Quote:
Originally Posted by bike2work
Prof -- we're on the same page. Do you happen to know of any online discussion forums where apologetics, doubts, and (especially) biblical authority are discussed honestly without judgement? It's so hard to have a straightforward conversation about these things without Christians getting sanctimonious.
I'd like to take an objective look at evidence for and against the faith. Christians seem to go into panic mode when I start asking about evidence. When I've suggested that to Christians they look at me like I've said something horribly heretical and mumble about praying for me. To my way of thinking, we are duty-bound to seek out God as He exists rather than relying on assumptions about His nature.
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Do you happen to know of any online discussion forums where apologetics, doubts, and (especially) biblical authority are discussed honestly without judgment?
No, I do not. This thread has potential. At least it would if I stopped scaring everyone away! One thing I have found is a few great sources of books and audio.I have found the book, "Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis to be very good. The same goes for "Forgiveness Is Tremendous" by Charlie "Tremendous" Jones and "The Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren. I also have a book or three I have not read yet. Ravi Zaccharias, Martin Lloyd Jones and John Blanchard are all also well respected Authors. As to audios, I am part of a leadership Training organization and we have an ERM(Emmaus Road Ministries) series of Audio CD's that do a great Job. Oh and I would be remiss if I did not mention Pastor Robert Dickie. He has authored a few books, CD's and DVD's that I have gotten quite a lot out of. Oh, and I like watching Joel Osteen too, I may go see him when he is in Milwaukee this month.
Also, your pastor should either be a great resource himself or point you to a person or persons that can act as mentors to you. In the Leadership program this is the case for me, mentors are invaluable when you connect with them.
It's so hard to have a straightforward conversation about these things without Christians getting sanctimonious.
I know what you mean. Where is it written that one must be or act as pious as Charleton Heston did as Moses in the movie, The Ten Commandments? But then it occurs to me, maybe you have not found the right teacher yet?
I'd like to take an objective look at evidence for and against the faith.
I dunno, it seems to me looking for the arguments for the faith is the way to go. The arguments against Christ and the Christian Faith are easy to find, but it seems to me they don't stand up to scrutiny.
Christians seem to go into panic mode when I start asking about evidence.
That is what I meant about many being able to tell me
whatto believe, but not
why they believe what they believe.
It seems to me that Christianity should be able to stand up to scrutiny. If not, then we need to keep looking.
Standing up to scrutiny is largely a result of an open mind or a closed mind. It seems many folks get out of their scrutiny what they went in expecting to find, you know? As to keep looking, I haven't found anything else that speaks to me, or just seems so right.
When I've suggested that to Christians they look at me like I've said something horribly heretical and mumble about praying for me.
Like I said, it would seem to me that many don't know themselves how to explain why. But look on the brigth side, at least they will be praying for you!
To my way of thinking, we are duty-bound to seek out God as He exists rather than relying on assumptions about His nature.
I don't know that I would call it duty bound but I know I want to walk closer to Him everyday. I know that sounds like some sort of rehearsed utterance, but that is why I am here in this thread. I want to be closer to Christ even though I cannot explain why. As to as He exists, I think the Bible is pretty plain about that. Though messages from others can seem fairly conflicted about specifics. But as I read and learn more, this would seem to have been the case since the beginning of recorded time with people.
One thing is for sure, I believe there will always be more questions than answers. At least while we cling to this spinning rock looking for the truth. But then there is the rub, I believe it is called the mystery of faith by design. Faith being the keyword.
I don't claim to have all the answers myself, but I am hungry to learn, willing to submit to the teachings of the Bible and God's word and do find answers in the weirdest places. Or so it would seem.
Don't give up in your search. Myself I cannot explain it all, I try not to condemn or criticize other Christians (though apparently it happens) and try to love others as the Lord loves me. Maybe folks are stumbling etc as they are looking to find all the answers before they will allow themselves to believe?
I dunno... I just had a thought about something Spurgeon once said, he said he knew God chose him before he was born because he never gave Him a reason to be chosen after he was born!
Again, this is all IMHO....