What are the benefits of being a Christian? Why should I become A Christian?

ryan_velo.

I think george harrison, a great writer once said: "Religion can be one of the finest things about mankind, but organized religion can be one of the worst." [or something close to it.]

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"Avoid the world---it's just a lot of dust and drag and means nothing in the end.”
~ Jack Kerouac

"The whole idea of music---from the beginning of time---was for people to be happy."
~Robert Plant

Carrera

I could ramble on about the whole origin of Christianity for ages, seeing as I studied the whole historical perspective for some years. But I guess I'd be boring most people, especially on a cycling forum.
All in all, it helps to view Christianity within the context of the society it developed in. It took about 200 years till it became accepted by the Roman State and, one that happened, the church became surprisingly intolerant.

cdaleguy

No rational-thinking individual can possibly believe that one man, JESUS, of all men that have been, was the son of god, was nailed to a cross, then came back to life.


The bible is simply a book of stories that was written in a time that none of us will ever understand what it was like to have lived then.

jhuskey

Albert Einstein wrote down several remaarkable theories before my time that disputed previously held beliefs such as accepted theories by renowned Issac Newton and I can honestly say that I do not understand these theories completely...yet I believe that he existed.

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Whenever I can't get excited about riding I just fantasize about someone else's bike.

LottomagicZ4941

Einstein also said something to the effect that genius has it's limits but stupidy has no bounds.

Don't know if he really said this or if it was a joke.

Found it as an Einstein quote on one of the runboards.

My least favorite Bible verse use to be the one about a fool being known by his man words.

However my current least favorite is the one about not all who call on his name will be known. Even some of those who casted out deamons in his name.

I don't understand much of what is in the Bible. But I do respect it as goods word. There would be no cycling if it were not for God. Those who are offended by this are offended because part of them knows that it is true.

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Beastt

One of the biggest turn-offs to religion are those who continually present unsubstantiated beliefs as fact. There is absolutely no evidence to prove that cycling is dependent in any way upon there being a God. People are offended when others insult their intelligence by presenting things as fact when it's obviously a matter of belief verses non-belief and neither side can prove it one way or the other.

limerickman

I don't think a belief has to be substantiated by a fact.
An ideology is not underpinned by facts.

I am Catholic - I don't expect other people to necessarily agree with what I believe in.
I would also not want to wish to inflict my religious persuasion on other people.

I am also cognisant enough to recognise that people who are not RC's - from agnostics to Muslims, from Jewish people to Hindus - live more ethical and moral lives, than some so-called Catholics.

I don't go round spouting Scripture but in this one instance I will :
Jesus Christ said that "in my Fathers house, there are many mansions" : this I take to believe that if you lead a moral, ethical life, God will be generous come Judgement Day.

Hickabod

I wish I could remember where I read it, I think it was in some Robert Anton Wilson book or something similar. Anyway it was said that "Man needs a god like a fish needs a bicycle." That's the only tie-between I could think of for this forum and topic.


I'm agnostic myself but I enjoy speaking with religious people, regardless of the specifics of their religion (christian, muslim, jew, they're all looney to me). My ex-wife used to get irritated with me because I would talk with the Jehovah's Witnesses that would travel through our neighborhood spreading their good news. I have a lot of respect for them (at least the ones I've met) as they seem to have a real sense of community within their congregation. They even built their own church for Pete's sake (would that be saint peter?).

There's also an elderly gent here at work who enjoys lobbing christian scriptures at me from time to time. It's all in good fun as I've made my personal beliefs quite clear to him. Still, we end up having many meaningful conversations about issues that never seem to get addressed in his church. Or else he'll approach me about personal struggles he has about some useless drama that always seems to stir about in churches. You know, the usual "he said, she said. oh yeah, well God said..." sort of business. It's still sad to hear him speak of other christian's shortcomings when he has much room for improvement himself. I'm not saying I'm perfect; I'm comfortable with my flaws (genes).

If there is a god, I don't think he speaks English, Hebrew, in Tongues, or any of that other He-Jaz. During a particularly troubling time in my life, I'm pretty sure that god spoke to me via a broken swing set. It was a beautiful day indeed, for I knew that everything would be alright.

davidmc

Well put. The Bible is a collection of age'd stories of suppose'd divine origin. One can believe them or not believe them. I choose not to believe them. They were written by men to benefit men (Both the Bible & the Koran). I beleive what Gov. Jesse Ventura verbalized, "Religion is a crutch for the weak." That is just my opinion.

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I'm completely in favor of the separation of Church and State. My idea is that these two institutions screw us up enough on their own, so both of them together is certain death.
George Carlin
US comedian and actor (1937 - )

limerickman

I've heard it all now.
Invoking Jesse Ventura.

No wonder Schwarzenneger got elected.

davidmc

Ventura is/was fiscally responsible. Are you aware of the Budget battle going on over here now? Bush & his henchmen in congress are eviscerating the "social-contract" in order to extend tax cuts, primarily to the people who have benefitted most from the American system (Rich folk)

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I'm completely in favor of the separation of Church and State. My idea is that these two institutions screw us up enough on their own, so both of them together is certain death.
George Carlin
US comedian and actor (1937 - )

BassDave

Hmmmmmm. . . . . . . .just thinking the same thing about a lot of the evolutionary and bigbang beliefs.

Carrera

It's true in part. We all agree the crucifixion took place but it's a fact the actual Christian doctrine borrowed from other belief systems such as Eleusian Mystery religions. These Greek mystery religions also believed in resurrection or used wine as part of a ceremonial supper. This is why the Romans associated Christians with other cults that had a more dubious reputation.
My theory is that the actual Christian doctrine changed radically from the beliefs held by the very first Christians and that Christianity per se is a mixture of many different influences in one. Even the idea of Christmas comes from the old Saturnalia holiday and the 25th of December was borrowed from a celtic celebration.

Colorado Ryder

Not sure what Catholic church you attend. But accepting Christ is a basic tenet of Catholicism. Being moral and ethical will only have people think of you as a good person. Good works alone will not get you into heaven. John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."