There are many people who say the Bible contradicts itself but when asked to present the evidence they typically can't, they haven't done enough research, or they have taken the Bible out of context. The Bible does not contradict itself. Period. The Bible also says there is only one way to heaven and that is through Jesus Christ (i.e. by accepting him "by faith"). Christianity is the only religion whose Savior is no longer in the grave!
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I want to find a religionIf you want to lose yours, talk to this guy: I think he would be a bad choice, after all he lost his.
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Because by Faith it works. And it WILL transform you, the way you think, your tolerance for others (well, maybe not some of this crew) but overall..seriously. Til you take the leap you have no clue. And think about this - Jesus is such a presence in our World- he's preached nothing but love and peace - doing the right thing - and according to the Bible he is the Son of God - wish there was a "logical" explanation. There's not - but then if you told someone a two hundred years ago about fax machines or planes, or so many things like lasers...would they have believed it could be "real"???
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However, if you're fond of white grapes and virgins....
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I think if you search "in yourself", it'll be a hard trip to find answers. If the trip were easy, would it mean as much? Study, questioning, visiting churches, talking with people that have a spirituality are the ways you're going to fan that spark. Does that include the Jewish synagogue, the Moslem mosque, and the Buddhist temple? Or is the use of the word "church" meant to be all-inclusive?
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yes, yes, yes and yes you disagree? No, no, no! Not at all. It was simply the use of the term. I believed that you meant all types of religious places of worship or congregation but wasn't sure. My point was that if a person was searching for a religion, he should ask himself what he wanted and needed from it. Then, when those personal questions have been answered, the search - including as many faiths as necessary - would be time better spent. Try not to make too much out of this (because it's a pretty shabby attempt at an explanation), but if a person wants a wristwatch, there are a (with a nod to a certain RR'r) plethora of brands, styles, and functions available. You find one which suits your needs and desires and you purchase it...unless you're looking for a platinum Rolex and then you've got to mortgage the farm. That's not to say that the first one you look at won't be the one you'll buy.
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But, I agree with Msparks, too. Sit down and reflect and think.
One thing: physically write down your "issues" with God, the Bible, or certain faiths.
Then maybe you can research those specifically.
One problem many people have is rather than confront faith and deal with it, they pull down their "laundry list" of problems about God/Bible/Faith off the shelf and dust them off to use as a defensive mechanism, rather than actively seek to have them answered.
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my biggest bit of advice would be to keep an open mind to everything. don't take anything as the whole story, or as the sole way to be. try to take the pieces that make sense to you, and go with that. getting all your information from one source is devious at best.
try to look at different people you find inspiring (i learnt alot from books on Muhammad Ali - he had some great priniciples) and look to different movies and different sources. there is no right or wrong answer, so diferent interpretations are a good way to find out what you can relate to.
don't feel pigeonholed into finding a specific religion or (a) God or anything. look for values and beliefs that you can hold, and things that give you hope.
mostly, it's all about you. so hopefully it all goes well.
for the record: i hate religion as an organization, extremists, hypocrites that 'believe' one thing and do another, and "this way is the only way" type beliefs. my views and opinions are heavily influenced by this :| no offense intended to anyone about anything. moreso, i don't pretend to have the answer to everything. everyone is entitled to their beliefs (whatever kind they are). we can all be wrong.
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you have to get lost in the forest, and i mean really lost. and go all whacko. and then fonz will come and speak to you.
and no matter what the native casino owners say, you cannot buy yourself a spiritual moment.
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:1: hellfire and brimstone people scare more seekers away than they'll ever know. i ran screaming for 20 years! :hysteria: get away from me you freaks.
when you become comfortable in your beliefs, Christianity or other, then these people mean less in the scheme of things, in fact they are laughable to me now. i them. so what if you can quote book, chapter, verse.
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