If you believe that bible stories are true.. what evidence of truth is there to base your faith upon?

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• Well, Mr. Slightly, that is not what the bible says.
  (Hebrews 11:1-2) 11 Faith is the assured expectation of things hoped for, the evident demonstration of realities though not beheld. 2 For by means of this the men of old times had witness borne to them.

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  by larry on November 18th, 2009

• Ok, first, what's with the Mr? I chose an anonymous name and didn't put a sex down on my profile for a reason...calling me Mr. in in this context just sounds unbelievably rude. There's no need to preface your response with my name, and if you feel the need to call me Slightly or SLA like everyone else.

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  by Slightly less anonymous on November 18th, 2009

• I know the passage and it basically says what I said. But tell me this, why the NWT translation? I get that the category is Christian Bible, but using a translation produced by the Jehovah's Witnesses? What's the point? It still says the same thing, just the King James translation says what I say practically word for word:
  (Hebrews 11:1-2)11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
   
  It's all the same really, just said with different words. Faith is belief without proof, the evidence of things not seen, the evident demonstration of realities not beheld. What's the big difference?

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  by Slightly less anonymous on November 18th, 2009

• I must have some concrete data before I can establish faith. Scripture is composed of stories about a supernatural God but my field experiences have only demonstrated that if God exists he must be inert, like a believing in nothing. I believe every person has a natural spirit energy -which in scientific terms is referred to as emergent phenomena- which religious people consider to be presence of Jesus or God when they experience it in some way. Wisdom of the scriptures can come via deep spiritual insights.. no need for a supernatural power.

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  by kakskee on November 18th, 2009

• Like everything else in life, Kakskee, you only find it when you are ready to hear it.

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  by writemyselfaletter on December 8th, 2009

• SLA...Larry is a Jehovahs Witness

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  by writemyselfaletter on December 8th, 2009

• Ok, I understand that, but it doesn't explain everything else.
   
  If you're going to use the bible as a source in a debate, use it as a SOURCE, tell me which one, especially if it's obscure and don't preach to me. Either it's an academic debate or your preaching to me on grounds of faith, that you know better then me, whatever. But both at the same time is really annoying. Preaching to me under the guise of intellectual debate is really annoying.
   
  I don't think my problem was so much with what bible was used, but that I bible quote was used to disagree with me when it in fact agrees with me. I dunno, it was just annoying all around.

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  by Slightly less anonymous on December 9th, 2009

• SLA, try not to take offence. I don't think that he was trying to be offensive.
  Quote: "evidence of truth to base your faith on? that's sorta not the meaning of the word faith "
  KJV Heb 11:1 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
  From what I read, faith is based on evidence. All of the scriptures along with creation itself give us the evidence to base our faith on.
  (Romans 15:4) For all the things that were written aforetime were written for our instruction, that through our endurance and through the comfort from the Scriptures we might have hope.
  (1 Corinthians 10:11) Now these things went on befalling them as examples, and they were written for a warning to us upon whom the ends of the systems of things have arrived.
  (2 Timothy 3:16) All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness,
  (Romans 1:20) For his invisible [qualities] are clearly seen from the world’s creation onward, because they are perceived by the things made, even his eternal power and Godship, so that they are inexcusable;

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  by Texasescimo on December 28th, 2009

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Comments

• WHOA!!!! I apologize in advance, Larry, because I know this will be offensive and I am sorry.
  
  Jehovahs Witnesses are considered a cult by virtually every Christian body in the world. Their Bible is not the Christian Bible. If you're looking, look somewhere else. You want a website, try www.reformed.org. There are many others, but that's a good one. Steer clear of Jehovahs Witnesses. www.BibleGateway.com is another that focuses just on the Bible and what it says, in various translations and versions. Reformed.org goes more into theology (but understandable). I like both for different reasons, but you can trust both.
  
  BTW.....Mormonism is also considered a cult. Both mormonism and Jehovahs Witnesses reject the basic underpinnings of the Christian faith and that is not my conclusion. They would both be included in any book you picked up that describes religious cults.

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  by writemyselfaletter on December 8th, 2009

• I am not offended, but thank you anyway. I became one of Jehovahs Witnesses when we had and used the K.J bible we only had the N W.T.
  In the late 50's and early 60's. Now I don;t mean to be offensive, but I see you are not finding out the truth for yourself but you are letting hearsay form your opinions for you, a dangerious thing to do. (Psalm 146:3-4)  3 Do not put YOUR trust in nobles, Nor in the son of earthling man, to whom no salvation belongs.  4 His spirit goes out, he goes back to his ground; In that day his thoughts do perish.

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  by larry on December 15th, 2009

• I am surprised that people seem to think that those speaking truth would be popular.
  (Acts 28:22) But we think it proper to hear from you what your thoughts are, for truly as regards this sect it is known to us that everywhere it is spoken against.”
  (Matthew 5:11) “Happy are YOU when people reproach YOU and persecute YOU and lyingly say every sort of wicked thing against YOU for my sake.
  (John 15:19) If YOU were part of the world, the world would be fond of what is its own. Now because YOU are no part of the world, but I have chosen YOU out of the world, on this account the world hates YOU.
  (Matthew 24:9) “Then people will deliver YOU up to tribulation and will kill YOU, and YOU will be objects of hatred by all the nations on account of my name.

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  by Texasescimo on December 28th, 2009

• Mr. Wtitemyselfaletter, By the way the defination of a Cult, is
  a system of religious or spiritual beliefs, especially an informal and transient belief system regarded by others as misguided, unorthodox, extremist, or false, and directed by a charismatic, authoritarian leader. You realy should look up words that you are not fimular with before throwing them around. Regards Larry

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  by larry on January 3rd, 2010

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Comments

• What about evidence of truth to base faith upon? How can stories from scripture constitute proof to say all or any of the stories are true facts of history?

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  by kakskee on October 20th, 2009

• Naysayers like to say "not counting the Bible, prove this..." The Bible is my source of proof, and the Holy Spirit is my provider of faith. Some one once asked how much faith does an angel have? The answer is...none. With evidence, faith is unnecessary; with faith, evidence is unnecessary. Please read Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

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  by trouble315 on October 20th, 2009

• With evidence faith is established and with faith evidence has been observed. Without evidence all you can have is hope.. just nothing to honestly base faith upon. Would you lend a stranger your car just on faith that he is an honest person?

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  by kakskee on October 20th, 2009

• Granted, the testimony of Scriptures need to be (and have been) established by its historicity.

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  by trouble315 on October 20th, 2009

• Ok.. some of it has been.

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  by kakskee on October 20th, 2009

• Much has been if you look at the archeological evidence and the non-biblical sources listed in my answer. Josephus was a hostile source who supports the Scriptural accounts.

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  by trouble315 on October 20th, 2009

• Alright..

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  by kakskee on October 20th, 2009

• What do you mean "Josephus was a hostile source"? He was a Jewish historian and a religious writer with a strong belief in God who wrote extensively about much of the Old Testament.He also wrote other accounts about the events that happened during his lifetime in Israel in the second half of the 1st Century and the various military campaigns against and with the Romans.

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  by Hyperion is back in China on November 19th, 2009