Ask a Christian Theologian

[Alex_P]

The idea of a "universal enforcer" for "universal laws" is absurd.

Why? You gave no premise to that conclusion. Making it a non-argument.
Come on - someone please, take a serious shot at theism.

There's only a handful of fundamental particles. The way they interact with each other defines what they are. Mass and charge and the like are forces they exert upon other particles. (Physicists widely believe that you can reduce everything to one model, one equation.)

A "universal lawgiver" might make sense on some flimsy basis, but a "universal enforcer"? What do you imagine would happen if he stopped "enforcing"? Would every particle just take on some arbitrary charge, momentum, spin? Would they all disappear -- is God just dreaming the universe?

On what basis do you suppose that an all-powerful intelligence is required just to make a thing keep existing?

-- Alex

 

[clint eastwood]

31"He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.' "

Kind of a strange story for someone who came after Moses and the Prophets to tell, considering he, you know, went on to rise from the dead.

True. But having a dead person rise would have 1 of 3 effects. The person would believe and repent (by the work of the holy spirit), the person would doubt, or the person would believe and out of fear of condemnation, live a legalistic christian life (which isn't actually christian).

How can one doubt in the face of real life evidence? Bible thinks it's possible. This verse is after the resurrection:
Matthew 28:17 "When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted"

 

[Aries_Split]

In reality, no "true" Christian will ever convert. Or rather, it is VERY rare.

To be Christian you must have the quality of Blind Faith.

Which is why I am not Christian. I don't understand how someone can say "Prove god doesn't exist"

and when someone else says "Prove the flying spaghetti monster exists"

They call it a bad answer?

It's a fallacy.

 

[SunoffaBeach]

Why doesn't God sacrifice himself instead of his son?

Because his son is God, duh.

:|

Can you please explain this? I'm not too familiar with the bible.

 

[ZenMonkey47]

To be Christian you must have the quality of Blind Faith.

I can't say I agree with this statement.

Faith for a Cristian is kind of like believing in wind. You can't see wind, you can't trap it in a box and show it to others. However, you can feel it and you can see it moving things around you.

How do you prove to someone that wind exists? You say "can't you feel it?" and they simply reply "wind must be something subjective, different from person to person.". You say, "Well, look at it move those leaves over there" to which they reply "It's some other force at work. Possibly magnets or string."

 

[Aries_Split]

To be Christian you must have the quality of Blind Faith.

I can't say I agree with this statement.

Faith for a Cristian is kind of like believing in wind. You can't see wind, you can't trap it in a box and show it to others. However, you can feel it and you can see it moving things around you.

How do you prove to someone that wind exists? You say "can't you feel it?" and they simply reply "wind must be something subjective, different from person to person.". You say, "Well, look at it move those leaves over there" to which they reply "It's some other force at work. Possibly magnets or string."

I understand where your coming from, but that is a horrible analogy.

We understand Wind exists because we can measure it, recreate it, and capture it...so...no...

Also, my post was in no way a stab at religion! I actually find Christian Faith admirable, it's like a really high level of optimism.

 

[Alex_P]

I'll repeat.
Why does an intelligent universe not have an intelligent source?

What do you think intelligence is? What makes it so special?

Is it more than the emergent property of a particular system? Is it... magical?

-- Alex

 

[Skarvey]

To be Christian you must have the quality of Blind Faith.

I can't say I agree with this statement.

Faith for a Cristian is kind of like believing in wind. You can't see wind, you can't trap it in a box and show it to others. However, you can feel it and you can see it moving things around you.

How do you prove to someone that wind exists? You say "can't you feel it?" and they simply reply "wind must be something subjective, different from person to person.". You say, "Well, look at it move those leaves over there" to which they reply "It's some other force at work. Possibly magnets or string."

I understand where your coming from, but that is a horrible analogy.

We understand Wind exists because we can measure it, recreate it, and capture it...so...no...

Also, my post was in no way a stab at religion! I actually find Christian Faith admirable, it's like a really high level of optimism.

Even so, Blind faith might be a bit harsh of a term considering those who coined it and use it often ARE stabbing at other faiths, but I take no issue with your right to use it, I just think maybe its not the best of word choices. Yes, I think we can all agree that in some radical interpretations, blind faith might be an apt assessment of a christian, and for those of you who don't believe me, you can go to Wikipedia and search "Funny Theist Quotes" for a good laugh. But those are small sections of the christian population, just as it is with only small sections of muslims willing to blindly submit to blowing themselves and others up for the promise of salvation.

 

[PatientGrasshopper]

And regarding predestination; it is impossible to argue AGAINST predestination from the Bible.
And also it is entirely impossible to argue against predestination from the PREMISE that God is Sovereign.

God can make what he wants to happen , happen

& he can use & shape the person he chooses to accomplish his will

humans are not predestined

you are not born to fail - or succeed

God has the right to lay tests on individuals - conversly we human beings dont have the right to put God to the test

humans dont know their position in their creators eyes , intelligence & rationality dont lead people to the correct understanding of what kind of position humanity is in

God had the bible written so we could know

Half of what you said was insightful - the other half proved my point.
You cannot refute predestination from a Biblical perspective.

Proverbs 16:4
"The LORD works out everything for his own ends?
even the wicked for a day of disaster"

Proverbs 16:9
"In his heart a man plans his course,
but the LORD determines his steps."

Ok if predestination works the way I think you are trying to say it works then what is the point of evangelism? Those who are saved are saved those who aren't, aren't and there is nothing you can do to change that, at least according to what the Calvinist belief of predestination.

 

[Anarchemitis]

There is no fate or predestination. God set up the world so everything by his plan would automatically fall into place for his own desires.
It's like he set up a gigantic room of dominoes, and his objective is to have a domino fall down on the opposite side of the room. As soon as he flicks one, it doesn't matter what course history will take, all will result in the praise and glory of the Lord.

Why doesn't God sacrifice himself instead of his son?

Because his son is God, duh.

:|

Each of the Deitys of the Holy Trinity (the Father, the Son & the Holy Spirit) are God, and they in themselves consist God. Each are inextricable from on another or the whole of God.

 

[SunoffaBeach]

Where does a Theologian draw the line between knowledge and belief?

 

[darrinwright]

You're a braver man than I, my friend and brother.

/fellow Christian
//Afraid that threads like these usually bring out the worst as well as the curious
/// try slashies, they're FUN

 

[SunoffaBeach]

There is no fate or predestination. God set up the world so everything by his plan would automatically fall into place for his own desires.
It's like he set up a gigantic room of dominoes, and his objective is to have a domino fall down on the opposite side of the room. As soon as he flicks one, it doesn't matter what course history will take, all will result in the praise and glory of the Lord.

Why doesn't God sacrifice himself instead of his son?

Because his son is God, duh.

:|

Each of the Deitys of the Holy Trinity (the Father, the Son & the Holy Spirit) are God, and they in themselves consist God. Each are inextricable from on another or the whole of God.

If that's what you belei

There is no fate or predestination. God set up the world so everything by his plan would automatically fall into place for his own desires.
It's like he set up a gigantic room of dominoes, and his objective is to have a domino fall down on the opposite side of the room. As soon as he flicks one, it doesn't matter what course history will take, all will result in the praise and glory of the Lord.

Why doesn't God sacrifice himself instead of his son?

Because his son is God, duh.

:|

Each of the Deitys of the Holy Trinity (the Father, the Son & the Holy Spirit) are God, and they in themselves consist God. Each are inextricable from on another or the whole of God.

If that's what you believe, fine.
Just don't tell me it's a fact.

 

[PatientGrasshopper]

There is no fate or predestination. God set up the world so everything by his plan would automatically fall into place for his own desires.
It's like he set up a gigantic room of dominoes, and his objective is to have a domino fall down on the opposite side of the room. As soon as he flicks one, it doesn't matter what course history will take, all will result in the praise and glory of the Lord.

God knows how everything will happen but he allows us to make choices, I mean since God is good he could not make us do bad therefore we have free will at least were sinning is involved, however only he can grant us salvation.

 

[notyouraveragejoe]

Hey thanks for answering my last questions and I got a couple of new ones.

(picking up where I left off)

Fourthly: What's your view on the Book Of Revelations? Since I know it's kinda controversial with all the murder, war and bloodshed by the Arc Angels against Lucifers Helpers but I don't know Christianity's view. So this is kinda asking on your personal opinion and if possible for you to shed some light on the general view of this Book by Christianity.

Fifthly: Angels. They are defined as God's warriors right? Does that mean they commit violent acts? If so then how can angels still be considered pure if they have to fight? Even a fight for a good reason dirties someone (I can't describe it but they don't go back to the pure/white image from before) so does that mean even angels are flawed? And the leader of angels. St. Michael (I think I'm not actually sure) is he considered a more violent angel? Last thing on angels, Do you personally believe that angels are vengeful/slightly bloodthirsty in any way?

Sixthly: What is your view of people who commit murder in God's name? Or people who kill with justification (the "victim" has raped/killed/kidnapped)?

Seventhly: What is your personal view on homosexuality (I have to ask)? Why does Christianity seem to have a huge problem with it? Is there somewhere specific in the Bible that is against it?

 

[Trace2010]

I'm no Christian theologian, but these are easy:

I have some follow up questions now, I think you may see what I'm doing.

If I wanted to stop some bad people from things considered wrong by the Bible and kill them as a solution to this problem would that be a sin?

This one needs further clarification- are you talking pre-emptive or post-emptive?

Is judging people a sin? .

YES- if you judge and condemn a person's inner character/ soul.

NO- if you judge a person's actions.

By the former, you are declaring yourself GOD (as if you knew what was in the hearts and minds of other people).

So do you believe we descended from Adam and Eve directly?

Absolutely. You have to consider 3 things:

1) Col. Brady convinced the world that just because the Bible said "7 days", that didn't necessarily 7 24-hour time periods. The standards of distance and time used by science are inadequate in measuring along the magnitudes we are talking about.

Consider:

A) What if I said a mile was 5281 feet? You would say I would be wrong. Why? 'Cause science tells me so.

B) One huge argument is that "the DNA of man and the DNA of chimps/gorillas only differ by 2% so it is assumed that they have a common ancestor." To that I respond, "ask any astrophysicist what a 2% variation in the angle a rocket is fired will do when you are trying to get to the outer planets". You'll hit the moon, and maybe you'll hit Mars, but you are going to miss the outer planets completely.

2) There is no determined amount of time that Adam and Eve existed in Eden recorded in the Bible.

3) Mankind stepped out of Eden and took its place in the evolutionary chain. Man lacks the speed of primates, and the quickness and elusiveness of most mammals. Would that be even possible if the dinosaurs still roamed the Earth. No way!
Also, the dinosaurs died out while many bacteria, plants, mammals, fish, and other life remained on Earth during this time.

--What happened to the dinosaurs was necessary for the insertion of Man into the evolutionary spectrum.--

And before telling me I'm full of it- where do most social studies books say human civilization began? The Fertile Crescent.

 

[Trace2010]

If that's what you believe, fine.
Just don't tell me it's a fact.[/quote]

We're not talking about quantifiable fact here. God exists outside of the boundaries of human logic and reasoning.

I have a question: How can God be so arrogant as to stake his religion on nothing more than faith, yet be willing to damn for eternity all those who do not follow the 'one true path' of christianity? If you're going to damn to hell all those who don't believe in Jesus, isn't it up to you to give people the best damn evidence possible that you exist and he was the 'Son of God'?

First of all, as a Christian I am more concerned about myself. No, I am not damming anybody; I can't measure the inside of anyone's heart and mind, only God can- and I trust He will be a better judge.

Second of all: NO- if God comes out and proves He exists, that takes away the ability for mankind to need faith, thus completely erasing all of the work done trying to save His people.

If God is scientifically proven, then people don't need faith.
If People don't have faith, they cannot be saved.
ENDGAME.

 

[CIA]

Personally I think that all religions are worshiping the same thing: Life. I feel more alive thinking there is nothing after this than anyone who clings to relligion.

EDIT: So yeah its all the same god.

Actually, some religions that believe in one god, one part believe that Jesus was just a great prophet who died for his beliefs. Christians believe that Jesus is the only Son of God and therefore part of the three in one. Them not believing that Jesus is the only, true Son of God is what we majorly disagree with.

That is really not what I was getting at. Religions in general celebrate life. How could I have possibly made it simpler so you could understand?