National day of Prayer Sept. 25, 2009?????

[gsvol]

"Islam is a degenerate, psychotic cult, created by a murderous child molester and currently supported and maintained by self-flagellating, illiterate, effeminate cowards."

Truth to power!

The Filth of Islam is what it is and not a religion...it is:

A military and quasi-political movement that camouflages itself as a religion. However, as with Dictatorships, Fascism and Communism or other such command and control systems, a social tool is used to stealthily control the populace.

Americans are deliberately misled regarding this extremist movement disguised as a religion; should be banned on its face due to the primary tenets of hate and violation of codified laws applied to any individual/group behavior which declares and promotes violence, advocates unlawful activity among members and conducts business activities in violation of Civil, Human and Constitutional Rights.

Only the ignorant, sneaks, cheats and liars tolerate or promote the “Filth of Islam.”

Islam cannot and will not allow the US Constitution 1st amendment right to stand if they achieve enough political power in America.

Ben and Sharon Vogelenzang are charged with breaching Section 5 of the Public Order Act – causing harassment, alarm or distress. If convicted, they face fines of £2,500 each and a criminal record.

Our elected officials in Washington DC recently passed the 'pedophile protection act', sneakily inserted into a huge defense bill, and muslims are to be one of the protected groups, Brownbeck proposed an amendment that this law should never infringe on 1st amendment rights but that amendment was defeated.

It is understood that among the topics debated was whether Jesus was a minor prophet, as Islam teaches, or whether he was the Son of God, as Christianity teaches.

Actually Jeremiah Wright who was the Obama family pastor for over thirty years taught that Jesus was merely a prophet and NOT the Son of God.

 

[IBlvNTmWrk]

Just because I am curious...what would constitute proof to you that the claims of the bible are false...ie..what evidence would it take to get you to reject the claims of christianity?

I don't believe this is a question that can be answered, but I would certainly welcome any suggested answers you may have. One of the biggest concerns (for some) is that belief in the Bible and God relies on circular reasoning. In other words, "Is there a God? Yes. How do you know? Because the Bible says so. How do you know the Bible is correct? Because it is the inspired word of God." However, the same reasoning exists for gravity and yet people don't seem to disbelieve in it. "What is gravity? The tendency for objects to be drawn to one another. Why are objects drawn to one another? Because of gravity."

Through recorded history there have always been those who only believe in what they are able to see. It wasn't that long ago (relatively) that most still thought the world was flat. Anyone who suggested otherwise was thought to be an idiot. Or, to bring things forward to the twentieth century, until the Hubble telescope was built most believed there was only one galaxy. The Hubble scope, however, allowed people to see further than they could before so we are now aware of other galaxies.

Belief in God and the Bible is similar, as most archaelogical evidence has actually supported it as opposed to proving it false. However, there is still not a "clear view" and until that time there will be those who choose not to believe.

Perhaps you can answer a question for me... why is it that someone would choose certain death over the possibility of everlasting life?

 

[gsvol]

Check back with us when you're done spouting off your college professors' propaganda and have actually weighed the evidences for yourself. :dry:

:lolabove: lol: lol: lol:

Academia = the last bastion of socialist idealogues in America.

Perhaps it is you that is ignorant... meaning, simply, that you are not aware of the truth. I completely agree with your first statement regarding religion, and if you study the book of Romans you will see that Jesus was also against religion which is what makes Christianity different.

If you examine the meaning of the word 'religion' it comes from 're' (to do again) and 'allegiance'.

So in effect 'religion' is man's effort to find or align himself with God. (or seek divine enlightenment.)

Actually Jesus didn't condemn 'religion', He condemned religioius leaders who perverted God's teachings to mankind. (mostly to suit their own greedy selves.)

Religion has been the cause of many wars and much hatred in the world,

The gospel of Jesus is all about love not hate. Islam is all about hate with little mention of love.

and we (Catholics, Baptists, Methodists, etc.) are the ones who turn Christianity into a religion.

Maybe so, maybe not in all cases.

If there are three kinds of knowledge, ie; empirical, experiential and divine enlightenment, what would be the greatest of the three?

Not everyone knows that Baptists are not a protestant sect of Christianity, their beliefs and teachings came down through the Armenian Church which was never under the rule of the Catholic church, either Roman or Eastern Orthodox.

There still exists an Armenian quarter in Jerusalem.

Christ's desire, based on the book of Romans, was not to create a new religion but to do away with religion.

I'm not sure I agree with that statement. Perhaps you would possibly clarify.

Paul's letter to the Romans does stress that salvation is offered to all people regardless of their nation or tribe.

In other words what God had offered to His chosen people was meant to be all mankind.

I think this is one of the reasons some of the fastest growing and largest churches today are non-denominational.

Like the nondenominational church attended by Barry's mom and grandparents that was more about promoting communist socialism than the study of religious texts or the teachings of Jesus??

Or perhaps the Chicago church attended by the Obamas and pastored by Jeremiah Wright who holds a degree in 'islamic studies', and denies the divine nature of Jesus, lowering Him to level of Muhammad and in doing so denies the basic tenet of Christianity altogether??

 

[IBlvNTmWrk]

:lolabove: lol: lol: lol:

I'm not sure I agree with that statement. Perhaps you would possibly clarify.

Paul's letter to the Romans does stress that salvation is offered to all people regardless of their nation or tribe.

In other words what God had offered to His chosen people was meant to be all mankind.

That is a good example. There is also a verse that says something like "for it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved". Notice it does not say through baptism, tithing, going to church, or religion, but rather your own personal relationship with God. Another verse says "not to copy the conditions of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think." Religions are "of this world", whereas Jesus was in the world but of God.

But more than just bible verses, simply look at the way Jesus lived and what religion and the churches represented at that time (and in some places still represent). For example, in the OT the way to get close to God was to worship in the temple. And only certain priviliged individuals were to enter the "sacred" areas that were even closer to God. The Priests, then and in some cases now, represented the only path to God. They were viewed as high leaders and did not like the fact that Jesus was offering a way to God (for all people) that excluded them. And where did Jesus spend most of his time teaching... in the temples? Of course not. Jesus spent his time among the people... the good and the bad equally... he welcomed everyone. Would you say that is true of religion? If anything, Jesus was anti-religion. What He represents effectively dissoves any need for a complex, mediating, institution with all its priestly/churchly religious symbols, and opens up the relationship to God for anyone who is willing to accept itl.

 

[Oldvol75]

I'll have to think about that one a little while, because it is the complete opposite from the direction I went. I used to think it was fairy tales and inventions from men, but I now believe it is indeed the only true revelation from God. I have also seen the huge benefit and comprehension that has brought into my life and the life of my family, from being a drug user, alcohol abuser, cigarette smoker and pornography addict to having shaken most of those things. There is a harmony in my family life and my life in general that was not there before. So I'm not sure I could ever be convinced that the claims of Christianity should be rejected.

But I also now believe that has nothing to do with me. It is something that God's grace began in my life, and He will preserve it and bring it to completion. (I know, I'm sounding like a terrorist again.... Ha, ha).

JP, thats one powerful testimony brother!

 

[gsvol]

That is a good example. There is also a verse that says something like "for it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved". Notice it does not say through baptism, tithing, going to church, or religion, but rather your own personal relationship with God. Another verse says "not to copy the conditions of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think." Religions are "of this world", whereas Jesus was in the world but of God.

But more than just bible verses, simply look at the way Jesus lived and what religion and the churches represented at that time (and in some places still represent). For example, in the OT the way to get close to God was to worship in the temple. And only certain priviliged individuals were to enter the "sacred" areas that were even closer to God. The Priests, then and in some cases now, represented the only path to God. They were viewed as high leaders and did not like the fact that Jesus was offering a way to God (for all people) that excluded them. And where did Jesus spend most of his time teaching... in the temples? Of course not. Jesus spent his time among the people... the good and the bad equally... he welcomed everyone. Would you say that is true of religion? If anything, Jesus was anti-religion. What He represents effectively dissoves any need for a complex, mediating, institution with all its priestly/churchly religious symbols, and opens up the relationship to God for anyone who is willing to accept itl.

What church doesn't allow any and all to enter??

These topics tend to develope and end up much like this one, you will always here islam and Christianity are both religion, hence they are the same, which is about as far from the truth as human thought is able to take us.

Meanwhile back to the Islamic prayer day in Washington.

Perhaps some, even one, of the muslims will read some of the inscriptions there and be led to renounce islam.

Meanwhile this is one of the things we are allowing to be imported and taught in America.

Many of the tracts in our study are in the voice of a senior authority.

One of them states: "Be dissociated from the infidels, hate them for their religion, leave them, never rely on them for support, do not admire them, and always oppose them in every way according to Islamic law."[4]

The advice of another is emphatic: "There is consensus on this matter, that whoever helps unbelievers against Muslims, regardless of what type of support he lends to them, he is an unbeliever himself."[5]

Another book states that, if relations between Muslims and non-Muslims were harmonious, there would be "no loyalty and enmity, no more jihad and fighting to raise Allah's work on earth."[6]

The books give detailed instructions on how to build a "wall of resentment" between the Muslim and the infidel: Never greet the Christian or Jew first. Never congratulate the infidel on his holiday. Never befriend an infidel unless it is to convert him. Never imitate the infidel. Never work for an infidel. Do not wear a graduation gown because this imitates the infidel.[7] The cover of the book giving this particular set of instructions states: "Greetings from the Cultural Department" of the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Washington, D.C.

This book was published by the government of Saudi Arabia; it bears no publication date and was found in several locations. The other books are textbooks from the Saudi Education Ministry, and collections of fatwas, religious edicts, issued by the government's religious office, or published by other organizations based in Riyadh and monitored or controlled by the government of Saudi Arabia.

Between late 2004 and December 2005, researchers who are themselves Muslim Americans, gathered samples of over 200 such texts -- all from within America and all spread, sponsored or otherwise generated by Saudi Arabia. They demonstrate the ongoing efforts by Saudi Arabia to indoctrinate Muslims in the United States in the hostility and belligerence of Saudi Arabia's hardline Wahhabi sect of Islam.

The documents we analyzed all have some connection to the government of Saudi Arabia.[8] While not all extremist works are Saudi, Saudi Arabia is overwhelmingly the state most responsible for the publications on the ideology of hate in America.

Our findings are consistent with the assessment of the Treasury Department's Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. On July 13, 2005, Treasury Under Secretary Stuart Levey testified before the Senate Banking Committee: "Saudi Arabia-based and funded organizations remain a key source for the promotion of ideologies used by terrorists and violent extremists around the world to justify their hate-filled agenda."

.....................

For example, a book for third-year high school students published by the Saudi Ministry of Education that was collected in Oakland, California, teaches students to prepare for jihad in the sense of war against Islam's enemies, and to strive to attain military self-sufficiency: "To be true Muslims, we must prepare and be ready for jihad in Allah's way. It is the duty of the citizen and the government. The military education is glued to faith and its meaning, and the duty to follow it."[18]

Such seems rather ignorant of us or self-destructive.

I am for tolerance but not tolerance of the intorlerable!!

This is untolerable.

 

[Oldvol75]

As a Baptist pastor I look at things differently. I am a Christian by the Grace of God, I am a Baptist by choice. I see the main problem with the church today is the church itself. I beleive that the church is "ONE" body, and many parts. The body made up of the demoninations itself. If a fellow Christian believes that Jesus Christ IS the Son of God, that He was born of a virgin, that He was cruicified, dead and buried, that He arose on the third day, that believes in his heart and accepts Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour and is Baptised, then we are Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus.

Man puts too much power into their individual denominations. To me this is the same things that the saducees and pharisees did, They were more worried about "the Law" than their own relationship with God.

I stress in my church that there is one purpose and one purpose only in attending church and that is to bring praise and worship to God the Father, the Son, and Holy Ghost. If you come for anyother purpose, then you might as well not come.

If you come worried about who wears what, what committee someone is on,because of who the preacher is,etc... then who haven't come to church for the right reason.

The church would be so much more powerful today if all churches came together instead of arguing over who;s right and who is wrong.

Don't get me wrong, as has been stated in earlier threads, there are "churches" that claim the title of Christian, that are as far away from Christianity as you can get.

If one is trully looking for a church, look for one that preaches the Bible and doesn't try and tickle the peoples ears with things they want to hear.

FWIW, there are "lost" people in church. Not all that say "Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven".

 

[Oldvol75]

[ I find it very hard to believe that there wasn't a Hand involved. Or to look at it another way, those who don't believe in a Creator are left with the strong academic theory of "sh!t happens" as that is what there basic belief boils down to.

I must admit, that is the best description of Creationism verses Evolution I have ever heard! As much though as I would love to use that one in Church one day, I can't!ost-4-1090547912:ost-4-1090547912:

But somewhere in the back of my mind, I will remember it and smile one morning and they won't have a clue as to why!! Thanks!!!!!

 

[IBlvNTmWrk]

As a Baptist pastor I look at things differently. I am a Christian by the Grace of God, I am a Baptist by choice. I see the main problem with the church today is the church itself. I beleive that the church is "ONE" body, and many parts. The body made up of the demoninations itself.

OV75 - Perhaps one of the more ironic "typo's" I've ever seen? I was trying to follow your logic and all I could come up with was that your reference to "body" was the human body and that we are all born of sin (i.e. demons). Didn't really want to go there, but that was the only way I could put it all together... had to read it a few times before it occurred to me it was a typo. Anyway, I agree with your post and I'm sure would enjoy your church.

[ I find it very hard to believe that there wasn't a Hand involved. Or to look at it another way, those who don't believe in a Creator are left with the strong academic theory of "sh!t happens" as that is what there basic belief boils down to.

I must admit, that is the best description of Creationism verses Evolution I have ever heard! As much though as I would love to use that one in Church one day, I can't!ost-4-1090547912:ost-4-1090547912:

But somewhere in the back of my mind, I will remember it and smile one morning and they won't have a clue as to why!! Thanks!!!!!

Too funny. Just change the phrase to "stuff happens" and the odds are most of your congregation will make the correlation.

 

[7thgroupvolfan]

speaking of prayers.....let rybroles know your praying for his kid....thank you.

under the thread pray for my kid

 

[gsvol]

As a Baptist pastor I look at things differently. I am a Christian by the Grace of God, I am a Baptist by choice. I see the main problem with the church today is the church itself. I beleive that the church is "ONE" body, and many parts. The body made up of the demoninations itself. If a fellow Christian believes that Jesus Christ IS the Son of God, that He was born of a virgin, that He was cruicified, dead and buried, that He arose on the third day, that believes in his heart and accepts Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour and is Baptised, then we are Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus.

Man puts too much power into their individual denominations. To me this is the same things that the saducees and pharisees did, They were more worried about "the Law" than their own relationship with God.

I stress in my church that there is one purpose and one purpose only in attending church and that is to bring praise and worship to God the Father, the Son, and Holy Ghost. If you come for anyother purpose, then you might as well not come.

If you come worried about who wears what, what committee someone is on,because of who the preacher is,etc... then who haven't come to church for the right reason.

The church would be so much more powerful today if all churches came together instead of arguing over who;s right and who is wrong.

Don't get me wrong, as has been stated in earlier threads, there are "churches" that claim the title of Christian, that are as far away from Christianity as you can get.

If one is trully looking for a church, look for one that preaches the Bible and doesn't try and tickle the peoples ears with things they want to hear.

FWIW, there are "lost" people in church. Not all that say "Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven".

Not much any Christian could disagree with in your statement.

Have you ever read; "He walked the Americas?"

Jesus said;
"It is not God's will that any man be destroyed."

OTOH He also said;
"Nowhere is it written that a man must be saved."

As for the different denominations, once Peter asked Jesus about others he did not know who were going about baptising in the name of Jesus and Jesus instructed Peter to mind his own business, saying; "if they be for us, they are not against us."

I see the main problem with the church today as having no answer against the advance of militant islam, ignorance even of what islam stands for.

speaking of prayers.....let rybroles know your praying for his kid....thank you.

under the thread pray for my kid

I just did but I missed that thread, what board is in on?

 

[rjd970]

I don't believe this is a question that can be answered, but I would certainly welcome any suggested answers you may have. One of the biggest concerns (for some) is that belief in the Bible and God relies on circular reasoning. In other words, "Is there a God? Yes. How do you know? Because the Bible says so. How do you know the Bible is correct? Because it is the inspired word of God." However, the same reasoning exists for gravity and yet people don't seem to disbelieve in it. "What is gravity? The tendency for objects to be drawn to one another. Why are objects drawn to one another? Because of gravity."

Through recorded history there have always been those who only believe in what they are able to see. It wasn't that long ago (relatively) that most still thought the world was flat. Anyone who suggested otherwise was thought to be an idiot. Or, to bring things forward to the twentieth century, until the Hubble telescope was built most believed there was only one galaxy. The Hubble scope, however, allowed people to see further than they could before so we are now aware of other galaxies.

Belief in God and the Bible is similar, as most archaelogical evidence has actually supported it as opposed to proving it false. However, there is still not a "clear view" and until that time there will be those who choose not to believe.

Perhaps you can answer a question for me... why is it that someone would choose certain death over the possibility of everlasting life?

I think the first sentence says a lot about why you believe the way you do. Me, on the otherhand, I can give any number of things that would convert me to Christianity right now. It's about weighing the evidence and being open to being mistaken, or at least knowing what it would take to be wrong. And Gravity isn't circular logic, FWIW. "What is gravity? The tendency for objects to be drawn to one another. Why are objects drawn to one another? We don't exactly know, but there are a number of theories of what we think is happening." Maybe it's hard to understand for some, but the strength of science is that absolutes are rare and it is continually changing, with faith absolutes seem to be in abundance.

What archeological evidence is there that God exists and everything in the Bible is correct? Just wandering.

As far as your last question, I don't need comfort that this isn't all there is.

 

[OrangeEmpire]

I think the first sentence says a lot about why you believe the way you do. Me, on the otherhand, I can give any number of things that would convert me to Christianity right now. It's about weighing the evidence and being open to being mistaken, or at least knowing what it would take to be wrong. And Gravity isn't circular logic, FWIW. "What is gravity? The tendency for objects to be drawn to one another. Why are objects drawn to one another? We don't exactly know, but there are a number of theories of what we think is happening." Maybe it's hard to understand for some, but the strength of science is that absolutes are rare and it is continually changing, with faith absolutes seem to be in abundance.

What archeological evidence is there that God exists and everything in the Bible is correct? Just wandering.

As far as your last question, I don't need comfort that this isn't all there is.

This is my biggest problem with how our culture has bastardized the bible for their own personal gain and ventures.

Faith/bible.... whatever you want to call it is continaully changing.

 

[Oldvol75]

I think the first sentence says a lot about why you believe the way you do. Me, on the otherhand, I can give any number of things that would convert me to Christianity right now. It's about weighing the evidence and being open to being mistaken, or at least knowing what it would take to be wrong. And Gravity isn't circular logic, FWIW. "What is gravity? The tendency for objects to be drawn to one another. Why are objects drawn to one another? We don't exactly know, but there are a number of theories of what we think is happening." Maybe it's hard to understand for some, but the strength of science is that absolutes are rare and it is continually changing, with faith absolutes seem to be in abundance.

What archeological evidence is there that God exists and everything in the Bible is correct? Just wandering.

As far as your last question, I don't need comfort that this isn't all there is.

rjd, just from reading your posts, you seem to be trying to figure out things with your mind. Thats not how Faith works. "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Romans 10:10. Just something to consider.

 

[utvolpj]

rjd, just from reading your posts, you seem to be trying to figure out things with your mind. Thats not how Faith works.

of course it doesn't work that way. If it had any basis in reality it wouldn't be called faith, it would be called fact.

 

[rjd970]

of course it doesn't work that way. If it had any basis in reality it wouldn't be called faith, it would be called fact.

Thank you. Faith is one thing, a belief based on some factual evidence and open to change in the future is another.

 

[gsvol]

This is my biggest problem with how our culture has bastardized the bible for their own personal gain and ventures.

Faith/bible.... whatever you want to call it is continaully changing.

The same way newsweak and other like minded ones in our culture have bastardized jounalism??

Malachi 3:6
"I am the Lord, I change not.......

Proverbs 24:21
"My son, fear thou the Lord and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change."

Do you have any sort of opinion at all about the muslim day of prayer in Washington scheduled for day after tomorrow??

Do you think Barry will acknowledge and sanction it or lay low somewhere else??

rjd, just from reading your posts, you seem to be trying to figure out things with your mind. Thats not how Faith works. "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Romans 10:10. Just something to consider.

A funny typo by rj...."I'm just wandering."

A simple humble prayer could be the answer; "Lord reveal your presence unto me."

If nothing happens, no harm no foul.

If something does, a whole life may be transformed and a lost soul recovered.

 

[JZVOL]

of course it doesn't work that way. If it had any basis in reality it wouldn't be called faith, it would be called fact.

That's what is weird to me about people who have issues with the faith required to be a Christian.

You and I use faith every single day and don't think a thing a about, yet when it (faith) is used in the Christian context is it some silly thing.

You put your faith in a mechanic to fix your car even though you're not totally sure what is wrong with your car, you've never met the mechanic, you don't know his education level, you put your faith in him to find the problem and fix it even though you never see him do the work, you pay and they tell you it is fixed.

There are a million different things you have faith in every day, a bridge not collapsing, water from a bottle being safe to drink, a doctor telling me to take a pill I've never heard of to fix a problem I've never heard of and all of these things happen in reality.

 

[utvolpj]

That's what is weird to me about people who have issues with the faith required to be a Christian.

You and I use faith every single day and don't think a thing a about, yet when it (faith) is used in the Christian context is it some silly thing.

You put your faith in a mechanic to fix your car even though you're not totally sure what is wrong with your car, you've never met the mechanic, you don't know his education level, you put your faith in him to find the problem and fix it even though you never see him do the work, you pay and they tell you it is fixed.

There are a million different things you have faith in every day, a bridge not collapsing, water from a bottle being safe to drink, a doctor telling me to take a pill I've never heard of to fix a problem I've never heard of and all of these things happen in reality.

all those things are based on reality. You may say faith but I see that the mechanic is certified by the car manuf., the Dr went to med school and learned how to diagnose problems, the engineer that designed the bridge didn't draw it up on a cocktail napkin, etc. That's "faith" based on reality and fact. Two different ideas.

 

[JZVOL]

Thank you. Faith is one thing, a belief based on some factual evidence and open to change in the future is another.

To me that's being weak-minded.

If the evidence changes in ten or fifty years and is proven wrong then it wasn't factual evidence to begin with. You would be basing your belief on someone's incorrect research.

 

[utvolpj]

To me that's being weak-minded.

and to many people it's weak-minded to say "well, I don't understand it fully so there must be a guy in the sky pulling strings to make it happen."

If the evidence changes in ten or fifty years and is proven wrong then it wasn't factual evidence to begin with. You would be basing your belief on someone's incorrect research.

which Christians have absolutely no issue doing either

 

[JZVOL]

all those things are based on reality. You may say faith but I see that the mechanic is certified by the car manuf., the Dr went to med school and learned how to diagnose problems, the engineer that designed the bridge didn't draw it up on a cocktail napkin, etc. That's "faith" based on reality and fact. Two different ideas.

And my pastor went to school and then went to seminary and is a doctor and learned how to diagnose problems of the heart and spirit.

So no doctor has every made the wrong diagnoses, no mechanic has ever screwed anyone over and bridges have never collapsed? That's reality as well.
Yet even though these mistakes have been made you put your faith in them that they are being truthful and 100% accurate with you because they tell you so.

 

[rjd970]

That's what is weird to me about people who have issues with the faith required to be a Christian.

You and I use faith every single day and don't think a thing a about, yet when it (faith) is used in the Christian context is it some silly thing.

You put your faith in a mechanic to fix your car even though you're not totally sure what is wrong with your car, you've never met the mechanic, you don't know his education level, you put your faith in him to find the problem and fix it even though you never see him do the work, you pay and they tell you it is fixed.

There are a million different things you have faith in every day, a bridge not collapsing, water from a bottle being safe to drink, a doctor telling me to take a pill I've never heard of to fix a problem I've never heard of and all of these things happen in reality.

It's faith required for any religious belief. Why don't you find the claims of Islam compelling? I would bet for many of the same reasons I don't. So why suspend that skepticism for Christianity?

There plenty of good reasons to trust a doctor, mechanic, or engineer building a bridge. You know they have the required education and training to perform these tasks. If your car isn't fixed, your illness doesn't get better, or the bridge collapses, then you have even better reasons for not having "faith" in them. You don't need the same kind of faith you have in Christianity in order to believe a mechanic will fix your car.

 

[JZVOL]

and to many people it's weak-minded to say "well, I don't understand it fully so there must be a guy in the sky pulling strings to make it happen."



which Christians have absolutely no issue doing either

So you are assuming anyone who believes in God does so because we don't fully understand something?

There is only one faith based idea or fact if you will in Christianity and that is that Jesus is the Son of God and died on a cross to save us.

When has that changed?

 

[utvolpj]

And my pastor went to school and then went to seminary and is a doctor and learned how to diagnose problems of the heart and spirit.

that's great but the bible isn't a textbook. It's a book written by man that's loosely based on history