Hmm ok I misinterpreted, my fault.
Edit: Oh and they have full potential to not be "pointless debates". If you open your mind, and maybe try to learn something, they can be useful. I spend a lot of my time in religious debates, and instead of pushing my beliefs, I listen to others, so that I get a better perspective of the other side. It allows one to be well versed all around. A great man once said, "I wish closed minds came with closed mouths".
It's cool, I'm sure if I continue on I will misinterpret as well.
Yes they can be interesting discussions, you are correct, but
here what I've generally found in the past is that a few people end up ruining it. I have an open mind, trust me, that's how I got to what I believe now. I was actually on your side of the "debate" until I was almost 19 years old. If I've come off as "I'm right and youre wrong, I'm not going to listen to you," then I apologize. I definitely know of Christians who kinda refuse to listen to anything but their own beliefs and it's annoying. But at this point I'm just going to sit back and let others chime in, as to try not to dominate the thread. You asked what we believe and why, and I've answered. I said if you have questions I'll TRY to answer. Until next time...
The Bible is split up into 2 parts, the New and Old Testament, right? But I've noticed that many people only follow one version. If they follow only one part, then how can they consider themselves following the Bible since they would only be reading half of the stuff?
If you are following the New Testament, why do people refer to phrases from the Old Testament when certain issues come up? For example on homosexuality, they use stuff from the Old in an argument but then ignore everything else?
Why do people pick and choose what they want to believe/preach from either testament? I know there's some stuff like you can't work on Sunday, eat shellfish, and that women must be under the command of men. But then people ignore that stuff but continue preaching other parts (like that homosexuality bits).
I can tell you what the bible says and what most Christians generally believe, although you probably won't understand it and ask more questions, which is fine. Or you will understand it and just say it's silly (I've said the same). The only other option is to understand it and believe it. I'm just basing this on past discussions with other non-beleivers. I guess that's the same reaction people have to ALL religions, not just Christianity - either they think it's crazy and they have a negative attitude towards it, or they are respectful towards it but simply do not agree with it or believe it, or they understand it and do believe it. Anyway, like I said to Dymdez, I'm going to chill for a while.
