I was a member of several conservative Christian traditions for a while, and I later joined this jot and tittle church that would do hours of Bible studies with us after sermons. During this time in my life I was a strong Biblical based Christian.

Part of the problem was, this church used other scriptures to try and justify things. I believe the term is called using scripture to interpret scripture.

For example they believed the genocide of the Canaanites happened and was commanded by God, and that it was justified.

That didn't sit right with me, and eventually I decided I'd rather lose my religion than be part of Christianity. To put it shortly I was later kicked out of that church for my beliefs. I was sad but I'm sure I'd have ended up leaving anyway sooner than later. When I left I wasn't an atheist, but I did become one afterward.

I became an atheist largely due to Hitchens debates on YouTube that actually made me solidify my atheism. At the time he made sense, especially in light of the fact the apologists he debated gave terrible arguments.

Then I discovered Egoism by Max Stirner. Egoism is the philosophy that the individual should act according to their own will and interests rather than being bound by external moral and ideological obligations (for example, I am good to people because I want to be good to people). I would say this is (at least somewhat) different from having a guiding set of principles, given that a person's will and desires are constantly changing.

After discovering this, I realized that I can believe whatever I want about religion. I'm in charge of my life and my main obligation is to my self fulfillment and enrichment. Stirner was a fierce atheist, but Egoism made me realize that I can believe whatever I want in general. But then I came to realize I can believe whether I want \\\*\\\*\\\*to an extent.\\\*\\\*\\\* There has to be checks and balances on the ego. So I'm not a pure Egoist.

Egoism unchecked is dangerous. So I realized as long as what I want to believe doesn't violate natural moral law, and as long as it isn't proven defiitively false, I can believe it. If there is no evidence, faith. I can't believe in the firmament (since it's proven false in science), and I can't believe God would ever order atrocities or that unnecessary harm is ever good (as it goes against natural moral law). But I can believe in a personal Jesus Christ who has the nature of someone that would never violate natural law. Why do I believe this instead of being an atheist? Because I want to.

Hitchens would tell me that I believe in (certain) things that don't have evidence, so he can dismiss it without evidence. My response to him would be "You sure can. And I don't care. Dismiss whatever you want."

I will not usually call myself a former atheist (even though it's true) when debating theology and atheism, because I hate it when people do that as if it proves something. I will to share that when sharing this backstory of mine, however.

Max Stirner helped free me from being an atheist, which is ironic because he was a fierce atheist himself. I say he helped free me because when I was an atheist, I (mostly) hated it. I missed my friend Jesus.

When I was kicked out of that church for no longer conforming to their interpretation of Christianity, I lost all of my friends from that church. I would estimate at that time they composed 75% of my friend group. Things are better for me now, and I'm happy that I have new and better friends (along with keeping some of my old ones from before my time with the church).

But during that time I was unhappy. I lost not only my church friends but I lost Jesus as my friend. In an ironic way, I betrayed Jesus just as my old church friends betrayed me. But thanks in no small part to Max Stirner, I gave it up atheism so I could have Jesus Christ as my friend again.

I won't be too personal and there is a lot more to this story I didn't write (also because this post is already very long), but I hope this helps explain my religious journey and why I'm a Christian!

I’m female and in my early 20’s. Ever since the age of nine I’ve had thoughts about other girls. I’ve had a boyfriend for a year straight before, and it just wasn’t right… and I knew it was wrong of me to lie to him. So I broke it off.

Then I was openly gay. Even had some “experiences.” And I liked it. I don’t do it anymore. But, I dunno… the whole situation just kinda depresses me.

I hate to admit it, but I’m angry. I know everybody struggles to live up to God’s standards. I know. But, at least others are granted the privilege of a spouse, kids, not having to watch your word, lie about why you’re not looking for a boyfriend, say you’re focusing on your education, all so that people don’t think you’re disgusting. More disgusting than any adulterer or what have you. If you cheat, it’s “redeem yourself before God.” If you’re gay, it’s “get out of my church.”

People at my church say they don’t know what they would do, without their wife/husband and their kids… but then they expect homosexuals to live a life of total celibacy, never slip up, lie about everything… and, even then, when you’re a forty year old Christian and have never had a single relationship, and you can’t say why, they instantly know anyway. I know it’s melodramatic and of course it isn’t fair because nothing in life is fair, but it still just rubs me the wrong way…

And it’s not just about sex. It’s really not. Listen, I won’t say it’s good, I won’t say it’s holy, whatever, but nobody can convince me that all I’ve ever felt for women is pure lust. I wanna love, and be loved… I want a wedding and kids and everything would be so much simpler if I just wasn’t messed up in the head and I could think of doing that with a man without feeling dread.

So, yeah… I don’t even know what I’m getting at. I just needed to get this off my chest.

I see people all the time asking for empirical proof for the existence of God or for Christianity. Basically they are asking for overwhelming, conclusive evidence that leaves no reasonable doubt.

There are a few issues with this.

1. Empirical proof is not the right method to decide one way or the other for the metaphysical and miraculous core. You cannot recreate “the resurrection miracle” in a control laboratory experiment. God being a spirit is not something physical that can be touched or seen. Core Christian claims — that a transcendent God exists, that Jesus is God incarnate, that he rose bodily from the dead by divine power, that the Bible is uniquely inspired — are not laboratory

2. They don’t apply this same standard to anything else.
   We believe other people have minds, that the past existed, that the sun will rise tomorrow, that historical figures such as Napoleon existed, and that current scientific theories are approximately true — all on the basis of strong evidence, not mathematical proof.
   • Science itself advances by accumulating evidence that makes theories highly probable, never by delivering absolute proof.
   • In philosophy and everyday reasoning we routinely form beliefs on the strength of arguments that are persuasive but not deductively airtight.

3. So why believe or why not believe? The answer is because of the culmination of evidence. Not empirical proof. Faith is not blind. Belief can be reasonable on the basis of a well-structured cumulative case
   People can choose to believe but often it depends heavily on their worldview, standards of evidence, counter arguments they have seriously considered, or they weigh the historical or philosophical data differently or find alternative explanations more economical.

Below is a a cumulative probabilistic case: no single argument is treated as airtight, but together i think it’s reasonable to make theism and particularly Christianity more plausible than its alternatives.

The case for God

Cosmological arguments: whatever begins to exists has a cause. The universe began to exist supported by Big Bang cosmology. There has never been a time where something came from nothing. Life produces life.

Fine-tuning / design: The physical constants and initial conditions of the universe fall within extremely narrow ranges that allow for complex chemistry and life. Chance is regarded as inadequate; design by an intelligent agent is offered as the better explanation.

Moral argument: Objective moral values and duties exist (most people live as if they do). The best explanation is a transcendent moral source rather than evolutionary byproduct or social convention alone.

Argument from reason / consciousness: Human rationality, intentionality, and the ability to grasp objective truths are difficult to explain if minds are only the unintended result of non-rational physical processes. A rational source of the universe is proposed as a better fit.

Religious experience and the “God-shaped void”: Widespread, cross-cultural experiences of the transcendent, plus the human longing for meaning, justice, and relationship, are treated as pointers rather than proof.

The case for Christ

Historical Jesus: Jesus of Nazareth existed, was a Jewish teacher/prophet, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and his followers soon proclaimed that God had raised him from the dead. This much is accepted by the large majority of historians (Christian and non-Christian).

The resurrection as the best explanation: Using a “minimal facts” approach (facts granted by a wide range of scholars), proponents argue that the resurrection better explains the data than competing theories (stolen body, hallucination, legendary development, etc.). Key data usually include: the empty tomb tradition, the disciples’ experiences of appearances, the transformation of the disciples, the conversion of skeptics (Paul, James), and the early origin of the proclamation in Jerusalem.

Reliability of the sources: The New Testament documents are argued to be early, multiply attested, and textually well-preserved relative to other ancient literature. The authors are presented as intending to convey historical events, not pure myth.

Coherence with the broader biblical narrative: The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus are said to fulfill earlier Jewish scriptures in a way that is unlikely to be accidental, and the overall story (creation, fall, redemption, restoration) is presented as a unified and existentially powerful account of reality.

Explanatory power: Christianity is claimed to make sense of human dignity, moral failure, the possibility of forgiveness and transformation, suffering, and hope in a way that fits lived experience.

I’m sure someone is going to try to argue some of these points above. People have been trying to do so for centuries. There are scholars, universities, serious academic studies throughout the years, and the Bible has withstood the test of time. And in my opinion, Christianity and God make the best case.

How do I deal with a narcissist dad that always thinks he's right no matter what peacefully? Its almost like he can't think logically whenever it causes the slightest inconvenience to him. He barely has any empathy or sympathy.

He never listens and thinks that I'm wrong all the time and guilt trips me all the time, blames me for the slightest inconvenience and acts like the victim. I can't tolerate him and the hatred just grows whenever he starts acting like that. I know it's not the best subreddit to post it here but I just wanna get some advices. And also I'm 15 and he claims to be a Christian aswell.

I’m writing this letter to say that I used to be a sinner. But that’s not right. That’s incorrect. I’d be lying. I am a sinner. I’ll always be a sinner and I’ll never be pure. But in the eyes of God I’m worth something no matter what. He loves me even though I’m flawed. I never knew that until now. Starting from the past I always had a strong relationship with God. I always believed in God. I never had a moment I haven’t. I always had a good connection even though I wasn’t brought up in a religious family. I had a father that was Muslim and a mother that was Catholic but I was never forced to pick. I just knew that God was real. I enjoyed religion class at school and talking about it. Then as I got older I strayed away. Due to drugs. Due to just growing up a bad way. Selling drugs, being a drug addict. From 12 to 42, 43, pretty much I lived that lifestyle. Until I got sober two years ago off of opiates. And then just recently off crack cocaine, five months almost, then I relapsed. Two months clean, half relapse, and now I’m sober again. And I’m doing it different this time because I decided to turn to the Lord Jesus Christ and ask for help. I don’t know if it was exactly the day before or the same day that I got sober, I decided to submit and I asked Him. I asked Him to help me become sober. To make me a new creation. I always thought before that meant I would become new right away and be fixed. But this time I understood differently. That He made me a new creation, but it’s a work in progress. Because He knows best. If He made me brand new all at once I would still have my flaws. It’s like a person that’s put in a medically induced coma for addiction, they wake up physically not addicted but mentally still addicted. And the Lord is omnipotent. He knows everything. He knows more than everything. And He knows I couldn’t handle that. So I have to grow into my new creation. This time it’s different. It’s a lot different. I’ve never had this feeling before. And I’ve decided to have a relationship with the Lord, not a religion. A relationship. And it’s okay with people that have religion. I’m not judging anybody. Whatever brings you closer to the Lord, that’s okay. That’s more power to you. I just chose to have a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and it’s working for me. Whatever way you choose, more power to you. As long as you can connect with the Lord I’m happy for you. Off topic, I pray for everyone. Past, present and future. Especially people that don’t have relationships with the Lord, or the devil has a grip on. I pray hardest for you. Because the Lord doesn’t put anybody in hell. It’s our decisions. So I pray the hardest for the people that have turned away or have been deceived by the devil to turn away from God. My prayers go out to everyone, especially those ones. Anyways back to my topic. This time it’s a lot different. Now I have a relationship. I talk to God every day, multiple times a day, just off the top of my head. Not a structured time. When I wake up. As I’m going through the day. Whenever I feel like talking to Him. It’s different than I’ve ever felt. I’m the happiest I’ve ever felt. I remember when I was younger I was very envious, jealous and spiteful of people that had things. As I got older I didn’t want to be like that anymore so I decided to change. I started by seeing one thing positive out of negative situations. Then when I got the hang of that, two things positive. Then three. So now when something negative happens I see multiple positives. Now there’s no negative to me, because without the negatives there wouldn’t be positives. It changed my perspective. But there’s one thing that always bothered me. When I seen people that have relationships with the Lord and how happy they were, I was spiteful. I was jealous. So I humiliated them. I made fun of them. Because I was envious but I wouldn’t admit it, because I craved what they had. I was just a piece of garbage. I wanted what they had but I was spiteful and envious so I degraded them. And I feel really bad for doing that. I apologize. I wish I could go back and take it all back and I can’t. The best thing I can do is say I’m truly sorry for doing that to you, and I ask for your forgiveness. But my point is now that I have a relationship with the Lord, I understand why they’re so happy and forgiving. Because when you have a relationship with the Lord and you have a meaningful one, you can’t do anything but be happy and be forgiving. It’s the most peaceful thing you can ever feel. There’s nothing on earth that can make you feel this way. Not money. Nothing. Nothing that touches you can make you feel the same way as having a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. That’s from the bottom of my heart. With my addiction every day I build my relationship with the Lord, my recovery becomes stronger and stronger. I don’t even have cravings anymore. I don’t have temptations. I don’t think about my addiction. The only time I think about it is in a positive way, about how long I’ve been sober. And that’s saying something, because opiates is a hard addiction. Crack cocaine, believe it or not, is even harder, because there is no substitute for crack cocaine. It’s pretty much you doing it yourself. And through the Lord I found a doctor that finally actually helped me. Through the Lord I’ve had so many things happen in my life, creativity through my work, so many blessings that weren’t possible before when the devil had a hold of me. Just in this last month, month and a half, my life has changed 180. I don’t even know how to say it more than that, if that’s even possible. I understand now when people say ask the Lord and He will grant it. Walk with the Lord and He walks with you. It’s not walk with the Lord. It’s the Lord walks with you. No matter what, He’s always walking with me. I just decided to walk ahead of Him and ignore Him. But He never left me. He’s always walked with me. And I’m so grateful and thankful to Him. I thank Him every day. I say bless You Lord for blessing me. Thank You Lord for letting me be able to bless. Thank You for blessing me Lord. And I always say to Him Lord, I know You don’t need anything from me. I can never do anything that You need. But I still say, if there’s anything I can do for You Lord, just ask upon me, or work through me like You do. If I can help somebody, if I can do anything, and I mean it, let me do it. I don’t know what people are going to think of this, but the first thing I’m doing when I reach heaven, because I’m following my hero, the person I idolize, Jesus Christ. What He taught and what He did. Not just in His death but more so in His life. The things He did in His life amaze me, because He knew He was going to be forsaken from the very start, and He knew who was going to forsake Him, and He still decided to do good things. Not judge them. Not take vengeance on them. But wash their feet and show them kindness, even though He knew how it was going to end. That to me is so big. So the first thing I want to do when I get to heaven, if it’s allowed, I want to wash His feet. Out of respect. I don’t know how people are going to take it but that’s my own desire. Everybody has their own opinion and I appreciate whatever you think. But that’s what I would like to do, just to give thanks. Anyways I’m going on. I want to get more connected with the Lord, so I want to start having church ceremonies. But I don’t agree with the way the church is run. I agree with people getting together and talking about the Lord and sharing their experiences. Now I don’t know too much about the Bible. I’m just learning. I never read the Bible and I’m embarrassed by that. But it’s a process for me and I’m going to read the Bible. It’s a work in progress. And I’m going to learn the Bible to the point where I don’t need the Bible to quote scripture. I’m going to build my armor so the enemy can’t attack me, and if he does I’ll have my armor ready and my sword to fight back, without needing to read anything, just off the top of my head. That’s my goal. But my point is, it’s okay that people go to church and agree with it. We all have our own opinions and I don’t judge anybody, and I hope I don’t get judged for it. But if you do judge me, that’s okay. I don’t mean to be arrogant by saying I forgive. I’m saying I have no ill will towards you for judging me. Before I even knew anything about the Bible I had this idea: myself and maybe a few people come to my home, cook breakfast, we have breakfast together, we read scripture, we talk about scripture, we talk about our experiences with the Lord Jesus Christ while we eat breakfast. I found out later that’s how the church used to be run with the apostles. And that just hit me. I have no idea about anything in the Bible, how it was run, but how did I come to that conclusion? There’s a few things that happened like that where I have no idea about the Bible, about the way things were done, Bible quotes, Bible scripture, and the things I’ve been saying have been on point. You can say it’s a coincidence, whatever you want. I don’t believe in that anymore, because there is no coincidence. Everything’s through God, Lord Jesus Christ. So I feel blessed that I’m able to think the way I think. So that’s what I’m starting to do. This Sunday with a friend, we’re going to cook breakfast and start our own at-home church. And we’re going to save money together, and the money we save together we’re going to help the community with. My goal is to get to five hundred dollars. And I’m going to try to get companies to donate, or at least give us discounts on food, like turkeys. The plan is to get seven or eight turkeys, bags of potatoes, mixed vegetables, cook everything, get a few tables, a tent, and music, and go to places in my hometown that the missions don’t get to, but where people are in need, and go out and feed people. But not out of charity. Out of dignity. To show them that we’re not forced to help you. We’re not a government place. We’re coming to help you because we care about you. Because you’re important. You’re a somebody, you’re not a nobody. And we love you, just like Jesus loves you. You know what I mean? And I hope that’ll change one person’s life. If it changes one person, Jesus, I’m happy. My idea is just to have everybody keep their dignity. I’m going to have a sign that says come eat we got you. It’s not a charity. It’s just food. We’re just feeding, we’re just eating, we’re all friends, we’re just eating. Don’t feel shamed. We all gotta eat. I just want to follow in Jesus footsteps. And one more thing. People look at athletes and movie stars and musicians, rappers, as heroes and idolize them. Not me. My hero, and my idol if I’m allowed to say idol, is Jesus Christ the Lord. And my hero, you might think this is weird, there’s a lady in the States that bought every chicken there was at the store, and everybody got mad at her, I think it was during Thanksgiving, everybody got mad at her and was saying mean things. And the next scene you see her with a table on the street making plates of food, feeding the homeless. That to me is a hero. That’s what I want to be like. I strive to be like that. Not because I want recognition, but because I want people to know that’s the right thing to do, and that’s the work of the Lord. And it’s not me doing it, it’s the Lord working through me. And all the recognition goes to the Lord. I don’t want to be remembered. I want the Lord to be remembered, as He brought one of His workers to us, and thank God for that. Not because of me. I don’t want my name to be known. I want all the praise to go to the Lord Jesus Christ. So I just want to say thank you to everyone that listened to my story. Even the people that don’t agree with it, I appreciate you taking the time. And God bless everybody. And let’s pray for the people that are lost. Just letting you guys know sorry for any mistakes I’m dyslexic thank you God bless you

I have been a Christian almost one. Which was before I grew up as a Muslim. Left to be an atheist. So I have been happy going to church. Meetings of people and praying to God as much as I can. But I still live with my family who are Muslim. So it is hard for me to go to church every Sunday. Especially it's a 9 min walk to church. But am I not a true Christian if I haven't been baptized?

Dear brothers and sisters. Should anyone feel lead to pray for me, I'd greatly appreciate it.

I've just started to be in a wonderful season with God. Connected in 3 churches with small groups and bible studies. A busy kick off to the season! And I've been operating with a heart surrendered to God and he's been using me as a vessel to do his will and share insight to edify others and testify.

Last night out of the blue, i fell into temptation 😢 😭 I got a few beers and drank for the first time since January. I went downtown looking to socialize and I actually felt really out of place when I got there and left quickly. I knew I didnt belong in that pub like I once did. It's not who I am anymore.

Despite leaving, I was already buzzing and using bad judgment. Complete change of character and intentions from my normal baseline. Giving into the flesh, now tempted even further to reach out to old contacts in my phone looking to flirt/hook up. 😢 😭 Thankfully the 2 people i contacted, nothing came of it. I went home, ate and sobered up.

This is NOT what I want. I don't want a random hook up. I dont want to drink. I dont want to open a door for the enemy to stiffle what God's doing with me. And eventually when im ready i want a true, loving, godly relationship. I want to be a proverbs 31 woman.

How in the world did this just happen so fast? Is God showing me something in my heart that's deep rooted? I am so sad, angry, ashamed, disgusted etc. with myself today. I feel like a hypocrite as well. Im grateful for this Godly sorrow that leads to repentance. Ive sincerely apologized to God, Jesus and Holy spirit for grieving them. I'm crying and just really seeking prayer and advice. Do i just remember this serious offence, but bounce back quickly and dig into his word and be in prayer? Anything else?

I know better. Yet these 2 fleshly desires pop up in my life continuously and randomly. My spirit hates them but my flesh craves them. How can I be so strong for a long season then take such a quick tumble?

Feeling low and disgusting. Needing a hug from Jesus. Im ever so sorry for my heart posture. I'm deeply grieved right now.

Please pray for me. I want to be focused and fit for the kingdom of God and busy doing his work. I want to be pleasing to him and cleansed.

Thank you in advance for prayer and any advice.

I decided to turn to Christianity a few days ago. I know it's not long, obviously. But I feel exactly the same. I gave up porn, drugs, masturbation, and am trying to also give up lying and swearing. I repented for all my sins in prayer, asked for Holy Spirit, and started reading the Bible. Mainly the Gospel and book of Enoch (which I know is non-canonical, but I find interesting).

I have been depressed for years. Seen many GPs (UK Doctors), tried maybe 4-5 antidepressants, tried self-induced psychedelic therapy, tried self-help (yoga, meditation, walks without headphones, etc.) I have also struggled with polysubstance (multiple drug) addiction for years. Went to a drug counseller who was honestly useless, and managed to get off of benzodiazepines all by myself. The only drug where going cold turkey can actually kill you (besides alcohol).

Since going sober I have unfortunately relapsed on weed, opiates, benzos (physically addicted yet again), pregablin and ketamine.

The NHS doctors REFUSE to see someone with a drug addiction. So I paid for private therapy. That was somewhat helpful, but in the end I had to quit because of how expensive it is.

I believe Jesus was real, died on the cross, got ressurected 3 days later and is the son of God.

I know I probably shouldn't expect an overnight change, but... why? If I was God and saw someone suffering as badly as I have done (my post here only scratches the tip of the iceberg), then they humbly and repentfully turned to me, I would help them with anxiety and depression in a heartbeat.

I'm sure this post will be deleted since people can't handle real issues unfortunately, but I am considering ending things very soon and have the means to do so with a 99% success rate. I don't want to die. I want to live and be happy. But I haven't been happy in many YEARS. I also find adding 1000 new rules to my life by trying to be Christian only makes things harder. Where prior in hard times I could turn to weed or opiates, I turn to prayer. Yet I feel unheard. I wake up every morning wishing I didn't and have felt that way for many months, even now, trying to be Christian.

Perhaps God doesn't hear my prayers. But I believe He will hear some of yours. Please please pray for me. My name is Levi, but God will know who you mean. I will pray too and continue to try to be Christian. But I am seriously close to leaving this evil world unfortunately and have yet to find solace in God sad to say.

Please pray to help my anxiety, depression and anhedonia (inability to feel pleasure). I am at my wit's end. Again, I'm sure the post will be banned because it's a sensitive topic so fast replies would be very much appreciated. I am desperate. Please help and pray for me💔

To: God's Children (You)

From: The Heavens & Earth

Hello “Child of The Most High God” the people in the heavens and the angels want to tell you something.

We know you have conquered many hard trials in life and we see your progress.

Please don't cry for making mistakes because we are helping you and we know that you are getting stronger.

Don't worry about yesterday or for tomorrow because your life has been carefully made and planned by the Power and Love of God in whom we know, serve and give thanks to on your behalf.

Wherever you go and whatever you do, we just want you to know there's a hope that God put inside of you long ago.

God formed your heart from since the beginning of time. Please know that you are protected and we have struggled greatly, just as you still do even now.

We have seen all of the times, when people have hurt you and caused you deep sorrow. We have taken an account of all the tears that you've cried and days you feel that were lost.

We encourage you to continue, and to take care of yourself just as you have. Give thought to the people who are coming home soon, who also belong to the Lord and King in earthly places, for he lives in the hearts and souls of men.

You have support by many and they care and love you so much.

Never forget that you are valuable to all of us and we lived and died so that you could receive the grace and mercy you need as a pardon to make it to the end where a new life begins.

This new life, you will no longer; have a rememberance of your old life. You will finally be able to enjoy the deepest desires of your heart. There will be peace and love and joy everlasting.

If you ever need anything at all, just tell Jesus because he is with you to comfort you and to provide for you everything you need.

Continue on my friend because you have a really big family, not like your earthen family in whom you know but a family who knows you because our Father has told us about you! We're so happy to meet you today and we're glad to share a message from our hearts with you.

May the Love and Peace of God be found in you, and the eternal hope and promise strengthen you, and follow you all of your days.

We love you! Stay Loved and Love others just as God loves you ❤️

🙏🥰😇👑

I was once called a hypocrite because I am a God-believer who likes horror movies. I believe in peace, pacifism and non-violence in real life. But I see films and movies etc as fun and artistic expression, as long s no one is actually being harmed and it's pretend. Is there really hypocrisy in these beliefs? Is this contradictory with believing in God? I know everyone will have different thoughts on this and I would like a respectful discussion. If it makes a difference, I am autistic. Please be kind.

PS. I'm not a Christian, but I. want to know why many Christians don't like horror.

Before i get into this i want to clarify that im not trans or gay and im not bisexual. Im a straight christian man who desires to be more woman like. I find myself liking womens clothing better than male clothing. And i like their personalitys more than males. Im not wanting the masculine responsibility. Im just wanting to live my life and be woman-like. My question is, is this sinful? I'm wanting to express and be more like a woman but act like a man too. I want both. But people keep saying its a sin and an abomination. I just dont get it. I personally dont believe deutoronemy 22:5 applys today.

Okay so me and my partner have been together for more than 2 years.

I'm Christian and she's an atheist. I was heavily involved in God when we started dating and eventually I was led astray from him. I was lukewarm and I've put her before God. This went on for some time and we shared some intimacy, we talked about it a lot and we were quite freaky. I was thinking to myself that it'd be all okay if we were to ve intimate since it's gonna end up in marriage anyways but these few last days I've felt sick of myself and decided to start reading bible and putting God on first place again. I'm still torn apart but I've told her we should stop the intimacy because it goes against God's words. The problem is right now that she's respecting my decision but she blames me for everything and is pretty harsh with her words telling me she regrets all the things we did and that I'm just a liar. I pretty much need help, I've been praying to God but I don't know how to resolve all of this.

I’m not here to attack anyone’s faith. I genuinely want to understand how people think about this.

The Bible says Jesus appeared to Peter, the disciples, and a few hundred people, and then he was gone. But outside Christian writings, I can’t find any historian or record from that time that confirms it. Non-Christian writers mention that Jesus lived and was executed, but not that people saw him alive again.

So my question is: if the resurrection is the most important thing in Christianity, why did Jesus only show himself to certain people and then leave? And why is there nothing from outside the believers to confirm it?

Also, if this event is so important, why didn’t Almighty God the all-knowing Jesus Christ, with unlimited knowledge do something different to ensure that independent, non Christian sources would document it?

An even better question: Why didn’t Jesus stay on Earth longer, or do something similar, to prove to more people that he was alive?

I’m having an extremely difficult time accepting that the only source for such an important event as his resurrection is the Bible.

In the beginning was God. And God is One. Yet this One is not as man counts one, for in Him is Father, and Son, and Holy Spirit. These Three are not three gods, but one God. Neither divided, nor confused. Distinct in person, yet undivided in essence. The Lord thy God is one Lord (Deuteronomy 6:4), yet the Father declares of the Son, “Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever” (Hebrews 1:8), and the Spirit is confessed as the very breath of God who searches all things, even the deep things of God (1 Corinthians 2:10).

Men stumble at this mystery, and many have erred, thinking the doctrine a contradiction. Yet it is no contradiction, but revelation. A contradiction is to say one is three and three is one in the same manner. But the Trinity is one in essence, three in person. As light is one beam yet holds within it three properties: radiance, heat, and energy...so the Godhead is indivisible, yet manifold in expression.

The creation itself bears witness to this hidden unity. For the universe is bound in threes: space has length, breadth, and height; time has past, present, and future; matter has energy, motion, and form. Remove one, and the other two collapse. So also in God: remove Father, Son, or Spirit, and God is no more as He has revealed Himself.

Even the body of man reflects this image: spirit, soul, and body. Three, yet one person. Distinct in function, inseparable in unity. Thus the Lord stamped His triune nature into the very fabric of His work, that we might perceive His invisible attributes through the things that are made (Romans 1:20).

Yet the Trinity is not mere logic, nor a scheme of philosophy. It is life, it is love. For God is love (1 John 4:8). Love cannot exist in solitude. Love requires a giver and a receiver, and the bond between them. In the Father is the fountain of love, in the Son is the beloved, and in the Spirit is the bond of that eternal love. This is why love is the greatest of all commandments, for it is the very nature of God Himself.

Some accuse the Christians, saying, “You worship three gods.” Others, like the Muslim, affirm God’s oneness but deny His Son, stumbling at the cross. Still others seek to describe the Son as created, or the Spirit as mere force. Yet these are not the testimonies of Scripture. For the Son declared, “Before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:58), taking the very name of Yahweh. And Ananias, lying to the Spirit, was told, “You have not lied to men, but to God” (Acts 5:4).

Philosophers have sought parallels, and scientists too. Consider the atom: one particle, yet composed of proton, neutron, and electron, distinct yet bound in one indivisible unity. Or water, which is one substance yet manifests as solid, liquid, and vapor...though these images fall short of the fullness, they point toward a truth that transcends creation itself.

The Trinity is a stumbling block to human pride, for the mind of flesh demands full comprehension. But can the clay comprehend the potter? Can the finite hold the infinite? Nay, the mystery humbles us, yet it also magnifies the glory of God. For if He were simple enough to be grasped by the mind of man, He would not be the true God.

Therefore, let the earth bow before the Triune Majesty. One God, revealed in Three. Not three Lords, but one Lord. Not three creators, but one Creator. In the Son we behold the Father; through the Spirit we partake of both. And when the ages are fulfilled, we shall see Him as He is, not in part, but in fullness, when the mystery shall no longer be shadow but light.

I know the title may sound cliché, but I want to share something I've learned through my own journey of faith: Don't spend your life searching for every answer, as I once did. The truth is, not all of us are prepared to bear the weight of every truth, and perhaps that is one reason God, in His infinite wisdom, has chosen not to reveal everything to us in the Bible.

God's silence on certain questions was never intended to cause us suffering, nor does it mean He is indifferent to our pain. There is a reason He calls us to have FAITH in Him. Faith is not about having every answer; it is about trusting the One who does, even when we cannot understand His ways.

God has already given us the greatest evidence of His love: Jesus Christ.

The Father gave His only Son for our salvation. Think about the depth of that sacrifice. If God was willing to go to such extraordinary lengths to save us, how could we ever believe that His intentions toward us are anything but good?

God cannot lie, not because He is restrained by some greater power, but because falsehood is contrary to His very nature. He is truth itself. He is holy beyond our comprehension, so pure that sin cannot dwell in His presence, yet so merciful that He continues to extend grace to a world that repeatedly turns away from Him. His patience is not weakness. His mercy is not approval of sin. It is love, a love that does not desire for any of us to perish.

I say these things not merely because I've read them, but because I have experienced God's mercy and trustworthiness in my own life.

I went through a period of profound darkness, a time when I desperately needed saving. And by His grace, God found me there. He brought me out of that darkness, transformed my heart, and gave me a new life in Christ. I experienced what I can only describe as a spiritual rebirth, but knowing the truth has a price.

Ever since then, I've carried a deep desire to tell the whole world about Jesus, because when you've experienced that kind of love, it's difficult to keep it to yourself.

But I've also come to understand that not everyone is ready to receive Him.

Some people are so convinced of their own understanding that they refuse even to consider the possibility of God's existence. Others have been deeply wounded by corrupt religious leaders or by people who claimed to represent Christ but acted nothing like Him. Some struggle to reconcile the existence of a loving God with the suffering, injustice, and evil in this world. Others have been led astray by deception, temptation, and the spiritual darkness that surrounds us. But freewill has a price, and God cannot contradict himself and reverse every action.

And perhaps there are mysteries surrounding why some people never come to know Him, even if they want to, mysteries that only God, who sees every heart and knows every consequence, can fully understand.

But I do not believe we are called to condemn those who struggle to believe. We are called to love them, pray for them, and reflect the character of Christ so that they might come to know Him through us.

To myself and my brothers and sisters in Christ, I want to say this:

Please, do not grieve God's heart by taking His mercy for granted. Do not mistake His patience for permission to continue in sin. Never underestimate the destructive power of sin, but never underestimate the immeasurable depth of His grace either.

And if you're reading this while walking through a season of suffering, confusion, loneliness, or despair, please hold on.

I know that faith can be difficult when your prayers seem unanswered. I know that trusting God can feel almost impossible when everything around you appears to be falling apart. But please remember that our suffering is temporary, and this broken world is not our eternal home.

I work in accounting. My current job right now is making 88k, 2k bonus, 3% annual raises, 5 days in office and 16days PTO and 9 holidays 20% 401K match. I've been passively looking for jobs over a year now. Its not a stressful job just 40 hours a week but I don't like my boss as she is nitpicky and not flexible when it comes to appointments and she doesn't like me either. My previous boss before her (same company) was amazing and I loved working there but I got transferred to the new boss as the company was moving stuff around.

New company is large. 85K base salary +5K sign on bonus 3-5% bonuses 0-3% raises. 15 pto days, 4 personal days, 10 sick days and 12 holidays. 2 days work from home 3 days in office 6% 401K match. I accepted the new role but I'm just not happy with the paycut I would have to take. To me it feels like a step back and now I'm thinking should I just stay in my current role and just keep applying to jobs until I can find a higher paying job.

I originally started looking for a job for work life balance as I didn't want to go into the office 5 days and week and use vacation time whenever I had appointments to take. idk am I just being spoiled?

I have been praying to God for a new job and I don't know if this is the path he wants me to take. I don't want to make the wrong decision especially with taking the paycut.

I dont know been stressing about this for few days now. could use some insight

I’m talking to God about this, does anyone else feel the same? I feel like I feel this way because I don’t love God enough. I feel like if I never got married I wouldn’t feel this way.

I love my husband so much I can’t imagine a life without him, would that be idolizing him? How can I stop? I want to love my father more, but how do I love them both at the same time like I am just confused.

So, I would like to start dating. It’s not that I haven’t tried to go on dates, but I’m struggling to find guys to date where I live. I live in a college town, I do attend church (been at the same church since I moved here 4 years ago), and I have looked for men my age in the church, but I’m running into the same problem. Most of them who are around my age are in two categories:
1. They are already married and have families or starting.
2. Still live with their parents and are not working regularly.
It has been really frustrating. I live on my own, pay my own bills, and I’m currently back in school to become a Medical Laboratory Technologist. I have been spending the past two years working on myself, my appearance, my health, and how I view myself. I tried to ask one guy out at my job and he pretty much shut me down and is now dating someone else. Come to the conclusion I’m not his type, oh well. I’ve used online dating apps in the past, not a big fan of them. I just feel stuck. Should I be doing more and if so then what?

Hi all. I've been digging deeper into Christianity lately and there's something I keep getting stuck on, so I'm hoping some of you can share your perspective.

Some background. As a young adult I treated animals and people badly. I wasn't a believer back then. I thought more in terms of karma, like the universe keeps score. So I felt I had to tip the scales back the other way, and that's a big part of why I went vegan about ten years ago.

But veganism never freed me from the guilt. If anything it stayed the same or got stronger. At some point it went really far. I'd move snails off the road, I was scared to step on ants, I even avoided driving, partly because of emissions but also because of all the little flies that end up on the windshield. Honestly I can't even list everything I did. I have OCD, and looking back a lot of this was me trying to pay off a debt that never seemed to get smaller.

Over those ten years I also learned a lot about how the dairy, egg and meat industries work. A few weeks ago I started eating vegetarian again, so dairy and eggs. It's partly connected to my treatment for OCD.

Health-wise, my bloodwork as a vegan was basically fine, and I know you can supplement a lot. But I also know science doesn't have everything figured out yet. It's possible that years from now a fully vegan diet turns out to be less healthy than we think today. And I genuinely want to take care of my health. I want to live a long life and be there for my wife and kids, healthy and present. So that's a real part of why I'm eating this way now too.

Here's what I keep struggling with. My wife and kids have been vegetarian longer than me, and my wife sometimes eats meat. I don't judge her at all, and I don't judge other Christians who eat animal products either. But I notice I'm much harder on myself. I think it's because I feel like I know more than most people do about how animals are treated in these industries. So it feels like God would expect more from me. Like I can't use not knowing as an excuse.

So my questions are:

• Does God hold someone to a higher standard on something like this because they know more? I've thought about "to whom much is given, much will be required" (Luke 12:48).
• Could eating animal products while "knowing better" actually affect my salvation?
• Is there anything in Scripture that says we shouldn't use animals for food at all? I know about Genesis 1:29 and Genesis 9:3, Romans 14, and Peter's vision in Acts 10, but I'd love to hear how you understand them.
• For those who came to faith carrying old guilt: how did you stop trying to "balance the scales" yourself?

Thanks for reading, and for any thoughts or verses you can share.

I’d love some honest perspectives from this community. I grew up in a Christian family going to a Roman Catholic church every Sunday, just as a norm, until I decided to have an understanding of my own and not just go to church as a family thing.

When I look at creation, I’m convinced there’s a God. The order, the patterns are there to see an intelligent design, everything around us and beyond all point to a creator, and that part makes complete sense to me.

Where I struggle is the spiritual side. the miracles, the supernatural, the war between God and Satan, none of these make me feel God at all. They feel distant, and sometimes hard to reconcile with the God I see in creation.

to some extent, I can understand and believe that Jesus was born of a virgin Mary and walked on earth teaching. from a creation point it makes sense for that to happen, the Creator expressing himself in physical form, just like how the universe, galaxy, earth, nature are an expression of him.

the spiritual reason for Jesus' existence and death though, still cant resonate.

So my question is how did you get from believing there’s a creator to knowing and feeling the spiritual realm of things, if there was ever a struggle.

Am I missing something, asking sincerely.

We are all guilty of thinking "This is what God wants" "especially, "This is how God is." Dont make this mistake...

Always revert back to prayer, ask Him to reveal it to you and open the scripture for confirmation. Otherwise, what God wants or how God is could be our own deluded fantasy. How many times have we spoken to a so called christian that says, God is not like this, or God is not that like, and when you revert to the scripture, they come back with, "Thats not how I feel about God, I just dont believe that."

Dont ask me how I know, but there are unseen realms that cant be measured right now with 2026 tech. This invisible realm has entities that can feed us thoughts into our thought streams and these thoughts will lead to believing lies. Thats how they tempt us, from that realm.

Proverbs 14:12

There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.

That isnt just talking about a physical death on earth but also a spiritual death in the afterlife.

Hi, I know this might be a secular question to ask but it's something I am meaning to ask after I started to believe more in Christianity. Since I grew up in the faith I questioned what God was and became concerned I might be agnostic. When I was a teenager I was practically an atheist and later when I decided to become religious again I became a Muslim because it seemed clearer cut what God was. Now as an adult I am going back to my Catholic roots and want to understand what God is in Christianity. I understand that God is a spirit, a person and alive in the world. That he became Man and dwelled among us and is also the Holy Spirit. But in a reasonable manner, what is God? Why did he create us and why is the world so corrupt and wicked?

From my understanding the story of Adam and Eve, the serpent and the fall of humanity created a world that is corrupted. Then Jesus came and gave us life through his grace and mercy. Ultimately defeating death on the cross and forever forgiving and loving us. But then why does evil continue to exist in new forms and seemingly odd ways in the modern world?

With how cunning Satan is and how wicked the everyday non-believers are. Are we nearing the end times, or are we just becoming more of a wicked and perverse generation? I feel like honestly since I became an adult and have more responsibilities the world just seems stranger and more odd than even a couple years ago. I genuinely thought the world was going to end in 2023 and now after a psychotic episode I feel like the world is somewhat different. I also wonder why is the book of Revelations so strange and does it even connect to Jesus and his unconditional love?

Has anyone of you or someone trustworthy that spoke to you, ever experienced this gift from someone? And I am talking knowledge the other person had like something specific and unexplainable that it is either a ultra-rare coincidence or supernatural? Asking this because testimonies like these remind us how God is an intimate God with all of His creation, knowing even the most specific things in our innermost being.

Hello, i have this question that has been troubling me for the past few days.

I try to avoid any type of piracy, and whenever I need to buy books for my university course I try to get them legitimately (and not use download some pdf file uploaded on the internet).

This time, however, our professor required us to get four books for a course. Since they are quite expensive and some of them are difficult to find, he uploaded the full PDF versions of all four books to Google Classroom. He mentioned that he would delete them after a week, which made me a little suspicious about whether he actually has permission to share them.

I know that professors are allowed to upload extracts of a particular book, but this time he uploaded the whole books in those files, and i'm not sure if he has any license (I guess I could ask him, but it would be really awkward).

Buying all four books would be quite difficult for me and my parents financially, so part of me feels that using the PDFs provided directly by my professor shouldn't be wrong. At the same time, I'm not sure whether I would be doing something unethical or sinful if he doesn't actually have permission to distribute them.

I know it seems like a small issue, bu I genuinely apprecciate any christian advice regarding this situation

EDIT: For context, I'm studying in Italy, where copyright law has specific exceptions for educational purposes. As far as I understand, these generally allow certain uses of excerpts or parts of copyrighted works under specific conditions, but they don't automatically allow teachers to distribute entire books without permission. I'm not sure whether my professor has a license or another legal basis for sharing the PDFs, though.

We’ve all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and so do not deserve the grace (by definition) that God extends to those who have accepted Jesus.

But in the name of fairness, are we all be given the chance of forgiveness even if most ultimately reject that free gift?

As I understand, we don’t go to hell for not know Jesus/the gospel, we go to hell for our sin. So the excuse of, “Well I was never told about this free gift!” would not be sufficient in proving any sort of innocence. But there is definitely a part of me that does want to believe in this kind of equal opportunity type of fairness.

i have been told by a pastor “Could you imagine that there is room in God’s infinite goodness to provide a way for those who never heard the gospel?”. He was kind of implying that those who arent shared the gospel on earth are somehow given the knowledge of the gospel after death, thereby providing them the OPPORTUNITY of salvation. I dont really like this line either - it’s highly speculative and not directly founded in scripture.

i dont know what do yall think?