I think you may be overlooking the fact that there are religious questions which have no answer. Hence .. the idea of FAITH.

I am really curious as to what these questions are that has them stumped. o.0 Do tell!..

Yes, I would like to know what questions you asked as well.

Me too! And you can't convert a true Christian that loves the Lord unless they lack faith anyway. You have not run anyway. Maybe it is your refusal to believe what they tell you? Or, making the questions fit the answers as to where they can't be answered and no longer have anything to do with the Bible? My Dad used to do that.

If you want to know Christ, you have to develop your own relationship with him and he will supply you the answers. That is what we call faith. Man has only the own interpretation on the Bible. Who is to say they are always right. And, different religions have different beliefs... how do you answer that. I find that it is man's own interpretation.

But, hey, I'll give your questions a go! I don't plan on going anywhere. Try us out. Don't be surprised if you get different answers though.

I agree with the others here, and would love to hear your questions.

My education is science based, so I get the "prove it" attitude. But like WV, I accept that religion is based in faith, which has more of a "believe it" attitude.

For me the key has been to accept those differences. The one hangup I do have is when somebody tries to explain faith to me and ends up saying "believe me because I say so". That tends to make me tune out.

Sooo, how about those questions?

My initial response would have been similar to Wandering Vet. This topic is kind of close to my heart. After a incredibly tough 2 years that I have gone through in which I was very angry at God I came to a point where eithier I believe and trusted in him or I turned my back on him(I had to get off the fence). I chose to surrender myself to him. Faith is more than any one religion because they all have their strengths and weaknesses it is more of building a relationship with God which is a very very personal journey no one can force on you. I also learned some questions just cant be answered hence where faith and trust come in. I just read a quote on another board in which they talk about how even if you believe in God you are not protected by bad things happening but your faith helps sustain you when the bad things occur. My personal experience finds this to be true. I have traveled to the darkest depths of depression but clinging to my faith sustained me. I also would like to hear some of your questions. I dont even pretend to have all the answers I can only speak from a personal perspective. Gerry

Vall, I'd like to know what the questions are too. One thing I will say, I don't believe for a minute that you took away that couple's ' faith'.

I'm going to message you.

((((((((((( BIG HUGS )))))))))))

LMT

well, ok...

this time the discussion was about 'the word of God' and how so many christians think that the word of God is unchanging... and my question was, 'in a universe where the only constant is change, why do so many christians believe God's word doesnt change?'

and then when that question didnt get answered, i answered it for him, by saying 'it actually does change, a lot'... and i explained how at first, there was no word of God for the vast majority of people... and then the old testament came and gave part of the word of God and then the bible came along and changed the word of God (by adding to it) and then i mentioned the new gospels that have been found in the last century and asked what christians would do if that got organized into a 3rd book of God, changing it yet again?

to be clear... im not looking for absolute answers, or proof... those can only come from God... im just looking for other peoples opinions... their thoughts on the subject(s)... so there are no wrong answers

i should also say that i have an extremely strong faith in God... if i didnt, i woudlnt be here... simple as that... but i do have a lot of unanswered questions...

i do not believe that God wants anyone to follow Him blindly... i think He wants us to ask the tough questions and accept the tough answers

im just trying to figure out why Jesus was needed

with this person, my first question was 'why is Jesus needed? i know he died for our sins and all of that, but why do people need to worship Jesus? doesnt that take away from God?' and he told me that you're not supposed to worship Jesus, just believe in him... which confused me a lot but i accepted that answer... hes not the first one to say that, but, hes in the extreme minority for that answer

one last thing i should say...

i also value my knowledge of science... i often sit with a friend and discuss quantum theory and the laws of the universe (lately, its been about the nature of gravity)... and those trains of thought have only strengthened my belief in God

you did not tak away ther fath just opened ther eyes to see that that religion did not have all the answers they were looking for ...so what you did was put them on a new path of surching for what they were looking for they dident relise they needed befor you came along ......you did your job ....you put them on ther new path ....a good thing ....you can ask me questions but I am raised calothic but have found I can't read the bible ....and when I was old enough to understand how they were describing God to me it wasent the God I new ..and had always knowen .............so I can give you discussions ...and what I know ..what I have always knowen ...you can mesage me if you like ...and we can talk there ....and I do not belive in pushing religion on anyone .....if it works fro you ...that's all good .....take care ....God bless ...

What I believe is the word of God is unchanging but mans interpretation of it does change. To me the main and primary message of God is to 'love humanity" . A very simple message that seems so difficult to carry out. I 100% agree with you to keep asking the questions and God willing you may find some of the answers. Imagine how different the world would be if that one simple concept was followed,"love humanity"

The answer to your second question (in my opinion) is the trinity. God the father, God the son, and God the Holy spirit.

However, I have heard or was taught that God was really tired of us all and was about to pull another Noah's ark or something of that magnitude. His son asked to come down here and take all the sins of man upon himself instead of destroying man for his sins. God agreed.

In the end, God will judge us, however, Jesus his son will be like our attorney, filled with compassion proving your faith in him. Good works alone will not get you into heaven. It is the faith that Jesus Christ the Son of God came to take our sins away. That is why it is important for (me anyway) to believe and worship Jesus Christ.

Some religions do not believe in Christ. For example the Jewish people. They do not believe that the son of God has come yet. I would not either, if it was my faith that killed him. Anyway, like I said, different faiths have different beliefs.

I think faith is a personnel relationship with God and belief that he sent his son to save us from our sin. By his blood we are washed clean from sins.

That is my take on it anyway, I believe that Jesus was sent here to save us from our sins and belief in him will gives you everlasting life.

Your first question. I think by saying God's word never changes, Christian mean that the 10 commandments, the parables never change. God gave us rules to live by. God also made promises to us that will never change. He promises that by faith you are saved and will receive eternal life. The old testament is history, stories told that can't be changed. We can't change the past. Finally, the second coming of Christ and the revelations of the end will never change. He tells us what will happen. And, that is not going to change.

But, you are right in that the Bible seems to have changed from the Old testament to the new. The old testament was life before Christ or Jesus. The new testament is after the Christ child is born. However, it did not change, the story just continued. And what was in the continuation (New Testament after Christ was Born) never changes either.

Like I said, that is my take on it. May not be right according to different faiths, but it is what I believe to be true. The world may change due to man, but, the rules of life, the beginning of life, the history and future of life according to the Bible will never change.

"with this person, my first question was 'why is Jesus needed? i know he died for our sins and all of that, but why do people need to worship Jesus? doesnt that take away from God?' and he told me that you're not supposed to worship Jesus, just believe in him... which confused me a lot but i accepted that answer... hes not the first one to say that, but, hes in the extreme minority for that answer"

My answer to this question is he was needed because he shows a sacrifice. The moral cannot be taught without sacrificing something of great value hence sacrificing him for the "sins" of man. Its a lesson of sacrifice.

You are finding contradictions in the "Bible" and questionioning them....and that is because life contradicts itself constantly. So life has not changed so neither has The Bible.

Love your questions.

The first one about the word of God changing is interesting. Does it change? I like to think that when reduce to its basic meaning it does not change. But as society changes and we have "new stuff" we need to learn how to apply his word to the new things.

For example, there was a time when people thought that airplanes violated God's word, hence the statement "If God had meant people to fly we would have been born with wings."

I also believe that as we mature as a society we (hopefully) gain a better understanding of the word of God.

It is interesting to look at religious history. Most of the religions that I have looked at have changed their interpretation of the word of God over the last 1,000 years or so.


Very interesting.

If you notice, the gospels are mostly the disciples take on the birth of Christ. Everyman has a different way of seeing things. The other scrolls they have found are other people's version on how things went. So, maybe there could be a 3rd book. Of, maybe King James thought it was redundant to keep coming over different versions of the same thing.

I do know some of them differ widely from the Bible. Some say Mary was Christ's wife and leader of the disciples. Who knows, maybe Christ was married, it does not say he was not. And, you commit no sin by being married. The Bible describes Christ as being without sin, I don't remember him being called unmarried.

Back in those days, women were not thought of like they are today. Maybe that is why King James left her out. You will notice, the Bible says, KING JAME'S version. It is possible that King James left some of it out and there very well could be a third book or at least an additional chapter in the new testament.