How Can Anyone Believe in Christianity?

Question

OK, so religions started back in the ancient times as a way to explain things in nature that we were not able to explain, such as why boats sank and why we have war and pestilence. Christianity started in the Roman times. The Roman religion said that no matter what you did, you would go to a terrible everlasting eternity when you died. It was a way of keeping the masses at bay. But then Christianity came along, and they said that all you have to do is say that you accept God, and you won't have to go to the Roman hell. You can go to a paradise when you die, and all you have to do is say that you agree to accept God. Christianity is just like every other religion that has been started to better explain the whims of nature that we cannot explain ourselves. Is it not either to tell a grieving mother that it was god's plan for her baby son to die, than to tell her that he was hit by a drunk driver? Am I the only one that sees Christianity as nothing more than just a made up story?

I'm trying to make a point here. Just look at the circular logic in the Bible. It was written to prevent anyone from thinking outside the box. There is only one God. You can only believe in that God. If you do not believe in that God, you will go to hell. If you do not believe, we will say that you are controlled by Satan, who we will say is the ultimate evil. It's so much easier for people to believe it than to question it. Why would anyone choose to believe that people die because were in a car accident or just because they were old, when it is so much easier on the mind to think that it is God's plan for them to die?

Answer 1

Most people don't understand what the Bible says. They misinterpret what it says.
First Christians didn't believe in life after death. This doctrine has pagan origins. It has been adopted by the so-called "Christians" so that they could convert people to Christianity.

The Bible says that God is love. So, a loving God wouldn't torture us for an eternity in hell. Actually it didn't even cross his mind and he considers this idea something cruel.

"And they have built the high places of Topheth, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, in order to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, a thing that I had not commanded and that had not come up into my heart." -- Jeremiah 7:31

The fact that certain people have distorted God's inspired word shouldn't make us loose our trust in it. We should study it carefully to gain accurate knowledge.

"All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness, that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work." -- 2 Thimothy 3:16

"This is fine and acceptable in the sight of our Savior, God, whose will is that all sorts of men should be saved and come to an accurate knowledge of truth." -- 1 Thimothy 2:4


For more information go to:
http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/1999/3/15/article_01.htm
http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/2002/6/1/article_02.htm
http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/2002/7/15/article_01.htm
http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/2002/7/15/article_02.htm
http://www.watchtower.org/e/20010715/article_01.htm
http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/1999/7/15/article_02.htm

Answer 2

Whoa, that's a lot of stuff! Let me see what I can pick out of it. "How Can Any.....in Christianity?" Well, you, know, it's like a belief. So some people believe in it. And some don't.

Did the Romans tell the Jews that they'd go to a Roman hell? I don't see the Jews as believing that very quickly. The Jews already believed in their own God, they were going to their own heaven because they were the chosen ones. They probably thought the Romans were pretty silly.

I don't think Christianity was started to better explain nature. It just built on top of Jewish law, which had all that nature stuff already handled. Right?

The next part I don't get - something about being an equal chance that we tell a lady her kid got hit by a car or God wanted the baby to die.

"Are you the only one that sees Christianity as.....story?" No, I'm sure there are lots of people that think that way.

Did that help at all?

Answer 3

I used to see it as a nice story, too.

I even tried to prove it wrong. (It wasn't the Roman hell, by the way - the Hebrews had a concept of hell long before the Romans came. Since Christianity stems from Judaism, it's more coincidental that it started in Roman times.)

The more I tried to find errors in the Bible and the doctrine, the more I realized I was the one being proved wrong. Science, history, modern ethics, and other fields have ended up supporting the fundamental beliefs in Christianity. High-tech science is the newest supporter, with people like astro-physicists, nuclear biologists, and similar PhD's saying God is increasingly becoming the only possible answer to explain certain things.

For me, what made me re-evaluate was Pascal's wager. If I was right, as an atheist, and there was no God, no Jesus, yada yada, then I had no problem when I died. On the other hand, if I was wrong and it was true, well, it wasn't gonna be a pretty picture. I think people can believe what they want, as long as they understand there are consequences for believing in something not true. Eternity is a long time to be wrong.

Answer 4

Well it could have been a great conspiracy and a tremendous story to quell the uprising of the unhappy masses by Constantine.... but I don't think so.

The word seems to start way before the Romans, for example. One difficulty I have always considered is that Christianity is secular and exclusive in that it centres on the beliefs and history of societies... of only those people whose origins are from in the northern hemisphere.... seems on the other hand a small mention for my ancestors..... the Gentiles are OK living by their own rules..... clear passage to paradise. Romans 2:14

Christianity does nothing, I think "to explain away the whims of nature". Far from explaining, as far as I can consider. There are no doubt religions dedicated entirely to explaining nature. To the contrary, Christianity simply requires faith in the word.

Answer 5

Christianity is about Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God and His relationship and co-existance with God. The only way I can believe it is to see the evidence of it at work in my own being. I have sinned. I know it's wrong. I've done things I shouldn't do, and I've even done things that are against the laws of man, some of them far more serious than driving over the speed limit. Just as with breaking man's laws there is a price to pay, I must conclude that sin is the breaking of some Law, and that there must be a penalty for it as well. Jesus died and rose again to pay that price, and I either accept that payment, or I pay myself. I'll take all the grace I can get, thank you.

Answer 6

Seems to me that you see Christianity as an excuse for the unknown... And to be completely honest with you, it is. But is there something wrong with that? People believe in things such as Religion because of either of 2 reasons: as an excuse, or because of fear. Whether you're a paraplegic who needs to tell himself every morning that God has a reason why you are in that chair, or you're just a normal person trying to live a moral life because that's what is expected of you.... Religion is an excuse. Its just an idea; like many others created by men, to use either against or for the good of men. The difference in the ideas of Religion, such as Christianity, is that no one forces these ideas upon you. Christianity may be no more that what it seems to be to you: "...a made up story..." But its not the story that matters, its the reader and what that reader can learn from said story. Even if Christianity is just a made up story, it is a story that one can use to find faith. Faith in whatever you need faith in... the ability to believe in whatever you need to believe in, in order for you to be happy and/or content. Faith sets a wandering mind free from self loathing... Without faith, there is only doubt. We all need a reason why we are here, where we are going, and what it is that we are supposed to be doing with our lives. If religion hasn't brought you at least a small fragment of that reason... what has?

Answer 7

I would recommend that you get into a study of the traditions of the Judaic Temple. Basically based upon the Old Testament. There you will find certain rituals that existed before Roman times, and then you may find, if your study is thorough, that these rituals were but ' types and shadows of things to come.' They tended to point to the Messiah, who became the last sacrifice, and that which is necessary for eternal life.

One reason why a Christian reacts to the kinds of things that you are saying, is because you reveal a part that you don't know by what you say. A christian who is well studied wonders how to bring that news to you, that you are missing the truth for the story that you told; that Christianity is based upon something that occured centuries before it began, with what we call Judaism.

Answer 8

We can apply your logic to just about every religion in history. Why then, do all of these otherwise educated people insist on believing these delusions? This is not even to say there is not a God, but if there is I don't believe he, she, it or them, or the life force, etc. etc. whatever you want to call God has anything to do with these made up human ideas. Religion is ridiculous and it needs to stop right now because its doing alot more harm than good. You can believe in God and love God without religion, and in the process you will heal humanity.

Answer 9

I honestly think YOU are undecided in what you believe in, and that's why you are asking this question. Christianity is not a made up story, but many people believe it to be. Belief is what makes this WHOLE topic go around. We stand strong and ready for whatever may be said to knock our beliefs. What are you standing up for? I mean, who created you, who created all of us? There is know scientific explanation on how we became, the greater power (God) made us... if he didn't there would be a scientific explanation on how people entered this world. There is none, therefore my belief is mine. That is why I believe in the Lord, I believe he exists, you should too!

Answer 10

Atheists love to mock but fail to see that the most illogical position with regard to religion is to believe there is no God. This belief in one's own reasoning is a form of self-worship (which the Bible tries to warn against (smile)).

Virtually any atheistic "argument" can be shown to be logically irrelevant with the following approach. Given whatever assumptions you make - is the category of possible gods empty? That is, if there is even one potential caring god that addresses the issue - then the issue is not a logical argument against a caring god. In mathmatics, this is disproof by counter-example.

Let's assume then that ancient religions evolved into Judaism and evolved into Christianity. Would this have anything to offer us in evaluating whether or not God wants us to believe? I can easily imagine a caring God who provides / allows for evolving religions that offer comfort in this world and offer a chance to encounter God. (Similarly, one can imagine a caring god allowing a child to suffer - one can imagine hundreds of scenarios that make the suffering inconsequential. The same approach works for all atheist "proofs".)

Which brings us to the other reason the question fails - it ignores experience. I turned to the Bible and Christianity as a last resort. I already knew there was a caring God - I had at least one miraculous experience prior. Making the effort to "find" God allowed me to encounter God in more and deeper ways. I don't simply believe in God - I encounter God on a regular basis. I don't "believe" in air (even though I cannot see it) - I know that air is good for me and the absence of it is bad.

Some people just believe - and that works for them and is great! But belief should be augmented by seeking God out - in the Word, in other people, in contemplation - whatever helps you connect.

I do not have the problem that some Christians have - that of being a literalist. Jesus made it clear that God is beyond our comprehesion and used parables, metaphors, etc. to teach. There is a living, caring God who provided me with a Bible and a religion that help me get closer to Him. That is so awesome that I really do not care about how we got to this point or whether or not a man lived inside a fish (whale) or ... Other believers NEED to believe the Bible is literally true (they have to be careful that they worship God and not a book) - as long as that brings them closer to God, it is not inconsistent with my beliefs and experience.

Lastly, I agree with those who point out that your research on religion was lacking - which suggests that you really have not given the issue enough time and effort prior to making your conclusion. There is a caring God who wants you to have a better life - seek God out. I know you can encounter God with an honest attempt at Christianity but would not discourage trying other faiths.

Peace in Christ!