I think Christians just look like everyone else. There is no required apparel . It's more a belief system and faith, etc. I think it's how many of us were raised..but it's something we accept or reject eventually as we grow up. I don't think anyone should be forced to blindly stay in any religion they don't believe in.
http://questions.org/attq/what-do-muslims-believe-about-god/ I respectfully disagree with you on this Sheldon.
I looked at your link, Babs and this is where my problem lies. Here is a quote from the link. The word Allah is the Arabic word for God, the word used both by Arabic-speaking Christians before the birth of Mohammed, and by Arabic-speaking Christians today. To a devout Muslim, Allah is in many ways similar to the Christian God. Allah is holy, just, infinite, and all-knowing. Jews, too, worship a holy, infinitely powerful God, and share Christian respect for the Old Testament. That is as far as I can get with any belief of a supreme being. He is just, infinite and all knowing. If that is the truth of creation of the universe, that is all I need.
Also, I'm not against teaching children religion, I think it serves a purpose. Good morals, etc. and i think the bible was originally written for similar purposes...kind of a law and a way to behave.
Being similiar is not the same thing as being God Chrissy. Let's say for example that you and I were similiar in appearance, height, etc....that still would not make us the same person. If you read the whole article there may be some things like the God of the Bible...but there are far more unlike Him. I will say this too. There are some Muslims that do know the God of the Bible and have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior.
I think a faith is a belief..which is the opposite of doubt. I have faith in God because I choose to believe. I don't need scientific proof for a belief. We decide to embrace a belief or philosophy. I know this can be complicated..but my belief in God is simple and enduring and brings me comfort. I think the bottom line is to respect each other's right to find and choose their own truth. I have studied world religions and many themes are the same. This is a very general explanation of how I think. I do pray and light candles.
Yes Chrissy, the Bible is God's inspired Word written to teach His children about Him, to teach us His ways, and to show us the way to Salvation and eternal life through His Beloved Son Jesus Christ. The Bible is a lot more than that though, it is the story of Creation, it is the history of God's people and others throughout the ages and there is historical evidence to prove that history is true. There is Prophecy in the Bible and of the 2500 prophecies, over 2000 have been fulfilled to the letter...and the probability of that happening by chance without error is less than one in 10 to the 2000th power. Any probability greater than 10 to the 50th power is considered impossible! The other 500 Prophecies concern future events. The Bible contains virtually every type of literary style: drama, historical narrative, instruction, and even poetry. The Bible is God's Revelation of Himself to people.
There is also a lot of scientific evidence to prove things false. Like I said in my other post, if the universe wasn't created by the Big Bang Theory, I can believe a supreme being is possible, an all knowing power. What lies in store after I die is either nothing or whatever this supreme intelligence has planned for me. I'm not really afraid either way. Just want it to be painless.
I don't believe Scientific "theory" proves God or His Word wrong. But I do believe that human beings have been trying to prove God doesn't exist and His Word isn't Truth since God invented them.
That's your way of looking at it, Babs. Trust me I would love that the scientists could be proven wrong or right. But even they can't prove 100% the beginnings of the Universe, but the laws of physics do point in that direction, also the other sciences. The universe and the earth are so much older than the Bible.
Yes, they are so much older because God created them long before He inspired men to speak His Word through the Bible. And that is my way of looking at it...since I believe that I have that truth from the best authority. Just as you believe you do.
I would never tell you not to believe in what you do Babs, or anyone else. I'm just saying how I believe. My mind isn't closed to anything. When my 12 yr old grandson asks me something he learned in catechism, I don't say it's all hogwash. I answer him the way I remember what I was taught. He can make his decisions on religion later in life...on his own. I do keep my answers brief though and give him no clue as to what I think.