Why Belief?

So here's a story for all you truthlovers out there!"I need you to close your eyes and imagine with me. Please do not open them until you imagine the environment of Jamaica-Queens, NY.I was born in Jamaica-Queens, but I moved with my religious parents here to Delaware in the blizzard of '96. I wouldn;t even be here if it weren't for the fact that my mother prayed.
One day in 1988, my mother found out she was pregnant with twins. She already had an older son, who was currently two years old, and she was about 4 months into pregnancy. About this time, there was an african-american man in a white van wo drove around looking for pregnant women, who he the would stab and kill after kidnapping. My mother was walking down 100th Avenue in Queens, and she held her already swelling stomach in her arms. She was attractive (I guess that's how she got my Dad), and she was picked up by a man in a white van who asked for a ride. She accepted, and was locked inside, when he passed her house. SHe prayed with all of her might, and almost instantly the van stopped, and the man commanded her to get out. It turns out that the twins she had were my twin and I. See? prayer really does change things for the better.And in case you were wondering, Yes, this did happen in 1992 and my mother still does see angels! But that's not going to change a thing! "Does that answer your question?

Very bold statements, Brian. Have you checked the newspapers lately(Don't answer that. It was a rhetorical question)? If you can't see what's with our world and only see the problems in it, you'll never find a solution. The same principle is with mastectomy. Breast cancer is not caused by having two breasts. This is the problem with our world todsy. We only se the bad in it that we can't focus on the truly amazing things God does for us in our brief lifespans here on Earth. The Lord knows whats best for us, even if we can't see it. The Bible says, "I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for good and not bad." He has plans for us, but we are to blinded by the tragedy that his antagonist places here on Earth to discourage us and keep us from believingf in his holy word. Beware that you do not doubt the Lord, for if you trust and never doubt, he will surely bring you out; he'll never fail you yet.

Word on it! Well, excuse me if you will, but who's to say what we need to believe in? I could believe in an orange-hued outer space (not saying I do, BTW). Just because I believe in it doesn't make it factual. I see your point, but then again, I don't see it. So do all of us a huge favor and tell us why you think the world's troubles are caused by religion? Or is it caused by doctrine?And just what is your problem with the Middle Eastern Religions?This message has been edited by Specter, 05/16/2005 12:47 PM

Well, I don't know any other religious area that does this than the Middle East. What other cluster of religions will do this hopingly? And another thing, you belligerent scot,
I do agree that almost every major atrocity has had a religious element to it. But does that give you any reason to leave a religion? After all, isn't it the opium of the masses? I want to stay "high" on religion, thank you.

Are you telling me that God sent God to correct his mistakes?

Strike 1:The "fall" of Adam and Eve from grace was their decision, not God's. After all, it was their fault, not God's. So there could be no way it was the Father's fault indirectly. And don't you use the "he shouldn't have made them" excuse. It's sophistry!So there.

I beleive the commandment goes:Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work. But the seventh is the sabbath of the lord thy GOd...

And what's that supposed to mean?

They shouldn't! Most SDAs are Christians who follow all the commandments. Sure, God commsisions his truthlovers to go out and tell the world about the Roman Catholic changed Sabbath issue - but nothing is more inportant than his love.

Well done. I didn't think you'd understand that religion and "state" will never and must never be separated. Even America's leaders have thought they were gods, and have tried to eliminate the pblic opinion with the goal to pervade the public and dole out their opinions...but I didn't hear anything about religion after the Red Scare...This message has been edited by Specter, 05/23/2005 09:40 AM

So don't remove religion from politics. is that what you're saying?

Hey... have any of you forumnists (especially columnists) heard of the oppresion of religious and political freedom in Belarus? My "friend", Ola, lives there currently, and all the commoners are awaiting the upcomng Orange Revolution, but as for now Christianity is supressed and political choice is repressed.Anyone who cares at all about the withdrawal of religious freedom in Belarus may answer me at any time.

And yet faith is the thing that all Christians claim we have a measure of. How can we be sure we have it if we can't even agree on what faith is?
An easy solution for all the christians will be to go to Hebrews 11:1, which tells us that Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.

What are you talking about? There was religious oppression in Belarus until the tyrant took over.
But to he/she who claims president bush would go over, I join saying.."Well, the dictator of Belarus is in hiding.
in other words, He's playing peekaboo."

be more specific. ..for what?

Okay. And forgive me for being so vague. Now back to the subject. So what ideas doeas anyone have to help Ola in Belarus?