(December 5, 2023 at 6:58 am)Confused-by-christianity Wrote:

(December 4, 2023 at 10:50 pm)possibletarian Wrote: How do you know it's from 'higher up' can you prove a god?  See how important proving a god is now?

I don't seem to have the mental dilemma you seem to have, let's look at it another way perhaps. What is morality?

I dont say i can prove god exists.  I believe god exists.  the reason i believe is due to personal religious experience ... one experience for example ...

I had been living in an unpleasant place for a long time - during this time i guess i would say i picked up something i would describe as a pretty dark spirit.  some people have used a term "negative entity attachment".

i knew it was there on me but was in the shadows sort of thing.  one night (in a dream??) it uncovered itself to me more fully - it told me it was going to consume me and act in my life through me.  some call it possession - its more serious than the word implies though ??  the entity was strong and i really had no defence (im understating this here).  in the last moments before it completely took over - in a last ditch effort i screamed out to jesus right before the end.  Jesus had never shown up, or acted in a convincing way before as i saw it ... so why would he now.  To me, he existed theoretically i guess.  on paper, i believed in him but i didn't know much more than that.

To my highest astonishment - he showed up.

I couldn't believe he showed up, nor could i believe the kindness or the love.  I understood in a tangible way goodness and truth.  He was completely good, completely kind, he loves people and i felt that - he was calm and without a flicker of anger.  not even for the demon.  

The demon thing was gone.  the abyss type entity couldn't be around jesus.  I asked jesus "what was that thing??!!", jesus said "thats not for you".  I begged jesus not to go, as soon as he leaves, the thing will come back - jesus said "that thing wont come back".  I said its going to be waiting for me when i die to take me to awful horror (after ruining my life and everyone elses life around me - it had told me), jesus said "i'll be waiting for you when you die".  I said to jesus "the depths of my life, how am i supposed to carry on and live?", jesus said not to worry about it "just live your life".

Then i felt and understood peace like nothing i thought could be possible.  the love, kindness, warmth, joy, peace (absolutely everything is under complete control - we are all ok).  I've felt that i should try and give that feeling out to whoever i've been given.

(December 5, 2023 at 1:43 pm)Mister Agenda Wrote:

(December 4, 2023 at 8:09 pm)SimpleCaveman Wrote: Hi arewethereyet,

Speaking for Christians, yes, all Christians have the mission to be evangelical. It’s called the Great Commission (Mt 28:16 – 20). Some explain and invite. Then it’s up to the other person. Some do get very worked up about it. Each person has to make their own decision, though.

Me? I’m just here for a good discussion about interesting stuff. Unfortunately, that’s very hard on this forum.

This is weird. That’s exactly what Jesus did. I don’t mean the dragging part.

And before we go there, yes, I know, I know. He wasn’t God. He didn’t even exist. Yes, I get it.

But if we look at the stories in the NT. It’s why he became incarnate. Why he preached. Why he accepted torture and death.

Christianity seem to have achieved market saturation. You won't find anyone who hasn't already heard the news. Traditional methods of evangelizing/witnessing are moot and often counterproductive. Jesus advised his followers to be as gentle as doves and wise as serpents in regards to spreading the word. It may be time for a serious change in prosyletizing tactics, if the goal is actually to attract people to Christianity.

(December 5, 2023 at 12:02 pm)Confused-by-christianity Wrote:

(December 5, 2023 at 11:53 am)FrustratedFool Wrote: How did you get all that information from your experience?  Was it communicated via words?

it was him speaking in thoughts to me and it was accompanied by something like a knowledge.  i just knew things.

(December 5, 2023 at 8:56 am)Belacqua Wrote:

(December 5, 2023 at 8:51 am)Confused-by-christianity Wrote: i really dont understand the bible all the time.

I understood my experience with christ though.

I think this is important. People want to treat the Bible as journalism, or an instruction manual. It makes more sense as a challenge and a puzzle. 

If I were an omnipotent deity that's the way I'd write it. Ha!

(December 5, 2023 at 1:52 pm)Mister Agenda Wrote: What did Jesus look like?

(December 5, 2023 at 2:48 pm)Confused-by-christianity Wrote:

(December 5, 2023 at 1:52 pm)Mister Agenda Wrote: What did Jesus look like?

I cant say i really saw him.  he was like a presence.  something i knew was there that wasnt me.  so was the bad thing.

(December 5, 2023 at 1:52 pm)Ahriman Wrote:

(December 5, 2023 at 1:43 pm)Mister Agenda Wrote: Christianity seem to have achieved market saturation. You won't find anyone who hasn't already heard the news. Traditional methods of evangelizing/witnessing are moot and often counterproductive. Jesus advised his followers to be as gentle as doves and wise as serpents in regards to spreading the word. It may be time for a serious change in prosyletizing tactics, if the goal is actually to attract people to Christianity.

Which, of course, it isn't. Christians want their special club all to themselves. The prosyletizing stuff some of them do is a formality that's meant to make their religion seem more legitimate, but they don't actually want converts.

(December 5, 2023 at 2:55 pm)arewethereyet Wrote:

(December 5, 2023 at 2:48 pm)Confused-by-christianity Wrote: I cant say i really saw him.  he was like a presence.  something i knew was there that wasnt me.  so was the bad thing.

So, you had a feeling?

(December 5, 2023 at 3:02 pm)Confused-by-christianity Wrote: maybe more tangible than a feeling.  tangible light ??!!?!?

(December 5, 2023 at 4:07 pm)Fake Messiah Wrote:

(December 5, 2023 at 3:02 pm)Confused-by-christianity Wrote: maybe more tangible than a feeling.  tangible light ??!!?!?

The Beatle, George Harrison, had encounters with Krishna where they would talk, dance and play. Do you find that plausible? Is Krishna now more real to you because George felt him?