I was raised as a Christian and attended Church of England schools, I was a regular at Sunday school in my youth and enjoyed being a part of that.
My journey into none belief started when I stopped listening to what I was told, and read the Bible from front to back.
The old testament is very unpleasant in parts and it got me thinking about God's morality....
The new testament although less offensive still rang alarm bells, I found it to be contradictory.
I struggled with the concept of sacrifice being the only way that God could forgive.
Talking to (some) Christians makes my none belief stronger.
My thoughts on the video...
Although I have to admit that laws of mathematics are definitely not man made, it doesn't lead me to automatically think that the God of Christianity is responsible for them.
I think that I've already said on this forum that there could well be a creative force that is/was responsible for them, that's fine by me...
The problem's arise when people give the creative force or God or whatever you want to call it a personality. They claim to know God and his/her/it's likes and dislikes, it's plans for us etc.
Outside of the Bible I find no evidence for the Christian God and that's concerning considering he supposedly wants a relationship with me.
Hi Mancunian,
I too was wanting to converse with you. As I recall, I as a Christian could not partake in some other thread.
Life in this world is very strange to say the least, and the fact that we are born into it with only hearsay to go by, does indeed present its own problems. Sometimes especially the religious hearsay.
I have a place to start that I like to refer to, if it helps:
Imagine that we are all born into a large building or room and no one has ever been outside or seen what is outside. Imagine that in the large room are different people, some born leaders, some followers, some scientists, some learned, some philosophers, some teachers, some mere workers, and many more. Some with big ideas of what is outside beyond the big room--none of whom have ever been or seen outside.
How then would anyone actually know anything about what is outside? Sure...scientists, the learned, and philosophers could speculate and even extrapolate based on their great knowledge of what was inside. But none of them would actually know. How then would any actual knowledge of what is outside ever come to be "known" inside?
The only way...is if the knowledge were to come in from the outside.
And that--is what the Bible includes. Yes, there is a bunch of infighting (within), but there is a reason. Imagine, or suppose someone popped up and claimed-- "I have heard from the outside...and it is this, this, and this. I tell you the truth!" Can you imagine a fight breaking out? I sure can--in fact there are a bunch of those fights right here on Christianity Board!
But I couldn't imagine any of that...unless it happened to me--and it did. Like many in the history of the world, God has actually opened up a view to what is outside--beyond all that we can otherwise know--and we to whom He has, are witnesses. And the Bible is a collection of such witnesses down through the ages.
What about everyone else? Well, not knowing is a test, a way of dividing good from evil amongst the overall mix. It's simply a choice and which we gravitate to. That's it! And then, yes, there is a bunch of information to be learned and understood. But you gotta know, if any of that is true...the answers are not just given out to those leaning the wrong way. That should make sense.
Anyway, I really didn't want to butt into Wrangler's conversation with you. So, let me know it you want to talk further. I am sure if you quote and comment or have questions of others, Wrangler will not object, but may have his own things to say and chime in.
All the best to you!
