Instead of attacking me, why not seriously attempt to understand what you profess?

Question

Give people a reason to believe. And don't just say, well Jesus wants it that way or you have faith - it's this inabilty to exlpain rationally why you believe what you do that hurts your religion.

Answer 1

Your question cannot be answered.

Reason and faith are unrelated. More, they are unrelatable.

It is a confusion of terms to consider the vernacular "belief", implying an awareness of facts which are subject to confirmation and disproof, with "belief" in the context of faith and religion, where the tenets are merely stated.

Even within the technical arena, even within that most exacting of disciplines, mathematics, there remain elements that are the subject of belief without proof and without the possibility of proof (Kurt Godel).

Faith and reason are disjoint, and the tools of one are inadequate for a study or analysis of the other. Therefore your question is improper, from a logical viewpoint, and the concept of a rational explanation of faith has no meaning.

Answer 2

Why? I do not have to convince you of anything, you either believe or not. YOU have to make that choice and when you pose questions like this it shows you are not interested in an answer because you might approach a Pastor or a Bible study group to try to understand it and then make a decision, Instead you attack relatively new Christians on a site like this.
I do not attack Atheist, rather take a look at all these other questions posed by Atheist's and then at Christians questions and tell me which has more venom.
Rational? that is a matter of opinion and you know it.
And no it is not the inability to explain anything that hurts my religion, it is hypocritical Christians who profess Jesus with their mouths but deny him with their life styles.
This is why. sadly enough.

Answer 3

Sir,

I would never attack you, either physically, or verbally. I am a pastor of a small church, and the Bible tells us not to be a striker or brawler.

I do not know what kind of Christians you have come in contact with here or in other places.

I see many questions on this site wondering about why Christians believe. A great deal of them are asking the same thing you are asking, that being to explain logically or rationally why we think the way we do.

Well, that may be difficult since the Bible tells us that we are saved by grace through faith. In another scripture, we are told that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Quite simply, man's logic does not apply to the things of God. The reason I believe is because I have faith in the idea of salvation that God has revealed to me.

I would urge you that if you wish to know more about why Christians believe what the believe to sincerely ask God to reveal himself to you. If he does, then accept what he has revealed and ask for more. If he does not, then your heart will be settled on the question.

Feel free to email me at any time. I promise that I will do my best to answer any questions you have without attacking you.

Signed,
[e-mail]

Answer 4

Who's religion are we talking about now?

I'm Pagan, and I don't attempt to persuade anyone to join me, nor do I attack people of other religions (or lack thereof) - if I want them to validate me, I must validate them. Gee, that sounds familiar doesn't it? Do unto others as you would have others do unto you? And I don't even follow that one...

If you want a reason to believe in something, you have to find it yourself. I have plenty of reasons why I have chosen my beliefs, and they all make a lot of sense to me, as I feel I have come to my conclusions about faith in a logical way. However, my opinions about things (their legitimacy included) is colored by my experiences and the things I have personally learned. Your experiences and your knowledge are different than mine, so it is entirely possible that what I believe is logical about my theistic theories, you would believe to be completely irrational.

This is where it all becomes a problem. Everyone believes what they believe for their own reasons. They may not be good reasons relatively, but they're good enough for the people who believe what they do (which can many times tell you a little something about those people). No one person's answers will work for any other person. Although many people may appear to have similar or even the same reasons for believing in what they believe in, they all came to those reasons themselves, through whatever means. Even if it were just because someone told them to believe, it was their ultimate decision to believe it or not.

So, believe what you feel is best to believe in - for whatever reasons. I can't do anything about it, nor can anyone else.

If you'd like me to tell you the reasons I have come up with as to why I believe what I believe, contact me. I'm always happy to share to a willing ear.

Answer 5

I read the answer of the one who attacked you. He was a student, and did not profess to be a Christian. He was spouting his hatred toward "f**kfaces". This is the needle that causes you most pain, is it not? You face your students tomorrow thinking: "One or all of these people here think that I am what that student said on YA last night." Perhaps your own view of yourself is a little shaken, for who would dare say this to your face? I thought it was very disrespectful, btw. I don't think that of professors myself, since many are my friends and co-workers (retired). Teaching in front of so many is like being on stage every day. I wish you well.

Answer 6

i'm glad i found your question. christians are not perfect and for some time they have been, for lack of better terms, afraid to witness about Jesus Christ. I was saved in 1982 and attended church with my husband and children at the time. Alot of things happened. He divorced me, I found another church and later quit going there or to any other Christian church. Something happened there that blew me away. so, i had this huge question: do I still belong to Jesus or has He turned His back on me because I quit going to church? (for 3 years). I found out from a lady at the new church I attend and I called a phone number that had counselors and such that could answer questions. I also found out from them that Jesus is still there for me. he never gives up. this lady was reading straight from the Bible what pertained to me. i know i am telling you things about my life. read the Bible starting with the book of Matthew and read through the entire New Testament. also try finding a christian radio station to listen to. perhaps it will help you understand who Jesus is and what He wants.

Answer 7

Most religion is false. Because there cannot be two truths.
There is so many religions that say if you are not this religion you are going to die and go to hell. You have to do this and that.
But think about why did he destroy people before?
Noah for instance. What did they do that God felt he had to destroy all of them. Genesis 6:6 he felt regrets he even made men in the earth, why? verse13 because the earth is full of violence because of them. So we know he hates violence.
That would exclude war. We also learn from that God doesn't need our help to destroy those he doesn't like.
What about Sodom and Gamorrah? They tried to have sex with other men and they picked angels? Wrong move there.
So God sent an astroid, and poop the place was gone.
So he doesn't like homosexual activity. Again he didn't need any help. He made the sun and has tons of astroids to throw at us.
Or in Joshua's day he throw hail and killed more than the soldiers. Those people were false worshippers and practiced human sacrifice of little children. Had temple prostitutes of both little girls and boys. He told Joshua to destroy them.
So we know he doesn't like that.
In Jesus day he comdemed the rich religious leaders of his day and basically said in Luke 16 they were all going to hell. Or at least dieing. Why?? They were money lovers and cared more about their political position in the government than teachers of truth to the people. So they were rich and looked down on the common man calling him dirt. So that's not good.

Answer 8

I really guess I must have missed your last question. Anyway, Being Christian, I am sorry if you have been inundated with well meaning (if a little overzealous) Fundamental Christians. Sometimes we take ourselves a little too seriously and forget that god simply asked us to share the word and to leave those who did not want to hear alone. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

Answer 9

Exactly. People just come on here and express their own personal opinion instead of using the Bible to explain their beliefs and support their statements. Again, good post. It just shows how many people are completely lost when it comes to their religion...because it's not the true religion.

Peace.
:)

Answer 10

Nope not at all my friend, Nothing can be done without faith in God it's not our fault you don't have any.

Religion is not what we support anyways, it's Christ. You want a reason how about not spending an eternity in hell?


Oh you want a scientific reson, that's stupid.