Has she ever said why she doesn't want to go back? I've heard lots of reasons. I'm curious what her's is.
Like I said, there was a creed they established within three years of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. It would be awfully hard to fool millions of people with something that has no truth to it, imo. I also don't get what their motive would be. All of Jesus' disciples and the apostles were martyred for adhering to Christianity. This went on for the first 300 years of Christianities existence, you would be heavily persecuted by Jewish leaders and Roman authorities, or even killed/martyred. I just don't see what the motive would be to spread something you KNEW to be a lie. I mean what else can you say? The apostles literally dedicated the rest of their lives to spreading what they saw and heard, even through heavy persecution. "For if Christ is not raised, your faith is in vain." I'm not aware of any other religion that has fulfilled prophecies, let alone close to what the Bible can boast: http://www.reasons.org/fulfilled-prophecy-evidence-reliability-bible No other book comes close to what the Bible proclaims. It was written over 1,600 years in 3 different continents in 3 different languages by some 40 different authors, and is flawless. Don't believe me? Read it for yourself, don't go on what others write about it. You won't find many honest opinions regarding the Bible on the net, especially if you go looking for out-of-context "contradictions" like some like to do. If you are interested in seeking out God then there are very easy ways to go about it. http://www.ehow.com/how_5193933_seek-god-whole-heart.html Ask God to reveal Himself to you, be patient and wait, and see what happens.
Links? (Not for the prophecies, because hot air is hot air.) But in what credible historical record does God, Jesus, Virgin Mary and company appear? What archeological finds have proven their existence?
Where has there been an archaeological discovery that has contradicted what was written in the Bible? I've never seen on and all the ones I have seen only support what is written in the scriptures. http://biblicalstudies.info/top10/schoville.htm http://www.ehow.com/info_8311514_biblical-archeological-discoveries.html
I haven't been taught that there's a specific number to them, so I'm not sure what you're asking. I'm not trying to play dumb, I'm not sure what you're asking. Is there a specific statement you want me to explain, or did I say something that prompted that question? I assume you're referring to this passage: Am I interpreting you correctly in that you're saying that Satan lied twice here? Once when he said Eve wouldn't die and again when he said that when Eve partook of the fruit, that her eyes would be opened and be as a god, knowing good and evil? Obviously the first statement is a lie, but I fail to see how the second is. Partaking of the fruit of the tree of knowledge did open her eyes and cause her to know good and evil as God does. Before partaking, we;re told Adam and Eve were innocent as children and incapable of knowing right from wrong. Furthermore, its a lowercase g and a plural, so if you're implying that Satan told Eve that she would be a God by partaking of the fruit, then you're interpretation is doesn't seem to make sense. Also, Satan doesn't only speak in lies, I don't automatically dismiss the statement as false simply because it came from Satan. He'll say whatever it takes to get you to do whatever it is he wants you to do. I'm just spit-balling here though, because I really don't know what you're asking.
That a book of fiction should use names of real cities and leaders is as old a device as writing itself. Your links, desperate as they may be, offer no compelling evidence of anything.
she believes they are really judgemental, and make you feel really guilty. She thinks the whole religion instills guilt and fear into you. She thinks her former church members think they are better than everyone. She likes christian churches more ( I meant Wesleyan, sorry was half paying attention to the blazer game)
Of course. And you know what I think about what the Bible says, right? Even Jesus' best bud Thomas needed a sign. Word on the street was that they worked things out in the end.
Ha! ABM and I have had a similar discussion in another thread. I think it was one of the Romney ones. I believe we respectfully agreed to disagree. I didn't mean my comments to ignite issues (although my remarks did kind of come across as flippant), I just have strong feelings on the matter. I'm sure it stems from the fact that I believe the Bible isn't the only word of God and that I believe God still has a prophet on the earth and still provides us with instruction in our day. Just because we have the Bible doesn't mean God has left us to our own devices to interpret it. That's like a teacher handing you a textbook and saying, "Here you go! You're on your own now. Good luck!"
I'm sorry to hear that. I can appreciate that though. There is certainly a tendency for some to be judgmental and "holier than thou," but that is an issue with individuals and not the gospel being taught. The religion most certainly does not instill guilt and fear, however. I respectfully submit that she didn't understand the faith if that is her opinion. I had a good chuckle at the bolded section.
Well she also gets a kick out of stories regarding joseph smith....I guess you can say she believes wesleyan ideology more than mormonism. I agree that most churches can be that way, I've been to multiple baptist and wesleyan churches like that.
To paraphrase Pollyanna, if you look hard enough for something, you are sure to find it. And just in case it wasn't clear already, I've done quite a bit of biblical study on my own, including a fairly thorough reading of both testaments. Please believe me when I say I respect your views on the matter of their veracity, but I cannot share them.