove?

Just because you are Christian doesn't mean you will always be safe, healthy, and strong. This would attract people to God for all the wrong reasons. God wants people to come on their own accord, and also knowing that being a Christian means to suffer much. Look at Jesus, he suffered. A lot. That really honestly says a lot. If Jesus suffered, you're going to be in a hell of a lot of trouble if you're a Christian.

You know, a light will been seen most clearly when it's in a dark place. America is in a state of spiritual-death. Look in third world countries, where food is always never there, death is always there, happiness is always never there. You hear amazing stories of the Holy spirit working within everyone and God's love is truly being shared there.

Humans tend to forget and have that " I don't need you anymore, God. " when things get easy.

-edit

That's called divine interjection. Why does God save one person and not the other? I don't know. God has a plan for that person, though. Obviously his plan worked if you know that somehow God saved some person, right?

-edit again

And I wouldn't necessarily say it's a favorite. God is 2 dimensional, remember that! He doesn't love one person more than the other.

[Sandraaa]

It sure looks as though God chose Africa to be the poorest continent in the world.

Why can't he send a freaking proof? Why do we have to have faith? I find that pathetic; believing without seeing. I mean, basically, it's a life or death situation here, YET he chooses to let us see for ourselves.

On judgement day or whatever it's called, he'd be like: I told you so.

Ha! Nice God.

[monster]

It sure looks as though God chose Africa to be the poorest continent in the world.

Why can't he send a freaking proof? Why do we have to have faith? I find that pathetic; believing without seeing. I mean, basically, it's a life or death situation here, YET he chooses to let us see for ourselves.

On judgement day or whatever it's called, he'd be like: I told you so.

Ha! Nice God.

It may take a while to understand this, but unfortunately this is how it goes. You have to see without seeing.

If you look closely enough, you can see God working through to people. Sandraaa, your idea of religion is not exactly....well...religion. Religion is believing in seeing the invisible.

It's not generally the question of "can you see?". It's the question of "can you feel?"

[brooklyneast05]

why is the bible so sexist?

there's multiple verses claiming women should be silent, women shouldn't hold authority over men, men rule over women, women should be submissive.

u can see this even in church today, when do they ever hold the highest positions

[Sandraaa]

Well I don't feel anything. I guess I'm doomed then.

I agree with the above post. In some churches, women are forbidden to take the lead in any important activity.

[brooklyneast05]

Well I don't feel anything. I guess I'm doomed then.

we're doomed together, don't worry
even though i'd point out that god already knew we would question him, because he is all knowing. is this god's will that we don't blindly accept him?

confusing

[monster]

why is the bible so sexist?

there's multiple verses claiming women should be silent, women shouldn't hold authority over men, men rule over women, women should be submissive.

u can see this even in church today, when do they ever hold the highest positions

There were many instances of God using women to lead over Israel. Even in the times of the book of Judges, where Israel needed a great leader to help them to get back spiritually and back together as a nation, God used a woman to help create a revival in Israel and to lead Israel.

There are many instances of women taking control and leading.

I wouldn't necessarily call that sexist.

[monster]

we're doomed together, don't worry
even though i'd point out that god already knew we would question him, because he is all knowing. is this god's will that we don't blindly accept him?

confusing

Yes, God knew there were going to be many others who rejected him.

This is his bitter-sweet gift to you. It's yours to use it accordingly.

[brooklyneast05]

"Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression."--1 Tim. 2:11-14

" Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands."
Ephesians 5:22-33

eh i don't know. i still see those as only instances. i don't see why women being equal in power should on be an instance. and her being submissive should be all the time

[monster]

Well I don't feel anything. I guess I'm doomed then.

I agree with the above post. In some churches, women are forbidden to take the lead in any important activity.

You will eventually feel God's call to you. This may come in the form if when right before you go to bed, you feel rather empty. You feel like you need a sense of belonging. You feel that you're just doing the same tasks over and over and over again, knowing you are eventually just going to die and your life will slowly dissapear from others.

With others, it's a different feeling. It's the call that so many people have tried to have answered, for example, all those do-it-yourself kits, 101 classes, 10 step books, all trying to tell you that your life can have purpose in 200 pages.

All that yearing that humans have been searching for is God's calling to you.

[monster]

"Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression."--1 Tim. 2:11-14

" Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands."
Ephesians 5:22-33

eh i don't know. i still see those as only instances. i don't see why women being equal in power should on be an instance. and her being submissive should be all the time

It's a metaphor. It's a guideline that families should be intact with each other and together submitting to one rule, and that rule could come from consensus.

[monster]

By the way, there are many female pastors who lead huge congregations of nearly 5 thousand people per church. I wouldn't call that an instance, either.

[brooklyneast05]

how do we know what's metaphor and what's literal then? just all the outrageous claims the bible makes we should call metaphors and anything that makes sense we should call literal?

it's confusing, when god is loving i should take it literal. when things like this are said then i should take it as a metaphor.

"I will not pity, nor spare, nor have mercy, but destroy." (Jer. 13:14)