Menelope

Well I found it, but I'm sorry Heir, I know nothing about American Churches...

Yeah but alot of today's World views stem from Christain roots/values. Human rights for one. Without human rights, we would be a lower level of human race. Human rights: --> To own your own body ( abortion?) --> No torture ( stone people?) --> To own property ( not including women) --> To get a fair trial ( at first, who won, the peasant or the priest) It seems that when Christianity is removed, is when you get human rights. I don't know all of them exactly, these were just some. I said STEM from Christian roots. You lost me, do you have any examples?

Yeah but alot of today's World views stem from Christain roots/values. Human rights for one. Without human rights, we would be a lower level of human race. Human rights: --> To own your own body ( abortion?) --> No torture ( stone people?) --> To own property ( not including women) --> To get a fair trial ( at first, who won, the peasant or the priest) It seems that when Christianity is removed, is when you get human rights. I don't know all of them exactly, these were just some.

You are correct...

Um, Jews, Christians and Muslims worship the SAME God...

Good ideas raised, but Eventually, everything will fall into its place, eventually...

...Am I now I believer...?.... You know what, it's a good question and it made me think a lot before answering, not because I didn't have an answer, but simply because I didn't know exactly how to answer it. At this point in life, I'm fighting another "faith"-question... I will reply having that precise question in mind, and that will bring out my personality, and therefore it can be used on answering your question about Christianity.... I'm hard to convience, make me doubt once, and I will need twice as much re-assurence. Very, very stubborn I like to search for the truth, that is because I would like to commit my heart and soul into something and I would like to do that whole-heartedly. For doing that, I would like to make a decision that is as rational as possible, and to do that I must search, and I must really search. I will keep on searching, as long as I have the idea and want/need for that something to actually be true. The only reason I would quit searching, is because I didn't want that anymore, or because I found an answer. So, it takes hope and will. But... It also means that somewhere deep down inside, there is an idea of that something, meaning that the answer one finds, must be the same as in your mind, or else it's not really an answer you are looking for, meaning one could turn against the answer because it doesn't fit you, or accept it anyway(and become disappointed) or keep on searching until you find a better one. The thing is, what I just described is simply the search of an idea, it's not really faith but rather hope, and these are the ways that hope can live, or die. The Agnostic is the careful one here, who will probably stay that way forever, or most likely for a really long time. The Atheist has decided that there is no answer (or the answer is that God doesn't exist), and will probably never change. When it comes to faith, that path you take, is a plunge. A plunge into the unknown, because there is no answer about God's existence, it can't be found, but only in your own heart and mind. That takes courage, a courage that the Atheist denies as good, and a courage that the Agnostic fears. The truly faithful one has no fears, no doubts, no nothing, he loves his faith and holds it as the absolute truth, and no one can take that away from him...or it's not faith. ( Then there are those who have been manipulated since birth to have faith, it is these people who get angry and nasty when someone questions them, and they act that way simply because they are actually not sure...that is not faith, but simply their own fears lashing out, that same fears the Atheist has, with the difference that the Atheist doesn't suppress his...) The faithful doesn't need to prove anything, he knows, and he is satisfied with his knowledge, the knowledge of/in his heart and mind... I'm an Agnostic, I have doubts, fears and lack of faith. I am a person who needs proof. I don't deny something that may be true, God is one of these things. But I need proof, and solid proof. A book is not enough for me, but God is. Only God himself can prove it, and then I would believe in it...or perhaps something else might do that too, but I am not sure... I have fears, yes, but as an Agnostic, I would face those fears and shake them off, and not act like an Atheist- run away from the truth, taking my fears with me... But, even without faith, I can do my best at being who I am, living my life in a good way, do my best at respecting and caring for people around me, help and support those who need it, get married and raise children to become decent people, and so on... if faith comes along, then I will embrace it, if it doesn't, then I hope it was not a bad decision... Yes, Christianity can provide many, many good and satisfying things, if one finds faith. Maybe I'm too young, maybe I'm too afraid or blind, maybe I'm not wise enough...who knows?? All I want, is to commit completely, and I can't bring myself to do that, until my heart and mind are set.

You couldn't be further frm the truth regarding God's Word. The idea that women are less-than is a wrong one. Women and men are created as equals, and co-heirs with Jesus Christ and in dominion over all the earth...together. I agree with you only in that there is a patriarchal view out there but God has set up humanity to be egalitarian. It took me an open-mind and heart in relationship with the liuving Jesus to discover that the message to us as women is that we are co-heirs of all that God promises, and we are to labour shoulder-to-shoulder with men. So, what you figure is anti-feministic is a segment of believers, but not the entire Body of Jesus Christ.God is not into suppressing us, but rather developing us to become the strong, capable, women of excellence and expression we are created to be for Him! The idea in the Bible, is not what you speak of. You people need to make up your minds, either everything in the Bible is the words of God, or just some of it.

"You cannot know yourself properly or completely until you know Jesus Christ" --> Well, I believe one can be complete without God. Or rather, I know it is possible. "Knowinbg God is bringing about a total renewal from the inside out" --> In that case, you don't need your Bible. You don't need to defend it, nor use it, because you could only use your own inner emotion (faith), your connection to God, to answer everything about your faith. You're refering to the Bible instead, to a thing one can touch, and without that thing, you'd be ... nothing. What kind of faith is that, that will die, without its source? What happens to that inner connection then, I wonder?? "First if there were no bible none of us would be having these conversations would we? And we all would be going around like so many today trying to 'find oneself'." --> Look above. The book is not faith, GOD is. And there is nothing wrong with wanting to know oneself. "The Bible is the owners manul written by the one that made us. No one knows us better than the one that created us, why wuold you want to ignore his instructions on how to live life to it's fullest." --> Because I'm a woman, I'm human, I'm a free person, my own individual, I'm equal to men, not below them. I don't have desires to obey men, I will not obey my husband, nor will I become a housewife that sacrifices herself to her man and children. I will have a family filled with love and respect, not with control and male power. The Bible is very anti-feministic, that is, very anti-me. It is obsolete, and I shall not follow it. If God desires to suppress me (which I highly doubt that God would want that...), then I shall not obey. To live my life to the fullest, would be to express myself, not to shut up when men are around. Simple.

very true, the Bibe does not even try to prove God's existence, it is taken as a given. There are certain characteristics of the Bible that show it is more than a mere book. Things like the evidence of fulfilled prophecy, given in specific detail. There is the accuracy of it, no archeological discovery has ever proven false a Biblical reference and 1000's of finds have backed it up time and time again. And the structure of it, it is a collection of 66 books, written by 40 or more different men over a period of 2,000 years. And yet it is clearly one Book, with perfect unity and consistency throughout. Many of the people writing what they were writing did not know about each other or what was being written. Also, I would have to ask if there were a God with the power to create the entire universe out of nothing, why would walking on the earth and talking to people be so off the wall? This seems the backwards way to do it. It is like reading the instructions after you have built your model airplane. Religion is not something you pick up, it is a relationship with God. You are right, there are tons of happy people that don

I can only speak for myself... The bible does prove the existance of more than a bunch of people walking around it proves civilizations which have been proven archeology. By your statement it seems you may think the bible is true? I doubt that you will find many christians who will deny that God could and did walk this earth and I do believe God through the Spirit set forth the writing of the bible, His word for us. I also do grasp the idea of God talking to people. I would think that anyone who thinks that men or humans get things right even part of the time are in denial of something! I also believe that the Spirit leads one to the truth through the bible. Tis true us humans would like to believe we are in charge of everything we do just some of us realized we couldn't go it alone I know I did. I know that through all my years searching for myself, finding myself on the inside as you put it and what I came up with was nothing but the knowledge that I was missing something, knowing that I needed God in the very center of my life. You see after all the years of getting that clear identity I finally knew I was not complete without God. As far as picking up a religion I didn't run out and get myself a religion, church or anything else like that. And no picking a religion won't achieve happiness for life I think thats just silly to think that getting religion or accepting God and Christ into your heart and life is any instant guarentee for life long happiness. We after all are humans who cannot govern ourselves without strife, anger, disappointment or any of the other emotions we all have. What I know for myself when I get down, depressed or any of those emotions I can call out to God or have a quiet talk with Him and my fears, depressing either fade away or they get better in many ways. What I also know is the peace, calm and joy that has crept into my heart each and everyday since accepting Christ and God into my life and I wouldn't trade or give that away for anything. Hm. I don't deny the Bible, because that would be stupid. Of course people passed on a heritage, their ancestors' lives, who WOULD deny that?? But it still does NOT prove that God exists. I think you're missing the point. Just because someone says one thing, it doesn't mean anything, just like we read the Bible, the history part we don't deny, but the God part, we don't trust. Well, if you didn't feel complete without God, then how would you have felt, if the Bible didn't exist (I assume you believe it is proof of God's existence)(Would you believe in God, without "proof")? Those are interesting questions I think. All of those emotions you mention, are emotions caused by YOU, with a little push from your environment. How you handle those, depends on you alone. And who you are, you find within you, not outside.

Knowing God has nothing to do with religion. It is only through a relationship with one's Maker, that one can truly know themselves--who they are. Everything worth knowing starts with knowing God, first. How are you to have a relationship with someone, without knowing yourself first? I believe you need to take a look inside, before adding things from the outside. And if you believe that God exists in everyone, then I don't think it's Christianity.

The Bible is not made up, but it doesn't prove God's existence. What it proves, is that long time ago, a bunch of people walked the earth and some were recorded. We also deny the possibility of God being able to walk the earth and write books, so we believe that humanity wrote it. We also cannot grasp the idea of God talking to people. Further, we know that when humans are involved, things tend to go wrong, so the Bible is no exception to that idea. We believe in how we want our life to be, we are all expressing our selves. If you dedicate your life to God, then that is your path, but not everyone can or want that. Personally, I think people should find themselves on their inside, and when they are clear about their own identity, then they should ask themselves if they believe in God, or not. If they do believe, then they can pick up a religion, but I don't think it's necessary for achieving happiness in life.

It's deceitful to be with those you can't be honest with. Keep in mind they are people too, don't break any hearts when you don't need to.

Do not seek revenge, but love mankind. Seek contentment inside yourself, and the pain they put unto you shall be gone. By showing love and kindness, you come out as someone who believed in him/her-self, and thus victorious. It's about doing the right thing, I think.

I suggest you stop talking to the woman, or you'll come out as a player, which you do not want. It will NOT look good, if the girl hears you've been chatting to that woman, also, you have no idea what she might hear. As for "how" to drop her, you might consider telling her you like someone else.