Yes it is, turn on the news. Throughout history, more people have been slaughtered in the name of god(or a god) than for any other reason. Fact.Bookworm wrote: Faith is not the source of the hate.
raised in the church myself I was confronted with this question while I served in the army. My answer was simple.Stasi wrote:
But... why should I believe something I have no reason to believe? I have seen no evidence of God's hand at work.
Comparing the belief that man has landed on the moon to that of the existence of some god-being doesn't work, in my book. There is photographic and video evidence of the landing. Also, one can construct a practically flawless timeline of events for the mission, as well as engineer the vessels that got the crew to the moon and back. The Bible does not do this for Christianity. It is full of stories and most people can't even agree on what should be taken as literal or figurative. I don't see that Christianity is more true than Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, etc. because there is no evidence of its truth. People talk about seeing the evidence in nature and so on, but people have been saying that for quite some time, and not all have been Christian.scherzo wrote:raised in the church myself I was confronted with this question while I served in the army. My answer was simple.Stasi wrote:
But... why should I believe something I have no reason to believe? I have seen no evidence of God's hand at work.
It is a well know fact, man has landed on the moon, most people believe this to be true. However most people have not been to the moon and seen the evidence, the same holds true for the gospels IMO.
This only explains 'how' its possible to believe. 'why' is more critical. Why should I believe man has been on the moon, or that the world is round? I am a simple man, and these things change little for my life. As far as the world being round is concerned, I know that water flows downhill, and as man being on the moon, I know that it rizes at night. Perhaps what I'm saying is, we need to hold true to the basics, water flows downhill.
Jesus said, love God above all, and love your neighbour as yourself. He also said, it is impossible to love God and hate your neighbour.
the basics of the bible that I hold true, Love your neighbour as yourself. for me this is water that flows downhill.
I would disagree, there is compelling evidence that a man named Jesus did exist. only question remains is wether or not he was the Son of God. To aid in believing there are the miricles, and of course the crucifiction. Jesus was given a simple way out of being crucified, what did he have to profit by dening that chance.Stasi wrote:
Comparing the belief that man has landed on the moon to that of the existence of some god-being doesn't work, in my book. There is photographic and video evidence of the landing. Also, one can construct a practically flawless timeline of events for the mission, as well as engineer the vessels that got the crew to the moon and back. The Bible does not do this for Christianity. It is full of stories and most people can't even agree on what should be taken as literal or figurative. I don't see that Christianity is more true than Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, etc. because there is no evidence of its truth. People talk about seeing the evidence in nature and so on, but people have been saying that for quite some time, and not all have been Christian.
We have evidence today of 'faith healing' where dr.'s give placebo's to patients. other miracles like walking on water, and the resurection are more popular for dissection. Okay so lets remove these miracles, and concider the probability factor.Stasi wrote: hat doesn't mean their legendary acts actually happened.
- agreed, however the question was Man actually on the moon? We could have just flown around it and had some elaberate deception for the cold war. Landing and returning was actually quite difficult, the u.s. might have played a trick with the soviets, there are some evidence and arguments against the landing ( some are common sence, others more elaborate) really it is a matter of faith.one can construct a practically flawless timeline of events for the mission, as well as engineer the vessels that got the crew to the moon and back.
So-called faith healing where doctors give patients placebos doesn't require a faith in Christ, or any supernatural being for that matter. Therefore, it does nothing to explain or promote the truthfulness of the Christian religion.We have evidence today of 'faith healing' where dr.'s give placebo's to patients. other miracles like walking on water, and the resurection are more popular for dissection. Okay so lets remove these miracles, and concider the probability factor.
Since when was virgin birth 'actually not that uncommon'? Though circumstances can be constructed under which it is possible for a virgin to get pregnant, the simple biological fact that an egg and sperm have to meet up remains regardless. Basically, Jesus' mother's reproductive system would have had to make some level of contact with someone's sperm. Women are not asexual. Nevertheless, the inclusion of a virgin birth in a religion's 'history' is not unique to Christian theology.Virgin birth, science has discovered that virgin birth actually is not that uncommon. what is uncommon is the child is 'male' the chances of this are so remote that throught human history we could only have one.
The Old Testament doesn't mention the name 'Jesus'. I don't recall it predicting the time the messiah would have been born either. Have you studied other religious belief systems? Talk to Jews, muslims, or members of new age cults (Christian and non-Christian) and you'll hear of prophecy fulfilled. Still this does nothing to suggest that Christianity is more true than other belief systems.predictions, the jewish faith has numerous predictions of Jesus before he was born. the earliest reverence was Genisis. throughout the old testemant there are references to Him, including his place of birth.
So what? Are the only people who can challege the norms of a given society messiahs?His teachings. This was the man that went against common thought and teachings of the time.
People said pretty much the same things of David Koresh of the Branch Davidians, Jim Jones of People's Temple, and the sick nut in charge of Heaven's Gate (I forget his name). Why should anyone believe your Christianity is the truth? ...and don't say 'because it is true' when the only it can be proved is by its own doctrine, which isn't proof at all.The probability of all these things for me are Highly highly unlikely, yet they happened. IMO it is only logic that supports He was at the very least extrodinary. His teachings make me believe in more. His teachings are the truth.
My point was that there is tangible evidence of the mission. Where is the tangible evidence of Christ as the Savior, or of God himself?- agreed, however the question was Man actually on the moon? We could have just flown around it and had some elaberate deception for the cold war. Landing and returning was actually quite difficult, the u.s. might have played a trick with the soviets, there are some evidence and arguments against the landing ( some are common sence, others more elaborate) really it is a matter of faith.
So you are still a Mormon, just out of practice?halvertroy wrote: theology? i suppose my theology is church doctrine. if you want to know more about the doctrine, i would again suggest www.lds.org, because there is so much to say.
-but our over-arching belief, i guess, would be that our earthly lives are only a fraction of our existence. we existed before, and we will exist afterward with no end.
-there is more than just heaven and hell.
-Heavenly Father, His son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are three seperate beings unified in their purpose to "bring to pass the eternal life of man." I'm not sure where that phrase is found or if those are even the exact words, but that's the jist of it.
Who said anything about Bible bashing?halvertroy wrote: i am 100% a mormon. what makes you think otherwise? i said i'm not a practicing gay.
and i discourage bible bashing...but if someone out there really wants to, try a personal email instead of this public forum.
