Religion & Spirituality - 23 January 2007

A. God gives us the gift of faith, but we must accept that gift by reaching out to take it.

B. God "opens our eyes" to his truth, we don't accept eyesight, it just happens, repentance and joy follows.

2007-01-23 03:28:06 · 18 answers · asked by ccrider 7

when you die, you supposedly become a spirit and go to heaven or hell. if when you leave your body you become a spirit, how do you feel pain or emotion? how do you know if your in hell or not? are you given a new body when you arrive in the afterlife? and if so, how do you recognize your loved ones and all the people you planned on seeing there?

i've been trying to make sense of my religion for some time now, I need help. No atheist answers please!

2007-01-23 03:26:58 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous

Please answer honestly.

2007-01-23 03:26:51 · 24 answers · asked by Gummy 4

2007-01-23 03:26:34 · 10 answers · asked by chucky 3

Given the whole original sin issue.

2007-01-23 03:25:19 · 24 answers · asked by Murazor 6

His Oneness
He is one in being without partner, unique without peer, ultimate without opposite, alone without equal. He is one, preeternal, beginninglessly uncreate, everlastingly abiding, unceasingly existent, eternally limitless, the ever self-subsisting through whom all else subsists, ever enduring, without end. He is, was, and ever will be possessed of all attributes of majesty, unannihilated by dissolution or separation through the passage of eons or terminus of interims. He is the First and Last, the Outward and Inward, and He has knowledge of everything.

His Transcendence
He is not a body with a form, or a limitary, quantitative substance, not resembling bodies in quantifiability or divisibility, or in being a substance or qualified by substance, or being an accident or qualified by accidents. He does not resemble anything that exists, nor anything that exists resemble Him. There is nothing whatsoever like unto Him, nor is He like unto anything. He is not delimited by magnitude, contained by places, encompassed by directions, or bounded by heavens or earth. He is 'ascendant over the Throne' (mustawin, Koran 20:5) in the way He says and the meaning He intends, 'ascendant' in a manner transcending contact, settledness, position, indwelling, or movement. The Throne does not bear Him up, but is borne up by the subtlety of His infinite power, as are the angels who carry it, and all are powerless in His grasp. He is above the Throne, the heavens, and all else to the farthest reaches of the stars, with an aboveness that does not increase His nearness to the Throne or the heavens, or His distance from the earth and what lies beneath it. He is as exalted in degree above the Throne and the heavens as He is above the earth and its depths, though He is near to everything in existence, nearer to a servant than his own jugular vein, and is witness to everything. His nearness no more resembles the nearness of objects to one another than His entity resembles the entities of objects. He does not indwell in anything, nor anything indwell in Him. He is as exalted above containment in space as He is above confinement in time. He was, before creating time and space, and is now even as He was. He is distinguished from His creation by His attributes. There is nothing in His entity other than Him, nor is His entity in what is other than Him. He is beyond change and motion: events neither occur within Him nor changes befall Him. He remains in His attributes of majesty exalted above change, and in the attributes of His perfection beyond needing any increase in perfection. The existence of His entity is known by human reason, and in the afterlife is beheld by the eyesight of the righteous as a beatitude and favor, to consummate their perfect joy with the sight of His Noble Countenance.

His Life and Almighty Power
He Most High is living, almighty, overmastering, triumphant, unaffected by inability or weakness; unsusceptible to drowsiness, sleep, annihilation, or death; possessed of absolute sovereignty and might, of irresistible power and force. His is the majesty and sway, the creation and command. The heavens are enfolded in His right hand and all beings are powerless in His grasp. He alone creates, begins, gives existence, and originates. He creates all beings and their acts, ordains their sustenance and terms. Nothing possible is out of His grasp, the disposal of no matter is beyond His power. The number of things He can do is limitless, the amount He knows is infinite.

His Knowledge
He knows all things knowable, encompassing all that takes place from the depths of the earth to the highest heaven. He knows without an atom's weight in the earth or heavens escaping His knowledge. He knows the creeping of a black ant across a great stone on a lightless night, and the motion in the air of a particle of dust on a windy day. He knows the concealed and the yet more hidden, the buried recesses of hearts, the movement of thought, and the opacities of the inmost soul; with preeternal, beginningless knowledge that He has always possessed from the limitless reaches of past eternity, not with awareness originating within Him through being imparted or conveyed.

His Will
He Most High wills all that exists and directs all events. Nothing occurs in the physical or spiritual world, be it meager or much, little or great, good or evil, of benefit or detriment, faith or unbelief, knowledge or ignorance, triumph or ruin, increase or decrease, obedience or sin; save through His ordinance, apportionment, wisdom, and decision. What He wills is, and what He does not will is not. Neither sidelong glance nor passing thought is beyond His design. He originates all and returns it, does what He wills, and none can repulse His command. There is no rescinding His destiny, no flight for a servant from disobeying Him except through divinely given success therein and mercy, and no strength to obey Him save through His choice and decree. If all mankind, jinn, angels, and devils combined their efforts to move or to still a single particle of the universe without His will and choice, they would be unable to. His will, like His other attributes, exists in His entity and He ever possesses it. He has willed from preeternity the existence of all things at the times He has chosen. They occur at the times which He has destined from beginingless eternity, occurring neither before nor after, but taking place in accordance with His knowledge and will, without substitution or alteration. He directs events without successive thoughts or waiting for time to elapse, which is why nothing diverts Him from anything else.

His Hearing and Sight
He Most High is all-hearing and all-seeing. He hears and sees, no sound however slight eluding His hearing, and no sight however minute escaping His vision. Distance does not obscure His hearing nor darkness hinder His vision. He sees without pupil or eyelids, and hears without ear canal or ears, just as He knows without a heart, seizes without limb, and creates without implement. His attributes no more resemble the attributes of His creatures than His entity resembles the entity of His creatures.

His Speech
He Most High speaks, commands, forbids, promises, and warns with beginninglessly eternal speech that is an attribute of His entity, not resembling the speech of creatures in being a sound generated by the passage of air or impact of bodies nor in letters articulated by compressing the lips or moving the tongue. The Koran, Torah, Evangel, and Psalms are His Books, revealed to His messengers (upon whom be peace). The Koran is recited with tongues, written in books, and memorized in hearts despite being beginninglessly eternal, an attribute of the entity of Allah Most High, unsubject to disseverance and separation by conveyance to hearts or pages. Moses (Allah bless him and give him peace) heard the speech of Allah without sound or letter, just as the righteous see the entity of Allah Most High in the afterlife without substance or accident.
Since Allah possesses all of the above attributes, He is living, knowing, omnipotent, willing, hearing, seeing, and speaking by virtue of His life, power, knowledge, will, hearing, sight, and speech, not merely by virtue of His entity.

His Acts
Everything besides Him Glorious and Exalted exists through His action, proceeding from His justice in the best, fullest, most perfect and equitable way. He is wise in His acts and just in His decrees. His justice is not comparable to the justice of His servants, since injustice may only be imagined from a servant through his disposal of what belongs to another, while this is inconceivable from Allah Most High, since nothing belongs to anyone besides Him that He should unjustly dispose of it.
Everything besides Him, be it human, jinn, angel, devil, heaven, earth, animal, vegetable, mineral, substance, accident, intelligible, or sensory, is contingent, and was brought into existence through His power after not being, created by Him after it was nothing. He alone existed in preeternity, and nothing else. He then originated creation, that His omnipotence might be manifest, His prior decree effected and His eternal word realized; not from needing or requiring anything in creation. Our origination, beginning, and responsibility are of Allah's generosity, not because of their being obligatory for Him, and His blessings and benefaction exist because of His favor, not because of being due from Him. Everything that exists is indebted to Him for His generosity and goodness, His blessings and benevolence; for He is well able to pour all manner of torments upon His servants and try them with every variety of suffering and illness, and were He to do so, it would be just on His part and not wicked or unfair. He Mighty and Majestic rewards His servants, the believers, for their acts of obedience because of His generosity and in fulfillment of His word, not because of their deserving it or His owing it to them. He is not obliged to anyone to do anything, nor is injustice on His part conceivable, for He does not owe any rights to anyone. The obligation of men and jinn to perform acts of obedience is established by His having informed them of it upon the tongues of the prophets (upon whom be peace), and not by unaided human reason. He sent the prophets and manifested the truth of their messages by unmistakable, inimitable miracles. They have communicated His commands, prohibitions, promises, and warnings, and it is obligatory for mankind and jinn to believe in what they have conveyed.

2007-01-23 03:23:32 · 18 answers · asked by Mehmet Azk 2

Point 1:

If you compare the millions of murders/rapes/thefts/ect. commited by Americans to the number of Muslim terrorist acts you'll find that Americans have caused more deaths then the terrorists acts have done.

Point 2:

Just because there have been retarded Muslim terrorists that give Islam a bad name doesn't meant he rest of Muslims are terrorists.

I'm a Muslim - have not commited any terrorist acts or murders. None of my Muslim friends and family even go close to supporting terrorists/murderers.

Point 3:

If some people are going to judge us (Muslims) by what 'Islamic' retards have done - Then I might as well say "Oh an American murdered someone, they're all murderers! Oohh Americans are murderers because thousands of them murder people!"

What about the millions of OTHER Americans that aren't murderers/rapists/ect?

What about the millions of OTHER Muslims that aren't terrorists/murderers/ect?

(continued)

2007-01-23 03:23:13 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous

Has anyone had this happen to them:

I just recently lost a good job. They had me scheduled for work on my day of worship, which happens to be Sunday, when they knew I would be in church. I requested to have the day, and/or for them to change the schedule to accomodate my sincerely held religious beliefs. I even offered to work extra hours during the week, or change one of my other days off to help the company. I advised my supervisor and Human Resources that I would be in church on that day. The y told me if I did not come in on Sunday, they would "end my assignment"<---(temp agency).

2007-01-23 03:20:34 · 21 answers · asked by scrow_80 3

I play dungeons and dragons on and off each weekend with a bunch of good christian guys from my school, but am still ridiculed as a christian for playing it...there is no ludeness or profanity in our games, but people (who happen to have a history of sueing for defimation of charcter) keep on telling me that it's a gateway to hell,and im only condeming myself if i continue to play...but i really enjoy, and i see nothing wrong with it. its just a bunch of christian guys playing a game...what sin is that?

2007-01-23 03:20:07 · 14 answers · asked by jedi_stigma 2

2007-01-23 03:18:53 · 24 answers · asked by pavan mysore 1

My life is falling apart at the seams. I'm a Christian. My faith is being rocked. I haven't ever been this low in my life and I'm scared and profoundly crushed. I'm on my knees begging, praying to God to help me and it's like I'm talking to the ceiling fan. I get no help. Not even peace in my heart that everything will work out. It just gets worse each day. Please someone help me. Maybe God will use one of you to help me feel more at ease with my situation. I'm so lost right now and hurting. Please help.

2007-01-23 03:18:25 · 30 answers · asked by Ducky S 5

2007-01-23 03:17:57 · 23 answers · asked by (A) 7

I wish you people would understand the fine line between criticizing someone's religion with evidence and downright insulting them. If I say Islam preaches death to apostates and give fatwas to prove it, I'm criticizing. If I say Muslims are uncivilized ragheads, I'm insulting. Please don't mix up the two.

2007-01-23 03:17:07 · 12 answers · asked by ? ? 1

If a century=100 years

then arnt we still in the 20th century

100 x 20=2000

So why do people say were in the 21st century?

100 x 21=2100

We're in 2007, not 2107

So again, why do people say were in the 21st century?

2007-01-23 03:13:11 · 13 answers · asked by Maurice H 6

Something happend when i tried did it.. Mind control, someone or something is able to put thoughts into my head, speak threw my mind, place dreams into my mind @ night. It's as if it gave Satan and his Minions more powers to use against me for being a Christian?

2007-01-23 03:12:13 · 5 answers · asked by chucky 3

It's disheartening to see many Christians here who are so adamantly anti-evolution... when they haven't the first inkling of what it actually is all about. All they know is that it contradicts their precious little Bible and this is reason to attack it with strawmen, fallacious arguments, and random anti-science tirades and pedantic copy-paste jobs.

Why is it so offensive to accept the fact that we are indeed animals and we all come from apes?

2007-01-23 03:09:56 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous

I have a few relatives who, once they get a bit of firewater in them, turn into priests and nuns, lecturing me about my evil life. All the while they're slurring their words and stumbling around. Drunkeness goes against the 5th commandment, yet I've noticed that Catholics especially, have a lax attitude when it comes to drunkeness. No one wants to hear a drunk idiot preaching about God. Is it because Catholics know that all they have to do is go to confession and all is forgiven?

This was one of the reasons why Martin Luther had a problem with Catholicism. He would see the men of his parish in the taverns on Saturday night, and in the confessional lines on Sunday morning.

2007-01-23 03:09:06 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous

I am working with an individual who is always behind in his work and it affects others. He doesn't get paychecks out on time and this dramatically affects everyone's lives (as you can imagine). He is always trying to give people religious advice like it or not. There are plenty of people who aren't religious but are good workers and generous, kind people but he's on their backs that they aren't religious enough.

If someone asks about the irregularity of the pay, he tells them they should pray and they'll get salvation. Pray? When he isn't doing his job and that's why they are suffering? He thinks that by praying he'll get his job done faster when he doesn't actually do his job and blows his time not working. Yet, he feels he's above reproach but he is the source of suffering.

Anyway, I'm looking for the equivalent quote(s) to toss his way and make him see that if he doesn't put forth effort, he can't blame God that his job isn't getting done.

Location of quote too please.

2007-01-23 03:08:03 · 13 answers · asked by BeamMeUpMom 3

So...who believes God suffers from some kind of weakness. Let the wild opinions flow from thy mind.

2007-01-23 03:07:12 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous

According to the protestant view we are save by faith and no by works. Jesus said to Nicodemus: no one can enter the kingdom of God UNLESS he is born again, When he said unless he meant that being born again is a necessary condition right?.But Jesus also said in Matthew 5-20: UNLESS your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. When he said righteousness, doesn't it mean what we must do? in other words works?.Also in Matthew 19-17 when the rich young man asked Jesus how to get eternal life, Jesus replied: OBEY THE COMMANDMENTS, sell your possessions and follow me. Again works.
How do we reconcile all these passages?

2007-01-23 03:07:09 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous

Obviously by my asking this question, I am not Catholic. My boyfriend is and while I know I wouldn't have to convert for us to be married (just agree to raise the kids Catholic, go through the premarital counseling and get the special dispensation) I know there are parts of the ceremony that would be missing because I am not Catholic. I know how important his faith is to him and while I believe in God I haven't really been tied to any particular faith for over a decade. Geez I'm rambling, I guess the point of all of that was I wanted to hear from other people--particularly African Americans though anyone is free to comment--about whether or not they have converted to Catholicism and what that experience was like for them. Thanks in advance.

2007-01-23 03:06:51 · 1 answers · asked by indydst8 6

i have never seen in the bible where Jesus claimed religion(isolated group of beliefs)He taught the blueprint to life but im not sure whether you call that a religion

2007-01-23 03:06:39 · 2 answers · asked by loveChrist 6

It doesn't make sense, if people don't belive in God why worry about heaven and hell and sins and good or bad and if your straight or gay or anithyng at all! You can do whatever you want! you believe you'll never be judged!
And why ask so many questions about Him? Or why do you attack Him so much? Don't waste your time... people will eventually have all their questions answered when Jesus returns!

"Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed."

2007-01-23 03:03:55 · 22 answers · asked by G.T. 1

I have noticed that many answers to questions are nothing more than a quote from the bible. I wonder why this is. Does the person have no original thoughts. Why don't you use your own brain and give an interpretation of the scripture instead of quoting it directly? If you want to quote the bible. Then atleast discuss your quote. When I see someone quote the bible i simply skip over the answer.

2007-01-23 03:03:06 · 7 answers · asked by slov72 2

We could never imagine how we might react or respond if we met the Lord after his return. I'm sure we would experience a level of emotion and love that can't be put into words.

But if you were to imagine a response, what do you think it would be like? One of my favorite songs is by MercyMe entitled "I can only imagine". The lyrics are simple, but the song and thought behind it is beautiful. :)

2007-01-23 03:00:19 · 52 answers · asked by Anonymous

People say That Bharath Bhoomi,India by large, is the most sacred land and call it Dharma Bhoomi.Then Why God has manifested ten times as Dasaavataarams in Bhaarath land?Is it beause all the times he came to punish the sinners and rescue the good people.Was the land so sacred then?As w read in Bhagavath Geeta God manifests whenever there is a blow th Dharma.So is it a fact that the rest of the world where humans live like in India are completely virtuous?.Or is there any hidden hint or The definition of the Bharath land has been changed?

2007-01-23 02:59:02 · 5 answers · asked by Radhakrishna( prrkrishna) 7

During the last several years Muslims have committed several terrorist acts against the Western "infidels". However, their actions
against Westerners cannot even be compared to the devastation they have inflicted on their own people, mostly innocent.
Islam's Supreme Idiot, Al Zawihiri, the filthy ghost of death and destruction, encourages and justifies the killing of innocent Muslims.
Are their hatred and viciousness actually more directed at themselves?
Are they acknowledging the overwhelming failure of their culture?

2007-01-23 02:56:26 · 13 answers · asked by Dr. Sabetudo 3

The Quran asserts that Allah put somebody who looked like him on the cross in the place of Jesus. My Muslim friends, God is not in the business of fraud, for if he had wanted to deliver Jesus from the cross, He could have done it miraculously without having to deceive and put Jesus' likeness on someone else. This Quranic error is too blatant, and proves that the Quran has no divine origin. What is more, the Quran is self-contradicting, for while it claims that the Jews did not really kill Jesus it also affirms very distinctly the reality of Jesus' death in the sura of the family of Imran 3:47/54 - 48/55 as it states:
When God said:
"OH JESUS, I SHALL CAUSE YOU TO DIE,
AND THEN I SHALL RAISE YOU UP TO ME."

2007-01-23 02:54:12 · 11 answers · asked by iwant4wifes 1

This is an insult to the Creator of the universe....Jesus Christ.
What's next.....Hillary Clinton as the president???? I can't wait for the Lord to come back and get us out of here.

2007-01-23 02:50:15 · 15 answers · asked by primoa1970 7

In the below question, where did the asker reference Jesus, God, Evolution, Abortion, Gay Marriage?

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AoE9O_cvTeIdnl6lbhb4NVPd7BR.?qid=20070123073940AAmuLn1&show=7#answer-title-area

2007-01-23 02:48:58 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous