Between A Rock & A Hard Place

Hi Phat, The bible is written in such a way that you need Gods Spirit in order to understand it. Remember that even Jesus apostles did not understand it initially. Jesus told them that he would "send a helper to be with them always" This helper was the holy spirit that was poured out at Pentecost. When they received this helper then understanding of the things Jesus had taught them came to them and they began preaching.So ask for Gods help. Ask for holy spirit. 'Ask and you shall receive' Christianity isnt about 'special people'
Christianity is about 'YOUR' relationship with God. This is something that every single person on earth can have if they want it. It doesnt make us special if we have it, but it does put us in line for everlasting life.So i dont believe that Christianity is about controlling us. Its really about us controlling our own destiny. We are not forced to be christians. We can walk away at any time. God does not force anyone to follow him and he accepts everyone who does.No one is special, we are all special to God. Non believers tend to say that. But I agree that you should question religious beliefs. The best way to do this is to compare the religious belief with the bible. Find out what the original words actually meant when they were written, study study study and Pray for guidance. And if you find a difference between the two, trust the bible first and foremost because that is where Gods truths are to be found.

yes, that may be true...however its not limited to cults, its the basis of every religion when you think about it. i'd be interested to know how he studies or what he studies, or who he studies with. Perhaps its time he searched our some other methods of learning...i dont know, im just saying that if its not working for him, perhaps the source material is lacking. God doesnt make a persons life perfect just because they have a relationship with him. And we shouldnt strive to have relationship with him because of what we can get out of it. (not that its wrong to want something out of it) But he does add meaning, purpose and hope to ones life now...and in the future the promise of more material long lasting & permanent blessings. I know people say that, but i've never seen a contradiction that cannot be explained. i've actually found that contradictions occur when interpretations are misapplied.do you have any in mind?

look at it this waywe can live our own life and do what we want and live how we want...we may live a short life and die young, or we may live to be 60, 70 or 80 years if we are lucky, but we are going to die.or God says :
live how I want you to live, do what i want you to do and you and ill allow you to do it forever without the toil and pain you currently experience in this life. (Deut 30:19)If you compare the life we have today with the life that God promises in the bible, there is no comparison. Sure, we have to wait for it, and we may even die before it comes....but what does it matter if we are going to die anyway.?Gods purpose was to have humans living in a perfect paradisaical world where they were to be the caretakers of earth and the animals on it. Life was supposed to continue indefinitely for Adam and Eve but they chose death pain and suffering. Well I didnt choose that, it was imposed upon me and if there is a way out, then i want it.So while i'll have to wait, im willing to do that because it will be worth the wait. thats a very good point. the bible should be read with the purpose of understanding 'IT'not with the purpose of understanding the dogma that's being taught.
For instance, we hear the word 'hell' thrown around a lot by the church. They tell us that its where you;'ll go to suffer if you sin.However, the word in the bible that is translated as 'hell' means no such place. The hebrew word simply means the common grave of mankind, the hole in the ground into which we are buried when we die.
So why are they teaching that hell is place of fiery torment where souls are burned with fire forever???its not what the bible says. The churchs have not remained true to what the bible says...they have twisted the scriptures to preach their own dogma.

God inflicted nothing on A&E. They inflicted it on themselves by choosing to be independent.He told them the consequences, but they chose it anyway. He wasnt going to force them to be obedient, he gave them the choice.Why does that make him the baddy? now you're just being silly.

According to Jesus, the serpent lied. he called Satan "a liar and the the father of the Lie"And A&E did die, we know that for a certainty. LOLhe could have just done away with A&E and Satan so he had no opposers, and no one to question him or accuse him of something that is obviously false.

so what does it mean that 'death' and 'hell' is cast into the lake of fire?