January 14, 201016 yr It's situations like the earthquake in Haiti that have to leave doubts in the heads of people who are searching for God. Why would God design an Earth so great yet make fault lines that quake and kill hundreds of thousands of innocent people for seemingly no logical reason? It's just hard for me as someone seeking God to understand.
January 14, 201016 yr It's situations like the earthquake in Haiti that have to leave doubts in the heads of people who are searching for God. Why would God design an Earth so great yet make fault lines that quake and kill hundreds of thousands of innocent people for seemingly no logical reason? It's just hard for me as someone seeking God to understand. The simple answer, from a Christian perspective, is not one that's easy to digest. Why should we, in general, and I, in particular, be held responsible and made to endure evil and its byproducts because the mother and father of humanity ate a piece of fruit from a forbidden tree? It doesn't seem fair. I think, more important than trying to reconcile God to our own ideals, we have to seek Him with a genuine sincerity. Is He real? Does He care? The record we have of God's story is the Bible. And, its the most remarkable evidence that God exists that you'll find. Obviously, it isn't the only "holy" book that claims to be God's word. And, Christianity isn't the only way that claims to provide a path to God. However, I would encourage anyone who is truly seeking God to investigate the Bible. And, investigate the other books if you're afraid you'll leave something uncovered. Don't just read the Bible itself, investigate its reliability. With regard to ancient writings, Homer offers the most reliability. It was written in 900 BC. The earliest copy we have is from 400 BC, and there are 643 manuscripts. Compare that to the New Testament written between 40-100 AD. There are over 20,000 manuscripts and the earliest is dated at 125 AD. So, you have more copies, and the earliest copy dates much closer to the original composition. And, of this vast number of manuscripts, there are no major discrepancies...very few minor disagreements such as spelling or word order. Nothing that would alter Christian doctrine. Also, consider that it was composed, not by one man, but roughly 40 men over a period of 1500 years. Yet, it presents a consistent message of God's plan of redemption. But, this is something that will be lost on you unless you take the time to seek, read, and study the Bible for yourself. But, consider, what are the odds of compiling a group of letters written over a 1500 year period by 40 different authors in any period of human history into one book and coming out with a cohesive, unified message. Certainly there are difficult questions that we can't always answer. There are difficult passages in the Bible. But, are those enough to make us ignore evidence that the Bible is reliable and presents a message unlike any other holy book or religion? I would encourage everyone to at least investigate.
January 15, 201016 yr Author Isaiah 55:8:9 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. As the Heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. We don't question God, an earthquake was just that, car wrecks, disease, Hurricanes, things happen. Sometime sad things.
January 15, 201016 yr Isaiah 55:8:9 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. As the Heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. We don't question God, an earthquake was just that, car wrecks, disease, Hurricanes, things happen. Sometime sad things. I'm w/ you but it's still hard to grasp. If he has a plan for all people it's a bad plan for humans to understand in times like these.
January 15, 201016 yr Author SSC, you are so right. Its one of the hardest aspect of Religion that I have to deal with or explain to folks. I had a sister who passed away at the age of eight. My ex wife was a neonatal nurse and seeing new born babies born and having health issues, St Jude hospital is full of these little children who are sick. Its like a parent who lets their children leave the nest and later they have to let them make their decisions on their own. Things happen to us, good things and bad things. The bus crash back in 1987. The truck and bus had to be on a same road at that moment, why didn't one of the drivers slow down/speed up somewhere in their trip, or pulled into a rest area. It just happened.
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