Contradictions and Opinions of Christianity?

Question

-In Genesis it says "Let -us- create Man in -our- image"
-In the Old Testament God was a vengeful entity (the father figure?)
-In the New Testament, God was forgiving and loving. (the mother figure?)
-Christians Believe in one God, but then God is three people in the trinity.
-Mary the Blessed Mother was Jesus' greatest disciple, and yet women are not allowed to be priests in the Catholic church.
-God is pure love and forgivness. So why is there a Hell?
-If Jesus is the son of God, then how is Mary the Mother of God when God has been around forever and the father of her Son?
-Why do Christians damn unwed mothers and their children, when mothers and unborn children are considered 'holy'? Wasn't Mary unwed at the time of the conception of Jesus?
-Why can't priests be allowed to get married, since marriage is a pure form of love, and God is Love?
-Is God a Man, a Woman, a hermaphorodite, or two seperate entities?

Please give your opinions on at least 2 of the questions.

Answer 1

Keep in mind that the Catholic Church does not follow the Bible. They believe in Jesus, but they added many manmade traditions that overshadow and contradict biblical Christianity. Also, Paul wrote that all preachers should be married and "blameless", so mandatory celebacy is not a biblical concept. Jesus said that if you want to be a celibate fine, if not get married.
God was and is not vengeful, just frustrated. His people Israel commited apostasy time and time again, and so he had to punish them.
Mary is not the mother of God. God has always been, therefore He has no mother. This, too is a concept that was added to the Catholic Church. Many call it "Mariolatry", or the worship of Mary.

Answer 2

Ok I'll take the one about Mary being the greatest disciple of Jesus first.

Mary was a disciple, yes, but she was not one of the 12 chosen Apostles. The priesthood is descended from the Apostles who were chosen by Jesus Himself. He chose 12 men, no women. The church is following the example of Jesus by only having men priests.

Next I will answer the one about why priests are not allowed to marry. It is a discipline, not a teaching of the church. Noone is forced to become a priest, they choose to become priests and live a life of celibacy. 1 Corinthians 7:32-35 gives a good explination of why priests don't marry. Also, in Mt. 19:12 states "Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so, some, because they were made so by others, some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Whoever can except this ought to accept it." Priests renounce marriage for the sake of the kingdom.

Hope that helps.
God bless!!!

Answer 3

Jesus never claimed to be the Son of God, he refered to himself as the Son of Man, Christianity tagged the former title on. He was attempting to explain he was what anyone could become. Best illustrated in his comment "Physician heal thyself". Jesus was born out of wedlock. The Immaculate Conception. It was a term found to be a phrase of the time referring to an unwed pregnancy, rather than an actual divine miracle. Christianity again took it to mean Mary was still a virgin while pregnant and that she had been impregnated by God (or an Angel). Many of the traditions and beliefs of the early church which carry on to today are little more than misunderstandings of the Israeli culture of the time and mistranslations. A lot more has been coming to light in recent years wiith improved archaeology methods and new discoveries.
As to the trinity, they are supposed to be aspects of a single entity rather than distinct individuals. Scratched the surface I hope? History and Discovery Channels occasionally do some interesting shows on these subjects and I'm sure the internet is filled with tons of fact and fiction and opinion...

Answer 4

1. "Us" and "our" is used in Genesis to denote the three persons of the one God. We speak of god as being trinitarian (three persons in one) because of the different roles of God - creator, savior, and sanctifier

2. Yes, in the Old Testament, God did punish His people whenever they turned away from them. he sent them into exile and let others conquer them. But in the end, He restored them to their land and sent a savior.

3. Yes, God's love and forgiveness are the focus of the New Testament, but as I stated in answer number 2, we see god's love and forgiveness in the Old Testament as well.

4. I tried to explain the Trinity in answer number 1

5. Women are not allowed to be priests in the Catholic Church in keeping with the tradition that Jesus chose men as His Apostles. This is a tradition in the Catholic Church, not a doctrine. It is possible for there to be women priests in the future.

6. There is Hell because ther are some people who reject God and His love and forgiveness. Hell is eternal existence without God. There are those in this life that exclude God from their life and God will not be a part of their life in the next life.

7. We call Mary the "Mother of God" to denote that Jesus is God. This title does not place Mary as an equal or greater than God. This phrase first was used to explain that Jesus is God. Mary was the mother of Jesus and Jesus is God, therefore, Mary is the mother of God. it is simple algebra.

8. Christians should not damn unwed mothers. Sex outside of marriage is considered a sin. Mary did not have sex outside of marriage. She is a virgin.

9. Priests take a vow of celibacy in imitation of Jesus' celibacy. Also, a priest devotes his entire life to God and does not have time for a wife. St. Paul recommended celibacy so that a person's devotion not be split between God and a wife.

10> God is neither a man nor a woman. He is God.

If you want to know more about Catholic beliefs, do not listen to people such as AW who has given you many wrong answers regarding Catholicism. Ask a Catholic. E-mail me.

Answer 5

1. We are created in the image of God; our intellect, reason, imagination, heart, soul, and body. This is a most singular privelege to be modeled after the Most High.

2. God was angry because His people were not following His commands and not listening to Him. He was trying to save them and they at times didn't care (stupid humans).

3. Yes, one God; three divine persons.

4. The Church does not have the authority to ordain women.

5. Hell is for people who do not want heaven. They die unrepentent for their sins and damn themselves to Hell. This is their choice; God did not do this to them.

6. Jesus is God, the second person of the Trinity. That is why Mary is called the Mother of God.

7. Yes, Mary was unwed at the time of Jesus' conception, but that doesn't make it okay for women to do the same thing. That's why God gave us marriage.

8. Priests are married. They are married to the Church, the Bride of Christ.

9. God is one God, three divine persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Answer 6

If I may, just a few...
Mankind is aware of several forms of God, it's interesting you have noticed the plurality in Genesis, very cool. God must be multi-faceted, yes?
God has always expressed love to those who love Him.
Hell is a place for those who hate God, if you don't want to live with Him, then don't.
God (multi-faceted and eternal) spoke into Mary's body and Jesus was born human. He wants to speak into you and me too.
I don't damn anybody...
I think hermaphrodites are kinda creepy, but I wouldn't damn them either, it's just sad a condition to endure.

Answer 7

I will be so more than happy to answer when you get things straight.Mary did not conceive out of wedlock.God chose Her
and Angels came to Her,and It was a virgin birth. Mary Magdalene was Jesus closest disciple.When Mary His mother found him preaching to the elders at the synagogue ,He said to Her Do you not know I must be about My Fathers work?

Answer 8

Hi Ashley,

GOD did create man from his image...get it? image!
GOD is a vengeful GOD..vengence is MINE sayth the LORD
GOD is also loving and forgiving...for God so loved the world that he gave his one and only SON, that whoever believes in HIM shall not perish but have eteranl life John 3:16 HE gave us the ultimate sacrifice HIS one and only SON to show us just how much HE loves us.
GOD is not a person at all: HE is the ALPHA and the OMEGA, that is the beginning and the end. The Trinity consists of three parts: GOD the FATHER, GOD the SON(JESUS) and GOD the HOLY SPIRT who lives within us.
The rules of the church are made by man and not by the LORD
GOD is pure love and is forgiving, HE showed us HIS love through the works of JESUS and though his dying on the cross for all of our sins. When JESUS was hanging on the cross, he said FATHER please forgive them, for they do not know what they do. And JESUS also said, those who have seen ME have seen my FATHER as well (explaining WHO HE is). And people did not believe who HE said HE was therefore he was sentenced to death. And in HIS darkest hour, when HE prayed to OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, MY GOD, MY GOD why has THOU
forsaken ME? He was teaching us that no matter what our circumstances GOD is watching us from a distance and HE understands our needs however HE has his reasons for what HE asks of us and it is not our place to question his motives.
There is a HELL which is really referred to as the lake of fire, and all the people who have rejected GOD and his SON and have turned to live their lives with their evil and wicked ways will be evil and wicked for eternity.

JESUS is GOD taking on human form. He sent an Angel which are messengers of GOD. He asked Mary if she would give birth to GOD's SON and she said yes. And that is why it is called the immaculate conception born to the vigin Mary. And she was already bethrothed to Joseph. And Joseph was told of this as well and he married Mary believing that she was pregnant with GOD"S child. Yes Mary was unwed at the time of the conception. But Joseph married her so that Jesus would have a father as well as OUR HEAVENLY FATHER. MARY is not the mother of GOD, she is the mother of JESUS. AND JESUS is GOD taking on a human form. Adam was drawn out of the dust of the earth, and GOD blew into him the breath of life, while he was sleeping, he created EVE from one of his ribs. All other descendants have been born through another human being. Hence, from dust you came, from dust you shall return. Christians like to damn everyone to hell when they know someone is not living according to GOD's will, and that is not the way JESUS lived, JESUS said let he who is without sin cast the first stone, and HE also said, repent from your sinful ways and sin no more
Priest aren't allowed to marry because they are suppose to be followers of CHRIST and be CHRIST like, that is not marrying and not succumbing to the sins of the flesh, fornicating, etc. And I don't think it is humanly possible for a man to be celibate because the sexual urge is too great to resist. It is not sinful to have sex in a marriage however, because GOD created it to be used in the context of HOLY MATRIMONY
No one has seen GOD because we have not earned the priveledge of being in HIS prescence yet. However HE took on the body of a man when he came down in human form by becoming JESUS CHRIST. JESUS said blessed are those who have seen ME and have believed.....blessed are those have not seen ME and still believe. And HE also said to the theif who hung next to HIM on the cross.....I say to you now, you will join me in paradise....which is a place where no man has ever been before. And there will be no more suffering because Satan and his followers will be cast into the lake of fire for ever and ever.
So it is written and so it shall be done. You should research the book of revelations and just about any thing you need to learn is available online for your research. Also, sin is sin. Anything that is offensive to the LORD is a sin. Man thinks that one sin may be greater than an another but a sin is just a sin.Thank you for your questions.

Answer 9

"Us" and "Our" refers to 1)God the Father 2)God in human form - yes Jesus, yes he existed then, but his purpose was face to face contact with humanity, only later did he become savior.

God isn't pure love and forgiveness - he is also righteousness and justice.

Mary wasn't a diciple, and the Catholic church is wrong for holding her in such high regard (there is no Biblical basis for this teaching).

If you want me to answer the rest I will - click on the avatar and email me.
Something that YA has made me realize is that I'm synical, and when people ask questions with big lists like this they often don't really want answers. If you really do, then please email me.

Answer 10

I 'll try to answer this as best as I can. a lot of your questions seem to be about catholic practices....which is a whole other story.
You can really find a lot of answers using a search engine
1.look in source for 1st question