The most important reason I'm xtian

[Kayenneh]

Thanks for sharing your story!

[LastPoet]

Its always nice to have a reasonable christian here. Almost too good to be true

[ronedee]

Any questions? Anyone else want to say why they are Christian?

Hey Jacob! thanks for the interesting, and personal post.

My only question... why be a Christian? You sound more like my own younger brother who is an agnostic.

We were brought up Christians (thanks to my mom), and he is questioning because of his more natural intellect telling him (over our spiritual nature) there is no proof...and there's only the "happiness he makes himself". And, of course the: "Jesus is a nice guy" deal.

Your indoctrination seems marred with various things that you kind of correlate with your religion. So, why the struggle? Shouldn't it be easy to just give up? Give me one good reason....very good reason to be a Christian?

Sorry to be the "devils advocate"... I don't see a point in pushing any agendas on you.

[Jacob(smooth)]

Any questions? Anyone else want to say why they are Christian?

Hey Jacob! thanks for the interesting, and personal post.

My only question... why be a Christian? You sound more like my own younger brother who is an agnostic.

We were brought up Christians (thanks to my mom), and he is questioning because of his more natural intellect telling him (over our spiritual nature) there is no proof...and there's only the "happiness he makes himself". And, of course the: "Jesus is a nice guy" deal.

Your indoctrination seems marred with various things that you kind of correlate with your religion. So, why the struggle? Shouldn't it be easy to just give up? Give me one good reason....very good reason to be a Christian?

Sorry to be the "devils advocate"... I don't see a point in pushing any agendas on you.

Will answer as best I can. Its not a struggle to be a christian, as I said its a nice thing. It gives me some rules and standards to aspire to. I know atheists do the same but the moral framework I selected from the biblical set menu has worked better than the one I came up with myself. It gives me a good feeling to think that there is something more than cold biology and physics. It gives me a framework for things which seem to defy explanation (like love). What I think of as my relationship with God, whether its the voices in my head, the christian god as described or something ineffable which all the religions have tried and failed to describe, makes me feel good. Its a model which works. Like all models, it represents the reality without claiming to BE the reality.

There are several good reasons for me to be christian there, its not a struggle at all. The only struggle is the dissonance between my analytical brain, which wants to understand everything, and my right brain, which doesn't care. I resolve the dissonance by being comfortable with my ignorance.

If there is God, then by definition I think he would be beyond mortal comprehension. If I could wrap my tiny little 4 dimensional monkey brain around him, he wouldn't be much of a God would he?

---

Its always nice to have a reasonable christian here. Almost too good to be true

Lol! I've told you I'm following a religion and that it does not matter to me a whit if the stories upon which it is based are even true or not! I'd be willing to KEEP following it, even If I had proof positive that the people in it didn't say the things the bible had them saying, or do the things the bible said they did!

What could be less reasonable than that!?!?

[ronedee]

Will answer as best I can. Its not a struggle to be a christian, as I said its a nice thing. It gives me some rules and standards to aspire to. I know atheists do the same but the moral framework I selected from the biblical set menu has worked better than the one I came up with myself. It gives me a good feeling to think that there is something more than cold biology and physics. It gives me a framework for things which seem to defy explanation (like love). What I think of as my relationship with God, whether its the voices in my head, the christian god as described or something ineffable which all the religions have tried and failed to describe, makes me feel good. Its a model which works. Like all models, it represents the reality without claiming to BE the reality.

There are several good reasons for me to be christian there, its not a struggle at all. The only struggle is the dissonance between my analytical brain, which wants to understand everything, and my right brain, which doesn't care. I resolve the dissonance by being comfortable with my ignorance.

If there is God, then by definition I think he would be beyond mortal comprehension. If I could wrap my tiny little 4 dimensional monkey brain around him, he wouldn't be much of a God would he?

I like several things about the way you think. One, is not "over-thinking" God! Indeed God is incomprehesible in His ways, and kingdom!

I believe we are alike in several ways. Where I think we part is "wanting" a deeper understanding and "closer relationship" with God.

...and for me that is the ultimate goal!

You mentioned "Love". Yes! But also, self-denial, and all it entails. That is also an important step towards Him, through Jesus.

But, we need to move away from our comfort zones to lose the "nice", and gain the FANTASTIC!

I can walk along "feeling good" in our Faith. Or I can fly towards a deeper relationship that benefits us, and others greatly.

Of course that is not something everyone can find... or more importantly, "want" to find. I will pray for you to find deeper meaning!

Thanks again Jacob for your op, and your response to my question! Ron

[Chas]

Will answer as best I can. Its not a struggle to be a christian, as I said its a nice thing. It gives me some rules and standards to aspire to. I know atheists do the same but the moral framework I selected from the biblical set menu has worked better than the one I came up with myself. It gives me a good feeling to think that there is something more than cold biology and physics. It gives me a framework for things which seem to defy explanation (like love). What I think of as my relationship with God, whether its the voices in my head, the christian god as described or something ineffable which all the religions have tried and failed to describe, makes me feel good. Its a model which works. Like all models, it represents the reality without claiming to BE the reality.

There are several good reasons for me to be christian there, its not a struggle at all. The only struggle is the dissonance between my analytical brain, which wants to understand everything, and my right brain, which doesn't care. I resolve the dissonance by being comfortable with my ignorance.

If there is God, then by definition I think he would be beyond mortal comprehension. If I could wrap my tiny little 4 dimensional monkey brain around him, he wouldn't be much of a God would he?

So you're satisfied with rationalizations and wishful thinking. How very analytical.

[Jacob(smooth)]

Will answer as best I can. Its not a struggle to be a christian, as I said its a nice thing. It gives me some rules and standards to aspire to. I know atheists do the same but the moral framework I selected from the biblical set menu has worked better than the one I came up with myself. It gives me a good feeling to think that there is something more than cold biology and physics. It gives me a framework for things which seem to defy explanation (like love). What I think of as my relationship with God, whether its the voices in my head, the christian god as described or something ineffable which all the religions have tried and failed to describe, makes me feel good. Its a model which works. Like all models, it represents the reality without claiming to BE the reality.

There are several good reasons for me to be christian there, its not a struggle at all. The only struggle is the dissonance between my analytical brain, which wants to understand everything, and my right brain, which doesn't care. I resolve the dissonance by being comfortable with my ignorance.

If there is God, then by definition I think he would be beyond mortal comprehension. If I could wrap my tiny little 4 dimensional monkey brain around him, he wouldn't be much of a God would he?

So you're satisfied with rationalizations and wishful thinking. How very analytical.

Ask me a question about science, or medicine, I'll give you an analytical answer. Those are the areas where analytical is important, nay essential.

So far as a world view, individual morality, psychology and suchlike goes, I'm satisfied with functional. If analytical works well for you then give yourself a big hand . Woot for the more analytical than thou chas

[Whateverist]

I don't know and neither do they!

BINGO! We have a winner! Now if they would stop behaving as if they did then the world would be a sweeter place.

Thanks for the welcome! Seems nice here.

You're welcome (for the welcome that is...)

I'm still reserving judgment on how 'nice' this place is, or is not

How many more reps will that take?

[Zazzy]

Its always nice to have a reasonable christian here. Almost too good to be true

Lol! I've told you I'm following a religion and that it does not matter to me a whit if the stories upon which it is based are even true or not! I'd be willing to KEEP following it, even If I had proof positive that the people in it didn't say the things the bible had them saying, or do the things the bible said they did!

What could be less reasonable than that!?!?

The fact that you know it's unreasonable is what make you reasonable.

[Jacob(smooth)]

Lol! I've told you I'm following a religion and that it does not matter to me a whit if the stories upon which it is based are even true or not! I'd be willing to KEEP following it, even If I had proof positive that the people in it didn't say the things the bible had them saying, or do the things the bible said they did!

What could be less reasonable than that!?!?

The fact that you know it's unreasonable is what make you reasonable.

That's unreasonable.