Hello!! :o) I hope you're OK. As a Christian - I freely admit that I understand very little of what I read in the Bible. I find most of it quite confusing. Do you - as a Christian - feel as though you should pretend to know more than you do - in order to give the impression that your faith is strong?! OR are you quite willing to admit that you don't understand all of it?! Have a great day!! Craig!! :o)
2006-10-11 00:35:39 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Excellent question.
I get the impression that only a very few Christians are strong enough in their faith to say "I don't know". But it may well be that those are are aren't the ones shouting answers to all the questions here desperate to convince themselves.
It's ironic, isn't it, that there are believers who think that pretending to know for sure (and worse, pretending to have evidence or proof) is a way to prove that they have _faith_? I think you've hit the nail on the head here.
2006-10-11 00:38:50 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Hi Craig. Yes, I am comfortable with saying "I don't know "when asked a question that I can't answer. That includes a question about Christianity. I am a Christian and have many friends who aren't. I have told them before that I don't know the answer to some of their questions. I also tell them that I will ask someone and find out the answer for their benefit and mine. Then I follow through with that promise. I am in the medical profession and I certainly don't have all the answers to the questions I am asked by my patients and their families. So I say "I don't' know but I will find out" a good deal of the time. I think it is the only way to respond to certain questions. After all, if we say that we have all the answers to every question that we are asked that would be a lie and as Christians we are charged with being truthful. I would find it much more disturbing to tell someone a lie than to admit that I don't have the answer. Interesting question. Have a great day.
2006-10-11 00:46:13 · answer #2 · answered by Only hell mama ever raised 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
One of the most common false beliefs about understanding the Bible is that God will somehow miraculously guide you to the understanding.
This rarely happens.
What's usually required is lots of study and prayer.
With faith, there are some things that no ordinary human can explain.
That's where good research sources come into play.
The best faith resources and scholarship the world has ever known exist in the various writings and teachings of the Catholic Church ... including the Bible and the Catechism.
You can view both online here:
http://www.usccb.org/catechism/document/protocol.htm
Just click the links at the top of the page to go wherever you need to go.
2006-10-11 00:54:28 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Of course it is ok to say you dont know. But it is good to say as well "I will find out". Ask pastor, church leader, another Christian and then next time you will know.
We need to be honest when we are Christians. Therefore if you dont know - you dont know. Even the pastors dont know everything. That is why it is called "Having faith" when you are a Christian. You need faith to believe and trust in what is not 100% clear.
There certainly is a lot to learn! The most important thing is not all the facts and figures. The most important thing is your relationship with God. Praying / talking with God every day, reading the bible to hear the word of God etc.
2006-10-11 00:43:21 · answer #4 · answered by Nic 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'm not christian... but how do you believe it if you do not understand it? I mean I have not read the whole bible, and I don't claim to have, but the parts I have read, I feel I have a reasonably good grasp of, and I have no doubt I'd be able to understand it as well as can be expected, if I read the parts i haven't.
in my debates with christians at times, I DO find myself (suprisingly frequently as well) ending up knowing more about their own beliefs... not neccesarily even obscure bibical references, but simple things about what the religion they claim to belong to, believes.
oh, and I've never touched a "study bible" or any of that stuff... only read the plain thing, I don't need someone else to explain it for me, God can do that, ;-)
this idea of having faith in something... without understanding what it is that your having faith in... I don't understand it.... why are you beliving in it if you don't grasp it?
2006-10-11 00:43:52 · answer #5 · answered by RW 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I do not pretend that my faith is anything that it's not. But I spend a great deal of time studying and reflecting on what I've studied so as to be certain when I give any kind of answer regarding faith. In other words, if I don't know, I find out.
Be Blessed and Blessed Be
2006-10-11 00:41:29 · answer #6 · answered by Celestian Vega 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
my faith is strong. i don't understand or agree with everything in the bible. i am naturally a blonde so saying i don't know comes easily to me. and since i once asked a question of our preacher about why the bible doesn't mention dinosaurs and his answer was "does god have hair?" (i kid you people not) i'd prefer to say "i don't know but i'll try to find out for you" and look a little stupid than sound a lot stupid.
2006-10-11 00:47:00 · answer #7 · answered by kajunprincezz 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
"I don't know" is a good answer IF you really don't. You can then try to find out, and get back to the person with the answer to the question.
Nothing worse, whether it's a religious question, or any question for that matter, than having someone who is a "know it all" give you an incorrect answer!
For me, admitting that I don't know everything, keeps me humble! ;~)
2006-10-11 00:54:57 · answer #8 · answered by JoJoCieCie 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I got a best answer by saying that I didn't know the answer!
I've said that many times. I try to find the answer, but usually God reveals to me in His way and time. I just try and keep the communication open to God. It feels good to admit that I don't know cause there was a time I thought I knew it all :)
2006-10-11 00:52:35 · answer #9 · answered by yourdayscoming 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I took a test at a church to see where one fits in the ministry.
I was told I could be a teacher. They said teachers are the
type of person, where if someone sayss this is in the Word.
He will look to see if it's in the Word.
If I cannot find it, or find out by asking others first. Then I will
say, "I don't know."
2006-10-11 00:44:22 · answer #10 · answered by zenbuddhamaster 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋