Why am I having second thoughts about my Christian religion?

Question

I'm starting to think: "Gosh, so God created us starting with Adam and Eve. He must had known that we were going to "fall," so why did he even bother?" "What will happen to all those who don't believe in Christ as our Saviour only because they were raised a different way? Are they going to Hell when they die?" "Why is our religion the "ONLY" and the best? Isn't that judgmental of us? Couldn't that be a major sin that we don't realize we're committing?" "Why do we have to shove our Christian religion down others throats? If we don't, will all those people go to Hell? That's totally out of line...very cruel!" "What about the Rapture? It is so horrific for all of those who have not turned to God! The thought scares me!" I don't enjoy "belonging" to my religion because of all the horrible threats...

Any of you Christians have answers for my doubts?

DRAKE, thank you. Your answer put my mind at ease. It's scary learning abou the Rapture, but your scripture examples proves that people will get "a second chance..." Thank you!

DJmantx, I love God. We have a relationship. He has helped me so much. I would be lost without Him. My question is what I'm learning - the Rapture. It's scary.

I threw in the other "why did He even bother making us" because it's a true thought. I suppose the same question could be thrown at me, "why did I even bother having a baby if I know that her life won't be perfect?"..... Thank you for your answer.

jesussaves: you know, you're totally right. I haven't prayed about this today. I should do that. Thank you.

Suzanne, that was beautifully answered. Honestly, I was listening to a cd abou the tribulation and rapture. The guy was speaking so fast, and I was trying to follow what he was saying. The message, I thought, was scary. I shouldn't be listening to the cd, then. I should be sitting down with my Pastor for a heart to heart discussion about my feelings that were started by the cd (supposedly teaching from the Bible).

Pwwatson888, I'd love to sit down with you with a cup of coffee in one hand and the Bible in the other hand. Thank you very much for your reassuring message!

Posts #1 and #2, I will pray for you. I was not looking for your type of answer. Sorry, but your efforts to turn me away from God are not going to work. The efforts simply bounced right off of this girl's armour of God!

I was looking for some good Christian back up, that's all.

sympleesymple: you have a point there. I did think of the same consequence. Here I am "growing" in my Christianty. I'm trying to learn more. I pop in a cd about the rapture that has me doubting and scared. I post this question. I give the unholy a chance to feed on me and others. In some ways it was thoughtless, but in others, it was a wonderful learning experience for me. There are a handful of WONDERFUL, reasurring answers. Thank you for your concern, however.

Answer 1

You are starting to use your mind. Good. You are asking the basic necessary questions a Christian ought to ask in order to grow in the faith. Of course God knew our first parents would disobey, otherwise He would not be Omniscient. That is why the provision for salvation was laid down "before the world was made".
Revelation 13
8And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Why did He bother? When I see the news and read of the genocide and cruelty of man to man I have asked the same question. The answer will be revealed at the end.
CS Lewis has a good way of looking at this:
"Try to exclude the possibility of suffering which the order of nature and the existence of free-wills involve, and you find that you have excluded life itself."

Why did He bother? God says:
JOHN 3
15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.



What happens to those who die without hearing the gospel?
First of all it is not your place to judge where they go - it is your job to offer them hope in the Resurrection.
We are given a hint at how they will be judged here:
REVELATION 20
12And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

13And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

PROVERBS 24
12If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?

MATTHEW 16
26For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

27For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

It is patently not the only religion but it is the only religion which explains the answers to Who Made Us? Why? How then shall we live? and Where do we go when we die?

It is not judgmental - study the other religions and find a better one. I doubt you will. You may find some are easier - and some are less public - but how else can you make a relationship with your maker? You are not judging people when you offer them the gospel. If you ARE judging people then stop it. I finally quit and my life got 100 per cent easier.

You are not supposed to "shove your religion down other people's throats". Firstly this is totally without love and secondly it makes me wonder if anyone who does it is a true believer. You simply live it and if the opportunity arises you share it. The gospel is a life saver not a threat. If people feel threatened by it then that says a lot more about them than the gospel. But I have seen some presentations of the gospel that make me want to hide my head in shame. The gospel is good news not entertainment, magic or a threat.

WE can not save. We can offer the gospel and try and help - if you preach the gospel thinking you are going to save anyone you have not read and understood this:
1 CORINTHIANS 3
3For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

4For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

5Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

6I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

7So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

8Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

9For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.

The Rapture? What Rapture? This is a relatively modern heresy. Perhaps you should ask if the church you are going to is teaching the bedrock gospel love of God or some fanciful "end of days" message.

Welcome to the place where God can now use your mind. Let the Spirit of Truth lead you into all Truth - His Word is Truth. As for the rapture - see the URL
bless you and keep the faith once delivered to the Saints.
The Great Premillennial HOAX

by Don Matzat

In 1970, Hal Lindsey came out with his monstrous best-selling book (15 million sold), "The Late Great Planet Earth." Since then, much of Evangelical Christianity has been obsessed with the signs of the times.

From 1971 until 1986, I was an active, visible participant in the Lutheran Charismatic Movement. Since the movement was highly influenced by Pentecostal thinking, in addition to adopting the theology of the Holy Spirit, many Lutheran Charismatics also adopted the eschatology of Pentecostals. I guess you might say, "We got the Holy Spirit, feathers and all." I adopted and also taught the Premillennial view of the end times. In fact, given the circumstances in the world, there was little doubt in my mind that this was the accurate understanding of Biblical prophecy.

May 13, 1981
The evening of May 13, 1981, was the regular meeting of the Ladies' Guild of Bethel Lutheran Church in Howard City, Mich. As pastor of the congregation, I attended the meeting and presented a topic for discussion.

May 13, 1981, was a very special evening for prophecy buffs. It could very well have been the last night that Christians would spend upon this earth. For if everything being said by the modern-day experts in Biblical prophecy was true, May 14 was the day of "the Rapture."

As the pastor, I felt it was my responsibility to share the why and wherefore of this momentous event with these women. Being good, traditional, Lutheran laypeople, they knew very little, if anything, about Biblical prophecy. It was my task to warn them of the event that might transpire within the next 24 hours.

By sharing this story with you, I hope to impart the essence of Premillennial thinking.

The Generation of the Fig Tree
The Biblical scenario I presented to these unsuspecting women, proving that the rapture would take place the next day, began with an interpretation of Matt. 24:32-34. Jesus said:

Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.

What generation was Jesus talking about? Many scholars believed that it was the generation of the people that Jesus was addressing and that the events He was predicting were not the end of the world, but rather the destruction of Jerusalem. In fact, within 40 years, Jerusalem would be utterly destroyed.

While that is all well and good, there was another way of looking at these words of Jesus - a way that caused these predictions to become very real in the here and now.

From the notes in my Scofield Bible, I knew there would be a future restoration of Israel in the land. In Ez. 34:13, the prophet predicted that God would gather the Jews from the nations and bring them into their own land. Writing his notes in 1908, Scofield stated that this referred to a future restoration of the nation of Israel, or, as some perceived it, the budding of the fig tree. In the Old Testament, the nation of Israel was referred to as a fig tree. In Matt. 21:19, Jesus cursed the fig tree because it had no fruit. This was perceived as a rejection of Israel.

Well, on May 14, 1948, the fig tree budded. Israel became a nation as a result of a United Nations declaration. This date was vital to all Biblical prophecy experts. Israel was in the land. The countdown to the end had begun. We were indeed the generation of the fig tree. It was this generation that would see the end of all things. Since a generation was 40 years, the end would be in 1988.

Those who taught this view also taught, from Scripture, that before the end of all things, there would be a tribulation period of seven years according to the prophecies of Daniel. Rev. 7:14 speaks of the Great Tribulation. During those seven years, the anti-Christ would arise. He would be a political figure and, according to Dan. 7:24-25, he would be given authority by ten kings. Since the European Common market was forming and nearly ten nations had already come together, the time of the anti-Christ was soon upon us.

Other signs of the rise of the anti-Christ were obvious. Given the fact that scanning devices were beginning to become evident in grocery stores, could the "mark of the beast" be far behind? We would soon be in the position of having to make a choice when the government brands us with a mark on the right hand or forehead, without which we would not be able to buy or sell, according to Revelation 13.

In addition, Ezekiel 38 and 39 warned about the invasion of Israel by "Gog and Magog." According to the notes in my Scofield Bible, this referred to a time when Israel was in the land and Russia, advancing from the north, would invade them. The politics at that time allowed for this to be a very real possibility. The book of Ezekiel stated that God will destroy the Russian army and the buzzards would eat their flesh. A tract was being circulated that claimed the buzzards were laying twice as many eggs in Israel in order to have enough troops to eat the Russians. (I often wondered how they knew this.)

In 1967, the armies of Israel had captured the old city of Jerusalem, including temple mount. According to Ezekiel 40ff., the millennial temple was to be built. Everything was in order. An interesting rumor circulated that the stones for the temple were already carved out of Bedford, Ind., limestone and were hidden in caves. Other rumors stated that the Ark of the Covenant had been discovered under the temple site and that plans to rebuild were underway.

It was happening!
In 1978, I led my first trip to the land of Israel. There were four groups of Lutheran Charismatics taking the trip. I led one of the groups. The purpose of the trip was to attend a "Prophecy Conference" in Jerusalem, led by Derek Prince. Since so much of my thinking had been influenced by the popular Premillennial prophetic notions of the day, it was an exciting trip. Things were happening in the land. The people were restored. God seemed to be on their side as they went to battle against the enemies who surrounded them.

Prince spoke on the subject of parallel restorations, comparing the events in Israel with the events marking the growth of the Charismatic Movement. In 1948, when Israel became a nation, both the Billy Graham crusades and the Latter Rain Movement (early roots of the Charismatic Movement) started. In 1967, when Israel took the old city of Jerusalem, the Holy Spirit was poured out upon Roman Catholics at Notre Dame. In 1971, the Yom Kippur war broke out in Israel while the Holy Spirit moved mightily on the different denominations. For one participating in these events, these connections were obvious.

What was happening at the Dead Sea was very interesting. Zechariah 14 spoke of the return of the Messiah to the Mount of Olives, causing a great earthquake that would split the mount in two. Living water would flow from temple mount.

This stream of living water coming out of temple mount would flow to the Dead Sea and, according to Ezekiel (47:8ff):

This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, where it enters the Sea. When it empties into the Sea, the water there becomes fresh. Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live. Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En Gedi to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets. The fish will be of many kinds - like the fish of the Great Sea. But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt.

Well, parts of this prophecy were already in place. The Dead Sea had been divided due to the lack of water flowing down from the Sea of Galilee. The fresh water from the Galilee was being pumped into the desert so that the "desert was blooming," as Is. 35:1-2 stated.

This lack of water to the Dead Sea divided the sea. As Ezekiel predicted, a portion would be left for salt after the rest of the Sea had been sweetened with the living water pouring out of temple mount. We even took a dip in the Dead Sea at En Gedi, rejoicing that one day this would be sweet water after Jesus returned. In fact, our guide, who catered to end-of-the-world-minded Christians, showed us fish ponds near the northern-most part of the Dead Sea which, according to his explanation, were being prepared for the time when the Dead Sea would be sweetened.

Back to May 13, 1981
A very important ingredient in the Premillennial scenario was "the rapture." Christians would not pass through the great seven-year tribulation. They would be taken out or snatched away and be with the Lord. In Matt. 24:38-41, Jesus spoke of one being taken and one being left. Also, 1 Thess. 4:17 "clearly" spoke of the Rapture:

After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

The Rapture of the church was imminent. Hal Lindsey had stated that it was the next event in the prophetic scenario. I had a bumper sticker that read, "In case of rapture, this car will self-destruct." My favorite song was "The King Is Coming." According to the Premillennial scenario, the end of all things would be in 1988, or 40 years after Israel occupied in the land and the "fig tree blossoms." If you deduct seven years for the Tribulation, this means that on May 14, 1981, the rapture of the Church would take place. Therefore, this was a very exciting evening to be alive!

I shared every detail with the women of the Bethel Lutheran Church Ladies' Guild. After my presentation, one little elderly woman said, "Reverend, why are you scaring us?"

Well, May 14, 1988, came and went, and nothing happened. In fact, 1988 came and went and nothing happened. Since that time, the Soviet Union has disbanded. The European Common Market now includes far more than ten members and Israel is giving land back to the Palestinians. When the events did not pan out, some prophecy "experts" redated the blooming of the fig tree to 1967, when Israel occupied the old city of Jerusalem. This would put the time of the end in the year 2007 and the "rapture" in the year 2000. The Y2K scare also fueled the notion that this would be the start of the tribulation. Again, it didn't happen.

Having bought into this Premillennial way of thinking and living with great expectations that came to absolutely nothing brought me to the conclusion that this theology is the greatest hoax ever visited upon unsuspecting Christians. The hoax lives on. Despite of unfulfilled predictions, the thinking persists.

The Roots of the System
I embraced the Premillennial Dispensational way of thinking because it appeared to be the most reasonable explanation of the events that were occurring. It is the primary end-time position taught within much of modern Evangelical Christianity, even though all the predictions that have arisen as a result of this view have come to naught. What is the source of this teaching? How did it arise?

In 1832, Edward Irving (1792-1834) established the Catholic Apostolic Church and taught the imminent return of Jesus Christ. Irving believed there had to be a reestablishment of the 12 apostles before Jesus would return. He appointed these 12 apostles. Of course, one by one, they eventually died and Jesus never returned. John Nelson Darby, who founded the Plymouth Brethren in 1847 in England and Ireland, spearheaded the dispensational interpretation of the Bible. He was widely influenced by Edward Irving. Darby taught that Biblical history is divided into seven "dispensations" or periods of time. The final dispensation would be the 1000-year millennial reign of Christ on earth. An important key to understanding Dispensationalism is the notion that God will reestablish an earthly kingdom with the nation of Israel. For this reason, the events in Israel are of vital importance for the Premillennial Dispensationalist. Before the coming of Jesus, the temple would be rebuilt and the sacrificial system reinstated.

Because this kingdom was offered and then refused by the Jews, it would be offered again in the future. By crucifying Jesus, the Jews rejected the kingdom, but God did not reject Israel. As an after-thought or a parenthesis, Christ then went on to establish the church because Gentiles now believed what the Jews rejected. This is the "Church Age" spoken of by Dispensationalists and it must end before God can re-establish His primary work with the Jews. The church age ends with the rapture. Darby's Dispensational ideas caught on like wildfire in America, and were widely spread by the Scofield Reference Bible. Scofield, a layman, having studied Biblical prophecy for 30 years, added notes to the text of Scripture promoting Darby�s Dispensational theology. Many Christians today regard Scofield's notes as being equally inspired as the Bible itself.

Apparently, however, neither Darby nor Scofield originated the idea of a pre-tribulation rapture. Darby was inspired by a woman named Margaret MacDonald who reported a revelation given to her by God during a healing service in Port Glasgow, Scotland, in 1830. MacDonald reported that in her vision, there was a two-stage process to the Second Coming of Christ. The first stage, the rapture, removed the church from this world. Christians would be caught up before the great tribulation and be taken to heaven. After the tribulation, Jesus would return to earth and establish His millennial kingdom. These ideas were embraced by Darby, promoted by Scofield and developed more fully in many of the Bible schools like Moody, Fuller and especially Dallas Theological Seminary during the 20th century in the United States. Many of the more fanatical proponents of the premillennial view are graduates of Dallas Theological Seminary.

Bad Theology
This theological system is replete with errors.

1. The present-day nation of Israel is no more involved in God's plans for the future than is France, England, Germany, the United States, etc. The teaching of the New Testament is very clear - Jesus fulfilled everything pertaining to Israel and formed the New Israel, His church. It is an abomination to claim that the church is merely a parenthesis or an afterthought in the divine scheme of redemption. In fact, the Bible clearly states that the plans of God and the wisdom of God will be revealed in His church (Eph. 3:8-11).

2. Much of the "tribulation prophecy" in the Old Testament prophets, the Olivet discourses of our Lord Jesus, and the Book of Revelation was fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. When Jesus said in Matt. 24:32-34 that "this generation will not pass away," He was not referring to some future generation that would see the political nation of Israel established by the United Nations. He was referring to the generation alive at the time He spoke the words. His words were fulfilled. In 70 A.D. Jerusalem was utterly destroyed. In fact, there is a view of Biblical prophecy called Preterism. Those who hold the view claim that all futuristic prophecy was fulfilled in the First Century.

3. The teaching of two "second comings" of Jesus is not Biblical. As the Apostles' Creed simply states, "From thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead." On the mount of Ascension the angels told the disciples that He would come again in the same way they saw Him depart into heaven. Nowhere does the Bible teach two "second comings." The language of 1 Thess. 4:17 does not allow for the "rapture" teaching. The phrase "to meet the Lord" literally means "to meet for the purpose of welcoming back." The Greek phrase "to meet" ( eis apanthsin) is only used on four occasions in the New Testament. In each case it means to go out to meet for the purpose of welcoming. (See, for example, Acts 28:15.)

Conclusion
Premillennial Dispensationalism is a deceptive teaching. Those who promote these views and fill the minds of God's people with this nonsense are perpetrating a hoax.

Jesus is coming again. This is our glorious hope. Jesus told us to be about the business of preaching and teaching His Gospel and not speculate about His second coming. Those who believe in Jesus and trust His blood and righteousness for their salvation are prepared for His coming. "Even so, come Lord Jesus

Answer 2

This is a BIG question; since you've asked so many, I only have room for very brief answers.

1) Why did God bother creating us? The garden of Eden presented Adam & Eve with a challenge: would they obey God, or would they not? God already knew the answer, but Adam & Eve didn't. This theme of a choice between obedience and disobedience is a recurrent one throughout the Bible -- in fact, the same choice is yours, too. Will you follow God in obedience or disavow Him and be disobedient?

2) What will happen to all those who don't believe in Christ? This question is answered in the Scriptures. Carefully study Acts 17:22-34. Does Paul tell them they are damned? No. However, once the Gospel is preached to them, they have a choice: turn away from the message, or believe Jesus, who said "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." Anyone who dies having heard the Gospel, but rejected it, is damned. You may also want to study the Noahide Covenant for further information.

3) Why is our religion the only and the best? There is only one God. Either you believe Jesus' statement that He is the ONLY way to the Father, or you reject it. It's your choice once you hear the Gospel.

4) Why do we shove our Christian religion down others throats? We don't, although some of us are shamefully without grace when we witness to others. Given the fact that the vast majority of people in the world have heard the Gospel and many still reject it, doesn't it make sense to continue witnessing to these lost people? To walk away from them and leave them to their fate without trying to help is probably the most unloving action I can think of.

5) What about the Rapture? Being left behind is the fate of those who have rejected the Gospel when the time comes. God can't let this go on forever. Read Daniel 9:24-27 -- the purpose of the Tribulation is to rid the earth of sinners. Don't forget that many people will be converted during the Tribulation.

It sounds to me that you have not yet engaged in serious, systematic Bible study. I highly recommend that you purchase Wayne Grudem's 'Systematic Theology' and begin to study. The Bible says that, in the end times (which we're in right now), many believers will "fall away" into damnation. Please, don't be one of those people. Strengthen your faith now before things get worse for you.

Answer 3

Christians know God. Those who think God to be unjust and doubt him are not Christian because they do not have a personal relationship with God.
Those who love and seek the truth receive a gift form God called faith.
Through faith they receive revelation from God and a personal relationship with God.

If a man believe that God created everything.
How can that which is created by God be greater than the creator?

Do you have virtues that you did not receive from God?
How can creation judge God?
The approach a Christian has is to believe God and then he receives revelation from God knowing any part of him that he deems as righteous was created by God.
Had you known God personally you would have no need to judge God.

God is a righteous and perfect God. God provided a way for every sinner to be joined to him in rightousness through the atonement in everlasting paradise and those who love his truth will find him.

Answer 4

Of course we all go through those periods where we think we are a fraud, you are a fraud, we all are a fraud. Have to remember, after living so many years without God and then boom, here is the Holy Spirit guiding you, it is a shock to humans. So, glad you talked about it with your fellows and yes, keep talking about it because someone will be thinking what you were and confused. This is a natural part of our journey of leaving the old life and the old self behind to become more like Christ. The Bible states over and over to question all teaching. So, pray for discernment. Psalms 1 is great to read and meditate on daily - helped me, may help you. You are fine and walking with God. What a beautiful journey He has given us. Double up on your reading the Bible, prayer, Bible study and hanging out with other Christians so these times of "less faith" will be shorter and shorter and then they turn in to just a flash of a thought. Must keep on your spiritual armour so satan will not sneak in and give you thoughts that you are not really walking with God and that you are really a fraud and on and on. That is satan's goal to confuse you and have you go back to your sinful life. God will strengthen you but you do have to take the action. I have prayed for you.

Answer 5

First and foremost. To choose God is more than to choose to avoid hell. A choice to follow God and accept Jesus as your savior has lots of benefits while you're still on earth, You can't find a better friend, counselor, provider, healer, father, comforter, etc. than God. Accepting salvation gives you access to the kingdom of God through Jesus while you're still on earth. By applying kingdom principles (everything has rules and instructions), you have access to everything you need. Although there is a place prepared for us to remain throughout eternity, we shouldn't focus so much on the afterlife and focus a little more on the life we are now living. We aren't to shove our beliefs down anyone's throats but to spread the gospel to anyone that will hear it. Although many of the people on this site claim to be uninterested in hearing our posts, they keep coming back for more. God is working in their lives too, whether they know it or not.

Answer 6

We all fall pray to doubt.
"Why is our religion the "ONLY" and the best? Isn't that judgmental of us?"...to this I say, yes I'm correct, but this is only for me, you and everyone else would have to decide for yourself if you are correct.

"Why do we have to shove our Christian religion down others throats? If we don't, will all those people go to Hell? That's totally out of line...very cruel!"
...I do not shove my faith down anyones throat and I REFUSE to do so, if a question is asked, and I know the answer then I will answer it, But I will not sit and have a argument about God with anyone, Yes there is a BIG difference between arguing and debating

I'm with God not out of fear, but out of the love that He has shown me throughout my life

Answer 7

I have had similar doubts. Satan is putting those thoughts in your head. Being on this site makes one think about other alternatives. You have to stand strong in your faith and know that Jesus is the way, the truth and the light, no man comes to the father but through Jesus. We know in our hearts we are right and have found the way to heaven. But sometimes our minds work overtime w/ doubt. Faith is believing in what we cannot see and we will be blessed for it. I don't shove anything down anyone's throat. I simply walk my talk and if someone asks a specific question about God, heaven or Hell I will answer honestly. I never butt into a question and tell people they are going to hell. That judgment is God's and God's alone. Pray that God will soften their hearts of stone and make them into a heart of flesh. Don't despare, my friend, doubt is normal. Stay connected with God/Jesus and stay in the living word. Don't give up the faith. You are on the right track. Don't let the non believers bog you down.

Answer 8

a really good book for addressing these doubts is:
_Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism_
by John Shelby Spong.
He's an Episcopal Bishop and talks about ways the Bible can still be inspiring without having to be taken literally.

I'm a Christian because those are my roots. through Christianity is how I connect to the Divine.

I believe the religious institution of christianity is quite flawed, but has some nuggets of goodness (mmm...nuggets of goodness...). I believe that other religions are just as flawed and valid, that hell is a place that we create in our minds by cutting ourselves off from love, that God does not threaten and torture people (although people do it in God's name which I imagine frustrates God)...

Answer 9

There is nothing wrong with questioning anything.
It is what is built inside of all of us.
Do research on other faiths and compare them. Look inside your heart and feel God. God will point you to the answers.

I have done this when I was questioning all the religions myself. Then I found the one that truly opened my eyes and all the answers were there in front of me. I did not need anyone to tell me what was the best religion. I did the research on my own. And the answers came to me.

Answer 10

You seem to have overlooked the most crucial part of your faith: an actual relationship with God. No wonder you are so confused.

Christianity means absolutely nothing if God is not central in your life.

Answer 11

The God of Moses is the serpent (Satan, the devil)
Rev. 13:14-18, John 3:14, John 6:32, John 1:17, and John 10:8