This is a question I have asked time and again and have never received acceptable answers. Also, I do not believe faith is a factor in answered prayers. I used to have MEGA faith and never was answered, even though people I loved were dying and had handicaps. Also, if the Bible is the Word of God, why are there so many contradictions. I have studied several translations thoroughly, for more than 35 years, and can no longer believe in it. I can no longer believe in the Christian God or in their religions, for there is so much hypocrisy and hatred spewing out of these religious people.
I now accept people for who they are, not what they do in the bedroom or what their skin color is, or what creed they follow. I am a more loving person being a "Pagan heathen" than when I was a Christian. The truth certainly did set me free.
2006-12-26 13:58:12 · 22 answers · asked by Nepetarias 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
Well, not many of you actually tried to answer my question, just threw the same old Christian garbage at me. I used to be a lay-minister in a Pentecostal church. I studied religion and different translations of the so-called Holy Bible for over 35 years. I made informed decisions. I don't need to be told "accept Jesus or you'll go to hell." I don't even need to be preached at, I've had my fill of "just have faith and don't question God." These are not answers, just phrases given by people who really don't have an answer. If your religion can't stand up to being questioned, maybe it doesn't have ANY answers.
One or two of you did agree with me. Thanks, but that doesn't give me any answers either.
I am not a young lady, I do not need to just "accept." I have studied long and hard and much dealings with many religions within the Christian tradition. I do not accept the answers I received.
2006-12-27 02:48:20 · update #1
I think you might find interest in the website www.godisimaginary.com. Start with proof 1, and then you can decide to read the rest based on how that makes you think and feel.
One: God is either NOT as all-knowing as we suspect to make creatures that would fail...or he has low self-esteem. He gives us the "Free Will" to choose him, but we either chose to love him and go to Heaven...or spend forever in hell. He told Moses to KILL his followers that were worshipping a golden calf (if my memory serves). So it seems to me he is a very JEALOUS god.
Two: You can pray to ANYTHING OR ANYONE on the planet and will receive the same results. "Yes, No, Wait". Most Christians now prayers aren't answered because GOD IS IMAGINARY. Thusly, all you hear from Christian's is...to wait. Well, jeez. Didn't God AND Jesus promise to answer our prayers? They didn't set a limit, or conditions. "Pray and you will receive". Out of Yes, No, Wait...you can get it, and say "God heard my prayers and answered them!" You can say, "God heard my prayers and did not answer them" (which would make him a liar AND a jerk)...or you can say, "God heard my prayers and will answer them, I just have to wait...no matter how long that may be." See? With a Yes, No, Wait system, Christians can never be proven wrong.
Three: Because the Bible was "inspired by God" not written by him, as Christians have told me...and that in the Bible it ACTUALLY SAYS that the Bible can be reproofed and basically rewritten as a religious guid. So an ALL KNOWING AND POWERFUL GOD inspired people to write his legacy, but gives them permission to CHANGE it? And OMIT it? It doesn't contradict itself because of God. It contradicts itself because foolish and fallible mortal men wrote it. For crying out loud, GOD TELLS MEN HOW MUCH A SLAVE IS WORTH. 30 silver shekels.
Did you also know God "said" that women were supposed to be silent in Church, it was disgraceful for them to speak? And if a matter came up they were interested in or wanted to know more about they had to ask their husbands later in the privacy of home?
Or that you are supposed to take children of yours who are stubborn and rebellious out to the city to be stoned to death?
2006-12-27 05:31:00 · answer #1 · answered by Kailee 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all, "Christianity" isn't really following Jesus' teachings.
The fact that the Church still exists and exerts itself as the middle-man between God and the masses, as well as the continued inclusion of the Old Testament in "Christianity", is full proof of that.
Jesus came to dissolve the Church and the Old Testament teachings (which as you say, is full of bizarre myths and contradictions so that the society can bend the gospel to it's own self-serving beliefs). Yet, still today, the Old Testament remains bound under the same cover with the New Testament, and "Christians" still believe that Adam and Eve really existed.
In addition, after Jesus' end, his true message was bastardized by the newly formed so called "Christian" religion, and they burned the books that contained many of Jesus' other teachings which had just as many truths and inaccuracies as the books that currently make up the New Testament. They just chose to include the ones that were the least revolutionary.
2006-12-26 22:30:45 · answer #2 · answered by whytedunker1 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
you didn't get conclusive answers did you?
As some answers above, god gave man free will to chose...
that's the usual line to give you a simple answer to this complex issue.
My question is why would god feel the need for his children to worship him? If God exists, I think he was bored.
Satan was sent to hell because he refused to serve man.. He'd rather serve god. For his love of god, he was sent to hell so go the story.
Some christians don't think the bible is the word of god, they're only stories to teach a moral written by many authors over the years. They should not be taken literally. That doesn't mean they don't belive in God.
believe what you want, as long as it teaches love and peace.. it's all good.. And for those that doesn't, like, ahemm.. alqeda... They will crush by the hand of god.
2006-12-26 22:20:43 · answer #3 · answered by professorminh 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Just wanted say good for you for opening your heart and mind to all people.
To answer your question though, in my opinion God created us to live our own lives, he gave us our own thoughts and choices and in no influences them, he is not a puppet master making sure we all do right. Adam, Eve, Satan, Charles Manson, all had their own choices.
As for faith, the faith true religious people speak of is not about curing the sick or getting out of trouble it is about believing in the lord no matter how many crappy things happen to you.
I am not religious, I follow no set faith, nor attend any church yet I respect all religions as long as they are not being shoved down my throat. believe what makes you happy.
2006-12-27 00:24:43 · answer #4 · answered by krissy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You know, what you have said makes more sense than the 'religion" I was lead to believe for so many years... I am tired in believing in things I cannot see or prove... I am a more loving person now as well, and do not expect miracles to happen...I try to MAKE them happen, and that is worth a lot to people who truly need them... If you believe in Christianity, pray for me and I will get all the advantages of your belief as well as knowing I am doing what I can for people in the real world...
2006-12-26 22:13:27 · answer #5 · answered by mobileminiatures 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
We are put here on earth as a test. Yes God does do things that we don't understand, but it is all for a reason. Maybe it's to make us stronger people. If he gave us all the aswers what would life be? How would we learn? If we have the answer to this question that you have then we also would be all knowing and then there would be nothing for us to learn,
2006-12-27 04:20:53 · answer #6 · answered by Deb 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The Bible tells us that the reason God did it the way that He did, is because it was the way that He would receive maximum glory for eternity.
God, in His infinite wisdom, for his own pleasure, and to receive the glory and honor that He and only He so richly deserves, decided that this was the best way to achieve that end. And there are no contradictions in the Bible.
http://www.needGod.com
2006-12-27 01:19:48 · answer #7 · answered by revulayshun 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
God knew he could get it back and still aloow us and the angels to have free will. Satan stolded it away, Jesus came to set us free and get back what was stolden, so what is the question, true there are many interpreations of scriptures (theology) like Calvinism VS. Arminism, pick one and wait for Jesus to come back or die and see him, what is the problem. 1 Timothy 4, says not to think to hard on these things. If you read scriptures sometimes God will teach you things about himself. Its your eternity. God bless.
2006-12-26 22:05:09 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
There is fact, and there is truth. If you read the Bible as fact, then you can miss the truth. If it was biographical in nature, then the meaning would be limited to observed events. If it is mythic, then the truth is more than what is on the page. Most of the people that take the word literally, miss the true point of the story.
2006-12-26 22:12:59 · answer #9 · answered by Mr Cellophane 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Because through evil and free will, choosing Him or choosing sin is now an option.
He Loves when people freely choose Him.
Sorry religion got in the way of you and Jesus. He does not need Pharisees, but He does want your repentance and heart.
2006-12-26 22:01:47 · answer #10 · answered by David T 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋