A few questions from a free thinker
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Hi i am a free thinker and i have a few questions that i wish to ask all Christians. These questions are not meant to be offensive, but are asked because i am puzzled by them.
1) Why do people believe in God even though they have not seen him? After all seeing is believing.
2) There is no mention of who created God or where he came from. So who created God?
3) Why do Christians think it is alright to ask other people to convert from their religions to Christianity?
4) If a person converts to Christianity, he/she will go to heaven? Hm...doesn't that encourage many people to convert at the very last min?
5) Why did Jesus show his face freely in the past as mentioned in the bible, but not now? -
hi cooleo
glad to answer these questions to the best of my abilities..
1) Why do people believe in God even though they have not seen him? After all seeing is believing.I believe in Him because He has made a difference in my life. There are moments in my life where I saw he evidently making my life work.
Some use the bible as evidence of His existence, some use history, some use the creation around us. But I believe because I see in walking with me.
2) There is no mention of who created God or where he came from. So who created God?
God is the creator, an omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent being. He is the beginning and He existed since beginning of time. Noone created Him, because if He is created, then the one who created Him would be more powerful than Him.
3) Why do Christians think it is alright to ask other people to convert from their religions to Christianity?No one has the right to make you believe in things you do not believe in. Some do it out of good intention, but sometimes they do it wrongly to the point of putting people off.
4) If a person converts to Christianity, he/she will go to heaven? Hm...doesn't that encourage many people to convert at the very last min?It may sound that it's a good choice isn't it? To play as hard as you can, then when the time comes.. just accept Him. But who knows when God is coming back to judge? When the time comes, it may all be too late.
Also, if one lives a certain lifestyle without God.. sometimes we enjoy the 'freedom' too much to want to give up.. it's like an addiction.. though a heroin addict may know that quitting the vice is good for him, but he still lives a life of being bonded by it.
5) Why did Jesus show his face freely in the past as mentioned in the bible, but not now?
Jesus came in flesh for a reason. To be human and show us how to live. And primarily He came to carry out the plan of salvation. But when He died, and ressurected and went back to heaven, He did not leave us alone. The door is now open and He gave us the Holy Spirit to be an active partner in our lives.
I'm not sure why, but even if one day someone appears in flesh and declares he is Jesus. Who would believe him? They'll instantly declare him a nut.
Hope it helps.. -
Originally posted by cooleo:
I want to ask :
Hi i am a free thinker and i have a few questions that i wish to ask all Christians. These questions are not meant to be offensive, but are asked because i am puzzled by them.
1) Why do people believe in God even though they have not seen him? After all seeing is believing.
can you SEE love and care? you only can feel, so why you will fall in love or care for family and friends?
2) There is no mention of who created God or where he came from. So who created God?
chick come first or the egg? but you still eat both, if you can't even explain where does food comes from why question GOD?
What make you heart pumping without stoping without batteries day and night without fail?
3) Why do Christians think it is alright to ask other people to convert from their religions to Christianity?
If you have a very good thing and is free will you share with your love one, families and friends?
4) If a person converts to Christianity, he/she will go to heaven? Hm...doesn't that encourage many people to convert at the very last min?
Will you believe a stranger during his last min telling he is you close relative without any prove? do you go home only to sleep and when you hungry?
5) Why did Jesus show his face freely in the past as mentioned in the bible, but not now?
He did show up, it bcos you don't believe thats why you don't see.
1) Is there monkey god?
2) Tiger god?
3) My mum use to bring me to temple pray to Kong ZI so that I can pass my studies, what I know he is a human, a teacher.
4) Guang Kong, he is a worrier, do you think during the war in the battle field, he don't eat beef?
no offence, my 2 cents -
Originally posted by F.O.S:I want to ask :
1) Is there monkey god?
The so-called monkey god was a fictional character created by Chinese monk cum novellist Wu Chen En who wrote a fictitious story about the journey to obtain scriptures from India (the West).
2) Tiger god?
3) My mum use to bring me to temple pray to Kong ZI so that I can pass my studies, what I know he is a human, a teacher.
You already said it. He was a human.
4) Guang Kong, he is a worrier, do you think during the war in the battle field, he don't eat beef?
no offence, my 2 cents -
let's try not to offend other people unnecessarilyOriginally posted by F.O.S:I want to ask :
1) Is there monkey god?
2) Tiger god?
3) My mum use to bring me to temple pray to Kong ZI so that I can pass my studies, what I know he is a human, a teacher.
4) Guang Kong, he is a worrier, do you think during the war in the battle field, he don't eat beef?
no offence, my 2 cents -
sorry if I didOriginally posted by sillyme:let's try not to offend other people unnecessarily
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hehOriginally posted by F.O.S:sorry if I did
i'm the mod.. must prevent fire from starting mah -
Frankly speaking, i feel that the answers were rather vague and unsatisfactory. I could have thought of them myself. Are there pastors in here? I will like to hear the opinions of them.
Basically i feel that if God wants to get more people to convert to Christianity, he should show up and convince us. Wouldn't it be more effective than through pastors and churches?
One more question:
Q1) If God always preaches about forgiveness, why are there people born blind, spastic etc? If they had committed sins in the previous lives, shouldn't they be forgiven? -
We don't believe in reincarnation. You only have one live.Originally posted by cooleo:Frankly speaking, i feel that the answers were rather vague and unsatisfactory. I could have thought of them myself. Are there pastors in here? I will like to hear the opinions of them.
Basically i feel that if God wants to get more people to convert to Christianity, he should show up and convince us. Wouldn't it be more effective than through pastors and churches?
One more question:
Q1) If God always preaches about forgiveness, why are there people born blind, spastic etc? If they had committed sins in the previous lives, shouldn't they be forgiven?
Being handicapped doesn't rob you of having a fulfilling life.
Love can only be love if there is free will. If God wants to force us to believe, then He has failed. That is an unthinkable thing.
I think many others can give their answers. Ultimately, it's a personal choice to believe what you choose to -
Out of curiousity, are you implying that God is forcing us to believe in him by showing up in the past as mentioned in the Bible? According to the Bible, he doesn't just show up, he performs miracles and so on, displaying his existence very evidently i must say. Why the change in mind now? Where was he when 911 happened? Shouldn't he have performed a miracle?
Many people will like to meet him in person that's for sure. I mean it beats praying into empty space and wondering if someone up there is listening or not right?
As for being born with disabilities doesn't take anything out of life? Well God has always advocated about fairness to everyone, so why the special treatment for some then? If there is no reincarnation, then why does God have to create some people with disabilities? Don't you think they are brought into the world to suffer? Imagine not being to see, walking around with a cane and missing the wonders of sight. Imagine being born spastic and living in a world wherby people point at you and kids tease you. -
I don't think I can answer your questions satisfactorily.
Why He came down 2000 years ago was primarily for the plan of salvation. Take note that He came down in poverty, as a carpenter's son. He did perform miracles, He did declare Himself as the Son of God. Yet, He was crucified. If the Jewish people who was led out of Egypt did not believe Him, I don't think the people of present times will.
I really don't know the answers to the rest of your questions. I hope that you'll find it somehow. -
Can't you see he is a free thinker? Not everyone worship monkeys, tigers or other humans.Originally posted by F.O.S:I want to ask :
1) Is there monkey god?
2) Tiger god?
3) My mum use to bring me to temple pray to Kong ZI so that I can pass my studies, what I know he is a human, a teacher.
4) Guang Kong, he is a worrier, do you think during the war in the battle field, he don't eat beef?
no offence, my 2 cents -
sorry, but why free thinker only question on christian?Originally posted by Devils_advocate:Can't you see he is a free thinker? Not everyone worship monkeys, tigers or other humans. -
Cos apparently this is supposed to be a forum section discussing Christianity and since i have questions about Christianity, i suppose no harm in asking a few questions to Christians in here.
Is there a Buddhist section in the forum as well? I have a few questions for Buddhists as well. After all, as a free thinker i am not biased against any religion. -
I am a Christian but I have my own doubts as well like the above. I can't understand even from the bible. Maybe I am not mature enough. Pastors always say to believe by faith, but they don't know it's difficult sometimes. I guess he allowed 911 to show that the world is ending soon and to wake people from their stupor. He is not showing up as frequently I think bcos we are a faithless and perverted generation. There are many more godly people in ancient times. Cooleo, you have to seek Him to find Him. He just doesn't appear like this although He can. I think He is listening to all the prayers bcos things on earth really change when we pray. Sometimes disabilities in babies are caused by neglect from the parents when they are in their wombs. The mother doesn't eat well or eats something wrong or there is a genetic defect or disease the mother got or whatever. We can't blame God totally for this. Adam sinned initially, so I guess this sin was propagated down and caused the birth defects you mentioned. We are living in a sinful world with satan destroying everything and everyone whenever he can but God is still in control. We need to pray for God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. We need to know we are forgiven of our sins and death and disease have no hold on us. We need Jesus Christ. He is our answer! Ask Him yourself these questions and I believe He will tell you one day.Originally posted by cooleo:Out of curiousity, are you implying that God is forcing us to believe in him by showing up in the past as mentioned in the Bible? According to the Bible, he doesn't just show up, he performs miracles and so on, displaying his existence very evidently i must say. Why the change in mind now? Where was he when 911 happened? Shouldn't he have performed a miracle?
Many people will like to meet him in person that's for sure. I mean it beats praying into empty space and wondering if someone up there is listening or not right?
As for being born with disabilities doesn't take anything out of life? Well God has always advocated about fairness to everyone, so why the special treatment for some then? If there is no reincarnation, then why does God have to create some people with disabilities? Don't you think they are brought into the world to suffer? Imagine not being to see, walking around with a cane and missing the wonders of sight. Imagine being born spastic and living in a world wherby people point at you and kids tease you.
God loves you dearly like a precious son or daughter. He loves everyone very much. It breaks His heart whenever a deformed baby is born. It's not supposed to be this way originally. Cooleo, we will know the full answer when we get to heaven one day. -
the disabilities and other so-called misfortunes are the result of sin in this world. When God created the world and human beings, He make them perfect and in His likeness..the result of sin causes the image of God to be distorted and man will have to die and suffer many things in life.
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Topics on Buddhism?Originally posted by cooleo:Cos apparently this is supposed to be a forum section discussing Christianity and since i have questions about Christianity, i suppose no harm in asking a few questions to Christians in here.
Is there a Buddhist section in the forum as well? I have a few questions for Buddhists as well. After all, as a free thinker i am not biased against any religion.
Maybe you can try on Chit Chat. There's House of Feng Shui forum, but I'm not sure if it's relevant. -
It's good that you are not biased unlike monkey, tiger or human worshippers. They can be more bigoted. No offence here.Originally posted by cooleo:Cos apparently this is supposed to be a forum section discussing Christianity and since i have questions about Christianity, i suppose no harm in asking a few questions to Christians in here.
Is there a Buddhist section in the forum as well? I have a few questions for Buddhists as well. After all, as a free thinker i am not biased against any religion. -
Pain has it's function. It reminds us of the danger ahead. Put your hand near to flame. If you hand is devoid of the ability to feel pain, then you'll end up getting hurt. Similarly, if our lives are all full of happy experiences, we can never grow to what we're meant to be.
I thank cooleo for your questions. It's always to think about some of these issues. Sometimes we take these things for granted. It's always good for believers (and non-believers) to rethink and refresh of their beliefs -
i had that answer in mind.. but i wasn't sure if cooleo as a non-believer would buy thatOriginally posted by NeonTetra:the disabilities and other so-called misfortunes are the result of sin in this world. When God created the world and human beings, He make them perfect and in His likeness..the result of sin causes the image of God to be distorted and man will have to die and suffer many things in life. -
Why God why???
I don't understand also. Can you pls tell me? Forgive me for my doubts. I just want to know more...
Prayer by a confused and doubtful Christian -
There are many things God do we cannot understand...simply because He is God and not part of the created order. His ways are higher than ours and God works having the big picture in mind...we humans take one step at a time.Originally posted by Devils_advocate:Why God why??? I don't understand also. Can you pls tell me? Forgive me for my doubts. I just want to know more...
Prayer by a confused and doubtful Christian -
Non-believer? Hm..i will say that i am pretty open to answers. But please don't give me those vague "i feel" or "i think" answers. I've been hearing lots of them and kinda irritated cos there is a lack of conviction in the answers. Same goes for other religions. No one knows exactly what their religions are all about.Originally posted by sillyme:i had that answer in mind.. but i wasn't sure if cooleo as a non-believer would buy that -
/checks back at my answers..Originally posted by cooleo:Non-believer? Hm..i will say that i am pretty open to answers. But please don't give me those vague "i feel" or "i think" answers. I've been hearing lots of them and kinda irritated cos there is a lack of conviction in the answers. Same goes for other religions. No one knows exactly what their religions are all about.
alamak, i did use "i think"and "i feel"... habit lah
but i'm sure of what i believe in.. though i did have times when i back-peddled or stood still.. but i've always bee brought back by Him..
well, i hope others can contribute..
anyway, you're welcome here no matter what -
check out this spore site, got many good Q&A
http://stephentong.org/multiboard/index.htm