Good evening, I'm just your friendly neighborhood Zen Buddhist/Taoist, dropping in for a few questions.
One: Considering that there have been so many translations over the centuries, that though through divine inspiration the bible was still written by man, and even further considering the changing standards and morals of our race as a whole, can the modern bible truly be considered the word of God? In either case, why do christians continue to heed the words of a set of ideas and beliefs founded before the fall of Rome? Our intellectual prowess has expanded quite a bit since Christianity's founding, and our way of life would be better off changing to reflect it, in my opinion.
Two: Do you consider those that claim to channel "The word/will of God" truly Christian? Do you, in other words, believe that God himself contacts certain individuals by means of divine influence and/or outright telepathy? If so, to what extent? Do those that begin crusades, murderous epidemics, and overall cruelty and hate to any who do not strictly conform to their point of view have just as valid a connection with God as the blind man down the street who claims that God told him to paint? Why or why not?
Three: There was an old quote from a Cherokee man many years ago: "There are many great things in the good book. If the white man (And through that association christian missionaries) actually did as the good book said, the world would be a better place." What is your opinion on this statement, both in its historical context and today?
Four: As a child, my father was constantly harassed (some would go as far as to say tortured) by extremist christians, who attempted to force Christianity into his way of life whether he accepted it or not. As a result he grew to despise the religion. Is it still his sin for not believing in the lord when the cause of his disbelief was based on circumstance rather than prior thought and decision?
Five: What is your opinion as to the fates of those who contemplate the existence of God, or even a god, though without true recognition of God as the one and only greater being? On that matter, what of those that are willing to accept whatever is given to them, those who choose to believe but simultaneously not believe in something until they encounter it? Even further, what of those who due to their upbringing never encounter Christianity in their life?
Six: In your personal opinion, what is the image of hell? Is it the fire and brimstone constantly depicted by the general public? Is it a frozen, desolate wasteland? Is it something much more subtle and sinister, that custom-tailors itself to the senses of each individual victim? Is there any true and official depiction of hell?
Seven: I may begin to anger you at this point. I do not mean this as an attack, by any means. It is merely a philosophical musing. Several aspects of your religion are shared with others, from your basic structure to your morals and virtues. What is in your religion that makes your beliefs more right or valid than the beliefs of a Jew, or a Muslim, or an Atheist, or a Buddhist like myself? What do you believe gives you the right, or even the privilege, of telling believers of other religions that they are wrong? What do you believe gives you the ability to know that you are right?
Eight: As another philosophical musing, would you believe an old man's story about how an invisible man in the sky named Joe created the Earth, the solar system, the galaxy, and the universe as we know it in under a week? Would you believe him if he further added that this being had a son named Bill who could defy the laws of basic physics, chemistry, or for that matter mortality?
Nine: Would you believe an old man's idea of a woman named Wilma who gathered two of each and every animal from every region of the world, built a boat large and sturdy enough to house them all comfortably, and with her husband Hank survived for around a month through rainfall that scientifically speaking would not only crush a wooden craft to fine powder, but further pound the Earth into a perfect sphere? Let alone that the Earth does not have enough water on it to fuel such a dire storm.
Ten: Let us say, purely for the sake of argument, that as you die you discover that Norse Mythology is the actual one true religion. What would your reaction be? Keep in mind that this is a circumstance for the sake of dispute and opinion, and "Such a thing would never happen" is not a valid reply.
~Mike
