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I've heard the criticisms towards Christianity much of my life. I've considered them each one, and questioned both criticisms about Christianity as well as criticisms within Christianity. Growing up I fed myself on philosophical self reflections and philosophical doubts. A person can get lost in those, as well as test their own reasoning. Considering the doubts of my faith (without discarding my faith) was among those philosophical reflections.

Most of the doubts can be countered in one way or another by either the bible or by experience. (Often by both). Some doubts are without merit because they are based on a stance to test a Christian that isn't living up to their calling as a Christian, and therefore test what it means to be faithful by those who struggle to produce that kind of faith. Other doubts were a mis wording and mis understanding of scripture that once corrected hold no merit either. Of the kinds of criticisms that I currently don't have an answer for, I can still stand by the knowledge of God acting in my life in the manner that He has. Most of those doubts are philosophical arguments that try to prove that God isn't real. They don't stand up against knowing God by His actions in life. Unfortunately, that's also where most of your arguments stem from AJ. Mostly philosophical arguments.

To Bush Bunny.

You say that you aren't trying to undermine my beliefs or my practices, and I'm sure you don't believe that you are, nor do you mean to. However based on your history of religion I think you are more then willing to undermine both beliefs and practices. By discrediting them and if possible to prove them wrong.

Based on what you've said from your own experiences, I don't blame you, or your searching for pitfalls in religion.

However in spite of this I have one thing for you to consider. Look at what it means to be a faithful Christian in worship and faith, as opposed to organizations of the faith. There are organizations such as churches and church led services that are examples of organizations being faithful in their service. There is also examples throughout history of churches or church leaders not staying true to the teaching of their faith and instead heap on corruption or cruelty. Guess which of these organizations and examples are more well known and which ones are lost in history's criticism of religion but lack of acknowledgment of the corrupt conditions of mankind.

So instead I ask you to look at what it would mean to follow Jesus. To be faithful in worship, in action, in success, and in failure. In individuals instead of organizations it's easier to see when a person is striving to seek God or serve Him, as opposed to those who are caught up in their own lives and neither seek Him nor seek to serve Him.

Just a thought.

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After all history isn't always 20/20. Often enough it's fairly biased to support one historian's theories or another's. Even more recent history of the founders of western nations after they had their independence is under critical historical review, and while some show insights others seem to be bent on rewriting what history actually occurred. So with this in mind be careful of the paintbrush of history based on who holds the paint. I've heard many flattering histories in both religions and in countries, as well as dismal histories of each. They often ignore each-other's narratives which shows a bias.

Oh come on for heaven's sake NNS. The Bible was firstly written for the Israelites or Hebrews now Jews. The new testament was written for the sole called Western Christians, not Orthodox Christians. They have a different birth date for Jesus, and various other rituals like Easter and Marriage.

Even the most recent writings say the St.James version of both books, it is the world view and spiritual views of people who lived in totally different middle Eastern environments and archaic and superstitious views or world views of human kind and Gods, God and Jesus.

If you believe you need an ancient book also professing ancient morality and metaphoric explanations, then do so. My field is archaeology and palaeoanthropology. And every year the archaeological records are subject to change. Such as the finding of a new genetic homo line The Hobbit, that lived isolated in Flores until about 18k years ago. For some reason they survived Toba the ancient volcano that wiped out so much of the human race about 70,000 years ago. Especially in Far East. I prefer science and history to work out things. Jesus lived, was a Jew, died a Jew and not a Christian. He was viewed as a rebel leader by the Jewish elders, who confirmed that Jesus was plotting an over throw of the Romans. A tactic which the Jewish Elders were trying to keep peace in an occupied land,rocked with discontent and poverty, and searching for a Messiah. Jesus' body was removed or he survived, so the story of resurrection was told and a second coming to save his believers. Jesus did not in anyway fit the profile of a New Messiah. He was not born in Bethlehem, nor a warrior. About 30 years later in 70 AD, the Jews rebelled this time led by a warrior or warriors, and unfortunately ended badly with slaves taken and the second temple destroyed, and the treasures used to build the Roman Colosseum.

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If someone believes so strongly in the truth of the Holy Bible, taking it literally, ahhh I am sorry. However, if your religious practice benefits the community, not just followers of your church, then it is following what Jesus wanted people to do.

A tithe is a tax. Not a donation. Many tax exempt religions want donations to help them survive and they must prove to be giving any profit back to the community. Oh come on do they? I am sure the Salvos do and Vincent de paul, Anglicare, but scientology, seventh day Adventists, and other new religions don't. Sixth day Adventists, walking with dinosaurs, personally, I don't wish to be rude, but if that is the case, poor kids. And deluded self obsessed followers. The legend of Santa Claus or Father Christmas has more credibility that that.

Our biological ancestor was a mammal most probably a marsupial Monotreme, that hid underground and became our ancestor and ancestor of many mammalian species, and most probably its ancestor was also related to other forms of living organisms, as we share similar DNA. It was the death of the dinosaurs allowed the mammalians to evolve into our present state and biology. Higher primates being closest, followed by whales would you believe.

But the evolution of the human race is due only from war, that happened, but by humans being community minded and getting on with one another. Those that share the same tribal beliefs, are strong, until someone other stronger tribe comes along and either wipes them out or controls them. Religion is tribal, and what ever you believe, you are cast in a tribal image. As the Romans did. Behave, you will be rewarded, but against us, and you will perish. And in someways the Romans did become a world leader, who did not interfere with others beliefs unless they rebelled.

Criminals generally must not be religious who do evil to others. It is dog eat dog for them. And they get caught and suffer. Simple logic, that the Roman's believed in.

Hello...I see this thread is still going.

It seems that no matter what evidence is presented to a believer that they will simply defy all rational explanation and just ignore the facts.

One area that really annoys me is this rubbish about prayers being answered.

I have laid down the challenge before asking Christians to cure all the amputated limbs and disabled people in the world as Jesus says this is possible if they have enough faith. Sadly no believers have ever had enough faith.

When the disciples asked why they couldn't cure a man having an epileptic fit...that Jesus and the disciples thought was an evil spirit...lol

Matthew 17:17-20...Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.

And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
Afterward the disciples came to Jesus privately and asked, "Why couldn't we drive it out?"

And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and NOTHING SHALL BE IMPOSSIBLE UNTO YOU.

Obviously the believers here who I have challenged don't have the faith of a grain of mustard seed...BUT they will still claim loudly and falsely prayers are answered. Why do they continue to lie?

But what is particularly galling about these claims of prayers being answered is how insulting to people in absolute desperate situations whose prayers were NEVER answered.

In Hitler's death camps over 6,000,000 sons and daughters of Israel who believed in the God of Israel were mistreated and murdered relentlessly.

Many of these people would have been very religious practicing Jews and the God of Israel never came to their aid. HE NEVER ANSWERED THEIR PRAYERS!

Did you all forget about that? But he answered your prayers...

Hang your heads in shame for your lies!