Christians how do you maintain belief that "christ is the only way"

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Craig

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while not being closed minded? The problem with a belief like that is that it's too easy to fall into this "i'm right, you're wrong, i'm saved, you're not" mentality then next thing you know you're preaching fire and brimstone and telling nonbelievers that you feel sorry for them.

But I'm sure most of you want to be open minded, and do not want to fall into this trap of thinking "i'm in touch with an infallible being therefore i'm right" mentality. I guess this question is directed more towards liberal christians. Again I don't want to be attacking your beliefs I just want to understand.

I was talking to a christian yesterday and she said this was one of the things she really struggles with.
 
The Christians in my life make no effort to remain open minded. They are right, they are saved, I am wrong, I am doomed. It's impossible to talk about religion with them.
 
I disagree that we are talking "closed minded". We are not saying we do not listen to ideas that concern Christianity. I like discussing Christianity and my views get changed all the time. You seem to be saying that if a person does not think your way they are closed minded. You can disagree and be open minded as long as the point was considered. For instance on the subject of homosexuality (a hot button but not the debate here), one side debates that you can be a Christian and still be a homosexual, while the other side says you can not continue to be a Christian. The conservative side considered it, compared it to their system of beliefs but determine it does not conform to thier theology. The mere fact that they even looked it up would tell me they considered it and then threw it out, would denote open-mindedness or a willingness to consider. Again, open-mindedness does not mean to submit to a way of thinking right or wrong.
 
Isn't science predicated upon the cyclical process of hypothesis?
That is to say an assumption is made, a test is executed, the results are recorded and the theorem either evolves or is dispelled. It seems atheism only gets as far as the hypothesis as to the notion of God's existence yet provides no qualitative data to either prove or disprove His existence. Furthermore, isn't one of the tenants of true science to explore ALL possibilities? Why is it that science stubbornly refuses to explore the idea of God? I know that the classic argument is that Darwinism, evolution, quantum physic, astrophysics and even more recently string theory, all provide various facets of the anti-God argument. Yet none of these theories explain how the complex amalgamation of matter/anti-matter/dark matter and void that is the universe came into being through random happenstance. The probability of which defies mathematical computation. Science focuses on the trunk branches and leaves of the tree but because it can neither see the roots nor test for them, it refutes that the roots even exist. If the premise of science is to discover truth, then why not attempt to discover the truth about God. Lastly, science, by its very nature, can not have any belief; only facts. Therefore what I am asking is for the facts that you have that provide irrefutable proof of God’s non-existence not your beliefs.

My "faith" (let's keep that word in mind, shall we) is based on believing without having tangible proof. It is believing even when those such as yourself feel so compelled to ridicule me. It is believing and having faith in a higher power to protect me and those whom I care for.



Now if we dissect the word faith and say at its purest definition that faith is "believing without proof." How would I prove myself to be a person of true faith if I were somehow prove that God exists? It is you, the atheist, who believe is nothing if it is not tangibly evident, that has the burden of proof as to the existence of God. My proof (for me) is my faith. If I were to prove through some tangible means that God exists I would show faithlessness not faithfulness.



So here we are, you as ever with the bird in your hands ready to act to the contrary to my answer to the question "Is this bird in my hands alive or dead? (look the fable up if you don't know what I'm referring to). If I prove God's existence I deny my faith and prove myself a hypocrite in this regard. If I live my life based on faith, you and your cohorts mock me mercilessly based on some self edifying pretense that since I (or any Christian for that matter) have not proven my God's existence that I am a fool (even though you present no empirical data to contrary but we'll leave the potentiality of the discussion for another day).
 
It's always foolish to speak in absolutes when you're talking about religion. "Christ is the only way," or "There is no God," are both absolutes. You can't say anything for sure because no one really knows if there's a God. It's fine to believe what you want to believe, but you should never be so arrogant as to say "I'm right and you're wrong," when speaking about things no one knows for sure.

I'm a Deist with some Christian views. I'm comfortable with my beliefs, but I would never be so rude as to tell another person that he's wrong just because he doesn't agree with me. Nobody knows.
 
You know something nuts?? Atheists claim that WOULD believe in God if His existence could be factually proven to them. And, I believe in God and will until His existence could be factually DISproved to me.

Neither of US can PROVE the other is right or wrong.
 
Christ is indeed the only way, but the question is, did He make that way for just a chosen few who figured it out? Or did He pave the way for everyone, regardless of belief?

I Timothy 4:10 "...for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people and particularly of all believers."

I Cor 15:22 "For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive."
 
You can believe that Christ is the only way and remain open minded. We all have certain strong beliefs and some of them will be correct; most people realise that they do not know all things. If someone does believe that they are always right, will not be corrected when wrong, does not like to be questioned about their beliefs and will not listen to others, then this is someone I would personally struggle with. This is someone I would class as having a closed mind.
 
Tell her pray to God .. tell her to ask God to use her .... tell her to ask God to reveal himself to her.
God did it for me ... And He can do it for her
 
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