I have known a number of folks who were raised very religiously, who decided after adulthood to decry their instilled religious beliefs. For several, that direction caused them mental confusion, I could sense it. Their childhood experiences were interfering with their new-found beliefs. In my case, questioning my folks about the neighbor family constantly talking about going to church, their response was simply, we do not attend church, but you are free to do so. Ask them, and they will be glad to take you along with them. Well, they had a daughter my age, head taller than me, a domineering girl who was dislikable, to me. I thought it over, and decided against the idea. Frank
@Sheldon Scott. A lot of these "Christians" you have talked about would be to me like the Bible says: "Wolves in sheeps clothing" and not really Christians at all. A true follower of Christ would never try to rip off you or your money. A true Christian will tell you that they believe everything in the Bible is true, they will also be honest enough to tell you they don't understand some of it theirselves but have faith that if God said it...then they believe it. A true Christians does like to share how God has been good to them, how He has kept His promises, and answered their prayers...they will also share with you the trials and sorrows they have gone through too. You are right that some Christians don't read their Bibles very much...some of them just let the Preacher's read it for them and tell them want they want to hear. But there are plenty of true Christians that do read their Bibles often, some even daily. They want to know what God has to say to them even when they aren't in Church and they find comfort, peace, and plenty of wisdom in the Bible. I have met a lot of those same so called "Christians" that you have during my lifetime Sheldon...but instead of turning me off to God it only made me open my Bible more and see if these people were true Christians or not. You can't always tell who is a true Christian...but if you know God's Word and Him...you won't have very much trouble knowing who isn't a true Christian. I don't blame you for hating "False Christians" but that isn't the only kind there is in the world. And I hope you aren't blaming God for what these people have done because they chose to be this way with their free will and certainly were not taught to behave this way from God's Word. I hate when someone is not who they say they are too. But what I also hate is that many who say they don't believe in God never even studied His Word or asked Him to show them He is real. They believe in astrology, aliens, psychics, etc. They take the word of a scientist, or any other human being...without even giving God's Word or Him a chance. And if I've made anybody mad by saying this all I can say is the same thing you said Sheldon...it's refreshing to get it off my chest too.
God doesn't need to convince you @Chrissy Page. He lays all the proof out in His Word and in everything He created and lets you make up your own mind. And if you have read and studied the Bible and still aren't convinced then your free will gives you the freedom to believe in whoever and whatever. But that doesn't mean what you choose to believe is the truth.
I never said I knew the truth, I don't. Nobody does, they may think they do but they don't. There are tooo many so called truths out there to choose from... I don't know where you see Gods word layed out, Babs?
Truth is different things to different people @Chrissy Page that is for sure. But there is truth and everyone has to decide for theirselves what is truth to them. After God laid out the evidence in His Word and in so many things in my life and surrounding me I knew that His truth is truth to me. I know it and I have no doubt about it at all. It's not true that nobody can know the truth. It is true that many peope believe in different truths. I see God's Word laid out in truth because my eyes are opened to His Truth...maybe like your eyes are opened to seeing Science as truth?
And someone will say the same thing about their religion, that it's true for them and they have the same conviction that you do, yet they are of a different religion. So then there are 2 Gods or even more. One person's truth isn't any truer than someone else's.
It's for sure that one day we will all know the Truth, the whole Truth, and nothing but the Truth. Until then I guess we'll just have to love each other and respect each others' beliefs in what the truth is.
I believe that anyone with strong Christian beliefs would have just as strong Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, or any other faith if that is the way they were raised. Those who think the bible is the word of god would just as sincerely think the koran or any other book is the word of god. Most people stay with whatever religion they were taught as children. These days more and more people are beginning to decide for themselves after leaving getting out on their own in this world.
The Christian faith began at Pentecost. At that time, Christians were a tiny minority, existing only one one small part of the world. If, as you say, people stay with whatever religion they were brought up in, Christianity would have been impossible. I am not arguing with you because I am sure that you do believe that Christianity is nothing but a tradition passed on from parents to their children, and that is what you said.
You're right Ken. In addition, Jewish, Muslim, and Hindu are not only religions but also cultures so the percentage of them leaving their culture is in the single digits. Christianity is not a culture. Christians who are "raised to be Christians" often stray from the fold IF the teachings have not reached their hearts. Head knowledge isn't enough. Everyone has a free will to choose when they have matured enough aka "age of accountability" which is a little different depending on the individual. I raised all 4 of my children in a Christian home. One daughter has chosen a different spiritual path. It happens. Also, many many many followers of Christianity were not raised in Christian environments.
I would not put the Jewish people in with the Muslim and Hindu cultures. Jewish people do believe in the God of the Bible and God calls them "His Chosen People." all throughout the Bible. Many Jewish people do not believe Jesus Christ was the Messiah and they are still waiting on the Messiah to appear. Their Bible is still mostly the Old Testament as they don't believe the Son of God has come yet. There are Jews for Jesus who do believe though.
I agree Babs but Jewish people still have a distinct culture unlike the cultures of Hindu and Muslim…but still a culture…and the percentage of them leaving that culture is also in the single digits.