20+ Questions: God, Man, and The Devil

20+ Questions: God, Man, and The Devil - MY Answers!

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         I've been witness to numerous complaints and questions about God for many years. Now, some would classify me as a Christian, but personally, I detest being wrapped up in labels like that. To me, when someone mentions the word Christian, people automatically think of the benighted clods like the Westboro Baptists that picket funerals, or the idiots that pester your TV airtime with pleas or cons to sell worthless trinkets for money, or the ones that put on a phony charade claiming so many healings that they're God's second son. So I don't like being called one because that, to me, is something of an insult.

         No, I consider myself as just a man that believes that there is something better. Something to look forward to, and hope for. I am a man that believes that my life has a purpose, and quite frankly, if they don't like it, tough cookies. I'm not trying to impress anyone.  Truthfully though, I guess you could label me a Believer if you want to use a label - though I'll be the first to admit that I fall short on several levels. But that's my problem, no one else's. You see, everyone falls short. I've yet to meet anyone that adheres to every point in the Book.

         I should mention here that as a matter of experience, I've been around the block. I was born into Catholicism, raised in Witchcraft, baptized a Baptist, and preached at Pentecostal churches (not UPC ones). I've been there, done that, and got the T-shirt, coffee mug, and the damn beach towel. I have more than enough experience to back up my beliefs. But remember, this is NOT a debate! The non-believers have had their say, as far as I'm concerned. If they can bitch and piss and moan about why they hate Christians, I have the right to stand up for it. Please note that I claim no related credentials of any sort - I don't need some piece of paper to tell me I know what I already know. And if someone else wants one, well, that's their hang-up.

         I'm writing this little opinion bit as a sort of way to express what I believe, how I act in regards to my beliefs, and answer a few of those idiotic questions that many non-believers toss around as a means to make excuses for their inadequacies. I've contended many times on anti-God forums, atheistic groups and chats, and even sites as supposedly neutral as Space.com. And each time, I was disallowed to formulate a reasonable response, or answer any questions, quite obviously because most atheists have a tendency not to practice what they preach. And since this is my opinion and my beliefs, I'm going to say one more thing in closing before the questions. But to those that question us, and doubt, then read on, because this document is intended for you. Though skip the next paragraph, because that one's intended for the ones that deliberately and joyfully attack us relentlessly.

         I'd like to take this opportunity to point out that everyone seems to have engaged in Open Season on Christians these last twenty years or so. And that's fine, because I can give as good as I get - if not better. I'd like to begin with a hearty "fuck you!" to people that enjoy attacking us. And should it ever get to a point where we have to take a militant action and band together to defend ourselves and our beliefs, I'll be right there on the front lines, pal. And fair warning: I don't miss. You forget that God did have armies that stood up in His name - and they didn't lose if they were obedient. That's part of the Freedoms we have. We will always be here. You will never be rid of us, and you will never silence us. We're here to stay. But in the near future, there will come a time when we won't be here. And if you're still around, well, I feel bad for you - because that means you've been left behind. You people bitch about us, but you let Muslims, Hindus, Evolutionists, Atheists and Buddhists have their free reign. So, if you're really all that you claim to be, then you should do what you've been forcing us to do all these years - shut the fuck up, sit your ass down, and listen. I've had enough - it's MY turn now! (Can you tell I'm pissed?)

         So here goes nothing...Keep in mind, these are just my views.

         1) "Why is there so much pain and suffering in the world - even to the innocent children?"

         Quite frankly, it's not God that wishes it upon us. God gave Man free will - freedom to choose. Unfortunately, the choices we make aren't on the up-and-up all the time. There is a price to pay - good or bad - for every decision. Some jackass decides to get behind the wheel after drinking, and someone is killed. I know this one from experience. My sister was killed.
         "Why does it happen to children?" In God's eyes, people are people. No one person is any better or worse than the next. And the adult makes his own bad decision to hurt a child. It's not God's fault - except in the absolute abstract that it was His fault He gave people free will. But tell the truth - would you rather be a drone, or have free will? And with free will, there's a price for every choice.
         Let's take an example of a child molester. God knows it's going to happen, but He won't infringe upon a person's right to freely make his choice to do so. There are consequences, however - addressed later in this document. But blaming God for such things happening is like shooting the parents of said child molester when they had nothing to do with it. The parents didn't tell him to molest the child, he chose to do it on his own, knowing it is wrong. And what makes you think God doesn't, in fact, do something about it? Maybe that child will grow up to be the biggest child protection advocate the world has ever known. Maybe that child molester goes to prison, and in there, he is murdered for his crime by other inmates?
         Don't blame God for what men do. Men make their own choices.

         2) "Why doesn't God heal the sick, or raise the dead, like we always hear about?"

         What makes you think He doesn't? The news doesn't cover it? Since when does the News ever carry anything good? I personally never saw anyone raised from the dead, but I've heard about it. However, I have witnessed physical healing. That much I know for certain.

         3) "Why doesn't God answer my prayers?"

         He does. You just don't always like the answer - or you're not listening good enough. The answer isn't always going to be "yes". There is "no," "maybe later," "not yet," "you need to do this first," and so many others. Pay attention, you will get an answer. Even if it's not the one you want.

         4) "If God knows everything in advance, then there's really no free will, is there?"

         Are you really that stupid? Come on, think about that for a minute. I'll give you a simple example.  You are presented with a choice: Go to work, or call in and play hooky. Now, you already know in advance the outcomes of both choices. You can either go to work and get paid, or stay out and earn nothing (let's not get dumb with paid holidays, either!) Yet you choose what you're going to do. You're not forced into making any particular decision, but each has it's own reward, and you make your decision based on that information. Just because God knows what choice you're going to make, does not mean he will influence your decision in any way. You have the free will to choose.
         The Bible states plainly that "while you were yet in the womb, I knew you." That about says it all. See, if God says He knows something or someone, do you really think He doesn't know everything about that someone or something? He knows.

         5) People have asked me, "Wow, for a believer, you sure have a foul mouth sometimes. Why is that?"

         Two reasons. The main one is bad habit. I make no excuses for it. It's wrong, I know it, but I'm working on it. Secondly, truth be told, it's sometimes the only language some of the more ignorant people will understand and respect. And often, it's really effective at driving home a point. Like "Will you just shut the hell up?!" instead of "Please be silent." Sorry but I'm more likely to fall silent when told the former. :)  Now, I know the Bible refers to corrupt communication not passing your lips. To me, though, that's lying, half-truths, coercions, instigations, insults, and such.
         Which is the corrupt communication, though? Telling someone, "You'll never amount to anything, you lazy retard!" or telling them "Yeah, fuck off!"  One will destroy someone's life, the other drives home a point. The power of life and death is in the tongue. I know this is going to irritate the high-and-mighty-Christian types, but that's their problem, not mine.

         6) "Have you ever seen an angel or a demon?"

         Yup, both. And that's all I'm going to say on the matter for now. To get into that topic would change the course of this Q&A document into a testimonial or preaching session. That is not the intention of this document.

         7) "Why should I go to church all the time?"

         Who said anything about all the time? Go when you feel you want to. We're told not to forsake the gathering together of ourselves. And it's a known fact that people draw strength from one another. But otherwise, I saw no commandment that "Thou shalt attend church every day you possibly can when the doors aren't locked!" No! I know for a fact it's true when "two or three are gathered together in My name." So basically, a man and his wife are sufficient. That's church. The Old Testament requirement of regular temple attendance is just that - Old Testament. In this New era, WE are the church. God resides within us, in spirit.

         8) "Why are Christians so big on money and tithes and grubbing for donations?"

         Who isn't grubbing for money? I am. Every week, I go grubbing to my boss for money. What's your point? Oh, is it the idea of the bucket being passed around? Well, different churches do it differently - some have fake-gold plates. In either case, it boils down to one thing: If you give, you'll get. Period. And the more you give, the more you get. And it's not always money either. I've known people that gave faithfully regularly, and suddenly, out of the blue, someone that they've never met before gives them a car. You will get back, if you give. But how you give is far more important than what you give, or how much. Even if it's just spending a couple hours with an old fart in a nursing home. You're giving of your time - the second most precious thing you can give. (The first most precious is obviously your life.)
         It bears mentioning that if you give with the sole purpose of expecting something in return, you're defeating the purpose and you will get nothing. You have to give, expecting nothing, for the sole purpose being that you want to give.

         9) "Why should I believe in a god when scientists have proven evolution?"

         They proved it? Where? I've never seen any proof, ever. I've seen a half-ton of theories, supposes, maybes, could-be's, and guesses. But I've never seen any solid proof. Not a bit. But then you say, "Yeah, but that's all religion is, is a bunch of guesses and no proof." To you maybe, but that's because you haven't looked close enough. Haven't you ever looked at your children as they grow up? A five-year-old American little girl has no concept of Tokyo, Japan. But that doesn't mean Tokyo doesn't exist, now, does it? We are all children, at various stages.
         But to drive another point, which is more believable? Being created in the image and likeness if a higher being, or evolving from a puddle of snot some meteor deposited on a big rock? I don't know about you, but I don't believe my forbears were monkeys - otherwise there wouldn't still be any monkeys. Why? Because evolution points at change and growth, and if monkeys evolved into Man, there wouldn't be any monkeys.
         On another note, anyone that thinks evolution and Biblical principles go hand in hand, have a serious problem. Either you serve God, or you don't. There is no middle ground - either you're for Him or against Him. If you remain on the fence thinking other religions/beliefs/doctrines work together with the Bible, well, as He said, He will "spit you out of His mouth," because you're luke-warm. Actually, the right word would be "vomit."
         "How can experiments like the E. coli experiment by Richard Lenski, vestigal structures and transitionary fossils (such as the Eusthenotperon) be explained by Christian theories?"
         Due to the nature and spirit of your review and question, I'll gladly answer. You presented good arguments. But I want to state again, this is my opinion based on what I've studied and what I believe in. I am unwilling to turn this into a debate, however. And thanks for your feedback, too!
         First part, the E. coli bit. Now, I'm not closed-minded like most. I always enjoy sciences such as biology, astronomy, history, and such. But I can't help but laugh at the time lines they spew out like they know for certain. So saying, I read your argument, researched the link you provided - as well as cross-referencing to other sources - and I have my answer. This is going to be a long one, so other readers beware. I do congratulate you on this, because it is a train of thought I had never considered until about two years ago - and haven't thought much about it since - until now.
         Now, I deny anything point-blank that tries to tell me one organism spat out another, as you mentioned. By the same token, I flatly deny that any organism "changed" or "evolved" into any other organism. And there's a reason for that.  Looking at the E. coli experiment, only proved one thing to me. It did not evolve. No, it did not. It adapted. In my opinion, what had occurred was no different than a human's blood thickening in cold weather, or a dog shedding her fur in the summer. It was adaptation - an ability that all living organisms were created with. It did not change its fundamental purpose for function - it'll still wipe out its host. It only changed the way it went about doing it. That is not evolution, it is adaptation. It was forced to adapt to the environment it was exposed to. Having been left alone in its natural environment, I'm certain nothing would have happened - except perhaps death. When people interfere with the natural order of things, any number of things can occur (referring to gene splicing to produce a zucchini out of a cucumber and squash, that sort of thing) but none of it really classifies as evolution, to me. Merely adaptation. Or forced mutation in the case of the zucchini. If men lived under water and sprouted gills, this would in no wise be evolution. Only adaptation. And when people combine the two together, as in "evolutionary adaptation" I am forced to laugh because it ranks right up there with Jumbo Shrimp and Microsoft Works.
         It is nothing more than an organism changing to accommodate its surroundings and adapting to certain foods. Losing its hair or thickening its blood. No different - but because it's a single cell, the changes are far more profound. Sorry, but that's what I think of the experiment. Minor adaptations are one thing, but major changes and the assumptions that such things occur naturally, is a fallacy. Again - no proof. I don't suppose I'll ever believe in such a thing as evolution until I see a dog evolve into a bird, or some such - and no man lives long enough to witness that major a change - hence, no documentation, therefore no proof. <shrug>
         Now, what I consider to be proof, is first-hand experience, or eye-witness accounts of a similar major change. Science has already proven that the Bible is correct - give or take a few decades - from the flood on up. So I have no reason to doubt it, as it consists of eye-witness accounts passed down to us through the years, by itself. Science has only provided confirmation to what many of us already believed. The rest, to me, is crap that's been made up by people who can't stand having their egos punctured. Heck, even those Star Trek theories about warp drive seem plausible, even possible - but we all know that's crap too. The only proof of any kind of evolution that I've found, is when a caterpillar evolves into a butterfly, or something along those lines.
         All that fossil link tells me is that no one knows for certain. There are still, even in that document, an awful lot of supposes, possibles, maybes and such. I quote, "Sadly, the fossil is incomplete and we can't see its fins/feet." Well, no shit Sherlock, probably because it didn't have any! Assumptions only do one thing - make an ass out of the person making it. And the page is loaded with assumptions, but no proof. If men were around at that time, and they kept record of such things, I would have no reason to doubt. But when an egotistical scientist wants to make a name for himself, he goes and takes a carp and a turtle, and say, "These are related! And I can prove it by taking bones from 4 other animals and combining them, and looky here, the missing link!" I don't buy it because #1) they're dead, #2) no records, #3) no eye-witnesses, #4) no real point in it. What they really should do is spend more time exploring the solar system and colonizing so we have room to continue to grow. When one is faced with a belief system that offers an obvious benefit to mankind (excepting the more radical, idiot ones) and another belief system that serves absolutely no purpose or benefit to mankind, I choose the former.
         Finally, in closing, I'd like to point something out to you, that non-believers always overlooked. Don't you find it odd that, in all of Man's history, everything is backed up by documentation and corroboration - even partials and bits and pieces - except evolution? There really is no proof. Everything else in Man's history can be proven. Everything. Except evolution. All in all, I would rather follow information provided from several thousand years ago, than yet another false doctrine adopted only a short couple hundred years ago. This is where the Bible tells us that He will show Man's intelligence to be foolishness, because eventually, the Truth will come out.

         10) "I'm an atheist, and I really like to attack people that believe in God, to try to make them see it's a lie."

         It's a poor excuse for humanity to do that, in my humble opinion. Only a very despicable person would belittle someone else because of how they think. But by the same token, it also makes you a hypocrite. How? Because atheism has become your god. It controls you and drives you to commit such an inhuman act against someone else. Which means, by definition, you're not an atheist are you? Be happy with the way you think, and don't make someone else unhappy by forcing them to think something they don't want to. Forcing someone to bend to your way of thinking makes you no better than a Muslim or a Communist, in my opinion. I have other documents that may seem like an attack, but they're not. Writing is hard for me to express emotion (except anger) and any refutes I do is just that - showing proof to the contrary. I do NOT attack. Unless provoked.

         11) "Why didn't God heal my broken arm?"

         I've seen that crap on Youtube ages ago, and it's childish. You want the blunt truth? Fine. What did you do to break it? Did you do something stupid like climb a phone pole without the proper safety equipment? That was your choice, and you're paying the price for that choice. Or maybe you were working on your car and the jack broke, and the car broke your arm. That again is another choice - you chose to get a cheap $10 jack instead of a good reinforced one with decent support. You get what you pay for. Yet another choice. They are all kinds of causes, and choices that brought about that cause.
         "But people say we're supposed to he healed!"
         Where is that written? Supposed to be? I don't recall reading that. I remember reading that there are several guidelines to living a peaceful, healthy, blessed life. But even in the event of an accident - which there is no such thing as an accident, just a bad choice - there are things you have to consider. Are you obedient? Do you do what you're supposed to? Okay. Did you even ask? And even with that, there are guidelines. Someone has to lay hands on you and ask with you, among other guidelines. The only things that I ever read that are free for the asking in the Bible are salvation and Wisdom. Everything else has rules, guidelines, processes, and procedures. And often require repetition - asking more than once. (That's known as perseverance.)
         But then, there's always a different reason. Maybe He's using that circumstance to let His glory shine, and all He's waiting on is the right person to be obedient and go do what is needed. There's also the thought that He allowed men to be doctors for a reason, and He'd rather you use them instead. There are so many reasons, but no man can know the Mind of God. We can only guess.
         And finally, did you ever think about the possibility that He is healing you? After all, He made you with an immune system and self-repair systems. Don't take things for granted, and demanding things immediately will only get you a "no" response to prayers.

         12) "You seem like two different people from one minute to the next. Why is that?"

         Simple. It's a mindset trick I've learned. See, Paul said we're to be all things to all people. So with one guy, I act a certain way, and to someone else, I behave totally differently. I don't think there's a single human alive that has seen me on a constant basis enough to see how I am on my own. My goal in that is to make the person comfortable. But in essence, you are dealing with me - only certain aspects. Most commonly, though, I'm described as a blunt, not-nice, anti-stupidity, super-generous, extremely compassionate asshole.

         13) "What is that line about God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit being one person?"

         That, is a good question. It's referred to as the Trinity. Not many people know how to answer that, but I heard a comparison once that should explain it for you. See, you're John Doe. You're a father to your children. Now, you're also a husband to your wife, right? But you're also a friend to the dude down the street. Those are three totally different people, the father, the husband and the friend. But they're you. You are different with each mode, or personality - at least I hope so. If you're porking your friend down the street, something's wrong! But either way, to others, you're three different people in one person.  That's the embodiment of God. Well, it's the same principle, anyway.
         I'll give you a little more detail. God is the Father. (There is no mother, if you're wondering.) God is the decision maker, the will, the source, and the ultimate foundation. Jesus is the Son of Man - the flesh that housed the Spirit of God for a short while. He's not the Son in the sense that copulation/fertilization took place, and Mary popped out a kid, although the holy Spirit did, in fact, activate her egg. No, "Son" refers to a deeper, more intense spiritual connection. When the Holy Spirit descended upon Him like a dove, Jesus obtained the full measure and power of God within Him. Hence the miracles. And finally, the third personage of God, The Holy Spirit. This is the power. This is what resides within every Christian, and He gives comfort, guidance, and power. He is also your direct connection with The Father, and will relay His will for you.

         14) "Why are there so many denominations and branches of churches? Aren't they all supposedly chasing the same God?"

         Bingo. People really are incapable of accepting responsibility for anything, as a rule. As a result of that, they try to bend things to their own liking, so they don't have to. Let's take a church-goer for example.  Joe doesn't like what his preacher is saying, so he covertly steals some of his congregation and starts his own church. That's how denominations are made. Now, when he got that idea, there were any number of several possible motivations. The most common motivations are 1) He got pissed and wanted to hurt that pastor. 2) He got greedy and thought he would start a church so he didn't have to work, living off the offerings of the church, or 3) He was power-hungry, and 4) Joe found out that the preacher was feeding him lies and misguidance.
         Now it could also be any combination thereof. Most of the split-offs are generally related to revenge or greed. And in that case, if Joe were truly humble and obedient, he would've kept his trap shut and ignored what he didn't like. The real Christian Believer should learn how to pick off the meat and throw away the bones. You can always tell the ones motivated by greed - and they show it. The only churches I personally trust are the ones based on a simple Biblical hierarchy. If you don't know what that is, go read the book - it would take far too long to explain here.

         15) "What about religion? I hear some people talk about a difference between living by faith, and being religious."

         Religion is a stagnating killer. It locks you into repetitions of works and deeds to secure your salvation, which flies in the face of the Bible they profess to follow. Living by one's faith, however, is a different matter. Because salvation is a gift from God, not of works, so that no one can boast (brag). Catholics are great for that. "20 hail Marys, 15 acts of contrition, and you're forgiven and free to go." Bullshit. Just ask Him to forgive you - and be honest and mean it - that's all it takes. Some other examples are Mormons, Church/Assemblies of God, Seventh-day Adventists. These all revolve around their own sets of laws that mostly have nothing to do with Biblical guidelines. They're religions, and will lead you away from living a life of faith in God.
         There's another point to make here, also. What is faith? It's the tangible proof of things hoped for, evidence of things not yet seen, and it is what gives us hope for a better future. Here's one example of faith: I believe that chair across the room is stout enough to hold my fat ass off the ground. I have faith that it can support me. That faith requires action, so I sit in it. By the same token, one that has faith in God will act upon that faith.

         16) "What about the Devil? Is he really responsible for all this mess?"

         For the most part, yes. He can influence us in our decision-making. If we're presented with an eight-ball of crack, we make the decision to take it or not. But he'll bend everything in his power to make you fall toward the bad decision. See, he hates us. Hates us more than anything, because we were created to replace him.
         "WHAT?!"
         Yup. Lucifer's original job was to reflect God's glory back to him. Since his downfall, that's now our job - it's what we were created for, to show His glory and be his companion and friend. The Bible now calls Satan the God of This World. He does have certain power. If he can't sway you, he'll find someone else that bends to him, and send them after you to try. There is also a way to tell where you stand, spiritually. See, if you're no threat to the Devil's kingdom, he'll leave you alone. So if you have no trials or problems, I'd start to worry if I were you. Because The Devil has come only to steal, kill and destroy.
         Now, people always make jokes about the Adam and Eve scenario, saying, "it was a cross between a woman that didn't know a line when she heard one, and a man that couldn't keep his mouth shut." Wrong. How much would anyone know if they just came into the world? No, the Devil conned them. Read it yourself, you'll see. The truth of the matter is Eve was deceived. How easy is it to deceive a woman? Very. And Adam believed her. If you loved your woman, wouldn't you believe what she told you?
         This is not to say he is responsible for each and every thing that goes wrong. We make our own choices. We are responsible for them, too. The Devil's judgment has already been rendered, but he's operating under a suspended sentence. Those that would see the Devil behind every shadow are also misguided. He instigates - we choose. Stand up and take some responsibility. The biggest deception in the entire history of the world, is the Devil convincing people he doesn't exist. He does.

         17) "Are demonic possessions real?"

         Yup. Certainly are. But if you watch movies, things like The Last Exorcism, and The Exorcist, those are Hollywood make-up crap. But it DOES happen, and yes, some are violent. The one that (in my opinion) comes close to the real thing, would be the Emily Rose story - minus the visions of Mary, which is Catholic crap.
         "Have you ever been involved in an exorcism?" Yup. Once.
         "Did it work?" Yup. For a time.  See, the Bible says that once a demon is cast out, it will go here and there seeking rest, and finding none, will come back. If there's nothing taking the demon's place, it will go and get 7 more worse than itself, and jump back in. The poor guy died a week after the exorcism, and I haven't done one since. But then, it was his choice.  He decided not to seek salvation after the demon was cast out, so he was empty - and it came back. But not all of them are violent. Many are very silent, subversive possessions. Some examples are false religions, some mental illnesses, and so forth.

         18) "Why is God so different between the Old testament and the new?"

         Ah, nice. I'm going to like this one, and most Christians are gonna soil themselves at this. News flash: He's not. He's still as He always was, despising evil, and swift to anger. But there's a catch now, in this New era. Jesus stands in his way. He's making intercession for us, and has taken our punishment, so we don't have to worry about being wiped out. See, God Himself has said that He's the same yesterday, today and forever. He hasn't changed. He just has someone standing in His way now, is all. Count your blessings there, boyo.
         Another valid point to remember is the level of intelligence and grasping of nuances of the time. People back then, as we all know, weren't near as smart and perceptive as they are now. Old Testament believers didn't understand the concept about there being a devil, that is why it's written as if God did all the negative things. He didn't do them, he allowed them. There is a vast difference. Read Job, that's a perfect example.

         19) "What about the Jews? Why Judaism, and why haven't they converted?"

         I don't know. Pigheadedness, I suppose, but everyone's guilty of that. Most of the time, with them, it takes something really special to enlighten them. I have no idea what, though - I'm not a Jew, I'm a Gentile. And you need to remember: They're still God's Chosen People, so don't screw with them. At any rate, The Jews, for the most part, adhere to the LAW of the old testament, rather than choosing the grace of the new. I'm not God, so I don't know how it's going to work out for them, but if it gets them to where they need to go, more power to them. I wish them well.

         20) "What exactly do YOU believe in?"

         Me? I'll tell you. It's simple and straight-forward, really. For one, I believe that the God of the Bible is real, is a person - with feelings - that is far more intelligent, compassionate, and powerful than we can possibly imagine. I believe that when the Bible talks about Jesus as His Son, I don't believe it was a spooge-meets-egg Father & Son. I believe that the Only Begotten Son is God Himself, incarnated into flesh. I believe that God, through the power of His Holy Spirit, activated the virgin Mary's egg, starting growth, and the Spirit of God inhabited the flesh therein. I believe that Jesus willingly and knowingly sacrificed Himself, not for all of us, but for each and every one of us (if you can tell the difference).
         I believe God, through Jesus, deals with each person on a level unique to that person. I believe that now, since Jesus is sitting on the right hand of the Father, he sends His Holy Spirit to dwell within each of us, giving us special gifts and power to survive and overcome this world. I believe that God is the same yesterday, today and forever. I believe that Jesus will return to take His believers home. And I believe that God will then destroy this world in favor of a new one. To pirate a Catholic creed (which has been modified to suit), I believe this:
                   I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
                             the Maker of heaven and earth,
                   and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:

                   Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
                             born of the virgin Mary,
                             suffered under Pontius Pilate,
                             was crucified, dead, and buried;

                   He descended into hell.
                   The third day He arose again from the dead;

                   He ascended into heaven,
                             and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
                             from there he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

                   I believe in the Holy Spirit;
                             the Christian church;
                             the communion of saints;
                             the forgiveness of sins;
                             the resurrection of the body;
                             and the life everlasting. Amen.
         ...And precious little else. Because Man has polluted doctrines, I don't trust anything most men teach. If it's not in the Bible, I don't want to hear it. And anyone that adds to - or takes away from - the Bible, well, it's their ass. Now when I say Bible, I don't mean any of the modern mis-translations. I go by the direct, literal translations of the original scripts. The earliest unmodified version of the Bible's New Testament can be found in the Codex Sinaiticus. Google it.

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Reader's Questions and Answers

         I decided to combine the two documents, in the interest of organization, since no further questions have been asked.

         "What made you first start to believe, and what keeps you doing so? There's got to be a difference."

         There is. When I first decided to follow, it was because of the people, and how they treated me. It was new and different, considering my past at the time. Having just come out of Witchcraft, it was vastly different. And in the process, I found having faith in God was really rather easy. I just changed from having faith in the Pagan and worldly things, and focused it toward Him. I already had the faith, it was just misdirected.
         And for why I still do now, well, that's a "whole 'nother thang." See, being mature, one would be old enough to discern things for one's self. I am no different. Having seen what I have seen, and witnessed certain inexplicable happenings, those events are indelibly burned into my mind as a constant reminder. As little as five years ago, things were happening in my life that quite frankly defy any logical explanation. Yes, things have quieted down now, so to speak. But that doesn't change the fact that what I had experienced really did occur. And every now and then he answers a prayer, or gives me a nudge to let me know He's still there, looking over me. It's a feeling of reassurance I really don't want to do without.
         Now even on the outside chance that Christianity is a hoax, is it really worth the risk? Not to me, I feel that it is far wiser to have faith in God, than to risk eternal punishment. If it turns out that it was all some elaborate prank perpetuated of the years, I've lost nothing. But if it's all true, then I've done my part, and will be rewarded accordingly.
         It bears mentioning that someone mentioned truth is dependent on the person's point of view. Wrong. Truth is infallible. It is not hidden, it is not disguised, and it doesn't masquerade as something it is not. The truth is the truth, regardless of what you choose to believe. You can either believe it is truth that one person can kill another, or you will not. It is a choice to accept a truth, regardless of what it is. The truth does not cease to be a truth, and suddenly become a lie. I can give you a truth - but it is up to you whether or not you accept it.
         There were times I fell off the bandwagon, so to speak, but I've researched not only what the Bible claims, but I've also looked into history from many other sources. This is what keeps me a believer. One cannot fight facts.

         "Can God make a rock so big that He Himself can't lift it?"

         Such a pity. Well, first off, you're implying that God is bound by the same laws we are - the laws that He created. Sorry, but He's not. Time, space, distance, weight (gravity) all are physical things and have no bearing on Him. In fact, I don't really think He's bound by ANY laws except the ones He creates. But in either case, you're trying to put Him in a box, and it won't work. God is Spirit, and spirits are not restrained to the laws that the physical are. You are deliberately creating a paradox out of conditions that don't even apply, so the question is pointless. Not to mention there's the question of "why bother?" Everything God does has a purpose - a reason. There would be no purpose in it.

         "Does Hell really exist? I've always felt that Hell is right here, sometimes."

         Yes, Hell is a real place. It's a temporary place where the damned reside, awaiting the final, eternal punishment. It is quite impossible that Hell would be here, because it is still possible to obtain peace and happiness here. There is no hope of peace and happiness in Hell, as it is a place of torment. There is torture, pain, burning, desolation and despair in Hell. Such things exist on this Earth only when men inflict upon each other - and it is always temporary. (Even death is an escape.) There, it is eternal, never-ending, it is the second death. It is, in short, complete and total absence of the love of God.
         Now, this does not mean that God doesn't love you, you're just separated from the benefits of that love. Even in Hell, He remembers you. And loves you. But He cannot abide sin in His presence. And our actions force a rift between ourselves and God, and there's only one place that resides on the opposite side of that rift - Hell. And it is also the "home base" of Demons - Fallen Angels.

         "How do I know when God is talking to me?"

         That is the most wonderful question someone could ask, because it shows me that you're willing to hear Him, and that's the first step in obeying God and His will for you. The first way to hear him is scriptural. The still, small voice coming from within your spirit. It is basically a thought which does not come from your head. And no, it has nothing to do with "hearing voices" as it is coming from within, not from without. It requires a discerning analysis, as anything He tells you would directly result in the edifying of you or another person, and would be backed by scripture if you research it.
         The second way to know when God is speaking to you is not necessarily with words, it is circumstantial. For example, you go to buy a car, but for some reason, everything stands in your way to stop you from going to the dealer. I mean other non-detrimental things crop up. Like "Ooh, I forgot to go get my light bill paid" and other such things. He's trying to tell you "Not just yet, wait a bit. Take care of more important things first." God will never put anything in your way that would harm you. That's Satan's job.

         "What does it take to make God happy with me?"

         That has a multi-fold answer. Many things make him happy, just like many things make you happy. The first thing is not to piss Him off. Don't do things He told you not to do. Be obedient to His Word. Respect Him and show Him that you love Him, and that you're grateful for what He does for you. And most importantly, talk to him. He speaks all languages, and doesn't need to talk in King James 15th-century British. "O Thou, pick thine arse up and go yonder!" Talk to Him like He's sitting right next to you. Because He is.

         "How does one actually get saved?"

         I didn't want to turn this into preaching, but the Bible is fairly clear on that - go read it. First, you have to mean everything I'm about to say.
                   1) Admit you're no good - you've sinned and fallen short.
                   2) Believe that Jesus is God in the flesh, and that He came to Earth, and gave up His life to take your punishment that you deserve. A blood sacrifice has to be made for remission of sin. Jesus did that for us.
                   3) Confess your sins, vocally, and admit to Him you've done wrong. If you don't know or remember them all, say so.
                   4) Ask Him point blank to forgive you. Cry out to Him to save you and mean it! If you don't feel any different, keep crying out to God, in Jesus' name, and keep crying out to Him until you are saved. You'll know when it happens, because you'll suddenly feel totally different than you did previously. If God doesn't make an inward change in you (in your spirit) then keep crying out to Him. God will always honor His Word, and He will answer.
                   5) Ask Him to fill you with His Holy Spirit, so He will send the Comforter and power to overcome.
         That's all there is really. At least, it's always worked for me. Cutting off a finger won't do it. But the real kicker is that now that you're in the family, so to speak, you have to keep your place. Walk the walk, and talk the talk. It's no easy ride, the Christian life. Just having faith and sitting on your duff watching those phony televangelists isn't going to cut it. If you have faith, you're going to act upon that faith, and do what God told us to do.
         It bears mentioning that the 50-year-old Baptist doctrine of asking once and letting it be is the way to do it. Sorry to disappoint you, but that's a fairly new Baptist doctrine that reared its head because people leading others to Jesus didn't want to put the time into waiting it out with someone to make sure they were on the right path. Yes, if I lead someone to Jesus, I stay with them until they are certain they're born again. No one can tell another person they're saved. Only that person knows. And, well, if you doubt your salvation, you should know where you stand. Go cry out to Him.

         "What's all this dogma about Mary and stuff? I thought it was only God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit that were involved."

         That's Catholic rhetoric. The one we need to be talking to is God Himself, in the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Not in the name of "The Son" - because The Son is a title not a name, and it defeats the purpose. "Father, I come before you in the Name of Jesus of Nazareth, and ask..." That's how it should be done - or something similar. Praying to Mary is blasphemy. Mary is but a human. One that was once blessed above all others, but a human nonetheless. It's putting someone else in front of God, and God said "You will have no other gods before Me." which includes even praying to someone else. She likely doesn't even hear you. If you look at the Bible, Mary is mentioned solely as a point of reference, after the beginning of Jesus' ministry. Some religions put far too much emphasis on a sideline person, and not enough emphasis on the one(s) that require it. By definition, praying to an entity seeking favor or asking for favors to be done, is worship.

         "In your opinion, what's the best way to pray?"

         My opinion is strictly Bible-based. I'm sure you're familiar with the following:
                   1. Our Father, who is in heaven, hallowed be your name.
                   2. Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven.
                   3. Give us this day our daily bread.
                   4. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
                   5. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
                   6. For yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
         I've numbered them so you'll be able to reference easier. The Bible says "This, then, is how you should pray" It doesn't say this is what you should pray. Therefore, I'll explain.
                   1. Begin with praise and worship. Make Him feel wanted. This will always catch His ear. Sing to Him!
                   2. Tell Him you look forward to His return. But if He doesn't, that you'll continue to do His will.
                   3. Ask Him what you want to ask Him.
                   4. Ask for forgiveness for sins you've done. And remember that if you don't forgive others, you won't be forgiven.
                   5. Ask Him to protect you in all your endeavors, making sure The Devil doesn't interfere.
                   6. End with more praise and worship.
         Following that guide, I don't think there's anything you would not be able to accomplish, if it's within His will for you. This is not to say that the on-the-spot "God help me!" won't be heard, of course. And the odd conversation. But for the most part, this is yet another step in obedience. This guide I think should be followed for your early-morning prayer, or daily devotion. That sort of thing.

         "What are your thoughts regarding masturbation and self-gratification?"

         That's a touchy matter because even modern politics are slewing that around as a way to control people. But Biblically speaking, masturbation is not a sin.
         "But God killed many men for spilling their seed on the ground!"
         Did you read the whole story? He wanted those men to marry that lady, have kids, whatnot, and they wouldn't go through with their obligations. That is why God killed them - that's all. Reading something else into the story that's not there is adding to the book, which is also a sin.
         But other than that, there's the question of lust. I see no problem with tossing one off to relieve stress, so long as your mind is not focused on someone else. If you're picturing your wife or husband, that's all well and good because "the marriage bed is undefiled" - meaning anything goes. But if you're focusing on someone that is not yours, you're lusting, and placing your soul in danger. However, if you're not thinking of any particular human being, just "women" or "men" in general, more power to you. Enjoy yourself. Personally, I'd rather not suffer the discomfort of backed-up fluids.

         "What about homosexuality? Why does everyone claim that's sin?"

         Because it is. Go read your Bible, it'll tell you. But aside from that, there's a simple logic behind it being unnatural. How? Because a gay guy is porking some dude up the poop chute. Notice that? The backside opening is designed for waste removal, not intrusion of foreign things. By its design, muscular formation, material it's made out of, and general route of the internals, it's plainly a one-way passage. Things come out, they're not meant to go in. The evidence of the design speaks for itself. And as far as female-on-female, that too is spoken about directly in the Bible.

         "Why should I believe in your God, or any other God?"

         First off, there is no other God. There is only one God, and anything or anyone else is counterfeit. This includes Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism (which doesn't even have a god) Zoroastrianism, anything. Well, according to the Bible, anyway. Yes, I'm sure everyone else's book claims the same thing. But none of the others are based on any fact, only convenient systems used in an effort to control people. But let me tell you this: If you feel that any given "Christian" is trying to control you, I would suggest you run away from that person just as quickly as you would run from any other false religion. I've heard of people telling me about some pastor or other that said that they have to do this and that or they're not good Christians. Well, to be honest, some of my best profanity would be used on that person and then I would probably break his jaw - just before I bodily threw him out of my house. It's behaviors like this that give Christianity a bad name.
         Having said that, well, if I have to convince you to believe, then I don't suppose you really need to. I recommend you try to based on the hope of something better. But if I have to force you to believe something different than you already do, well, then that conflicts with my beliefs, and I will not do it. I can offer you answers to questions, and point you in the right direction. Those people that scream about hellfire damnation are scaring more people away than they're bringing in. Condemnation is not the way to show just how much God loves us. But convincing someone isn't really worth the effort, and will eventually backfire anyway. One of the Apostles tried to convince someone to believe shortly after Jesus was murdered - and he failed. Ever notice how many major religious leaders eventually fall? They try to convince you that their way is the right way. And eventually their wrong-doing comes to light. Sorry, but I really don't need to be lumped into that group. If you want to know what it is that makes me different, just ask me. But I will not spend hours in a debate trying to convince you. That's just wrong.
         Once you are given the choice, you choose whether nor not to follow. I did my part in showing you the choices. If you reject it, that's now on your shoulders. To persistently bombard you about it afterward is bullying, and I won't do it.

         "Why don't you preach anymore? You said you used to."

         Because, like the man said, people can't handle the truth. Period. See, I've never been one to sugar-coat anything. Isn't it obvious by my mode of speech and language choices? I can't tell someone that "tsk tsk tsk, you know better." It's not within me to do so. I tell it like it is, whether or not someone likes it. I'm not going to try to be politically correct, suck up to someone, or try to make them happy. I couldn't care less. My desire is to please God.
         I can't beat around the bush. My bluntness and verbal brutality has actually done more good for others than any amount of reading and preaching. I think the main reason is because they knew I actually care about them, and didn't care about the man-made "rules" the leaders try to cram down our throats. By the same token, my bluntness turned many of those in power against me, and frankly, the blood of those under them is on their hands. I was still preaching for a time after I pissed people off, but eventually I quit doing it because the general feel was that the people were more comfortable in darkness. Bringing things into the light wasn't comfortable for them. So I - as the Bible says - left them over to a reprobate mind. Now, I only discuss things when it is needful - or when asked. (Which is rare.)

         This is to clarify a point about Catholics' deal with confession and acts of contrition and hail Marys and such. It's in response to a review recently received.

         Let me say now that I do NOT hate nor detest the Catholic people. I detest many of the misleading beliefs they're taught, but they are not to blame for that.  The blame lies with those that teach them.
         Confession is Biblical procedure - it's required - but not to some dirty old man in a closet. The absolutions are not. Jesus took the punishment. We will always live with the memory of the transgression, so it is pointless to dwell on them. Once we are washed clean in the Blood of Jesus, sins are no longer held against us and if we dwell upon them, it makes the work and suffering that Jesus endured to be pointless. The absolutions are Works, and defy the grace that has been bestowed upon us. God takes the sins we've done and "casts them into the lake of forgetfulness." If we dwell upon them, we're going fishing. Basically undoing what Jesus has done.

         "What are your views about being attacked? Turn the other cheek?"

         Yup. The Bible is very clear on that. However, it makes no mention whatsoever of what to do in the event that cheek is struck too. And since there is an absence of instruction on that, I make my belief from the other parts of the Bible, where we are expected to defend ourselves. So to summarize, I would turn the other cheek, and choose to forgive him. If he strikes me again, he would need to make sure I stay down, otherwise I will proceed to rearrange his anatomy.

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         I'm fully aware that not everyone is going to agree with my beliefs. That's their thing, and this is mine. God works with us on our own comfort level and mindset. But I know I must've pissed off a few people. So what? How many times have you non-believers attacked us? Remember - this is an opinion statement. No need to fire up a debate, because I'll never bend to your way of thinking. I am always open to consider others' thoughts, but don't expect anything profound to occur.

         And in the spirit of being a good sport, I'll be glad to expand upon these, or add new ones - so don't be afraid to drop a line. Any questions you have I'll add to this and answer. And I'll preserve your anonymity. But remember - I'll answer according to my beliefs and opinions. They're mine. I have no intention of trying to bend someone to my way of thinking. I'll leave that to the Muslims and atheists. I will in no way try to preach, convert, or convince anyone. These are just statements derived from what I believe in, and have opinions about.