Not too experienced in Christianity, more of a self-taught person actually, but I'd be happy to take your questions and do what I can. Others are invited to respond if they feel like it.

12/16/2008 1:33:06 AM

k

12/16/2008 1:33:25 AM

didn't you make this thread before

12/16/2008 1:34:17 AM

That was a prayer request thread in the Lounge.

12/16/2008 1:35:21 AM

oic

how do you feel about the godhead?

12/16/2008 1:37:37 AM

If God were omniscient, omnipotent and omni-benevolent why do the innocent still suffer?

Why does God say different things to different groups of people? Is s/he (it?) trying to stir shit up on Earth or are human beings just wrong about some things?

12/16/2008 1:38:32 AM

Can God build a house that even he can't knock over?

12/16/2008 1:39:23 AM

Quote :

"are human beings just wrong about some things?"

is that a trick question?

[Edited on December 16, 2008 at 1:40 AM. Reason : ^that's easy; it depends on the sense of the word "can"]

12/16/2008 1:39:45 AM

Why should I believe in God?

12/16/2008 1:42:31 AM

Quote :

"how do you feel about the godhead?"

It's pretty all-encompassing.

Quote :

"If God were omniscient, omnipotent and omni-benevolent why do the innocent still suffer?"

It's not that He doesn't care about them, it's either just that it's not their time for relief just yet or that He's trying to teach them something. At least that's how I see it.

Quote :

"Why does God say different things to different groups of people?"

Could you give an example? I'm sure that if He's trying to stir up some shit, it's to get us to ask questions about Him. If you're referring to how He promises salvation to those who believe and not to those who don't, He's only trying to be honest with us.

Quote :

"Can God build a house that even he can't knock over?"

No.

Quote :

"Why should I believe in God?"

He made you and bought you. Makes sense to me.

12/16/2008 1:43:39 AM

I mean why would God tell the Jews one thing, Christians another and Muslims something else entirely? Jehovah is fickle as all get out.

When you say God "bought" me, what do you mean?
I'm uncomfortable with the idea of being owned.

12/16/2008 1:46:54 AM

So what you're saying is God isn't omnipotent then.

12/16/2008 1:48:19 AM

Well he could be omnipotent... I mean, he could have the power to alleviate suffering and simply choose not to

but that calls his benevolence into question

maybe it is because God simply forgot about the suffering people or was unaware of them
that preserves the possibility of his benevolence but means he's not omniscient

of course there also is the possibility that there is not God at all

tough stuff!

12/16/2008 1:50:56 AM

Quote :

"I mean why would God tell the Jews one thing, Christians another and Muslims something else entirely?"

The message is pretty universal; believe in God. Unless you believe that each religion's deity is the same and manifested through different religious scripts; if that's the case, then you believe in non-gods in addition to the Christian God. Which begs the question, why Christ? I'm not sure how to answer that other than the fact that He died for us. That's a God that loves ya.

Quote :

"When you say God "bought" me, what do you mean? I'm uncomfortable with the idea of being owned."

Aren't we all, lmao. He paid with His own blood for our salvation, the only step we need to take is to trust that everything was done the way it was said. Being uncomfortable with the fact that someone would lay down for you should be hardly worth the worry if the payoff is salvation.

Quote :

"but that calls his benevolence into question"

He's not. He's omiscient, so he hasn't forgotten the people, but and the fact that they are suffering does not mean they are being deliberately overseen. It might just not be their time. Something is holding Him back from blessing them.

It could also be a test of their strength and faith. To suffer with dignity and not crossing God or doubting Him... that's faith.

12/16/2008 1:53:06 AM

blah blah blah

12/16/2008 1:56:06 AM

what happens to people that haven't heard the gospels before they die?

12/16/2008 1:56:14 AM

Quote :

"Something is holding Him back from blessing them."

so something is more powerful than God?

Quote :

"It could also be a test of their strength and faith. To suffer with dignity and not crossing God or doubting Him... that's faith."

Why does God need to test someone? Doesn't he already know what is in their heart? Why should he be so cruel?

This is all very confusing.

12/16/2008 1:57:03 AM

if it's so confusing then how does sarah palin understand it so well

12/16/2008 1:59:18 AM

Quote :

"so something is more powerful than God?"

A tempting thought, but no. Something is going on with those people that He sees fit not to bless them, maybe? Another reason is that He wants us to reach out to those who are suffering for no reason and to comfort them, as a medium for bringing them news about God.

Quote :

"Why does God need to test someone? Doesn't he already know what is in their heart? Why should he be so cruel?"

Because we denied Him when we chose to be like Him rather than to just be happy with the fact that we were made and provided for. We're separated from Him, and this is how He reaches us. With a 2x4 on the head. Sometimes it's the only way we'll listen.

Quote :

"what happens to people that haven't heard the gospels before they die?"

Not all get the opportunity; I personally believe they can still be saved. Some don't. It's our responsibility to get the message out as far as possible.

12/16/2008 2:00:46 AM

God doesn't want us to live in a utopia and would prefer we struggle just so we can see how awesome he is?

12/16/2008 2:03:49 AM

hey cddweller i've got some ocean front property in Kansas you might interested in

12/16/2008 2:05:18 AM

He did want the utopia, that's why He created it. We just chose not to accept it. We put the suffering on our own heads.

12/16/2008 2:05:34 AM

all you have to do is accept jesus and you do get to live in utopia

[Edited on December 16, 2008 at 2:07 AM. Reason : he's a carrot and stick kinda guy]

12/16/2008 2:06:10 AM

No way. I didn't make a decision like that. Why should I have to pay for the sins of the fathers? And not even my fathers.

God would support reparations for slavery too, I guess.

^ No good works necessary? See back when I had "accepted Jesus into my heart as my personal lord and savior" I was doing good works and the world was far from a utopia. I guess I was doing it wrong. Should have just accepted the feel-good religiosity and retreated into my insulated tortoise shell of a religious American middle-class community.

[Edited on December 16, 2008 at 2:09 AM. Reason : Then I would have had that utopia.]

12/16/2008 2:07:00 AM

he's not black if that's what you mean

12/16/2008 2:07:33 AM

Why do you worship an imaginary friend?

12/16/2008 2:09:29 AM

Why won't God heal amputees?

12/16/2008 2:10:40 AM

Quote :

"No good works necessary?"

ephesians 2:8 homie

12/16/2008 2:11:23 AM

Quote :

"No way. I didn't make a decision like that. Why should I have to pay for the sins of the fathers? And not even my fathers."

It might not have been your choice when it occured, but it's your choice right now. Basically you can sin or not sin, and in doing so either continue to try and be like God (making your own universe, living by your own rules), or accept that you wouldn't be here without Him. Whether you were there when the original sin occured, it is actually still in your hands to reverse it. And it doesn't seem fair that we be held accountable for what happened in the Garden, but the best we can do now is to try and make amends. If you refuse to acknowledge that Adam is your relative, I guess that's your choice.

Quote :

"God would support reparations for slavery too, I guess."

All I know is God is definately against slavery.

Quote :

"No good works necessary? "

Salvation cannot come by works alone.

Quote :

"Why won't God heal amputees?"

I don't know, try asking Him. I've seen crazier shit go down.

12/16/2008 2:12:13 AM

I didn't say works alone but I don't understand these people who are supposedly of great faith and yet do nothing to help the poor and less fortunate

it seems to me that the bulk of what Jesus talks about regards helping the poor

12/16/2008 2:14:43 AM

Those would be hypocrites.

12/16/2008 2:16:30 AM

Was your original post implying that God = Christianity, or can we talk about other religions too?

12/16/2008 2:18:22 AM

should i be worried about purgatory?

[Edited on December 16, 2008 at 2:19 AM. Reason : ^you mean like mormons?]

12/16/2008 2:18:27 AM

but if you rely solely on that quote from Ephesians then any number of useless couch-jockeys can make it to heaven by wishing hard enough

and since we're on the topic - how is the King James Bible the unadulterated word of God?
it has clearly been through SEVERAL revisions

how do we know that we're reading it the right way?

12/16/2008 2:19:25 AM

maybe god wants to cast a broad net

12/16/2008 2:20:30 AM

Why should we ask you questions? Why are you credible?

12/16/2008 2:23:54 AM

Quote :

"Was your original post implying that God = Christianity, or can we talk about other religions too?"

Sure, it's whatever.

Quote :

"should i be worried about purgatory?"

I don't see where it's mentioned.
http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=purgatory&qs_version=31
It's not in my own concordance either.

Quote :

"but if you rely solely on that quote from Ephesians then any number of useless couch-jockeys can make it to heaven by wishing hard enough"

Well, it's not just by faith either - arguably, with faith, comes action. So you'll be putting your money where your mouth is unless you're the aforementioned hypocrite.

Quote :

"how is the King James Bible the unadulterated word of God?"

It isn't. Please refer to the original languages of the scriptures.

Quote :

"how do we know that we're reading it the right way?"

The best way to read it is to ask for guidance when you do, so you're not reading it alone. Academic assistance (seminary school) can do a lot to improve our understanding of the scriptures, but I'm pretty sure when God's guiding your eyes and granting you wisdom regarding what He said, you'll get the right picture.

Quote :

"Why should we ask you questions? Why are you credible?"

I'm not. I just wanted to make the thread. If someone else is more credible, speak up.

12/16/2008 2:23:55 AM

you know, i actually think seminary could be fairly interesting if they weren't so keen on indoctrination

[Edited on December 16, 2008 at 2:26 AM. Reason : maybe that's what "religious studies" is for]

12/16/2008 2:26:11 AM

Hell, seminaries are so exclusive that you get a 60% discount on tuition and books if you're Baptist. It's retarded.

Definitely got into Islamic History at State, it's badass. Definately take it if you have some free elective hours still available.

12/16/2008 2:27:20 AM

I live in an old friary owned by the Episcopal church

are the Episcopals wrong?
they don't hate the gays, you know

12/16/2008 2:32:18 AM

Wiki says it's against the death penalty and pro civil rights, so it can't be all that bad in my book. I don't know enough about denominations to go comparing them. I can cite several examples from the Bible that indicate God wants men and women together, though.

12/16/2008 2:35:40 AM

^^haha, are you trying to tell us something?

[Edited on December 16, 2008 at 2:36 AM. Reason : ^]

12/16/2008 2:36:03 AM

Quote :

"All I know is God is definately against slavery. "

The word of God condones slavery of foreigners (Leviticus 25:44-46), indentured servitude of people of their own ethnicity (Exodus 21:2-6) and sexual slavery of people's own daughters (Exodus 21:7-11).

People just choose to ignore those verses like they do the ones that talk about eating shellfish and gay sex... OH WAIT!

12/16/2008 3:17:41 AM

Is sexual slavery wrong? Not playing devil's advocate, it's an honest question.

I consulted someone and they say it can't be justified, btw.

[Edited on December 16, 2008 at 4:07 AM. Reason : Slavery is for money, whereas bondage is more spirit-related.]

12/16/2008 4:00:28 AM

This thread makes me

12/16/2008 4:47:15 AM

Do you like Old Testament God or New Testament God better?

To me, Old Testament God was kind of a dick, but that could be because He was new to being God and was trying to get used to his super powers, like Spider-man.

12/16/2008 6:25:39 AM

Are atheists just wasting their time trying to explain to you all that there simply is no god?
Do you actually think for a second that you matter? You don't. God didn't make you. There is no god. There are no gods. Before modern science and communication, you people (to be fair, my ancestors included,) saw lightning and were like, "Oh wow, lightning...god make that." WE GET IT. You needed explanations for things so people would be pacified. (Why aren't you people better at remaining skeptical, in general?) You needed closed hierarchies so you could fool people into accepting the authoritarian rule under which they were evolving. WE GET IT. As science debunked more and more of what you people said was god's doing ALL ALONG, you simply shrugged your shoulders, shape-shifted a bit, and then continued your cult with the new hand you were dealt. You are a disease...a shape-shifting disease. Aren't you disturbed, or at least a bit concerned about the elementary school logic that your best and brightest seem to routinely employ? No matter what science reveals, you just peel back the onion with your, "Oh, well, god may not have made us in his image, but god created evolution." and your, "Oh, well, as it turns out, god didn't create the earth as the center of the universe, he just wanted us to think that or something. Yeah, that's it. That's the ticket. God was just testing us.....yeah......" WE GET IT. One should wonder why so many atheists make just as big a stink about this as some monotheists... It's because we know we're right. Well, not so much that, as we know you're wrong, and we just can't leave it well enough alone. (Cynics, I guess...) So overall, why the fuck do you do it? Why do all you god followers do it? Why can't you see that everything you've attributed to god can and does clearly exist without god. Try it. You'll be amazed. [/rant]

[Edited on December 16, 2008 at 7:45 AM. Reason : ]

12/16/2008 7:42:54 AM

Bitter much?

12/16/2008 7:48:42 AM

No, I'm very well adjusted, but some of my friends, (and sadly, some family,) are not. They, in my opinion, are suffering from a belief in god. I'd like not-so-much for them to stop believing in god, but rather for them to not be suffering. It's almost like they'd prefer to not believe in god, but don't know how. It's hard to watch.

I suppose many god followers view the "atheist camp" as a bunch of stubborn know-it-alls with their heels dug in the ground. I can't express in words how much I feel that the opposite is overwhelmingly the case.

12/16/2008 7:59:37 AM

setemup

12/16/2008 8:01:04 AM