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A cousin of mine recently lost her life in a very short battle with cancer. She was only 41 years old -- both of her parents still living. In the past few yea

by nocman 12y ago

A cousin of mine recently lost her life in a very short battle with cancer. She was only 41 years old -- both of her parents still living. In the past few years there have been a lot of deaths among my family and friends. Some of them were very old, some very young, and some in-between. I would like to encourage readers here to consider this. Your life here is temporary. Even if you are very healthy your whole life, one day you will take your last breath, and it will be over. It is easy to get wrapped up in everyday life. Pursuing your goals and dreams, or perhaps just barely getting by, living day to day. I think most people tend to push off thinking about their own mortality. And as it is, most of us have no idea how much longer we have. We could be here 50 or 60 more years, or we could die tomorrow in some sort of accident. So the question I would like to pose is this: Are you prepared for your own death? Do you have any idea what will happen to you when you die? It is going to happen. Isn't it worth considering what the possibilities are, and spending at least some time exploring the question? I believe I have shared this before here (at least to some extent). I am a Christian, and I believe the Bible is direct revelation from God. I believe there is life after death, and that the only hope for a peaceful existence after death is found by believing in Jesus Christ in this life. I would like to encourage anyone here to read for themselves about Jesus' life on Earth, and make their own decision as to whether they should believe in Him. I think the best place for you to start reading about Him is in the Bible, in the gospel of John ( https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?version=NKJV&search=John%201 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?version=NKJV&search=Jo... ). That book will give you enough information, IMHO, to make an informed decision about Him.

sireat 12y ago
Why become a Christian out of multitude of religions? And if one is to become Christian then which one (Catholic, Lutheran, etc etc)? I've read some Christian apologestics (Augustine, Aquinas, Pascal, GK Chesteron, CS Lewis et al) and they spin a good yarn but obviously you can not reason your way into/out of religion. So why should one believe Jesus was the Real Thing and Brian was not ? One way I can see religion working if there is a way to reconcile most of world's religions (that is they are all working to the same end just from different directions). This is what a Lutheran pastor was proposing to me that all Abrahamic religions were working towards the same goal, but that leaves the problem of Jesus. Second way would be the second coming. This would be even more effective. Why settle for some miracles 1970 years ago, when you could do real miracle stuff every once in a while to remind people that God is indeed something they should consider. Otherwise we get some questionable miracles like the gold plates from Mormons etc. Until I can figure this out I am doomed to remain in "conscious meat" category.
- nocman 12y ago
  "Why become a Christian out of multitude of religions?" "So why should one believe Jesus was the Real Thing and Brian was not ?" Those are fair questions. I would suggest that you read the book I recommended. It might answer those questions for you.
- qb45 12y ago
  One way I can see religion working if there is a way to reconcile most of world's religions (that is they are all working to the same end just from different directions). Second way would be the second coming. This would be even more effective. Why settle for some miracles 1970 years ago, when you could do real miracle stuff every once in a while to remind people that God is indeed something they should consider. Otherwise we get some questionable miracles like the gold plates from Mormons etc. So if you believed that Christianity is the only religion you would be a Christian and if you believed it's the Egyptian mythology then you would believe in Seth and Osiris? This doesn't really look like you feel any genuine need to believe in any religion; it looks like you expect "others" to provide you with verified, certified-correct worldview. That's unfortunately a typical symptom of overdose on media and schooling. You may read religious texts and if something sounds "right" stick to it. You may act on the world, observe it and discover its rules. You may strive to recognize others' influence on you and filter it critically. In any case, you have to work. Only lemmings get free lunch.

by nocman 12y ago

sireat 12y ago

Why become a Christian out of multitude of religions? And if one is to become Christian then which one (Catholic, Lutheran, etc etc)? I've read some Christian apologestics (Augustine, Aquinas, Pascal, GK Chesteron, CS Lewis et al) and they spin a good yarn but obviously you can not reason your way into/out of religion. So why should one believe Jesus was the Real Thing and Brian was not ? One way I can see religion working if there is a way to reconcile most of world's religions (that is they are all working to the same end just from different directions). This is what a Lutheran pastor was proposing to me that all Abrahamic religions were working towards the same goal, but that leaves the problem of Jesus. Second way would be the second coming. This would be even more effective. Why settle for some miracles 1970 years ago, when you could do real miracle stuff every once in a while to remind people that God is indeed something they should consider. Otherwise we get some questionable miracles like the gold plates from Mormons etc. Until I can figure this out I am doomed to remain in "conscious meat" category.

nocman 12y ago
"Why become a Christian out of multitude of religions?" "So why should one believe Jesus was the Real Thing and Brian was not ?" Those are fair questions. I would suggest that you read the book I recommended. It might answer those questions for you.
qb45 12y ago
One way I can see religion working if there is a way to reconcile most of world's religions (that is they are all working to the same end just from different directions). Second way would be the second coming. This would be even more effective. Why settle for some miracles 1970 years ago, when you could do real miracle stuff every once in a while to remind people that God is indeed something they should consider. Otherwise we get some questionable miracles like the gold plates from Mormons etc. So if you believed that Christianity is the only religion you would be a Christian and if you believed it's the Egyptian mythology then you would believe in Seth and Osiris? This doesn't really look like you feel any genuine need to believe in any religion; it looks like you expect "others" to provide you with verified, certified-correct worldview. That's unfortunately a typical symptom of overdose on media and schooling. You may read religious texts and if something sounds "right" stick to it. You may act on the world, observe it and discover its rules. You may strive to recognize others' influence on you and filter it critically. In any case, you have to work. Only lemmings get free lunch.