Why is God a wrathful jerk in the Old Testament, yet a sacrificing Father of the Messiah in the New Testament?
Why is homosexuality frowned upon?
Why?
Why do people treat the Bible as fact despite a COMPLETE lack of evidence?
Why, for the entire span of Christian history, and most of human history, have humans, the highest race on the planet, told others to believe in something even greater?
If God is omniscient, there cannot be free will. If God knows all, he knows what will happen. If not, he is not omniscient and therefore, not the same God defined in Christianity. Why does Christianity still teach that there can be free will of God knows all?
Why does God require those who wish to enter Heaven to believe in him? Did Ghandi go to Heaven? Confucius? Plato, Socrates, Aristotle?
Wow... alot of questions. First I'll answer the one about why letting a book of contricictions....
Well, you see, the bible indeed is sometimes misinterpretted, but when you have several books, stating the same thing about Jesus, it can't be incorrect. People that don't even associate at the time of writing, write the exact same things, and are witnesses to this. There is a 1% chance that the important facts in teh bible are misinterpreted. Jesus is the way to heaven. Believe in him, and claim his blood over your sins and you're saved. That's the only thing anyone needs to know about the bible. If you know that part, you can make it to heaven, and that is the overall goal no?
"Why is God a wrathful jerk in the Old Testament, yet a sacrificing Father of the Messiah in the New Testament?"
A wrathful jerk eh?... well, in the old testiment, the main goal was to rid of evil. The book was written basically to put the Isrealites in line, and keep people from worshipping idols. I suppose it might have been more wrathful because people simply didn't listen. In the new testiment his goal was to rid of sins, and reclaim lost souls... or reclaim all. Everyone had sinned, and in so everyone must pay the price for it. Jesus paid the price for us. I don't know about you, but I'd hate to be flogged for every sin I commited. I'm happy God died for us.
"Why is homosexuality frowned upon?"
Homosexuality is sexual perversion. If one becomes homosexual, he/she is disobeying Gods will. God made men to go with women, and homosexual sexual acts is perversion. That's like eating out of your ears, its just not how we were intended to be. Mentally, no one is born gay, it is a mindset that is created over time, and the more it is accepted, the more people will choose that path.
"Why do people treat the Bible as fact despite a COMPLETE lack of evidence?"
The bible is a handbook, telling us what is to come. It may have little contridictions, but it is more helpful than it is wrong. One thing is, the fact that the bible states things that werent even discovered yet. Like take the Earth for example. In the bible, the Earth is refered to as round, which in fact would be impossible to prove back then. A relationship with God is more important than looking at the bible's wrong.
"Why, for the entire span of Christian history, and most of human history, have humans, the highest race on the planet, told others to believe in something even greater?"
Because God created us to realize God's existence... it is evedent that SOMEONE created this reality we know of.
"If God is omniscient, there cannot be free will. If God knows all, he knows what will happen. If not, he is not omniscient and therefore, not the same God defined in Christianity. Why does Christianity still teach that there can be free will of God knows all?"
God is mysterious, and I will not try to act as if I know everything. All I can tell you is, that God clearly states that he does not tell us everything, its like craming Algebra into a two year olds knowledge, we can't concieve of it. We can't understand God, he is too brilliant.
"Why does God require those who wish to enter Heaven to believe in him? Did Ghandi go to Heaven? Confucius? Plato, Socrates, Aristotle?"
Alright, God is the way to heaven, but what is even more important, is getting to the son first. JESUS, is the most important key to making it to heaven. If you do not believe in Jesus for his sacrifice, you cannot make it to heaven. That is the only way to the father, through the son. Its actually easier than it sounds, being a Christian and all. All it takes is a tiny bit of faith... what could it hurt? And unless Ghandi, Confucius, Plato, Socrates, or Aristotle knew Jesus, and believed in him, it would be impossible for them to make it to heaven.
"What gives you the assumption that you can answer these questions? How about another one....What came first, the Church, or the Bible?"
I will attempt to answer these questions, I'm not claiming any power, just answering questions ones wonder about Christianity.
"Have you recieved any religious education at all GBM?"
Thanx for asking... you see, I personally have. I took a Bible class and also, my dad is a pastor, who began a church years ago, and now he is starting from scratch. I've been a Christian all of my life, and unlike most Christians, I am not biased. I understand much about many religions, and would like to give those with questions, something to hear. Mostly encouraging words. What can I say, I feel I can relate to alot of people, being that I know alot of people from many religions, and some that are athiest.
Church came first... most likely, Moses wrote Geneses, and we all know Moses was in a time where Churches existed.
