Garden of Eden was a setup...

[ChristIsLord]

I really don't know everything and don't spend my life questioning everything in the Bible.
What can I say, I'm stumped, but not one bit less a believer.

I, for one, can appreciate this. It's far too uncommon for people to admit when they're stumped. I love not knowing all the answers because it just means that I get the wonderful opportunity of being able to learn something else. If you're here and honestly willing to examine evidence and test your beliefs, I applaud you--regardless of the outcome of your beliefs.

Honestly I'm not sure why I signed up, I would never have thought to do so on my own.
I just left church with this burning desire to do so the other day that no matter how much I try to suppress, I cannot.
So here I am having my Faith and knowledge of His Word being tested not to mention the several insults that my responses have drawn out that I've had to endure.
Not my idea of a good time, that's for sure.

[abaris]

Yes really. Why, don't you believe me? He says he does have a son, but he never died.

Now, how do we decide who is telling the truth?

You just don't want to let Harvey go.

[robvalue]

That reference went over my head, but I have plenty other historical figures tied up in the basement. Maybe one of them is called harvey?

Faith = believing without evidence

You can have faith that God is right next to me.

Faith is Christianity's most brilliant con. It means you just have to believe whatever you are told and they don't have to give you a shred of evidence. And if you don't believe, you are bad because you don't have faith.

[abaris]

That reference went over my head, but I have plenty other historical figures tied up in the basement. Maybe one of them is called harvey?

[ChristIsLord]

I...........don't spend my life questioning everything in the Bible.

That is the problem. Everything should be questioned and nothing should be accepted at stated value.

Believe me, I question more than I want to, everything that doesn't square with what my experience, upbringing and my technical inclinations say to be true.

At the end of the day God wants me to leave room for Faith as it pertains to His Word.

In my opinion, religion is what's wrong with our world and I would warn anyone out there to steer clear of it to the best of their capacities. It is religious zealots/tyrants that look to enslave and destroy us for their own gain.

[Thumpalumpacus]

I'm overwhelmed with all these questions from everyone else, and I came at your earlier half cocked overlooking the plagues God sent (according to Exodus). Not sure how to answer it, but I will as soon as I have an answer for you.
I really don't know everything and don't spend my life questioning everything in the Bible.
What can I say, I'm stumped, but not one bit less a believer.

It's a simple answer, and by your faith -- the one I used to share-- it has one and only one answer, of one and only one word.

Answer the question. Who created everything, including cancer, AIDS, and even death itself? Who created Satan? Who created evil?

Who created everything?

Sixty seconds -- go.

[Chad32]

In my opinion, religion is what's wrong with our world and I would warn anyone out there to steer clear of it to the best of their capacities. It is religious zealots/tyrants that look to enslave and destroy us for their own gain.

We are very aware of that, and we do. The problem is that you seem to want to differentiate your religion with others, saying it's some sort of personal relationship or something. I'm sure that if there's a personal relationship to be had, it's the extremists who covet their god the most that have it.

[ChristIsLord]

That reference went over my head, but I have plenty other historical figures tied up in the basement. Maybe one of them is called harvey?

Faith = believing without evidence

You can have faith that God is right next to me.

Faith is Christianity's most brilliant con. It means you just have to believe whatever you are told and they don't have to give you a shred of evidence. And if you don't believe, you are bad because you don't have faith.

The Bible is replete with evidence and the more they dig up sites in the middle east the more evidence they find in support of the folks and locations talked about in the Bible.

The the most compelling for me is the effect that God has in the lives of those who believe that I've had the displeasure of knowing before they came to Christ.

Faith in Christ (not christianity) most definitely, Not a con. Religion is a con.
Jesus, the cross, God and the Holly Spirit are real. His Word is real, I'll prove it.....go to the book store and order or buy a Bible....it exists and it is the infallible Word of the one True God.

And if God or one of his angels were there next to you right now you'd probably shit yourself in fear, so please from hear on try to carry on an adult conversation without lying about God who apparently you don't even believe in.

[FatAndFaithless]

Did...did someone really just bring up archaeology as evidence for Christianity? Like...really?

Really?

[abaris]

Faith in Christ (not christianity) most definitely, Not a con. Religion is a con.
Jesus, the cross, God and the Holly Spirit are real. His Word is real, I'll prove it.....go to the book store and order or buy a Bible....it exists and it is the infallible Word of the one True God.

Already got three of those, though nowadays it's easier to look up particular passages on the web than looking for them in the actual book.

Don't you think, we've read the bible?

As for it's archeological evidence - care to point out even one discovery based on the bible? There's more to be found following the Iliad.