I've been raised with Christian belifes all my life. But for the past year, I have really been really trying to study and read between the lines of the Bible. Please read the following from John chapter 9\n\n 1As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" \n 3"Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. \n\nWhy did they ask, "who sinned, this man or his parents?"  Are they implying that did he nay have sinned in another life, and that is why he is blind?
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Keep reading the Bible with an open mind.\n\nOne thing to remember is that Christianity is originally an EASTERN religion.  It grew out of the EAST and now was sanitized by the west.  One of the things that was whipped away was any notion of reincarnation.  However, it is apparent that the main characters in the Bible, were coming from that kind of Eastern thought.\n\nTake this as another example: MATT 11:\n12From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. 13For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14And if you are willing to accept it, ***he is the Elijah who was to come***. 15He who has ears, let him hear.\n\nJohn is Elijah????\n\nOr what about this (mainly to demonstrate what was the natural assumption of the people of that time):Matthew 16:13-15  \n 13When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" \n 14They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." \n 15"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"\n\nReincarnation was a promenent thought of that time.  One COULD miss this in scripture, but it would be hard to do.
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The following text is what it's all about for a Chrisitan.\n\n1 John 4\n7Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. \n\n13We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. 16And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. \n        God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. 18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. \n\n19We love because he first loved us. 20If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.\n\nI have personally seen God work in my life, I have allowed him to lead me since I graduated college, and have ended up where I never would have believed.  He has answered my prayers in the past, he has given me guidance, I have seen him work through friends and family.  He has even graciously given me dreams in which angels have appeared to reaffirm my faith.  I love God, for I know him and know his love for me.\n\nRomans 1:20\nFor since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
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A person needs to read this passage very carefully, and it really helps to read it in the Hebrew. The three men are never actually identified as God. A number of Jewish rabbis have noticed the same thing. It is *first* said that Abraham was sitting in his tent and had a vision of God, *then* he opened his eyes and saw three men. While Moses's narative style sometimes has an overview of events, and then more details, it's hard to say if that's what's happening here or not. In fact, it's almost funny to read if you take the stance that these three were angels in the last half of Genesis, because it has Abraham speaking to the angel that remained behind, and calling him "Adoni" (Lord) but never YHVH. But the one to reply is always YHVY and never Adoni. Also, in Genesis 18:22, it says that the men Abraham was speaking with turned and left, but Abraham stayed and pleaded with the LORD.\n\nBut even if you take the stance that one, or even all three, of these "angels" were in fact God Almighty, there is nothing to keep God Almighty as a spirit from creating a body and animating it himself. St. Augustine gets into that kind of an idea  little bit in one of his 15 books on the Trinity, I don't remember which off the top of my head.
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God's grace is sufficient! He loves us so much that he gave His son to die for our sins...past, present, and future. We recognize that we have sinned, ask Him to come into our lives and that we want to follow him, and we are reborn! New creatures in Christ. Sometimes we waiver and take a few steps back, but when we reach out to Him, miraculous things happen! Thanks for posting article.
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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.
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You may not want to hear it, but "simply living a life of  Lovingkindness, Forgiveness (Matthew 6:12, 14, 15 Read Please, for 1 John 1:9 is totally dependent of whether or not a Christian does Matthew 6:12, 14-15 Read it in the Amplified Bible).  And especially not Judging others - at all. Matt.7:1-... and we can never take all the logs out of our own lives. This would take a lifetime. Jesus simply never wants us to judge.\n \nIf you've chosen to enter into  yahoo answers often, daily  -  read,  pray, then answer some questions, but without criticisms, and Without Judging.\nAnd we are to show forth to people the Lovingkindness and Mercy of Jesus.\nJesus always had mercy and compassion on others.\nChristians are always to  Love there enemies and Pray for those "that persecute them!"  Jesus said this.  Not retaliate.\n\nLive the Life and it will draw people to you, they will see something very special in you that is not within themselves, and they will want it.  They will ask you questions, even on yahoo answers - there will be open doors.\nJust pray, read, wait, pray, and answer with Love, not judging and serve/help others.\n\nJesus said  He came not to bring a sword, but He came to serve.  We are His servants to the world.\n\nWe are doers of the Word, and this doing is possible to accomplish(Phil.4:13).\n\nWe live this type of lifestyle out of love for Jesus. And  He said  if you love Me, obey My commandments, and they are not burdensome.
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As I am Jewish, I find a lot of contradictions in Christians. And narrow minded ideals, which is also a contradiction, as Jesus taught the exact OPPOSITE of that sort of behaviour. So forgive me, but you goyim just confuse the hell out of me.
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Oh my goodness!!! I'm sitting here lmao at some of these responses you've gotten CJ!! rayna, that's right, I totally agree with you. God didn't write the book, man did! So that should totally explain CJ's question right??? Well maybe God didn't write it because he's not in existence to write it?? And also, you said yourself that man wrote it, showing the atheist's theory that religion is a made up bunch of crap.\nOkay, and OnlyMe. OMG! You're going on and on blah blah blah about how perfect the bible is because it never once contradicts itself...wasn't that CJ's entire question about how it DOES contradict itself!!!?? Learn to read child! And I agree with CJ that is DOES have A LOT of contradicitons in it.\nOkay duc602, you say CJ is a troubled person? Actually I think he's the free one to do as he wishes. You're the one who's gullible and brainwashed...don't blame others and criticize them because they're not brainwashed into "seeing the light".\n\nAnd finally, to answer your question CJ. He's (God's) perfect only in the eyes of the oh brainwashed ones. He doesn't exist. Man made up religion to control the masses long ago. Hence why there are so many contradictions. What person do you know that knows how to keep his story straight ALL THE TIME? That's right: zip, nada, zilch.\n\nP.S. Quit abusing CJ just because you don't like his question. If you don't like what he has to say, then don't answer it. If you don't like what I have to say, then tough s h *t.
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Dear ES,\n\nI agree with you and I enjoy reading it and giving away copies of the Bible.\n\nLong before I read the Bible from cover-to-cover I intended to re-write the Bible and take out all of the sexist language.  What a joke that was!  When I finally read it I didn't change it but it sure did change me!\n\nOne wonderful thing I noticed was that I had the feeling that it was written directly to me, even though I know it was written long before I was born.  It reminds me of looking at a photograph when it seems as though the subject is looking right back at you.\n\nEven though there have been several translations of the Bible they all say just about the same thing.  However I've seen a few that are not divinely inspired and there is no sense of the Living Word of God.\n\nYes, it is fascinating to look at the prophecies and realize that Jesus was the only person who ever had his biography written before He was born!
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He said -\n"I form light and create darkness, I make weal and create woe;\n I the Lord do all these things" \n\nHaving the word "evil" ....this is often mistranslated in English Bibles, but in the Hebrew it is absolutely unmistakable. \n\nCan you explain what you mean by "evil" and what God meant by "evil"???????????? \n\nYou can't question God!!!!! nor his word!!!!\n\nAnyway don't forget that God can make woe for the evil people. However I'm sure he won't do that. He is a loving father to all of us even through we doubt Him and try to find faults with God, His word and His creation.
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Philip one of the disciples ask  Jesus to show them the Father. And Jesus answered him: 'have I been w/ you for just a short time, how come you are asking me to show you the father? Those who have seen me has seen the Father. If you don't believe me, then believe in the WORKS that I did'.\n\nIn short Jesus was telling the disciples that he did what his Father would have done if He came to earth. Just like a son, doing the works of a father--we say: 'like father, like son'.
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Joshua.  People like you crack me up.  Really!  You argue about biblical-specific entries and events as if they were factual and undeniable.  "written 4000 years ago"  On what?  Notebook paper?  Do you have some copies of those 4000 year old writings?  Do you have some secret text that nobody else has ever seen?  Are you on heroin or acid?  What's your trip?  None of the authors of the NT witnessed the alleged resurrection.  No matter how you stretch it, there are no actual accounts of it.  Most of the NT was created and written in 320AD under the direction of Constantine the Great, and its puirpose was NOT for historic accuracy.  Its purpose was to create a doctrine at the Council of Nicea that all factions of religious doctrine could agree upon and pull everyone together.  Why does it appear that there only a few people that post here regularly who actually know this?  Is your only source of "history" the Bible itself?  Are you crazy enough to use the Bible to prove the Bible?  Talk about illogic!\n\nThe original poster is correct -- if the notion of god portrayed in the bible is accurate, then there is no need for "free will" -- God already knows how things turn out.  He already knows who chooses free will and who doesn't choose free will, how they act, and who the sinners are and who goes to hell.  He already knows the choices people made in the past and what they'll make in the future.  He already knows how things will turn.  Already been there.  Outside of the time line?  Fine, state it however you wish.  It's still the same.  He's all knowing.  He knows how the "souls" will turn out. There's no need for a test on earth.\n\nThe question is not flawed at all.  Your assumption that the Bible is incontrovertible is flawed, and your statements of biblical myths as assertion are ridiculous.  It is one of hundreds of unprovable myths on this whole planet, full of fatal flaws, like the one this question raises.
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Awesome! You are asking the right questions. It all starts with the questions - if you believe blindly, you will not get very far.  Christ is one of many thousands of ways to God. Did you ever wonder why there is evil in this world if God is all powerful and all-loving?  How come that "god" of Old testament is so different (immature, insecure, cruel) from God that Jesus talks about?  How come that Adam fell asleep in the paradise and never woke up?  Why there are two creation stories in Genesis? Did you notice that Jehova lied to Adam and Eve and the snake told them the truth concerning the fruit of the tree of knowledge?\n\nIf you search, you will find the REAL good news that Jesus taught:\nThere is no hell, there is no sin (just errors that can be corrected), ALL people will be saved, all of us can perform miracles like Jesus did... And God is all love and forgiveness.  Check out mystics in all religions: Sufis in Islam, Zen Buddhists, Kaballah in Judaism, Gnostics in Christianity (highly recommend A Course in Miracles!) \nhttp://acim-search.miraclevision.com/std-second-edition-and-supps/index.html\nand movies like Matrix.  Don't forget about quantum physics - movie "What the bleep do we know?" is a good starter.\nkeep asking these questions!\n\nSlawek
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Ok, well let me start by saying that God loves and cares for you... He sent His son Jesus to become a curse for you, and pay your punishment on the cross!  Gods master plan from the beginning was to have Jesus come and reunite the jews and gentiles(non jews).  We need to believe in Jesus because by doing so, we acknowledge Gods ultimate power and glory.  We are now saved by grace, meaning we dont work to get to heaven, we just do by beliving in Jesus and that God rasied him from the dead.  Again this all shows Gods ultimate power.  Christianity is the only religion that is not by works.  We dont work to get to God because we cant work.  There is no path to God or becoming a 'god', but God has giving us Jesus as a bridge to Him!\n\n\nGod has given us so many signs and wonders that He still works today.  Think of the times that we have been at the right place at the right time, or someone encouraged us when we really need it, or just look at creation, and it all shows the glory of God.\n\nThe bible says that we walk by faith and not by sight.  (blindly as you say) but its not all blind, we have the holy spirit to guide us and teach us.  If we could see God, it wouldnt be faith at all.  God didnt want everyone to see him and worship him because he gave us freedom of the will... He didnt want us to be robots, programmed to worship Him.  He loves us enough to give us freedom:)!!!!!\n\nwell i hope this helps and answers your question a little.. God bless :)
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I am a member of Christian of Texas. I enjoy reading the daily digest that is sent to me. My 360 link is http://360.yahoo.com/brickcollecter and my favorite scripture is John 3:16 because it explains our entire plan of salvation in one, simple verse. Too many think that it has to be hard to be saved, that you have to prove something. You don't, it's a gift from God, you only have to accept it and declare it! God bless you.
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Yes, you are right! continue to study and learn about the bible. It is important that you draw your own conclusions. Remember Jesus said the road to life would be small and cramped, that is don't be surprised that the majority will not accept it, in spite of blatant evidence. You seem to be on the right track, keep your studies up.
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I took a class my freshman year in college called "Early Christian Writings"......Jesus the man did exist.....historically .....there is proof of it......but many things do not fall in line the way the Bible and Christian Theoligans would like to believe or preach.  E.g. he was born 6 BC.....six years than earlier thought...which would make this year...1991?.....Also..he was very open minded.....the missing years of his life when everyone else would like to believe he was making chairs in his father's workshop....he was in the east studying eastern religions.....which is why he is so openminded.   A lot of things he said were not his words originally.   E.g.  His Sermon on the Mount was a direct quotation from Moses.......from the first five books of the bible.....this was how "The Word" was passed down in those times....orally......teachers would walk around....and his students...or "disciples" would follow him as he recited these verses.   When people asked him "are you the son of God?"....he was like...."hello McFly???? we are all the sons of God"........so they killed him.....just because he wasn't a hyprocrite.....do I think he was the Son of God?....of course....we are all...just look around you....do I think he performed miracles?......yes!!! anything is possible through God......and I believe he is the same God for everyone...just called different names....Allah, God....etc...Does God exist???is there proof??? it depends on what you believe is proof....proof has many dimensions.......and I believe faith to be one of them...you can be an Atheist....but It feels so much better to believe in something....