The Christian Skeptic

i am a christian, totally committed to Jesus Christ, and i am skeptical of anything that pretends to represent Jesus and yet is deficient. All other ground is sinking sand. Maybe that makes me a Christian skeptic.

Michael, what definition of “skeptic” are you using?

What I meant by Christian skeptic is that I believe in many of the fundamentals but have real problems with some aspects of the faith. Some examples for me include:

1) If God is unchanging then why was genocide okay in the OT but not anymore? Why was genocide EVER okay? Similar questions about capital punishment for seemingly small crimes in the OT.

2) Why do some people have an overwhelming sense of God’s presence at various points in their lives and other firm believers never do? Is one really closer to God than the other? It seems as if some people are given the proof that others have to take on pure faith.

3) Given the history (corruption) of the catholic church state, how can we be really sure that the bible we have today is really God-breathed? I have an easier time believing in the infallibility of God than in the benevolence of power hungry early church leaders.

And many many more…

i’d recommend William J. Webb’s work on “Redemptive Movement Hermeneutic” to help us understand why God worked by changing culture over time on some of these difficult issues. I’m really looking forward to his upcoming book that will deal with genocide in particular.

as for the Bible, we have many ancient manuscripts to confirm that it hasn’t been played with. remember that there were a lot of really true motivatd Christians during this period dying for their faith and I doubt they’d be wasting time doctoring the book they looked to for direction in the midst of persecution.

Here are some definitions to work with:

someone who habitually doubts accepted beliefs

In ordinary usage, skepticism or scepticism (Greek: ‘σκέπτομαι’ skeptomai, to look about, to consider; see also spelling differences) refers to # an attitude of doubt or a disposition to incredulity either in general or toward a particular object, # the doctrine that true knowledge or …

skeptical – disbelieving: denying or questioning the tenets of especially a religion; “a skeptical approach to the nature of miracles”
skeptical – doubting: marked by or given to doubt; “a skeptical attitude”; “a skeptical listener”

skepticism – incredulity: doubt about the truth of something
skepticism – agnosticism: the disbelief in any claims of ultimate knowledge

More defs here.

Aren’t we all skeptics? For one to claim that they have all the definite answers is a false claim. We all have our beliefs and non-beliefs but none of us REALLY know. I don’t believe in God BUT I am more than willing to look at evidence in his existence because knowledge is more important than being stubborn. The scriptures have lead you in the direction of Jesus and that is fine, but unless God has spoken to you one on one, how can you not be a skeptic?

Im not much into debating because I have rarely been apart of any healthy debates where both parties are even open to hearing truth other than what they believe to be true.

Here’s my 10 cents worth on this.

The fact and reality is that history proves that Jesus existed in this world and the claims of miracles and healings are absolutely true according to our world history. He actually did die on the cross as history proves this as well and the ancient manuscripts are of the most accurate documents we have to date in this world. So in looking at Jesus and the story of Jesus you must admit when you do a little research that Jesus must have existed and if history is accurate than He must have done the things that He said He did.

My belief in God is based on a few aspects and thats that I had an incredible experience with God that rid me of my drug addictions and alcohol binges in a single moment. There was no process involved in this it was just gone. I experienced a supernatural heavy presence of God that seemed to rid me of all hurts and pains that I didnt even know existed in me. I heard a voice on the inside of me that was telling me that where I was (In church) and what I was feeling and seeing was real and true. My whole life changed that day and anybody that knows me will tell you it was a 180 flip. I also base my belief in God in how history proves Him and how the essence of my encounter with God is found completely in the bible and struck a chord with my insides. It took a miracle from God to get me through the things I was engaged in and delivered from.

Now im giving a very brief rendition of my conversion story and for most people that dont believe in God will think that was a very nice story… clap clap but what about my proof. I put forward to all you skeptics that people’s stories proclaim God in their circumstances and this world of wonder must have been created by someone.

I would like to ask how people can disprove God to me because my reality has been for 7 yrs now not based on brainwashing cause i didnt undertsand the langage at old colony but simply by an encounter with Jesus Christ and it’s this that has set me free and changed the course of my history.

This was probably a bit more than 10 cents worth, my apologies for the lie.

Dave B

John -

On Point 2:

I think there are a number of components at play in this topic -

I’m not an expert by any means and my life is no reflection of one that is well lived, but I can see how we can break this down to:

Knowledge (Things I know to be true – someone else probably proved it though)

Feelings/Emotions (We are emotional beings no matter how much we try to deny it and that effects the way we view things)

Personal Experience (we tend to lean on this the most in our view points and our expressions to others)

I’ve experienced many times in my life when I have felt the spirit dwelling richly inside of me – during those times it is when all 3 of the above have come together. There has been a belief that I was doing what I was called to do during that time and that was confirmed by some personal experiences which followed with an emotional confirmation as well. It was not just an emotional “high” because I know that I was following the truth for my life at the time.

One thing to also remember is that we all express things differently. There are “Raw Raw” (very emotional) Christians and there are deep thinkers (show very little emotion) – that may give the appearance that one is closer to God than another but I don’t believe that to be true. Often times we wish we were the opposite and don’t appreciate who we are or how we were created. There needs to be a level of self acceptance and realization as well.

To the comment about one group being given proof that another must take on faith – I disagree. We are all given this invitation to accept on faith – how we are able to express it or choose to express it is part of how we are designed. My response to my faith will be much different than yours. We are both given the same fundamental information (The Bible), how we express our response is what make us different.

Because of who I am and my life story – I see things that God has done in my life that you may not recognize if you spent some time in my skin. There would also be times in which I didn’t acknowledge what God has done and yet it would be clearly visible to you – and the same if the situation is reversed.

Sometimes I think we covet people who have had huge turnarounds in their life – it’s such an outwardly visible thing. Yet I think some of the biggest victories that God has won in my life have never been seen to the outside world. For some reason we seem to accept the outward (visible) proof more than the internal – it’s easy to understand why because it’s something that people can “rally” around and promote – When is the last time you saw someone give a testimony about getting over a grudge they’ve had for 20 years and have worked to repentance with whomever it was held?? Having God work in that individual to overcome that may be worth more in that person’s life than overcoming a drinking problem (as an example) yet those things are not celebrated in the same way – why not??

Anyhow – these are just some thoughts on the point you raised

I’d suggest not comparing yourself to anyone else and focus on the way in which God is revealing his love to you – check your response to it – Don’t worry how things appear on the outside. I’ve wasted too much energy and caused to much pain to care about the outside anymore.

M.

Dan -

I can agree that most people are skeptical at times. It’s without a doubt part of our nature. It seems as humans we all have that as part of our being.

The one thing that I find ironic is that most people have accepted so many less important things than a belief in God and salvation through Jesus without questioning them.

ie: Is 1+1 really 2???

Are you sure?? If you are sure – why or how are you sure?

Prove it!

These guys tried: http://scienceblogs.com/goodmath/2006/06/extreme_math_1_1_2.php

At some point whatever you choose to believe as truth for you has been accepted by your belief system. There are so many things that can influence your belief system – do you know what they are for you? It may be that you will never choose to accept something as truth – no matter how much evidence is put in front of your face – the way you’ve conditioned your belief system (or the way it was conditioned – outside influences?) will never accept Scripture (or any given thing) as truth. At that point you will need to discover what Faith is.

As with my other post – these are just some ramblings from someone who is far from having his life together – but they are a reflection on some things I have experienced at one time or another in my life.

M.

For the reord, I agree 100% that there is proof that Jesus walked the arth and died on the cross. What there is absolutely NO proof of is that he was anything more than a normal dude. There are no proof of any “mracles” happening. Something written in a book doesn’t count as proof.

I have a few questions. When people overcome addictions or turn any corner in their life, why are they so afraid to pat themselves on the back. Why is it always God’s doing?

When people feel on top of the world because something awesome has happened in their life, why is that great feeling always described as “I felt God and he gave me strength” or something to that affect?

The body is capable of feeling and seeing many things, even things that aren’t there. If you truly believe something you can easily make yourself hear it or see it if if it doesn’t exist. Taking drugs will make you see and hear things that aren’t there as well. Is religion a drug? Possibly…..

With regard to the definitions I posted above, I would say that cyclical or constant skepticism about the same things is paradoxical for a Christian.

Initial or preliminary skepticism, however, should be required and encouraged. In my opinion, a lack of initial skepticism blunts the faith of most Christians. When challenged, they find the questions of the questioner overwhelming since they are encountering them for the first time. It should not be so.

Cyr,

The fact that we have thousands of manuscripts show they HAVE been played with. The only questions are when/where/why and how.

The manuscript differences are legion. We don’t know what was doctored or who might have doctored it. We do know, from human experience, and from textual evidence that the text is errant. An inerrant text does not exist. Some will appeal to the “original” manuscripts but since they do not exist it is kinda like “vaporware.”

All religion requires faith. The question we should ask is it a reasonable faith?

Bruce
a certified skeptic, studying for an advanced degree in agnosticism