Christians and truth

Melody said:

Define valid. I want to make sure we're talking about the same thing.

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I think it's easier for me to explain what I'm getting at with an example. Let's say that we didn't know what caused people to catch a cold. One person might speculate that it's through an imbalance of bodily humors, and s/he believes that this is true. Another thinks it's because of the effect of a non-human entity acting on a person. Yet another thinks that it's from eating bad food. Each theory is equally valid until one is definitively disproven. And that has not yet happened with religion.

We can each have faith in our own speculation, and believe that it's true, but we might never know, with 100% certainty, that we are right. Though neither of us will be able to prove that our own personal belief is true, we both have equally valid belief systems--regardless of the fact that you believe your way to be true and I prefer mine. I have the same justification as you for believing what I believe, yet we can't both be totally right. But, we (and everyone else out there) have equally valid beliefs.

<<By pointing out that a pagan king in Is. 45 is God's christ, that Abram accepted the blessings of the King of Salem, and this same King of Salem is later an image of Christ, that God assumed the name "El" which is also the name of the father of Baal, that God sent prophets to peoples besides the Children of Israel, Paul quoted a pagan poet to explain God (compare this with the Church Fathers' assertion that the pagans perceived God dimly), and that the "invisible attributes of God" are plainly revealed in creation as Paul taught in Romans. Those are just some of the references that I can think of off the top of my head.>>

Sounds like we are operating from two different belief systems. It has been an interesting conversation and I'll look forward to seeing your new thread.

Peace,

Melody

Lintu said:

Each theory is equally valid until one is definitively disproven. And that has not yet happened with religion. We can each have faith in our own speculation, and believe that it's true, but we might never know, with 100% certainty, that we are right.

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First, let's throw out the word religion. I don't believe in religions. I believe in God.

My children grew up with an agnostic father telling them there is no God but I can't prove it and a Christian mother telling them there is a God but I can't prove it. That did not stop me from raising them as Christians and the belief that there is no other way.

The only response I can give is that I believe everyone has the right to believe and practice their faith (or lack of it) in whatever manner they see fit. Do I think they're following the right path? No because if I did, I would not be following the path that I am. I would be following one of the other beliefs that allows for "different paths" to God.

Just as a side note since I see many people using the term Christian. I had not realized that there were just as many definitions for Christian as there different religions. My definition of Christian is someone who accepts that Jesus is the Son of God and that our salvation is found only through Him and God's Grace.

Peace,
Melody

<<I never said that Jesus wasn't the sole path. I just do not accept a pen-sub view of Christ.
>>

No,
Would you explain this? I don't understand.

Melody

Melody said:

<<I never said that Jesus wasn't the sole path. I just do not accept a pen-sub view of Christ.
>>

No,
Would you explain this? I don't understand.

Melody

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I posted an explanation in the same-faith debate forum. It's a little beyond the scope of this thread.

Anyway, sigh, for those that wish to continue with my scopeless thread, I am asking this.
Christians may believe their way is correct. But, seeing as they disregard other's religions and treat them as wrong, why do they not just "accept" another' for their beliefs?

I am referring mainly to Jehova's Witnesses here.

SoulTYPE01 said:

Anyway, sigh, for those that wish to continue with my scopeless thread, I am asking this.
Christians may believe their way is correct. But, seeing as they disregard other's religions and treat them as wrong, why do they not just "accept" another' for their beliefs?

I am referring mainly to Jehova's Witnesses here.

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The Bible does not agree with the modern view that there are many acceptable ways to worship God. Ephesians 4:5 says there is "one Lord, one faith." Jesus stated: "Narrow is the gate and cramped the road leading off into life, and few are the ones finding it. . . . Not everyone saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but the one doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens will."—Matt. 7:13, 14, 21; see also 1 Corinthians 1:10.​

Repeatedly the Scriptures refer to the body of true Christian teachings as "the truth," and Christianity is spoken of as "the way of the truth." (1 Tim. 3:15; 2 John 1; 2 Pet. 2:2) Because Jehovah’s Witnesses base all of their beliefs, their standards for conduct, and organizational procedures on the Bible, their faith in the Bible itself as God’s Word gives them the conviction that what they have is indeed the truth. So their position is not egotistical but demonstrates their confidence that the Bible is the right standard against which to measure one’s religion. They are not self-centered but are eager to share their beliefs with others.

Once again, MAY, you have been very helpful with your reply. I am gooing to bed now knowing that you have helped once again