Archonix, would it be accurate to summarize your question as, "Why do you (I) believe in the Christian, Triune God?" (as opposed to "god(s)" in general).

I've studied the Bible - at university, on my own, read lots of books about the Bible, focusing particularly on Jesus and the first Christians and the New Testament. Through this, I see the strong historical evidence that Jesus was an historical person (he really lived) and that he was a Jewish rabbi with a very original interpretation of the Law (Old Testament and Jewish religious requirements). There is strong evidence that his students (aka disciples) were so completely transformed by him, his miracles, his teachings, and yes, his resurrection that they, in turn, transformed society as we know it, even though it meant a painful death for many of them.

The more I learn about Jesus and allow him into different aspects of my life, the more I experience his love, wisdom, courage, patience, and joy.

I'd be glad to say more, but, again, don't want to type out a whole book here.

I don't believe that God neccessarily had anything to do with either of those events - although I do appreciate you sharing them, it lets me understand your views a bit better. Buying "Calvin's Institutes" though - a pretty serious protestant work - are you a student of Theology or was it more for your own pleasure?

If anyone is willing to answer my questions in the first paragraph above and the one that Sicarius quoted please do.

Sorry - thought you'd logged off there, you answered my questions properly. I'd love to hear anyone elses views though.

"a single power" - If I understand correctly what you mean by this phrase, I'd have to say I'm somewhat agnostic about believing in "a single power." Feel free to clarify for me.

Stagger, the second miracle is easily explained by coincidence, I recommend "Why do Buses Come in Threes?", chapter six. Presumably it was a relatively likely book for you to want, etc.

As for the sight, how do you explain it happening for such a short time? I noticed on occasion that my sight is for a short time terrible, particularly after long periods focusing at the same distance, it takes a while to re-adjust. The same thing could "correct" your sight for a while.

My opinion with miracles is that it is more likely to be a natural phenominon that a supernatural one.

another question, how did you establish the accuracy of the bible? we can not even all agree that Shakespeare actually wrote all the material that is associated with his name - how on earth are we to believe that documents written 1,500+ years ago, translated many times, organized and reorganized, edited and perfected depending on the needs and desires of the individual working on them are so very accurate??

During most of my B.A., I was an atheist/agnostic.
I bought Calvin's Institutes while doing my masters.
I'm now a pastor.

Stagger, Old Testament is a fairy tale book. I don’t want to offend you, but if you read it carefully you will find that God promotes slavery and horrible deaths for the unbelievers.
And there is no proof of Jesus existence except the Bible. But the Bible is not a history’s book, it is just another mythology.

Sicarius, I don't feel I can answer (briefly) a question with so many inaccurate assumptions. But in short, I don't establish the accuracy of the Bible. Bible scholars and historians, etc do.

BTW, I'm not a Biblical fundamentalist. I bet there's lots of things in the Bible that are not historically accurate, predominantly in the Old Testiment.

But as I said above, I don't believe in the Bible, but in the Trinue God that the Bible invites to know and experience for ourselves.

So, how about this: I invite you to conduct a little experiment for yourself. Address this questionally-existant Trinue God for yourself - say, "Jesus, if you are alive, prove it to me! If your heavenly Father exists, prove it to me! Holy Spirit, if you exist, touch me!"

It doesn't count if you don't actually speak to this possibly-existant God. If you only entertain this in your mind, without actually addressing him, that's not the same thing at all.

That would be the same as being unsure if someone was in the next room but only THINKING about what you could say and what response you may or may not get, rather than actually saying something to know for sure weather or not someone is there.

Thanks for the good conversations!
I've got to go - anniversary dinner with my wife.
Warrior - check out Josephus for starters.

The greatest story ever told...

http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=zeitgeist#

which of my assumptions are innacurate?

Sicarius:

You are a hypocrit.

You said you wanted to "understand" him, yet you keep attacking every reason he gives out. I don't believe that God told him not to buy that book, but that's what he feels, he explained it to you, and you can either shut up about it, or admit that your true intention is either a) convince him of something else b) making he look "stupid" or "Foolish" for believing in what he believes (and YOU asked him to tell you what he believes in!)

Hey Xapi..its a discussion? Both sides make points, and Sicarus is stating his own point of view, and he is entitled to his opinion. If Stagger isnt offended by it then it ok..this is what grown-up discussions are like.

i dont believe in a "god" but i do think theres a higher thing (for want of a better word) because and if someone can correct me il be happy to listen, that the basis of science is that you cant get energy from nothing yes?so therefore in the very very beginning before big bang etc something that we can explain had to be present to make that first bit of energy.sorry this is just my unknowledgable view.as for the bible i think its the greatest fake/fairy tale ever written.

Xapi, you misspelled "hypocrite".

Well, a physicist would dispute the validity of the idea "before big bang", on the grounds that the big bang was the beginning of space and time. There was no before. I think you make a valid point, though.... it's clear that there was a big bang, but that's not really a sufficient explanation for the existence of the universe.

something had to be there to create the big bang?it couldnt just happen could it?i dont know enough about science to really explain my point i just try 2 go on logic

Exactly. Even if you accept that the big bang was/is anything more than a local event in an infinite universe, and even you accept that the creation of something from nothing is consistent with the laws of physics, then the question still remains as to how those laws came about....

i may be reading the post compleltly wrong but arent you contradicting yourself, either that or im to tired for this

Then I think you're probably too tired for this.

Stagger, my best wishes for you and your wife! If you read about Josephus you will find that his little reference about Jesus is suspected of forgery. And he is the only one during the early first century (in a bunch of historian) who made a reference about Jesus. I strongly recomend to all of players to see what Darwyn posted (Zeitgeist Movie). It's very good.

" It happened that one of the Twelve, Thomas(the name means "Twin"), was absent when Jesus came. The other disciples kept telling him: "We have seen the Lord!" His answer was, "I will never believe it without probing the nailprints in his hands, without putting my finger in the nailmarks and my hand into his side."
A week later, the disciples were once more in the room, and this time Thomas was with them. Despite the locked doors, Jesus came and stood before them. "Peace be with you", He said: then to Thomas: "Take your finger and examine My hands. Put your hand into My side. Do not persist in your unbelief, but believe!"
Thomas said in response, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus then said to him:
"You became a believer because you saw me.
Blest are they who have not seen and have believed."(John. 21:24)

Warrior, thanks for the wishes - I had a great steak and gave my wife the shrimp. Josephus makes 2 references to Jesus. Yes, one may be a forgery, but the other is strongly regarded (by most scholars) to being authentic.

"Festus was now dead, and Albinus was but upon the road; so he assembled the sanhedrin of judges, and brought before them the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ, whose name was James, and some others."

Either way, Josephus' references to Jesus don't have much to do with why I'm a Christian.

I'm a Christian because first I decided there was a God. Then I decided that this God was not a hands-off God, and that there must be a way to reach him. I studied the ways of reaching him and found Calvinist Christianity to make the most sense.

speaking of thomas, isnt the gospel of thomas non canonical

If you honestly want to put a little time into it, check this book out (though I suppose there are many other good ones):

The Case for Christ: A Journalist's Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus by Lee Strobel

If you were a journalist, how would you investigate the hottest news story in history? Join award-winning reporter Strobel as he probes the life of Jesus Christ. Interviewing 13 of the country's top Christian scholars, he ferrets out incontestable historical, scientific, and psychiatric evidence to support the claims of Jesus. A unique approach to apologetics! 336 pages.

I've read that actually.

or it might have been the case for... christianity or faith or something
some strobel book

it wasnt bad, but some of the stuff he said didnt really prove anything at all