Is there a (good) point to this religion?

[Guest eridanus]

Matthew 28:1, Mark 16:1, Luke 24:1, and John 20:1 (and on in each Gospel) all give completely different transcriptions of the events which took place following Jesus' resurrection. I'm sure this question is asked a lot, but how can this be so? The point I

[Guest faithless]

I bring this up because this is the very same way I

[Guest eridanus]

I have never been to this forum before, and only came here because I was told that I might get some decent, mature responses to my most important questions (as opposed to the angry, superficial responses I receive elsewhere). I guess not, eh? The questions I have asked and the topics I have raised all seem perfectly legitimate to me.

What? Where did you get this idea? If I wrote something hateful then I apologize. I do not hate Christians or the Christian faith, I just have trouble accepting much of what some believe. For example, I cannot see a kind and loving God condemning anyone to burn forever, even if they did side with His greatest enemy. Who can truly threaten an all-powerful god, after all? And what crime could possibly warrant an eternity of torture? Even the most despicable act would be paid for many times over after ten billion years or so.

Also, as I look back over what I wrote, I don't see any arrogance, so I don't know where you picked that up. What I see in my own writing is truth, and what I see in yours is a personal attack which futilly attempts to soften the harsh reality of my own post by pawning me off as some sort of Christ-hater. I can honestly say that I posted all this here in the hopes that someone could show me the flaws in my reasoning.

I'll just use quotation marks to signify my own words: "I am NOT bashing the Christian faith, I am trying to understand it." Just because you don't like what I'm saying does not mean you have the right to put words in my mouth. I AM a Christian. I'm just a Christian who is trying to figure out what it is he's really been taught his whole life. What line is it that I have crossed? It is wrong to question one's own faith now? Since when has it been wrong to point out ignorance when you see it? I'm sure you would be perfectly happy to show a Buddhist the errors in his faith, even though you have no more proof to justify your beliefs than he does for his.

. I'm asking you to show me if I am wrong. Tell me where I have misspoken, or what I am missing about God's love and God's word. Give me whatever advice you have to give. Don't thump me over the head with tired clich

[Guest LadyC]

Matthew 28:1, Mark 16:1, Luke 24:1, and John 20:1 (and on in each Gospel) all give completely different transcriptions of the events which took place following Jesus' resurrection. I'm sure this question is asked a lot, but how can this be so? The point I

[eric]

Eridamus

. If you are genuine in asking these questions, I apologise, but all I ask is, that you please listen to the answers you'll get from some of the genuine christians on this board and you might just learn something that could change your life forever.

eric.

[keslc]

Matthew 28:1, Mark 16:1, Luke 24:1, and John 20:1 (and on in each Gospel) all give completely different transcriptions of the events which took place following Jesus' resurrection. I'm sure this question is asked a lot, but how can this be so? The point I

Edited May 5, 2004 by keslc

[Guest mscoville]

Eradinus,

You've asked very pertinent questions. I'd love to talk about them, could you cut them down a little, maybe one at a time. I'm being serious. It's hard to find time to answer a post of that size, pick just a few you'd really like to have answered and let us take a shot. There is a thread for posting questions about alleged Bible contradictions here on the boards, started by a knowledgable brother who really studied it. Maybe someone can point you to it.

As for the post crucifixion accounts I think we should look at the similarities first. They are not totally contradictory. They were an oral tradition at first kept by different people who witnessed different things. The number of Angels? Who went in when, all of that can be reconciled also, but the key idea of course is that when the women went to the tomb, they found it empty and an angel told them not to fear. If the stories were perfectly matched that would seem to make them suspect to me. That would say that they all ran back to their houses and said, ok, let's get our story straight. They are similar enough to show what happened and to who, but they are different enough so as to show they are independent accounts. 4 different views of what happened that first easter morning. And they are very similar, more similar than disimilar. The patchwork idea from a previous post shows another view as well. God Bless, I can say that, because Christ is risen just as the Bible says.

There is a good point to this religion, the reconciliation of sinners like you and me to God.

~ Martin

[Matthitjah]

Bump,

Please resume. :il:

Peace,

Dave