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Originally Posted by NightSpirit  When people say they don't like religion usually what they mean is they don't like what they have seen of what people do who claim to be of a certain religion.
There is a difference between disagreeing with the content in religious writings and teachings and disagreeing with the way some are living out their understanding of what the writings mean. In musical terms, it's the difference between hearing a performance of the original composition as written, an arrangement or a massacre of the piece by ignorant or sloppy musician. In seeking God, most people are blaming the composer for the faulty performers. |
Oh, I totally agree with you. I'm trying to look beyond that.
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Originally Posted by NightSpirit By studying, on my own, what is actually stated in the Bible, I came to believe what is there is true, first from a kind of resonance within my spirit, particularly in the teachings of Jesus. Then after I accepted that there is a God and Jesus was speaking about Him then my faith began to grow, through trial and error, asking and receiving answers, seeking and finding, etc. in a process that continues until now. I have not ceased to be fascinated by the mysteries and complexities and all the implications of what is written there. |
That's great. What exactly did you start to study? It's quite a large book, lol.
Although, I will admit I have read through the entire thing once, but that was a few years ago.
I'm just trying to figure all of this out. I don't think anyone denies there was a man called Jesus who lived around that time.
So the question is: did he actually do all of this stuff, or did a bunch of people, just make it up?
I guess one could say they (the apostles) made it up if one wanted to, but, they went through quite a bit for their faith (e.g., dying rather brutal deaths). Is that really congruent with someone making something up?
Well, I can't really deny that part, which is why I ask what I have asked.