Originally posted by FMFI know that you do not believe there can be Christian faith without what Christians believe is revealed about Jesus in the Bible. But if you were a Christian for nearly 30 years then you should already know what my answer would be... so why are you asking questions you should already know the answers to?
So do you believe there can be Christian faith without what Christians believe is revealed about Jesus in the Bible?
Originally posted by lemon limeBecause what you have been saying about Christian beliefs, evidence and the Bible is not coherent. There could be no Christianity without the Christian Bible. This seems uncontroversial and self-evident. And yet you appear not to want to accept that it is true. How can anyone possibly be a Christian without believing the evidence about Christ presented in the Bible?
But if you were a Christian for nearly 30 years then you should already know what my answer would be... so why are you asking questions you should already know the answers to?
Originally posted by FMFWhen you were a Christian (for nearly 30 years) what evidence did you have to substantiate your belief that Jesus rose from the dead?
Not so. I was repeating a question that you dodged. Your answer would go straight to the nub of what you are claiming about Christian beliefs, evidence and the Bible. Here it is again: What evidence do you have to substantiate your belief that Jesus rose from the dead?
This is yet another one of your questions that you should already know the answer. So what was your evidence, the evidence you believed for nearly 30 years, that convinced you Jesus rose from the dead?
Or did you sort of, you know, ignore that whole Jesus rising from the dead thing as you were fumbling with your rosary beads and gazing at a statue of Mary, The Mother of Jesus, and praying to her asking that your favorite football team make it to the Superbowl?
Oh my, so many questions. Yes, so very many questions just begging for an answer. I await your answers.
Originally posted by lemon limeThe evidence, as I saw it, that was laid out in the Bible. I saw the Bible as a true historical account of the life of Jesus. My belief that Jesus rose from the dead was based on the Bible passages that give an account of it.
When you were a Christian (for nearly 30 years) what evidence did you have to substantiate your belief that Jesus rose from the dead?
Originally posted by lemon limeNo I did not ignore it. I was a Christian and I believed that Jesus rose from the dead and this belief was based on the evidence presented by the Bible.
Or did you sort of, you know, ignore that whole Jesus rising from the dead thing as you were fumbling with your rosary beads and gazing at a statue of Mary, The Mother of Jesus, and praying to her asking that your favorite football team make it to the Superbowl?
Originally posted by lemon limeI am asking the question because you said that you do not accept the Bible as evidence to support the Christian gospel, doctrine and way of life. If this is so, upon what evidence do you base your belief that Jesus rose from the dead? I based my belief on the evidence in the Bible but you have said you do not accept the the Bible as evidence. If that is the case, where did you get your evidence that Jesus rose from the dead?
... if you were a Christian for nearly 30 years then you should already know what my answer would be... so why are you asking questions you should already know the answers to?
-Removed-I don't know where you are going with this, but if you are thinking of trying to get me to reveal just what it was that persuaded me into believing God then no, I won't be going there. It was a very personal experience, and quite frankly it wouldn't mean anything to you because it was tailor made for me. So if that's what you had in mind then forget it... you would have better luck in getting me to reveal whether I wear boxers or briefs.
If you want to know what my faith is based on, all I can tell you for now is seek and you will find. If you don't find anything, then nothing I can say will help. If you want to find God ya gotta go looking for him. If you don't want to find him, or you are absolutely convinced he doesn't exist, then nothing I say will ever convince you to start looking. It is what it is. Jesus didn't mince words, and I've been slowly learning over the years just why it is he didn't mince words.
Originally posted by FMFSo in other words, you didn't actually know if this was true or not. You simply took it on faith based on what you saw in the Bible. It seems to me you could have just easily become a devout Hindu or Muslim... it all depended on where you happened to live and whatever holy book just happened to be available for reading and mediation.
The evidence, as I saw it, that was laid out in the Bible. I saw the Bible as a true historical account of the life of Jesus. My belief that Jesus rose from the dead was based on the Bible passages that give an account of it.
Is this a fair assessment?
Originally posted by FMFIt seems you are not able to understand how my beliefs could possibly be any different from yours when you were a Christian. Has it ever occurred to you why God did not make people to be identical carbon copies of everyone else?
Because what you have been saying about Christian beliefs, evidence and the Bible is not coherent. There could be no Christianity without the Christian Bible. This seems uncontroversial and self-evident. And yet you appear not to want to accept that it is true. How can anyone possibly be a Christian without believing the evidence about Christ presented in the Bible?
Originally posted by lemon limeI believed that the Bible was true and it provided the evidence that supported my faith. If you do not accept the Bible as evidence to support Christian doctrine why is it you believe in Christ's Resurrection?
So in other words, you didn't actually know if this was true or not. You simply took it on faith based on what you saw in the Bible.
Originally posted by lemon limeOne could hypothesize about just about any and every religionist in this way.
It seems to me you could have just easily become a devout Hindu or Muslim... it all depended on where you happened to live and whatever holy book just happened to be available for reading and mediation.
Originally posted by lemon limeThis is just evasive waffle in lieu of an answer. The question was: How can anyone possibly be a Christian without believing the evidence about Christ presented in the Bible?
It seems you are not able to understand how my beliefs could possibly be any different from yours when you were a Christian. Has it ever occurred to you why God did not make people to be identical carbon copies of everyone else?
Originally posted by FMFLook at my last message to dive. What I said to him applies to you as well.
I believed that the Bible was true and it provided the evidence that supported my faith. If you do not accept the Bible as evidence to support Christian doctrine why is it you believe in Christ's Resurrection?
There are some questions I will not be answering here. It would not help you to understand why I believe God, so there's really no point in setting myself up for more of your *questions*. You appear to be asking questions only for the purpose of asking more questions... it's beginning to look very much like the adult version of a small child always following an answer with the word "Why?". And if you don't like an answer, then don't keep asking the same question*
*Question: how difficult can this be? Answer: as difficult as you wish to make it.