With the countless followers of ancient Greek polytheism, surely one of them had their prayers answered. Who did this? How does it (the process of having ones prayer answered) differ from today's American Christian God? Why?\nLet's try this without quoting scriptures, please. If you know your faith like you think you do, it should be a piece of cake.\nThanks~
199744
to whom much is given, much is required.\n\nGOD winks at ignorance.  they were still HIS kids tho not having heard GOD'S plan of salvation.
22593
I prayed for my future wife for several years. When I met her, she was not saved. I did not know it at the time, but when I was praying for her, God was protecting her from things that could have killed her, like drugs. When she accepted Christ into her heart, her life took a 180. She lost ALL of her friends because she was now a Christian. But she gained a whole new set of sisters that replaced what she lost.
583530
Okay, this is my understanding of it from all I've read here on Y!A and elsewhere... Please correct me if I've made any mistakes...\n\nIn the beginning, God made a bunch of rules. Those who followed them went to heaven and those who broke them went to hell.\n\nBut they were really difficult rules, so God decided to send Jesus to the world. Jesus was God's son, but he was God Himself, too. Plus the Holy Spirit. And the "Word made Flesh". And many other things too.\n\nJesus's mission was to spread the word of God, his Father (i.e. Himself), but he was also our Saviour. This he accomplished by dying. You see, everyone is a sinner, and no-one can live up to God's rules. God seems to have realised that in due course. He could have, say, changed the rules or just absolved us all by fiat, but this whole kill-My-son (i.e. Myself) thing seemed easier.\n\nJesus was predestined to die for our sins. It was his calling. This is why he hid from the Romans like a fugitive, and why Pilate, Judas and the Jews are all condemned for their complicity - because they wanted to kill a man who wanted to die and was preordained to die. Their crucial role in carrying out God's plan to redeem us all is why we should hate them today.\n\nWhen Jesus, who willingly died and could have prevented it if he had wanted, was on the cross, he called out 'Father, why have you betrayed me?' This means, 'Father (i.e. myself), why have You (i.e. I) abandoned me (i.e. Yourself) when I'm carrying out the mission that you (i.e. I) decided to undertake in the first place?' This is because God, who is omnipotent, could not bear to look sin in the face, and Jesus (i.e. God) had become sin at that moment. Then Jesus died.\n\nExcept he didn't die. He spent a long weekend somewhere and then he was resurrected. So Jesus died for our sins, but he didn't die. He was raised again and now sits at the right hand of God. Except that he is God. But anyway, we can all go to heaven now, where we couldn't before Jesus died/didn't die for us.\n\nOf course, we can still go to hell. Jesus died for our sins, but it doesn't count unless you accept him as your Saviour. Plus, if you're Catholic, you also have to confess and repent and atone. And if you're Protestant, it doesn't much matter anyway, because God decided where you were going before you were born. Plus there's something about wine and thin little wafers.\n\nSo then... what have we learnt? Well, God's law is eternal, but God's law is really harsh so He gave us a hand by sending His son/Himself to die. Except that he didn't die. Because he died/didn't die, people can go to heaven. But they still have to follow God's law, or else they'll go to hell. Just like it was before God sent His son/Himself to die/not die on the cross in order to absolve/not absolve us of our sins.\n\nI hope this clears up any misunderstandings... It's all very clear and logical when you approach it the right way.
18059
Why do some “believers” often not get answers to their prayers?\n\nBelief alone is not sufficient to please God and have him answer our prayers. Even a credulous person may claim that he believes. For belief to have substance, it must be based on accurate knowledge, which can be gained only by a study of the Bible. Additionally, belief and faith must be proved by the works they produce. “As the body without spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.”—James 2:26.\n\nA true believer would need to take God into account daily, not resorting to prayer only when faced with an emergency. He would also do acts of faith, right works that include speaking to others about his belief and faith in God.\n\nIn Harmony with God’s Will\n\nThe apostle John told us: “This is the confidence that we have toward [God], that, no matter what it is that we ask according to his will, he hears us.” (1 John 5:14) Here is another requirement for having our prayers heard by God. Our prayers should be in harmony with God’s will. Furthermore, once we pray we should be sure to act in harmony with our prayers.\n\n27 What are proper subjects for prayer? Anything that will affect one’s relationship to God; anything that will affect one spiritually. The apostle John wrote: “No matter what it is that we ask according to his will, he hears us.”—1 John 5:14.\n\n28 “According to his will” would mean that we rightly would not pray for things that promote strictly selfish interests, such as riches, position above our fellowman, revenge, selfish pleasures and like things. But we may, for example, petition God with regard to marriage—for his help in providing a suitable mate. Married couples may pray regarding the bearing of children, or for wisdom in rearing their children.\n\nThe answer from God can be expected in the form of wise guidance in the person’s own individual case. (Psalm 32:8) Of course, he should be consistent and act in harmony with his prayer. He should seek for counsel on the problem from the Bible. He may consult others who can help him to see what the Bible says on the matter. He should persist in praying on the matter until he gets a clear understanding of what is the wise course to take. (Luke 18:2-5)
110390
Right on brother.  And to all the people who point to 'miracles' that show them there is a god, there are thousands of people who watch the opposite happen to their family member.  What about them?\n\nSeriously, you say you watched some thing hapeen to a relative for a month that should have killed them, but didn't so THERE is god.  What about the 30 year old healthy father of 3 who dies on the the tennis court?  What is his wife supposed to think? What about his 9 year old son?  God works in mysterious ways?  That is all semantic claptrap.\n\nWhat about the 60 year old atheist homeless person who lives to be 90 with nobody praying for him? Please
627861
I agree with you completely. I am a christian, but I do not believe in the trinity theory. and there are ALLOT of references like this one that points toward the fact that they are not the same. A few of them are: after Jesus got baptized, God said to him, "this is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased." would he talk to himself? also when the people asked Jesus to teach them how to pray, Jesus taught them to pray to God, not to himself. If he was God why wouldn't he have the people pray to him? yet another, Jesus on the cross said "My God, why have you forsaken me?" would God not only talk to himself, but also forsake himself? A final one... the bible says that the only unforgivable sin is blaspheming the holy spirit (Mark 3:29). If they were all the same, then blaspheming any of them would be unforgivable. They are very separate beings, and not the same.
126992
I have grown up in a Baptist church all of my life. I believe 100% in our God. I have the same question as you. It actually all came about this last week that I have been doing a lot of research on religion. I could not help myself from thinking your same question yesterday while in church. I felt quilty myself for even thinking this but it just puzzles me to no end. \n\nMy question is where did God come from. I agree there had to have been a beginning with him. Who put him here. Who sent him to Heaven & made Heaven for him to live? He was here on Earth so did he create all the disciples & the ones that crucified his son? \n\nI will keep a watch on this question b/c I would like to see the answer or an idea of where to look for it.
534353
Greek are you? I believe everyone, Christians included have become more and more of this world instead of trying to keep themselves in touch with God or their loved ones. How many of us only see our families (extended) once or twice a year. When I was a child my father and my uncle spent a great deal of time together and his 3 boys and I and my 2 sisters would play and have a great time. Today I live 30 miles from 1 sister and only see her a couple of times a year. I think God intended us to spend more time cultivating our relationship with Him and with our family and instead we cultivate our wallets. When do we take our families back and leave the worldly things to the world to handle?
598236
Ugggh, homework? It's summer soltice!  Give us a break!  \nI take issue with this article's assumptions, which are very general.  First the author makes the statement that Christianity's two prime articles of faith are "revelation and Crucifixion."  There are major divisions amongst Christianity itself on the person of Jesus Christ, the saving nature of his life, death, resurrection, teachings. And the question of whether or not he is the definitive and only saviour for all people of all times, is not universally agreed on by all Christians.  \nThe role of the Crucifixion is also not understood uniformly across the board by all Christians.  The question has long been asked and debated, "how is Jesus' death and crucifixion redemptive?" Is it? Redemption, atonement, sacrifice, are all traditional understandings, but theology has always had several understandings of and interpretations of soteriology, and Christology.\nInterestingly enough the earliest Christian art showed nothing of the crucifixion...\nBut I'm off the hook since your author inists that "no man" this and "no man" that...
417254
Could it have anything to do with the fact that for hundreds of years, polytheists were tortured and killed if they didn't convert to monotheistic religions?\n\nCould it be because monotheistic religions built their early churches on top of polytheistis temples and shrines?\n\nCould it have anything to do with the lies told by monotheistic religions that demonized polytheist gods and beliefs?\n\nFor about 700 years, monotheism was the only "acceptable" form of religion in the western world. Even in the first few centuries in American history, the "great melting pot" of cultures and religions, monotheism was the only acceptable form of religion. It has only been in the last 80-100 years that polytheists have been recognized and accepted into the mainstream of western society. \n\nIt took Christianity some 300 years to gain acceptance as a valid religion. Considering that, polytheism is making a pretty effective comeback into society. \n\n-SD-
601623
From what anyone religious icon can, r will, tell us, God has always existed, and that nothing had to create it.  I have asked the same question, and I always come back to Roman and Greek mythology, in which each God/Goddess has parents.  However, if there only is one God, and there were parents, then you have to ask: What happened to the parents?  In my opinion, this question is too difficult to be answered until we can (if we can) ask God itself/himself/herself.  Whenever you find an answer to one question, another pops up.  However, I must say this is a good question.  There are not many good ones out there, so congratulations.
285232
You are right, it sounds stupid when it's interpeted that way.  Perhaps the preachers and priests are pulling a fast one eh?\n\noh, and three gods in one? what's that about?  father/son/holyghost????  where did the ghostie come from???????\n\nthe only explanation i can really give you is that most people simply listen to other people about who to follow blindly.  I read the bible, and I know that this stuff about praying to jesus is crap, jesus is not god, never was, and he would tell you so if he was here right now.\n\nJesus always admonished his followers to pray to his father, God, he never said "Pray to ME!"
633420
I asked too, and was told he has always been present, which scares me and answer a lot of questions.  I guess he was around forever.  He was the one who created everything like, dinosaurs, etc. So I guess he got better along the way and created man and we have been here every since.  WOW!  I never thought of it that way.  Still confused, I am on a mission know.  To be honest I don't think we are going to get a straight answer because that will prove the true existence and challenge everything that we believe.  Imagine what would become of the world if we found out this was all a farce to keep most of us straight.  It is because of religion that we are doing okay today, of course man has rules. laws, and regulations for the ones who are non-believer's and the slackers. That would open up another Pandora's Box.  WOW!
572878
Interesting website, but I'm a Hindu and this website is definately just a "Christianity is wrong" website. It's concept of God is limited in its perspective and it doesn't seem to bother to look further into the vast landscape of religious, philosophical, theological, and spiritual diversity that exists. The site seems to be aimed at trying to convince Christians that what they believe is wrong (which seems very similar to how many Christians try to convert people by trying to convince them what what they believe is right). So, for me, the website wasn't of any real interest.\n\nI do have a complaint about the website. It loads its pages too slow (and I'm on DSL!). Not sure why it was moving so slow, but it took me a while to even read through the website. Whoever maintains the website should look into this or contact their host. \n\nOther than that I am sure that the website is of interest to those who would already agree with it. Otherwise I seriously doubt many Christians would take it very seriously and the website isn't speaking to people of other religions (it seems not to even acknowledge the larger more diverse concepts of God, religion, etc). \n\nThanks for sharing the website.\n\nPeace be with you.
342806
If there is more than one god, you are at least worshipping one.  If there is no god, you are merely wasting your own time worrying about it.  If there is one god, you are arguing about a name.  God is god.  Do you think addressing God by the "wrong name" is going to get God upset?  Or using the "wrong" rituals or prayers?  That kind of god is too petty and insecure to deserve respect.  I suspect God is more interested in your actions out in the world.  Do you try to make life better for people or do you try to make people more miserable?  Sure, we may disagree on many of the details, but essentially, we all know what's right or wrong, church teaching notwithstanding.  And ignorance cannot be sin.
187140
My friend, I agree with you, yet I also see a more pressing matter at hand. What about those persecutors and all the non-believers? If they die, they will not rejoice with all of us in heaven with the Lord God. I will pray for both the believers and the non-believers. There isn't much I can do from my present state but pray and preach the Word, since i'm not in a position to do anything but that. Email me if you have questions or are a fellow believer in Christ at questinchrist@yahoo.com. God bless
181253
Regarding translation and the Word of God.  To say, in general, that I "question" something is not saying that I disagree with it.  I try and question much in translation.  There was a time when I questioned the Word of God.  I have since been convinced of the veracity of God's Word, but I still question translation and try to derive as much as possible from it by reading many different concordance references and multiple versions.  I would say, all in all, general bibles like the NIV and ASV are pretty good translations.  I would definitely get one with a good concordance, explanations, and references, and use them.\n\nOn fundamentalism and the Evangelical movement in America.\n\nThis is a loaded question.  There is 1. A fundamentalist faction.  2. an Evangelical movement and 3. the Moral Majority faction.  These are not one in the same, though members of each may cross over into the other and become affiliated with the other now and again.  NONE OF THESE ARE MILITANT.  Do they feel that America has diverged from a "wholesome" path... absolutely.  Do they feel that they want to be able to let their kids play outside again.... absolutely.  Do they think that God is the answer to the problems with America..... absolutely.  Do they think that their vote can make a difference... they know factually that it can.  But, few support Jerry Falwell for any public office... I believe his call is for evangelism... not politics, though he has a right to voice his opinion when someone asks him.  Is it good for the Republican party?  Well, I guess it would be... considering their "conservative" agenda.  Moreover, I think that is bad for the Democratic party than good for the Republican.  The Democratic Party is now appearing to stand against Christianity and Christians, in general.  Considering there is only one kind of Christian (whether fundamental or liberal) this is a bad progression of events for the Democratic party.  I think that they need to review their stance, or another party needs to creep up.