How well do you really know the bible?  

Im not a christian but i know somethings about bible..

Exactly. When you read the bible for yourself, you will discover that things aren't even close to what you've been told. You should never let someone tell you what it says. People have a way of manipulating things to get what they want. Its easy to read. You don't need to go to "Bible School" or have some crazy "Bible reading certification." Its in black and white, very simple words. Forget what people tell you it says. Read it yourself. You'll find many things you never knew about. I have read the bible many many times, and I am still discovering new things. Things that make you go wtf? They never told us about that in church.

Aye, well the Roman Church mixed Christianity with Aristoteleanism under Thomas Aquinus.

all the best urban

Congradulations on no longer relying on others. This is a major step in your faith.

I never thought to read my Bible until I visited a church that instead of preaching a sermon the Pastor read from the Bible and gave historical information as well as comentary information. He taught us from the Bible, and then told us to check his information.

It got me interested because I had always been underthe impresion of fire and brimstone, but I learned that that was just part.

There are great online comentaries
http://www.christnotes.org/commentary.php
this is one I refer to often, but there are many more and they have helped me to understand better the harder verses.

I got a cracker for you too....I started reading the Bible for myself and found so many things that are not taught or are not ever mentioned or have been very twisted.

The biggy for me was the Bible says that when you die, you die....you don't go to heaven and you don't go to hell! There is such a place as heaven but you don't go to it when you die.....That's where God resides....the Bible says regarding people that die...He goes back to the ground in that day his thoughts do perish.

So what are we just here to live and die?...Well no originally we were not meant to die...the punishment for Adam and Eve was death...that was past on to there children and so forth.....Yeah i know its a simple reasoning but one that is not taught though!

I mean come on...there is NO going to heaven or hell!......THATS HUGE!!!!!

Why are the churches not teaching truth...why are they lying to good people? To me it sounds like they are scaring people into staying....That's not what its about....people should be compelled to stay out of love not fear.

I found so many things...another was a baptism at birth does not qualify you as being saved!.....You have to be able to make the decision for yourself regarding your baptism...that again is HUGE! its showing you that you have a choice...your own voice on the matter of your baptism..if you want it or don't.

I really couldn't believe what I was reading for myself.....these religious leaders are not teaching the truth.....If I were someone going to church I would pick up that book for myself and stop listening to the person who really does not have gods backing to begin with....And YES! The bible says this too!

I too would like to add my encouragement to your quest for God's truth as He has given it to us in His Word!

Paul highly commended the Bereans for doing exactly what you are doing, searching the Scriptures to see if what had been said was actually true. Catholocism and I are no fast friends, though I am sure Christ can be found in there among the oral tradition somewhere.

To KingJulian's response... It seems to me that the Bible does teach an existance in either Heaven or in Hell for every soul that has ever been created. Since, (by your own words you admit), that heaven is the place where God lives [if that phrasing be allowed to pass, "for even the highest Heavens can not contain thee"] then consider the promise that at the rapture of the church we will be caught up to be with Him, [Christ], in the air and also the promise that "where I am, you may be also."

These are only a couple, of many, verses that point to an eternal existence with the Lord for the believer. Even Hell is eternal in nature, how else could you experience eternal torment where the worm devours neverending? Besides, if the soul never entered Heaven or Hell, how can the, "Rich man and Lazarus," be understood?

The Bible is all about the plan of God's redemptive grace and us as the objects of that grace. We were seperated when Adam fell and the whole purpose of Christ's incarnation was to provide the opportunity for reconcilliation with God and to atone for the sin of the world. If there is to be reconcillation with God, it has to happen in His courts, in Heaven.

The amazing thing about the Bible is that the Holy Spirit reveals only as much as we are able to receive each time we read it. It is never the same read twice. The Bible is the only book that can never be read enough. It is the revelation of the mind and heart of our infinite God to us, mere finite creatures. He is so awsome!

God Bless

Me too, i had been taught about traditions and doctrines by our church, relying on what they had been informed to us. Not until that i learned how to read the bible that i soon realized how big and eager as well as how exciting life can be. There are times that i learn how to defend our own faith just because we stand firm by it no matters what other says. Freedom as well as love for others is what i counted most gift that GOD gives to us....