Why do you remain Christian?

Question

Read the books "Misquoting Jesus", "The End of Faith" and "Letter to a Christian Nation" and let me know what it is that keeps you "believing" in Christianity, God, Jesus, the Bible, etc. The modern world is being torn apart by religious extremists, as well as moderates (read The End of Faith to find out why I mention moderates). Is it not time to swallow your pride and finally accept that this facade of religion is truly hurting people? Faith is no answer when there is so much proof in the other direction. It's not ignorance, because the truth is out there. Stupidity is not an answer, there are many intelligent people who still think irrationally. It just boggles my mind on how so many people can still believe, or at least say they believe. When I attended church, I left my heart and mind open to God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, whatever, and did not feel anything during 30 yrs. Why lie to each other and yourself when you are partially responsible for so much hurt in the world.

Again, Faith is not an answer, it is about why are you still religious. Is there a "TRUE" feeling you have to keep you going, knowing that it can most likely be wrong? AS I stated above, I left myself open, I attended church, I taught classes, a prayed, and never felt a thing. I would assume (I know, assume = *** out of u and me) that many others feel the same, though there are some extremists out there who may have talked themselves into it or are scared stiff enough to say they truly believe...

So the scribes that wrote their own notes on the side of the manuscripts that they actually changed the manuscripts to what THEY thought the writings should say is taken out of context? Please, don't use the mainstream criticisms on these books, try to be real here... it all comes down to short snippy criticisms when someone feels threatened.

Butt out? Sorry, when the religious agenda is dominating the world I live in and keeps science from progressing to aid in helping family members (i.e. stem cell research), then I take it to heart when my own daughter can benefit from it and her life is being toyed with by people with their own opinions. You want people like me to leave you alone? Then don't vote on things like that that can be a life saving issue for people with dissenting opinions.

Thank you Drews, nice answer...

Ely C, a true Christian I see... what happened to forgiveness, loving thy enemy, praying for and not condemning people who do not believe. Though your answer is a little longer than a short snide comment, it still emanates a harsh, protective, anti-Christian judgment upon others (me).

Answer 1

Nobody could have said it better.However, I don't have much hope that you can penetrate that romantic stupor where they choose to hide.
They don't understand that what has happened to them is merely auto-suggestion or self-hypnoses.
How do you convince a hypnotized person that they are hypnotized?
I would be happy to leave them alone in their belief, if they could stop causing so much harm in the world, and just concern themselves with ethics and morality and quit throwing in that other mystical crap.

Answer 2

I am still a believer because Christianity is still the best hope and the best alternative; there are no other good ones. It never guarantees that you will feel anything.

I am still a believer because I have seen my prayers answered--not all the time or every time, but at times within seconds of when I prayed in ways that could not be chance.

You quote "ask and you shall receive." If you gave that a little study, you might find that those verbs...ask...seek...find are Greek present tense, meaning "keep on asking..." indicating the need for persistence. Not just once, but keep going.

You offer a lot of books: Here's one for you "Evidence that Demands a Verdict" by Josh McDowell, a young (at the time) law student that set out to prove Christianity false, became a believer himself and put together that book for students in classes taught by unbelieving professors who harassed them (the believers), so that they would have well-researched answers. There is evidence, a lot of it, for Christianity.

You mentioned that there is "so much proof in the other direction." What? That so called "men of God" have fallen into sin in recent times. They did that in the Old Testament period too. That there is evil in the world? It's mentioned and predicted in the Bible. If there really were a lot of proof in "the other direction," there would indeed be fewer Christians around.

Yes, there is religious abuse, and not just by hypocritical believers, but by most religions. There always has been throughout history. Religious people have hurt others, but so have non-religious people and non-Christians.

One more point, Christianity does not stand or fall on the basis of your experience, or lack of feelings. If it stands, it stands because it is true, because God is in it. If it is not true, then it will fall. Only time will tell.

Answer 3

Seems like you are looking for validation, such a complex and heartfelt question may not be a perfect fit for this far from intimate platform. I am a Christian and have felt the Holy Spirit in my life, believe in God, and have been genuinely changed by the love of Jesus. I have had fellowship with others, have given away much of my possession to those less fortunate, and have been blessed by my experiences, all in the name of Christ. I'm sorry you have not been blessed as well. I think that blaming "so much hurt in the world", based on a limited experience of Christianity, is like judging American family life by reading about Scott Peterson in the National Enquirer. God Bless

Answer 4

The ones who are responsible for the "religious" evils in the world are mostly misguided. We cannot hide the fact that some people of parts of the world are misinterpreting truth for fiction and are causing harm to the world, giving the true believers a bad name. We can only try to prevent terror from overcoming us. (I use the word terror because, as it is common knowledge, the last things that the 9/11 terrorists said were "Alla is the greatest") I am saddened at the thought of people killing other people in the name of God, it is truly sick.

By the way, I don't believe I would be able to read your selections and still answer your question in time.

Answer 5

Your heart and your mind is shallow. And you think you are very smart. It is your prerogative what you want to do with your life and your soul, so do not tempt me and others to atheists shenanigans.
The way you talk, as if you can control your own heartbeat at your own will or defy your physical limitations.Just who are you? You cannot even levitate for 10 seconds or can you bring back time that you already spent..Not even a second.
I suppose you do not also believe in the air you breathe or in electricity because you cannot see them. You're just one of the human ingrates because of skepticism..
Since when did you not have a navel? or a mother?
since when have you just popped out of a test tube or the ground out of your own will? Since when where you able to change the seasons or turn Niagra Falls upstream?
Who do you think you are? You are nothing. You are just arrogant and really know nothing with your puny little deliberately set dysfunctional brain. Excuse me, but you're just another passenger on planet Earth, and you do not recognize your Captain? You must be joking.
You can play with your little silly game now, but beware of later when your life's time is over? You were given life for a purpose and you will be accountable for all your negative thoughts and actions? I guarantee it.
I would not mind if you were born a moron, you could be forgiven, but you are normal and a very intelligent person. Do not waste your soul by choosing to go with Satan. He does not really care about you, yet you are willing to give your soul away for losing your faith. What a waste you will be. Your ego and your arrogance will bring you down. Beware!. Get back to your faith while you still have time, for life is brief, delicate and unpredictable.

Answer 6

I remain Christian because it is the truth. I don't require feelings or emotions to tell me that I'm connected or tuned into God. His Truth stands as firm as does gravity, and I need no feelings to tell me that gravity is real.

Can I give you proof of God? No. Can you give me proof there is no God? No. So then where does that leave us? I believe, and you don't. Science has very detailed explanations about the beginning of the universe and life on earth and so forth, but those details are still merely scientific opinion - theory. Yet, why do so many people defend that opinion and not others?

I myself have experienced frustration and anger, demanding that God prove Himself to me, that maybe if He did all the confusion would end and finally we'd have the answers. Thought about that alot. Finally, though, I had to ask myself another question: Who am I that God has to prove Himself to me? Am I not a created being? Is He not the source of all life? How then can I have the nerve to place myself in a position where God has to prove Himself to me? Am I above God?

I struggle with my faith daily, but it is the love, THE LOVE of God that I have come to know that keeps me going. THAT is the truth that I know. It is His love for me that I feel in my heart.

Thanks for your question, and God bless you.

Answer 7

If you didn't "feel anything" in 30 years, I'm so sorry you waited that long for a sensation, like a ticketholder waiting for a word of admission to the feast. But you didn't have to wait to be admitted, you know; the gate stands open. You can still go in, even now. If you gave your life to Jesus all those years ago, and earnestly asked Him to be your Lord and Savior, then your place is still reserved inside. (But that's hardly the same as saying, "I left my heart and mind open to God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, whatever...") If you didn't take that crucial first step, I urge you to take it now. Jesus knows all about your inward struggles with faith, and He's waiting to help you, but you must reach out to Him in sincerity.

We Christians all go through times when our faith seems dry and withered. But we know that if we persevere, we will come eventually to a season of plenty again. I pray that is what you are experiencing presently, and that your faith will be refreshed and strengthened, at a time of God's choosing, by the Living Water of Christ. You have 30 excellent reasons to stay the course.

As for lying, please try to speak only for yourself. I know my Shepherd, and I don't need to lie to myself or to anyone about Him. May God bless you!

Answer 8

Since the beginning of time there was the Truth, and those who oppose the Truth, yet it has remained. I'm not going to abandoned the most solid thing ever in history for a few peoples extreme views on the world.
I'm also sorry the Lord did not work in you during that time but he has his own schedule and He will call you to Him. Hopefully you can hear it before it's to late.

Answer 9

You're too smart to be Christian. You actually read books. That's why you're starting to question the teachings in church. Christianity was, and always has been a type of control mechanism of the masses by government. Look at the Dark Ages, and look at the Republicans today. It's used as a mechanism to keep the masses content and controlled by the upper class. Don't be fooled. Religion doesn't save people. It saves the upper class from having to deal with rebellion.

Answer 10

Hey, i used to believe in Buddhism for 8 years of my young life.
and throughout the 8 years, i have not felt the answerance of my prayers even when i was in dire needs.

Well, i must tell you this though, you Can't stop or influence people from their faith. 1st, you do not have the power to do so.
2nd, you will never succeed in discouraging others. =)
Lastly, there is no good for you in trying to search for the remnants of your remaining ropes on a belief by cutting off others' threads of belief.

my advice for ya is:
if you have reached the end of your religion rope, SIMPLY,
go read up on other religions in the world, my dear boy/ girl.

You have a wide choice field:
Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Catholicism, =) Good Luck!

Answer 11

(Hebrews 11:1) . . .Faith is the assured expectation of things hoped for, the evident demonstration of realities though not beheld.

The world is in a state of turmoil because Satan is on a rampage unknowing he has a little time left before he is destroyed (Rev. Ch 12).

(John 14:27) . . .I leave YOU peace, I give YOU my peace. I do not give it to YOU the way that the world gives it. Do not let YOUR hearts be troubled nor let them shrink for fear. . .

True understanding of the Holy Bible will give you peace and tranquility. (John 17:3) . . .This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ. It's the only book you'll ever really need to read for the truth.