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The vast majority of Christians don't believe the stuff. They only pretend to believe because they don't want to be alienated from their community. They likely grew up as Christians and so most of their long-lasting relations are with other Christians. Better to just go with the status quo.
I don't "know" because I just don't have a clue about what "truth" is being questioned. Are we questioning the existence of God? The Holy Trinity? Whether there is Heaven and/or Hell? I'm lost.
It is probably based on personal interviews conducted by the OP with the vast majority of Christians.
Of course "vast" is a non specific collective adjective, so it would be helpful if the OP could provide us with the precise percentage at which the interviewed Christians confessing to the social only motive, become "vast."
Does anyone know? Which is the larger majority?
Vast majority
Overwhelming majority
Huge majority
The vast majority of Christians don't believe the stuff. They only pretend to believe because they don't want to be alienated from their community. They likely grew up as Christians and so most of their long-lasting relations are with other Christians. Better to just go with the status quo.
I must have been an exception. I firmly believed with all my being when I was a Christian. I had no doubts that the bible was the absolute truth and My faith in Christianity was saving me from Hellfire.
Never dreamed that one day I would leave Christianity.
Although during my last 3 years, as a Christian, I did continue "practicing" Christianity because of family. Friends, peer pressure and fear.
The vast majority of Christians don't believe the stuff. They only pretend to believe because they don't want to be alienated from their community. They likely grew up as Christians and so most of their long-lasting relations are with other Christians. Better to just go with the status quo.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike930
Moderator cut: Orphaned
Quote:
Originally Posted by AnywhereElse
I don't "know" because I just don't have a clue about what "truth" is being questioned. Are we questioning the existence of God? The Holy Trinity? Whether there is Heaven and/or Hell? I'm lost.
I don't "know" because I just don't have a clue about what "truth" is being questioned. Are we questioning the existence of God? The Holy Trinity? Whether there is Heaven and/or Hell? I'm lost.
That's a shame you believe in the trinity it contradicts Jesus,Paul,John--who all are in agreement--Jesus has a God, his Father-Jehovah. John 20:17, Rev 3:12---2Cor 1:3,,1Cor 8:6,,1Cor 15:24-28----Rev 1:6
Deuteronomy 32:4--ALL of Gods ways are justice--- God has perfect justice scales--an eye for an eye---This makes an eternal place of suffering a non true teaching--symbolism for( the value of) what those would be missing out on forever in Gods kingdom.
Jesus clearly taught-- Enter through the narrow gate, for cramped is the road that leads off into life( eternal)FEW will find it. For broad and spacious the path that leads to destruction( eternal), many have entered this way.
There is a heaven.
The truth most christian won't admit is Paul the distraction.
Several things Paul taught, Jesus did not, and, vise versa.
An honest study of the two will reveal enough of a conflict.
Paul introduced Grace , by his definition God's compromising with sin .
I assure you God does not compromise with sin .
Nor did Jesus ever use the word grace, nor imply it by Paul's definition.
We are not saved by grace, but by obedience , obeying Jesus to start with, and the Holy Spirit Jesus designated to fallow through.
It is a contradiction to say works don't matter, when Jesus plainly stated they do.
Not noble works Paul taught, but the response of obedience The Holy spirit instructs person to person.
Bottom line Jesus is judge, Matthew 7;21,22,23, not Paul or any other man for that matter.
Whom will Jesus say you were serving?
The truth most christian won't admit is Paul the distraction.
Several things Paul taught, Jesus did not, and, vise versa.
An honest study of the two will reveal enough of a conflict.
Paul introduced Grace , by his definition God's compromising with sin .
I assure you God does not compromise with sin .
Nor did Jesus ever use the word grace, nor imply it by Paul's definition.
We are not saved by grace, but by obedience , obeying Jesus to start with, and the Holy Spirit Jesus designated to fallow through.
It is a contradiction to say works don't matter, when Jesus plainly stated they do.
Not noble works Paul taught, but the response of obedience The Holy spirit instructs person to person.
Bottom line Jesus is judge, Matthew 7;21,22,23, not Paul or any other man for that matter.
Whom will Jesus say you were serving?
This exhibits a great lack of understanding about the old and new covenant and to whom Jesus was speaking. However, that's a topic for the Christianity forum.
I don't think we can say for certain that the vast majority do no really believe, but I do think there is a large number of christians who claim to believe but do not really. A lot of people find the idea of Pascal's Wager to be compelling (even if they've never heard the phrase) and simply claim to be christian just in case there is a hell waiting for them. Of course doing that would mean you can trick an all knowing God...
In the rare occasions where someone invites the idea of religious debate in person, I find the theist almost always concedes a lot ground once forced to think about what they really believe and why. There's usually a lot of stuttering, and silent pauses. This isn't because they're dumb, but because a lot of casual christians just haven't thought very hard about what they believe. It's kind of odd that you would claim to believe some kind of power could send you to hell for eternity but yet you don't bother reading up on it.
Personally if I actually believed that stuff then I would be obsessed with understanding every little bit of it.
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Are we questioning the existence of God? The Holy Trinity? Whether there is Heaven and/or Hell? I'm lost.
