RE: Christian answering questions too!
May 3, 2016 at 2:41 pm
(This post was last modified: May 3, 2016 at 3:00 pm by PETE_ROSE.)
(May 2, 2016 at 2:00 pm)Jenny A Wrote:(May 1, 2016 at 3:17 pm)PETE_ROSE Wrote: Hello and thank you all for having me in the forum. I am new here and registered because I felt the urge to undertake a part in the great commission. I have not failed to notice the application of Christianity from churches and organized religion is hypocritical, atrocious at times, and is rarely in line with the intent of the Bible and its Author.
That is a really odd statement on so many levels I hardly know where to begin.
First of all, the Bible has many authors. Even if you take the traditional attributions (and most serious scholars don't) of Moses, various prophets, disciples, and Paul, it's a long list. Just who do you think the author is? God, penned by the 40 or so writers, but authored by Him.
What method do you use to determine the authors' intent? Intellect, analysis, prayer, ability to discern as I have been given, feel. This cannot guarantee I will come to the correct conclusion (if there is one), but I am making the attempt.
Why did you pick an atheists forum to discuss the meaning of a books, most atheists find irrelevant? I felt led to actually. Felt that there was a need here. I have many friends and family that are non-theists, (most say we are all atheists and do not like that term atheist), and I get along with them. Most people judge Christianity by the really horrible acts and examples of it, I have been able to have intelligent, rational, and respectful conversations with most of my friends on this. I really hope to be a better example than what most here are accustomed to.
Quote:It is with great consequence that people are influenced by the misguided and twisted forms Christ's message often comes in. I hope to do better. I am offering to answer, to the best of my ability, any question, on any topic that I feel remotely qualified to respond to. Please refrain from cheap baiting attempts often used to trap someone into a play on words or the like and I will do the same.
I hope you don't mind my asking why you think you have greater knowledge of what the Bible means than other Christians, or jews for matter. I in no way am preofessing to be a scholar or to have more knowledge than anyone on anything.
Quote:If you have questions I will offer my thoughts. I won't attempt to restrict the areas of conversation too much but I do ask that we remain respectful towards one another. I would also ask that all questions regarding the Christian bible pertain to the KJV.[/size][/color]I will answer as promptly as 6 children, 2 careers, and a part time job will allow.
Why the KJV? Seriously, it's not a particularly good translation. But I am curious, what is it about the KJV that you find superior? Again I have answered this previously.
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(May 2, 2016 at 4:42 pm)Mister Agenda Wrote:PETE_ROSE Wrote:I subscribe to the bible. There is a term, sola scriptura, I am fond of. I am, and have always refused to align myself with the many flavors, as you state, of Christianity. They all appear to be in contradiction to the Word on some point or another. I have never been an official member of any church; however I did attend a church regularly for many years.
Welcome, Pete. I think you may represent the ultimate evolution of Christianity: each Christian a denomination unto themselves.
We can both only hope! I would like to see a return to believers meeting before sunrise in the mornings, having fellowship and prayer, and doing away with all of the denominations, cathedrals and ceremony. I wonder often if organized religion does more harm than good.
(May 2, 2016 at 6:14 pm)Mister Agenda Wrote: Sola scriptura means the Bible is the supreme authority, the stance of literally thousands of Christian denominations. You may as well have said 'I want to stay mysterious'. We're just asking for the basics. Are you a literalist? Do you believe in One God whose name is Jesus or the Holy Trinity? Was Jesus the son of God or God incarnate? Is baptizing infants acceptable or must the person be old enough to affirm Christian beliefs? Is speaking in tongues really from God, and important? Do you think men were inspired by God to write the Bible or is the Bible literally the word of God and the men were basically taking divine dictation?
When we don't have any idea where you're coming from; it's hard to tell where you're going. Hopefully answering these questions will at least give us a skeleton to hang our other questions on.
I still don't get what all of the sock and lobster references here are about. Must be an inside joke. Side note, I’m allergic to seafood.
Yes, I believe in the Trinity. I believe they all existed together before the creation. I believe Jesus was the son of God and at the same time God incarnate. We can baptize infants all we want but I do not see how that will do anything other than get them wet. Authentic speaking in tongues is from God. I do not speak in tongues nor have I ever witnessed any that I believed to be authentic. Not important at all. Authored by God, penned by men. Let me say more on this. I believe many of the New Testament writers believed Jesus would return in their lifetime. It appears they went out into the world to carry the message and only later in life did they write it down.
