Christianity & Judaism - Same God?

[Anonymous]

Hi OP. Christian here, married to a Jew.

I am under the belief that the main difference insofar as God is concerned is this: both believe in the same God of the Old Testament. Both believe that a 'Messiah' will come. Jews just do not believe it to be Jesus. Whereas Christians do believe that Jesus was indeed the Messiah, thus fulfilling that prophecy ( and why Jesus was calling himself/being called by others 'King of the Jews').

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, the God of Abraham is the same one for Christians, Jews, and Muslims.

Yes, they are the same.

In a logical sense, anyone who worships God worships the same God, because the term "God" refers to a Supreme Being, and by definition, there can be only one.

But the God of Abraham is God for Christians, Jews, and Muslims. They differ in their faith in the divinity of Jesus, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity.

This. People just worship in different ways. No biggie.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm Christian and as I read this thread I can only picture God up there with his hands on his face nodding saying YOU GUYS GOT IT ALL WRONG!

Yup!! Which is why we should judge not (I haven't been one of the people quoting scripture here, but the parable of stoning the prostitute is hard to resist in this context).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm Christian and as I read this thread I can only picture God up there with his hands on his face nodding saying YOU GUYS GOT IT ALL WRONG!

Kind of like Ricky Ricardo when he would come home and Lucy had gotten into hijinks again? Does he start yelling in Spanish after he says that?

[Anonymous]

This thread makes the baby Jesus cry.

[Anonymous]

If it is really an "all or nothing" re: belief, there must be a shocking number of people who don't believe in evolution. As a scientist, that worries me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If it is really an "all or nothing" re: belief, there must be a shocking number of people who don't believe in evolution. As a scientist, that worries me.

(I was responding to the 09:51 poster...)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If it is really an "all or nothing" re: belief, there must be a shocking number of people who don't believe in evolution. As a scientist, that worries me.

It's not, Sam Harris is wrong on this one. And obviously there are a lot of Christians (like me) and Jews who believe in evolution.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it is really an "all or nothing" re: belief, there must be a shocking number of people who don't believe in evolution. As a scientist, that worries me.

It's not, Sam Harris is wrong on this one. And obviously there are a lot of Christians (like me) and Jews who believe in evolution.

How do you decide which Bible stories are true and which are not?

[Anonymous]

Didn't you all see SNL last week? Jesus said the Mormons have it right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Christian here. There is only one God. Christians worship him. Others try to worship him but fall into varying degrees of error.

I was raised Christian and my DH is a practicing Christian and so are my children, but this is SO OFFENSIVE! How do you know others "fall into varrying degrees of error?" I know your church tells you so and I'm sure you do really believe this but it's central to what I am offended by with all religions! Why don't you just focus on your own belief without worrying about others being "in error." The "they TRY to worship him" is so offensive! Like its some kind of competition. Whatever people who belong to a formal religion think...if there is a god that god is the god of everyone and everyone can worship "him." God will find a way to everyone regardless of what religion you practice. This exclusive smug assurance represents everything I dislike about organized religion. Every religion thinks it has its own special monopoly on god and that just can't be!

Well, lets see what the Bible says on this issue:

John 14:6
Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me.

God will not find a way regardless of the religion you practice. The Aztecs ripped the hearts out of live infants. That was their religion. So don't give me this crap about all religions are equally valid, because that is clearly b.s.

I DON'T CARE what the Bible says about this. That's one religious book. I beleive that if there is a god that god is within everyone and everything and that everyone CAN find him. All the people in the world who aren't even introduced to Christianity are not foresaken by god, if there is one. Maybe Jesus is one path, but I don't believe he could possibly be the only one. Why would god make a world full of people who had no possible option of knowing him or being saved? It's ridiculous in my opinion, and when push comes to shove none of us really knows for sure (I know you think you do, but you don't, it's all based on faith) so I take the option of believing in the greatest possibilities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it is really an "all or nothing" re: belief, there must be a shocking number of people who don't believe in evolution. As a scientist, that worries me.

It's not, Sam Harris is wrong on this one. And obviously there are a lot of Christians (like me) and Jews who believe in evolution.

How do you decide which Bible stories are true and which are not?

Studying historical research, reading Crossan, Borg and many many others (I'm the one talking about atheist Sam Harris) and giving lots of thought. It's a lifelong pursuit and just starts where Sunday School ends. In the end there's no single right answer on many issues, for me at least. It's a good thing I'm confortable with ambiguity.

But despite what Harris says, this doesn't make me any less of a believer. In fact, i'd argue that questioning your belief makes you more of a believer.

[Anonymous]

If the bible is to be taken literally, why aren't there more honor killings? Why do Christians eat pork and other unclean animals? Also, why don't Christian women cover their hair?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the bible is to be taken literally, why aren't there more honor killings? Why do Christians eat pork and other unclean animals? Also, why don't Christian women cover their hair?

On the remote chance this is a serious question, Jesus said that the most important rules were loving God and loving your neighbor like yourself. He also said it doesn't matter what goes in your mouth, but what comes out. He was pretty subversive wrt to OT laws, as you can see.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the bible is to be taken literally, why aren't there more honor killings? Why do Christians eat pork and other unclean animals? Also, why don't Christian women cover their hair?

12:18 again. I should have realized you aren't serious from the way you've managed to ignore the numerous posts, from me and others, saying we don't find it a necessary condition of faith to take the Bible literally.