Why don't you believe? -- (READ DETAILS!!!!!!!!!!). . . . . . .?

Question

I often hear christians saying, "why don't you believe like we do?" and that "if you only read XYZ then you'd certainly believe."

Fair enough. After all, how can anyone who respects the bible reject the possibility that christianity is correct without ever inquiring. Ok, fair enough.

But my question is, do these same christians hold themselves to the same standard?

In other words, have they ever considered the possibility that, for example, judaism (my religion) is correct?

Have they read OUR reasons for believing what we do?

After all, we're the status quo. We were here before christianity. If anything, any bible-believers should automatically start out with our belief (being the status quo) until strong evidence leads them to the conclusion that christianity is right.

Now, it is clear that most jews throughout history have never found such "strong evidence"; to the contrary, we have evidence which leads us away from christianity.

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So have they read what WE SAY? Or do they only apply the standard toward us and not themselves?

oh, and I don't mean what certain christians say is our reasons (e.g. "they wanted a physical messiah" or "they're spiritually blind"); have they read what we, ourselves say??????

Please keep replies short (~40 lines).
No offense has been intended.

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UPDATE:
For those who showed interest, here is a simple explanation of some reasons why jews don't beleive as christians do: http://www.aish.com/rabbi/ATR_browse.asp?s=jesus&f=tqak&offset=1

Answer 1

Man, you won't get many answers to an itelligent question like this that makes people actually think and doesn't leave them the easy "bash 'em" way out.

I wonder if they hold themselves to the same standard in that they need to read the Bible first and then decide to follow the religion.

Answer 2

I have not studied your religion as I have the bible, but I do ask questions and read some material. From what I gleen Jews are basically Christians in the Old Testament. I believe that most of that book was written by Jews. I think that the only difference in our beliefs is that we look at the new testament as the replacement of the old. The believs taught there differ enough from the old to have created a new religion.

Answer 3

Probably not. People don't tend to do a lot of research when deciding what their faith will be. Usually its decided for them by their parents... who raise them to believe only one truth for their entire lives. Other times a particular aspect of a religion seems appealing to a person, so they start talking to the spiritual leaders, other people in the congregation, etc. The point is that in almost every case where a person has chosen to believe in something, they have never been exposed to much of anything else.

You'll find that a high percentage of scholars who devote a great deal of time studying different religions... are often not very religious themselves. When you look at the big picture, you realize that there is such a diversity of faiths on earth, it seems almost ridiculous to justify saying that yours is the only correct one.

Problem begin to occur when people start to impose their own faith onto others. There have been more killings in the name of God than anything else in our bloody history. The human species has trouble accepting that there might be some conflicting opinions on the nature of the universe and life on earth. If we see an "unenlightened" individual, we consider it our duty to educate them in the proper ways to think. If they are unwilling to adapt, then they must die so as not to infect others.

Just live and let live.

Answer 4

I am an atheist, but I have the utmost respect for your religion, sir. Therefore, I like your idea. Christians ought to start out as Jews and then determine if Christ was the messiah. I think it would result in very informed Christians for a change, and of course more Jews :) However, that is not the case, as I doubt even 5% of them could tell you what the Talmud is.

Answer 5

Oy. By and large, people don't follow the religion that's been around the longest, or has the most followers, or the best bake sales. They follow and believe in the religion that their parents do. I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that your parents are Jewish. I might be wrong, but chances are that I'm not. It's a rare person that completely escapes their parents' religion...at best they usually just water it down a bit and worship less often and less rigorously, or they just don't think about religion much at all. Few people adopt a completely new religion.

After all, you're only looking at Judaism vs. Christianity - there are religions older than both - why don't you follow one of them?

Answer 6

I, as a Christian, have never been fully privy to read/hear the reasons why people who follow the Jewish faith do so, maybe because I have never asked. However, I also believe that we, as Christians, have our roots planted in Judaism. Jesus was a Jew, and so were his disciples. I have studied some areas of Judaism, but have not gone in-depth with it. I would be open to learning more if you are interested in having an open, fair dialog with me. Email: [e-mail]

Answer 7

All religions are sad, outdated rituals that mankind should have abandoned once science and reasoning entered our thought-processes. I've read the Bible, and I've studied Judaism, yet nothing has convinced me of an all powerful being. No offense intended, I think everyone has the right to seek understanding wherever they need to, but I just don't buy into the teachings of any religion.

Answer 8

Yes, some Christians do read varying sides of disagreements. Actually most that I know have at one time looked at other thoughts and beliefs. I have.
I believe the biggest problem comes from the atheist side. At least from what I can tell on here they are largely closed minded and convinced they are corret. They also seem to be the most insulting and immature. Of course thats just from the majority of the posts on this site.

Answer 9

no offenses taken its a very fair question
after all even the bible says the Jews are gods chosen people
with all the Jewish people have had to put up with over the years their belief must be very strongly based i can only say i admire their fortitude the old testament of the bible is based on old Jewish writings the Christians like to forget that

Answer 10

"Belife is to believe" something. something can be a faith once you've faith it. in case you imagine you're an ardent communist, you're a beliver in communism; then that's a faith; if you're an atheist, you've faith that there is not any god; of direction then autheism is a faith of concept. someone may have a faith at the same time as she is born,yet she modifies it numerous time at the same time as she is popping out to be up; so faith is totally a technique concept which would get replaced at any time in a unmarried's existence. As an entire the religion is a form of psychological phantasm, hallucination and inner slavery.