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Faith and The Bible
Whether you are aware of it or not, faith plays a huge part in many, if not most religions of the world. However, faith can mean two different things. It can mean reasonable trust based on evidence. On the other hand, faith can also mean trust or belief without evidence, or contrary to evidence - also called 'blind faith'. Christianity is perhaps the only religion that does not demand 'blind faith' from it's followers.
 The Impossible Faith
17 factors where Christianity "did the wrong thing" in order to be a successful religion.
Did Jesus Exist?
The Historical Christ —Fact or Fiction?
Most religions (both ancient and modern) depend upon philosophy and concepts rather than events therefore requiring no historical basis, In contrast Christianity rests solely on the person of Jesus. Without Christ, Christianity does not exist. Therefore the all important question is whether Jesus of Nazareth ever really lived.
The Birth of Jesus: Hype or History?
It is often believed that orthodox Christian doctrine has no grounding in actual historical events but is based on nothing more than myth and fables. In fact, the story of the birth of Jesus was an invention of the early Christian church. Both Time and Newsweek magazines have tried to debunk the Bible's historical accuracy without necessarily disparaging aspects of the Christian faith.
Was He Foretold?
Messianic Prophecies of the Old Testament
Compelling evidence according to Moses, The prophet Daniel, Isaiah, King David etc... (Several Articles)
Jesus Didn't Fulfill The Validating Prophecies
If God said that his Messiah would be a great political leader, would bring peace to the world, would rebuild the temple and reunite the Jews, then why do Christians believe Jesus was that Messiah?
What Was Jesus’ Message?
What Was Jesus’ Message?
In answer to the question what was Jesus’ main message you'd no doubt hear something about love and peace. While it is true that love figured prominently in His message, it was not the core of his proclamation and didn't get Him crucified. Neither the Romans nor the Jewish authorities would have been particularly bothered by a Jewish prophet who ran around telling people to love God and people.
The Answer To Death... What "Solace and Hope" Do The Different Religions Offer Us
The Heaven Jesus was sent to tell us about is no pie in the sky ethereal place 'somewhere out there' but a literal, earthly kingdom ... a place of peace and safety, where there is no crime, hunger and disease, war and above all... no death. In fact, Christianity promises exactly the utopian world most men and women dream of. Unless of course, your idea of paradise is "an ineffable transcendental state" (whatever that means).
If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent an educator. If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist. If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist. But since our greatest need was forgiveness, God sent us a Saviour. Roy Lessin
Was Jesus Saviour or Fraud?
Comparing Jesus With Other Religious Leaders... Why Jesus Is Without Equal
The claim to authority made by the founders of most religions, is generally based on visions they claim to have had, and/or their own experiences or wisdom. However, since anyone can claim to be divine, be divinely inspired, or have mystical visions or experiences, all of these religions stand or fall on something which no one can prove or disprove. All we have to go on is what the founder of the religion said (blind faith), and whether the teachings seem to work in our own lives. Good Enough? It shouldn’t be
The Deity of Jesus Christ
When it comes to Christianity, perhaps the most common disagreement is not whether a person called Jesus ever lived, but who exactly He was. Many people see Jesus as simply a great moral teacher, perhaps even an extraordinary "way-shower". Others believe that He was a God in Heaven, but divested Himself of His 'Godhood' when He came to earth, becoming mere man. Various New Age groups regard Jesus as no more than a man who achieved enlightenment. The answer to the question of who Jesus really was cannot be filed under 'differences of opinion', and left at that, since the practical implications for every person on this planet is enormous. If Jesus was not who he claimed to be, and was not who the Bible says He is, then we can at best safely ignore His teachings as the product of the devious mind of an out and out charlatan, or the ranting of one who who was vastly deluded, or simply insane. However, if He really is God, then we need to sit up and pay very close attention to what He had to say. A serious study of the Gospels leads a person to one of three conclusions about Jesus: He was (1) an evil lying villain, (2) a preposterously deluded madman, or (3) the Messiah, the Son of God. It is ludicrous for anyone who has studied His life to take the position that He was simply a good teacher. Only one of the three conclusions is a logical possibility.
Did Jesus
Rise From The Dead?
Historical Evidence For The Resurrection
Jesus' bodily resurrection is fundamental to Christian faith and can be proved with at least as much certainty as any universally believed and well-documented event in ancient history. (Several Articles including What Some People Have To Say About The Resurrection)
Come To Bring Peace?
Jesus and World Peace
In Isaiah 9:6, the prophet referred to Jesus as the “Prince of Peace.” In the New Testament, He is called the “Lord of peace” (2 Thessalonians 3:16). At His birth, the angels and the heavenly host said: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:14). Contrary to what many people think, these passages are not saying that His primary mission was to bring peace between men. In fact, in Luke 12 Jesus unequivocally stated that his earthly ministry was not to bring peace to the earth. This has not only perplexed many believers but have been pointed out by the already skeptical as an example of a clear contradiction in the Scriptures. So the question is how we are to make any sense of the seemingly opposing declarations.
‘Hang Out’ With Sinners?
The Inclusiveness of Jesus
It’s true that the inclusiveness of Jesus was extraordinary. Unlike his religious contemporaries, Jesus included among his followers those who were generally excluded from religious life, if not polite society - people such as tax-collectors, “sinners,” lepers, and women. However, if you read the accounts of His dealing with the tax collectors and the lepers with an unbiased eye you will see that Jesus' inclusion of these groups of people ostracized by society was not the "Come as you are and stay as you are " variety. Much to the contrary, He first changed whatever wasn't right with them be it an unsavory occupation, deathly illness or possession. Although there is no question that Jesus reached also out to sinners, he didn't include them in the kingdom of God as they were. Rather, he offered forgiveness and new life. Although His invitation and the Kingdom is open to all, it isn't "absolute" in the sense that everyone is invited to join him without qualification or condition. Entrance is on the Savior's terms.
Jesus And The Law
Jesus And The Law
The Bible contains both Old and New Testaments each with seemingly different teachings and commands. This has led to more than a little confusion for Christians who often struggle with the tension between the Old Testament emphasis on regulations, and the New Testament emphasis on grace. Because they have not grasped the seamless relationship between the two parts of the Scriptures, they are far from clear as to what our relationship to the Old Testament should be, especially when it comes to the many laws including the Ten Commandments, the Sabbath etc.
Misc
What Did Jesus Look Like And Does It Matter?
Jesus - Appearance
We have a very good idea of the physical characteristics of a first century Jewish male - how he wore his hair and dressed. They were olive skinned, short, with short black hair and short beards who wore calf length tunics. Portraying Jesus as a white Caucasian male insidiously lends itself to racism. This brings us to another equally important question - Are pictures of Christ a violation of the second commandment?
The Crucifixion Described
Have you taken the Crucifixion more or less for granted.. callous to its horror by a too easy familiarity with the grim details and a too distant friendship with our Lord.
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