To my fellow theists: Why do you believe that the scriptures of your religion are true?

Bonus question: The Hebrew bible instructs the Jews to test would-be prophets for the truth; in the New Testament, John says to "test the spirits to see whether they are from God. " Have you ever allowed yourself to seriously consider that your beliefs and/or your scriptures might not be the truth from God, but were manmade, and considered them carefully with an unbiased eye to see if they stand up to testing? If not, would you be willing to do so?

Asked by Salty 46 months ago Similar questions: fellow theists scriptures religion true Society > Religion & Spirituality.

Similar questions: fellow theists scriptures religion true.

I definitely was not raised or trained in it, it was against the community I was in when I found it ... I was raised in a very nominally religious home, my mom being Roman Catholic and my dad being agnostic. I was not brought up to know the Lord. I attended public schools and learned evolution and even transcendental meditation more than Christianity.

Now, I became a Christian in college, but my atmosphere there was a drinking fraternity and the WIU wrestling team so people around me were not brainwashing me into religion. I think it is ridiculous how FAR OFF that false stereotype can be. Yes, there was a lot of Bible reading and study on my part, even books like "More Than a Carpenter" and later "Evidence that Demands a Verdict" by Josh McDowell had an impact on my life.

Yet, it was not those books or my study that won me to Christ, but rather Christ God made Of course the Bible was a BIG PART of that, there is no other Book like it. Yet, though I asked myself the kind of questions you mentioned, is this the true faith, etc? Wow, I did quite a study on those things, college gave me opportunity to. Yet, God blew me away!

Meaning my doubts did not last long, once I sincerely started seeking Christian's Recommendations More Than a Carpenter Amazon List Price: $4.99 Used from: $0.01 Average Customer Rating: 4.0 out of 5 (based on 162 reviews) Answers to Tough Questions Skeptics Ask About the Christian Faith Amazon List Price: $6.99 Used from: $0.01 Average Customer Rating: 3.5 out of 5 (based on 30 reviews) The New Evidence That Demands A Verdict Fully Updated To Answer The Questions Challenging Christians Today Amazon List Price: $29.99 Used from: $14.44 Average Customer Rating: 3.5 out of 5 (based on 90 reviews) Here are some of Josh McDowell's books, including the two I mentioned above.

Tried and TRUE When you’ve EXPERIENCD the risen Christ, you need no additional proof. It’s irreffutable. But you always receive it in many forms, like answered prayer.

Gifts of the Spirit. A Transformed life etc... I was not raised in a church and accepted Christ as Savior in my mid twenties while in the Marine Corps. I had tried all the other religions.

I was searching. Buddha and Mo Hammy the Mad Man musta’ been on vaction or something because all that chanting and kneeling/bowing/praying didn’t do a damn thing. Yet one little call to JESUS and I IMMEDIATELY felt HIM.My heart was ready.

The void I’d always felt was filled. As though it was shaped exactly like HIM and only HE could fill it. Since, I’ve wondered if as some say it’s a psychological crutch.

Because it’s usually a broken life that Christ comes to. It’s often at a low point. HE did say only the sick need a doctor.

But every time I try to write ot off as GOD being made in the mind of man, it burns inside me like no other thought. I always come back to the realization that HE is everything HE claims to be. And that is why I accept the scriptures.

Because it has application to all walks of life in every era. And I find what is written to be true and applicable in my life and others I’ve met. The evidence in my life is sufficient.

I wrote a book about it. Too many miracles to list here. Like I say, I tried the rest and I recommend you challenge all of them like Elijah challenged the so called prophets of Baal.

Their GOD didn’t show up but Elijah’s did. And HE is always faithful! My wife was raised in the church and as an adult was there playing piano every time the doors were open, just like her Mama before her.

And she didn’t know Jesus for 20 years doing that. Until she finally had an "Encounter" with the risen Christ. She also wrote a book about it.

You see, many wonder why Christian are so quick to proselytize. Not only are we commanded to, but it’s just too much to contain. All of GOD couldn’t fit in the form of flesh that Jesus inhabited.

So He always spoke of doing what the Father does. Have I tested them?Yup. Aftger getting saved I fell away on a lie from satan, the father of all lies for a little more than ten years.

Yeah satan told me that I didn’t do the things I did for others, because I loved them, or because I lved Jesus. I did it because it made me "FEEL GOOD." I was still the same old self centered selfish individual I’d always been I was just getting my "FEEL GOOD" a different way.

Man, I bought it hook line and sinker and fell away to the point, I once pronounced there was absolutely NO GOD at all. Talk about an emptiness. I felt so empty then.

Where did it all lead? What was the purpose for anything? I guess it was just all about dying with the most toys or who could get laid the most and who cared if anything was lasting, it was all temporary.

Here today and gone tomrrow. Might as well be a heathen as be a saint because the reward is the same; "WORM DIRT." Yet in he saw through all that fertilizer in my mind and my mouth and saw a fertile ground.

And HE waited patiently to reap the seeds that had been planted. Today I’m an ordained Minister and go on missions to Africa. I’m just a simple soul saved by grace. I’m human and imperfect.

I blow my top some times and I am not always the best refelction of Jesus. But I have some creeds that drive me, like: --------------------------------------- The choice has been made, There is no looking back. I have stepped over the line.

I won’t let up, back up, Give up, or shut up. My focus is clear, My path straight, My GOD reliable, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. --------------------------------------- It only takes two people to make a church.

A hugger’ and a huggee’! --------------------------------------- The Christian life is neither a call to legalism nor a call to lawlessness; it is a call to true, lasting transformation of the whole person. --------------------------------------- But if I say, "I will not mention him or speak any more in his name," his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones.

I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot. - Jeremiah 20:9 --------------------------------------- "The times may be bad, but they are the only times we are given. Remember, hope is still a Christian virtue.

" --------------------------------------- There is power in ONE to change the world, even if it is only in the ONE being changed. --------------------------------------- Faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservation. --------------------------------------- **** Making a friend destroys a possible enemy!

**** --------------------------------------- ** Without the Son, there is NO reflection of the Father ** --------------------------------------- And I try and with HIM, "I BELIEVE ," ALL things are possible. The miracles I’ve seen. The evidence is more than I can contain and I will forever sing HIS praise!

--------------------------------------- For once in my life, I’ve got someone who needs me Someone I’ve needed so long For once unafraid I can go where life leads me And somehow I know, I’ll be strong For once I can touch, what my heart used to dream of Long before I knew Someone warm like you Could make my dreams come true For once in my life, I won’t let sorrow hurt me Not like it’s hurt me before For once I have someone I know won’t desert me I’m not alone anymore For once I can say: "this is mine you can’t take it" Long as I know I got love I can make it For once in my life, I got someone who needs me. Atleast for once I can say: "this is mine you can’t take it" Long as I know I got love I can make it For once in my life, I got someone For once in my life I’ve found someone For once in my life I got someone who needs me! --------------------------------------- I’ve had many tears and sorrows I’ve had questions for tomorrow There’ve been times I didn’t know right from wrong But in every situation God gave blessed consolation That my trials only come to make me strong I’ve been a lot of places, And I’ve seen so many faces But there’ve been times I’ve felt so all alone But in that lonely hour In that precious, lonely hour Jesus let me know I was s own Through it all Through it all I’ve learned to trust in Jesus I’ve learned to trust in God Through it all Through it all I’ve learned to depend upon s Word So I thank God for the mountains And I thank m for the valleys I thank m for the storms He’s brought me through Cause if I never had a problem I wouldn’t know that He could solve them I wouldn’t know what faith in s Word could do Through it all Through it all I’ve learned to trust in Jesus I’ve learned to trust in God Through it all Through it all I’ve learned to depend upon I’ve learned to depend upon s Word I’ve learned to depend upon s Word --------------------------------------- Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father; There is no shadow of turning with Thee; Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not; As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see.

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided; Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me! Summer and winter and springtime and harvest, Sun, moon and stars in their courses above Join with all nature in manifold witness To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love. Great is Thy faithfulness!

Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see. All I have needed Thy hand hath provided; Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide; Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside! Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see. All I have needed Thy hand hath provided; Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me! --------------------------------------- Sources: My pitiful life in the fast lane and how JESUS saved me from myself.

EternalOptimist's Recommendations Sowing and Reaping A Fearless Heart: Convicted Not Condemned Amazon List Price: $15.56 Used from: $10.51 Average Customer Rating: 4.0 out of 5 (based on 21 reviews) Two Watches Amazon List Price: $19.95 Used from: $12.96 Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (based on 10 reviews) Our stories for HIS glory!.

Because they have proved themselves correct The Bible is accurate scientifically and historically as much as we can determine. It has human character nailed. It is the only assurance that exists in any religion anywhere in the world that we do not have to struggle to save ourselves, but that God mself has paid the price for our rebellion and all that is asked of us is to accept that and believe.

I can hear the other folks interested in science howling about that first statement. The Bible was thousands of years ahead of science in knowing the universe was stretched out/expanded. The Bible was thousands of years ahead of science in knowing the Pleaides are either gravitationally or electromagnetically bound together while Orion is violently disrupting.

The Bible talked about the 'paths of the seas' which we know as ocean currents. The Bible talks about the springs of the deep, which we did not discover until my lifetime. The Bible is certainly not a science text book but when it does mention something in the fields science is interested in, it turns out to be correct.

Storically is has also proven itself. Flood stories are in every ancient culture, but it is only in the Bible that they do not have mythological elements involved. Egyptian tombs do have verifiable records of the escape of the Israelites.

Ancient cities and temples mentioned there have been found. So yes, I did test it all, as far as I was able. And it stood up to the test 100%..

The most odvious reason to believe in The Holy Bible is changed lives, lets concider Bible Facts as proof shall we. The Holy Bible was written over a 1500 year period of time and it contains 66 books written by 44 authors. Evidence of The Bible's inspiration includes Probhecy like Babylon {Isa.13:19-22 Tyre {Ezek.26:3-5} Sidon {Ezek.28:21-23} Archaeology Moabite Stone, The Lachish Letters, Rosetta Stone, Cyrus Chlinder Rosetta Stone, Cohesive Unity Evidence ot the Bible's inspiration it does not contradict itself despite claims it does.

Christ revealed The Greatest evidence of The Bible's inspiration is evidenced in The Christ it reveals and as I said changed lives and No not because I was raised Christian I was not but because of Jesus Christ, He as it says in Hebrews 1:5-9, 13:8, John 8:58 The I AM of exodus 3, Moses and the burning bush, John 1 The Word made flesh, Isaiah 53 where Jesus gave up s divine body for one like mine, and when He returned To Heaven He kept that same body Forever, By s stripes I am healed and the same power and Love that ended sin and satan will keep evil from ever happening ever again, Such Love is not something made up because mankind has NO ability to do so. God bless free bible lessons www.amazingfacts.org Great Christ centered tv www.3abn.org Sources: The Holy Bible .

1 I have gone to many churches and seen many different ideas of following God. I left the Lutheran church I was brought up in to find what a real christian was like. I wanted to be a born again Christian.

I will debate the churches I am with if I don't think they are following God's way. I don't blindly believe things and I refuse to join a church. If I don't believe what they are saying 100%, I don't want to be called a member.

I have searched for 30 years to find truth. I have done New age, Mormonism etc I don't want to fill my head with the Koran etc, to pollute my mind even more. (It is like, I don't want to do pornography to understand it more.) I do spiritual warfare daily.

No one on this earth will ever know the whole story.

I have gone to many churches and seen many different ideas of following God. I left the Lutheran church I was brought up in to find what a real christian was like. I wanted to be a born again Christian.

I will debate the churches I am with if I don't think they are following God's way. I don't blindly believe things and I refuse to join a church. If I don't believe what they are saying 100%, I don't want to be called a member.

I have searched for 30 years to find truth. I have done New age, Mormonism etc I don't want to fill my head with the Koran etc, to pollute my mind even more. (It is like, I don't want to do pornography to understand it more.) I do spiritual warfare daily.

No one on this earth will ever know the whole story.

Note the bearing on the current threads re 'organized religion' as contrasted w/ spirituality." "what religion is the true religion" (15 answers) ""Religion is for people who are scared of hell, and spirituality is for people who have been through it. " comments? " (10 answers) "How many of you like Religion and why" (11 answers) "Your 'Change category' does not work.

You put my 'computer' question into 'Religion & Spirituality. '" "Spiritually speaking, there doesn't seem to be a lot of activity in the Religion & Spirituality section, does there? " "Is there a religion for me?

Note the bearing on the current threads re 'organized religion' as contrasted w/ spirituality.

What religion is the true religion" (15 answers).

Religion is for people who are scared of hell, and spirituality is for people who have been through it. " comments? " (10 answers).

How many of you like Religion and why" (11 answers).

Your 'Change category' does not work. You put my 'computer' question into 'Religion & Spirituality.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.