Question & Food for Thought

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If there was a god, why would there be so many awful things?

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Exactly which "god" are you referring to, here? I'm betting by the wording of your post that you are referring to Christianity's God here. Anyway, to answer your question:

FREE WILL

Understanding what free will truly means will help you to understand this age-old question, no matter what religion you may be referring to.

Altered State

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Christianity is a religion of faith... you don't KNOW that God exists, you BELIEVE it, and therefore you KNOW!!!

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Yeah, about that? The Bible doesn't ask anyone, nor does it recommend a "blind" faith as your post seems to suggest (if I am reading it correctly). Although there are scriptures that "appear" to be expressing such an idea (like Heb 11:1), this is, by no means, the whole definition of faith, as you will see:

Ps 19:1 states: "The heavens are declaring the glory of God, and the work of his hands the expanse is telling." (italics mine)

or, on this same line of thought, we have:

Ro 1:20 - "For his invisible [qualities] are clearly seen from the world's creation onward, because they are perceived by the things made, even his eternal power and Godship, so that they are inexcusable;" (italics mine)

which essentially means, you can see the existance of God by what he has created - the earth and everything in it (including human beings, who specifically are able to "see" (the physical) and "understand" (the logic), like no other creature on earth), the universe, and by the principles He desires us to live by. Which brings me to another rather well known scripture:

Jas 2:26: "...faith without works is dead."

If one does not practice their faith by leading a principled life as God set out in the Bible, then how will they ever "see" or "perceive," that their faith (or what they believe in) is real when it comes to subjective things like love or how to behave, or how to live peacefully amongst those of other faiths or those who choose no faith at all?

Faith by "just-in-case" is not really faith; that is called superstition, like throwing salt over one's left shoulder to ward off evil - "just in case..."

One must always remember that if one scripture contradicts another, then the meaning is being misconstrued. The cool thing about the Bible as that it is very fluid and connects everything together, in order for us to be able to discern when one is off the beaten path, so to speak.

An example would be: "Thou shall not kill." This, of course, if one of the Ten Commandments. Now, if a human being uses a certain scripture to justify the killing of another, or uses religiosity to incite people to kill, then the ones participating would be breaking one of God's principles, and therefore, have misconstrued the meaning, or was misled - both of which are not in keeping with what God wants - no killing of one another.

When one seeks congruency with meanings, then there is no hypocrisy in the Bible; the hypocrisy comes from us and how we "perceive" or are "taught to perceive" individual scriptures, without considering the whole. One can confirm this line of thinking with 1Tim 1:5-8 which states:

1Tim 1:5-8 " Really the objective of this mandate is love out of a clean heart and out of a good conscience and out of faith without hypocrisy. By deviating from these things certain ones have been turned aside into idle talk, wanting to be teachers of law, but not perceiving either the things they are saying or the things about which they are making strong assertions. Now we know that the Law is fine provided one handles it lawfully." (or correctly, in other words).

If there is one thing that I expect no hypocrisy from, it would be God's word, otherwise it would not be perfect, and neither would God. And if God is not perfect, then he is basically just like one of us - imperfect - and there is nothing that would compel me to believe in or have absolute faith in, something imperfect - or in otherwords, have the possibility of my faith (or "assured expectations" - Heb 12:1) not being actualized. Pointless!

Once again, this is my understanding only. May I ask, does this make sense? I am curious to know if my explanation was clear or not. (I am not asking that you change what you believe, just if my explanation made sense in how it was worded).

Altered State

Wow. What powerful words climbingkit.

There is no doubt you feel strongly about your beliefs and there were "...words that [you gave] to those who may be struggling with believing in a god who is safe..."

They were in the explanation you gave about your own faith!

Altered State

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AlteredState01 said:
Once again, this is my understanding only. May I ask, does this make sense? I am curious to know if my explanation was clear or not. (I am not asking that you change what you believe, just if my explanation made sense in how it was worded).

Altered State

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YES.... Your explanation made sense.

Now, if I may ask a question to you.... Is what you wrote a belief you came about on your own or it is from hearing these things said over and over again through out your life? - I ask this for once again I too have agreed with what you stated in your post above and yet I can also honestly say that I too believe all that stuff, but not because I KNOW, but because it has been taught to me over the last 20 years of me becoming a Christian.

Is there any one out there that found God (or their spiritual side) without first hearing the words from another? - I ask this for once again I guess I am still seeking the untouched person by another's word that can say "YES - God is Real" and the story they share is why they believe it to be so.

....... Does that make sense from a doubting person / Christians POV?


Thanks...
LoVe,
Rhapsody -

Before any one else replies to my QUESTION..... Please refresh your self with my original post and not just that of the evolution that often comes about after a thread proceeds here on PC..... Thx.

This is my original post....

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Rhapsody said:
Being a Christian since the young age of 18..... and being raised in church since I could walk, I think every one faces this question at one time or another in their life.

How do YOU know that God is Real and not just a Myth or an Urban Legend?

I am interested in what the many others that come to PC thinks on this questions (and) How would you explain this question, if asked by a non-believer?


Thanks....
LoVe,
Rhapsody -

...........................................

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Please DO NOT reply with anger or wrong assumptions for an innocent question that was asked to me and then became planted with in my own doubt, that which we all often have to face as life takes place.


Thank you,
Rhapsody -