A request for help from the Board

[MajGenl.Meade]

Please, I need some help with my ‘Apologetics’ course for South African Theological Seminary. I have to gather some statistics on "my community" and (God help me) you're it. Here's the question I have to write a 3,000 word paper about:

If you could have any three questions answered about Christianity (God, Jesus or the Bible), which would they be?

Please pick three questions from those below or add up to three of your own and mark them 1, 2, 3 in order of the importance you assign to each with 1 being most important. (I would appreciate it if any new questions are serious and not juvenile abuse). Only because I can't use those though - abuse can continue later.

What happens to all those who do not hear the Gospel?
Do Old Testament laws apply to us and if not, why not?
Why does God allow terrible suffering?
Why are some believers healed and others not?
Is there a 2nd chance to accept Christ (every knee shall bow)?
If God is all-powerful, why did He allow Adam/Eve to sin?
Must one believe in Jesus’ Miracles in order to be saved?
What happened to the Old Testament “wrath” of God?
When will the End Times come – is it here now?
Is there conflict between Biblical rejection of homosexuality and
Christ’s injunction to love one’s neighbour as oneself?
If Christians are forgiven, is Judgement only for unbelievers?
Why do some unbelievers do well while the faithful do not?
Do Moslems, Jews and Christians worship the same God?
Why does Genesis 1 use 7 days when we know it took millions
of years to create the earth etc.?
How can one know which parts of the Bible are factual and
which are allegories, parables or other fictional devices?


Thank you – and I need to gather responses real quick please please please.

Meade

[Sean]

Happy to help Meade.

1.) Is there conflict between Biblical rejection of homosexuality and
Christ’s injunction to love one’s neighbour as oneself?
2.) If Christians are forgiven, is Judgement only for unbelievers?
3.) Must one believe in Jesus’ Miracles in order to be saved?

[MajGenl.Meade]

Thank you very much

[Miles]

1. why does God allow terrible suffering?
2. how can we know which parts of the bible are factual.............
3.if christians are forgiven...............

[Sue U]

My questions may be rather too basic, but I would nevertheless be interested in more extended answers (you have previously offered some bits and pieces, but I never felt I got the whole story):

1. What do Christians mean by "salvation"?
2. What does belief in God/Jesus do for you, in terms of daily life?
3. What makes Christianity (and this form of Christianity) preferable to you over other belief systems?

[Miles]

After several classes in the Philosophy of religion, in college, I have really only one question. Who's right? With the diversity of beliefs and how they reguard the doctrines of others who, in the ultimate, is correct?

[Big RR]

If god is all powerful, why can't he just forgive sin on his own without any sacrifice, ritual or otherwise?

If Herod was terrible for the "slaughter of the innocents" some time after the birth of jesus, why is god also not terrible for the slaughter of the innocent (and at least some must be innocent of any wrongdoing, some were newborns) children of the Egyptians in the last plague? And, as a followup, are the sins of the father visited upon the children--like in the story in Joshua where the soldier took treasure from Jericho and "all of Israel" stoned not only him, but his family to death?

What can someone do that is so bad that it would warrant condemnation to eternal torment (as hell is often described) by a loving and omniscient god?

I think these questions,and their answers, delve deeply into the nature of god and his/her/its (not put in to annoy you, but because I really don't know if god has any gender) relationship with humankind.

[MajGenl.Meade]

Thank you, Miles, Sue U and Big RR

Uh Sue - my deadline is 3,000 words by April 15 along with two other papers due on the same date (The Wisdom Books) so I may not get to your request for a while but I will not forget

Miles - God is and I'm probably not (no help is it?)

Big RR - good q's and I'm not annoyed in the least

God bless
Meade

[alice]

1/ Why does God allow terrible suffering?
2/ (the question I've always asked, since young) Why did God make the animals have to suffer as well for the sins of man?
3/ (as asked by Big RR) What can someone do that is so bad that it would warrant condemnation to eternal torment (as hell is often described) by a loving and omniscient god?

[kristina]

Here are my three:

1. Why does God allow terrible suffering?
2. as asked by Big RR) What can someone do that is so bad that it would warrant condemnation to eternal torment (as hell is often described) by a loving and omniscient god?
3. How can one know which parts of the Bible are factual and which are allegories, parables or other fictional devices?

[MajGenl.Meade]

Thank you ladies!

I identified my "community" for this assignment as consisting of:

-people I know from the congregation of my church here in Bloem
-people I know from around the farm area
-and people on this board from around the world that I've never met

I'm glad to "know" that third group

Meade

[Crackpot]

the first two on the other hand.....

[MajGenl.Meade]

Tee hee

[dgs49]

1. What happens (to one who is saved) immediately after death?

2. If Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to guide the Church, how can one account for the diversity of beliefs on fundamental points among "Christians"?

[Gob]

Why is the church so wrapped up in other people's sex lives?

Why are gods rule for the conduct he expects of us not clear and unambiguous, why set us up to fail?

Of all the evils done in gods name, which is the worse?

[AndyH]

I'll have a go...

1) Why does God allow terrible suffering?
2) Does God want us to "go through the motions" even if we have not been given the gift of a "call" or belief?
3) Do all non believers suffer eternal torture and damnation?

[Rick]

1) Were the "Nephilim" of Genesis 6:4 actually the progeny of man and angels?
2) Do the scriptures indicate there are degrees of enjoyment in heaven and punishment in hell?
3) Is fasting an obligation in the Christian dispensation?

[dales]

Pre Trib.?

Mid Trib.?

Post Trib.?

[Gob]

1) Were the "Nephilim" of Genesis 6:4 actually the progeny of man and angels?

The Nephilim? I have all their albums, seen them twice, great band!!

[MajGenl.Meade]

Man! Some really good ones! Thanks indeed. But dgs, ya screwed up the weighting system by only giving me two!