Why Is It

[Lordgalyan]

Why is it that Christians in general say I believe in God and Jesus because my grandmother or grandfather told my mother or father who then told me so it must be true? I saw it in a book it must be true. Do people not realize how easy it is to make yourself manifest things that are not real. To believe in something so hard you will kill or die for it. I have never in my life believed in anything so extremely that I was willing to die for it. How is it that a mortal person Jesus (Biblical times), Jim Jones (Jonestown Massacre), Charles Manson (Helter Skelter) could talk and convince people that he/she is the All Midi God. If people can be convince so easily than maybe it is possible that one day some one came up with an idea to see if they could get people to believe in something enough that they would be willing to do anything for that belief. I here Christians around me say things my child died because God wanted it that way. Instead of my child died because they lost control of their car or because of a bad or sick person killed them. I don't think in my life (38 years worth) that I have ever heard Christians take responsibility for their own actions or troubles. I am not saying all Just ones I have heard or interacted with. I am a good singer it has nothing to do with my talent God made it happen. I got a good job nothing to with my schooling or experience God made it happen.

I am sure I will get a lot of flak for asking but why is it.

[lightbeyondthedark]

Well first off... I was raised Lutheran... But in my early teen years I abandoned the christian faith... I became athiest, and shortly after that I decided to search for answers in the Wiccan beliefs...

Nobody made me believe in God, that was my choice... I chose to search for him, and I found him... And I can't really explain that to someone who hasn't...

And secondly... I do take responsibility for my actions... My God did give me free will, and I am to be held accountable for what I decide to do...

But these are just my beliefs...

[zandore]

No flak here. Some people need something to believe in, something to give them hope and God in one form or another is usually what they find. I don't think it is that they can not take responsibility for their own actions or troubles, It might be the way they cope with the loss of a loved one. I personally am a non-believer.

Edited January 26, 2005 by zandore

[BurnSide]

Well this is a silly question.

Obviously a child will gain the same beliefs as the person who raised them.

[star_child]

Just believe what you want. I see your point, though, and it is a very good one. I myself often wonder about it.

[Jesus_Freak]

I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ because he has made Himself evident to me in my life. Now all the people who don't believe me with ask me to give examples, and all i can say to them is "even if i told you, you'd just go, 'meh.. nothing big'" I was raised Catholic, but I am now protestant.

Also, we christians take responsibility for our actions, it's that we believe that God knows everything that's going to happen, so if He didn't want something to happen (that wasn't within a human's free will) then He would stop it. I sin daily, yes i blame myself, and i ask God to help me change, i don't say "hey God! why'd you make me sin?"... We aren't lazy thinkers as many people like to believe.

Edited January 26, 2005 by Jesus_Freak

[lightbeyondthedark]

I sin daily, yes i blame myself, and i ask God to help me change, i don't say "hey God! why'd you make me sin?"... We aren't lazy thinkers as many people like to believe.

464956[/snapback]

I totally agree with you Jesus Freak... good post!

[Lordgalyan]

Ok, I was raised Baptist growing up and no matter how hard I tried I have never found anything in the great book called the Bible that validated anything. Every word is from one man or another and interpreted differently by many.

My Grandparents were diehard Baptist and gave probably half their money to the faith. Maybe they had some peace for it but nothing else. They always lived in a little shack. All there kids except possibly my mother Grew up to be total weirdoes. Details are not needed trust me. They lived and died with nothing. But they loved the mighty savior.

[kyo_batsu]

Lordgalyan, I think your right on the money.

Anyone can write a book, claim its true, and 'validate' it. I think its a matter of wanting to believe that there's something more out there...somewhere.... If you believe hard enough in something, in your mind, it will become true.

[Jesus_Freak]

but how can you ignore the fact that Jesus fulfilled prophecies that were made a thousand years before he was born? sure you might say "well, they just made that stuff up about Jesus so he would be exactly how the prophecies said he would be"... well, it comes down to faith. I have faith that Jesus is my savior. Either way, either side is going to think "oh man, those non-christians are ignorant" or "wow... those christians sure are ignorant." bickering and argueing over who's right and wrong is pointless until we die, and we see who was right.... oh, and about being willing to die for my beliefs... well, i welcome death. You could torture me all you want, but i would never deny my Lord. weak minded eh?

[lightbeyondthedark]

but how can you ignore the fact that Jesus fulfilled prophecies that were made a thousand years before he was born? sure you might say "well, they just made that stuff up about Jesus so he would be exactly how the prophecies said he would be"... well, it comes down to faith. I have faith that Jesus is my savior. Either way, either side is going to think "oh man, those non-christians are ignorant" or "wow... those christians sure are ignorant." bickering and argueing over who's right and wrong is pointless until we die, and we see who was right.... oh, and about being willing to die for my beliefs... well, i welcome death. You could torture me all you want, but i would never deny my Lord. weak minded eh?

465015[/snapback]

Jesus Freak I very much agree with you... Good post...

[Jesus_Freak]

haha, well, most christians would agree with me... i only state the very basics of christian beliefs (unless asked to do otherwise)

[saucy]

I think it's totally opposite of what's being said about kids growing up and being a religion because their parents were. If you look at most middle aged parents today, they're just like my parents. They grew up in a strict religious household and their parents believed in hardwork and God was their backbone. But most middle-aged parents alive today grew up in the 60s and 70s during the sexual revolution and the closest anyone got to God was through drugs Some still had their faiths but it is rare today to find a strict household with faith in God. Maybe the parents have slowed down (from how they lived 20 and 30 years ago) and have faith, but most kids and teenagers today don't give a damn about anything except for saving the environment and smoking pot and getting laid. It's rare to find a teenager today who would say no to sex or drugs because of their religion. For me, I grew up athiest. My grandparents were strong catholics, my dad grew up in that environment, but today doesn't really care about religion and I didn't care growing up, but I found God on my own and now I'm baptist, the total opposite of what my family would expect from me. Am I a rare case? No. I personally believe that a lot of teenagers who grew up in a home where the parents made their kids believe in a God turned away from it and found their own way of life. That's why most ministers kids are bad news!!! In order to find God, you have to look for yourself. You won't find Him because your parents expect it or you're under the microscope.

[strichar]

I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ because he has made Himself evident to me in my life.

I'm not looking to make a debate or put anyone down for this, but it is just a statement I felt I had to comment on.

Isn't it a give in though that if you were raised in a mostly hindu society for example that you would percieve these evidences to be from Krishna and not Christ?

I'm just asking because I'm curious what you or anyone else would have to say about that.

Edited January 26, 2005 by strichar

[lightbeyondthedark]

I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ because he has made Himself evident to me in my life.

I'm not looking to make a debate or put anyone down for this, but it is just a statement I felt I had to comment on.

Isn't it a give in though that if you were raised in a mostly hindu society for example that you would percieve these evidences to be from Krishna and not Christ?

I'm just asking because I'm curious what you or anyone else would have to say about that.

465106[/snapback]

I am a christian, but even I have to admit strichar makes a good point here...

and somethings I can't explain, so I wont even try... lol

A wise man knows when not to speak...

Edited January 26, 2005 by lightbeyondthedark

[saucy]

I've never heard of Krishna. What is it?

[Jesus_Freak]

yes, but in the un-educated countries of the world, do you think they believe in evolution? they were brought up without evolution, so they probbly don't believe it. does that make evolution untrue? not everyone has to believe something for it to be true. of course where you live has an effect on what you know, and sometimes even believe, but that doesn't bother me one bit. I don't think my beliefs are less credible because of that.

oh, and saucy, i would answer that if i could think of the right words... i can think of it, but i can't type out an explaination (especially from fear of being wrong haha)

Edited January 26, 2005 by Jesus_Freak

[lightbeyondthedark]

yes, but in the un-educated countries of the world, do you think they believe in evolution? they were brought up without evolution, so they probbly don't believe it. does that make evolution untrue? not everyone has to believe something for it to be true. of course where you live has an effect on what you know, and sometimes even believe, but that doesn't bother me one bit. I don't think my beliefs are less credible because of that.

oh, and saucy, i would answer that if i could think of the right words... i can think of it, but i can't type out an explaination (especially from fear of being wrong haha)

465117[/snapback]

I knew if I just kept my mouth shut someone would come out with a good reply... LOL

[strichar]

I've never heard of Krishna. What is it?

I'll tell you.

Krishna is God, according to the Hindu faith. In fact the same god as a Christian would speak of. Krishna is just worshipped in a different way and percieved in a different way.

I'm going to quote a book written by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhubada. To better explain this.

" Krsna is the Supreme God. As Krsna Himself states in Bhagavad-gita "O conqueror of wealth, there is no truth superior to Me. Everything rests upon Me, as pearls are strung on a thread." "

yes, but in the un-educated countries of the world, do you think they believe in evolution? they were brought up without evolution, so they probbly don't believe it. does that make evolution untrue? not everyone has to believe something for it to be true. of course where you live has an effect on what you know, and sometimes even believe, but that doesn't bother me one bit. I don't think my beliefs are less credible because of that.

That's not what I meant. I didn't mean to discredit your beleifs in any way. What I was trying to ask was that there are many ways to worship and percieve your god. You personally probably have the recources available to you to learn different ways from different spiritual teachers throughout history. But you choose to worship God through the Christian ideals. You would still beleive in God if you were raised hindu or muslim. You would just have a different way to percieve and worship God through different prophets teachings.

" no one actually knows what dharma is, an no one can manufacture dharma. Dharma is the order of the Supreme Being. No on can manufacture state laws; they are given by the government. The simplest definition of dharma is that dharma is the order of the Supreme Being. Since the Supreme Being, God, is one, His order must be one. How, then, can there be different dharmas? It is not possible. Different dharmas are created due to ignorance, which causes people to think in terms of Hindu dharma, Muslim dharma, Christian Dharma, this dharma or that dharma. No. Gold is gold wether possessed by a Hindu, a Muslim, or a Christian."

Basically he is saying that all these religions worship the same god, so why say "I am christian" or I am Hindu or Muslim when you all worship the same god?

That was my question I guess. Why choose Christianity?

Edited January 26, 2005 by strichar

[lightbeyondthedark]

That was my question I guess. Why choose Christianity?

465201[/snapback]

I guess its just what you put your faith in...

[Jesus_Freak]

well, christianity is more than just God... we believe that Jesus Christ is God's son... that's why I'm christian.

[RH2097]

Well, I believe in God and such, but I don't believe he does anything for the world we are in. We all make our owns mistakes, and should take responsability for them. I believe in heaven and hell, God and Satan, but I don't think they have an say for what happens in this world, because of all of the hate and suffering that is happening, it's our free will that drives us. But rather, God and Satan exsist in the after life, if there is one.

[strichar]

well, christianity is more than just God... we believe that Jesus Christ is God's son... that's why I'm christian.

Well I understand that. Just take this into consideration though. Krsna was born in India some hundreds of thousands of years ago, a long time before Jesus Was born. He then wrote the Bhagavad-gita. This is the Holy Book of the Hindu. The neat thing about it is that it was written by God himself. Krsna was the human manifestation of God according to this book. Krsna said in th Bhagavad-gita

" Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religous practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion - at that time I descend Myself."

Is it not possible that Jesus Christ was a minfestation of God and his teachings have been dilluted with time?

[lightbeyondthedark]

well, christianity is more than just God... we believe that Jesus Christ is God's son... that's why I'm christian.

Well I understand that. Just take this into consideration though. Krsna was born in India some hundreds of thousands of years ago, a long time before Jesus Was born. He then wrote the Bhagavad-gita. This is the Holy Book of the Hindu. The neat thing about it is that it was written by God himself. Krsna was the human manifestation of God according to this book. Krsna said in th Bhagavad-gita

" Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religous practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion - at that time I descend Myself."

Is it not possible that Jesus Christ was a minfestation of God and his teachings have been dilluted with time?

465240[/snapback]

True christians believe what the bible says... Krisna or whatever was born so was Jesus... But Jesus exsisted before his birth... It says in the bible Jesus had a hand in creation...

[whoa182]

oh yeah... the bible must be correct after all.. it was written by man. They always tell the truth!