Consider Christianity Week on April, 2024: Why is christianity even followed?

Consider Christianity Week 2024. Consider Christianity - A Faith Based on Facts Consider Christianity - A

Because Christianity is the one true religion. That may sound awfully dogmatic and narrow-minded, but the simple truth is that Christianity is the only true religion. Jesus said that He alone was the way to the Father (John 14:6), that He alone revealed the Father (Matt. 11:27; Luke 10:22). Christians do not go around saying Christianity is the only way because they are arrogant, narrow-minded, stupid, and judgmental. They do so because they believe what Jesus said. They believe in Jesus, who claimed to be God (John 8:58; Exodus 3:14), who forgave sins (Mark 2:5; Luke 5:20; 7:48), and who rose from the dead (Luke 24:24-29; John 2:19f). Jesus said that He was the only way. Jesus is unique. He was either telling the truth, He was crazy, or He was a liar. But since everyone agrees that Jesus was a good man, how then could He be both good and crazy, or good and a liar? He had to be telling the truth. He is the only way.

Christianity is not just a religion; it is a relationship with God. It is a trusting in Jesus and what He did on the cross (1 Cor. 15:1-4), not on what you can do for yourself (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Buddha didn't rise from the dead, nor did Confucius or Zoroaster. Muhammad didn't fulfill detailed prophecy. Alexander the Great didn't raise the dead or heal the sick. And though there is far less reliable information written about them, people believed in them.

The scripture is right when it says in 1 Pet. 2:7-8, "This precious value, then, is for you who believe. But for those who disbelieve, 'The stone which the builders rejected, this became the very corner stone,' and, 'A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense'; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed." (NASB).

The Mathematical Odds of Jesus Fulfilling Prophecy

"The following probabilities are taken from Peter Stoner in Science Speaks (Moody Press, 1963) to show that coincidence is ruled out by the science of probability. Stoner says that by using the modern science of probability in reference to eight prophecies, ‘we find that the chance that any man might have lived down to the present time and fulfilled all eight prophecies is 1 in 1017." That would be 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000. In order to help us comprehend this staggering probability, Stoner illustrates it by supposing that "we take 1017 silver dollars and lay them on the face of Texas. They will cover all of the state two feet deep. Now mark one of these silver dollars and stir the whole mass thoroughly, all over the state. Blindfold a man and tell him that he can travel as far as he wishes, but he must pick up one silver dollar and say that this is the right one. What chance would he have of getting the right one? Just the same chance that the prophets would have had of writing these eight prophecies and having them all come true in any one man."

Stoner considers 48 prophecies and says, "We find the chance that any one man fulfilled all 48 prophecies to be 1 in 10157, or 1 in 10,00,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, 000, 000,000,000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 000,000,000." 1

The estimated number of electrons in the universe is around 1079. It should be quite evident that Jesus did not fulfill the prophecies by accident. He was who He said He was: the only way (John 14:6).

Can anyone help me clarify Christiany? Im considering converting, and would like to seek infomation.?

Hello, there, and welcome to the Christian community and our shared journey!

I highly recommend you read The Heart of Christianity by Marcus Borg and Mere Christianity by CS Lewis. Great foundational books that will keep you free of idiocy.

1.What are the important holidays and traditions of Christianity?

The Christian calendar in Catholic and mainline Protestant churches (Episcopal, Methodist) starts with Christmas. Then 12 days later (recall the 12 days of Christmas) we celebrate Epiphany from January 6 to February 5, when Jesus was revealed to the world via the Wise Men’s visit. Following this we celebrate the period of Lent, when we devote ourselves to fasting from something (TV, socks, whatever means something and we should be able to do without) like Jesus in the wilderness. Then in late March we have Holy Week, that follows Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, The Last Supper, The Crucifixion, and The Resurrection, which falls on Easter. The period of Easter lasts a couple months and then we celebrate Pentecost, when God poured his spirit out on the early church. From then (early June) until Christmas we are in Advent, meaning preparation for the coming of the Lord at Christmas.

Many of these holidays were co-opted from pagan traditions in order to compete and ease the transition. As such, the year follows the cycles of the sun – when the days are longest and coldest (late December) the light comes into the world and the days grow longer and longer until we are again in waiting (Advent). And so on. However, for us this cycle provides great meaning.

2.How has religion shaped your life?

The stories and values and common contextual community provided by organized religion has given me great supportive relationships, personal meaning in that it helps me connect to a higher power, a method for giving my sons a bearing in ideas that transcend rational thought, and so on.

3.What are the challenges, if any, to practicing Christianity?

In postmodern times it is hard to believe in some of the factual claims of Christianity, some are even demonstrably false. Additionally, Christianity very often teaches us that what feels best to us may actually be the worst thing we can do for the sake of our spirits – it’s hard not to do what feels good sometimes.

4.What are your thoughts of Christianity vs. Hinduism?

I believe Hinduism is a valid religion – they believe God is One and beyond all understanding and they have many gods to represent their varied experiences of the One God (Brahma). For Westerners Christianity is far more accessible – Hinduism is a way of life that goes beyond religion, like Judaism it is a culture. Additionally, I would argue the way Christianity lays things out is a superior story. Finally, we do believe God is uniquely present in Jesus – if so, then our religion is more accurate and closer to the actual truth about God.

5.What is the difference between meditation and prayer?

Sometimes nothing – centering prayer and contemplative prayer are very much like meditation, but instead of a mantra we might repeat a verse or a prayer or a phrase like God is Love. Prayers do go beyond – we can worship God, ask for things, confess, etc.

6.Is it wrong to kill organisms that we can’t see?

We should respect life to the greatest extent possible. We are humans and therefore the closer to human a life is the more valuable it is spiritually to us. Killing a person or an animal removed from us could be considered manslaughter but the lack of knowledge or intention is a mitigating factor. However, squashing an ant accidentally really does not worry me.

7.Do Christians believe in a “Universal Power”?

Most don’t but some of us do – I do, for example. John Hick, Marcus Borg, and Huston Smith are good sources for a Christianity that sees the same truth reflected in the other time-tested religions.

8.Where do the other religions 'fit in'?

Many Christians simply say they do not know where other religions fit in but it’s best to be Christian and not worry how far God’s mercy will reach. I, like many other Christians, think several other religions are contextual reflections of the way a certain people have experienced God. I am more interested in where we agree than where we disagree and how that religion treats people inside and outside their faith. I believe other religions can be valid paths to spiritual salvation in this life and the next. That said, we believe Jesus is the Son of God and thus we do believe our religion is the most accurate experience of God available to humans.

9.How can an average person practice christianity and still live in this world Surrounded by much negative energy?

This is why participation in Church and other practices of faith are necessary – we will mess up and they allow us to constantly be made a new creation to channel Christ’s love.

10.What are feelings of war?

Christianity is a nonviolent religion, meaning that we would prefer to turn the other cheek and not visit violence for violence. However, we do recognize that force may be required to restore peace and protect others and would favor using just enough force to accomplish those things. That said, many non-mainline protestants favor war as it was practiced in the Old testament, which was gratuitous and bloody.

11.Is there a God vs. other religions debate within the religious teachings?

Yes, liberal Christians like me believe other religions contain truth and that God is known by many names. Most Christians are more conservative and believe the Christian God is different and the only true God and that other religions are deluded. Both of these viewpoints can use the Bible and other means to establish its case and usually the exclusivist viewpoint wins out. However this does not bother me because Christianity works well for people who hold fast to its claims. Creating a feel-good hodgepodge religion would likely rob many religions of the power they have had to affect peoples’ lives. Overall, time-tested doctrine keeps people on the right path even when their ideas stray sometimes.

12.What made you convert or thoughts of christianity?

Marcus Borg’s The Heart of Christianity.

13.What are you views of other religions?

See above!

I hope you will find meaning in Christ.

Peace be with you.

Considering abortion, please read?

I personally do not believe in heaven, hell, the bible or christianity at all. I believe in reincarnation, so to me abortion isn't murder; if a fetus has a soul in the first 14 weeks of pregnancy (95% abortions are preformed in the first 14 weeks in this country) I believe they go back to where they came from and try to be born again. Simple as that.

If you need info on abortion, here you go . . . .

If you go to a Planned Parenthood clinic that has a low-income program it can be as cheap as 115$. If you tells them you have no job, no money and no support they will likely have you pay the minimum for the procedure and get donations to cover the rest. If you are underage it may be free or very cheap. 1-800-230-PLAN (1-800-230-7526) to find the Planned Parenthood clinic nearest you. You have the choice between the pill (which can be taken up to 11weeks, at home or at a friends house) or the vacuum method (in clinic procedure). Personally I used the pill method so I could be at home with my husband but some women want to have the surgical, so it's done and over with when they leave the clinic.

If you are underage you may want to check this site out to see about parental consent laws and whatnot.

I respect that it is your choice and understand that you are probably doing what's best for you. If you want/need to talk about it drop me an email.

Please do not listen to these women calling you names, it is entirely possible to have an abortion and not feel guilt because you knew it was the right thing to do.

ImNotSorry.net