Hello everyone

[eric alto]

Hello all,
My name is Eric, and I am an ex-christian (no need to flame hehe). I found this site while doing research for an assignment and have decided to join so i could inform myself with all of your opinions. I guess you could say I am here more for psychological reasons, rather than religious, but nevertheless, i stand for peace!

During my early teen years, i was lost. I didn't know what to believe, so i decided to take a deeper look into christianity by reading the bible, rather than just calling myself a christian and forgetting about it. After I read it, i decided to call myself an agnostic. I now believe that humans are near incapable of knowing truth due to the structure of our minds, and when we cannot find truth, we often resort to creating answers artificially in order to satisfy ourselves. I now live my life trying to inform myself as much as possible using empirical and logical evidence, and I now feel saved and comforted, knowing that if i follow this lifestyle, I will never be lied to or mislead, and I will no longer be a slave.

I have nothing against the religious, and i do not support atheists. I simply believe that humans cannot know.

I hope my motives for joining do not come across as hostile. I am here to teach myself so that i can come closer to knowing the truth based on irrefutable evidence. But for now, since there is no "god" in my life, I often turn towards music for guidance, as it is one of the few things in life that i know is true :p

I guess that sums up who I am in regards to my beliefs and why I'm here

[Pastor Ezekiel]

Re: Hello everyone

This is a Christian forum. Unsaved NOT Welcome.

[James Dewitt]

Re: Hello everyone

Hello all,
My name is Eric, and I am an ex-christian (no need to flame hehe). I found this site while doing research for an assignment and have decided to join so i could inform myself with all of your opinions. I guess you could say I am here more for psychological reasons, rather than religious, but nevertheless, i stand for peace!

During my early teen years, i was lost. I didn't know what to believe, so i decided to take a deeper look into christianity by reading the bible, rather than just calling myself a christian and forgetting about it. After I read it, i decided to call myself an agnostic. I now believe that humans are near incapable of knowing truth due to the structure of our minds, and when we cannot find truth, we often resort to creating answers artificially in order to satisfy ourselves. I now live my life trying to inform myself as much as possible using empirical and logical evidence, and I now feel saved and comforted, knowing that if i follow this lifestyle, I will never be lied to or mislead, and I will no longer be a slave.

I have nothing against the religious, and i do not support atheists. I simply believe that humans cannot know.

I hope my motives for joining do not come across as hostile. I am here to teach myself so that i can come closer to knowing the truth based on irrefutable evidence. But for now, since there is no "god" in my life, I often turn towards music for guidance, as it is one of the few things in life that i know is true :p

I guess that sums up who I am in regards to my beliefs and why I'm here

Eric, God does not really care if you are an atheist or agnostic. Both result in the same punishment, Hell. Myself on the other hand have more respect for a damn atheist, at least they made up their minds. Erick get off the fence, pick on side or the other.

[Phebe Carlyle]

Re: Hello everyone

Eric,

Thank you so much for posting your introduction.

I have dealt with youngsters like you and can appreciate your confusion.

What I am puzzled by is, why after reading the Bible did you decide to be agnostic?

Was it the fact you read the NIV or other such perversion of God's word?

YIC

Sister Phebe.

[Levi Jones]

Re: Hello everyone

Hello all,
My name is Eric, and I am an ex-christian (no need to flame hehe). I found this site while doing research for an assignment and have decided to join so i could inform myself with all of your opinions.

Hi, Eric! There really wasn't much of a need to join if you wanted to learn our opinions. It was more likely that Jesus lead you here to be saved again.

I guess you could say I am here more for psychological reasons, rather than religious, but nevertheless, i stand for peace!

Maybe you could tell us more about those reasons.

During my early teen years, i was lost. I didn't know what to believe, so i decided to take a deeper look into christianity by reading the bible, rather than just calling myself a christian and forgetting about it.

No doubt an excellent step for anyone who would become a True Christian.

After I read it, i decided to call myself an agnostic.

Wait, what? The Bible lead you to become an agnostic? How can that even be?

I now believe that humans are near incapable of knowing truth due to the structure of our minds, and when we cannot find truth, we often resort to creating answers artificially in order to satisfy ourselves.

I'm sure your mother would cry to read you posting such horrible blasphemy.

I now live my life trying to inform myself as much as possible using empirical and logical evidence, and I now feel saved and comforted, knowing that if i follow this lifestyle, I will never be lied to or mislead, and I will no longer be a slave.

Logical and empirical evidence will always leave you wondering, as long as people like me can poke little holes in your theories. God will always be nagging at the back of your head.

Oh, He'll get you one of these days. Oh yes, He will!

I have nothing against the religious, and i do not support atheists. I simply believe that humans cannot know.

Friend, John the Divine clearly tells you to get off the fence.

Revelation 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

Jesus would tell you that you are against Him.

Matthew 12:30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

[eric alto]

Re: Hello everyone

Erick get off the fence, pick on side or the other.

I believe that it isnt a matter of picking sides. Each side has equally logical arguments. If I was to pick a side, then there would be plenty of reasons for me to pick the other. This leaves the decision to be based on emotion, which is ultimately unreliable and illogical. hence, I will continue to do research untill I can know for sure

And to sister Phebe, sorry for not posting the introduction earlier.
I suppose I chose to become an agnostic because i felt that there we're too many conflicting statements in the bible, and to be honest, I just felt that living life through the bible was not for me. I felt too constricted, and felt like a slave while trying to follow, and I suppose I woke up and said "i want to learn for myself". I just couldn't understand the difference between christianity and santa clause (who tells you to be good so you can get presents (heaven) and coal (hell) if youre bad). Both, in my mind, stories made up by man so that there can be 'order' in life. Instead, i chose to live by the ten commandments while staying true to myself, and being my own man

One thing for sure is that I have learned a great deal from christianity! I believe it is meant to be interpreted and not taken literally. I respect the bible's intention, but refuse to believe in a talking snake or a flat earth haha :p

I think in order to survive on this earth, we should all acknowledge that we all have different beliefs, and as long as our beliefs lead us to live good lives, then there should be no need to try and convert others.

[eric alto]

Re: Hello everyone

Levi Jones your comments are based on personal opinion in my eyes, so they have no meaning to me thanks anyway though

[James Dewitt]

Re: Hello everyone

One thing for sure is that I have learned a great deal from christianity! I believe it is meant to be interpreted and not taken literally. I respect the bible's intention, but refuse to believe in a talking snake or a flat earth haha :p

Eric can you show me in the Bible, where God states that we should interpret His word?

[Meek and Humble]

Re: Hello everyone

One thing for sure is that I have learned a great deal from christianity! I believe it is meant to be interpreted and not taken literally. I respect the bible's intention, but refuse to believe in a talking snake or a flat earth haha :p

Can you tell me what is the "intention" of this passage from the Bible?

1 Chronicles 8

1Now Benjamin begat Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, and Aharah the third,
2Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth.
3And the sons of Bela were, Addar, and Gera, and Abihud,
4And Abishua, and Naaman, and Ahoah,
5And Gera, and Shephuphan, and Huram.
6And these are the sons of Ehud: these are the heads of the fathers of the inhabitants of Geba, and they removed them to Manahath:
7And Naaman, and Ahiah, and Gera, he removed them, and begat Uzza, and Ahihud.
8And Shaharaim begat children in the country of Moab, after he had sent them away; Hushim and Baara were his wives.
9And he begat of Hodesh his wife, Jobab, and Zibia, and Mesha, and Malcham,
10And Jeuz, and Shachia, and Mirma. These were his sons, heads of the fathers.
11And of Hushim he begat Abitub, and Elpaal.
12The sons of Elpaal; Eber, and Misham, and Shamed, who built Ono, and Lod, with the towns thereof:
13Beriah also, and Shema, who were heads of the fathers of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who drove away the inhabitants of Gath:
14And Ahio, Shashak, and Jeremoth,
15And Zebadiah, and Arad, and Ader,
16And Michael, and Ispah, and Joha, the sons of Beriah;
17And Zebadiah, and Meshullam, and Hezeki, and Heber,
18Ishmerai also, and Jezliah, and Jobab, the sons of Elpaal;
19And Jakim, and Zichri, and Zabdi,
20And Elienai, and Zilthai, and Eliel,
21And Adaiah, and Beraiah, and Shimrath, the sons of Shimhi;
22And Ishpan, and Heber, and Eliel,
23And Abdon, and Zichri, and Hanan,
24And Hananiah, and Elam, and Antothijah,
25And Iphedeiah, and Penuel, the sons of Shashak;
26And Shamsherai, and Shehariah, and Athaliah,
27And Jaresiah, and Eliah, and Zichri, the sons of Jeroham.
28These were heads of the fathers, by their generations, chief men. These dwelt in Jerusalem.
29And at Gibeon dwelt the father of Gibeon; whose wife's name was Maachah:
30And his firstborn son Abdon, and Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Nadab,
31And Gedor, and Ahio, and Zacher.
32And Mikloth begat Shimeah. And these also dwelt with their brethren in Jerusalem, over against them.
33And Ner begat Kish, and Kish begat Saul, and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal.
34And the son of Jonathan was Meribbaal; and Meribbaal begat Micah.
35And the sons of Micah were, Pithon, and Melech, and Tarea, and Ahaz.
36And Ahaz begat Jehoadah; and Jehoadah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begat Moza,
37And Moza begat Binea: Rapha was his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son:
38And Azel had six sons, whose names are these, Azrikam, Bocheru, and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel.
39And the sons of Eshek his brother were, Ulam his firstborn, Jehush the second, and Eliphelet the third.
40And the sons of Ulam were mighty men of valour, archers, and had many sons, and sons' sons, an hundred and fifty. All these are of the sons of Benjamin.

That is all pure historical fact!

[Levi Jones]

Re: Hello everyone

Levi Jones your comments are based on personal opinion in my eyes, so they have no meaning to me thanks anyway though

You say you were raised Christian. You read the Bible and decided you didn't believe in fundamental beliefs like flaming talking bushes, two of every animal on a boat, seas partings, city walls falling from trumpet blasts, a man living inside the belly of a whale, virgin births, the dead rising and walking around and the savior of humanity riding a white horse with a sword sticking out from His mouth to rule the world with an iron fist.

It makes me sick how you could reject God like that!

[Meek and Humble]

Re: Hello everyone

Levi Jones your comments are based on personal opinion in my eyes, so they have no meaning to me thanks anyway though

Okay. In that case I'll ignore all of your posts too.

[Phebe Carlyle]

Re: Hello everyone

And to sister Phebe, sorry for not posting the introduction earlier.

That's ok. It's done now.

I suppose I chose to become an agnostic because i felt that there we're too many conflicting statements in the bible,

Perhaps you could give me examples of the scriptures that you find confusing?

and to be honest, I just felt that living life through the bible was not for me. I felt too constricted, and felt like a slave while trying to follow,

No one has said that following Christ is an easy road and in fact, it is a road less travelled due to that reason. I don't understand how you thought yourself to be a slave to Him. I can understand servant perhaps, but not slave. Could you elaborate why you believe His commands are so difficult for you to follow?

and I suppose I woke up and said "i want to learn for myself".

Well, everyone's Salvation is an individual thing. We all learn in our own time what is right and what is wrong. When you read the Bible though, you read it yourself, right? Again I have to ask, which Bible did you read to turn you to agnosticism?

I just couldn't understand the difference between christianity and santa clause (who tells you to be good so you can get presents (heaven) and coal (hell) if youre bad). Both, in my mind, stories made up by man so that there can be 'order' in life. Instead, i chose to live by the ten commandments while staying true to myself, and being my own man

Well the whole santa claus thing is a blatant satanic ploy to take over and remove the real meaning of Christmas. Jesus and "satan caused" are in no way similar. The Bible is the Word of God, where as satan caused comes from cathlick worshipping. First it was Mary and now this.

One thing for sure is that I have learned a great deal from christianity! I believe it is meant to be interpreted and not taken literally. I respect the bible's intention, but refuse to believe in a talking snake or a flat earth haha :p

No, private interpretation is a no no, Eric. 2 Peter 1:16-21 tells us so:

16For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

17For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

18And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

19We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

20Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

21For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

I think in order to survive on this earth, we should all acknowledge that we all have different beliefs, and as long as our beliefs lead us to live good lives, then there should be no need to try and convert others.

We acknowledge that people have different beliefs. Unfortunately, some people's beliefs, lifestyles and understandings will send them to hell. That is not our decision. That is the person who chooses to reject God's own fault.

Also, we don't try to convert anyone. We are not Mormons out door knocking. We are here in our own forum. If someone who does not share our beliefs though, comes in our own place where we bask in Jesus' love and only come here to mock us, do you expect us not to stand by GOD?

YIC

Sister Phebe