G
Genghis77
Guest
First of all I am a Doctor of Physics as well as holder of a Master’s Degree in History of the Levant (Mesopotamia) I read and write i the Akkadian, Sumer, Babylonian, Assyrian, Old Persian and Phoenician languages as well as a little Hebrew and Aramaic languages. I am also an Atheist.
What I am looking for is several people who have converted to Christianity without having a Christian background. I believe someone originally from Asia would be best but any. I am wanting to study why the person converted. I am not trying to start arguments or berrate anyone. Besides my own curiosity, this research will be applied to a writing regarding creation and extinction of some of the ancient religions.
I called some Protestant Call lines asking the same question. I don’t know what denominations they represented but they all went into tirades about what makes me think I’m so smart, condemning me for not believing and having no Bible knowledge. Well, I have read the Bible 34 times cover to cover before I lost count. And I have read it once in German as well as Arabic. So, I’m not exactly unfamiliar with it. But I am not here to argue or debate the Bible, only to study they why’s, especially the experiences that led to believing. Someone actually raised in a Christian home, for obvious reason is very likely to be Christian. And I am looking for people, even one, who is outside that.
I should have come here in the first place as I find Catholics far more tolerant and understanding of other beliefs than most all of the Protestant denominations. Thank you and I will be eagerly awaiting replies. Actually, I have been wanting to do this for many years but as yet unable to find anyone who wasn’t deeply seated in basically the same religion but perhaps another denomination. Probably best subjects would be people converting from Buddhism or Hinduism. Even Judaism or Islam is a bit too close to Christianity for my intentions.
Added comment from an Atheist. There is quite a bit in the media about sex abuse in the Catholic Church. Most of those other churches attacking should look in a mirror. It is rampant everywhere and I commend the Catholic Church for both admitting the problem and taking measures to prevent it. I know of a great many denominations that refuse to admit it. And considering the numbers as to the entire religion, Catholics actually have one of the lowest percentages of sexual abuse.
An old addage from the Avesta, the holy book of Zoroaster. “If someone tells you that you must believe, you can be certain it’s a lie.” And just because I am an Atheist doesn’t make anyone else wrong. When a person attacks the beliefs of someone differing, it only proves a lack of truly believing what they claim.
Nearly forgot. Though I struggled with it and certainly did not interpret it. I have read the Dead Sea Scrolls that parallel the New Testament but contains no part of it in the original Aramaic (both Hebrew and Aramaic have words adopted from the Phoenician and Babylonian languages. Hebrew even uses a very obvious form of the Phoenician alphabet. I never learned Hebrew or Aramaic. My knowledge of both is much like an English reading person struggling to read German. Many words are similar or even the same. But can’t make them all out). The translations in English can be found on line and is interesting reading. No one can really fully believe and understand their own religion unless they have studied at least a few others. And something can be learned from every one of them. But you might want to watch out on Hinduism. They have 300,000,000 gods. So obviously it would be impossible for a believer to worship them all or even know their names.
And years ago, I attended a number of classes at the Franciscan Retreat in Scottsdale Arizona. They were about life in general and I highly recommend them. I learned a lot especially regarding relationships and marriage.
What I am looking for is several people who have converted to Christianity without having a Christian background. I believe someone originally from Asia would be best but any. I am wanting to study why the person converted. I am not trying to start arguments or berrate anyone. Besides my own curiosity, this research will be applied to a writing regarding creation and extinction of some of the ancient religions.
I called some Protestant Call lines asking the same question. I don’t know what denominations they represented but they all went into tirades about what makes me think I’m so smart, condemning me for not believing and having no Bible knowledge. Well, I have read the Bible 34 times cover to cover before I lost count. And I have read it once in German as well as Arabic. So, I’m not exactly unfamiliar with it. But I am not here to argue or debate the Bible, only to study they why’s, especially the experiences that led to believing. Someone actually raised in a Christian home, for obvious reason is very likely to be Christian. And I am looking for people, even one, who is outside that.
I should have come here in the first place as I find Catholics far more tolerant and understanding of other beliefs than most all of the Protestant denominations. Thank you and I will be eagerly awaiting replies. Actually, I have been wanting to do this for many years but as yet unable to find anyone who wasn’t deeply seated in basically the same religion but perhaps another denomination. Probably best subjects would be people converting from Buddhism or Hinduism. Even Judaism or Islam is a bit too close to Christianity for my intentions.
Added comment from an Atheist. There is quite a bit in the media about sex abuse in the Catholic Church. Most of those other churches attacking should look in a mirror. It is rampant everywhere and I commend the Catholic Church for both admitting the problem and taking measures to prevent it. I know of a great many denominations that refuse to admit it. And considering the numbers as to the entire religion, Catholics actually have one of the lowest percentages of sexual abuse.
An old addage from the Avesta, the holy book of Zoroaster. “If someone tells you that you must believe, you can be certain it’s a lie.” And just because I am an Atheist doesn’t make anyone else wrong. When a person attacks the beliefs of someone differing, it only proves a lack of truly believing what they claim.
Nearly forgot. Though I struggled with it and certainly did not interpret it. I have read the Dead Sea Scrolls that parallel the New Testament but contains no part of it in the original Aramaic (both Hebrew and Aramaic have words adopted from the Phoenician and Babylonian languages. Hebrew even uses a very obvious form of the Phoenician alphabet. I never learned Hebrew or Aramaic. My knowledge of both is much like an English reading person struggling to read German. Many words are similar or even the same. But can’t make them all out). The translations in English can be found on line and is interesting reading. No one can really fully believe and understand their own religion unless they have studied at least a few others. And something can be learned from every one of them. But you might want to watch out on Hinduism. They have 300,000,000 gods. So obviously it would be impossible for a believer to worship them all or even know their names.
And years ago, I attended a number of classes at the Franciscan Retreat in Scottsdale Arizona. They were about life in general and I highly recommend them. I learned a lot especially regarding relationships and marriage.
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