From: joni@apollo.hp.com (Joni Sini)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian
Subject: Re: Trying to define Christianity
Date: 21 Aug 92 04:35:43 GMT
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Company, Chelmsford, MA

In article <Aug.20.02.24.09.1992.21212@athos.rutgers.edu>, lazarus@wixer.cactus.org (Michael Lax) writes:
|> A questions about Christianity:
|> 
|> (But first, a few of _my_ assumptions)
|> 
|>      It is based, primarily, on a 2,000 year old book written about 100
|>      years after the protaginists died.  This book steals heavily from a
|>      5,000+ year old book.  BOTH have been heavily mistranslated, either
|>      from ancient Greek or ancient Hebrew & Aramaic.  Some claim both books
|>      are "divinely inspired," while others claim really wise men wrote
|>      them.  Few, anymore, claim that god wrote them.

    I view the book as not only 'divinely inspired' but also
    'divinely preserved'.  God is bigger than history, (beyond time),
     able to communicate and preserve his intent.  IMO, it was created
     by his Spirit via willing hands and hearts.  (as all things came
     into existance, with His Spirit as the creative source). His Spirit has 
     preserved it as He sees fit (He is able to do this if He is Almighty).
     But also, His Spirit must inspire the reader to its meaning.
     as said "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom
     the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things,
     and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have
     said unto you" john 14:26   We are too foriegn/alienated from God
     to come up with the Spirits 'intent' without His inspiration.
     In other words, we are most likely to misunderstand the spirit of
     the words without a 'realignment'.  
     Thats one persons view.

|> 
|> 
|> Question:
|> 
|> There seems to be a common thread amongst devout Christians.  They have, in
|> some manner, found Jesus.  They have some experience or enlightenment, to
|> which they attribute this particular deity.  Now what confuses me is how,
|> when someone else brings up a similar occurrence, but attributes it to
|> something else, these same people say the experience is invalid.  And then
|> _they_ get angry and defensive when someone tries to logically explain away
|> their experience.  Huh?  I am very confused.
|> 
     This I dont understand. Are you strickly refering to Christians, such
   as one Christian telling another that his/her experience isnt valid ?
   If so, I would chalk that up to 'immaturity'.  No one should invalidate
   your experience with Christ, thats bad fellowship IMO.  But if you are
   refering to say a Christian telling a New Ager their experience is invalid,
   then maybe thats just a poor choice of words (maybe thats immaturity too)
   Because surly New Agers have spiritual experiences.  The point is not weither
   it is valid but 'what' is it.  God, in the Bible, gave us guidance to
   protect us from deception, (deception in the sense of counterfiets of himself).
   Quite simply, is it Him that I want, or do I want to experiment with the
   spiritual ? There is an entire spiritual world/dimension that exists.  
   I know what I have with God, and I want no other.  But who can logically
   explain away my experience ?  God is more than an isolated experience. 
   He is my constant companion.
   Just My view, Joni.