First of all, I am a Christian, and I'm looking at this at a Christian person's point of view...so I'm open for corrections, questions, and debate.
I know a lot of people who are either atheists, mormon, buddhist, etc. And I can understand that, I dont force my beliefs upon them cus I know they already have theirs, but that doesnt stop me from inviting them from to my church or going to my youth group, but even a simple invitation goes a long way to make people mad.
One time I got into a discussion about my beliefs with an atheist, and she accused me of being closed-minded because she says that I dont believe in other religions. I told her that there is only one true God, and then she says every god in a religion is just the same, they're just called a different name, but how can she say Buddha is God or that Allah is also God when these religions contradict each other. In the world there is only a 'yes & no', 'good & evil','right & wrong', 'heaven & hell'; there's one truth and the rest are lies meant to lead you astray. So of course, Im going to be close-minded...Im looking for one truth, not several version of it.
I also noticed that people who dont want to listen are those who are scared. Those people who have built their comfort zone and are scared of the changes, they will have to make. They're scared of giving up their life of sin for a life of righteousness with God.
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Scared? What am I scared of? You are patently absurd. The only thing I'm scared of is the prospect of people like you one day influencing political decisions in my country. You can accuse me all you want of leading a life of sin -- I don't give a shit & I'm going to keep on living this way, right up until I kick the can in maybe sixty or so years. Keep your life of 'righteousness' (if only I could convey my laughter in text) -- I want no part of it.
Now, true athiests do not believe in a God, and so to say there is no god at all when so many religions worship a god of some sort is pretty closed-minded as well... hmm.
Affirmative.
Here's the thing: I'm not scared.
I went through a really rough time and needed something to believe in. I went to church. I tried to accept it as real. But I couldn't do it. It just wasn't right. I realized the only way for me to get through life was on my own. Call me an atheist; call me an existentialist. Call me whatever you want. The fact of the matter is, I'm not scared of accepting "God". It's just that it didn't work for me.
I understand, but maybe as you said you were going through a really rough time and maybe that was misleading you and clouding your judgement, But you have to remember things happen for a reason, and my God, I know, would never purposely give me an obstacle that I cant finish. These rough times arent meant to dissuade you, they're meant to test your faith. So all I have to say is dont give up.
It's interesting how intolerant tolerant people are of intolerance.
Just so you know: if someone calls you close minded, it means that you don't think like them and that's the most educated insult they can think of.
Just because you hold that a truth exists doesn't make you close minded. Just don't get so sure of yourself that you don't see the real truth when it hits you in the face.
I agree w/ you. You're on the right track. . .don't give up! Of course being a Christian isn't the easiest thing in the world and neither is witnessing and telling others about Christ but we still need to do it. Philemon 1:6 says, "I pray that you will be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of everything good we have in Christ." Just keep that in mind. Although you have good intentions, maybe the way you go about witnessing could use some work. It's hard knowing what to say to people. I found Mark Cahill's book, "One Thing You Can't Do in Heaven" to be a big help. Also, when people have the "whatever floats your boat" philosophy and think that whatever religion or god you have is acceptable. .. ask them if they believe in absolute truth. If you can get them to say "There is no absolute truth" then you've already started to win your argument. But the biggest help is prayer. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you the words to say and you'll be fine :)
yes i do need help...when i talk to people because a lot of my friends dont have the same faith as i do...i feel so much better expressing my thoughts in writing thatn in words, and even then i need help...most of the time i just get overwhelmed...
Last time I checked, the Abrahamic religions (i.e. Judaism, Christianity, Islam), sharing a common history and some common religious aspects, all worship the same deity but sometimes by different names or titles. YHWH is God is Allah. But, hey, if the follows don't want or see it that way, whatever.
Also, a year or so ago, I remember reading a few theories on how all religions or philosophies could somehow be correct, but I don't remember it anymore. I mainly found them on message boards, kinda like a debate I read on relativism vs. absolutism. You're apparently an absolutist, which is fine.
You said you're looking for one truth. Does that sentence not imply that "your" truth is one of many? I have a feeling that's not the message you meant to convey, but that's what your statement is implying.
You are incorrect in assuming that those who don't want to listen are scared. As a matter of fact, many people don't want to listen because they've heard the same bull from a hundred other people before they even get to you. Furthermore, many stop listening as soon as you start talking to them in a preach-like manner. When people are discussing or debating, there is no need to turn into a preacher. Besides, I doubt many atheists, agnostics, etc. are scared of making changes since many were raised in certain religions but decided to change and thus became what they are now. Fear of change is a natural trait that humanity seems to possess, but it doesn't apply everywhere and to everyone.
"Men become civilized, not in proportion to their willingness to believe, but in proportion to their readiness to doubt."
"Freedom of press is limited to those who own one."
H. L. Mencken
First of all you cant link religion and science together...if you havent notice they contradict each other...religion shouldnt be a theory...
And about you question...i said i'm lookin for one truth, im implying that there's a lot out there that are meant to be the truth to lead you astray...besides you know what i meant, and theres no reason for you to try and twist my words...
And if you want to ask me why i so readily believe what i believe, you can call it faith in my God and the Bible.
Who said the theory was scientific? Theories can exist outside of science. For example, there are many theological and philosophical theories. In fact, Christianity itself has many theories. "Theories" exist in many branches of academia and otherwise; they are not specific to science. The theories I referred to would be considered theological or philosophical theories, not scientific ones.
Besides, it's only your opinion that science and religion contradict each other. As far as I'm concerned, the Big Bang Theory is quite like Creationism, only Creationism has an extra detail added, i.e. God.
Who says I'm trying to twist your words? For the sake of discussion, it should be clear what one means. If I were trying only to twist your words, I'd probably be more attacking you than making observations or debate or discussion.
In no part of my comment did I imply that I wanted to ask why you believe what you believe. What your religious beliefs entail are less important to me than how you interact with others in discussions, which is what I perceived as a major topic of your blog entry, if I'm not mistaken.
"Men become civilized, not in proportion to their willingness to believe, but in proportion to their readiness to doubt."
"Freedom of press is limited to those who own one."
H. L. Mencken
Point taken. Theories can exist out of science.Happy? Christianity has many theories, and thats what i'm saying...those theories are the "other" truths meant to lead a person somewhere else...im not saying that what you believe is wrong, cus im sure you wont believe me...believe what you want...and as far as I'M concerned the Ceationism is not the same as the Big Bang Theory...you'll know that if you read the first book of the Old Testament...but of course you wont...and I wouldnt want you to read it with your kind of thinking...