First of all, I'd like to say I'm not a huge expert on this stuff, there are plenty of better resources. I'll just try to sum up some of what I've learned.
It's easy for people to say that believing in God can only be done in faith and that there is no evidence. While faith in God is important, there is evidence.
Let's take the position of the Earth for example. The earth is located in one of the spiral points in the milky way galaxy, just on the edge of the spiral. This is one of the few points where many of the stars and planets are not being shifted around a lot, it is one of the more stable points. Most of the other stars end up going in and out of the spirals, coliding and such. In our solar system, the earth is at just the right distance to keep us nicely warm but not too hot. The angle of rotation keeps the seasons going and some other factors. The moon helps to regulate that angle and the rotation (to prevent the earth from not spinning). There are other things, but this just shows how super slight of a margin it is for the earth to be positioned the way it is. And then for it to have an atmosphere and sustain life? It's almost like someone had put it here on purpose.
As for religion, it's probably most certain that some are created to control people. Many religions have branched off of each other because of the nature of people to be different and such. But I do believe there is one true religion, Christianity. Now, I feel that many forms of Christianity have gone away from how it was established. Catholicism and others put a lot of emphasis on works and how many can do good to get into heaven, which is not what is told in the Bible.
The Bible tells of how man, since Adam and Eve, is born evil. God created "the Law" to describe what is called sin (yeah, people don't like that word). Sin is anything that is disapproved by God and is sepate from God. Every person's true nature is to sin. In the old testiment period, people would offer sacrifices in the form of sheep etc to pay for their sin. They knew they had done wrong and something had to be done about it.
It wasn't until around 4-6 bc that the ultimate sacrifice for sin was born, Jesus Christ. Unknowing to his followers at the time, Jesus would become the one final sacrifice for all sin. Jesus, which is a part of God and was sent by God, humbled himself and became a man. As a part of God, he could not sin. So his death through the cross proved to be the perfect sacrifice. He who had no sin came into the world to pay for the sin. But he did not stop there, on the third day he was raised from the grave and showed himself to many. His return showed that sin was defeated.
Christianity is different than other religions in that it is not about going to church, doing good things or being a good person. It's all about establishing a relationship with God and Jesus Christ. Other religions says that being a good person and doing good are what's needed to live on, but with Christianity, it's about the relationship. We have all sinned and done wrong, which separates us from God, therefore we must turn from our ways and accept Jesus and God as the savior and only true living God.
Now, there is historical evidence that Jesus was resurrected and returned, this also separates Christianity from other religions. Several points include:
1. Empty Tomb -- No one could produce a body after the disciples claimed he had risen
2. Eye Witness Accounts -- Outside of the Bible, a Jewish man called Jesphus (sp?) (an opposer to Christianity) wrote about him and also a roman soldier (can't think of the name right now) mentioned him not long after all of this.
3. Lives changed -- Paul and other people dramatically changed their lives AFTER the ressurction, which showed that there was something to this man named Jesus.
I think that's it  |
