Posted by James 5:16 on April 14, 2001 at 14:41:28:
In Reply to: Please! (long)(part 2) posted by Ezekiel 25:17 on April 10, 2001 at 01:48:28:
: There are so many different websites out there stating the numerous contradictions within the bible that I'm just not going to bother. It doesn't matter what people say in the bible, because there are 3 options.
Before we go on, why can't the Bible be true, and these faulty humans be wrong?
: 1. Either the entire bible is true, and we know this is not the case. Go on, contradict me on this point, I dare you :)
: 2. Either the entire bible is fiction, and this would make everything irrelevent.
: 3. Either the bible is partly true, which means that who are we to judge which parts are accurate and which parts not?
: : So, that is what we are left with: Faith. Proof is something I, James 5:16, cannot give to you. That peace of understanding and proof comes from faith and the Lord sharing His Holy Spirit with you.
: I'll let you write FAITH in capitals as this is the keystone behind all religious argument. When all else fails, everyone falls back on the requisite FAITH which is required for God to appear. As much as I can contradict logically numerous sections of the bible, there is no possible way to nullify faith. But as I'll say again, Faith is not a bad thing, and its possible to have faith without organised religion.
We can go back and forth about the logic of things. As many arguments that can be made for the Bible as against the logical arguments against the Bible. Faith is a requirement that has gone back thousands of years. It isn't something new, nor is it a fall back for lack of logic.
: : Getting back to it:Did I burn my lap with the hot chocolate, and if I did, are you accepting that I did this by faith in MY word alone?
: I'm accepting you may have burned yourself with hot chocolate because it is entirely reasonable and feasible that you may have done so by natural means. When you start telling me you walk on water, that's when I'll start doubting :)
Didn't burn myself by the way...Even though you didn't have doubts, you were still wrong.
: : We should all face the Bible with the same questions. In time, understanding will come to some and not to others. That is the way of things. It's a hard and harsh reality we live in. For Christians and non-Christians alike. Started with sin, and will end because of it.
: It's a hard and harsh reality we live in? Whose fault is that? If understanding will only come to some and not others, again who is to blame?
: God didn't create us, like a parent creates a child. God supposedly designed and made us. God is infinite and omnipotent, thus any design faults are intentional.
Certainly if there was a being greater than God (and we don't know that)that being would judge God. However, we are not God. He has the power to judge us as we have the power to judge a painting as being a good piece of art or not.
: : Just remember that for a Christian, faith is the key. It's the bond and relationship we have with God. Most days, we can hold on to faith alone. For us, because of that faith, the world may abandon us, but Jesus (God) will not.
: In time, sadly enough Christianity will fade away to being a small cult. Like any good marketing ploy, its greatest strengths came at a time where conversion was by force, and all children were indoctrinated into dogma. However, in this day and age, although we still search for something spiritually, we are more educated and open-minded, and like the Greek Gods of history, I predict that within 200 years, irrespective of the great wealth inherent within the Catholic church, belief in Christianity will fail, and we will be seeking another answer. The only problem is: there is none.
Christianity's been around for a long, long time and so has Judaism. Each longer than 200 years.
Population of the churches world-wide are only growing...
James 5:16