RE: The question that shatters faith, forever.
March 22, 2012 at 3:29 am
(This post was last modified: March 22, 2012 at 3:46 am by FallentoReason.)
(March 22, 2012 at 12:39 am)rbak923 Wrote: Was wondering - does anybody here believe in miracles occuring today. In my life, sometimes when I pray for sometime to happen, sometimes something happens but I can choose to see it as God working in my life or blow it off as coincidence.
For example, a couple of days ago I was very discouraged about some remarks someone had made to me when I tried to talk to him about God and was also somewhat depressed at reading about the leader of the LRA being a Christian. That day I felt like I should stop trying to help people believe in God altogether, but I prayed for guidance. Ten minutes later I was out walking on a bike path and a Christian friend I had not seen in about one year happened to be there on the bike path - it was very unexpected. He and I spoke and he encouraged me not to give up.
I have experienced other events like this in the course of my life - but what do you think?
If we're talking hardcore miracles like Jesus said we would be able to perform as believers, then no.
I have a Christian friend that prays for people on the street and hospitals. He has told me about the different diseases and conditions he has seen healed because of God. Then I think back to every time he prayed for my sicknesses and physical conditions (like my flat feet) and never have I been healed. His stories are heavily exaggerated I have concluded.
(March 22, 2012 at 2:17 am)genkaus Wrote:(March 21, 2012 at 4:40 pm)ChadWooters Wrote: The effect on teachings is not at issue. The OP suggests that without historical support Christianity falls apart. So by what standard do we conclude that Jesus did not exist? If we say it is reasonable to believe Socrates existed based on the number and quality of the sources, then it would also be reasonable to say that Jesus existed.
The question in both cases is not just that Socrates or Jesus existed - its that they existed as described. Christianity is built on more than someone called Jesus existing at the turn of the century - it requires that he be born of a virgin, performed miracles and died and came back. In contrast, Socrates' philosophy does not rely on him in such a manner.
So, if using the same standard of proof, you conclude that Jesus was an mythical figure and Socrates was Plato's imaginary friend - Christianity falls apart and the Socratic method is still valid.
If you conclude that someone called Jesus probably existed, as did someone called Socrates - but there is no evidence of them existing as described - Christianity still falls apart, but the Socratic method is still valid.
Well put! I think there's nothing else to add to this..
"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it" ~ Aristotle