Besides Fear, Why Be A Christian?

I can't say why you should become a Christian. I can only speak for why I am. Once the existence of a deity was proven to my satisfaction, I investigated which religion's representation of the Deity best fits the criterion of omnibenevolence, stopping at nothing for the good of all except at the violation of our free will, and best exemplifies the the virtues we are supposed to practice- completely selfless love, justice balanced perfectly with compassion and mercy, wisdom, etc.,. I found that in Jesus Christ.

If you don't want to convert then that is up to you. I am Roman Catholic and I don't go around trying to force my religion down anyone's throats because to me that isn't what God wants. I say be yourself, be whatever religion you want or if you aren't then don't be religious but it is up to you. I like to discuss relgion but if people get nasty about it I walk away. No point in arguing who is right and who is wrong. You follow and belieive what you want and I'll do the same.

I was born a Christian and do believe in what i was taught. i have put a lot of faith in the fact that this world is not how it should be.  That god and christ are going to make things better in their time.  The way things are in the world i am not changing now

I can only tell you that it was God's love that drew me not fear.  I would like to recommend a book to you called A Case for Christ by Lee Strobel.  And from what I can remember of the book, there are no fear tactics just his experience with trying to disprove the Bible.  It may answer some of your questions better than I could ... Whether you believe or not, that is totally up to you.

Most of the people I know personally who converted to Christianity did so because they had children and wanted to meet other parents, go to picnics and pot lucks, and teach their kids 'morals'. I know half a dozen people who actually went "church shopping" simply because they had a kid and wanted to act like their imagined version of the American Perfect Family. Most people are not very deep. That's enough for them.

But I also know individuals who convert to Christianity because they have a religious experience that is powerful, emotional, and weird--They don't know what to do with the experience, and someone comes along and tells them it means they are supposed to be Christian. Sometimes they believe that for awhile and then realize that's not what it means. Sometimes they believe it permanently.

Why don't you write some hubs about what YOU think instead of provoking people into an argument?

I mean, you still have zero hubs.

What's that about?

Fairbear might be another bear too, which really isnt fair at all  now is it?

Here's a guide 4 U !!
http://www.saibabaofindia.com/sri_sathy … _sites.htm

Fairbear,I can't explain what I felt while reading your post.I instantly felt moved to answer.I'll keep it simple.I am a christian. Religion is what separates us from God.In any faith.See its not a set of external rules to live by that will make you religously right before God.Its all about relatonship not religion see,many can be in the chistian faith and lead a miserable unhappy life religiously attending church singing the right songs,reading the word etc..but relatioship changes you.Theres got to be transformation! Something that Impacts you in such a way that it leaves no doubt in the inner most part of you bringing you to such a conviccion of Love leading you to surrender to your Creator. You begin falling in Love with Him.It is amazing! its an experience one cannot explain!See when your in Love you willingly submit to what we all know as 'religion'.It is a joy.Were actually submitting to Him and we start living Him which is Love which brings peace that surpasses any understandig! I grew up in church but I didnt start having a relationship with Him until I was in my late teens early twenties but I have since deepened my relationship with Him.You should never never stay as you are never.God is a God of changes who is the same yesterday today and forever.Believe me that makes complete sense.When you coe i contact with Him theres no way that you will stay the same.He says.Jeremiah 29:11-13"For I kow the plans I have for you",declares the Lord "plans to prosper you and not to harm you,plans to give you a future and a hope.Then you will call to me and come and pray to me,and I will listen to you.You will seek Me and find Me. When you seek Me with all your heart".
Jesus said"I am the Way the Truth and the Life ,no one comes to the Father but through Me.
I thought this would be shorter.

Several of you have stated that Christianity is all about love. But that's nothing special. You can find love in lots of places. Why is Christian love so much better?

My battery is about to go out ,will have to get back to u later ,heres my first hub that will help a bit. <no links please>

Just not what I had in mind. I was hoping you could just take me through the points of your faith step by step. That's all. I'm not at the point of wanting to go through some extensive program. That's a few steps ahead of where I'm at. Understand?

But thanks for the thought. That's kind of you.

No, I don't live anywhere near you. WIsh I did, though. I'd love to live up there in that area.

Yeah no problem Fairbear.  Your welcome.  Also here's a link to the Catechism of the Catholic Church if you are interested.
http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm

Love is the most interesting feature of Christianity. However, in most of the cases people are converted into Christianity by greed and fear, especially in the third world countries.
Europeans have reigned most parts of the world for three to four centuries. Most of the rulers were Christian and they used their might to convert people into Christianity.

Thanks,
Jyoti Kothari

Well here goes. I would never try to convert someone its soooo wrong!!! I hate when people say I wanna convert you like what you believe is wrong. I'm agnostic/a person of science. Religion is a personal preference no one should ever be forced into it. There is no right or wrong religion as long as its right to you don't let people feed you crap about converting.

These forums always get messy when people try to argue with believers.

Believers go into any discussion without entertaining the slightest possibility that their faith may be a social construct and there may in fact be no deity.

I personally am not a believer, but I do not find it impossible to see the other side. There IS a chance there is a god or gods, but I find that chance to be small enough to live my life the way I do.

This rigidity of people of faith, seems to be one of the main reasons atrocities are done in the name of various gods.

Yoy can be a believer and still keep an open mind.

How about it people.

Any believer willing to admit there is a possibility (however small) that there is no God and we just ended up here by a combination of random events and the passing of a very long period of time?

Here is what The Lady_E was referring to fairbear, bottom of page 2.

Shaul Stein wrote:
I still wish he would answer his own original question.

"Or is there some other explanation?"

Fairbear wrote:
My answer to this is that there is no explanation. Christianity is a flawed religion.

So perhaps she is wondering why would you be interested in a "flawed religion" at all? What are your motives.
On a scale of 1-100...your sincerity?

And who can blame someone for asking, given that you seem to hate the very thing you inquire about man.

You're right to say that I hate it.
But wrong to assume I am insincere.

That's not being perfectly fair, thats called being personally abusive.

I wish I had spent more time in the forums when I first started. It gives you a better feel of the people you wish to interact with

why? you can be a Christian and be another if you don't like it. Islam though is different.

I will answer this question for the sake of anyone who comes in here because of the topic posted.

I am well aware that Ha' Mashiach Yahshua (The Messiah Jesus) did NOT come to start a new religion and call it Christianity, nor to revive an old one. He is The King of the Jews and did not deny it when questioned by Pilate. The relationship Elohim Echad (Gods who are One~Alone, in purpose and deed) wanted to have with mankind was never a religion, rather it was closer than your spouse in it's intimacy, deep and very spiritual, based faith in The Creator~Father. It was always very simply..."Listen to my voice and follow my instructions"...just like a parent / child relationship, with a loving parent and a child who constantly questions said parents authority and leadership to no end.

The relationship was multifaceted and included the bride / bridegroom intimacy too. Also one of Military Commander and His army.

When I was apprehended some 30 years ago, I was involved in a Christian Church and after a time I was invited to a Messianic Jewish Congregation and kept going back as they gather on Shabbat (Sabbath) *the day for Christians being changed to Sunday having ignored the 4th commandment*...and I attended both for a long time. Messianic Jewish Congregations (MJC) are comprised of Jews and Goyim (translates to "nations" / "peoples") who believe in The Messiah as already come to earth the first time and will return again.

I noticed that they "MJC" (Messianic Jewish Congregations) sounded and acted much different than Christianity in way to many ways to mention here. The basic thing that I noticed is that they did not have a different Messiah than the one that I read about in my own study. He did not sound like an American Messiah with a Western mentality and outlook as they spoke of Him and His teachings. They had an understanding of Hebrew and it's idioms so they did not come up with whacked out and confusing interpretations. It's like, if I went to another culture and came back and tried to Westernize it for everyone, then someone came who was from that culture and saw what we called "culture X"...they would laugh hysterically, why?, because I'd be trying to pass this off as authentic.

I noticed they just read the scriptures and taught what they said and did what they said. If it was written to have a holy~day on a certain date, they did it, if it said to have a feast on a certain date, they did, and the names they used to refer to these days and feasts were not changed from the original, I mean, what for? Pesach (Passover) is not Easter and the original words for all the Jewish Holy Days were left untranslated until the 1,500's. I noticed to that "Communion" was taught to me by Christians as what happen at "The Last Supper"...ask any Jew and they will tell you that the meal they had was a "Pesach Meal" just like the one in Exodus when the death angel "Pass~over" the houses that had believers inside.
There are 4 full cups of wine, not grape juice in a thimble served.

Anyways, moving along, I found that these MJC really tried to stick hard and fast to just following the scriptures and not making it into something it did not say. Even the names they use for God, Messiah, Jesus, Holy Days, etc...were just left intact. I mean, look at say Cinco~De~Mayo, who runs around calling it "5th of May"...how stupid that would sound. Same thing with changing the names of Hebrew / Jewish named stuff, just leave it alone!!

If you say you think Christianity is flawed and Judaism sounds more realistic and you "really are sincere", then perhaps finding a MJC and attending for a while will get you some more answers. I cannot speak for all of them individually, so you will just have to go if you wish man. 

You said that you found "annihilation" a lot more acceptable than "eternal torment"...I believe in that and I am a Messianic Jew. Cannot say all of them do because maybe some of them have swallowed that belief. I just know what the term "destroy the soul and the body" means in the original language and is not pretty, it means "abolished"...simple.

As far as fear goes...what fear? I have no fear, my scriptures say "PERFECT LOVE CAST OUT ALL FEAR" and it means just what it says.

It also says "fear of God" (honor, respect, reverence, terrified) and the reason why is because if angels terrify the living crap out of men every time they appear, (if you've ever seen one you'd know what I mean) imagine if God showed up the utter terror one would have.

I followed Messiah because He proved His love for me by giving His life for my life. "greater love has no man except that of laying down his life for his friends." Also, because He said "I am the way, the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father except through me."

So after hearing all the other "religions" who said "all roads lead to God / heaven"...I said fine, I will choose the One who said He is the only way, because then, if they all lead to God / heaven and I pick Him, either way I make it and for sure with Him, if in fact He is the only way, then I am in, if He is not, then I am still in because "all ways lead to God / heaven".....you see?

By the way, Messiah is THE ONLY ONE who gave His life as a ransom for many and no body else did. I'll pick the One who died for me over all the others who could not go that far just for a bunch of screwed up humans.

I use to have all kinds of fears, now I have NONE !!!

Shaul

I know you did not read it because your time stamp is the same as mine.

I am glad those who have responded have given honest answers.

I find the original post singed with sarcasm.

Being an atheist myself, I've seen the same ploy pulled with atheists asking christians reasons why they shoud 'convert.' No problem asking and debating beliefs, but the op seemed insincere.


We all have different roads of enlightenment whether Christianity, Hindi, Wicca or Atheism...etc. It's individual, and I don't expect to understand everyone's views, but respect it.

Post rubbed me the wrong way. 'We' aren't all like that.

Yep!

Just for kicks... and To try out the most ridiculous, crazy, backwards, "FOOLISH" sounding religion in the world - People pledging their WHOLE LIVES to this weird 'crutch' like religion - filled with silly backwards believers all happy and stuff??? All calling each other brothers & sisters. All reading their stange little archaic books that are so contradictory & foreign. There they go again, putting their faith in that book - even when they seem to miss the mark - there they go AGAIN! getting back up & trying to make their lives fit on the "narrow" little road... BUT for some reason - "God" only knows why it keeps on growing and prospering in the face of it all??? MUSTA BE SOMEFIN' hidden away - deeply personal - so hidden that many will NEVER find it - except those millions who seek it? Christianity stuff - how insane & ignorant! Hmmmm.....1Corinthians 1:25 and beautiful - you're invited to the party though - invitations always there... (almost forgot - talking to the invisible world??? Christian's - something's up with them???)

Taken from

http://www.realtruth.org/articles/156-tu.html

I challenge any of you to read the above article and find any fault with it.
Below is the summary of their findings:

Universe Analyzer, a software program popular on engineering campuses a few years back, helped in calculating the mathematical probability of an un-designed universe meeting the seven requirements for the existence of life.

This software demonstrated how remote the probabilities were for all of these requirements to be met purely by random chance. One demonstration featured a total of 2,129 separate universe models. These models give a realistic picture of what the chances would be, given various requirements being met by random chance. Below is the list as to how many requirements were met.

Models meeting 1 of the 7 requirements—404

Models meeting 2 of the 7 requirements—8

Models meeting 3 of the 7 requirements—0

Models meeting 4 of the 7 requirements—0

Models meeting 5 of the 7 requirements—0

Models meeting 6 of the 7 requirements—0

Models meeting 7 of the 7 requirements—0

Notice that of the 2,129 separate universe models, only 404 met at least one requirement by random chance. (The only requirements for which the random number generation program were able to qualify were requirements 1, 3, 4 and 7.)

Being a Christian has helped me in my life right now. I feel liberated by the idea that morality is established by a source better than human rather than imposed on us by our equals who only happen to think they're better. I also have a greater sense of wonder and gratitude for all that's around me, a greater awareness of the sacred, and several incentives to be a happier, more grounded, more loving person right now.

I know some self-righteous person might say, "You shouldn't need an incentive." That may very well be the case. I shouldn't need  incentives. Nobody should. But we do every time we need to do the right thing and we just don't feel like it.

Any religion is a matter of faith (belief) and you either believe of you don't. Nobody can force you to believe. It's one of these "if you don't know, I can't tell you" things.  I found William James somewhat useful in that regard.

Yeah, just be like me.  I will go to any church that worships God, I do not really care which one I attend.  Actually I do not attend one on a regular basis.  I have been to Catholic, Baptist and other churches.  I went to a Christian school and I still know nothing.  I just go with whatever I believe in.  I believe in God and that is what matters to me.  I think you should do as you wish too.

@ fairbear

Just wondering if you saw it?
Or did I mis your reply?


http://hubpages.com/forum/post/354267

I can make a case for catholic Christianity on the basis of it's rich and diverse (dare I say entertaining) history and beautiful liturgy and music. Christianity based on the  balance of faith, scripture , reason , and tradition can add something of great value to a person's life. You can understand the secular world from the view point of a very broad church and come up with more reasonble understanding that does not negate the reality of God in the world. You can find your moral imparative to act in a positive way in the world in the lives of the many saints . Somewhere in the vast number of Saints their is one that you can relate too. You can be human in a church to understands humans commit petty sins. You can be a partial sinner and still at the end of the day be an important servant of a Risen ( and not petty) Christ. You can benefit from the spiritual guidance of not just scripture but from the many diverse personalities and practices of the early Church fathers. I could go on , but I hope I make my point .Christianity practiced in it's many more traditonal forms does not have to be stiffling or mean that you have to check your brain somewhere before you enter church. It has nothing to do with the vile evangelical faith of silliness so many Americans practice.

dae stands for

delightful
awesome      and
entertaining


that's my guess

Dear Fairbear . I have been asked this question before by many people. And the real answer is that the root of Christianity is relationship. Not Fear. You see God is Love,he created us to be loved. He had so much Love in him that he created us so that he could love us.If you are a parent you create children so that you can love them and protect them and nurture them. God did the same. And as for the fear part.Hears an example.Lets say that you did something wrong and your parents found out. Wouldnt you be scared that you would get introuble from them. And wouldnt you want to be good so that you wouldnt get punished again. Thats how it is with God. Christianity isnt based on Fear it never was. The bible has been proven time and time again on the events that have taken place in history.I see you asked what can you find in our faith that you dont already have or cant find in another religion. Heres a fact . In every religion you will find Jesus in there teachings. But you will never find the teachings of any other religion in the bible. Because it is the only true book. Even in the Koran you will find Jesus spoken about. So if this man Jesus wasnt real how is he menchened in all different types of religions. Are these religions fake then? But remember no other religions are mentioned in the Bible.Because the bible is the only true book. You can find in our faith. Love,Guidence,Friendship,A father who will love you no matter what,Hope,a Father to whom you can ask for forgiveness a Father you can pray to when life has beaten you up, a Father you can give all your troubles and worries to from financial to sickness. Because all those things are not from God but from the world.And as a parent would you want to see your children suffer or would you do anything in the world to keep them safe. You have shelter in the Lord Fairbear.A catholic woman asked me one day why do you christians pray so much.And i asked her who do you call to when you are worried or fearful or in doubt or in need of an answer. she said God. I told her the only difference between you and me is that i have a relationship with God and i dont only pray when i need something i pray to give thanks to God. Thats where relationship comes into the oicture fairbear.You see i dont pray and then go out to the bar and get drunk. Because thats sort of a kick in the butt to God ya know.Im not gonna say god please help me then go and get drunk. Wheres the commitment to my prayer. I can go on forever. If you want to talk more just hit me back. I hope i answered asome of your questions.And if you already have everything that i just told you. Then maybee you are just fine

Who says there will be fire and brimstone in "the other place?" Hasn't anyone seen the old Twilight Zone, even in reruns, or am I really that old?

Anyway, that the TV show is a work of speculative fiction notwithstanding, it makes a pretty good point in that episode about the dead gangster. He goes to a place where every one of his most cherished earthly desires is fulfilled. The whiskey always goes down smoothly, the cigars are only the best, he always wins at poker, and the girls are all supermodels who worship the ground he walks on.

Problem is, he realizes too late that he doesn't find it fun, so he tells this old guy who's been with him in all this that he doesn't think Heaven is for him. He'd like to try "the other place." The answer he gets is, "Don't you understand? You ARE in 'the other place.'"

The closest pop culture ever got to portraying Heaven as actually vibrant and fun like an eternal party would be would have to have been on the Simpsons. Of course, the fact that it's labeled "Catholic Heaven" and everybody does a bit of Reel Around the Sun from Riverdance is rather beside the point.

Mostly atheists and people secretly searching to justify their own beliefs(or lack of) troll these boards seeking out others who think like them so they can sleep at night.

You don't get a lot of quality Christian views because they don't cast their pearls among swine.  (now you are gonna insult me for calling you swine)

But I give some of you kudos for doing what you do...got to have SOME purpose in this world. 


To the original poster...you have nothing to fear.  Fear is the feeling before the event that you are afraid of...once it happens, fear has no use.

Christianity makes you a better man or women if you embrace the son of God...Jesus Christ...that simple.

I bet Judas was murdered.

Yes, he was sis. You might enjoy reading this book if you can order it, it has the story of this murder and much more http://www.amazon.com/Master-Margarita- … 0679760806

Make Money:

I don't believe that people come back to life after they die and are buried. Some people clinically die and come back to life under a doctor's care--like that movie Flatliners.

But no. Once they are declaired dead and are buried in the ground, they don't come back to life.

"You don't get a lot of quality Christian views because they don't cast their pearls among swine."

I haven't hear that for a long time. Nice though. Very religious to call people swine.
Educated people with an opinion other than yours would be swine I suppose, if you were about 5 year old and neurotic.

Well the Psalms were written at the time of King David, quite a while before Luke wrote Acts.  Like Fairbear says on the previous page "This a 2-millennia-old debate between Christians and Jews."  But consider that Peter, Luke, all the apostles and the first 3,000 Christians from the first Pentecost were all Jews.  It's nice speaking to you again Sandra, it's been a while.  I'm going to break for supper, I'll check back in a while.

Yeah, it mentions pagan and gnostic religions and has nothing good to say about them!!

Please do not take this wrong OK?
I think you might have a bit of a misconception here. And you got it where everyone else does as well.

The entirety of the scriptures is in and of itself Hebrew / Jewish and the Christians do not have a Christian Savior, they have a Jewish Savior and He is the KING OF THE JEWS and even said so Himself. He also said "salvation is of the Jews" and "I have come for the lost sheep of the house of Israel" and many other statements to clarify the fact. Paul was sent to the other nations, Messiah was not.

I have seen you fairbear.....write posts that come off like you think no Jews believe in Jesus (that's not what they call Him though).....may I remind you?.....that all of Messiah's Talmudim (students / disciples / disciplines ones) were Jews, as well as the thousands and thousands who believed on Him while on earth and after He departed. You say that the scriptures can allude to someone other than Jesus? Well not so fast. He Himself pointed out scriptures that He said spoke of Him and in fact He said the entirety of all the Torah and The Prophets spoke of Him. Plus He fulfilled 360 prophecies about Messiah and not another man in history has done that, not even in the same ball park!!!

This is why every single Jew that I know, and I know hundreds personally, that have accepted Jesus as their Messiah, this is why they believe, just the sheer overwhelming amount of them fulfilled by Him.

Listen man, when a Jew confesses Jesus as Messiah, their entire family has a funeral for them and has nothing to do with them ever again. Maybe these believing Jews give it a little thought and research first...Ya Think ???

You can find a lot of them who do not believe and you could find thousands who do, so do not just pass it off as hog-wash please.

If you want to go find your own personally custom tailored messiah, the go ahead, plenty do. Honestly I think no matter what anyone tells you, it remains for you do decide to answer the same question Pilate had to answer.....”what shall I do with this Jesus of Nazareth?”

Alas, you have already made that choice, so why bother everyone with all your questions fairbear ???

A bit of a correction is needed here sir.

The first 3,000 Christians were Jews ?

No sir, they were JEWS, not Christians. Jesus is NOT "King of the Christians"...let's call Him what HE SAID HE IS..."THE KING.....OF.....THE JEWS" and HE did NOT come to start a "new religion" and call it Christianity or HE would have said as much.

Please notice that a JEW is a JEW, not a Christian sir. When a JEW comes to believe in Messiah, he or she does NOT become a "Christian".....they are a JEW still.

They have accepted their Messiah and that does NOT change the fact that they are a JEW. Please understand this!

They are a person who is a JEW who comes to saving faith in Messiah.
When a Greek or Spaniard or Russian becomes a believer, they are simply that, a believer, they do not need to be branded with a "Christian" label or name tag.

Not trying to beat you down about it, this is a fallacy among many.

"I am a believer in Messiah"......is sufficient enough.
And if we just said that, where would that leave you and your denomination?
Or the thousands of other denominations?
Labels are for clothing.

Hey fairbear ..did u get my answer to you yestarday?

atomswifey - I know you do not care for other people at all and have no respect for them - but - would you please stop filling these forums up by copying everything like that?

This is not the first time I have asked you to do this - out of respect for the other users. But - if you do not start being respectful - I will complain to the administrators and do my level best to get you banned from the site.

Thank you.

In reply to the OP. There is no belief system in the world that  makes the claims that Christianity makes. No other religion has a Savior who died for you by taking your place and receiving the punishment you deserve.

There has never been a man debated as much as Jesus has been debated over the years. Even just the fact about debating about Him shows that something is different.

Muhammad did not die for you, Buddha did not die for you, Krishna did not die for you, etc. . .

His love is unconditional, but must be accepted. He loves you regardless of what you believe.


To Atomswifey, many have been trying to get Mark banned from the forums ever since before I came here I am sure. Why let it bother you so much? When someone rejects the truth of the Word of God, they do not reject you, but they reject God Himself. It is best to let God deal with them.

With that kind of a statement, you probably are יְ ה וּ דִ י ם  ‎ Yehudim

Mashiach never said "I have come to remove you from your Jewishness"

Please do..."go on forever"... and expound on your vast understanding.
It's     ((((( NOT )))))     as if your going to blow away mine.



Really Mike?????

The Messiah IS Yeshua Mashiach.....
What else could one mean saying "I am a believer in the Messiah'?
Obviously you think they can mean another messiah right?
That He has not come yet.

Well for your information when someone tells me "I believe in Jesus"
I ask "which one?"

The one the Catholics teach, The Mormons teach, The Protestants teach, The Jehovah's Witnesses teach, The Christians teach, The Baptists teach, The 7th Day Adventist's teach, The Church of Christ teach, The Joel Osteen Jesus, The TBN Jesus, The Bennie Hinn Jesus.....come on Mike, get a grip!!!

Only One Messiah and He is King of The Jews...period!!!

The Romans mocked them in calling them Christians !
That does NOT make a Jew a Christian.




Really????? Is that what they taught you in Catholic school Mike?
Are you going to tell me Messiah spoke in Greek too?

He was King of the Greeks too?

Ever wonder why certain words could not be translated ?

Left alone in the Hebrew right in the NT ? 

Transliterated into English from Hebrew and NOT translated at all Mike ?

Do you know how many Hebrew idioms are in the NT that could never have been written "originally" in Greek?

I suppose you are now going to teach a Jew all of what you know about a Jewish Messiah too?

Give it a rest man.

Oh and which Leviticus Laws where done away with other than the sacrifices?


Well now..........interesting that it is now closed.
To much    going on!!!
With Mark and The Wifey.

Guess y'all beat the dead horse, resurrected it and     
the hell out of it some more!!!