When history teachers rattle off dates and names there classes tend to be difficult to follow and boring. This also applies to other subjects such as maths, science and geography. When they explain why this and that and get the class to debate the subject and think about the subject or different ways of looking at it then it becomes really interesting, much more easily understood and easer to learn.
2007-04-25 06:22:07 · 37 answers · asked by purplepeace59 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Don't give up, speaking the truth in love is also your protection, for it says they are protected by the blood of the Lamb and by their testemony.
Also, it says that faith comes through hearing the word!
You are sowing seed.
2007-04-25 06:27:53 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
Well, certainly the chapter and verse sort of thing. I think there may be occasions when a few words might be appropriate.
I have certainly been guilty of this myself when I quote from the Tao Te Ching (a Taoist book). But I do so because it gives a flavour of what I mean. Maybe others don't agree although so far, no-one has complained.
But to cut and paste a page of anything is pointless. People ask questions to find out what others think. Not what they have read. If it's really pertinent a link will do. I think.
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2007-04-25 06:37:19 · answer #2 · answered by Nobody 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes,
Because you are quoting words that have been passed down orally, edited, translated, transcribed, edited, translated, transcribed and edited since the original 'words'.
The history and math books you compare it to are based on known facts. When people are quoted there is independent evidence that that is what was actually said.
While there is some historical evidence in the Bible, the 'evidence' supporting God and Jesus as the son of god is pure hearsay and so, to a non-believer, not worth the paper it is printed on.
You might as well argue that since Troy is now known to be real, that the Greek gods described in the Odyssey and the Iliad are real too.
If I quoted Homer at you, would you believe in Zeus?
2007-04-25 06:38:19 · answer #3 · answered by Simon T 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Generally speaking, sure.
But I find that quoting the Bible to believers is equally a waste of time. They take every opportunity to quote it at me; but when I respond in kind, they hop on the defensive. I'm taking it out of context, I don't understand The Word, etc. Now I can assure them that I DO in fact understand the context, and that THEY are in fact the ones who don't, having been corrupted by Bible Study into believing the standard "Christian" equivocations of interpretation that get them off the hook for acknowledging that their "God" is a savage monster and their theology is crude barbarism; but by this time I've lost them, as they go seeking tamer, less informed quarry.
2007-04-25 06:39:27 · answer #4 · answered by jonjon418 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Well, how would you felt if a Hindu quoted the Vedas to you, a non-believer?
Or if a Muslim quoted the Qu'ran to you, a non-believer?
Or if a Jew quoted the Tanakh to you.. not the watered-down "Old Testament," but the actual translation of the various verses to you, a non-believer?
Do you think listening to random scriptural quotes would make you abandon your faith? Do you think you might get bored or angry that this idiot is calling you a "non-believer" when you have a firm belief, it's just different from theirs? Think about it.
2007-04-25 06:28:42 · answer #5 · answered by Kathy P-W 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
The biggest difference though is that those other subjects deal with reality. You know, things we can relate to. Religion is dependent on its holy book or stories. To try and teach religion from a different angle you are actually changing the word of god which according to most religions is bad.
2007-04-25 06:27:30 · answer #6 · answered by The Bog Nug 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
That is why religion is so effective at passing on flawed belief structures. The way they teach by engaging peoples emotions is a very effective technique but people, like computers, can be taught bogus information........the old adage 'garbage in, garbage out' applies really well to this concept.
2007-04-25 06:28:21 · answer #7 · answered by thewolfskoll 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If your question is about preaching I do not believe it is a waste of time at all as Jesus instructed us to preach the gospel to all people.
The Bible also shows us that many people would not hear because they would be blind, deaf and very hard in their hearts. But in my point of view considering that I love people I preach because I want them to be with Jesus and I also want them to find out about this totally renewed world provided by the Word of God and by The Name Of Jesus.
You know I've been changing due to my Fear to God... In fact I found out that I am changing because I have opened the door of my heart to Jesus, I decided I needed to change and then Jesus in His Holy Spirit was able to start the good job into me.
So, I was willing to change, I am willing to change... God is always ready when we accept him through Jesus.
Although I am in Brazil I always hear to Mrs. Joyce Meyer (one american preacher who helps lots of people along the world finding out their ways to heaven through Jesus). I think you should try to get some stuff from her... It would be very helpful to you!
It does not matter what I say, the anointing comes through the Holy Spirit. It is my duty to do my job, to preach and to be an example most of all... Everything else will be done by God.
Should people believe God or not, God will never ever change. He does not need us although He loves us more than we may think or deserve.
2007-04-25 06:45:51 · answer #8 · answered by Desir D 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't call it a waste of time, but Bible-believers tend to quote scripture thinking that is the end of the discussion. Perhaps it is for them, but non-Bible-believers don't accept the Bible as an authoritative source and are looking for reasons why the quoted text should be accepted as authoritative.
2007-04-25 06:38:22 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
That is not correct. You are looking at it entirely from a humanistic point of view. But the truth is that the Bible is a spiritual book and appeals to the spirit of man not the intellect. When God choses to speak to someone through His Word He speaks to the spirit of that person and they will listen. Until that happens you are right, but even then it is not a complete waste of time because in the judgment it is that speaking the truth to those who will not listen that will condemn them.
2007-04-25 06:31:24 · answer #10 · answered by oldguy63 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I tend to agree with this. People follow examples not quotes. If Christians want to convert others they need to set a positive example. If people see something good in someone that could make them want to be the same.
2007-04-25 06:27:11 · answer #11 · answered by mxcardinal 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋