I have basically been an atheist all of my 23-year-old life, my family and my neighborhood is atheist too, but lately, I've been feeling depressed and kind of like the atheism doesn't give me the answers to the emptiness and the nihilistic depression I feel inside, so I decided to give Christianity a try. In an earlier thread, some christian Sup Forumsacks advised me to start with a bible, so I borrowed one from a library, and I have a New Testament here right next to me.
My question to the christians in Sup Forums is: what to expect from New Testament? Am I gonna find the answers I seek? Did you find them? Please give me advice, I will read every reply in this thread.
bump, I really need the christians of Sup Forums to give their thoughts plsss
Landon Cook
The Old Testament is great, but if you really want answers, start with Old Testament books.
Ecclesiastes and Job.
New Testament is great and easier to read, but yeah. You can find a good reading list that's easier than reading cover to cover.
Oliver Ward
oops, typo. you know what I meant
Christopher Perry
The library offered me the New Testament thought, I would have accepted the Old Testament too, but they didn't have it available, but if you say that the New Testament is easier to read, it sounds good, since I am really new to the Christianity.
Jacob Sanchez
If you're not part of a study group you need a commentary or study guide. You have to recognize that these books are thousands of years old and you need to consider the literary and storytelling conventions of the time. It requires real work to understand these books but it is very rewarding. I would recommend Scott Hahns commentaries but above that I would not recommend even starting with the bible. Start by reading Mere Christianity by CS Lewis because it will give you a very good but general overview of what most Christians believe and why.
Brandon Cox
expect to read what some Greek speaking folks that never met Jesus, or met anyone that met Jesus have to say about stories they heard about the apocalyptic rabbi (teacher) Jesus and his band of common followers did a few generations before, in a different country, in a different language, with no contemporary records. Expect similar but different interpretations in the Gospels because a few used a a common source and altered the stories as they saw fit because they each had a different idea about Jesus and never expected their works to be assembled into a book.
I would START with "Misquoting Jesus" or "Jesus, Interrupted" before you thrown yourself since it covers the NT in a non-controversial way that is taught in all mainline american seminary and divinity schools
Nathaniel Lewis
Dr. William Lane Craig
Levi Wright
sounds like you don't like Christianity that much, or am I mistaken here?
Dominic Thompson
Job is my favorite book of the Bible, but it's a little too "heavy" for your first go.
My advice? Just start with the Gospels. Gospel of Mark, to be specific, as it was written with a Gentile audience in mind (I.E., less emphasis on OT symbolism and metaphors), then probably move onto the Gospel of John.
Xavier King
Also you should examine and familiarize yourself with the classical arguments for theism. I say this because the sort of folks that come to Christianity because they're sad or something tend to leave as soon as they're not. This is because emotions and personal experience are not a good foundation for faith, they are actually the dumbest reasons to believe in god.
Answering Atheism by Trent Horn is good entry level theology.
William Hughes
The Bible is too easy to misinterpret and confuse metaphors for laterality
Read Thomas Aquinas's Summa Theologica and thank me later.
Evan Mitchell
no, its fine really. but as others said, kniow what you are reading and how to read it. this includes poetic elements, added sections (explicit trinity statement, woman taken in adultery), and the general history.
Xavier Mitchell
I chuckled
John Lopez
quality advice, will keep it in mind, thanks
I don't know about that, since if Christianity provides the answers I need, I am willing to commit to it for my entire life and not leave it that easily. Mainly, the answers about the meaning of life and why it's necessary to appreciate and celebrate your life in the western cultural space.
James Johnson
You can't contradict this.
Michael Nguyen
Read Matthew 16:25. You don't give Christianity a "try", either you believe or you don't.
Kayden Howard
Well, how am I supposed to interpret the bible then? I really don't know, I am sorry. Can I start reading it from scratch and kind of "get it" or is there something I should keep in mind first?
Benjamin Ramirez
I was laughing because he said the bible was too hard to read so he should instead read the Summa. You practically have to be an expert on Plato and Aristotle before you can even touch Aquinas.
Isaac Hernandez
Since you are just starting out, don't try to interpret it at all. Just start reading. If you find something and you become really interested in what it means, read commentaries. You have the Internet so you should be fine. Keep the mind open, ask for the Holy Spirit to guide you while reading. Pray before you begin to read it.
Cooper Anderson
You don't get it, I want to believe it, but I come from a country that is atheistic as fuck, and it requires a bit of mental gymnastics to get back to the roots of the western society. Please try to emphatize with the fact that I come from country that was raped by this atheist communism for 50 years and it really does take time for me to come back to the real traditions of the west, the Christianity and all.
Josiah Adams
alright, will keep it in mind, thanks for the response
Jace Bailey
I do get it. You can want to believe it, but that won't help you. It is not something that you can want and expect to eventually get it.
Either you come to believe or you don't. Pray right now, and read that verse. Pray in the name of Jesus, ask for the Holy Spirit to guide you. Then turn to Matthew 16:25 and read it. Do it right now.
Levi Garcia
What kind of answers are you searching? Why are you empty? Why would christianity may lead you to answers?
Im christian myself. Its the best and people automatically like you but I dont really have much interest in those things. My mother though, shes super mad into that stuff.
Isaiah Moore
I highly recommend Pierre Teilhard de Chardin's "The Phenomenon of Man," even over the Bible. He basically scientifically argues that Christ consciousness is the Singularity 100 years before Kurzweil came up with it. Best way to become a believer. Then read some Rene Girard.
Gabriel Rodriguez
I started agnostic the more i read the bible the more faith i got , you only need new testament the gospels matthew john luke mark the letters of paul are difficult
The bible even warns for it
2 Peter 3 >15And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
Jaxon Harris
Disregard the dogma. Skip to the part called "unconditional love" where you start loving all of creation and singing and dancing and being joyful and sharing and being a good kid again. Dogma is needless, divisive. Love is all that matters. Peace be with you.
Kayden Hernandez
>my neighborhood is atheist tfw you go around asking your neighbours about their religious beliefs
Ryan Wright
I think christianity is meant to be a way of life - it's more than just believing in god
Luke Jones
Why does this thing have to be "purely actual" and not just actual the way the actuals down the line are?
Hunter Nelson
Weakling.
Gabriel Smith
>Well, how am I supposed to interpret the bible then?
You read and understand , and if you dont understand you read it a 100 times , if you still dont understand then it is for a other day and the holy spirit will guide you
>10And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 11He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 12For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. 13Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
Luis Evans
Read all four Gospels. They were designed with pretty much the same message but for different audiences. You'll find one that you like.
Hunter Myers
>Following the new testament jewish cucks >Completely changed things about the religion >Still call it christianity
lol idiots
Easton White
A potential can't actualize itself so that makes a pure actual a logical necessity.
Samuel Diaz
Be Russian stronk, get drunk on vodka and beat women
Austin Cooper
funny
I gave up being a catholic many moons ago
I now see christians as mentally sick and feeble minded hypocrites
if you feel a need to find meanign and commitment to life and cannot cope with the fact that one day ure going to be worm food, just convert to Buddhism or Taosim.
fuck all the disgusting abrahamic religions
They only bring misery and a slave mentality
Jackson Collins
Jesus was nothing but a jew
Tyler Moore
Someone got touched by a priest
Nicholas Harris
It sounds very stupid to you, but I actually don't know, how to pray. I think I need some time to bring myself up to date with a. I just feel that nothing in life has any meaning and I feel this nagging emptiness inside that eats me alive. I don't know if I can explain it very well, but basically, I need something to give me a reason to look forward to living my life to the fullest, to inspire me and to give me hope.
The bible warns what in specificly?
I hope I find these things in the bible. Thank you for the response, brother.
David Phillips
being a catholic is not christianity , you dont do some rituals and go to a stone building to get saved
Jonathan Kelly
kool story satan
Alexander King
Don't take it literally is my advice. Use the lessons each story/whatever teaches.
A lot of atheists take the Bible literally like the retards they are, so it's a legitimate warning.
Adrian Ross
He means pure actual as in never becoming actual from potential, it has always been actual.
Ayden Bailey
dont do it theyre also nuts!!
Hudson Smith
It is very simple.
"Dear God, -----------, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen."
Easton Butler
the bible is errant OP. The english translations are largely garbage. The Greek translations are better than the Hebrew, but the Greek scriptures are more divergent than the Hebrew, which is more consistent over 1000 years than the Greek is over 300.
it's also full of deceptive letters from (((apostle paul)))
Read though these sites. I can't make you trust me, or believe what they say, but here is one guarantee: if you bother to research the claims on these websites (which are wildly different than what I'm sure you're familiar with, and very "heretical"—which is a meaningless word), you will find that these websites are very well researched, and often encourage you to validate the claims the make. I trust them, personally, because I studied the claims they made, and found they always checked out. Even if I disagreed with some of the grander conclusions, the history, translations, scriptural differences, pagan origins, all of it ALWAYS checked out. I learned a ton.
If Christianity has always been distant for you, or seems "close" to the truth while at the same time feeling slightly "off", like something doesn't quite add up. There is a reason. Check out these sites. Even if you ultimately decide you disagree, you'll learn a lot. I find them invaluable. I also believe they highlight the true important things from the bible, and show you the true, narrow path to eternal life. Start with blessyahowah.com, it will probably take you all of an hour to read through the site. It's a highly condensed version of some much longer, more in-depth books.
God bless.
Jaxon Ross
thank you for the guidance, I will certainly give it a try
I don't think so, the christian tradition is the basic foundation for all things western, and belittling it is rather hypocritical for someone who browses Sup Forums
Isaac Hill
>this ape is so sure of life beyond consciousness >being this stuck in the physical realm >BEING THIS SURE what is and isn't
Jonathan Gutierrez
>A lot of atheists take the Bible literally like the retards they are, so it's a legitimate warning. I agree, this is a very good advice actually, since that is a pitfall for many atheists that they take bible so literally
Thank you for the guidance, I will try it right now
James Ross
I know it's difficult when your neighbors have statues of st mary in their front yards and LED illuminated plastic crosses are sold everywhere. Stay strong, brother.
Grayson Hughes
>The bible warns what in specificly?
That when you read the bible wrong you learn the wrong stuff like the new jews who think the pope is legit because 1 misunderstood verse
Camden Bennett
why not go pagan? t. eternal swamp heathen pole
Connor Walker
Read that verse. Matthew 16:25
Jordan Sanders
Do you really want to be the only non atheist in all of Estonia?
Luke Evans
What answers do you seek? The answer to everything is god/jesus in the bible.
Leo Sullivan
Can you quote the passage also where is thecorrect way of reading the bible explained?
Alexander Garcia
>I agree, this is a very good advice actually, since that is a pitfall for many atheists that they take bible so literally
Its actualy not the people who take the bible more serious in a literal sense have more faith, to me when i started to read the bible it was shit then it took some time but it finaly turned in to gold
Joseph Adams
kek
Isaac Hernandez
And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 11He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 12For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. 13Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
I guess through the holy spirit?
> 22He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Ex-atheist myself, I'd recommend you jump right into the gospel of Mark and then John.
William Martinez
Also, ignore crabs in a bucket like this guy
Christopher Richardson
thanks for the based answer user
Gabriel Wright
Btw when you read john that is the same part of muh pope peter , jesus literally asked them if they also went away , and the next thing he does is make peter pope?
Peter's Confession of Faith
(Matthew 16:13-20; Mark 8:27-30; Luke 9:18-20)
>66From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. 70Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? 71He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.
>i have to make a list someday why the cathocucks are wrong about muh pope peter
Lincoln Anderson
Join a bible study on campus e.t.c. They will help you out.
I am also an athiest converting to Catholicism.
Psychology studies ( peer reviewed and replicated) show time and time again Religeous people are happier. It also had a lot of practises that reign in self-control, and working towards fulfillment and personal ethics.
I highly reccomend it, but it only works if you are an actual follower, and don't fall into hypocrisy; this created cognitive dissonance and depression and anxiety.
Religion is hard work, which becomes innately fulfilling. The benefits justify the work.
Jose Allen
>bible studies in Estonia
this nigga dont know things be how they are
Aaron King
>this
Pray God for guidance and He will guide you, Pray God for forgiveness and He will forgive, Pray God to give you faith and He will give you faith through Holy Spirit, for you alone as a sinner as a mere human being cannot have pure faith due to original sin(none of us can), but that`s why God is there - to guide us, to show us our sins and to show us that we`re forgiven, that Jesus Christ died for our sins, we`re all sinners and we`re all forgiven, to be redeemed we need to ask for this forgiveness and believe (with the help of God) that we`re forgiven. That is my view on Christianity in a nutshell more or less... I`m a lutheran btw...
Nicholas Cooper
>70Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?
>23But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
Now suddenly this next verse in matthew makes more sense does it not ? cathocucks , muh pope peter
Daniel Baker
New Testament is a guide on how you should conduct yourself in the world to win spiritually. ...Turn the other cheek
Old Testament is how to conduct yourself to win materially. ..eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth
James Thompson
>inviting evil spirits to ferment distress and unfortune in your life
thats not how you want to roll
trust me
Joseph Mitchell
The greatest faith a man can get is by reading the bible and discover that the cathocuck church is the whore of babylon
William Nelson
all christianity is a shit.
but the shittiest of all abrahamic religions is judaism
Easton Gonzalez
...
Jacob Cook
The reading of the Bible, for new Christians, must be coupled with good theology and readings from masters of the subject. If you are completely new to Christianity, I cannot recommend CS Lewis enough. He puts big ideas into simply, and was once an atheist himself. Thus, he attacks the views of atheists and debunks their views while explaining the core tenants of Christianity.
After that, the following is a baseline of the works you should read while also studying the Bible:
Apostolic Christianity recommended books:
>GENERAL
The Bible (Ignatius Study Bible Recommended) The catechism of your denomination
>accepted English versions of Bible
NABRE Douay Rheims RSV
>THEOLOGY
>novice
Introduction to Christianity by Joseph Ratzinger Scholastic Metaphysics by Edward Feser The Last Superstition by Edward Feser The Everlasting Man by G.K. Chesterton Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton Mere Christianity CATHOLICISM by Robert Barron The Orthodox Way by Kallistos Ware Outlines of Moral Theology by Francis J. Connell
>intermediate
God: His Existence and His Nature by Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange Natural Theology by Bernard Boedder The Spirit of Medieval Philosophy by Etienne Gilson Against Heresies City of God Christianity for Modern Pagans The Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church
>advanced
Apologia Pro Vita Sua Summa Contra Gentiles Summa Theologiae On the Incarnation The Didache Divine Names by Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite
John Richardson
Part 2/2 >SPIRITUAL LIFE
>novice
The Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales Story of a Soul by St. Therese The Seven Storey Mountain by Thomas Merton Orthodoxy and the Religion of the Future by Fr Seraphim Rose Nihilism - Fr Seraphim Rose
>intermediate
The Interior Castle Spiritual Exercises by St. Ignatius Dialogues by St. Catherine of Sienna True Devotion to Mary True Devotion to the Holy Spirit
>advanced
The Cloud of Unknowing The Dark Night of the Soul by St. John of the Cross The Desert Fathers The Philokalia The Ladder of Divine Ascent New Seeds of Contemplation by Thomas Merton The Imitation of Christ by Thomas Kempis
>MEMETICS
Things Hidden Since the Foundation of the World by Rene Girard I See Satan Fall Like Lightning by Rene Girard
>HISTORICAL/BIOGRAPHICAL
Rome Sweet Home The Long Loneliness by Dorothy Day After Virtue Christendom I: Founding of Christendom Theology and Social Theory by John Millbank Ethics and the Limits of Philosophy by Bernard Williams Life of St.Anthony by Saint Athanasius Life of St Francis of Assisi by Saint Bonaventure Silouan the Athonite by Archimandrite Sophrony The Autobiography of St. Ignatius Loyol
>FICTION
Don Quixote The Divine Comedy Paradise Lost Silence by Shusaku Endo A Canticle for Leibowitz Faust Les Miserables The Canterbury Tales The Man Who Was Thursday The Brothers Karamazov A Man for All Seasons The Pillars of the Earth The Lord of the Rings The Chronicles of Narnia Lord of the World Parzifal Joseph of Arimathea: A Romance of the Grail The Arthurian Cycle
Colton Reed
Christianity is judaism 2.0 , you mean talmudism
Josiah Bennett
I don't know about listing Edward Feser under novice. Sometimes he'll take an abstract thought and spell it out over pages and that's enough to make my head spin. You ought to have some philosophical foundation before reading him.
Ryder Bell
...
Jaxson Jackson
You'll find that positive message in there somewhere, yes. The book itself is completely useless though, save as a guide to that one lesson. If you can just skip right to the unconditional love part you'll save yourself a bunch of time and confusion. Literally, just love everything always. Enjoy your life and help those around you enjoy theirs as well. It's easy. Just be joyful. Smile. Share. Hum a tune. Do your best. Dance for joy. Smell the roses. Etc. These are the sort of morals you put into a childrens' cartoon and also the ones found in many religious texts. It's all the same shit: be a good person. Do you need a book to tell you that? Do you need mahou shoujo to tell you that? Of course not, but the reminders might help. Just be love. Good luck.
Mason Foster
He's in the minority of opinions here. Belief can come from understanding, particularly if you were raised Athiest like myself.
The church and many catholics and other secs of Christians love converts and want to help.
You were drawn to this for a reason; keep pushing :)
Aiden Wilson
100% agree with you.
Austin Edwards
Read it and see if it speaks to you.
Joshua Fisher
Fuck kikery, you don't need to be an atheist, but never be a Christcuckold.
Henry Ramirez
>not recognizing the love and divinity of Christ I pity you, my man.
Henry Hughes
Christianity is overrated (catholic here). I do however enjoy the christian culture. Especially in times like these. Commie pope should be hanged though.
Michael Sullivan
>we should implement my special version of atheism/paganism that has never been tried before >that will show the jews, muslims and the atheistic leftists