29 May '07 03:54>
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Originally posted by smw6869As far as the Christian faith is concerned, I have no idea what is meant by "blind faith".
Why is this religion stuff so hard to understand? Wouldn't there be more followers if God had made it easier? What's with all the hidden meanings and cobbleygoup all about. Why would anyone follow blindly what they don't understand? Blind faith?
Originally posted by jaywillTake two Christians. List all the things that each is convinced is true but the other does not believe in. One of them must be wrong about each given point and thus must have blind faith.
As far as the Christian faith is concerned, I have no idea what is meant by "blind faith".
Originally posted by twhiteheadIt is true that we Christians have different opinions about many things. Perhaps there are not two disciples who agree on everything written in the Bible.
Take two Christians. List all the things that each is convinced is true but the other does not believe in. One of them must be wrong about each given point and thus must have blind faith.
Or maybe the two are genuinely experiencing different things. This should worry you even more as it means that you cannot rely on your experience. The fact that you do ...[text shortened]... be blind faith as you are ignoring the obvious possibility that your experience could be wrong.
Originally posted by smw6869I mean no disrespect, but i cannot follow your line of reasoning. Just too philosophical for me. Words that mean one thing in my vocabulary are used to mean something else in your explanation. One should not have to be a Biblical scholar to understand God! I find it very difficult and do believe that most followers just have blind faith.
Why is this religion stuff so hard to understand? Wouldn't there be more followers if God had made it easier? What's with all the hidden meanings and cobbleygoup all about. Why would anyone follow blindly what they don't understand? Blind faith?
Originally posted by smw6869Faith is not blind. The bible is simple, and when understood, faith comes about. To me, faith is believing. The bible is God's message to the world. When a person is ready to read and believe it, then God causes the "increase", understanding, etc. There are fundamental truths which most Christians agree on, i.e., Christ paid for the sins of the world, God is good, the new birth, sin nature, new nature, etc. The differences that Christians disagree on are not cause to disbelieve, but having said that, it is not good for a person trying to understand, to look at two Christians disputing their points. This should be done privately, seeing it does not bring God glory. As to your point about blind faith, it is not something found in the bible. It is a clique. Look at it this way. The more I understand about God through His word, the more I admire Him and love Him, thus my faith "grows", my sinful nature is "put off" more and more, and the new nature becomes more a part of me. It is similiar to meeting a new friend. When you understand your friend, and get to know him/her more, you develop a trust. But man is not dependable like God, He will never break a promise, nor stop loving you, He is faithful, loving and powerful. full of wisdom and mercy, ready to forgive, etc.
I mean no disrespect, but i cannot follow your line of reasoning. Just too philosophical for me. Words that mean one thing in my vocabulary are used to mean something else in your explanation. One should not have to be a Biblical scholar to understand God! I find it very difficult and do believe that most followers just have blind faith.
Originally posted by jaywillSo if a Muslim comes to me and says he has experienced effectively the same thing as you (except he calls it Allah) then can we say that you are both experiencing the same thing but one of you is wrong about the name. But the name is a minor detail.
Though Christians are divided along many opinions because of immaturity in the growth of Christ, this does not cause great concern that the core experience of the living Son of God is to be doubted.
Originally posted by twhiteheadI don't know any Muslims who say that they know God intimately. I know of no Muslims who explain that God has come to live in them.
So if a Muslim comes to me and says he has experienced effectively the same thing as you (except he calls it Allah) then can we say that you are both experiencing the same thing but one of you is wrong about the name. But the name is a minor detail.
So is it blind faith that you attribute your experiences to a specific character called Christ.
Originally posted by twhiteheadYou are on a sticky wicket here. The question should be which model best fits the experience ? As jaywill is pointing out , the muslim model of God/Allah does not lean towards intimacy with God or having an explicit person relationship with God. Christianity explicitly talks about a living breathing God who is active amongst his followers and wants intimacy with us.
So if a Muslim comes to me and says he has experienced effectively the same thing as you (except he calls it Allah) then can we say that you are both experiencing the same thing but one of you is wrong about the name. But the name is a minor detail.
So is it blind faith that you attribute your experiences to a specific character called Christ.
Originally posted by twhiteheadTake two Christians(or scientists? ). List all the things that each is convinced is true but the other does not believe in. One of them must be wrong about each given point and thus must have blind faith.
Take two Christians. List all the things that each is convinced is true but the other does not believe in. One of them must be wrong about each given point and thus must have blind faith.
Or maybe the two are genuinely experiencing different things. This should worry you even more as it means that you cannot rely on your experience. The fact that you do ...[text shortened]... be blind faith as you are ignoring the obvious possibility that your experience could be wrong.
Originally posted by smw6869It's as complex as you want it to be. But note Christ said that little children sometimes get God more than adults. God's love is simple , and intellectualising about it can get in the way. "The kingdom of God belongs to such as these (little ones)".
Why is this religion stuff so hard to understand? Wouldn't there be more followers if God had made it easier? What's with all the hidden meanings and cobbleygoup all about. Why would anyone follow blindly what they don't understand? Blind faith?
Originally posted by knightmeisterI agree with your sentiment, but that is not to say we are to remain ignorant, nor stop learning what God is like.
It's as complex as you want it to be. But note Christ said that little children sometimes get God more than adults. God's love is simple , and intellectualising about it can get in the way. "The kingdom of God belongs to such as these (little ones)".
Originally posted by smw6869When we make it easy, like telling people how to call on the name of Jesus - They object that it is simple minded and moronic.
Why is this religion stuff so hard to understand? Wouldn't there be more followers if God had made it easier? What's with all the hidden meanings and cobbleygoup all about. Why would anyone follow blindly what they don't understand? Blind faith?