Misconceptions about Christianity

[Burninglight]

1. Christianity is based on blind faith. Christianity is not based on blind faith, but rather faith based on evidence. Blind faith is superstition. Christianity is overwhelmingly supported by reason, evidence, and scientific inquiry. http://www.faithfacts.org/search-for-tr ... christians.

2. We get to heaven based on how good we are here on earth. This is not true we are saved by grace through faith it is not of ourselves; it is the gift of God.

3. Once we become a Christian, being saved by God’s gift of grace, it does not matter what we do
This is not true. God is not mocked. Whatever a man sows, so shall he reap.

4. There are many ways to heaven, many paths to God. Because man is separated from God by his sin, the penalty for our sin had to be paid somehow for justice to be done. Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our sins. Thus Christ is thus the only name under heaven by which man may be saved (Acts 4:12). http://www.faithfacts.org/search-for-tr ... s-the-same.

5. It doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you are sincere. This is a nice idea, but does not hold up to logic. Christianity is so radically different from other belief systems that if Christianity is true, the others are false. One can be sincere and be sincerely wrong. Sincere belief in a cult, in a false religion, in atheism, or in the tooth fairy do not get one to heaven.
http://www.faithfacts.org/world-religio ... ristianity.

6. The New Testament was written long after the events took place and are thus subject to legends being inserted into the text. The New Testament was written entirely by eye witnesses to the life of Christ or by interviewers of eyewitnesses. Many of the books were written within 25 or so years of Christ’s death, and many scholars—both liberal and conservative—are moving toward the view that all of the books of the New Testament were written prior to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 AD. The one book for which some doubt remains is Revelation. But recent scholarship holds that even this book was written prior to 70 AD. This is the view that liberal scholar John A. T. Robinson presents in his book Redating the New Testament. This is also the view that conservative scholar Kenneth Gentry presents in his book Before Jerusalem Fell. So there was not enough time for the stories to have been developed into legend. Further, as professor of Medieval and Renaissance English, C. S. Lewis said, “Another point is that on that view you would have to regard the accounts of the Man [Jesus] as being legends. Now, as a literary historian, I am perfectly convinced that whatever else the Gospels are they are not legends. I have read a great deal of legend and I am quite clear that they are not the same sort of thing.� (quote from Lewis’ “God in the Dock.�)

7. The Bible has been changed or is otherwise not true to the original manuscripts. The original manuscripts—that is, the actual pieces of parchment or papyrus upon which St. Paul and others wrote the Bible—are no longer extant. But, especially as regards to the New Testament there has been an unbroken chain of manuscripts from the originals. There are thousands of ancient manuscripts extant, including ones from the first and second centuries. Scholars have been able to correlate the manuscripts to know that the Bible we have today is faithful to the originals. See http://www.faithfacts.org/search-for-truth/maps. A good book on this issue is The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable? by F. F. Bruce. Regarding the Old Testament, the Dead Sea Scrolls, first discovered in 1947 were from the time of Christ and even to the 2nd century BC. These manuscripts predate the previously oldest known manuscripts by a thousand years. Comparisons of these texts with the others already in existence showed that they were essentially identical. This information confirms how carefully the texts were copied over the centuries and has given scholars tremendous confidence in the accuracy of the Old Testament we have today.

[A Troubled Man]

Doesn't the Episcopalian church believe in Hell and Satan? Is it not in their doctrine?

I know this confusing to outsiders, but the Episcopalian church is very open as far as what individual members believe. Its congregations are becoming increasingly progressive. There are still members (especially among seniors) who hold to more traditional beliefs.

"We uphold the Bible and worship with the Book of Common Prayer."

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/page/i-am-episcopalian

"The Episcopal Church takes reading the Bible very seriously."

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/page/bible

[kayky]

"We uphold the Bible and worship with the Book of Common Prayer."

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/page/i-am-episcopalian

"The Episcopal Church takes reading the Bible very seriously."

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/page/bible

Umm. Yeeeah. If you want to find out what the thinking is in actual Episcopalian churches, look into the work of Episcopalian Bishop John Shelby Spong. It will probably be a while before these ideas make it to the official webpage.

[Burninglight]

The Anglican church is progressively becoming more and more worldly. The Bible states in the last days people will fall away from sound Biblical doctrine.

[kayky]

The Anglican church is progressively becoming more and more worldly. The Bible states in the last days people will fall away from sound Biblical doctrine.

Not more worldly. We're just putting into practice what Jesus actually taught instead of remaining just another form of pharaseeism, which Jesus despised.

I think Jesus would be very upset by what became of Christianity after his death, with its emphasis on holding the correct beliefs. I don't think I ever saw true Christianity in practice until I joined the Episcopalian church.

You see, I was raised a fundamentalist just like you. It is a form of bondage and intellectual suicide. I thank God every day that I escaped it.

[Burninglight]

The Anglican church is progressively becoming more and more worldly. The Bible states in the last days people will fall away from sound Biblical doctrine.

Not more worldly. We're just putting into practice what Jesus actually taught instead of remaining just another form of pharaseeism, which Jesus despised.

I think Jesus would be very upset by what became of Christianity after his death, with its emphasis on holding the correct beliefs. I don't think I ever saw true Christianity in practice until I joined the Episcopalian church.

You see, I was raised a fundamentalist just like you. It is a form of bondage and intellectual suicide. I thank God every day that I escaped it.

Okay, then its becoming more secular. IHMO, progressive Christianity is Satan's subtle deception; for instance, what was sin in Sodom and Gomorrah is still sin today. God doesn't change about stuff like that.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. There is never a time when sin is no longer sin. I understand that there are men and women with homosexual tendencies through no fault of their own. I don't blame them for that and neither does God.

The Bible states that God's grace is sufficient for us, and that God will not allow us to be tempted above what we are able to bear, but will with the temptation make a way of escape so that we might be able to bear it - not scum to it. There is no hole we can fall into that is deeper than His love. We can't stop the birds from flying over our heads, but with God's grace, we can certainly keep them from laying a nest on it.

I respect your power to choose, and I believe most people will agree with your progressive view and interpretation of Scripture or excuse you, because in justifying or excusing your view, they are justifying what they feel comfortable with, but I always ask myself will God excuse me. IMO, many people want Jesus & God on their terms. But God wants us to come to Him on His terms, and that doesn't change. What I say here has nothing to do with Pharisaism.

Jesus made most people feel uncomfortable with their way of life! Present you bodies a living sacrafice holy and acceptable unto God which is your spiritual worship and reasonable service! Make no provision for the flesh!

[A Troubled Man]

Umm. Yeeeah. If you want to find out what the thinking is in actual Episcopalian churches, look into the work of Episcopalian Bishop John Shelby Spong. It will probably be a while before these ideas make it to the official webpage.

I see, you follow one radical Bishop's twelve point proposal for completely reforming Christianity to the point of literally changing it entirely to mean something completely different than what it is today, much of it going against the Episcopalian beliefs.

Interesting. I don't think his ideas will make it to that website anytime soon.

[kayky]

Okay, then its becoming more secular. IHMO, progressive Christianity is Satan's subtle deception; for instance, what was sin in Sodom and Gomorrah is still sin today. God doesn't change about stuff like that.

It's not the least bit secular. We worship God and follow the teachings of Jesus. We do not condone sin. But we have freed ourselves from belief in mythological creatures like Satan.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. There is never a time when sin is no longer sin. I understand that there are men and women with homosexual tendencies through no fault of their own. I don't blame them for that and neither does God.

Oh, I see. It's the gay thing. Are you aware that Jesus never spoke a single word against homosexuality? You seem to understand that homosexuality is an inborn trait that cannot be overcome. So how can simply being yourself be a sin? If God does not condemn these people, neither should you.

The Bible states that God's grace is sufficient for us, and that God will not allow us to be tempted above what we are able to bear, but will with the temptation make a way of escape so that we might be able to bear it - not scum to it. There is no hole we can fall into that is deeper than His love. We can't stop the birds from flying over our heads, but with God's grace, we can certainly keep them from laying a nest on it.

I don't disagree with anything you are saying here. But surely you know that sexual orientation is not a temptation or a choice.

I respect your power to choose, and I believe most people will agree with your progressive view and interpretation of Scripture or excuse you, because in justifying or excusing your view, they are justifying what they feel comfortable with, but I always ask myself will God excuse me. IMO, many people want Jesus & God on their terms. But God wants us to come to Him on His terms, and that doesn't change. What I say here has nothing to do with Pharisaism.

I'm not interested in approaching God on my own terms. I'm interested in the truth. Jesus despised rigid dogmatism no matter what label you put on it.

Jesus made most people feel uncomfortable with their way of life! Present you bodies a living sacrafice holy and acceptable unto God which is your spiritual worship and reasonable service! Make no provision for the flesh!

I'm perfectly comfortable with my life. You do realize that I am heterosexual, right? I didn't become an Episcopalian because of my sexual orientation, but I do agree with their loving acceptance of gays and gay couples. It's what Jesus would do.

[kayky]

I see, you follow one radical Bishop's twelve point proposal for completely reforming Christianity to the point of literally changing it entirely to mean something completely different than what it is today, much of it going against the Episcopalian beliefs.

I think what Christianity is today in most circles would make Jesus roll over in his empty tomb. Radical or not, Spong and others like him have had a strong influence on many Episcopalians. He is at one end of the spectrum with a minority group of traditional believers at the other end. Most Episcopalians fall somewhere in between. It leads to lively discussions in Sunday school.

Interesting. I don't think his ideas will make it to that website anytime soon.

Well, we mustn't scare people away right off the bat.

[Ankhhape]

[quote="kaykyIt's not the least bit secular. We worship God and follow the teachings of Jesus. We do not condone sin. But we have freed ourselves from belief in mythological creatures like Satan.

Did it ever occur to you that god is also a mythical creature?

[kayky]

]Did it ever occur to you that god is also a mythical creature?

I don't think God is a "creature" at all. By the way, I tried on atheism some decades ago and walked around in it for a while. It didn't fit. Aren't you the "Magick" guy?