Ask me any question about Christianity

[YmirGF]

FYI: I am not an inerrantist (someone who believes the Bible does not contain errors), but I do believe the Bible points us to God. Therefore it is authoritative. I will try to answer you biblically for the sake of some of my other fellow believers and provide you with examples as to how what the Bible says is relevant to what you're asking. I hope all of us learn something new about each other and grow as individuals.

Is Hell metaphorical or literal, in your opinion.

 

[RedDragon94]

How you define "ritual?" To put things another way, how is ritual understood within the context of your religious practice?

Ritual is the attempt of a religious person to get to God. Many Christians do this when they read the Bible in the morning or the evening. I on the other hand think that God reveals himself to us in everyday things because God is in control of everything. We don't need to search for God, he reveals himself in nature and conscience.

What are examples of things your religion considers to be "rituals?"

The rituals my church does are baptism and the Lord's supper.

From your perspective, what function do these rituals serve?

They don't save a person but they remind us of what Jesus has done for us and they are an expression of our obedience to him.

While I didn't recognize it at the time, today I recognize there was a lot of ritual in the Catholicism I was exposed to as a kid. Religious services as a whole have a ritualistic framework - a specific set order in which things are done per tradition - for example.

Yeah, I have a hard time believing that those things truly connect a person to the God of the universe because God is a living being. Those who worship him have to see God at work in their lives outside the Church walls and have to come to him on his terms, which is not through a ritual *edit* but *edit* it is through repentance (beginning a relationship with God through Jesus).

 

[RedDragon94]

Is Hell metaphorical or literal, in your opinion.

Hell is literal, but God has made every effort to keep you out of there.

 

[Quintessence]

Ritual is the attempt of a religious person to get to God.

I find this a very interesting take on ritual. It's not what I usually think of, but if I stop and look at the various formal rituals of my own religion, at heart they are about relating to the gods in some fashion. What's interesting is that even though you and I have dramatically different god-concepts, we both see the god(s) in the everyday things. Ritual helps one remember that by formalizing connection.

We don't need to search for God, he reveals himself in nature and conscience.

I've heard this understanding, but it also seems that many outsiders have trouble with this idea. For lack of a better way of putting it, there's a lot of "reading between the lines" that has to happen in order to assume it's your god that is revealing itself, as opposed to some other explanation. Do you think you could elaborate on what leads you to go "yeah, that's my god revealing itself" rather than approaching it some other way? Or maybe you don't know what leads you to that conclusion... maybe it's an indescribable feeling or a hunch?

Yeah, I have a hard time believing that those things truly connect a person to the God of the universe because God is a living being.

In what way is your god a living being? I'm pretty sure you don't mean in the sense of being a biological organism, so what does "living" mean in this context?

 

[Demonslayer]

I assume you're referencing the Old Testament Scriptures such as Exodus 21:20-21?

Any of the myriad of places in both the Old and New Testaments that allow for human slavery.

The question is, if God is the author of all morality, how at any time could He have approved of human slavery when we know today that humans enslaving other humans is perhaps the most immoral act imaginable?

 

[savagewind]

Any of the myriad of places in both the Old and New Testaments that allow for human slavery.

The question is, if God is the author of all morality, how at any time could He have approved of human slavery when we know today that humans enslaving other humans is perhaps the most immoral act imaginable?

Except when some people have chosen to be enslaved. There have been accounts of people choosing it. Were they wrong?

 

[Demonslayer]

Except when some people have chosen to be enslaved. There have been accounts of people choosing it.

LOL. I have no idea what this means. The question is, why would SuperMoralGod, at any point in his infinite existence, approve of keeping, beating, buying and selling slaves?

Forget some silly example you might think you have of people choosing to be enslaved. If you choose to work for free you're not a slave, you're donating your time. Nice dodge though.

Now please address the hundreds of millions of human slaves over the course of human history that have NOT 'chosen' to be enslaved. Why did God support the practice of involuntary human slavery, including allowing the beating of slaves, in his amazing moral guidebook, the Bible?

 

[RedDragon94]

Ritual helps one remember that by formalizing connection.

I just know that God is always with me. There are some protestant Christians that believe in praying a prayer to become a Christian. Although the Bible does say we must say that Jesus is Lord with your mouth it doesn't say that praying a prayer is the exact formula of that. On the other hand I was lead to become a Christian by prayer.

For lack of a better way of putting it, there's a lot of "reading between the lines" that has to happen in order to assume it's your god that is revealing itself, as opposed to some other explanation.

Although God can reveal himself through man, he's not able to be understood in human terms, one must experience him at some point in their life to know him intimately. God is not simply the God of the Bible, he's the God of the universe as I said before.

Do you think you could elaborate on what leads you to go "yeah, that's my god revealing itself" rather than approaching it some other way?

When I have a subjective experience that reminds me of what the people in the Bible went through I kind of point to the God of the Bible because that's what the experience represents to me.

I'm pretty sure you don't mean in the sense of being a biological organism, so what does "living" mean in this context?

I mean that he is active in my life and in the world around me.

 

[RedDragon94]

Any of the myriad of places in both the Old and New Testaments that allow for human slavery.

The question is, if God is the author of all morality, how at any time could He have approved of human slavery when we know today that humans enslaving other humans is perhaps the most immoral act imaginable?

Some of those places may simply be referring to employment. The thing about it is the Bible was inspired by God but written by fallible people, therefore by an ancient man's perspective of course they're going to say beat your slaves. They're fallible human beings that live in a much tougher world than we do.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

I was a little too generalized with my questions. I understand the answers you have; and, I was wondering if you can give me a different perspective than what I am used to hearing.

The sacrifices of the Old Testament point to the sacrifice of Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice for sin. However, without the resurrection there would be no victory.

I understand that. How does the sacrifices in the OT of that point to Jesus sacrifice to sin literally wash away a person's sins?

Genesis 9:4 is the only one I know of.

Without understanding the nature of blood, then the sacrifice both OT and NT holds no other meaning but a Christian's interpretation and reflection of his sins dying in Jesus and not Jesus dying for his sin.

Not many people I know really think of how to answer the question. They are satisfied with the answer. The answer doesn't make sense unless I understand the nature of the question.

For example, I understand one and one equals two. If someone just told me that without my knowing the nature of how the problem is solved, they could be talking in Russian for all I know and it could be right.

Without knowing the terms and nature of the problem (one thing on either side put together doubles), I personally don't understand the answer.

Question: Are there references outside of scripture that can answer this question and/or how do you interpret the nature of blood in the sense it has washed away your sins?

Humanity's sacrifices can't bring life, this is why God gave himself. And it's also why Jesus was resurrected, to give everyone who believes in him victory. It's not that death begets life, resurrection begets life.

You cant have the resurrection without his death. It's his
Life-->Crucifixion/death-->Resurrection/eternal life.
Without the death, there can be no resurrection/life.

Questions:

Why use death as a means to receive eternal life?

What is the importance of death as a means of salvation/life?

When The Buddha went among the poor, he sacrificed his time, effort, his ego (etc) to help others out of suffering/salvation so they end the cycle of birth and death (cause and affect from birth, age, sickness, and death). He did all of this without needing to sacrifice himself.

So, for him, to keep ones life is to help others keep theirs.

Contrasting that with Christianity,

Scripture uses one's death (Crucifixion) to help others to keep their lives (after their physical death).​

I don't understand that. Can you use other scriptures and outside references to explain the Passion and why it is needed for a Christian to receive life after death?

That, and can you explain how the Passion can literally do this without the effort of the Christian whether his faith and/or his deed?

The aim of Christian martyrs throughout the centuries has been to live forever with God and build his kingdom. The martyrs actually laid their lives down for Christ's kingdom instead of the opposite of taking their lives into their own hands.

If they can do this, why not Christ? The Saints (well many. Some actually did sacrifice themselves by choice rather than received an ultimatum) where forced to either take their own life for god or let their opponent take their life (which will lead them to god anyway).

However, Christ didn't have that ultimatum. He willingly chose to follow his Father's Will and, let his opposites kill him to save others.

Question:

I only have limited knowledge in how to solve such issues like other people's sins. If I had children, it would take me awhile to think of many ways to teach my child how to live. God is not like me.​

So, do you think there are other ways God could have chosen to wash people of their sins without the means of the death of animal nor flesh?

 

[savagewind]

LOL. I have no idea what this means. The question is, why would SuperMoralGod, at any point in his infinite existence, approve of keeping, beating, buying and selling slaves?

Forget some silly example you might think you have of people choosing to be enslaved. If you choose to work for free you're not a slave, you're donating your time. Nice dodge though.

Now please address the hundreds of millions of human slaves over the course of human history that have NOT 'chosen' to be enslaved. Why did God support the practice of involuntary human slavery, including allowing the beating of slaves, in his amazing moral guidebook, the Bible?

I do not know. There are many, many people who would love to have their life taken care of with no burdens of choice. I think not everyone wants to be free. That was my point. Beating people into submission is wrong. I am sure God agrees that it is wrong.

 

[Demonslayer]

The thing about it is the Bible was inspired by God

Why did God inspire people to write a book where human slavery was morally acceptable.

I mean you'd think there would be a very strong, simple mandate. NO SLAVERY. Should have been a commandment if you ask me. But instead, God inspired people to say buying, selling and beating other human beings was OK.

written by fallible people

This, of course, is the answer. If the Bible was inspired by some morally perfect God, slavery would have been immediately and vehemently deemed immoral. The inclusion of slavery reveals that the Bible is just a book written by ancient people who took slavery as a part of life, because that's the world they lived in.

Going on imagining that a perfectly moral God "inspired" such things as beating a slave nearly to death and selling your daughter is plain silly if you ask me.

Which you didn't, but I'm saying it anyway.

 

[Estro Felino]

FYI: I am not an inerrantist (someone who believes the Bible does not contain errors), but I do believe the Bible points us to God. Therefore it is authoritative. I will try to answer you biblically for the sake of some of my other fellow believers and provide you with examples as to how what the Bible says is relevant to what you're asking. I hope all of us learn something new about each other and grow as individuals.

well...I am glad to hear that.
1) Reading the parables in the Gospels, and comparing their message with Saint Paul's theology (present in his epistles) don't you think that there are evident contradictions, especially as for the passages about salvation?
2) Can someone be called Christian, even if they totally reject some passages in Paul's epistles (but accept all the rest)?
3) In your opinion: is Christianity a theocentric or an anthropocentric religion?

 

[RedDragon94]

I was a little too generalized with my questions. I understand the answers you have; and, I was wondering if you can give me a different perspective than what I am used to hearing.


I understand that. How does the sacrifices in the OT of that point to Jesus sacrifice to sin literally wash away a person's sins?


Without understanding the nature of blood, then the sacrifice both OT and NT holds no other meaning but a Christian's interpretation and reflection of his sins dying in Jesus and not Jesus dying for his sin.

Not many people I know really think of how to answer the question. They are satisfied with the answer. The answer doesn't make sense unless I understand the nature of the question.

For example, I understand one and one equals two. If someone just told me that without my knowing the nature of how the problem is solved, they could be talking in Russian for all I know and it could be right.

Without knowing the terms and nature of the problem (one thing on either side put together doubles), I personally don't understand the answer.

Question: Are there references outside of scripture that can answer this question and/or how do you interpret the nature of blood in the sense it has washed away your sins?



You cant have the resurrection without his death. It's his
Life-->Crucifixion/death-->Resurrection/eternal life.
Without the death, there can be no resurrection/life.

Questions:

Why use death as a means to receive eternal life?

What is the importance of death as a means of salvation/life?

When The Buddha went among the poor, he sacrificed his time, effort, his ego (etc) to help others out of suffering/salvation so they end the cycle of birth and death (cause and affect from birth, age, sickness, and death). He did all of this without needing to sacrifice himself.

So, for him, to keep ones life is to help others keep theirs.

Contrasting that with Christianity,

Scripture uses one's death (Crucifixion) to help others to keep their lives (after their physical death).​

I don't understand that. Can you use other scriptures and outside references to explain the Passion and why it is needed for a Christian to receive life after death?

That, and can you explain how the Passion can literally do this without the effort of the Christian whether his faith and/or his deed?


If they can do this, why not Christ? The Saints (well many. Some actually did sacrifice themselves by choice rather than received an ultimatum) where forced to either take their own life for god or let their opponent take their life (which will lead them to god anyway).

However, Christ didn't have that ultimatum. He willingly chose to follow his Father's Will and, let his opposites kill him to save others.

Question:

I only have limited knowledge in how to solve such issues like other people's sins. If I had children, it would take me awhile to think of many ways to teach my child how to live. God is not like me.​

So, do you think there are other ways God could have chosen to wash people of their sins without the means of the death of animal nor flesh?

I'm gonna try and answer all this... Please bear with me.

 

[Demonslayer]

Beating people into submission is wrong. I am sure God agrees that it is wrong.

But He doesn't, He says it's OK as long as the slave doesn't die from the beating. Wacky God!

 

[savagewind]

But He doesn't, He says it's OK as long as the slave doesn't die from the beating. Wacky God!

I looked it up but I can't come to your conclusion. Savery is real and not sanctioned by God. God had men write rules about it because it was real. That is what I think.

 

[RedDragon94]

Why did God inspire people to write a book where human slavery was morally acceptable.

What I'm trying to say is that God did not use plenary inspiration to inspire the Bible, he used events.

I mean you'd think there would be a very strong, simple mandate. NO SLAVERY. Should have been a commandment if you ask me. But instead, God inspired people to say buying, selling and beating other human beings was OK.

He never gave slavery a stamp of approval, he permitted it for some time in history before he did away with it.

This, of course, is the answer. If the Bible was inspired by some morally perfect God, slavery would have been immediately and vehemently deemed immoral. The inclusion of slavery reveals that the Bible is just a book written by ancient people who took slavery as a part of life, because that's the world they lived in.

God can use the ugly parts of history to show us that we need him to set the record straight, it's in this way that God redeems history. He did not tell them to own slaves, they did that out of their own wickedness.

Which you didn't, but I'm saying it anyway.

Good for you, **** off the fundies. *edit* Whoops! *edit*

 

[Demonslayer]

I looked it up but I can't come to your conclusion.

Exodus 21 outlines God's rules about slavery. I'll paste a section below in for your reference.

Savery is real and not sanctioned by God. God had men write rules about it because it was real. That is what I think.

You think God wrote rules around slavery because it was an ongoing practice? How does that make sense, why didn't he just say "NO SLAVERY?" I mean he said "NO MURDER" very clearly. Murder is real, why did God not write an overly complex system of rules around murder like he did around slavery? Like part of these rules that God wrote says it's OK to sell your daughter.

Let's repeat that. God says it's OK to sell your own daughter into slavery. You think the entity who created morality thinks, or thought at any point, that it's OK to sell your own daughter? Can I really trust the moral code of such a being?

Bits and pieces from Exodus 21:

If a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is not to go free as male servants do. If she does not please the master who has selected her for himself, he must let her be redeemed. He has no right to sell her to foreigners, because he has broken faith with her. If he selects her for his son, he must grant her the rights of a daughter. If he marries another woman, he must not deprive the first one of her food, clothing and marital rights. If he does not provide her with these three things, she is to go free, without any payment of money.

Anyone who attacks their father or mother is to be put to death.

Anyone who kidnaps someone is to be put to death, whether the victim has been sold or is still in the kidnapper’s possession.

Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.

Anyone who beats their male or female slave with a rod must be punished if the slave dies as a direct result, but they are not to be punished if the slave recovers after a day or two, since the slave is their property.

 

[Demonslayer]

He never gave slavery a stamp of approval, he permitted it for some time in history before he did away with it.

So for a while there, God said OK to slavery. He, what, changed his mind?

I thought morality was objective and unchanging?

 

[Politesse]

What is a human being, exactly? What are we for?