Reasons for questioning

[systemstrike_7]

I was reading an earlier thread where a moderator had explained to us that they will be banning some nonbelievers because of there intent. I respect this, don't get me wrong.

I wanted to take the time to try and explain my reasons for being here. As some of ya'll know, I came to board as a believer, but recently lost my faith. I stay here because I want answers. I would like to believe in the christian God, but logic and past experience has kept me from doing so.

I am here to try and find answers, but the only way to get answers is to ask questions. I recently had a meeting with my old preacher at the baptist church I go to. He is a very sweet man and I respect him to the fullest. I gave him one of my questions in the nicest way possible, and he immedietly walked me out the door and told me to come back when I had something relevant to discuss. I was heart-broken.

When I am here, I want to ask questions and search for answers and I promise that I will accept defeat when I am defeated. In all reality, I want to be wrong.

If anyone can give me some advice at how to do this in the nicest way possible, I will be in their debt. I want to keep my relationships with everyone as clean as possible, so please tell me, what are my boundaries?

[Ovedya]

Just a couple of recommendations for you:

1) If you are here seeking to argue, and have the view that each discussion will be a right/wrong, win/lose situation, then I would suggest that your focus is wrong. There are some here (Sometimes even myself included) that engage in debates with a goal of simply being right and having the last word. For a genuine seeker this can both be disconcerting and "off-putting," to the faith. However, if you are here to ask genuine questions and listen to the answers given to you, with a genuine seeking heart, then I think some profit can come from the discussions.

2) Generally speaking we get a few atheists here that are simply looking to pick a fight. Those folks don't last too long. The ones that have stuck around are those who are generally "nice" folks that like to engage in discussions that promote understanding of both sides.

[Benobi1]

i am not a moderator and cannot tell you were your boundries are but i know one thing....

i know for a fact that GOD exsist, and i think you have experienced HIM too somewhere, sometime, i will pray really hard for GOD to show you the way. If you let HIM , HE will come into your life and you can experience HIM tooo, but the main thing is "YOU MUST LET HIM"

HE says in the bible, he wants all of you, not just a finger or a toe or a hair, ALL! if you go to HIM halveheartily you wouldn't know and will dowt ( sorry for the spelling) HE wants you to take a leap of faith, HE wants you to trust in HIM, HE want you to take the first step .....

look at the words here......... FAITH..... TRUST

that is what being a christian is all about !!!!! not just that but it is the best place to start !!!!

i am praying for you!!!!!!

[billie]

I'd just like to add here that I've made some "nonbelieving" friends here, and I'm glad to have the chance to show them what Christianity's really all about. I also just enjoy talking with them, and really have come to love and care for them.

I'd also like to say thank you to all our moderators. I get frustrated with some of the things some "nonbelievers" post, but I can't imagine what moderating this board is like, and I know you guys don't even get paid for all you do. God bless you for keeping this board safe for all of us here.

[systemstrike_7]

Just a couple of recommendations for you:

1) If you are here seeking to argue, and have the view that each discussion will be a right/wrong, win/lose situation, then I would suggest that your focus is wrong. There are some here (Sometimes even myself included) that engage in debates with a goal of simply being right and having the last word. For a genuine seeker this can both be disconcerting and "off-putting," to the faith. However, if you are here to ask genuine questions and listen to the answers given to you, with a genuine seeking heart, then I think some profit can come from the discussions.

2) Generally speaking we get a few atheists here that are simply looking to pick a fight. Those folks don't last too long. The ones that have stuck around are those who are generally "nice" folks that like to engage in discussions that promote understanding of both sides.

I understand and thank you.

I do not have a right/wrong agenda but I will question their answer the best I can.

I try my very best to be as nice as possible. I sometimes get frustrated, which I believe is natural, but for the most part will stay civil.

One thing I have noticed that bothers me, is when believers expect nonbelievers to have read the entire bible with a researchers intent. (I explained this in another thread so if I am repeating myself I apologize) I have read through the bible, but only once and just recently finished. By only reading through it once, I have naturally forgotten some of the details( well...alot of the details). I have alot of friends that are Christians and none of them have read the entire bible. My experience with most believers has left me with the feeling that they have read very little of the bible outside of church. To ask a nonbeliever to do what a believer rarely does is unfair. Many arguments have been answered by this response and I find it very dishonest.

Again, thank you very much and I will keep these guidelines in mind when debating or conversing.

[systemstrike_7]

i am not a moderator and cannot tell you were your boundries are but i know one thing....

i know for a fact that GOD exsist, and i think you have experienced HIM too somewhere, sometime, i will pray really hard for GOD to show you the way. If you let HIM , HE will come into your life and you can experience HIM tooo, but the main thing is "YOU MUST LET HIM"

HE says in the bible, he wants all of you, not just a finger or a toe or a hair, ALL! if you go to HIM halveheartily you wouldn't know and will dowt ( sorry for the spelling) HE wants you to take a leap of faith, HE wants you to trust in HIM, HE want you to take the first step .....

look at the words here......... FAITH..... TRUST

that is what being a christian is all about !!!!! not just that but it is the best place to start !!!!

i am praying for you!!!!!!

Thank you very much!! I appreciate your caring attitude.

One reason I am so very attracted to Christianity is the people that practise it. Everyone here is so loving and caring and I couldn't thank ya'll enough!!!

[systemstrike_7]

I'd just like to add here that I've made some "nonbelieving" friends here, and I'm glad to have the chance to show them what Christianity's really all about. I also just enjoy talking with them, and really have come to love and care for them.

I'd also like to say thank you to all our moderators. I get frustrated with some of the things some "nonbelievers" post, but I can't imagine what moderating this board is like, and I know you guys don't even get paid for all you do. God bless you for keeping this board safe for all of us here.

Very good post. I want to partake in these beautiful relationships and as I said before, I am always fascinated by the love and care believers show towards everyone.

And I certainly don't want to frustrate any moderators...they scare me!!!

[firehill]

...I am here to try and find answers, but the only way to get answers is to ask questions. I recently had a meeting with my old preacher at the baptist church I go to. He is a very sweet man and I respect him to the fullest. I gave him one of my questions in the nicest way possible, and he immedietly walked me out the door and told me to come back when I had something relevant to discuss. I was heart-broken.

What was this 'irrelevant' question you had asked your old preacher?

[Ovedya]

Just a couple of recommendations for you:

1) If you are here seeking to argue, and have the view that each discussion will be a right/wrong, win/lose situation, then I would suggest that your focus is wrong. There are some here (Sometimes even myself included) that engage in debates with a goal of simply being right and having the last word. For a genuine seeker this can both be disconcerting and "off-putting," to the faith. However, if you are here to ask genuine questions and listen to the answers given to you, with a genuine seeking heart, then I think some profit can come from the discussions.

2) Generally speaking we get a few atheists here that are simply looking to pick a fight. Those folks don't last too long. The ones that have stuck around are those who are generally "nice" folks that like to engage in discussions that promote understanding of both sides.

I understand and thank you.

I do not have a right/wrong agenda but I will question their answer the best I can.

I try my very best to be as nice as possible. I sometimes get frustrated, which I believe is natural, but for the most part will stay civil.

One thing I have noticed that bothers me, is when believers expect nonbelievers to have read the entire bible with a researchers intent. (I explained this in another thread so if I am repeating myself I apologize) I have read through the bible, but only once and just recently finished. By only reading through it once, I have naturally forgotten some of the details( well...alot of the details). I have alot of friends that are Christians and none of them have read the entire bible. My experience with most believers has left me with the feeling that they have read very little of the bible outside of church. To ask a nonbeliever to do what a believer rarely does is unfair. Many arguments have been answered by this response and I find it very dishonest.

Again, thank you very much and I will keep these guidelines in mind when debating or conversing.

Some atheists have read the Bible through more than some Christians.

[Akiko]

*nods* I agree with everything said here.

The one thing you should know is that no person here (not even a mod! ^__~) has all the answers. God's the only one who has those. But I and everyone on Worthy will answer everything we can to the fullest. In the end, it's your decision, and no amount of evidence we present can make it for you. It's faith that makes it in the end. If you keep an open mind and are willing to really listen what others say, I see no problems.

What's the 'irrelevent' question you asked your pastor?