09-15-2011, 05:42 AM
A guy named Adam had a kid named Seth who had a kid named . . . David who had a kid named . . . . Jesus. I don't remember how many generations it adds up to, but being raised Pentecostal, I had to memorize them as a kid.
I don't recite too many prayers these days, but it's hard to forget hearing the doctrine of Jesus because preachers and laymen all over America send a very defensive message. Their sermons are embedded with rebuttals to attacks (or perceived attacks) in the media; in schools and in the courts. The message is clear: No matter what 'proof' you find, no matter what taunt you throw, they believe in Jesus.
This is a long thread and I don't remember who said it, but I agree that Christianity (Protestant or Catholic) doesn't teach full understanding of God's plan or offer proof of Jesus' godhead status. Rather it teaches faith in that which you cannot possibly comprehend. That being said, critics of christianity proclaim that the entire concept of faith seems like a way of luring in the weak-minded.
But whether you have faith or not, Jesus is the center of it all. The Old Testament today is like Godfather III, nobody wants to read it and it sucks cause Brando (Jesus) ain't in it. I'm speaking, of course of my little corner of the world which is dominated by religions that commonly refer to themselves as 'Jesus-only' churches.
These Pentecostal/Apostolic/Charasmatic church refute the baptismal formula provided in Matt. 28:19. They claim instead that the formula given in Acts 2:38 is correct and that the scripture in Matthew was mis-interpreted by the King James (and others before him.)
What I'm saying is, this is always gonna be a hot-topic as long as Christianity is a powerful religion like it is today.
Long ago (325 A.D.) the Catholic church took a stand on the virgin birth and the dates of Christmas (and whether they would celebrate it at all) and a bunch of other stands based on information of dubious nature. 'Faith' kinda cleans the mess up and gives them a little closure. If there were factual evidence that Jesus Christ the man or God ever walked the Earth then I think it would've made the papers. That's all I'm saying.
I don't recite too many prayers these days, but it's hard to forget hearing the doctrine of Jesus because preachers and laymen all over America send a very defensive message. Their sermons are embedded with rebuttals to attacks (or perceived attacks) in the media; in schools and in the courts. The message is clear: No matter what 'proof' you find, no matter what taunt you throw, they believe in Jesus.
This is a long thread and I don't remember who said it, but I agree that Christianity (Protestant or Catholic) doesn't teach full understanding of God's plan or offer proof of Jesus' godhead status. Rather it teaches faith in that which you cannot possibly comprehend. That being said, critics of christianity proclaim that the entire concept of faith seems like a way of luring in the weak-minded.
But whether you have faith or not, Jesus is the center of it all. The Old Testament today is like Godfather III, nobody wants to read it and it sucks cause Brando (Jesus) ain't in it. I'm speaking, of course of my little corner of the world which is dominated by religions that commonly refer to themselves as 'Jesus-only' churches.
These Pentecostal/Apostolic/Charasmatic church refute the baptismal formula provided in Matt. 28:19. They claim instead that the formula given in Acts 2:38 is correct and that the scripture in Matthew was mis-interpreted by the King James (and others before him.)
What I'm saying is, this is always gonna be a hot-topic as long as Christianity is a powerful religion like it is today.
Long ago (325 A.D.) the Catholic church took a stand on the virgin birth and the dates of Christmas (and whether they would celebrate it at all) and a bunch of other stands based on information of dubious nature. 'Faith' kinda cleans the mess up and gives them a little closure. If there were factual evidence that Jesus Christ the man or God ever walked the Earth then I think it would've made the papers. That's all I'm saying.