Responding to Belief and Religion

*disclaimer: this is strictly based on my own understanding & opinion of Christianity. I speak nothing of other religions as I do not know enough to comment. So take this entire discussion of religion in the context of Christianity.*

Let me proceed with my arguments sysmetically according to arguments (and their order) as mentioned by De Maitre.

I do agree, for anyone to claim to be the Son of God now will almost definitely be treated with schizophrenia. Let us go back to the time of Christ. Isn't it the same? Crucifixion is one of the most horrible, degrading, offensive and shameful death penalty of that age. It's to the extent that it's a taboo to even talk about it. Who on earth in that time would have believed that God was killed by men via the most vile method. Not just believing, but also following. Unless there were signs that proved the words true. The resurrection was witnessed by >500 people, which was one of the key factor to the survival of this faith till date. Testimony to the truth of the one crucified.

Don't confuse the Church with God. Church is flawed for men is flawed. God is not. Catholic church had indeed swayed severely in the past, which resulted in the rise of Protestant. What the Church thought was not in line with what faith was about. Publicly and in name, they might still have considered themselves believers/saved/whatever-term. But by the standard of faith and God, they are worse than unbelievers (as stated by the Bible).

Agreed that human interpretation can be problematic and even contrary to what's the actual truth to the interpreted. God is indeed forgiving, and thus He gave a way out through Christ. All you have to do is to believe. How do you receive a gift you do not believe exist? I can try and even beg you to receive this big diamond I have in my hands for pursuit of your dreams, but if you do not believe that I have it despite that I'm holding it, you can't receive it. And so my heart aches for your unbelief which results in the inability to receive. For men is flawed, hence all fall short of the perfect nature of heaven. Defining evil is going to be problematic, because it is a extremely subjective standard. Even on Earth, we attempt to get past this problem by having the juridical system. Now just expand this juridical system on a broader scale, that's faith. (It's not entirely true that believers will not be judged for their actions, or that all believers will not go to hell, but won't go into details here at this time.)

Yes there are archaeologists and historians, but even they can't agree among themselves. And Bible has been proven correct by archaeological evidence, not entirely but increasingly more. The fact that the 66 books of the Bible had been written by multiple authors across centuries is not refuted. But yet when compiled, all of them flow into a single coherent story with a single message. The authenticity of the Bible lies not in the books, but the whole of it. Yes the modern Bible has been selected by a council of biblical scholars out of a list of other books. One very important criteria used for the selection is that the events/stuff mentioned in a book has to be witnessed by 2 other apostles or mentioned in other 2 books/letters (since some books are actually letters written by Paul). The Old Testament made predictions that all were fulfilled by Christ centuries later recorded in the New Testament.

I absolutely agree that God gave us a brain. He wants us to be wise and thinking beings, not automatons (that's why we are in so much trouble today). I do agree that I disagree with some Christians/believers who think that questioning is blasphemy. In fact, the Bible encourages us to question. But question with a open mind. No point questioning if you already closed your heart and mind to one side of the equation. That's just proving your point, not questioning.

We do not worship the cross. It's a reminder and symbol of what have been done, and what we believe in. Any Christians who start to worship a/the cross will be committing idolatry, for then that thing becomes the center of our worship, not God.

Yes many Christians are quite enthusiastic (sometimes too pushy) about the preaching of the gospel. But take a minute to see things from their point of view. If you know a person who habitually steals and robs, and love him/her dearly as a family member/friend/whatever, will you not keep trying to persuade this person to stop and repent for you believe that someday the law will get to him/her? Out of love, Christians preach to save (because of what we believe). That should be the primary motivation. But of course with flawed humans, things do get skewed at times.

And so understand that like students who increase their knowledge with time and education, Christians too increase their understanding and knowledge of the faith with time and education. Inability of young Christians to answer your questions does not make the faith a mockery/fake.

Now on to the next post.
Does Religion closes our mind, or does Science? Both, I'll say. It depends on the person. Albert Einstein himself said 'Religion without Science is blind. Science without Religion is lame.' But yet now many put Science and Religion on opposite ends of the pole, when they are complements.

People still strongly believe in evolution despite the increasingly evidence interpreted against it. Is that science, or is that faith? Many scientists themselves have converted from atheists to theists at least because of what Science has showed them, that it's impossible for God not to exist based on the observations of creations around us.
Just as religious people claim science is anti-god based on what little they know, do amateurs of science (like us non Ph.D specialists) have the right to criticize faith based on what little they/we know? It's like seeing an ant hole and claiming it's a well.

Ok even among different schools, different biblical scholars have different stand on the Genesis. I'll just go with the one I feel most strongly for. If you say that God's concept of time is different across scriptures, you gotta support with verses. According to Hebrew's actual text, it IS our day-and-night day So God created the world and the universe in 6 actual human days. If you think about it, He doesn't even have to do it. Just a snap of the fingers and everything can be completed in an instant. Why 6 days? God does not ask us to do what He himself does not first do. It's an example & model to the commandment of working for 6 days, and rest 1 day (the Sabbath).

Science does recognize the complexity of nature. Many scientists believe in existence of God because of 1 scientific principle: "irreducible complexity". It's so complex but yet cannot be reduced into simpler bits because all depends on each to work. That's one of the many arguments against evolution, by the way.
Now then, is Science or Religion reducing the maginificence of the universe, or is amateurs and smart alecks reducing it?

I too am against Crusades. That's just an example when the Church becomes tainted by the fall of this world. Thus the fall of prominence of the Catholic Church and the rise of Protestanism, for they have skewed the Word of God and only served themselves. It's such situations that remind me why it is so so so important for people of faith to behave in accordance to the One they believe in, for they are living testimonies and witnesses as stated in the Bible.

God is loving, but He too is just. A judge of the high court can't just acquit a person who broke the law just because of love. But out of love, the judge after annoucing the sentence, come down from the stand, and bears the guilt and punishment of the loved but fallen one.

Some extra note:
Many claim that it is unfair for us to take the blame of Adam's mistake. I say it's not. Out of free will, our ancestors chose a world without God. This IS the world without God. One of sins, disasters, crimes, wars, and other ridiculous problems. One whereby it's impossible to achieve perfection because of the world we live in. Take a more worldly example. You are born into Singapore and have to live in this society with its rules (and problems) because of choices made by the forefathers. Yet nobody complains it's not fair. Irony isn't it? Way out? Migrate (if you can). So too with this ungodly world. Way out? Believe in the existence of the ticket out, and receive it.


Take this not as a sermon, for I am unqualified. But simply my disagreements with the arguments earlier, for I too have questioned plenty and the above are answers that satisfied my questions & doubts. Too many people judge based on lack of knowledge & understanding (both religious and scientific people alike).