Believe Jesus is the Son of God?

[Keith]

Very well said.

[Floating_adrift]

And you believe humans evolved from monkeys? That's an even harder concept to grasp.

Here's my interpretation of the Big Bang Theory: God said he wanted to create the universe, and then BANG it happened.

An all powerful God can do anything, right? Our little peon human brains just can't grasp the full concept of God though.

Just imagine how big God is compared to us. Now think about how large we are compared to an ant farm! If we get tired of ants out in our garden, we have the power to flood them all out, right?

Immaculate conception....well, I suppose God creates life, so He can do it either with sperm and egg or without. His choice.

Burning bush...well God is described as a pillar of fire.

Parts of the Bible are symbolic and figurative, so you have to take that into account. But at the same time, take the book of Isaiah for instance.....the current NIV has been compared ot original scripts (Isaiah is one of the few books where the original scripts still exist...the Dead Sea Scipts, I believe they're called). Anyways, the general concepts presented in the NIV haven't changed much over they years from the original scripts.

I have seen too many miracles in my life and answers to prayer to not believe in God. Coincidence couldn't occur that many times.

I'm not disputing the power of God. I understand that if He exists in the way the Bible describes Him, then He is omnipotent and that pretty much explains everything. Still, it seems a bit like hocus pocus in the face of evolution - to me. Please don't get me wrong, I wish I could believe, as I totally respect it as a great way of life. But some people need a bit more than a book and coincidences.

Evolving from early homonids is easier for me to believe than, 'Poof', instant mankind. Grasping what evolution can do given 4.4 million years is hard for some to comprehend as well. Keep in mind that what we see today are the successful evolutionary branches, not the failures.

We may have peon brains, but I don't think we give ourselves enough credit for what humankind can accomplish given the proper time and resources.

[Floating_adrift]

Nice discussion.

Something to consider. Look at the way Christ changes lives. This in and of itself should be a sign of the presence of a higher being, in my opinion Christ. You may say it's because of higher morals. But, what gives someone the drive to strive for these higher morals?

Something you could argue about evolution: who started evolution.

The answer to the question about where God came from. He was, He is, and He always will be. Tough to comprehend, but possibly because we're human.

I have heard God's voice many times in my life, and He has directed me through some pretty stormy paths.

Look at it this way for a moment. What if the Bible isn't true? Well, what have you lost by following the Bible? Answer: Nothing. In fact, you've gained a much fuller life. But, what if the Bible is actually factual, as those with faith believe? Well, those that didn't follow the Bible and the way of Christ are up a creek without a paddle. Hell is not a place where I'd want to spend eternity.

Give Christ a chance and I think you will see His hand on your life.

Often, those critcizing the Bible and the Christian walk, have never given it a chance.

Please don't think I'm criticizing, I hope I'm not coming across that way.

I have given Christianity several chances, but I keep reverting back - I simply cannot suppress what I believe inside. I don't think it's right to act like you believe in God just in case it's true, simply because you have nothing to lose. I would only do it because I truly believed in the Bible. That's kind of a sticking point I guess.

As far as who started evolution - why does there have to be a 'who' behind it? Evolution doesn't require a who at the beginning, just the right situation.

Science and technology may explain away all of these religions in the future, unless armageddon beats them to it.

One thing I can say for sure, I don't know what the answers are. But it's fun to discuss!

[Patrick]

Please don't think I'm criticizing, I hope I'm not coming across that way.

I have given Christianity several chances, but I keep reverting back - I simply cannot suppress what I believe inside. I don't think it's right to act like you believe in God just in case it's true, simply because you have nothing to lose. I would only do it because I truly believed in the Bible. That's kind of a sticking point I guess.

As far as who started evolution - why does there have to be a 'who' behind it? Evolution doesn't require a who at the beginning, just the right situation.

Science and technology may explain away all of these religions in the future, unless armageddon beats them to it.

One thing I can say for sure, I don't know what the answers are. But it's fun to discuss!

I agree..it is quite fun to discuss. And I think this is a great discussion....I don't see any criticizing going on here, but just an intelligent discussion. You guys are doing great!

Actually, in recent years science and evolution have been reverting back to Christianity. Seems like everytime I hear about a scientist trying to disprove God, he usually ends up becoming a believer in Christ. I don't have sources right now, but I know I could find some.

I personally have seen too many miracles in my life and the lives of others to discount Christ. I've spent some time in the Assembly of God Church (although I'm currently Southern Baptist), where they don't discount spiritual gifts and the miraculous power of God. I've been to many healing services and seen many many friends get up and walk for the first time in years, or be healed of their various diseases. Sure, seeing this on TV, you're led to think that maybe it's rigged, but I've seen it first hand in the lives of many friends. Some that discount this would say....well, emotions during the event allowed them to feel better, and afterwords, they just reverted back to their illness. Well, as I've said I've growen up with many of these dear friends and continued to follow them after their healing. It was real.
We had a dear lady in our church (actually my fiancee's church....she was Assembly of God) that had been crippled since her early 30's as a result of Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy. Doctors gave her little chance of surviving past her late 50's. Well, in a special service, she was delievered from her muscular dystrophy, got up out of her wheel chair, and is still walking today, 5 years later. Doctors cleared her health and said it was nothing short of a miracle.
I've seen the same with cancer, deafness, schizophrenia, etc.

I typically don't put a lot of stock in pain disorders, because pain can be easily manipulated by the mind, I do put a lot of stock in disorders than can easily be measured with tests, like genetic disorders like MD, MS, etc.

Since I'm a medical student, as a medical professional, it can be somewhat hard to believe. But, I've seen it too often.

I want you to know, I don't beleive like Oral Roberts. Roberts beleived that if you weren't healed, you didn't have faith. I just don't beleive that. I believe that it isn't always God's will for certain people to be healed. Why? Well, I guess that's a question to ask him!

Well, just thought I'd share some personal experiences. I have many!

[floater]

Well, I guess I'm the opposite in that I have it both ways -- like your typical "cafeteria Catholic" (you pick and choose what you believe in). Ultimately, I believe we are evolved from earlier species. There are too many similarities between us and other animals, as well as those between other animals, to dispute evolution. But I have no doubt there is a God, stemming from religious belief and personal experiences that, like Patrick, science can't explain.

[Patrick]

floater I completely agree with your assessment. I don't completely discredit evolution but I believe there's more to life than science alone.

[GrandMaMa]

A son of God maybe, but not THE son of God He lived as an example, he did not hold himself up to be a savior.

[ronnieokc]

Hello friends,

I'm fairly new in this forum but enjoy observing the discussions about religious opinions. After following for some time I decided to write a few words about my belief:

I believe Jesus is a prophet of God like other prophets (Abraham, Moses, Mohammed). We are Gods creation and so are the prophets. God chose them as prophets to have a human influence on earth to guide us at different periods of time. All the prophets preached about the oneness of the Almighty, good and the evil etc etc. As long as a human being developes him/herself with the basic morality of good and bad, I believe religious boundaries do not define a persons character. And to develope that moral strength, one needs to turn to one such prophet and look at his lifestyle, his values and his preachings. More like a user manual from God, to run his creations, which is ourselves!

Believing weather or not Jesus is the Son of God, is a very small spec in the grander scheme of this universe. We often endulge in small ritualistic practices, sentimental values and cultural influence and overshadow the more basic concepts such as self preservation, elimination of hatred, peace, integration etc etc.

I will pause here and may continue later again. I hope none of my words will offend anyone as that is not my intention.

May God guide us all.

Peace.

[pilar5422]

Floating_adrift: A wonderful book you might want to read is "A Case for Christ" by Lee Strobel. It presents a great argument for Christ backed up by historical and scientific evidence.

Just my two cents.