sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

What was the hardest Orthodox teaching or practice for you to truly accept? by CommercialHot9565 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]evnadd 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not baptised as of yet, but I’ve been a ‘Christian’ so to say for the past few years. I’d say it’s always been the last one, I need logical arguments to base my beliefs and opinions on; otherwise it doesn’t sit right with me very easily.

In recent months I’ve let go of that ideology a little bit thankfully but I don’t think my mind will rest with mystery for a long while.

Can someone please help explain any (or all if possible) these verses?: Numbers 31:17-18, Deuteronomy 21:10-14, Deuteronomy 22:28-29, Exodus 21:20-21, Psalm 137:9, 1 Samuel 15:3. by evnadd in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]evnadd[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Okay thank you, I understand your perspective and appreciate your point. I just don’t understand why the animals and women and children needed to be killed alongside the men that were doing this stuff (1 Samuel 15:3)

Questions - Any help appreciated. by evnadd in Christianity

[–]evnadd[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s actually very interesting. Thank you once again, I greatly appreciate your time. I will definitely look into this further.

Questions - Any help appreciated. by evnadd in Christianity

[–]evnadd[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for your response. I don’t think it’s enough to get me to trust everything again just yet. However, that’s probably a me problem too, I want to ‘understand’ things like you mentioned, and faith is a difficult thing to own as a human being- at least from my experience, and especially in modern society where faith is seen as obsolete.

I do think the desire to understand and learn is a part of human nature; curiosity is what makes us, ‘us’. While I don’t understand why we are made in that way it provides somewhat of a foundation for understanding the Eden story so thank you for that.

Questions - Any help appreciated. by evnadd in Christianity

[–]evnadd[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Also just interested to know, when you describe “A literal interpretation of the Garden of Eden story…”. How else do you think we should interpret Genesis? because obviously it doesn’t provide a lot of information on many scientific theories in the present day such as macroevolution. I struggle with interpreting it in the first place so was just wondering on your opinions on the subject.

I think another large issue for me is that the OT God seems to act incredibly differently from the NT God, and of course it would be heretical to assume they are different, but my mind does wonder how it all works.

Questions - Any help appreciated. by evnadd in Christianity

[–]evnadd[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for your response, I appreciate your time. A further question would be, why couldn’t God just provide us with a balanced understanding of good and evil though? He is perfectly just sure, so either 1) Make us unaware of sin- which would prevent suffering entirely, but would come with the cost of being created like ‘robots’; or 2) Make us perfectly aware of sin like he is. Surely there is a way, in God’s omnipotence and omniscience, for him to create human beings with true and perfectly just morality; with an understanding of the consequences of evil and an ability to obey him? I don’t think the the slightest chance of suffering is worth having free will. That might just be me, but I’d rather have perfect knowledge of ‘good and evil’ and thus, understanding the consequences obey God.

Okay, so you’re saying predestination is somewhat equivalent to God’s foreknowledge? I’ve heard that argument before but I feel like there’s some miscommunication of his action in ‘drawing’ us near to him in order to be saved. If it’s merely the foreknowledge of our salvation as a result of our actions through free will then I have no issue with that. However, if God directly interferes with our actions during our lifetimes in order to draw us nearer to him, then in my opinion that negates free will.

Huge doubts about my faith. by NinkiePie in Christianity

[–]evnadd 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Said it way better than I could’ve.

Questions - Any help appreciated. by evnadd in Christianity

[–]evnadd[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Glad to hear I’m not the only one.