Why I'm A Christian [View all]

[cleanhippie]

I'm a Christian. I don't know what kind of connotation that evokes in you, but I think it will be worth hearing my explanation of why I'm a Christian. I'd like you to know how my personal research, reasoning and meditations have led me to these conclusions. I'm attempting to present a non-threatening explanation which is, of course, my viewpoint. At the outset, I appeal to your reasonableness to hear, without prejudgment, a simple explanation that I feel is compelling.

First, realize there are more than a billion people now living claiming to be Christian. Probably no two would explain in exactly the same way what it means to be a Christian. That's because every one of us has had a different life experience and a different perspective. However, there are at least three ideas that are both minimally acceptable to all that are Christians and that may be unique to Christianity. These three ideas are the only three I'd like to discuss. Christians all believe there is a higher power that most picture as a personage, a ‘God', if you will. They also believe that Jesus as the son of God gave up his life as a sacrifice to benefit all those that avail themselves of his magnanimity. Finally, they all recognize the obligation to show love to others.

All I want to do is analyze these three ideas. I beg you not to go ahead of me. There is wide latitude even within those three issues. For example, I know committed Christians who live as close to the concept of sainthood as you could imagine, but whose views and picture of God are diametrically different, anywhere between viewing God as the wizard in the Wizard of Oz, a little old man who sits behind a giant computer screen and a conglomeration of buttons and knobs keeping order in the universe to the other extreme of God being a hardily a person as we would normally define a person.

Some Christians see God as a spiritual force found anywhere and everywhere in creation, a person, yes, in the sense of intelligence, feeling and goal-orientation. Christian views run the gamut between those extremes. Let's not debate these fine points now that are a life's project in itself. Let's just understand the basics of the three issues Christianity asserts as true, an eternal God or "Mighty One" as the original language of Christian scripture asserts. Christianity asserts that Jesus is the Son of God whose mandate was to die for all who might and will ever need that sacrifice to give them the psychological courage to go on. Finally, Christianity asserts that the only way one can ever be truly happy is to come to the point where you can put others' interests before your welfare. In other words, show "love" to others following the example Jesus set. That's all I'm asking you to consider with me.

(much more at link)

http://www.goddiscussion.com/104667/why-im-a-christian/