Odd question I know. I would love to live the life of a devout Christian but I cannot bring myself to have faith in Jesus as the savior or God in general. As irrelevant as it is my tiff with Christianity is that in order to accept Jesus as the risen savior you have to accept that God spoke through other men. The bible was written by men and Jesus’ credibility came from the fact that he was spoken to and guided by his father who is God. I don’t believe that Mary was a Virgin and there is absolutely no proof of it other than words written by men who may or may not have heard from God. Why haven’t we heard from God since then? Or have we? Anyways, if I pay a hypnotist to hypnotize me into being the most devout Christian ever would I go to heaven? Technically I wouldn’t have faith so I think not.
Thanks!
2007-09-08 10:04:34 · 8 answers · asked by Keezee 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
EDIT: For the record, I have been saved several times so I have ‘tried’ to be a Christian. (I had doubts about faith even growing up going to church so I was saved several times for some reason.) My fiancé is a Christian and we are getting married next year. She accepts my beliefs and would never leave me for lacking faith, but I wish I would relate to her on a spiritual level. I envy people with 'real' faith. I'm sure a large percentage of people who say they have faith don't have true faith, but those who do are 'blessed.'
2007-09-09 01:58:12 · update #1
I would agree with you. Technically you don't have that faith. This also reads on the popular Pascal's Wager. If someone believes only because they are trying to avoid the punishment of hell, whatever the probability, technically it isn't faith.
2007-09-08 10:17:01 · answer #1 · answered by CC 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not to be rude, but have you ever taken any college-level Psychology courses? I have, and the thing I learned is that there is no psychologist on the face of the planet that can FORCE you to do anything against your will. And the textbook this info comes from was written BY psychologists! Thus, while hypnosis is real, a psychologist cannot hypnotize you, or anyone, into being a Christian.
Secondly, youre right about Mary; partially. No, I nor any modern day Christian can prove she was a virgin. But I would pose this question to you: Can you prove that she wasn't a virgin? And yes, I do believe Mary was a virgin when Christ was born. You see, this is where FAITH kicks in. After all, even Websters says that faith is believing in things you cannot scientifically prove. Though I cant prove it, I still believe it.
And as far as your question about God speaking to people, he does speak to people, even today. But he only speaks to followers; those who have that little thing called faith. If you ever choose to believe and become a Christian, you will find that he still talks to his people. In fact, he's waiting to have a convo with you right now as you read this. The question is, are you willing to listen?
2007-09-08 12:41:33 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'd agree with your conclusion...faith is the key. Seems so simple to me...choose to believe something that seems unbelievable and you get to escape death.
Could a God capable of creating a human being out of dust or a rib create a baby inside a woman...sure he could...unbelievable because we can't do it, so what, we aren't God.
Have we heard from God since then...you know who Jesus is don't you? How many other unemployed carpenters who lived 2000 years ago, never owned anything, and were executed as a common criminal can you name?
It isn't a fluke that the power of faith is emphasized throughout the bible for faith is the sense that allows us to perceive God. Without faith, all the "proof" in the world won't reveal him to you. I'd argue that faith allows us to perceive the proof of his existence. Perhaps not "proof" in the scientific sense, but, for me, a much more valuable proof...not evidence provided by the observations and experiments of other people but evidence provided by my own observations and experiments...my experiences not the experiences of others.
2007-09-08 10:31:55 · answer #3 · answered by KAL 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm amazed since I'm in the same boat as you, exactly. I hired a certified hypnotist to open my door to faith in God and, from there, I will convert for the same motivations that you have. To be continued....
2016-02-22 02:52:55 · answer #4 · answered by lazurm 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think so, because all that christianity you'd have would be fake....why don't you try it and when you become the super christian ask again, lets see what you think then...
2007-09-08 10:12:08 · answer #5 · answered by niminonono 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Probably!
2007-09-08 10:25:00 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ditto I think not
2007-09-08 10:16:05 · answer #7 · answered by theladygeorge 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my answer would be no. Either you believe or you don't and it has to be from the heart.
2007-09-08 10:13:59 · answer #8 · answered by fatima35121 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋