Why are you still a Christian?

Momma Angel wrote:

Questioner,

Who has told you that "We as humans are sinners, and not deserving of answers!?" I do not recall reading that statement anywhere.

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If a person remains with questions they should first realize that they may not be entitled to all answers.

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I am sure that you, probably better than some, would understand where some of us are coming from.

Aye, I do. Which is why I still cringe when I read what many of you write.

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I do not fear the questioning. There is nothing there to fear. It's true, sometimes I don't understand the answer, and at those times, yes, I have to just understand that God cannot be something defined in my mind, no matter how hard I try.

Perhaps you're right. There comes a point in the Christian walk where one can become so immersed in the illusion of what they believe that no amount of logic may harm them.

However, since you are not indicative of the entirety of Christianity, the fact that you don't fear the questions isn't of any significant importance in accordance with my statement. So I'll stand by it.

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I don't understand how you can say ......when they finally come to terms with the fact that they are wrong. As far as I'm concerned, until we die, we just won't have that undisputable proof so many seem to require, so how do they come to believe they are wrong?

I can say it because I've lived it. I'm not speaking necessarily of there being no God, or of there being no truth in the bible. I'm speaking from the standpoint of what is tantamount to betrayal by the Christian church. This institution preaches from authority that it does not have, and was not granted. The rules and tenants it espouses are not writ in black and white in some sacred tomb, but the results of centuries of editing, occlusion, and interpretation.

However, unlike other scholarly literature that would have either been amended or thrown out after such a fundamental compromising, the bible and it's religion continue to flourish. This isn't because it is divinely inspired or 'god-breathed', but rather because it keeps some old blood in power in Rome, and provides hope to some people that feel they need a life-preserver to cling to.

And this is something worthy of attaching my life to? I thought so once, until I actually looked at what I was being fed and discovered that it was full of maggots.

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Questioner,

Your statement said you got an answer that we deserved no answers. You were given an answer that said maybe we aren't entitled to all the answers. Big difference, me thinks.

I honestly cannot say I know how you feel. I have never lost my faith (correct wording?). So, I cannot fully understand your feelings. I am trying.

For me, it's not religion that I believe in, it's God. It's not what man says. It's what God shows me. I am so sorry that you are in the position you are in. I can only imagine how painful it must be for you.

Please understand you are in my prayers because I care for you. I pray that you find the peace you seek and the answers to your questions.

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Not all answers give us a warm fuzzy feeling inside. Sometimes answers point out a truth that hurts us but is meant to help us.

ex. all have sinned.

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I can say it because I've lived it. I'm not speaking necessarily of there being no God, or of there being no truth in the bible. I'm speaking from the standpoint of what is tantamount to betrayal by the Christian church. This institution preaches from authority that it does not have, and was not granted. The rules and tenants it espouses are not writ in black and white in some sacred tomb, but the results of centuries of editing, occlusion, and interpretation.

Which church in particular do you speak of....the whole of Christianity? By what motive do you say this?

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Questioner, I can't help but get the feeling you were partially Catholic or atleast some of the teachings you applied yourself to were?

Maybe, I'm just asking.

I'm so sorry you aren't happy.

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Momma Angel wrote:

I do not fear the questioning. There is nothing there to fear. It's true, sometimes I don't understand the answer, and at those times, yes, I have to just understand that God cannot be something defined in my mind, no matter how hard I try.

Momma--

We are soooo close to agreeing, sometimes... I can't stand it.
True, God cannot be defined by your mind (or anyone elses). Yet Christians continue defining, defining, defining.

And back to the whole "Heaven" thing, which you defined as a place... a physical place... What was it that Jesus said when the people wouldn't stop bothering him about how to get to Heaven? He said something like, "The Kingdom of Heaven is all around you, but you refuse to see it." (I don't know the exact Bible quote.)

It's not a place. It's a Way... It's a way of being, of understanding. We all will "get there" when we die. But Jesus Christ showed us that we don't have wait until we die. We can choose to live by the Spirit and overcome death by understanding what "death" is. You said yourself that the physical body dies, but the spirit cannot die.

Jesus became known as Christ when he realized that he had all along been Christ. And every one of us is Christ, we just don't know it.
What's that other part in the Bible that goes something like, "God created us in his image."?

I mean, I don't follow the Bible, obviously. But there's enough in there that makes perfect sense that I am certain the parts that contradict it are either misinterpretation or just plain manipulation. Is it really such a stretch to think that through the years there have been people who have manipulated certain passages in order to suit their power agendas?

Man, I don't know... I'm just sayin' is all.

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If you think we will all get to Heaven when we die, then does this mean you havn't read certain parts of the bible, or do you believe them to be false?

I do believe the part on "The Kingdom of God is within you"

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I'm the other one wrote:

If you think we will all get to Heaven when we die, then does this mean you havn't read certain parts of the bible, or do you believe them to be false?

I do believe the part on "The Kingdom of God is within you"

There are many "certain parts of the Bible" that I have not read.

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echi,

Yes, we are close on many things. I am going to bed right now. I have a migraine. But, I will answer this post first thing tomorrow.

Have a pleasant night!

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echi wrote:

I'm the other one wrote:
If you think we will all get to Heaven when we die, then does this mean you havn't read certain parts of the bible, or do you believe them to be false?

I do believe the part on "The Kingdom of God is within you"

There are many "certain parts of the Bible" that I have not read.

But, like I said, I don't follow the Bible. I don't get my answers to life from the Bible. I don't take it literally. And I don't think it is likely to have been around as long as it has, and gone through as many changes and translations as it has without having been tweaked a little along the way.

However noble it's message might be, and however humble its beginnings, it has for centuries been the key to controlling mass numbers of people. Power tends to corrupt. So, why would the people in power not corrupt the Bible?

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Momma Angel wrote:

Questioner,

Your statement said you got an answer that we deserved no answers. You were given an answer that said maybe we aren't entitled to all the answers. Big difference, me thinks.

Sorry MA, don't follow what you're saying here.

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For me, it's not religion that I believe in, it's God. It's not what man says. It's what God shows me. I am so sorry that you are in the position you are in. I can only imagine how painful it must be for you.

MA, You believe in a God that man has defined. Plain and simple. Since noone has ever seen God, or spoken with God (please, don't bother with the tripe about him speaking to your heart/soul) then you're just going on the words of those that claim they have, ie: the Bible. To claim otherwise is wishful thinking.

Also, there's not really 'pain'. I know that's something that religion demands we believe, that without God all is lost. It's not. I'm really doing fine.

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I'm the other one wrote:

Questioner, I can't help but get the feeling you were partially Catholic or atleast some of the teachings you applied yourself to were?

Maybe, I'm just asking.

I'm so sorry you aren't happy.

Was actually Church of Christ.

And I'm actually as happy as I ever was.

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MA, You believe in a God that man has defined. Plain and simple. Since noone has ever seen God, or spoken with God (please, don't bother with the tripe about him speaking to your heart/soul) then you're just going on the words of those that claim they have, ie: the Bible. To claim otherwise is wishful thinking.

Who's to say that man defined God for her? Life is about experience. We learn and grow from the experiences we go through. Whether that includes "God" as we know Him or not. Let me ask you this then: If someone is in the other room speaking about you, just because you can't hear them, does that then mean they aren't speaking?

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echi,

Is there any book you have read that you have taken every single word as literal truth?

True, power corrupts. Man corrupts. So, do you throw out everything said in the Bible because you feel some of it may be corrupted. If you understand what the basic message is, isn't that what is important?

I read other books than the Bible, echi. Lots of books. I agree with some things written and not with others. It's a matter of discernment.

Questioner,

Ok, let me try to explain. In the statement ".....we're not deserving of answers" that sounded like you took it as they meant we are not deserving of any answers.

Then someone said "....not entitled to all answers." I think we are deserving of answers but not sure we even need to know all the answers, so maybe some of the answers we aren't entitled to.

Right now, it looks like so many in this country think they have all the answers. Right? That's why the country is so divided right now on just being united. I don't have all the answers. I don't even know all the questions yet!?

If you are happy, I am glad. It just "feels" like in your posts that you are not. Does that make sense? I guess the best way to put that is I know when I was searching for so many answers I was not happy. So, maybe that's the way others are looking at your posts?

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wow momma angel i like your avatar

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partyjohn wrote:

wow momma angel i like your avatar

Thanx partyjohn. Here is a bigger picture of her.

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/1230/bannerangel6xm.jpg

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hephzibah wrote:

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MA, You believe in a God that man has defined. Plain and simple. Since noone has ever seen God, or spoken with God (please, don't bother with the tripe about him speaking to your heart/soul) then you're just going on the words of those that claim they have, ie: the Bible. To claim otherwise is wishful thinking.

Who's to say that man defined God for her? Life is about experience. We learn and grow from the experiences we go through. Whether that includes "God" as we know Him or not. Let me ask you this then: If someone is in the other room speaking about you, just because you can't hear them, does that then mean they aren't speaking?

To answer your question: no, it does not.

Now, since your question didn't really make much sense, let me redirect it a bit. If there is someone in the other room speaking, it a relatively simple thing to walk next door and politely ask them if they were speaking, or put your ear to the door and find out for yourself.

Options which are denied you if you profess to have 'faith' and be a believer.

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Momma Angel wrote:

Ok, let me try to explain. In the statement ".....we're not deserving of answers" that sounded like you took it as they meant we are not deserving of any answers.

We're not deserving of answers means we're not deserving of answers. You may interpret that any which way you want. I took it at face value, nothing more.

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Right now, it looks like so many in this country think they have all the answers. Right? That's why the country is so divided right now on just being united. I don't have all the answers. I don't even know all the questions yet!?

Despite being a broad generalization that you couldn't possibly back up, I don't see how this has any bearing at all on what I was saying.

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If you are happy, I am glad. It just "feels" like in your posts that you are not. Does that make sense? I guess the best way to put that is I know when I was searching for so many answers I was not happy. So, maybe that's the way others are looking at your posts?

That's fine. Let me just set the record straight again. I'm happy and doing well. Now you may disregard what you 'feel' and take me at my word. Or not, it really doesn't matter.

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Questioner,

I am detecting a tone in your posts I have never detected before. Might be me.

No harm, no foul my friend.

Why are you still a Christian?

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