I'm not sure if anyone will even answer this question, but for anyone who has a knowledge of Religion (particularly Christianity) and the history of it, did you come across anything that challenged your faith? How did you deal with it? Just curious..
2007-03-26 18:59:49 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Dear Candyis,
i think that as you study about God, you realize that He is so wonderful and there is so much more we have to learn about Him. Off course there are always difficult passages, and in my Heremnutics class we learned about the importance of understanding verses in their proper context (i think this protects us from false teachings of cults).
i think you also find that there were things done in the name of Christianity that were not very Christ-like: (ie: The Crusades),...
i think as i have questions about myself- i wasn't afraid to ask- and also to learn more. i can't say that i've learned everything that i need to know- but i think that i have a solid understanding of things. Also want to encourage you not just to learn (the Bible teaches that knowledge can puff us up...) but learn to obey and learn to share with others.
Hope that helps. Feel free to email me if you have any questions. i will do my best to answer or to refer you to sources that can answer- i have a pastor who is a former dean of a seminary so i'm sure he can provide me with resources on any topics...
God Bless. Hope that helps. Kindly,
Nickster
2007-03-26 20:00:45 · answer #1 · answered by Nickster 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I ran across numerous issues within the King James bible and ended up trying to cross-reference with other sections of the bible (lineologies, teachings, etc.) to no avail. I took a couple of classes at the university and started to join textual criticism groups looking for translation errors, and so forth. Now I have studied the beginnings of the bible, manuscripts, and other items included in today's bibles, and from all I can see, I am one of the most hard core atheists ever. I used to say "I know there is a god" because of having faith and feeling something in my heart, but now I can say "I do not believe in a god and am quite positive that the bible is not accurate and religion was formed as a progressive rule over people throughout history -- controlling the masses by ruling through guilt, fear, and targeting those with little education, wealth, and lower levels of intelligence".
Also, looking into statistics, only 4/10's of a percent of people in jail are atheists. 12% of Americans are atheists, therefore there are significantly more religious people in prison than atheists. Also, divorce rates are higher in religious centered states. Evangelical preachers are arrested for child porn, drug use, and prostitution (mostly with a same-sex partner). Another issue is seeing how people within these groups treat atheists, whatever happened to ot judging others and love thy enemy? I get slammed here all of the time for being an atheist. So how do I deal with all of this? I understand most of the population in the US is stubborn and will not sway in their beliefs because that will make them appear weak, so I keep building my understanding of religion, the bible, and help where I can in the separation of state and church. I will fight against the christian coalition and will do all I can to make my children strong enough to think rationally and for themselves (they can make their own choices). Other than that, it's just a daily grind against the christian right.
2007-03-27 02:32:06 · answer #2 · answered by Concerned 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If something doesn't harmonize with the Bible's Actual teachings (never mind the claims of individuals &/or manmade religions), I keep looking! Pray for guidance, & keep searching.
Prayers That Are Heard by God
http://www.watchtower.org/e/20020908a/article_01.htm
True Teachings--Where Can You Find Them?
- True Teachings That Please God
- - How Old? - - How Organized?
- - Can You Trust the Bible?
- - What Does the Bible Teach?
- - What Will You Do?
http://www.watchtower.org/e/20050715/article_01.htm
The basic early history, the teachings, beliefs, practices, & cuswtoms of Christianity, (& also that of the Apostasy), is included in the book:
"Mankind's Search For God"
http://www.watchtower.org/publications/publications_available.htm
For a quick check of actual major Bible teachings, one might use:
What Does God Require ?
http://www.watchtower.org/e/rq/index.htm?article=article_00.htm
2007-03-27 02:37:10 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Inconsistencies in the bible, and only being referred back to the bible to answer them. I didn't have to deal with them as I am an atheist. It was like coming across a book that said that the ocean is pink, and they only way you can check if the ocean is pink is to read the same book. Vicious circle.
2007-03-27 02:26:41 · answer #4 · answered by Sarcasma 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋