"What's wrong with this picture? Can you see it? It's a reflection of a mountain in a lake, but the reflection is clearer than the original image. That can't be, can it? What's wrong is that the picture is upside-down.
There's a similar problem with Christianity. People look at Christians or the church, thinking they have a clear picture of what Christianity is all about. That's where they make their mistake and many turn away from Christ as a result, as did I.
Continued here,
http://snapshotsofgod.com/whatwrng.htm
Also, are you guilty of this type of issue? Why or why not.
Thanks for the answers.
2007-10-27 09:22:40 · 20 answers · asked by Let's Debate 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
My issues with Christianity have nothing to do with its purported followers.
I recognize the absurdity of Christianity's basic principles, the omnipotence of God, the idea that the suffering of an innocent can somehow atone for the sins of the guilty, the idea that we should admit our guilt and yet be unwilling to endure the consequences of our actions. It's all just nonsense and that is why I don't accept it.
2007-10-27 09:26:23 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 2⤋
Guy as an older Christian its been my experience that when you engage non-believers you have to do it on their playing field. They want and need logic and proof not quotes from the bible or an internal debate from the church or cute websites with upside down pictures. They tend to be the more intelligent among us, although their intelligence sometimes stops their searching. They have a right to skeptical. It is extremely obvious that there is no God, what's not obvious is that there is. Many Christians reject science as anti-faith which makes no sense if you think about it from a logical standpoint. God can't be in conflict with science because it is simply describing his creation, he can't exist outside it because he created the rules that this universe follows and there are tons of perfectly balanced rules. He is not "supernatural" if anything he is hypernatural. My non-believing brothers and sister just think for a moment about how far we have come technologically in the last 10,000 years, from a neo-palolithic tribe to the brink of understanding the observable universe. Now imagine how advanced we hopefully will become in 4 billion years after we outgrow this star and possibly even this 4 dimensional plane. Time might not even mean anything to us. Physical matter might be manipulated on a mere whim. We might even have advance enough to create new universes, (science is already thinking about that possibility now). Why is it so hard to believe that there is a being far far advanced from us that has a personal interest in our well being and development before we are allowed to enter the "kingdom" of Heaven. Its not that far fetched. How many of you would really be surprised if tomorrow a starship landed on the White House lawn and made official contact with us. Why is it so hard to accept that the ultimate being has slowly revealed itself (him/herself) to us and that the "kingdom" of heaven is a lot more advanced than mere starships. Its not that big of a leap of understanding, it may be fantastic but it makes a lot of sense.
2007-10-27 10:16:43 · answer #2 · answered by mike w 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, I don't view Christianity from the outside looking in. I was raised Christian, I went to church & bible meetings, and I even went to sleep to bible stories on cassette every night as a kid. I believe what I believe with a strong understanding of the bible, old testament and new.
That story does have a point, though. It's staggering how many Christians do not value the word of Christ as much as they think they do. Many are judgmental, sometimes hateful, and when it comes to matters of politics, they don't care about taking care of the less fortunate portions of our society. True Christians, those that understand and follow Christ's teachings, are often truly amazing people. I know because my family is amazing.
2007-10-27 09:34:35 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
As a person that is also into photography, it is all about light. The water is calm and is reflecting more light, so the reflection is therefore clearer. Simple as that. It's very easy to take a picture like that (upside-down) or manipulate one on the computer.
Besides I don't "look at Christians thinking that they have a clear picture of what Christianity is all about". They are the ones that think that they do. And say it constantly.
2007-10-27 09:27:05 · answer #4 · answered by ? 7 · 5⤊ 2⤋
From the article:
> Go get the clear picture that is found only in the words spoken by Christ himself.
Big problem. Jesus of Nazareth born in Bethlehem hasn't said anything in the past 1,970-odd years. Jesus did not write down anything. His words while on Earth have been distorted while being written of by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John -- not all of whom even met Jesus anyway. It's impossible to get a clear view and account of what Jesus did and said.
Too bad. Unclear reflections are all we have -- unclear reflections, and faith. The author of that article wasn't thinking, and he completely fails to make the point he was trying to make, by dint of writing a self-contradictory article.
Thanks for asking.
2007-10-27 09:33:50 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I turned away from Christianity after many years of pondering why we should worship a God who seemed to have a very bad temper problem. I know many Christians, and some of them are good people. Some of them are not-so-good people. People are people, and quite often our judgments of them have nothing to do with religion.
2007-10-27 09:38:58 · answer #6 · answered by Rapunzel XVIII 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would never worship the sadistic, immoral, killer God of the Bible. The very idea of sending oneself to be beaten and executed so to appease oneself, so to save one's creations from oneself, is absurd and sick. If Christians and the church are not an accurate reflection of Christianity, then you need to clean your own house before pointing fingers at others, or trying to suck others in.
Does Christianity ATTRACT people who are unlike Christ, or CREATE them? Either way, I am not interested in any part of it.
2007-10-27 09:27:25 · answer #7 · answered by gelfling 7 · 5⤊ 1⤋
Perhaps one of the reasons, among many, that atheists left the church is because of exactly this sort of squint-and-ignore-the-bad-things attitude believers have toward Christianity's actual record.
2007-10-27 09:32:20 · answer #8 · answered by Doc Occam 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
"...are you guilty of this type of issue?"
This question cannot truly be answered because whatever my thoughts are, there is an assumption of guilt or lack thereof.
My history of exploring and practicing various brands of Christianity, as well as Paganism, Eastern religions, et. al., has convinced me that god is whatever you believe it is - or isn't. I have no problem with your/her/his god (and/or prophet), only your/his/her inability to accept that it is not identical to mine.
2007-10-27 13:38:00 · answer #9 · answered by Zee 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is the case of ...
Garbage in ---> Garbage out
This is what religion largely does...
When you critically look at it, it is not what it pretends to be.
Familiar?
Something that is truthful and accurate - remains the same, after severe criticism. It stands up to examination of the minutest detail.
2007-10-27 09:35:57 · answer #10 · answered by TruthBox 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋