EstherRose

Thank you for the anniversary wishes.
As I've already stated, you've seen the arguments pros and cons already includin those on the historical texts. Since I am not a bible scholar, I doubt I have anything better to contribute in that regard. You’ve formed your own opinions on all of this.

Emotional, I have investigated the Koran and I have found it to be a false religion.
God is not a petty politician who needs to resort to blackmail to win followers.

I know I will not "win" converts here. That is not my reason for being here. I was asked a question which I doubted that I would be able to answer to your satisfaction. Perhaps a scholarly theologian could. Or maybe not. I stated at the outset that I could only add a personal view to your question. I will spend some time thinking about the rest of your questions and see if I can contribute anything else to this discussion.

blondegoddess- I was fascinated to think that someone else has my name so I went to that website but couldn't find anyone with that name. Are you sure it was there?

emotional

What makes the Qur'an false? If salvation by works and denial of the trinity, then is it not because you have already assumed Christianity to be true? What makes a religion false? From what point of view do you consider a religion to be false? From the point of view of Christianity, meaning that you assume a priori the truth of Christianity?



If you accept that, then you accept also that eternal hell must be thrown out. Eternal hell is a blackmail tactic. It has no remedial value, it has no corrective value, it is merely a scare-tactic invented for winning as many followers as possible into the cult (yes, Christianity was once a small cult). All cults use scare-tactics, having no better method of attracting multitudes of followers. Eternal hell is not from God, it is an invention of power-hungry cult leaders - petty politicians.

Amos

Thanks Ester and the Catholic Church would say that you are now in Purgatory where you are to spend no more than 42 months. You may not see it that way and might spend the rest of your days going around in circles with no place to go except another prayer meeting.

mike_decock

Now it's just a big cult .

-Mike...

Kosh

So, are you saying that you have nothing to refute any of the arguments against your reasons for being a Christian?

emotional

Big cults are called religions .

beth

You're Right Esther, sorry. I got you confused with another "rose". But hey, a rose by any other name is still a rose, right? Sorry I know that was corny...


I appreciate this. I used to be the same way and then one day I realized that the Lord isn't there to be one with me, or to give me guidance.

Bree

Interesting. I have investigated the Bible and I have found it to be a false religion (even though the Bible, like the Koran, is not a religion in and of itself - it is classified as a religious text). Why do you believe the Koran is wrong, and the Bible is right, if there is no concrete evidence on either side? Is it a gut feeling?

Interesting, this. Doesn't God blackmail human beings by threatening Hellfire and Damnation in exchange for the cold shoulder? That sounds pretty petty to me. Not very loving - the Bible even says that He will gloat when those who have rejected Him fry eternally. Ouch.

Ad Astra

And the odd thing is, I constantly hear people preaching about God's infinite forgiveness. How is that a being, whose forgiveness truly is infinite, not forgive in any situation? That is, unless, my religious education teachers, family, Christian friends, the Bible, etc. have been completely and utterly wrong about God's ability to forgive...

Magus55

Because you have to want forgiveness. Salvation isn't a free ride. God made it simple, but you do have to take part in it. Many atheists on this board said they'd rather be in Hell than Heaven, and they refuse to ever worship God. God isn't gonna force you to be someplace you don't want to be. And Heaven is God's kingdom. Would you let someone who hates and despises you into your own home? I doubt it, so why should God?