People say that believing in Christianity is like believing in a giant serpent or giant beast?

Question

IT IS!

Ever heard of the Leviathan - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leviathan

Or the Behemoth - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behemoth

Both of these are mentioned in the bible as real things (some say demons, some say big animals) sent by God
Since it's written in God's word (and according to Christianity Gods word is immaculate) Christians believe in this

So after seeing the Leviathan and Behemoth;

Non-Christians; Your views? does it change your opinion (for better or worse) on Christianity (if you didn't know about it)

Christians; Did you know you believed in this? If not your views after finding out?

I'm not criticizing I'm just trying to find peoples views, thanks for the answers

Lamboram...(girl with socks in the avatar);
"The Christian interpretation of Leviathan is often considered to be a demon or natural monster associated with Satan or the Devil, and held by some to be the same monster as Rahab"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leviathan#Christianity

Thats referring to it as a demon, not a big whale

Anna;
The Beast i'm talking about is the Behemoth... not Satan

t_a_m_i; your answer both confuses and angers me.
I'm not saying Gos is a beast and how you came to that conclusion is ludacris...

I meant God not gos

HeVn Bd; I thank you for the COMPLETELY arrogant stereotype that if someone is non-christian and asking questions that they are swaying people away from God, I'm not, i'm merely trying to get peoples opinions. And the leviathan is not a "Symbol" if you go to the links it shows clearly the scripture that States it is a real being. As for the Behemoth it states that it is the primal unconquerable animal of the land... so first things first is Why did God create it? and if he created it for a purpose why did he let it die out?

Answer 1

Jethro: "Hey Jacob, going fishing today?"

Jacob: "Aye, brother, thinking of going to the deeps this morning, get some mackerel to sell at market for a good shekel or three!"

Jethro: "Ahh really, brother? Watch ye out for the Leviathan, mammoth beast that prowls the deeps! Scourge of many a fisherman these days, I avoid the deeps altogether now."

Jacob: "By God, 'tis true then??! Thank ye, brother, I shall avoid them, I shall instead seek the clam beds near the shores for some good booty and mayhaps an oyster with pearl!"

Jethro: "Indeed, farewell brother!"

Tomas (first mate of Jethro's fishing skiff): "Your orders, captain?"

Jethro: "Make for the deeps, my friend, yet another of our competitors hath fallen for the Leviathan trick! Let the King know his alterations upon the 'Holy' texts have met with profit for us both! We shall have much mackerel for his meal this eve. And the brothel shall engage our pleasures this night!"

Tomas: "With pleasure, captain, my captain!"

Answer 2

I have been a child of God for many years and I have "never" heard anyone compare Christianity to a giant serpent. Did I know I believed what? If you read Job chapter 41 it is apparent that Leviathan is a symbol of Satan, it isn't an animal. Verse 34 of that chapter says that he is a king over all the children of pride. "Pride" is never part of the equation when talking of animals, but the bible speaks of pride explicitly when dealing with man and Satan who fell from heaven because of pride. Secondly, Behemoth is more than likely an extinct animal. Beasts of astronomical sizes roamed the earth in ages past. But we know the Behemoth was created with man ( Job 40:15 ). So, I'm baffled....how does this sway someone from believing in the Lord? As God told Job, "You are in no position to question God when it is He who has made man and animals. Trust God or die."

Answer 3

I am a Christian and I was well aware of leviathan and behemoth. Did you know that unicorns are mentioned in the Bible as well? Numbers 23:22;24:8: Deuteronomy 33:17; Job 39:9,10;Psalm 22:1,29:6,92:10;Isaiah 34:7. I laugh when people talk about not believing in God and not believing in pink unicorns either. I believe that unicorns once existed as well (wonder if I'll get made fun of by evolutionists who should be able to believe in unicorns since we have horses and rhinos and they are supposed to be cousins).

Answer 4

There could be a number of reasons for the use of those words in the Bible, including mistranslation. I think everyone knows that the Bible has been translated so many times that some verses have just lost their original meaning. Does this effect my beliefs? Not really. Just don't rely on the Bible alone! Prayer is usually a good companion!

Answer 5

Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit isn't forgiven today or tomorrow.

Calling the God of the Holy Bible the beast or satan is near close if not blasphemy of God the Holy Spirit.

Christians believe in Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God.

Answer 6

Leviathan was an arch demon, one of the four princes of hell; he was slain by the hard sword of God and reborn as a creature of goodness; God installs a river in paradise where Leviathan can play. It's mostly all in the Bible.

Answer 7

A Leviathan refers to a great creature of the sea. It's unlikely that people had much knowledge about giant deep sea creatures in that time, so if that's what they used to describe it, that's fine with me. Anyone familiar with the story of Jonah is already aware of this.

Answer 8

to the ancients, the sub-serface sea was a strange and mysterious place, which could (and does) hold a wide variety of sea-life. Whether the ancients of the Middle East had any conception of whales I do not know, but even seeing very large fish could inspire beliefs in even larger creatures. Likewise, the crocodile could similarly inspire imagination to conjecture an even larger land-lizard.

Keep in mind, whether or not these authors were "inspired" or not, their world-view was inherently limited, and they clearly did not understand everything their world offered.

Answer 9

In much older literatures, Bible included, and even today...you will find people doing their best, based on their time of experience, intelligence, & communication abilities, describing things they do not fully understand.

Knowing that the majority of humans instinctively fear first, you can imagine what some of them come up with as explanations. Today we have the capabilities to fear, then capture, dissect, & usually hide the findings, or find a way to make mucho dinero of them...LOL

Answer 10

For the previous post, it is not trust God or die. It is "unless you repent you will likewise perish". I know semantics I do agree with you.

If you are a Christian and do not believe that all scripture is inspired by God or God-breathed, how do you determine which is correct and incorrect? Probably depends on which part you like and don't like. Just like Jesus and His sayings. Many people think He is a great teacher, good man, or some other patronizing remark.

The fact that what we call dinosaurs are not called dinosaurs in the Bible does not change the fact that God new they existed. God also revealed through the Prohphet Isaiah that the earth was round. In another section of scipture He reveals to us that the stars are uncountable, in another He reveals the concept of the hyrdological cycle, in another He reveals the ocean currents, long before so called intelligent man discovered these things.

In one portion of scripture He reveals that no one in righteous, no not one, no one is good, and no one seeks after God. Let's see if that one is accurate by me asking each one of you a few questions.

Have you ever lied? Have you ever taken anything that does not belong to you, regaurdless of your age or its value? Have you ever looked at anyone with lust? Have you always honored your father and mother?

If you you have lied, you are a liar. If you have stolen your are a thief, and if you looked with lust (sexual thought) you have committed adultery in your heart. Not sure of the adultery, well Jesus said" you have heard it said of old you shall not commit adultery but I say unto you, if you look at a woman to lust after her, you have committed adultery in your heart." If you have done any of these you have dishonored your mother and father.

You see no one does right. Jesus says in one place that He came not to condem but to save. He said that because as he reveal in that same passage the world is already condemmed before a Good Loving Just and Holy God.

That is why Jesus said unless you repent(turn from your sins(lies, stealing, adultery etc.) you will likewise perish. Along with repentance must come faith. Jesus also said that those who beleive in the only begotten Son of God will have eternal life.

God also revealed another fact that is important in the scripture. He revealed that there is a day comming were the world will be judged in righteousnous. No acquital for lack of evidence, no mistrials, no shady deals. Everyone will be rightly judged and sentenced according to the Law. The sentence will be eternal suffering in a lake of fire if found guilty. The judge will be Jesus Christ.

God proved the fact of this day and the One who would judge, by raising Jesus from the dead three days after Jesus sacrificed Himself for His people.

Why is Jesus the one to judge? Because He voluntarily bore the sins of His people in His body. Then He took the full wrath(anger) of God upon Himself. He suffered and died upon the cross, forsaken by all including His Father who had to turn away becasue He bore sin(our sin).

Anyone that now rejects this great gift purchased by Christ, will be judged by Christ on that great and terrible day of the Lord.

But if you will repent and beleive, you will be reconcilled to God, will go from enemy to friend, and be granted eternal life.
Today is the day of salvation, do not delay. You will make a decision today and I hope you choose wisely.