Ask a Christian Theologian

[Amnestic]

[Probably around $1.32. No one wants to buy a troll.

Troll? And exactly where have I done that particular mortal sin? It's an honest question, aimed at bringing up the idea of interpretation of the bible itself, translations, mistranslations and just how true it is to the original text. Putting it in that manner is merely an attempt at humour, and I'm sorry if you can't see such things, they really are such a colourful part of life.

Implying Christians deal in slavery is not trolling?

Some of the content of the bible are rules from a bygone society, a big indication of this is the fact we don't still sacrifice goats.

Is it not the Word of the omniscient God? Accepting that it's not by saying "some content of the bible" is not undermines the very currents of the Bible's legitimacy as a 'religious' text and places it in the realms of cultural fiction.

 

[watchman 2353]

Chris Hedges, a graduate from Harvard divinity school, said in his book American Fascists that the bible contains enough information that the careful reader will learn morality. Yet, there is also enough bigotry and corruption contained within it to justify all the evil in the world. Do you agree?

Also, do you believe that the bible is the literal word of god, or do you believe that some sections are flawed because it was transcribed by humans.

 

[maximilian]

Can you prove god exists

(not meant to be flame bait, just want to see how a later in life convert sees it)

Essentially, the logic is that the experience of my conversion was and caused my conversion through an understanding of God's existence and all that entails. I find that God exists in my life because I see Him when I pray, read the Bible and when I feel lead to do different things outside of my comfort zone (like unnatural inclinations to help people etc.). Following this, this "existence" is universal. I.e. he is not my PERSONAL God, but one over the universe who is either understood and committed to, or not.

If you want a logical progressive "proof" argument for God then the book "I Don't Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist" (love or hate the name I cannot do anything about it!) shows that train of thought through to fruition. It's written by pretty intelligent guys and from the Christian perspective. Of course, historical validity etc. comes into that stream of thought as well. It's just an erudite display of Christian "logic" if you will.

 

[Graustein]

Two questions.
First one, why is the Christian Sabbath on Sunday rather than Saturday? Why did they change it?

Seventh day of creation god rested, he said keep the sabbath day holy, so that's why it's Sunday.

Then why do Jews, who have been doing it longer and to whom the exact same passage refers, do it on Saturday? In fact, the text is a Jewish text. There is no denying that the original interpretation of that passage was "Saturday is Sabbath"
The Christians changed it to Sunday. My question is why.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Two questions.
First one, why is the Christian Sabbath on Sunday rather than Saturday? Why did they change it?

Seventh day of creation god rested, he said keep the sabbath day holy, so that's why it's Sunday.

Then why do Jews, who have been doing it longer and to whom the exact same passage refers, do it on Saturday?
The Christians changed it to Sunday. My question is why.

Easy. Jews follow the Old Testament. Christians follow the New Testament.

 

[vede]

I don't really have a question, but this thread makes me think that we could do a mod-supported "Religion Thread," where all the Escapists of various religions (right?) can answer questions directed at them and such, sort of like that fiasco with everyone asking about opinions on Australia and such.

 

[Graustein]

Two questions.
First one, why is the Christian Sabbath on Sunday rather than Saturday? Why did they change it?

Seventh day of creation god rested, he said keep the sabbath day holy, so that's why it's Sunday.

Then why do Jews, who have been doing it longer and to whom the exact same passage refers, do it on Saturday?
The Christians changed it to Sunday. My question is why.

Easy. Jews follow the Old Testament. Christians follow the New Testament.

Does the New Testament say "the sabbath is now Sunday" anywhere? (I honestly don't know). Because as far as I know, the only passage that gives the Sabbath a date is the one in Genesis.

 

[Labyrinth]

Troll? And exactly where have I done that particular mortal sin? It's an honest question, aimed at bringing up the idea of interpretation of the bible itself, translations, mistranslations and just how true it is to the original text. Putting it in that manner is merely an attempt at humour, and I'm sorry if you can't see such things, they really are such a colourful part of life.

Implying Christians deal in slavery is not trolling?

I've bolded the bit you might want to pay attention to.

 

[maximilian]

Okay, so I get the whole anti-contraception thing, and the anti-gay thing, as they're written in the bible and it's the unchangeable word of god etc etc.

My question is thus. When my father goes to sell me as sanctioned by Exodus, what's a fair price to ask in this day and age?

So here is the dilemma. I can either assume you're being serious and answer with the whole "this is the Old Testament, ask a Jew" answer, or if you're not (and I'm more inclined to this) I can shake my head in mild annoyance and move on.

 

[watchman 2353]

Historical: the Christians moved the sabot to Sunday to hide their serrimonies inside of the pagan holidays. That is why Christmas is on the solitary and Easter is on the equinox.

 

[The Sorrow]

If God forgives all, why do you burn in Hell for not believing in Him? That's not free will; that's a Hobson's choice.

Oh, and why'd he murder so many innocent people with the flood and the whole Sodom and Gomorrah incident? Not everyone was corrupt.

Why do Christians see fit to oppress a minority? God loves everyone, right? Oh, except for the gays. They don't choose to be gay, so it's akin to sanctioned racism.

Why do you justify acts of cruelty with a 2000 year old book written by prejudiced old men?

Basically, why is God such a dick? And why do His followers take after Him so well?

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Does the New Testament say "the sabbath is now Sunday" anywhere? (I honestly don't know). Because as far as I know, the only passage that gives the Sabbath a date is the one in Genesis.

That's the Gregorian/Julian Calendar. Realistically the Sabbath could be any day of the week.

 

[Lucas113]

Two questions.
First one, why is the Christian Sabbath on Sunday rather than Saturday? Why did they change it?

Seventh day of creation god rested, he said keep the sabbath day holy, so that's why it's Sunday.

Then why do Jews, who have been doing it longer and to whom the exact same passage refers, do it on Saturday?
The Christians changed it to Sunday. My question is why.

Easy. Jews follow the Old Testament. Christians follow the New Testament.

Not really, no. The Sabbath is Saturday in Judaism and Christianity. Christians revere Sunday (technically the first day of the week) as it was the day Jesus rose from the dead.

 

[Pohlkat]

what the hell's up with that kill the infidels stuff. wouldn't god tell them to live and let live and let him judge when the time comes?

Thought that was Islam, never heard that about Christianity

 

[Labyrinth]

Okay, so I get the whole anti-contraception thing, and the anti-gay thing, as they're written in the bible and it's the unchangeable word of god etc etc.

My question is thus. When my father goes to sell me as sanctioned by Exodus, what's a fair price to ask in this day and age?

So here is the dilemma. I can either assume you're being serious and answer with the whole "this is the Old Testament, ask a Jew" answer, or if you're not (and I'm more inclined to this) I can shake my head in mild annoyance and move on.

I'll say again. It's a question of which bits of the bible do you pay attention to, and if, by making that distinction, you are in fact undermining the text as a whole.

 

[watchman 2353]

One of the major questions in the bible is weather god is vengeful or benevolent. Jesus sayed that he was benevolant, and most other profits believe he is vengefull.

 

[Amnestic]

Okay, so I get the whole anti-contraception thing, and the anti-gay thing, as they're written in the bible and it's the unchangeable word of god etc etc.

My question is thus. When my father goes to sell me as sanctioned by Exodus, what's a fair price to ask in this day and age?

So here is the dilemma. I can either assume you're being serious and answer with the whole "this is the Old Testament, ask a Jew" answer, or if you're not (and I'm more inclined to this) I can shake my head in mild annoyance and move on.

Now hang on, the Old Testament is just as large a part of the Bible as the New Testament. You can't just dismiss a point because "It's in the Old Testament." when your holy book *contains* the Old Testament.

Also answer my question about the conflicting viewpoints of Genesis and scientific evidence please, considering the description of what kind of Christian you are.

 

[Mr. Moose]

Okay, so I get the whole anti-contraception thing, and the anti-gay thing, as they're written in the bible and it's the unchangeable word of god etc etc.

My question is thus. When my father goes to sell me as sanctioned by Exodus, what's a fair price to ask in this day and age?

EHHH
WRONG.

Mistranslation.

Original Hebrew says something along the lines of two men not being able to sleep in a woman's bed.

Nothing about how homosexuality is wrong.
Just where the fucking can happen.

Back then Women were considered property, you know, and during her period, she'd be 'quarantined' to her own bed. It was against cleanliness rites to sleep with another man on that bed.

This topic clears a lot of the stuff up.
http://www.gaiaonline.com/forum/extended-discussion/homosexuality-is-not-a-sin-what-christ-said-and-more/t.22055569/

 

[Yassen]

Alright I have a serious question.

The Bible says those who don't believe and worship God go to Hell, so what about those who never hear about God because they live in the jungle or something? Isn't that a tad unfair to them?