How has he or Christianity affected your life, whether you believe or not or whether for good or bad?
2006-10-27 17:41:50 · 24 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'm agnostic. I don't believe in religious institutions that stand between an individual and his/her God. I want to say first off, that since I was very small, I've been to church and Sunday school, and even tried to attend a Christian club in college. But there is a certain air of conformity that just felt stiffling to me. And I'm a very logical person...and their reasons that God was real were not very logical...and even more, I can not understand why they were trying to prove God's exisistence if the belief in God is based purely on faith (which by definition, cannot be proven)? Plus, there was some Jew bashing and no one said anything against it! How is that okay? How does that make me want to believe in their religion when all their actions scream hate and old school racism? They can hold hands and sing all the songs about Jesus they want, but they aren't fooling anyone but themselves.
I believe that there exists a higher power, but I don't think the higher power is necessarily a Christian portrayed God. When I say God, I just mean that Higher Power..not necessarily the Christian God. I believe that God manifest himself to various different groups of people in different ways and maybe all of us (the wars and everything) is just some twisted game he's testing all of us with, or maybe he's bored, and wanted to play "Risk" with the human race. Maybe God created religion...not so we would worship him, but so that we could model ourselves towards better beings. So many people do great things in the name of religion...so is religion a bad thing? Not necessarily. The down side is so many people believe that their God or beliefs should be the only way, creating intolerance and division between groups. I believe that Jesus is just one of the many prophets that God used to start a religion.
Jesus is certainly an admirable man and obviously he stood up and died for a just and worthy cause...definitely for the good. I would never blame my problems on a man who died so long ago, who by all accounts (if real) was a gentle and kind man. I see him as a historic figure- one of obvious importance (Well, gee, he only ignited one of the largest religions in the world).
I don't want to say that Christianity is the root of all problems...I think there are wonderful Christians out there who truly live a life of giving, love and tolerance. If there are negative issues with Christianity, it should be the entire concept of religion and all churches that recieve fault as well. All religions have the potential to twist their message into one of intolerance and paranoia. It is the human messengers that should be held accountable.
2006-10-27 18:21:29 · answer #1 · answered by CloudRider9 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I am a Christian and I believe Jesus is the Son of God and son of man (Joseph). Word made flesh. Christianity has given me the strength to deal with the many trials I have faced and to come out at this point a relatively happy person. I do have a chemical imbalance which is why I said relatively. On a good day I am very happy and there are more good days than bad as a general rule.
2006-10-27 17:47:00 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I believe that Jesus was a human being, plain and simple. Charismatic and probably delusional. Not his fault though....imagine being raised on stories on how your mother conceived as a virgin after being visited by an angel. That might turn anyone's head.
Christianity has been a terrible influence on my life. My family is made up of religious fanaticswho alternately used physical, mental and emotional abuse/neglect to indoctrinate the next generation. I'm sorry if it sounds harsh or insensitive, but I truly think the world would be a better place without any religions at all.
2006-10-27 17:48:53 · answer #3 · answered by Jensenfan 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I am a theist, a Christian (follower of Jesus). I believe the [Christian] bible is the word of God as spoken by the prophets. I believe that the bible interprets itself, this means no other source is necessary to understand its pages. I also believe that bible is our only source about Christianity; I do not accept any oral traditions.
This is what I know from the biblical pages, talking points if you like. God promised a redeemer and Jesus is God's fulfillment of that promise. In fact, the name Jesus means God's helps/saves/delivers.
We have four accounts of Jesus life, death, and resurrection (God raising Jesus from the death). I believe what the witnesses wrote.
I know that Jesus will return, and I live accordingly. I am waiting, prepared for his return.
I know Jesus asked his disciples to teach all nations, not to convert everyone. We are to teach and if we encounter non-believers, the Gospel of John tells us how to act and what we are to do.
There is more, a lot more; however, I do not wish to rewrite the bible here.
Now to your question: Who is Jesus? You will find that answer in the New Testament. Jesus is the son of man and the son of God, and if you examine Luke, you will see that Adam is a son God. Moreover, if you read the Epistles, you will see we Christians are the sons/daughters of God.
How has Christianity and specifically Jesus affected my life? It is my life.
As for belief, I have answer that I believe in the [Christian] bible: every page, every word, every character. The bible is my [our] source of God's word. It is our hope for eternal life.
Rev. 2: 29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Frankly, I don't understand why you would ask this question. What I believe has little to do with your beliefs. You have the same reveal knowledge as I; what you do with that knowledge is up to you. Christian (followers of God) have no good or bad, you either follow Christ or you don't. Starting with 1Cor 10:23-24. [Let's me know if you need anything more.]
2006-10-27 18:19:52 · answer #4 · answered by J. 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Christian. Man, God, Son of God, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace, The Lamb of God, The Lord, The Messiah!
2006-10-27 17:50:38 · answer #5 · answered by padwinlearner 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Jesus is just a man (perhaps real, perhaps fictional). I see him as a subversive philosopher (not necessarily good or bad), persecuted by his government and religious leaders, because his views might interfere with the power structure in place during his time, should they catch on. As far as his origins, miracles, etc.--symbolism which may be lost in translation, or lost due to the ravages of time and now-defunct cultures. I generally like his "common-sense morality" anyway, even as an atheist.
2006-10-27 18:08:28 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am a Christian and Jesus is the Son of God and the son of man, meaning he was fully God and fully man when he lived on this earth.
My faith has given me strength in my everyday life to know that when times get hard here, I am not alone and that i will see loved ones again when i die.
2006-10-27 17:54:46 · answer #7 · answered by chris 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
He was a Jewish rabbi who was teaching what was then a radical brand of Judaism. He was the son of God only in as much as we all are - assuming there is a God.
Being raised in a holy-roller church and forced to go to revival meetings as a kid and being told I would go to hell unless I was "saved" completely turned me off on religion as being phony and motivated purely by the almighty dollar. In short, it made my childhood a living hell I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.
And if religion isn't motivated by money, why are the pastors of all these mega-churches running around in new BMWs and living in million-dollar homes? Didn't Jesus say, "it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to attain the kingdom of God?" These people are going to be in for a rude awakening when they die. If there is such a thing as heaven or hell, they certainly aren't heaven-bound.
It's all just so phony, it makes me sick that intelligent people fall for it and willingly give up their money to these charlatans.
2006-10-27 17:51:24 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
the figure Jesus Christ to me, a person who is very confused about her belief system, was a man named Joshua ben Joseph who was from Nazerath. he was a teacher of faith and morals and seemed to be a pretty good guy. he was crucified for fear of him leading a rebellion to liberate the Jews of Roman control.
to explain the loss of the messiah another religion was formed called christianity, which is basically all about Joshua ben Joseph.
the spiritual figure of jesus to me is a symbol. i personally don't believe the whole ressurection, dying for our sins thing happened, but i do believe that jesus is used a symbol of forgiveness, and forgiveness is always good.
2006-10-27 17:50:31 · answer #9 · answered by lalapalooza 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Jesus is one of the successive Messengers of the One True God. Like other Messengers, Christ has brought man up high in an ever-advancing civilization.
2006-10-27 17:47:41 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋