My religion class is making me question my religion

So I transferred to a Methodist College where classes on the Old Testament is required the first semester and class on the New Testament is required in the second semester.

The more I read the bible and the more it is exapliend to me by my teacher, the more I am questioning

1. Is all of this real

2. Is God really who everyone makes him seem to be if he is real.

For example (number 2). If God is EVERYONES God, why did he only reveal himself to the Jews, and then tell them to go destroy countries because it is their land and those inahbitants didnt believe? How COULD those lands believe if God didnt reveal himself to them like he did to the Jews. Seems a bit unfair huh? So why do people say God is a fair God?

Another example. If GOd is a FORGIVING God..why does (and this is only 2 examples) he

1. Want to immediatly kill the isrealities for the Golden Calf incident, but later decide to just plauge them and scratch their name from the book

2. Have all these horrible things happen to David with the whole David and Bashiba incident ( raping of his daugther, baby dying, son being killed, ect).

After one bad thing God decides to cut these people off and punish them tremendously. The isrealistes broke a commandment by worshipping the golden calf idol and are immediatly scratched from the book. Does that mean because I've stolen that I'm  not going to heaven and God hates me? Thats what it seems like huh?

AND WHERE THE HELLLLLL..did Cain and Abel's wives come from if Cain and Abel were the children of Adam and Eve and their wives werent?

And that is why I am agnostic. People took a semi good idea wrapped it in Political BS, their own agenda, ignorance and popped out the bible. Think of it as a semi accurate account of historic events, with some fiction mixed in, to make someone look better/justify their actions/explain things people did not understand at a time. Also watch Dogma, funny movie but has a point.

UD

Original Post by se1289:

After one bad thing God decides to cut these people off and punish them tremendously. The isrealistes broke a commandment by worshipping the golden calf idol and are immediatly scratched from the book. Does that mean because I've stolen that I'm  not going to heaven and God hates me? Thats what it seems like huh?

No, not at all!  Since Jesus, we are no longer under the law, but under grace.  That means that if you ask Jesus to be your Savior and Lord of your life, all of your sins are forgiven, past, present, and future!  God doesn't hate you; on the contrary, He loves you so much that he sent His Son to die in order to pay for your sins!

As for Cain and Abel's wives...well, I believe the Bible says that everyone is a descendant of Adam and Eve.  So, as odd as that may seem today, I guess they had to be related to their wives in some way.  I don't know how literally you want to read Genesis, but in Genesis people lived to be hundreds of years old, so I suppose their wives could have been like great nieces or something...slightly less icky than if they were their sisters.  But still pretty odd by today's standards.

Original Post by se1289:

Another example. If GOd is a FORGIVING God..why does (and this is only 2 examples) he

1. Want to immediatly kill the isrealities for the Golden Calf incident, but later decide to just plauge them and scratch their name from the book

2. Have all these horrible things happen to David with the whole David and Bashiba incident ( raping of his daugther, baby dying, son being killed, ect)

Okay, I'll try and tackle this one too.  God is a forgiving God, but he is also a holy God.  Because every human being is sinful (no one's perfect, right?), and God, being a perfect and holy God, is not capable of being in the presence of sin, someone has to pay for that sin.  If God just "forgave" everyone's sin, that wouldn't be very just, now would it?  If someone commits a crime and goes to court, and the judge just forgives that person, that isn't very just, right? 

So, this is the problem.  God loves us and wants to have a personal relationship with us.  But he is holy, and we are sinful, and our sin separates us from God.  In Romans it says that the wages of sin is death, and someone has to pay that death penalty.  That's why God sent his Son, Jesus, to die on the cross to pay the death penalty that we earned.  That's how He demonstrated His incredible love for us.

Edited to add:  I realized that I kind of left out the end of the story here.  So Jesus died on the cross to pay the death penalty that we all earned for our sins, but you have to accept Him as your Savior and Lord in order for that sacrifice to cover you.  It's like God's holding out this free gift of grace, but as with any gift, you have to accept it before it belongs to you, right?  God gives us free will, so He's not going to force us to accept His gift of salvation.  I don't know your spiritual background, and this may all be old news to you, but if it's not and you have more questions or want more info, please feel free to message me :).

One last thing.  Jeremiah 29:13 says (God talking) "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart."  So I encourage you, keep asking questions!  Don't ever just blindly accept something because someone else tells you that it's true.  Wrestle with these questions that you have.  Talk to God about it, even.  He wants us to bring our doubts and questions to Him.  You have to really struggle with these kinds of issues before you will be able to settle on what you believe to be the truth.  Good luck! :)

I'm not exactly sure that this is the correct place to post this question but I'd like to take the opportunity to answer or comment on your questions for I too was there. Now, though, I see things soo differently.

Firstly, my questions were not answered by other people. They were answered by the bible itself so I encourage you to keep reading and keep learning. The light will eventually shine.

Number 2: God revealed to the Jews no more than he revealed himself to others. Let me explain this. You have to remember that all these people came from the same Adam and Eve, and eventually Noah. They knew the stories....they knew the real God. Many (like many today) felt that if they couldn't see God, then he wasn't real. They went searching for idols made by man and therefore perverted their minds and shoved the light that was once upon them. They knew God, they just didn't want to have faith. The Jews, coming form Abraham, also had a previous knowledge of God but their minds were also perverted from their slavery in Egypt. God chose to shine a brighter light to the Jews not due to any merits of their own, but rather because God wanted these people to be walking lights in the dark world. Examples to others and motivators to leave the idols and come to Him. In addition, it was through that nation that the Savior was going to be born. God reveals......(you gotta read) that these nations (which the Jews were called upon to destroy) were evil and were conscious of their evils and defiance to the real God. They knew God, they just didn't want him as his God. They knew of their triumph walk across the sea, the plagues, all that. None of their gods ever did that. The bible says in Deut 9:5 that they took the lands NOT because they were favored or they were perfect, but because of the wickedness of these nations. When you began to have a personal relationship with God, you will learn that he is just. The bible gives a glimpse of these people's defiant wickedness against God.

God is forgiving: ONLY WHEN YOU BOW TO YOUR KNEES FOR FORGINESS. He cannot forgive what you do not regret. He cannot forgive defiance. And come on....just days before this incident He had shown himself in Mnt. Sinai to express the 10 commandments (which forbided idols). He had just spoken to them with thunder and lightning and made a vivid sign of his continual precense. The more light is given to you, the more responibility you have.

David was forgiven. God loved David. But the consequences of sin will always be. If you drink and drive, and you kill a person, God is willing and able to forgive you if you repent honestly.. But the consequences of your sin will still be there. God's love is perfect that he lets us pass through fire so we can come out of it as new beings. Don't forget that Jesus suffered horribly and yet He did not deserve it. Why not us?!

Again...don't forget that Adam and Eve lived about 900 years. No contraceptives = many children. One of the main reason why Cain and Abel are the only ones mentioned is because here the world experienced the first human death. Such an important thing was important to be mentioned. They were also mentioned as examples of good and evil and a description of the world to come.

Read.....I cannot tell you how God will reveal himself to you if you ask. PRAY!. Keep questioning, though. It will give you a stronger and un-moving faith.

Best of luck!

Any history class that involves religion will make people question it. Once you've been taught that every civilization since the dawn of time believed in some random voodoo, you'll start to realize that the current religions' voodoo isn't special either. Why were the Egyptians wrong but the Romans right? Why are Muslims wrong but Christians right? They're not. All religion is just random crap that was made up by higher powers in society to keep their blind followers in line.. and through subconscious brainwashing from parent to child it continued on. Children will believe anything you tell them. If they grow up being told something long enough, they will usually continue to believe it into adulthood and then pass the same teachings onto their children.

Thankfully, our species is evolving into a greater age of reason due to technology and the fast spread of information. The younger generations are starting to question and disbelieve.

Original Post by se1289:

So I transferred to a Methodist College where classes on the Old Testament is required the first semester and class on the New Testament is required in the second semester.

The more I read the bible and the more it is exapliend to me by my teacher, the more I am questioning

Education is all about questioning and the inquisitive mind. So I'm glad the college is getting you thinking into about this stuff. 

Original Post by jackattack07:

Any history class that involves religion will make people question it. Once you've been taught that every civilization since the dawn of time believed in some random voodoo, you'll start to realize that the current religions' voodoo isn't special either. Why were the Egyptians wrong but the Romans right? Why are Muslims wrong but Christians right? They're not. All religion is just random crap that was made up by higher powers in society to keep their blind followers in line.. and through subconscious brainwashing from parent to child it continued on. Children will believe anything you tell them. If they grow up being told something long enough, they will usually continue to believe it into adulthood and then pass the same teachings onto their children.

Thankfully, our species is evolving into a greater age of reason due to technology and the fast spread of information. The younger generations are starting to question and disbelieve.

This.

I learned so much this year from history (religion stuff mostly) it is insane.

Yay!  A Churchy asking the questions she should have been asking all along!  You've made my day!

Wait till you get into comparative religion and you find out that all the biblical myths have been "done" before by other gods predating the Christian god(s).  Exciting stuffs!

Original Post by jewelsmcblah:

Yay!  A Churchy asking the questions she should have been asking all along!  You've made my day!

Wait till you get into comparative religion and you find out that all the biblical myths have been "done" before by other gods predating the Christian god(s).  Exciting stuffs!

 I already  know about other religions that are crazy similar..like Zoroastrianism

and I was never "churchy" but I do believe.

Cararie and Biatchita : yall really gave some helpful advice and some good things to think about so thanks.

And Jackattack..I dont think it is technology and spread of info that is making people disbelieve, its the now adays socity rule that its okay to have lots of sex, drink, do drugs, blah blah. THey'd rather live that FUN life then have to follow rules in the bible. But sex drink and drugs doesnt bring anything good to your life long term like God can

But I dont want to turn this into a big religion debate.

Original Post by se1289:

Original Post by jewelsmcblah:

Yay!  A Churchy asking the questions she should have been asking all along!  You've made my day!

Wait till you get into comparative religion and you find out that all the biblical myths have been "done" before by other gods predating the Christian god(s).  Exciting stuffs!

 I already  know about other religions that are crazy similar..like Zoroastrianism

and I was never "churchy" but I do believe.

Cararie and Biatchita : yall really gave some helpful advice and some good things to think about so thanks.

And Jackattack..I dont think it is technology and spread of info that is making people disbelieve, its the now adays socity rule that its okay to have lots of sex, drink, do drugs, blah blah. THey'd rather live that FUN life then have to follow rules in the bible. But sex drink and drugs doesnt bring anything good to your life long term like God can

But I dont want to turn this into a big religion debate.

Morality exists without the Bible, God, or 'belief'. I opt not to 'have lots of sex, drink [irresponsibly], do drugs, etc' without following a book. I'm not turning this into a religion debate, but it seems like you're generalizing atheists/agnostics as such, and that's just incorrect. 

Adam and Eve lived about 900 years ago?!  Who knew.

Actually I have a much simpler explanation as to why God revealed himself only to the Jews... they created him.

Also it's not just nowadays that people have chosen "fun" over God's rules.  We have disobeyed him ever since we created him. 

Actually Judaism was not the first monotheistic religion - there were others before but the others did not write a really cool book about themselves.

Anyway - One thing to keep in mind about the bible is that, even if you consider the book to be "the word of God", it is still really translations, written by men, who believed they understood what God was saying.  Then that word was written down, but not necessarily written down in time to fully remembered.  Then that was translated by others from arcane languages.  In many cases those translations were translated from yet another language all together.  Interpretations of interpretations. 

We have faith that we know what the word of God is - but do you really have faith that fallible man has managed to capture that word perfectly? 

Original Post by se1289:

Original Post by jewelsmcblah:

Yay!  A Churchy asking the questions she should have been asking all along!  You've made my day!

Wait till you get into comparative religion and you find out that all the biblical myths have been "done" before by other gods predating the Christian god(s).  Exciting stuffs!

 I already  know about other religions that are crazy similar..like Zoroastrianism

and I was never "churchy" but I do believe.

Cararie and Biatchita : yall really gave some helpful advice and some good things to think about so thanks.

And Jackattack..I dont think it is technology and spread of info that is making people disbelieve, its the now adays socity rule that its okay to have lots of sex, drink, do drugs, blah blah. THey'd rather live that FUN life then have to follow rules in the bible. But sex drink and drugs doesnt bring anything good to your life long term like God can

But I dont want to turn this into a big religion debate.

I take offense at this.  I am a firm agnostic.  I have never had "lots of sex" (unless you are talking about with my husband ).  I have never touched a drug in my life and I do not drink to excess.  The idea that morals can only be learned from some book like the Bible is absurd.  I live a moral life, and I don't need to believe in God to do so. 

ETA:  To the OP:  I have been an agnostic since I was 15.  I minored in theology in college.  Nothing that I learned brought me closer to faith in God, but it did bring me further away.  While I may not know if God exists or doesn't, one thing I can tell you that I took away from my studies:  it is highly unlikely that the Christianity is any more correct than any other religion.  As madamq mentioned above, the Bible is a translation of a translation of a translation.  Assuming the original Bible is the real Word of God, how likely is it that these translations are correct?  Also, what makes the Bible any more correct than any other religion? That is what I took away from 4 years of studying religion.  It's really interesting stuff, but I don't believe in it. 

Original Post by carrie317:

That means that if you ask Jesus to be your Savior and Lord of your life, all of your sins are forgiven, past, present, and future! 

 So, if I want to go on a killing spree, all I have to do is ask Jesus to be my Savior and I'm off the hook?

Original Post by se1289:

The more I read the bible and the more it is exapliend to me by my teacher, the more I am questioning

Ever thought about where all the water for the flood came from? There isn't enough water in the atmosphere to come close to covering the whole world.

Oh, life is bigger
It's bigger than you
And you are not me
The lengths that I will go to
The distance in your eyes
Oh no, I've said too much
I set it up

That's me in the corner
That's me in the spotlight, I'm
Losing my religion
Trying to keep up with you
And I don't know if I can do it
Oh no, I've said too much
I haven't said enough
I thought that I heard you laughing
I thought that I heard you sing
I think I thought I saw you try

Original Post by floggingsully:

Original Post by carrie317:

That means that if you ask Jesus to be your Savior and Lord of your life, all of your sins are forgiven, past, present, and future! 

 So, if I want to go on a killing spree, all I have to do is ask Jesus to be my Savior and I'm off the hook?

Bingo!  This is why Christianity is so popular.

Original Post by trhawley:

Original Post by floggingsully:

Original Post by carrie317:

That means that if you ask Jesus to be your Savior and Lord of your life, all of your sins are forgiven, past, present, and future! 

 So, if I want to go on a killing spree, all I have to do is ask Jesus to be my Savior and I'm off the hook?

Bingo!  This is why Christianity is so popular.

But then why do Christians go to church regularly? shouldn't it just be a one time thing? 

I took a class too, but it actually strengthened my faith. I read the bible from several different perspectives. I had questions too, but I prayed about a lot of them.

Learn from it, it is interesting stuff you are learning.

Know that you will ALWAYS have questions and doubts. It makes you human. Not a weak believer. I firmly believe that God gave us our intellects to question things. To improve ourselves. So I am at peace with not knowing everything. With believing God is real. With asking him the questions as well and waiting for the revelation.

To me, that is part of the beauty of our relationship. The freedom of it.

ETA: To the poster above me....salavation is a one time thing. Accepting the love of Christ into your heart. Becoming like him is the work of a lifetime, allowing him to become a part of all that you are. That is why I go all the time. To keep learning. Example: If you regeister for college, you are a student. But to finish the course, to learn what you have to learn, you show up, you take tests, you might fail and have to retake some things. Some people even take a semester off...You might have a weak area (math...being kind to people) . But you are still a student/ Christian. That is kinda how I see it.