Christians plz enlighten me

[Metalligod]

I hear alot of complaints of this and that and contradictions about the Christian religion, the bible and what not. I want to learn first hand about the religion from ppl who practice the faith. I want to learn(without sitting through boring ass church)sorry but it's true .

Could some1 of Christian faith teach me a little about the religion. I was told by my teacher(a Christian) that they (you) don't belive in superstitious things:ghost, witches, magic etc.

For future reference I'll be asking a lot of questions about the religion, plz don't feel spiteful of some of my comments & questions i'm just tryin to learn.

I don't mean any disrespect to your faith, so plz respond to my comments and questions.

[Kikey_Kikeowitz]

The Christian faith takes no official stance on the supernatural.

The bible, however, says you shouldn't be a witch.

It really is a bad idea, if you think about. Too many chances to accidentally absorb some seriously bad ju ju.

[Fascistsmasher]

Acctually if i am not mistaken the porhibition on being a witch is purely KJV and the actual "Bible" states a prohibition against being a "poisoner".

[Tyrant]

Humans, according to Christianity, are born into sin because of the temptations of Adam and Eve. The two fell from grace after defying God's word by eating the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, thus persuaded by the tongue of a serpent, who thus spake: Eritis sicut Deus, scientes bonum et mallum. You shall be as God, knowing good and evil. This direct disobedience led God to curse the bloodline of Adam and Eve to mortality and, therefore, sin.

According to Christianity, God became incarnate through the offspring of an undefiled virgin named Mary. The man thus born was named Jesus Christ, arriving as prophesized to evangelize the straying lands of Palestine. Jesus taught that, despite the pleasures of material possesions and mortal goals, men were still kept in shadow by turning from God towards other things, like empires and riches and glory amongst men. He taught, however, that mankind could still be saved. He was also said to have performed miracles, such as healing the blind, the corrupted, the defiled, and even the dead. His reputation of teaching against material kingdoms earned him the special hatred of Rome. He was captured, branded a heretic (for claiming to be God incarnate), and, as was the law according to the time, sentenced to crucifixion upon Mt. Golgotha.

Christians teach that, after his seven-hour long crucifixion, Jesus was entombed as was the custom, but arose from the dead upon the third day of his death (thus, Easter). His resurrection, he claimed, was meant to give the message that, because God incarnate died upon an executioners cross for being God, and attempted to give salvation to a lost people, the sins of man were redeemed and forgiven by his spilt blood. Therefore, entrusting Christ into one's heart will allow them a place in God's kingdom of Heaven - eternal paradise.

I hope this was sufficient. While I do not consider myself a Christian, I know the workings of the religion. Other principles or mechanics come into play here or there, but that's the main piece.

[Tyrant]

Oops, forgot an important point. Christians believe that their God is the One True God, and His Word is unquestionable and absolute. Therefore, the myths and superstitions of other un-Christian, and therefore deemed "barbaric", tribes, cults, and faiths, are seen as enemies to man and his relationship with God. Indulging in such things is, as they see, poison to the soul and yet another weight that separates mankind from salvation.

That's how they feel about ghosts and witches. The Christian insult "heathen" actually denotes a pre-Christian religion.

[Kikey_Kikeowitz]

quote:Originally posted by Fascistsmasher:

Acctually if i am not mistaken the porhibition on being a witch is purely KJV and the actual "Bible" states a prohibition against being a "poisoner".

I dunno, I'm going by my copy of Leveticus.

[jester461]

quote:Originally posted by Metalligod:

I hear alot of complaints of this and that and contradictions about the Christian religion, the bible and what not. I want to learn first hand about the religion from ppl who practice the faith. I want to learn(without sitting through boring ass church)sorry but it's true .

Could some1 of Christian faith teach me a little about the religion. I was told by my teacher(a Christian) that they (you) don't belive in superstitious things:ghost, witches, magic etc.

For future reference I'll be asking a lot of questions about the religion, plz don't feel spiteful of some of my comments & questions i'm just tryin to learn.

I don't mean any disrespect to your faith, so plz respond to my comments and questions.

Nice idea but what you are trying to do, is equal to trying to learn a little about physics. Its a very broad subject with diverse ideas of what even being a Christian means, let alone what "they" believe.Try to narrow the approach and set more specific parameters.

[Metalligod]

quote:Originally posted by jester461:

Nice idea but what you are trying to do, is equal to trying to learn a little about physics. Its a very broad subject with diverse ideas of what even being a Christian means, let alone what "they" believe.Try to narrow the approach and set more specific parameters.

This I already know that's why I asked the question that way. I want to see how everyones belief in the same religion differ.

[Faithless]

Depends on what type of Christian you are talking about.

Think of it like a tree starting with its root. Middle class Jewish rabbi called Jesus (if he isn’t a myth) interprets Judaism in a new way. Jesus dies, his brother James takes over and keeps it part mainstream Judaism part Jesus’ teachings. Jesus’ mate Paul hijacks the group and makes the Catholic Church.

Catholic church beats down all alternative Christian groups such as the Arians and becomes the dominant Christian group.

From this point on the Catholic Church splintered gradually into the many Christian groups to date.

Christians in all forms essentially accept that Jesus was the Son of God. They all differ in who should tell Jesus' message, who is Jesus' representative on Earth, what rituals should be done to honour Jesus and most importantly who gets their donations.

[kafka]

Firstly, all religions have contradictions inside them -- I beleive in a higher force, but I don't beleive that any Holy Book is the direct word of God. The Bible, Koran, etc are all Mannish in my opinion.

Secondly, Tyrant's explanation is pretty much bang-on. There's also an evil, Lucifer (the Devil), the basis of which appears to come from Pan in appearance (hence 'Panic' being a bad thing -- Pan looked like the Christian Devil). The idea behind Lucifer is that he was cheif of the original angels, but desired to overtake God -- he promised to give Christ Earth or something if he'd worship him, or so I've heard. Anywho, when Lucifer and his army PO'd God, he was flung into the (I will now use bold just for the fun of it) Lake of Sulphur and Brimstone in the Land of Fire; hell. Satan is as close to God (as close to Perfection) as one can get, but he's evil. Some beleive that for a time Satan will overtake man (hence 'The Beast', 'The False Prophet', etc) and then Christ shall rise again and save us all. Here we get disputes: the Jehovahs witnesses say that only they get saved, some other sects say only they get saved, while others still claim it's only X number of worthies, while others still claim everyone gets saved. 666 being bad comes from the bible, because of this:

King James Bible, Revelations 13:15-18

15: And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

16: And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

17: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18: Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

and then in the Standard Revised Edition:

15: and it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast so that the image of the beast should even speak, and to cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain.

16: Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead,

17: so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name.

18: This calls for wisdom: let him who has understanding reckon the number of the beast, for it is a human number, its number is six hundred and sixty-six.

(I myself prefer the King James -- I like middle English)

I agree -- church can be boring. I don't go anymore. The Bible, however, can be very interesting.



Disclaimer: I know the fundamentals, but specifics are largely denomination-specific, so some of this stuff may not be right to others.

[This message has been edited by kafka (edited 08-31-2003).]