Ron Cusano

That is the foundation upon which Christianity is built - Read my post to lisah25 - and that is just the tip of the iceberg of the mountain of evidence

Several ways, all of which would take considerable time and space! For one, the very nature of the Bible itself. A total of 66 seperate books or writings written by 40 authors, most of whom never knew each other, over a period of 6ooo years. All of these seperate writings put together make a single volume, like a puzzle where all the parts fit neatly together telling a single story . Mathamaticians have concluded that the odds of this happening by pure chance at a number that is beyond our comprehension. The odds that it could have been a conspiricy involving all 40 authors over 6000 years is also beyond the realm of reason. This is a great argument for devine intervention Consider Bible prophecy! There are literally hundreds of specific prophecys regarding the Messiah, all of whom Jesus fulfilled. Mathamaticians have concluded that the odds of one man fulfilling just 7 of these prophecys at any given point in time and history to be, are you ready for this . . . 1038 (1 in a 100 billion, billion, billion, billion) This is just enough to scratch the surface in answer to your question. The odds of the Bible being what it is and Bible prophecy being fulfilled as it has, puts the odds of it being by chance or coinsidince far beyond the realm of possibility. The only explanation is exactly what the Bible claims it is - devine inspirition from a Holy God. None of this has anything to do with blind faith!

If you smell Troll, perhaps you need deodorant!! Do you have the capacity to at least be honest?? Yesterday you told me that your moniker has been the subject on many debates and everything that could be discussed about it has beed discussed - or something to that effect. Today you say that it "has not yet incited a debate" in 2-years. So were you wrong yesterday or today?? Patronize you! Sweetheart, judging from your pic, I am old enough to be your father, and respect comes form receiving respect. You have a lot to learn. You tell me I have all the facts wrong, but come up with all these lame reasons whay you don't want to give me the "real" facts! It appears that you just like to make comments and say nothing. Regarding attacks! For some reason this thread seems to attract a large number of athiests, many of whom have jumped into the arena to take their shots at my posts. I have no problem with that and feel confident enough in what I believe to substanciate what I believe. Attack away!

It's not illogical at all! Those who are spiritually blind cannot have spiritual incite and understanding. If you know the scriptures as you claim , then you should be familiar with - 1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God:for they are foolishness unto him:neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. Who is to say who is spiritually blind and who are not??? The Bible does !!

Of course they are attacks! Don't be silly! And as a moderator, you should be above that. You advertise that you are an athiest, but get spastic when someone else dare's to talk about their religious views. That moniker if there to incite debate or it would not be there. Can you at least own up to that?? I am not insinuating anything, nor am I calling anyone unintelligent or uneducated. When I asked someone, I might have be you, why they did not believe in God of religion, I was told it was how they felt. I asked what they understand was based upon, and everyone, especially you, got all bent out of shape. Darling, I have been in messianic minsitry for 30 years! If you think I have had a passive life, you are not dealing in reality. You keep stating that I have all the wrong facts about why people believe as the do when they are an athiest. So then put me streight and tell me what the real facts are.

Not surprising! There are may in the pulpit that claim knowledge of the scriptures, but are spiritually blind. There is a big difference between having a head knowledge and having spiritual understanding.

It's quite simple! For instance, Bible History is a popular course taught in many secular colleges. One can come away from that course with a historical knowledge and still know little about the spiritual and prophetic nature of the scriptures. A common tactic of cults and fringe groups that claim to be Christian and ar not, will take parts of the Bible out of context and build entire false belief systems out of them. The Bible is a series of 66 books written by 40 different authors over a period of about 6,000 years, that all fit together like a jigsaw puzzle yielding a tapestry of devine origin. Without an understand of how all of the pieces fit together, one can not understand the full the message it contains.

That was not meant for you, and of course you can disagree and question me with me all you want. It was meant for the person that accused me of questioning someone elses Christianity, which I would never do. Not being used to this format, it can be a bit confusing. I apoligize for the error.

Not choosing to talk about your belief is certainly your right and I respect that. I am not lecturing anyone on how to become a Christian, I am defending myself for a series of vicious attacks because I inquired about the moderator labeling herself as a "token athiest"! The last I checked, I don't get any "brownie points" or many any money if an athiest becomes a Christian, so why do I care? Maybe I care that because of unbelief, many will be eternally lost as I once was. That is my only motivation. I have absolutely no problem sharing why I believe what I believe is you honestly care and want to hear it, and are willing to consider it with an open mine. If it just going to be more fodder for more attacks, why bother. We already have enough of that going on now.

Really! I have yet to see one. There is a big difference between reading a book and diligently studing and researching it's claims. It takes an open mind and heart, which by nature, most athiests do not have when it comes to the Bible.

Attending a church does not make one a Christian! I know many, many people who attended church for years before they actually became a Christian.

Seems like the vultures are circling the carcass! Seems like I have rattled a lot of cages! Regarding my feeling that my beliefs are right! Duh! Of course I think they are right, or they would not be my beliefs. And yes, being right is very important to me, because I certainly would not want to believe something that was wrong. And YOU talk about an "exercise in futility" Come on now! You can do better that. I also believe that you are sincere in what you believe, howbeit, sincerely wrong! In over 30 years, I have never met an athiest that has studied the scriptures with an open mind and heart, and remained an athiest. I have also never met someone who has studied the scriptures with an open mind and heart, and became an athiest! That, plus the obvious lack of incite into the entirety of God's Word that has been expressed here, leads me to the conclusions that I have made and shared. Concerning other Christians that have posted on this thread, we may disagree on how and where to share our faith, but we do not disagree about what and who we believe. We are still brothers and sisters in Christ, and that remark was low and hitting below the belt. In fact it was pretty desperate on your part! With all of this yelling and screaming from so many athiests, not a single one has offered to explain why they believe, or don't believe as they do, which was my original question that got you all in a tizzy in the first place! Do you just drool at the mouth at the thought of attacking Christians, or do you bring anything so substance to the table to support your convictions??

First, I have not complained about being attacked, or questioned it. Your comments about the Bible and what it teaches makes it clear that you have never read, studied or researched it's claims, just as most other athiests. It is easy to dismiss something you only have a superficial knowledge about. You speak of contridictions in the scriptures when, in fact, none exist. What you preceive as being contridictions comes from taking verses out of context, and picking and choosing subject matter that is not relevant to the point. You fail to see or understand the entire picture because you are focusing on only one tiny particle. It's like going to a buffet, seeing an olive, and saying, "I hate olives, therefore this buffet is no good. it's all about olives!!" Your statement that there are no "verifiable signs of God" bears evidence that you have not done your research! Bible prophecy by itself offers just that proof by providing evidence of history being written in advance, where the odds of it happening are far beyond the realm of mear probability or chance. You are repeating the tired old rantings of those who who ignorantly dismiss God because they don't understand Him or take the time to examine the evidence.

I wonder if Jesus picked and chose where and when he preached the truth? The time and place is always whenever the opportunity presents itself. My "sweeping assumtions" as you co colorfully put it, about how athiests arrive at their conclusion that there is no God, is based upon many years of conversations and debates with athiests. It is a position that cannot be defended. Jesus made people angry every time he opened His mouth, and He told us to expect the same. He said "the world will hate you because it first hated me"! "Turning people off" by sharing your faith is not something new! A lot of people are being lost because Believers are waiting for just "the right time and place" to share salvation with unbelievers.

Listen, Christians, by virtue of their beliefs, will go to great lengths to share their faith. It is who they are! When we see someone who we believe to be eternally lost, professing themselves to be an athiest, we have a spiritual and moral obligation to share our faith with them. They may or may not accept it, but nevertheless, we must share it. We would be hypocrits if we did not. If being exposed to Christian faith and beliefs maks a "flock of atheists angry", then something must be hitting home! Asking an athiest is they have examined their position on faith is very relevant, since atheists usually base their lack of faith entirely on "feelings" which can not be substanciated and have no basis in fact. It is based upon a foundation of sand that quickly washes away when put to the test. The result is usually anger, which as you point out, has happened here! God bless!

I'm happy if you're happy!! :-)

Wheetsin, You are taking something I said completely out of context! After explaining what I believed and why I believed it, I made it clear that I arrived at my conviction after many years of searching, studing and questioning. When I said "have you done your homework?" I was inquiring if you had also done likewise to arrive at your position on faith. This is the second or third thing that I have said that you took as a personal afront, and have become defensive about. Now why is that??

Just for the record, when I posted here I expected that my topic and comments would spark lively debate and differing viewpoints. I make no bones about who I am or what I believe, and am not shy about expressing it. What sparked me to bring up the subject was your moniker of "token athiest" which seems like an open invitation for discussion of the subject. If it wasn't meant to invite discussion, I assume it would not be there in such a prominent position. That being said, why do some find it suprising that a Christian would ask questions about someone displaying the title of "token athiest"!! That is like putting a bone in front of a hungry dog, and wondering why he ate it!!

And to you! I am looking forward to more lively debates and disagreements! :-)

Yes I did! Whenever I hear someone say they are an athiest I am interested in how and why that have that conviction. When I said "somehow", it was a figure of speech, but I think you already know that. Now, it seems like I am sensing "hostility" from you! Do you feel threatened or offended by me discussing my faith?

Somehow the conversation turned to faith and I make no apoligies for sharing what I believe!

By no means do I "sit or stand next to someone and repeatedly extoll the virtues of being a Christian"!! I find it interesting that just speaking about my beliefs makes people uncomfortable and defensive. I certainly don't "bully" anyone. I am just being who I am. Apparently folks seem to find it harder to accept me as being a Christian, than I do accepting them as non-believers. I often ask people what THEY and WHY they believe that, and rarely tell them what I believe unless they ask or give me reason to think they may want to know. How do you consider that "bullying"??

Hi Tami, I don't push my beliefs on anyone. I just share what they are and allow others to do what they choose with it. If someone claims to be a Christian and does not share their faith, they are not much of a Christian. I have many friends who are not Christians, and while I disagree with the spiritual choice, I accept them, respect them and interact with them. They know who I am, what I believe, and accept me in return. Do you see that as a problem? Ron

Two more good questions, and both have the same answer! Based upon the scriptures, Christians believe that those that do not have a personal relationship with Jesus, and accept His atoning work on the tree, are eternally lost. Therefore, our faith demands that we share what we understand to be the truth, with others. That is why we ask questions about faith and want to share our faith with those who do not believe. Ultimately, what you believe, and your eternal destination are entirely up to you. You are free to believe and experience anything that you want. We're just doing our job as Believers!!

Two more good questions! The answer to both of them is the same! Based upon my understanding of the scriptures, the only way to have ternal life is through a personal relationship with His son, Jesus. Those who don't have this relationship are eternally lost. It is because Bible believing Christians have this understanding, that they ask unbelievers about their lack of faith, and wish to share their beliefs with others. Our faith demands it. Of course, the ultimate decision on weather you come to faith or not is up to you, but it is incumbenent upon us to share the truth.