Spiritual Question

...i think you ask a very good, and interesting question D...

...i'm going to give my answer from a different perspective than most of the other folks...

you say, "...most philosophies have basically the same ideas..."  i actually kind of agree with that...especially the "most" part.  i believe that most folks believe that "if i do my very best", "if i do my part to make this place a better place", "i'm a good person"....etc, etc..."and if there is a God...He'll weigh my good against my bad...and if my good out weighs my bad...i'm good to go...i'll make it"

i say "most" because the Bible actually doesn't agree with that spiritual philosophy.  that's why the Bible is sooooo offensive...and a source of so much tension.

the Bible's cental message is that we are all sinners who fall short of God's standard...and that we deserve total seperation from Him.  a central message that says, we are all sinners in need of a Savior and that Savior's Name is Jesus Christ.  let's face it...that message is a very offensive message.  and there's going to naturally be a certain amount of tension with that message.

Christ Himself even said, "I'm am the Way, the Truth, and the Life...no one makes it except through Me."  those are actually very, very offensive words to "most".

i'm saddened if you've bumped into "holier than thou folks"...who may have presented to you in an offensive manner...a message that was already offensive...in and of itself.  (i know many folks like that myself...)

...the Man named Jesus tended to bring a lot of tension where ever He went...and His central message still does.  but........i suppose that's why He said, "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth.  I did not come to bring peace, but a sword..."

...IMO...

 well said
grace and peace
jo

Hey Doug,

Thanks for your imput. and I do, indeed, respect your opinion...thanks.

There are those who, while they do, indeed KNOW Jesus Christ existed, they question the authenticity of the Bible.

I beleive their biggest problems come down to three:  1) most of the New Testaments' authors were not contemporaries of Christ in these books were written some time after his death; 2)the modern Bible was put together during the Conference of Nicene (sp?) put together by the emperor Constantine in order to make Catholism the major philosophy of Rome at the time..he did so to stop the constant battles between believers and non-beleivers.  Because of that, we really have no idea of what that conference added / subtracted to control the masses, so to speak; 3) The Bible is / has been the most translated work in world history from the Arametheic (sp? again), to Greek, Latin, etc.   Because the have been translated by human scholars / monks, there are questions as to correct translations, whether accidently or purposesly. 

I am not saying I don't believe, don't get me wrong: I do beleive there is a power greater than us mere mortals, be it called God, Allah, whatever.  I just have questions about Man's involvement in interpretations/dogma/philosophy. 

I see these as entirely different issues compared to the original post...but they're valid issues...and I'll make quick comments.  (Too quick to be honest with you...LOL.  But I just don't have a lot of time at the moment...as I'm heading out to..."Church"...in a few minutes...and will be ready for bed when I get home...LOL.)

"1) most of the New Testaments' authors were not contemporaries of Christ in these books were written some time after his death;"

As a student of Scripture...I've heard that before...and to be honest...I can't understand where the general consensus comes from that New Testament documents were written many years after the events took place...and thus surely contain unreliable information.  The truth of the matter, as for as the New Testament is concerned, is that the life of Jesus was written by eyewitnesses or people *****corded firsthand testimony.  The writers were all living at the same time these events transpired and they had personal contact either with the events or with people who witnessed the events.

"2)the modern Bible was put together during the Conference of Nicene (sp?) put together by the emperor Constantine in order to make Catholism the major philosophy of Rome at the time..he did so to stop the constant battles between believers and non-beleivers.  Because of that, we really have no idea of what that conference added / subtracted to control the masses, so to speak;"

Constantine did indeed call for the Council of Nicea.  Fortunately they took minutes...and we have a record of what the conference did...so to speak.  And the minutes show that the gathering wasn't to "make Catholicism the major philosophy"...but to come to a conclusion on the Person of Christ, and other theological issues.

"3) The Bible is / has been the most translated work in world history from the Arametheic (sp? again), to Greek, Latin, etc.   Because the have been translated by human scholars / monks, there are questions as to correct translations, whether accidently or purposesly."

This is actually something that bothered me early in my Christian walk.  But in reality...because the Bible is "the most translated work in world history"...the art and science of "textual criticism" can be applied to reproduce original documents with amazing accuracy...with enough copies available.  I remember one of my professors in college showed us how this worked by putting up a document on a screen that was long and complicated.  He gave us a very short amount of time to write down information from the document.  We all did miserably individually...but when the class of 20 something folks put all of our information together...we were able to reproduce the document with over 95 percent accuracy...in this couple hour class exercise.  But you also admit that "there is a power greater than us mere mortals...".  If indeed that is true...this Power would have no problem maintaining Its Word in a written form...if It so pleased.

...IMO...

I think most people really feel like they are doing their mandate as a practicing member of that religion. For instance Mormons and Jehovah Witness will knock you doors down to tell their message of what they believe is the truth.

Think about it like this, what is something that you are faithful to? Maybe a brand, store, product, SPORTS TEAM, or TV station etc. Think about the passion that you hold for that thing. For instance I am Lions Football fan for life. All though they really suck, I am faithful to them because one of these day they WILL turn around. HOPEFULLY! LOL! But back to the point. I love my Lions and I make sure I let everyone know. I will debate someone down about why I love them. Its not that I want to offend anyone but I just want them to love the Lions like I do. I want them to fill that same passion that burns deep within me.

I am a Christian, never have forced my religion on anyone and make sure that I let people know that I am by no means perfect. I pray that through my transparency and love they will come to Love God, if they choose. The Christian doctrine is one of choice. Your not forced to be a Christian. And if someone tries to force you, they are truly out of the will of God.

I think some Christians get excited because they do feel like God has worked wonders in their life or they had issues in the pass and they feel like once they linked up with God those problems went away. Ask yourself this, if you had a medicine that you knew cured YOUR cold, would you not tell people about it?

Next time someone approaches you like that, tell them that you have a philosophy of your own and if they are opened to listen yours, first, you will listen to theirs. Also be bold with people, tell them that "if you are going to criticize what religion I am or try to convert me then I rather not listen". Lastly, if they try to criticize something you do as sin, simply quote, "ye that be without sin cast the first stone"...that usually shuts people up.

Hope this helped!

Love & Blessings,

Micah P.

Hey Dal. I am a Christian but I know what you are talking about. As a person that was raised as Catholic I doubt that you went around bashing people over the head with your Catholism at the time. My point is that very few Christians will critize or try to convert you. You maybe take notice of the ones that do. I live in a neighborhood where all the bodegas are run by muslims. They constantly talk about Islam but i dont let anything they say affect me whatsoever. I read the Koran long ago when i was struglling with my Christianity about 15 years ago. I do not share thier faith or beliefs at all. They can be adamant about thier beliefs but even when they see me as an infidel I just bru**** off. My point is that regardless of any attacks ,my faith is strong enuff where it means next to nothing in terms of what they say to me. If your faith is strong and you are deeply entrenched in your beliefs then it wont matter who criticizes you. Take it from a brotha like me that worked as a CO on Rikers Island......inmates ( particularly 5 percenters and Nation of Islam members )would try mentally break me down with what they consider "knowledge". It didnt work at all because my faith is my faith and no amount of coersion will ever change that. I listen to what people of other faiths have to say all the time. That is just called  being tolerant in my book. My tolerance for others is high simply because my faith is strong enuff to withstand any critism ,judgements or recruitment tactics they may have. If you are strong in your present beliefs then as time goes on any challenges to it wont bother you at all and can be dissmissed without it ever annoying you. In closing I agree that sometimes people can get obnoxious with thier approch to others outside of thier faith . People that have attacked you in the past did so based on thier own personalty flaws . As you said live and let live. The only thing I am concerned about on my judgement day is my own salavation which for me can only come thru Christ. So its in that spirit that I never have a need to challenge another mans faith. It is what it is.......peace

Micah, Good,

Brothers, I thank you for your comments.  They are, indeed, greatly appreciated. 

  No further comment needed.

What's up D? I'd have to say it's because of Dogma..........Christianity teaches strongly that the only way to be reconciled to God is through Jesus Christ and that there is NO OTHER WAY!!! So many who are passionate about that belief tend to try and convert those who believe different and some, as you say, criticize and belittle other beliefs.
Having grown up in and around Christianity, in particular, the Pentecostal Church, it took me years to accept the differences in other denominations let alone other religions. I had to learn that 1. EVERYONE has a right to choose what they want to practice 2.It is ok to agree to disagree 3. Truth to me is not necessarily another's truth and who's to say that what I believe is REALLY truth, which leads to 4. I don't know or understand everything.

Bottom line.....no matter what you believe, you have to respect the beliefs of another even if you don't agree.