There are a couple of things that have been mentioned in the creation thread (and also, things that i have heard before in quite a few places) that i think need to be cleared up. I am sure that many of you are aware of this, or do not care. I am also sure that there are some people that need to learn some more before they argue about Christianity.

One thing is that many seem to think (and i can see how they get that impression) that Christianity is a religion based on deeds; ie, following all the rules of the bible so you are good enough to get into heaven. This is what every other religion i have studied is based on, but is not what Christianity is based on. Christianity is the belief that Jesus Christ is the son of God, and believing in him is solely sufficient to have eternal life in heaven.

This of course brings up the question 'Then why do good things if you are a christian'. The answer to this is that if you truly believe in God, you will love him, and wanting to do good things will stem from this. A simple example is that if you really love your wife, you would not treat her badly every day, but instead work to please her and make her happy.

The other thing is that many people condemn christianity and christians for the laws of the old testament. By this i mean the arguement of 'You can't believe in some of the bible and not all of it'.

The old testament is the law before Jesus Christ.

God cannot be near sin. This means that for a person to be with God they must be completely without sin. This is why the old testament has many laws or whatever about animal sacrifice. The sacrifice pays for the sins, and thus the individual can be in the presence of God. Jesus Christ dying on the cross was a sacrifice for the sins of everyone, making these laws obsolete.

The arguement that can then be brought up following this is that there is no reason to, now, follow the ten commandments as a christian. This is not the case, because while Jesus essentially rewrote the laws of how we should live, he completely covered for all 10 commandments with 2 laws: Love your neighbour as yourself, and love the Lord your God with all you heart, soul and mind.

Ultimately, if you actually read the bible, this stuff is pretty clear. Also I would be happy to try and explain anything else like this if anyone is actually interested. I do not want to, however, argue about whether or not God is real. This thread isn't intended be any sort of Christianity V Athesiam debate, nor am I attacking anyone.

Thanny, buddy... I think it's cool that you wrote this, but I think you are being a bit naive. I know why you made this thread and I found it to be a great read. But, buddy, you are posting on a gaming forum. If I were to go into a thread about the PS3, lied that I had one then went on to explain how it was a horrible system and what was wrong with it. What would I be called?

That it's true.

Lol this seems like the wrong website for this kind of disscussion even if it is in the off-topic section. I agree with everything you said except that whole you go to heaven thing. other than that you really know your stuff.

This is only one view of Christianity, however. What you've stated is a Lutheran viewpoint (to a dgree, i could be generalizing), while the Catholics always did put more emphasis on works, and the Calvinists threw all of that junk out the window in favor of predestination, and the modern-day fundamentalists who will cleave to all the little fragments of old testament Christianity that they very well please.

Frankly, speaking for "Christianity" as a block anymore is itself erroneous.

I approve this thread.

However, you must prepare for the ultimate flaming if my VGChartz history is correct....

*hands over flame shield*

The Message of the Bible does not change how the Bible or the Message is delivered. Then theres the language of th period the Bible was written in. Some of the passages are written pre Jesus and are very valid in regards to Old Testament. The King George Bible was put together and translated well after Jesus passing.

Then theres the question to take the text as literal, figurative or metaphorical. Let alone the language used is different then as it is now. The word "virgin" has a different meaning now than back then. Back then it meant young and had nothing to do with "cherries" where as now it means well un popped. Heavan forbid trying to get anyone to use the language of the time to the delivery of the message today.

I firmly believe that the Message of God/Bible is valid and important. The delivery is to be questioned. The fact alone that there are a large number of views on the same Bible can attest that even the followers the Christians can't agree as to how the Message is to be delivered.

A great man once said. "I came to the conclusion long ago … that all religions were true and also that all had some error in them, and whilst I hold by my own, I should hold others as dear as Hinduism. So we can only pray, if we are Hindus, not that a Christian should become a Hindu … But our innermost prayer should be a Hindu should be a better Hindu, a Muslim a better Muslim, a Christian a better Christian."

"It is the duty of every cultured man or woman to read sympathetically the scriptures of the world. If we are to respect others' religions as we would have them respect our own, a friendly study of the world's religions is a sacred duty."
-Mahatma Gandhi

Anyways it's always good to hear attempts to clear some misconceptions. It's the internet ignorance is common place in a world of information.

I thought the most common misconception was erm something along the lines of 'im right and you're wrong' in interpretting the book.

In the Old Testament, God told the Israelites to rape and kill children after they conquered their city.  Not quite the 'God cannot be near sin' idea that you state.

fairy tales I tell you,fairy tales. leaves thread. lol