Tell us about yourself prior to commenting on someone else.

There's already plenty of "how" on another thread. Tell us the "why".

I think religion is nothing more than a bid for control because the alternative is terrifying. At some point you'll close your eyes and…nothing, just nothing…and I cannot fathom a more terrifying thought than simply ceasing to exist.

So the concept of heaven gives you something to look forward to that isn't *nothing* and the concept of hell is a great way to convince people to be good.

OTOH, it's really hard to look around and think that all of this is random happenstance…

I'm Christian with lots of questions. Have respect for other religions and I suspect when we get to wherever we are going , a lot of us are gonna be supprised. May be folks there who don't show the same beliefs as Christians. Questions relative to religion is normal and I think it's called "faith". I don't do blind faith. I'm not rigid that there is only one way to be a Christian as it can take many forms. Christians can learn a lot from other faiths. Ie, the kindness I experience on the daily from a country of Budda folks. here in BKK is remarkable. You won't find that in Merca. We are to busy trying to kill the other tribe. Kind souls. just me.

Sam Lowry said:

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"The usual approach of science of constructing a mathematical model cannot answer the questions of why there should be a universe for the model to describe. Why does the universe go to all the bother of existing?" Stephen Hawking

Or to say it another way, "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork." Psalm 19.1

"It is always simple to fall; there are an infinity of angles at which one falls, only one at which one stands." G.K. Chesterton

The evidence of fatal error surrounding Christian orthodoxy on all sides convinces me of its wisdom.

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I've not read the Chesterton quote before. I like that.

nein51 said:

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I think religion is nothing more than a bid for control because the alternative is terrifying. At some point you'll close your eyes and…nothing, just nothing…and I cannot fathom a more terrifying thought than simply ceasing to exist.

So the concept of heaven gives you something to look forward to that isn't *nothing* and the concept of hell is a great way to convince people to be good.

OTOH, it's really hard to look around and think that all of this is random happenstance…

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So , do you fall to paragraph 1 or paragraph 3 and why do you fall that direction?

J.R. said:

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I'm Christian with lots of questions. Have respect for other religions and I suspect when we get to wherever we are going , a lot of us are gonna be supprised. May be folks there who don't show the same beliefs as Christians. Questions relative to religion is normal and I think it's called "faith". I don't do blind faith. I'm not rigid that there is only one way to be a Christian as it can take many forms. Christians can learn a lot from other faiths. Ie, the kindness I experience on the daily from a country of Budda folks. here in BKK is remarkable. You won't find that in Merca. We are to busy trying to kill the other tribe. Kind souls. just me.

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The original question is "why".

Why are you a Christian? You've obviously seen positive qualities in other faiths. Why do you call yourself a Christian as opposed to something else?

LIB,MR BEARS said:

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J.R. said:

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I'm Christian with lots of questions. Have respect for other religions and I suspect when we get to wherever we are going , a lot of us are gonna be supprised. May be folks there who don't show the same beliefs as Christians. Questions relative to religion is normal and I think it's called "faith". I don't do blind faith. I'm not rigid that there is only one way to be a Christian as it can take many forms. Christians can learn a lot from other faiths. Ie, the kindness I experience on the daily from a country of Budda folks. here in BKK is remarkable. You won't find that in Merca. We are to busy trying to kill the other tribe. Kind souls. just me.

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The original question is "why".

Why are you a Christian? You've obviously seen positive qualities in other faiths. Why do you call yourself a Christian as opposed to something else?

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because I believe Jesus is the savior. Guess that makes me Christian. I do take positive influences from other faiths.

Perhaps I should have included 1Peter 3:15 in the OP.

ESV
but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

So, with gentleness and respect, WHY do you believe what you believe?

J.R. said:

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LIB,MR BEARS said:

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J.R. said:

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I'm Christian with lots of questions. Have respect for other religions and I suspect when we get to wherever we are going , a lot of us are gonna be supprised. May be folks there who don't show the same beliefs as Christians. Questions relative to religion is normal and I think it's called "faith". I don't do blind faith. I'm not rigid that there is only one way to be a Christian as it can take many forms. Christians can learn a lot from other faiths. Ie, the kindness I experience on the daily from a country of Budda folks. here in BKK is remarkable. You won't find that in Merca. We are to busy trying to kill the other tribe. Kind souls. just me.

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The original question is "why".

Why are you a Christian? You've obviously seen positive qualities in other faiths. Why do you call yourself a Christian as opposed to something else?

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because I believe Jesus is the savior. Guess that makes me Christian. I do take positive influences from other faiths.

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thanks. You posted this while I was pulling the 1Peter 3:15 passage.

If Bangkok Willie ask you why you believe that, what's your response?

I have yet to find sufficient evidence (scientific, historical, theological, philosophical, or otherwise) that convincingly demonstrates the validity of Christianity's core claims.

BearWithMe said:

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I have yet to find sufficient evidence (scientific, historical, theological, philosophical, or otherwise) that convincingly demonstrates the validity of Christianity's core claims.

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That's kind of why there is so much emphasis on faith, BearWithMe.

It's about the soul, not quant analysis.

LIB,MR BEARS said:

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J.R. said:

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LIB,MR BEARS said:

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J.R. said:

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I'm Christian with lots of questions. Have respect for other religions and I suspect when we get to wherever we are going , a lot of us are gonna be supprised. May be folks there who don't show the same beliefs as Christians. Questions relative to religion is normal and I think it's called "faith". I don't do blind faith. I'm not rigid that there is only one way to be a Christian as it can take many forms. Christians can learn a lot from other faiths. Ie, the kindness I experience on the daily from a country of Budda folks. here in BKK is remarkable. You won't find that in Merca. We are to busy trying to kill the other tribe. Kind souls. just me.

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The original question is "why".

Why are you a Christian? You've obviously seen positive qualities in other faiths. Why do you call yourself a Christian as opposed to something else?

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because I believe Jesus is the savior. Guess that makes me Christian. I do take positive influences from other faiths.

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thanks. You posted this while I was pulling the 1Peter 3:15 passage.

If Bangkok Willie ask you why you believe that, what's your response?

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I'm fairly resolute in my faith, but leave room grace and other from different faiths. Funny thing is Bangkok Billy wouldn't ask that question. Mercan Evangelicals have the prostleitizing covered. Proselytizing make me nervous!!!! lol (said as a recovering Baptist)

LIB,MR BEARS said:

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Tell us about yourself prior to commenting on someone else.

There's already plenty of "how" on another thread. Tell us the "why".

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Because (1) the Bible is the best overall description of the human condition in recorded history. Because (2) the fact that I would prefer not to be one, in combination with point 1, is proof that I must be one.

In some ways I don't understand God. I don't know why He would prefer to allow the world to continue as it does as opposed to incinerating say, child molestors and rapists every new years eve. I know He is coming back, but would a little remodeling of this earth hurt in the meantime?

I have a difficult time reconciling statements like:

Do not worry.
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Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and the door shall be opened for you.
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If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move.

with Hebrews 11.

I wasn't raised in the church and pretty much from around age 12 I realized that I couldn't necessarily rely on my parents. When I became a Christian I had to pick a church by reading about them in an encyclopedia and trying to pick one that made the most sense. Methodist seemed right on paper to the teenage brain. Then you visit one, see the pastorette, and retreat into the bushes like Homer. So SBC it was for decades, until increasing disatisfaction with worshiptainment, Russell Moore, welcome the illegals powerpoints as announcements, and Covid drove me out. The need to forge my own way was ingrained early in life. I am not a joiner. I am not a plan truster. Maybe this affects my outlook, and preachers kids raised in AWANA don't suffer such thoughts.

But His universe, His rules, I am merely a sinner living in them and playing by them. So I confess, "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner" and will continue to muddle along repenting of my own sins and trying to be a better disciple tomorrow than today.

"When Abba Anthony thought about the depths of the judgments of God, he asked, 'Lord, how is it that some die when they are young, while others drag on to extreme old age? Why are there those who are poor and those who are rich? Why do wicked men prosper and why are the just in need?' He heard a voice answering him, 'Antony, keep your attention on yourself; these things are according to the judgment of God, and it is not to your advantage to know anything about them.'"

A more thorough exposition of Father Cavanaugh's great one liner in Rudy: "Son, in thirty-five years of religious studies, I've come up with only two hard, incontrovertible facts; there is a God, and, I'm not him."

J.R. said:

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LIB,MR BEARS said:

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J.R. said:

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LIB,MR BEARS said:

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J.R. said:

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I'm Christian with lots of questions. Have respect for other religions and I suspect when we get to wherever we are going , a lot of us are gonna be supprised. May be folks there who don't show the same beliefs as Christians. Questions relative to religion is normal and I think it's called "faith". I don't do blind faith. I'm not rigid that there is only one way to be a Christian as it can take many forms. Christians can learn a lot from other faiths. Ie, the kindness I experience on the daily from a country of Budda folks. here in BKK is remarkable. You won't find that in Merca. We are to busy trying to kill the other tribe. Kind souls. just me.

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The original question is "why".

Why are you a Christian? You've obviously seen positive qualities in other faiths. Why do you call yourself a Christian as opposed to something else?

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because I believe Jesus is the savior. Guess that makes me Christian. I do take positive influences from other faiths.

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thanks. You posted this while I was pulling the 1Peter 3:15 passage.

If Bangkok Willie ask you why you believe that, what's your response?

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I'm fairly resolute in my faith, but leave room grace and other from different faiths. Funny thing is Bangkok Billy wouldn't ask that question. Mercan Evangelicals have the prostleitizing covered. Proselytizing make me nervous!!!! lol (said as a recovering Baptist)

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Thanks again

BearWithMe said:

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I have yet to find sufficient evidence (scientific, historical, theological, philosophical, or otherwise) that convincingly demonstrates the validity of Christianity's core claims.

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Thanks for the honest answer.

What things about the Bible and/or about Jesus do you believe if any?

LIB,MR BEARS said:

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nein51 said:

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I think religion is nothing more than a bid for control because the alternative is terrifying. At some point you'll close your eyes and…nothing, just nothing…and I cannot fathom a more terrifying thought than simply ceasing to exist.

So the concept of heaven gives you something to look forward to that isn't *nothing* and the concept of hell is a great way to convince people to be good.

OTOH, it's really hard to look around and think that all of this is random happenstance…

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So , do you fall to paragraph 1 or paragraph 3 and why do you fall that direction?

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It depends on the day and how close I feel to death tbh.

Oldbear83 said:

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BearWithMe said:

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I have yet to find sufficient evidence (scientific, historical, theological, philosophical, or otherwise) that convincingly demonstrates the validity of Christianity's core claims.

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That's kind of why there is so much emphasis on faith, BearWithMe.

It's about the soul, not quant analysis.

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You have to recognize how this sounds to a non believer thought, right?

Every Muslim, Jew, Buddhist, pastafarian all believe because "faith". Faith is nothing more than hope. You're hoping you're right just like a Mormon is hoping they are right.

You have faith you're right and the Muslims are wrong, that works entirely in reverse for them.

Someone out there has faith that if you just have faith in SOMETHING then you're all correct which, logically, can't be possible.

nein51 said:

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LIB,MR BEARS said:

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nein51 said:

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I think religion is nothing more than a bid for control because the alternative is terrifying. At some point you'll close your eyes and…nothing, just nothing…and I cannot fathom a more terrifying thought than simply ceasing to exist.

So the concept of heaven gives you something to look forward to that isn't *nothing* and the concept of hell is a great way to convince people to be good.

OTOH, it's really hard to look around and think that all of this is random happenstance…

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So , do you fall to paragraph 1 or paragraph 3 and why do you fall that direction?

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It depends on the day and how close I feel to death tbh.

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Good answer. You know, we never know when that day will be. If we think we have 5-10 years our choices are different than if we have 6 months. The thing is, we don't know if we're going to get t-boned going through an intersection.

Don't wait too long.

LIB,MR BEARS said:

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nein51 said:

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LIB,MR BEARS said:

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nein51 said:

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I think religion is nothing more than a bid for control because the alternative is terrifying. At some point you'll close your eyes and…nothing, just nothing…and I cannot fathom a more terrifying thought than simply ceasing to exist.

So the concept of heaven gives you something to look forward to that isn't *nothing* and the concept of hell is a great way to convince people to be good.

OTOH, it's really hard to look around and think that all of this is random happenstance…

---

So , do you fall to paragraph 1 or paragraph 3 and why do you fall that direction?

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It depends on the day and how close I feel to death tbh.

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Good answer. You know, we never know when that day will be. If we think we have 5-10 years our choices are different than if we have 6 months. The thing is, we don't know if we're going to get t-boned going through an intersection.

Don't wait too long.

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I grew up the son of a military man that did double duty as a Baptist deacon. A man that spoke and read 7-8 languages. We had a copy of the Bible, the Torah in Hebrew, the Quran in Arabic. Intellectually I see how no one believes in God, it makes no sense at all. Spiritually I think it's hard to deny the existence of some higher power but that could just be the hope for something after life.

I've been Baptised and I still fall to the "I believe" side of the equation but I often think I'm merely hedging my bet.

LIB,MR BEARS said:

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nein51 said:

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Oldbear83 said:

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BearWithMe said:

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I have yet to find sufficient evidence (scientific, historical, theological, philosophical, or otherwise) that convincingly demonstrates the validity of Christianity's core claims.

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That's kind of why there is so much emphasis on faith, BearWithMe.

It's about the soul, not quant analysis.

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You have to recognize how this sounds to a non believer thought, right?

Every Muslim, Jew, Buddhist, pastafarian all believe because "faith". Faith is nothing more than hope. You're hoping you're right just like a Mormon is hoping they are right.

You have faith you're right and the Muslims are wrong, that works entirely in reverse for them.

Someone out there has faith that if you just have faith in SOMETHING then you're all correct which, logically, can't be possible.

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It's an old example but it works.

You can have all the faith in the world on 1/2 inch of ice and very little faith in 6 inches of ice. Only one of those things is going to hold you up.

I think we all have faith. I have no proof my wife will not stab me in the night. I do however have evidence that she hasn't done it yet and have no reason to believe that will change.

I have faith that the oncoming car isn't going to swerve into me head-on. I don't even know who it is driving but, I still have that faith.

Faith isn't blind faith. Faith is based on evidence, experience-ours and others.

Blind faith is gullibility.

I assume you have faith in science and yet science is always changing, revising, restating for better understanding. And yet, we find reason to have faith in science.

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I don't actually place much faith in science either

Grumpy said:

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Not based on any apologetical arguments, but I am a Christian simply because the Holy Spirit intervened in my life and transformed me by God's grace in Christ.

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Persistent hound

4th and Inches said:

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LIB,MR BEARS said:

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nein51 said:

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LIB,MR BEARS said:

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nein51 said:

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LIB,MR BEARS said:

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nein51 said:

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I think religion is nothing more than a bid for control because the alternative is terrifying. At some point you'll close your eyes and…nothing, just nothing…and I cannot fathom a more terrifying thought than simply ceasing to exist.

So the concept of heaven gives you something to look forward to that isn't *nothing* and the concept of hell is a great way to convince people to be good.

OTOH, it's really hard to look around and think that all of this is random happenstance…

---

So , do you fall to paragraph 1 or paragraph 3 and why do you fall that direction?

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It depends on the day and how close I feel to death tbh.

---

Good answer. You know, we never know when that day will be. If we think we have 5-10 years our choices are different than if we have 6 months. The thing is, we don't know if we're going to get t-boned going through an intersection.

Don't wait too long.

---

I grew up the son of a military man that did double duty as a Baptist deacon. A man that spoke and read 7-8 languages. We had a copy of the Bible, the Torah in Hebrew, the Quran in Arabic. Intellectually I see how no one believes in God, it makes no sense at all. Spiritually I think it's hard to deny the existence of some higher power but that could just be the hope for something after life.

I've been Baptised and I still fall to the "I believe" side of the equation but I often think I'm merely hedging my bet.

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Many of the Psalms show that David had quite a bit of doubt. You are far from alone.

Do you or have you ever read the Psalms? There's some great stuff for all of us in there. I think you'll find you share some very similar feelings with the author(s).

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many books in the Bible are the gift of knowledge to us, psalms is an instruction manual how to pray to God

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True. Several of those psalms show doubt. Maybe I did a poor job expressing that to Nein

A great example is comparing psalms 22 and 23.
22 shows utter despair and in verses 1&2 doubt as to whether God even hears the Psalmists. The 23rd shows no despair at all-only confidence in God. They both end with confidence in God but start totally different.

God hears all who seek Him and Know Him regardless of where we are in our doubts, fears, confidence and joy. We are truly blessed.