Questions tagged [belief]
An epistemological understanding in which the adherent gives tacit assent to the thing
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1answer
62 views
Is belief or faith the same as idolatry? [closed]
So clearly there are a ton of biblical texts, the most famous being the second commandment against Idols. So given what we know about the nature of our brains today, I have a serious question:
Is ...
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2answers
93 views
Did the apostles believe that God is unique, eternal, infinite, omnipotent, immutable, “simple”, spirit, and personal?
I am pretty sure the Jewish Bible (OT) gives these characteristics to God.
Examples.
1) God is unique: Is 45:18
2) God is infinite and omnipotent: Ps 135:5-6
3) God is eternal: Is 40:28
4) God ...
4
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1answer
105 views
Are there different views on the nature or/and understanding of the Trinity among Trinitarians?
I think I've heard people describe the doctrine differently, maybe because they do not fully grasp the so-called "mystery". I've heard someone make an argument for the Trinity while maintaining the ...
0
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3answers
190 views
In protestantism are all mankind equal under God?
Are there people of higher worth and lower worth? Is everyone deserving of equal respect?
There was some confusion in the comments since my question is short, I think the answers given are of good ...
3
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1answer
166 views
Do Mormons view the LDS Church as a pure restoration of first century Christianity?
Based on the accepted answer to this question, it looks like Mormons believe that
A wide-scale falling away from first century Christianity (the
"Great Apostasy") had happened before Joseph Smith's ...
7
votes
4answers
218 views
What is the earliest reference to the notion that we killed Jesus?
In this blog post, Catholic professor Edward Feser discusses the Crucifixion:
No silly talk here of “Flying Spaghetti Monsters” and the like; Nietzsche, unlike so many of his successors, still had ...
8
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4answers
2k views
Why is Mary's perpetual virginity a Catholic dogma?
I know Catholic dogmas must be accepted to become Catholic. They are non-negotiables as distinguished from doctrines or theological opinions. I know most Catholic dogmas relate to some essential truth ...
2
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1answer
1k views
What is the difference in doctrine between the Pentecostal church and the Assemblies of God church?
I attend an AG church and am told the AG churches are Pentecostal, but a distinction is drawn between AG and Pentecostal. What's the doctrinal difference?
1
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1answer
394 views
How does “believe that you have received it” practice in the Christian life?
in Mark 11:24
24 Therefore I tell you, whatever
you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will
be yours.
What is the catholic interpretation of the verse? The reason I'm ...
4
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2answers
519 views
According to Evangelical Presbyterians, do ghosts exist?
They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost.
Luke 24:37 (NIV)
This incident shows that the disciples were afraid of an apparition.They thought that they saw a ghost.
A ghost is ...
1
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1answer
233 views
What are the main beliefs/themes of the Prosperity Gospel and which are the current prominent groups and their pastors?
What are the main beliefs/themes of the Prosperity Gospel?
And which are the current prominent groups and their pastors?
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2answers
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Was Thomas a believer before seeing the resurrected Jesus?
A friend of mine and I had a debate this evening about whether or not the apostles were actually believers in Jesus. She claimed that since the Bible does not explicitly say that each man declared ...
2
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1answer
294 views
What is “Christ Consciousness”?
I have heard this term used and would like more info about this idea. It really sounds like a hippie thing...
8
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3answers
96 views
Can the belief of Jesus' listeners be considered belief unto salvation?
During my daily study of the book of John, I've come across several statements like this one from chapter 8:30, which says:
"As he was saying these things, many believed in him."
Is there any ...
16
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11answers
26k views
What does Paul mean by “Love believes all things?” [closed]
In 1 Corinthians Paul says
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:7, ESV)
This has long puzzled me from a couple of angles.
First, ...
3
votes
4answers
1k views
What is the minimum amount of action required to get in to heaven? [closed]
I've had this discussion with a number of my Christian friends, and have never managed to get a definitive answer. There may not be just one, but I'd like some scriptural backings for each opinion, ...
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3answers
1k views
Is Jesus alive? Or did he die 2000 years ago? [closed]
People believe Jesus is alive and will never die. Has this belief any value or is it a mere opinion, desire, without any evidence supporting it? Isn't this belief a desire of it being true out of fear ...
2
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3answers
517 views
Why do we have to go to organized institutions to practice our beliefs?
I believe in God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. People insist on going to church to express these feelings, beliefs, etc. Why are religious institutions necessary?
My personal experiences with Church ...
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2answers
623 views
Fake Jesus reincarnations [closed]
Is the Church (Body of Christ) active in any way, to expose fake Jesus reincarnations?
For clarification: are there any missions that include reaching the victims of false Jesus reincarnations that ...
2
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6answers
7k views
Can you renounce part of the bible, and still be a Christian? [closed]
A really simple question, the title says it all really. Just to provide some background as to what I'm on about:
I was raised Roman Catholic. As, I suspect, many of you know, the Catholics and ...
2
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5answers
718 views
Is there a need for Christians to believe in Christianity at all, if they don't believe in Resurrection and Salvation through Christ alone?
My question is directed to professing Christians who don't believe in any of the key doctrines held by evangelical churches, such as the Virgin Birth, the Resurrection, and Jesus Christ as the only ...
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1answer
88 views
Huxley? Agnoticism and Christianity. Both at the same time? [closed]
Are they call agnostic theist? I believe it's wrong to say I'm certain of things. But I want to believe in God? Knowledge and belief is two different things right?
Or did I not understand Huxley's ...
3
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7answers
631 views
Why are many Christians antagonistic towards the idea that God has a form?
Many Christian theologies from the past and present are against the idea that God has a form. The common argument I found is something like this; "God is Spirit and spirit has no form, hence God has ...
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1answer
130 views
What does the Catholic Church say about the experience of Joy felt by the martyrs?
Is it worth even being skinned alive like St. Bartholomew? In Earthly terms, you wouldn't allow THAT to happen to you even for the adoration of the planet's most lovely woman or the richest bounty of ...
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1answer
134 views
What are some good resources that explain the rational reasons behind the faith for a questioning Atheist? [closed]
I have been contemplating the existence of a god for years now, and have settled upon the idea as a remedy to the absurd. I would like to believe in God, but my mind is so apt to lean on reason that ...
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1answer
171 views
Why fasting prayer? [duplicate]
I want to know what is fasting prayer and why we want to do the fasting prayer. What does the Bible say about this?
9
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8answers
23k views
What is the difference between belief and faith, from a Protestant perspective?
I want to know what is the difference between belief and faith from a Protestant perspective. Can anyone explain this to me?
4
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1answer
977 views
Did CS Lewis see 'pleasure' as being the purpose of our existence?
In 'The Great Divorce' a character asks, destraught, why she was born and a spirit replies, "for infinite joy!"
Is that what CS Lewis thought the meaning of life was? Ultimate joy? Is there any other ...
5
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4answers
652 views
Would Nicene Christians consider a Unitarian Baptism sufficient for entry into the Church?
What determines entry into Christendom - baptism or belief? Say a vaguely spiritual person joins a congregation affiliated with the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations. Sometimes, the ...
17
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7answers
135k views
Did Jesus actually ever say “if you don't believe in me you will go to hell”? [closed]
I just finished a five-part series on the History Channel: "The Bible". They did a fantastic job with it. However, I noticed that Jesus did not appear to condemn those who did not believe in Him, and ...
7
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4answers
1k views
How do Cessationists expect people to believe without seeing miracles today?
Classical Cessationism asserts that the "sign gifts" such as prophecy, healing and speaking in tongues ceased with the apostles and the finishing of the canon of Scripture. They only served as ...
3
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4answers
563 views
How Christians are expected to accommodate or view the existence and presence of other religions vis a vis Christianity? [closed]
We as Christians acknowledge the God’s plan of salvation at work first through Judaism in OT and then through Christianity in NT. So this question does not apply to Judaism.
This plan of salvation ...
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5answers
543 views
If Christians believe that Christ was a God and immortal (or resurrected), why do some avenge his killing in his name? [closed]
Arguably the killing of Jesus Christ was the most avenged killing in history. There is no other person for whom there were so many other people killed in the name of retaliation.
In Russian Empire ...
11
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4answers
3k views
Was Jesus' power limited relative to the belief of others?
Mark 6 4-6:
4 Then Jesus said to them, “People everywhere give honor to a prophet,
except in his own town, with his own people, or in his home.” 5 Jesus
was not able to do any miracles there ...
3
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2answers
4k views
Christians showing purported satanic signs
I have read about satanic symbols and signs and that made me conscious of people around me doing them. Christians, relatives, people I know who I believe cannot belong to any cult. Here are the common ...
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4answers
488 views
Should we have realistic unbelief? [closed]
Jesus makes it pretty clear that because of our unbelief we will not see miracles in our life (see below).
However, psychological experts warn against the dangers of unrealistic expectations.
See ...
7
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2answers
5k views
What core, common beliefs are held by all (or most) Christians? [closed]
Are there any core beliefs that all Christian traditions agree on? Are there any that most (>90% of) Christian traditions agree on?
If a list can be made for either, are there any caveats?
9
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10answers
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Does transcendental meditation conflict with any Christian beliefs? [closed]
I've seen many testimonies and case studies lauding the benefits of transcendental meditation. It is said that it isn't a religion and people of all religions participate in this practice. As a ...
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1answer
11k views
What were people called who believed in the “Christ” before Jesus was born?
About 2000 years ago Jesus Christ died on a cross. A person who is a believer in Jesus Christ and his teachings is called Christian. My question is what were people called who followed the Messiah ...
4
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3answers
633 views
Is Christianity just a belief system, or is it also a system for organizing and governing society? [closed]
Works like "Mere Christianity" try and address common Christian beliefs and help recognize the diversity of belief systems within Christian sects. The question is whether this is what all of ...
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2answers
412 views
How to define an independent interference by God? [closed]
The most clear evidence when people state their belief is experience.
The reasons vary:
logical expressions of belief is somewhat inverted (read this paragraph)
experience is connected to intimate ...
11
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5answers
2k views
How do Christians explain commonalities between their religion, other major faiths and obscure isolated tribal belief systems?
Many belief systems share common themes; an afterlife, rebirth, bodily mutilation and sacrifice.
To me this suggests a shared origin either in history or storytelling (Abrahamic faiths) or that they ...
4
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1answer
509 views
What defines official Christian belief? [closed]
Almost every Christian I meet believes in something a bit different.
Is there an official set of things you are supposed to believe in order to be considered a Christian? If so, who decides what goes ...
15
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4answers
267 views
Is there a name for believing but not obeying?
Although it is a theoretical question, it is still very interesting for me.
Is there a system of beliefs or at least a name for people who believe in the existence of God and that events described in ...
9
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6answers
544 views
Is it possible to be Christian but not interpret the religion as fact? [closed]
There are cultural Jews. Are there cultural Christians who do not interpret the religion as factual? Is this possible?
Apparently it's also called a "Nominal Christian" - http://en.wikipedia.org/...
