I have some questions for the Christians.

[Queenie]

Potthole, you bring up an excellent point. There have been several times that, while reading the Bible, God has spoken to me making the scripture I was reading much easier to understand.

I have a problem with this. It seems to defy common sense that you can understand something inspired by God, but also in an argument use the excuse "I don't try to understand God's will, I just accept it". Which one is it? All the time Christians say in response to a tragedy that "no one can understand God's plan", so who are you to claim you understand something that is supposedly written by the will of God.

Of course you could argue "The Bible is meant to be written as God's message for humans, so humans are capable of understanding what is written in it". But I also have a problem with this. Why do you allow yourself to claim such ignorance when trying to understand why things happen through God, but choose to become an expert when examining what God has written down for you? The Bible is not the entire basis of Christianity either, and therefore part of the basis of your religion has come from God in some other form. This form is through the Pope, who is said to speak for God when making papal decrees. If the Pope can interpret and act on God's will, then who are you to say that no one can understand God's will in response to a tragedy? No one is greater than anyone else in the eyes of God, so why is only the pope given this power to understand God's will and apply it to all of Christianity? If people were allowed to understand why things happen, they would have an easier time accepting God. You could say that faith doesn't come easy, but it was pretty damn easy back in the time of Jesus when all these "miracles" were occurring. Faith came quick and easy back then, and people were converted by the thousands.

Firstly, see my response to maddog.

Secondly, having experienced a true miracle first-hand, I can guarantee you there was no common sense anywhere in the equation. I do not claim to be an "expert" at anything, as you so put it. I do not think I have ever claimed to be an expert at the Bible. This forum is for members to express their personal views about subjects, which I have, being a member, done. I do not push my views on anyone. I simply share what has happened in my life. I have spoken with God on several occasions, and He has spoken to me. I do not recall saying that anybody should not question or not have a response to any given tragedy, I have only stated that I do not have a negative response to any given tragedy. I have lost many loved ones in my life, to a myraid of circumstances, and NO I do NOT question the "reasoning" behind them. I only know that they have been spared from this horrible world and have gone on to a much better place. These are my beliefs. Take them or leave them. It's truly a personal choice, just as the choice to believe in God is.