I have tried to renew my faith in God for various reasons, but it has been very hard for me. Because I am one of those "to believe it, I have to see it" (or touch it) kind of people, I can't just take everyone's word for it that there is really a God. People point out the Bible and say, "That is living proof...God's word." But in fact, it isn't...it is a collection of stories from man, and has been translated so many times that it can't possibly be COMPLETELY correct, even if it IS God's word. Miracles can be explained as sudden changes of events, or good luck. It seems that every time something is brought to my attention that relates to God's existance, there is always a reasonable explaination for it. There are a few really troubling questions that I've had. Such as...the existance of dinosaurs and the evolution of 'cave men'. I can walk into a museum and see the bones of a T-rex or a cave man's skull, but I can't walk in and see Noah's ark or the cross that Jesus was nailed to...so I have a hard time believing it. Where do dinosaurs and evolution come in, anyway? There was light, water, and life...then Adam and Eve, but nothing regarding those two things, which can be scientifically proven to have happened and existed. The only thing that makes me think that there HAS to be something good up there is the fact that I know for sure that evil exists. It may sound ridiculous, but I've had some bad experiences when I was younger so I can account for 'demons' and such. So, if evil exists, good must too, right? The period of my life when I experienced those things is the solitary point of my faith...and other than that, I don't have much to go on. Tell me your thoughts, but please don't be rude. I'm searching for answers and a way to expand on what little faith I have...not a lecture about how foolish some things in my post may be to you. Thanks.
I think that the Bible is not entirly true for the same reason as you. We need to also remember that thinks were probably nipped here and there from the time it was written to now. The Catholic Church (pre-Reformation) was corrupt and controlled the people so I see it very possible that the words could've been changed slightly here and there over many hundreds of years.... I see what you are saying about not being able to believe in something you can't touch or see...but you can. God is in everyone and everything. People, I think, have this impression that God is some old guy in the sky, but God is so much more. God is a supreme being and we are all, people and animal, part of God in a way. As for good and evil. To quote Anne Rice, "Good and evil those are concepts that man has made..." and I think that that is true. Good and evil exist because we have free will....so these things are. I'm not sure how to totally back allll of this up...these are just my theories... Also, as for evolution, I am to be an archaeologist some day and I can tell you that it physically happened...we just aren't quite sure of the divine aspect...Do you think that it could be possible that the concept of 7 days could very well be a few million years (or what have you)...could it be possible that in the Spiritual Sky...the concept of time is different? Or maybe it was interpreted different...we, after all, used to think the world was flat.... Or maybe, just maybe...we aren't supposed to know at all. And we should just give up and bow before God...and try to do the best that we can and leave it up to Him to figure out what we are and aren't supposed to know... I hope that you find my theories helpful...also to others...please do not blast me because my theories come from both a Christian and a Vaisnava (Hare Krishna) point of view (even though it shouldn't matter...because its the same God and all religions are essentially the same....buuuuuut that's another thing for another time)....
Give freely of yourself, live to serve others, and God will enter your heart - sure as the sunrise. There is no need to try to figure anything out. It will become clear as you follow the path. It works. The key is discipline. Most of us never experience conscious contact because we are lazy and undisciplined. And throw away your holy books. The answer is not found there. It is found in the eyes of those you help. Good luck & God bless.
In looking at The Dead Sea Scrolls(found in 1947), we see that The Bible didn't change. As a matter of fact, the scrolls dated about 1000 years before the previous scripts[the Masoretic text] (A.D. 980). They proved to be word for word identical with our standard Hebrew Bible in more than 95 percent of the text. The 5 percent of variation consisted chiefly of obvious slips of the pen and variations in spelling. This is just one example of the accuracy of The Bible. You want to know why you hear and sometimes think that The Bible has been altered? Because, as we are told in scripture, many will try to discredit God. In the end it is Good vs Evil. Right now, from the looks of things, evil is winning, however, I have read the back of The Book, and we win. Info gathered from:http://www.apologeticsinfo.org/papers/trustworthinessofthebible.html Again, refer to The Bible for you answers. I speak of this in another thread http://www.hipforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2457 You can read the long version there, but I'll give you quick tease of it here. Take a look at the book of Job. In there you will see mention of these dinosaurs. Along with that, pertaining to Noahs Ark and the flood. Well, we know that dinosaurs are buried deep below the surface of the earth. Not only have we found dinosaurs, but we have also found humans at that same level. Therefore, this evidence kills the idea of the world being billions of years old. What it also does is gives evidence that humans and dinosaurs were both affected by the flood and both lived at the same time. As far as the evolution theory. Well, it's just that, a theory. It can never be called fact because in the end, we wern't there. Do I believe in a bit of evolution. Yes and no. I do believe that in the short time that we have inhabited this earth, certain races have evolved in one way or another. However, this would better be called as adapting. One question you have to ask yourself is this: If the evolution theory is true, then why did evolution stop? Bare with me here. Lets use an example. Ok, so lets pretend that the letter A is us billions of years ago when we were tiny itty bitty microscopic life forms. Time goes by and A evolves into B. Now granted, A's are still being produced, but now we have A's on there way to evolving into B's and B's on their way to C's. This process continues to go on and on until the first A finaly becomes Z(Z represents us today) Now, in following this logic, we should see daily evolution taking place. You see where I am going with this? Did evoltion just stop after we became humans? Remeber the evolution theory that we decended from monkeys? Ok, well it took so many years for microbes or whatever to become a monkey, and then so many more for the monkey to become human. Well, why aren't any monkeys evolving anymore? This can go on and on. I'll just remind you that evolution is a theory. Not fact. No, because again, following The Bible there is a time line laid out and can not be refuted. It's funny that scientist often use science, logic, and math to discredit The Bible, however, God was way ahead of them and uses math to proove Himself right. The Bible is a wonderful tool in a Christians life. Don't let Satan tell you otherwise or you will keep having doubts. Sorry, but I can't just sit here and not say anything. God clearly states to have no other gods before Him. You can't be on two different sides. Again, God says he would rather chew you up and spit you out than you to be in the middle. You are either with Him or against Him. All religions are not the same, essentially or not. The one thing you can find that does link "religions" together is that each one follows some sort of entity(god) with loads of rules and regulations. Don't be a religious person, be a spiritual person. Don't follow a religion, follow Jesus Christ. I'll point one last time to The Bible. It says that The Bible is complete and whole. Nothing needs to be added or taken away from It. What did Jesus do in those years we don't hear about Him? It doesn't matter, it wasn't put in The Bible. Don't go listening to other people tellign you they have the answer. Read your Bible, fellowship with other believers, and lastly pray for the wisdom God says He will give us to find your answers. Everything you seek is in The Bible, the problem is Satan and His minions are doing their best to disract you on a daily basis.
It sounds to me like you're having a hard time believing in Christianity, not God. Christianity is only one religion. I don't believe in it myself, but I do believe in God. Try exploring different religions.
Kilgore Trout has given you wise advice. The bible -like all holy books- is a description of god through metaphor, allegory, and exaggeration. Metaphors are a way to help our minds process the unprocessable. The problems arise when we begin to believe literally in our own metaphors. Don't let the stories of the bible trouble you. They cannot be explained in realistic terms because they are not supposed to be.
That sounds like a very good idea. I guess that many of my problems DO relate to the Bibe, as that is what many people provide as proof of His existance. I'd like to thank everyone for their advice...I'll be taking it all into consideration.
Well, so have you. Oh that wicked, crafty Satan! Using those diabolical tools of logic and reason to get us to use our heads and dissuade us from the light! That's one hell of an evil plot. Religiosity/spirituality's a very personal and individual thing, BellaItalia (in my opinion). Just go with what you think feels best, I guess. It's natural to question dogma, and if you don't want to go with what doesn't make sense to you then by all means you don't have to. Don't strain yourself too hard to find those final, complex answers to the big questions, I've known a couple people who've practically lost themselves trying too hard.
Well there is the quote Christianshave which says, 'We walk by faith, not by sight.' which may be a bad answer but its true. Do you believe in feeling is believing? Because i do and thats how i get past the not seeing dilema we all suffer with if only briefly. I suggest prayer, you said renewing faith so i hope that means you are open for prayer. Just be really open to hearing God and tell him that u want to feel him. Yes evil does exist sadly. I am sorry you've had bad experiences but in the long run i believe evil can make u more stronger in your faith. If any of this had made sense and you wanna kno more, PM me or write em up here and i'll gladly answer what i can and what i cant i will do my upmost to find someone who knows the answer. Keep with God, he is our only certainty. Roly.xxx roly.xxx
I agree partially but i feel the Bible can be applied to modern life and is a great advice book. PLus these are the teachings of our father in Heaven , i dont think we should discard them completely...i totally agree with giving yourselves to God and serving others tho. roly.xxx
There are multitudes of spiritual writings/guidelines that can be -and are- considered 'great advice'.
The bible does have its value - but it is perhaps the most poorly interpreted work of literature ever. If you must rely on the written word - let my strongly recommend "The Sermon on the Mount" by Emmit Fox. It is a very simple yet profound and very different way of approaching the bible.
You don't get it...if you love God...it doesn't matter what you call him....it doesn't....and if you are a spiritual person you know this. I do follow Jesus's teachings as best I can...but there's a lot to be learned from other religions...and there's nothing wrong with that if you realise that its all the same ONE God with different names...and until we realise this we will never be able to live together in peace because we will always think that one group is more right than the others and I don't think that's true...it can't be. I don't think I could believe that God could only want one kind of person more than another...if that person is loving and devotional...does it matter what "religion" they follow? That's why I can be a Christian and I can chant "Hare Krishna"...Krishna and Rama are other names for God...but its still God... Christ= God= Christos= Krishna...and Hare is the existance, knowledge, bliss surrounding the Lord...... You don't have to believe me and you can go on believing your way is the right way if you so wish...but try and open your mind and open your heart...if you love the Lord...you'll see... "You don't need no passports You don't need no visas You don't need to designate or to emmigrate before you can see Jesus If you open up your heart You'll see He's right there Always was and will be He'll relieve you of your cares. By chanting the names of the Lord and you'll be free The Lord is awaiting on you all to awaken and see By chanting the names of the Lord you will be free The Lord is awaiting on you all to awaken and see You don't need no church house You don't need no temple You don't need no rosery beads or them books to read to see that you have fallen If you open up your heart You'll know what I mean We've been polluted so long Someone's thinking that we're all green..."- "Awaiting On You All"- George Harrison
Yes, you are right, you learn what not to do by studying religions. I used to think like that. Why were there so many different groups saying "It's our way or hell". That is, until I realized that all these groups were religions created by man. Baptists, Catholics, Budists, and all the others are missing one thing, Christianity. It's called Christianity because of Jesus Christ. If you take away religion and just stick with scripture, prayer, and faith, you are left with Christianity. If one group says you have to do it this way, and another says you have to do it that way, well, then they aren't all worshiping the same god. It's people like this LuciferSam guy that messes everything up. The Bible tells us of people just like him. I mean, you tell me to open my mind, I tell you to open your eyes and read. It's all right there in The Book. Don't follow a religion, follow Jesus Christ. Umm, we will never live in peace. Well, I take that back, the world will see peace, but the Christians wont be here for that. The Bible says the only way into Heaven is through Jesus Christ. Sorry, but that is the only way. In order for someone to be right, someone has to be wrong. In the end, no matter what I or others say, you will make up your own mind. When you make up your mind, you are saying what you believe in is what is right. Who said God only wants one kind of person? He wants us all in heaven, but He wont force us to serve Him. That's where free will comes in. Why did He do it? I don't know. I am not Him and that means I am not to question why He does things the way He does. If you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, admit that you are a sinner, ask Jesus to guid you in your life, and devote your life to Him, you will go to Heaven. If you don't you will go to Hell. What's confusing about this? What does Krishna say about getting into Heaven? I want to see quotes from some book or scripture. Everywhere Jesuswent He went by the name Jesus. Why would he go to another land and call himself something different? I did, and this is where The Lord has brought me. Now, you open up your mind.