that of all the thousands of religions out there that you somehow found the right one? or perhaps happened to be born into the right one, are you really that lucky?
2006-09-21 08:04:55 · 21 answers · asked by tandypants 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
this is a good question. i think that a lot of christians don't really ask themselves this question. some don't really deeply think about what they're doing, saying, praying for/to, etc. i have been practicing the christian faith for a while now, and i still have questions. in fact, i really don't even go to a church anymore, because where i live (the bible belt), questions really aren't "allowed." the thing is, it's just really all about the path you want to take. people just have to figure out something that works for them and accept a position with a higher power of some sort or accept positive energy or accept God or Jesus or just something that works for you. people think i'm crazy for praying to God,trusting the Lord and reading the Bible because it makes me feel better, calms me and helps me deal better with life in general. but that's cool if people think that. and sometimes i feel like a "bad" christian, because i'm really all for people finding their own path...i've never "pushed" God on people...if people ask me, i tell them about my experiences, and LISTEN to what they have to say..but that's about it. i'm firm in my own faith...and that's exactly what it is...faith. i'm cool with someone else having their own faith in something else, if that's what they really want...
anyway, you're a smart person for asking questions like this...just know that all christians aren't closed minded judge-mental people...sometimes, christians are just trying to do the best they can in an messed up world...
peace and love to you.
2006-09-21 08:30:58 · answer #1 · answered by thisisawasteoftime 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
While not true of all of us, some of us resonate with certain Biblical words, "We speak that which we know." Some of us, certainly not all, have had a moment when, metaphorically, the ball should have bounced foul but didn't--when God did something to let us know He really is and His promises were true. Certainly, some of any religion are living it as a "hope so" thing--I hope it is so. Some of us are living it because it became a "know so" thing--something happened in our experience that proved the point, to ourselves at least.
You haven't had one yet? That's normal. That's understandable. But what would make the difference? Now, be real--wishing for five pink elephants flying overhead is not a serious test, but God has answered some pretty strange thing and worked things out in pretty strange ways before. Woody Allen had a good one, saying something like, "I wish God would show me a miracle, like maybe parting the East River [he lived in New York City], or having my uncle pick up the restaurant bill." These are facetious claims, why should God bother to respond to such?
There was a story (Luke 16:19 ff) of a rich man who died. Hanging around the rich man's house was a beggar, but he got nothing. The poor man died and then the rich man died. The story was that the rich man was now in a place of tormenting flames [we would commonly call it hell] and he looked up and in the distance he could see heaven. In heaven he could discern a familiar face, it was the poor man and he was standing next to a very famous man of long ago, Abraham. Calling out, the rich man begged Abraham to send that former beggar down to give him some water, even a drop, to cool him. Abraham declined, "There is a great gulf fixed" and no one could cross. Then the rich man begged again for a favor, "Please send someone to tell my brothers so they will not come here too." Abraham said the brothers have the same Bible, the same Law and Prophets to warn them and added, "Even if someone rose from the dead, they won't believe." That is the Christian's story, Jesus told us about all this--and Jesus rose from the dead. What more can we say?
Talk to God. You've been ignoring Him a while so you can't just go bouncing up to Him like a happy kid asking for a favor. Be honest with Him. Be patient. Be real. (did I say be patient?) He's been patient with you. In His time, in His way, He will be real to you. Then you will know for sure.
2006-09-21 08:27:32 · answer #2 · answered by Rabbit 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I look at all of the things the world around me does wrong and says it is right. (ex. Christmas, Easter, Halloween, Birthdays) When you look at the roots of these celebrations, you are disgusted. Or How about the propheseys that shows these are the last days ( Earthquakes, starvation, wars, etc.) Then, see that luck isn't even involved, it is a humble heart to open up the fact that Jehovah is the almighty (psalm 83:18) and then you will feel like you have the only right religion.
2006-09-21 08:12:32 · answer #3 · answered by matt_30577 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you can't be born into religion, and there is one way. Jesus christ ,all of the other religions are trying do good and some are trying to find out who God is.All you need to do is accept Jesus Christ as your lord because Jesus is the only one that can feel that empty void in your life. You may be trying to fill that epty void with drugs alchohol and sex when all that you need is jesus. Think about it, if you have a christian bible read 2nd peter 3:18, philipians 3:20, romans 6:23, and roman 5:8
2006-09-21 08:18:36 · answer #4 · answered by joshuaadmirer 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Joh 14:6
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (KJV)
Being born in any particular place, no more makes us followers of Christ Jesus than being born in a bakery, makes us "fruit cakes".
Conversely, neither can being born in a particular place prevent us from becoming a follower of Christ Jesus, even if the penalty for doing so is death.
There are countless numbers of Christians throughout the world (with God's help) coping with just that situation and would like nothing more than you to know with the same certainty that Jesus is the only way.
It's most certainly not a question of luck, but the power of prayer, the exercising of faith, the seeking of truth and life and the drawing of God's Holy Spirit unto Jesus Christ, the redeemer of your sins.
I'll close then in prayer to God through Jesus, that you will recieve a revelation of His love for you and that you might feel the drawing of His Holy Spirit upon your heart. Moreover that you through repentance, the faith of Jesus, the grace of God and the fellowship of His Holy Spirit will come to know the peace, love and joy that can be found no other way than by believing on Him.
May God bless you, in Jesus name.
2006-09-21 08:56:48 · answer #5 · answered by movedby 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am an Atheist and I am sure I have found the right religion because even though atheism is not a religion its beliefs are backed up by scientific facts.
2006-09-21 08:10:03 · answer #6 · answered by barter256 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Relative certainty comes from a number of factors. Intellectual coherence. Explanatory power. Ability to withstand scrutiny and doubt. Community of like-mided believers (assurance you are not duped). Reinforced by life experience. Ability to explain other systems of belief. Etc.
2006-09-21 08:12:09 · answer #7 · answered by BABY 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
With Alzheimer's Disease, there is no 100% certain diagnosis until the patient dies and autopsy is performed. There is only "possible" or "probable" Alzheimer's.
It is the same with my faith. With Christianity, I am certain, as reasonably certain as one can be, that God is loving and merciful, but JUST at the same time, and his soverign righteousness demands that he give justice to sinners. Because we have all sinned, then we all are deserving of punishment, but the same God who is just made a way for us to be reconciled to him (and avoid hell). He came to earth in human form (Immanuel = God With Us) and lived sinlessly, and died taking the punishment for our sin. No other religion provides for this sin payment.
On top of that, I see evidence of his work in my life, through his drawing of those he loves who do not love him, and through answered prayer (not genie-style, but big-picture-style).
2006-09-21 08:10:39 · answer #8 · answered by ©2007 answers by missy 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I believe that it is our responsibility to search for truth. God has made His presence known to man through the magnificence of creation. We should not be easily turned away from a search for God by man-made science which is constantly evolving and trying to explain away any supernatural power. We all have a piece of that supernatural being living within us, thus the nagging hunger for truth.
2006-09-21 08:12:09 · answer #9 · answered by zero 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I know for sure that being an unbeliever is the position that makes most sense to me at this point of my life. Why? Because I feel okay.
2006-09-21 08:07:27 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋