https://tasbeha.org/community/categories/faith-issues/p63/feed.rss Mon, 22 Jun 2026 21:27:17 +0000 Faith Issues - Tasbeha.org Community en-CA https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/5449/ananias-saphira-a-case-study Fri, 15 Jun 2007 05:24:21 +0000 5449@/community/discussions
Does anyone here know the story of Ananias & Saphira. It says that they lied to God (before the apostles), and as such they died immediately. Why? OK.. lying isnt good, but why werent they given time to repent??

How is it we also lie and sin life and God does not take our life away as He did with them??

For example, a few pages along, some joker called Simon wanted to "purchase" the Holy Spirit or i think it was the "power" of the Holy Spirit... ok. .. so Saint Peter told him to repent (for obvious reasons), and that was that.  He didnt immediately perish.

I totally udnerstand what Simon did was wrong, and he wanted this power for his own personal gain / glorification. That does not work.
But he was given the possibility of repentance. Why not so then with Ananias & Saphira???

]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/5345/richard-dawkins-is-not-pleased-with-god Sun, 20 May 2007 09:25:56 +0000 5345@/community/discussions
"    Richard Dawkins is not pleased with God:

    The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all of fiction. Jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic-cleanser; a misogynistic homophobic racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal….

Well, no need to finish the quotation; you get the idea. Dawkins seems to have chosen God as his sworn enemy. (Let's hope for Dawkins' sake God doesn't return the compliment.)"

I want to know what everyone thinks about the book, the arguments made in the book etc.

BTW. I found these rather insightful responses to this book:
http://www.christianitytoday.com/bc/2007/002/1.21.html
http://www.azure.org.il/magazine/magazine.asp?id=378

God bless.]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/5444/cross-tattoos Wed, 13 Jun 2007 19:15:44 +0000 stgeorgebrooklyn23 5444@/community/discussions Also, even if we do have tattoos on our body, why is it bad becuase 1) we are not destroying God's creation and 2) dont we go to heaven with our souls not bodies? and anyways ita a cross tattoo not a dragon skull etc....]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/5446/is-god-vindictive Thu, 14 Jun 2007 09:53:06 +0000 5446@/community/discussions
Either God wants to abolish evil, and cannot; or He can, but does not want to; or He cannot and does not want to. If He wants to, but cannot, He is impotent. If He can, and does not want to, He is wicked. But, if God both can and wants to abolish evil, then how comes evil in the world.

Then someone says:

He does, and He will, and we have brought it on ourself.

I ask, did we really bring this:

Imagine a person who graced by God, was a top intellectual in one of the most prestigious Universities in the country. His logical reasoning, and his ongoing contribution to scientific advancement and charity has made him also a very respecting person. But he begins to be inept to recall where he put his keys. He complains to you about this. Then he starts forgetting he even has a car. Then he evolves to not remembering the friends that helped him buy that car. Now he denies this. You touch him to comfort him, and he takes his hand away. He keeps his hand away because he can not put it back. He can't move- on purpose that is. You tell him about how Christ Jesus suffered as well, but because he doesn't understand what your on about, he looks confused and his response is muffled. He can see that you are now confused too. He becomes cursing unintelligibly, and then breaks out into a cry.

You don't have to imagine- this is a real disease, of many. It is Alzhiemer's. That's one of many incurable, degenerative, crippling diseases.

When Adam ate the fruit, did corruption seep even to our genetic makeup? I can describe to you the evolution of cancer, but you probably have seen it. The person would have pain, be losing weight, not wanting to eat (anorexia) because taste for food has diminished dramatically, and he is looking very cachexic. He begins contracting all the diseases floating around him, because he is just that susceptible. Each system begins failing. And if it wasn't the disease and the various diseases that you have a diathesis for, the chemotherapy is just as bad.

Are you going to tell a person that he is going through all this to test his faith! Are you going to tell him that the God your suppose to worship as a merciful redeemer, and glorify by your life, has turned you to less than a human, all to make you prove a point- that you love Him?

I know one thing you are going to say, that we all have sinned, that we all have fallen short of the glory of God- well these two diseases are largely genetic (or atleast the carry a predisposition for such ghastly pathologies). But we seem to be getting the punishment before we are even born.

Does it not say that all curses have been annulled? I think that these damaging genetic mutations and the many microbes that symbiose with us in the most infective way, is the greatest curse that has continued since the Cross. But then again physical death has not passed away either. Did God orchestrate a list of millions of ways that each and everyone of us will die to get to heaven. Don't say this is the devil's doing- last I checked, he had nothing to do with our biology.

That leads me to another thing. You will say God respects our freedom, and He let us bear the brunt of our actions, but made a way to make amends, while still respecting our freedom. Well there does not seem to be much freedom in the after life. Where is our freedom in Heaven. If earth is a paradise of freedom- what is Heaven?

First I doubted God's grace, because even though God died to give me power over Satan, I would not die for myself. Now I doubt the very God that issues it. When I thought I had faith I felt like I was in a cage, and without it, I feel like I am in an open desert. Both such a lonely place. Both away from anything that matters.

As as father once said to Christ, "I believe, help my unbelief." ]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/5424/salvation Sun, 10 Jun 2007 12:45:46 +0000 desertnurse 5424@/community/discussions
Is there salvation outside the Christian faith?

Taylor]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/5370/elijah-and-anok Mon, 28 May 2007 21:37:43 +0000 davidschanter 5370@/community/discussions Paradise was not open. Heaven was not open.
Were they sent to Hades? Could a holy chariot go to hades?
Or were they a possible exception to be allowed to enter paradise or heaven?
Wasn't Jesus the first human to open both heaven and paradise? or is it just heaven?

sorry for alot of questions]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/5411/gifts-of-the-holy-spirit Thu, 07 Jun 2007 10:18:59 +0000 5411@/community/discussions
During the day of the pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles, they all spoke in tongues etc, and could do miracles etc.. u all know the story - im sure.

When we are baptised, are we receiving the same Holy Spirit as these apostles received, or only the gifts of the spirit (love, patience,peace etc...)...

Its just, when we are baptised, why don't we all start talking in different tongues???

]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/5395/can-i-drink-coffee Sun, 03 Jun 2007 07:34:39 +0000 mikeforjesus 5395@/community/discussions
a priest said (if I heard him right).. the devil will say to you when you are tired.. have coffee.. you need it to help you concentrate

I know his message was really relevant to me but does that always mean God was speaking through this priest? I don't think I should follow his advice and stop drinking coffee if thats what he wants since I have attention deficit disorder and I think I really need atleast coffee if I am not using my Attention Deficit Disorder drug... I don't think I should follow his advice but I fear I might be sinning against God if I do not.

maybe its not relevant since I have attention deficit disoder but another priest I know does not believe it exists or does not think it should be treated with drugs .. he might think its a spiritual problem.. I don't know.. or he might think something else

the problem with coffee though.. possibly it makes you more irritable but I think I need it still

I also want to add churches sometimes have events that involve coffee so if priests do not think its a sin to use it then why should they think its a sin to use it when studying? but they might think its a sin to even use it then if its during a fast.

I think I might still continue to use it
]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/5399/the-book-of-psalms Sun, 03 Jun 2007 22:23:05 +0000 5399@/community/discussions https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/5383/contraception-in-the-orthodox-church Thu, 31 May 2007 13:04:08 +0000 5383@/community/discussions
Im not sure where this topic should go, but a lady in Paris asked me if we are allowed to use contraception in the Coptic Orthodox Church. To be honest with you, i said yes. But, then, i've never really asked a priest about it. Please correct me if I'm wrong:

(This will KILL YOU guys laughing actually - this was a lady I met in an Anti-Abortion parade organised by the Catholic Church in paris) :

I told her : well, we are allowed to use contraception in mariage,but we cannot have sex outside mariage.

She was a catholic activist against abortion, adn she said :"Oh.. in the Catholic Church, we can have sex if u love someone, but we cannot use contraception" - HAHAHAHHA

HAHAHAHHA

HAHAHAHA

She was SOO surprised that I told her that we cannot have sex outside marriage!! And even MORE shocked that we can use contraception INSIDE marriage. HAHAHA...

But i'm only assuming this cos I have friends who are copts and that are married who told me... but i'm not sure.

Also, can you lust after your wife?? Is that possible?? That was another question some guy told me. Actually,it was a priest from the British Orthodox Church. He said "Lust in Marriage with your wife is wrong".

I thought that once she's your wife, how can what u do together be lust?? its all holy after that - isnt it???


]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/5398/temptation-on-the-mount Sun, 03 Jun 2007 17:05:33 +0000 Lover of the father 5398@/community/discussions https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/5358/1-john-5-13 Thu, 24 May 2007 10:45:16 +0000 mikeforjesus 5358@/community/discussions 13These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1 john 5&version=9

How do we orthodox make sense of this verse?

We know though that there is other parts in the bible that tell us salvation is by faith and works.. not just faith..

The Sheep and the Goats, Wise and foolish virgins maybe, James.. faith without works are dead.. the part which mentions people practicing certain sins will not inherit the kingdom of God.. the parts about persevering to the end, the part about walking in the narrow gate, the part about many are called but few chosen.. the part about those who do the will of God are My brethren..  and maybe other parts.. the parable about the talents

I also want to ask how come Christ said many will say to Him have we not cast out demons in your name and He will tell them to go away from Him for they were lawless people? in the orthodox church do not only great saints have the gift of casting out demons? I know those holy ascetics still might perish but maybe only a few of them would perish.. do you think some protestants and other denominations have the ability to cast out demons? or maybe many orthodox christians had this gift in earlier centuries.. right?


May the LORD make our death be the death of righteous men and women.. have mercy on us O Lord God the Almighty ,Have mercy on us
]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/5327/one-of-the-least-of-these-my-brethren Tue, 15 May 2007 21:04:45 +0000 mikeforjesus 5327@/community/discussions
I suspect not .. but He said one
]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/5352/christ-and-adultary Wed, 23 May 2007 11:25:37 +0000 5352@/community/discussions I have an issue that's disturbing me:

The Church is the bride of Christ - isnt it?
If the churches are not united, then it would mean that Christ has 2 brides... that's not possible!!!

It means only One Church is the true bride. Christ cannot have 2 bride!?

But, if we are the true bride , it means all the catholics and protestants are living in spiritual adultary? But the Holy Spirit is also with them... we know this, they have great saints...

Please advise,
Thanks]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/5361/how-can-we-live-together-in-peace Thu, 24 May 2007 19:30:48 +0000 5361@/community/discussions My friend as a presentation to give to some Franciscans. He's asked me to help. The topic is "how can we live together in Peace" - how can there be peace between one another??

What do u all think??

What does the Bible tell us on how we can live together in peace??? what do u all think???

Personally, I think the entire Bible directs us to have a peaceful life, but we have to submit to it. For example. Christ said:"Let your Yes be Yes and Your NO be NO". It means that if you don't agree with someone, say so. Don't agree because you want to humour the other... or don't agree when inside you disagree (or vice versa). People tend to mix between "YES" and "NO" so as to come across as "easy going" and friendly - that we do not want to disagree with other's opinion, yet we want to accommodate ourselves so as to be accepted. But Christ here is saying be Honest and let your YES mean YES and your NO mean NO.

I think thats how problem starts. That we are confronted with problems and dilemas and often we find ourselves at a fork. What happens if we respond YES for "no" and "no" for "yes"? What happens is that we give a chance for the other to start to take advantage of us. Then we can lose our peace. But the problem is that we allowed this to happen.

If someone does something to me I didnt like, i have the right to say it to them and to draw their attention. If I don't say it, i'm giving that person permission to treat me in a way that I don't particulary like.

So, we've brought that about on ourselves, and we've made enemies already, wherewas all this could have been avoided if we had said from the start "i don't like this way".

Its very hard to do that sometimes. I hate jokes that are degrading towards women... (this is a true example), if I don't say anything at first so I don't offend the person saying the joke, then what is stopping that person from even saying a joke about any member of my family in which case I WOULD be VERY VERY offended.

To be honest takes courage. And we lie about our feelings because we are afraid. We could be afraid to be accepted, afraid to lose our possessions, integrity etc... but its best to be NOT be afraid.... don't have this as an obstacle. Fear, for a Christian IS A SIN! Do not fear little flock....


What does everyone else think?? how do you think we live in peace??

]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/5324/why-do-women-submit-to-men Tue, 15 May 2007 14:51:22 +0000 5324@/community/discussions
What good example , if someone can tell me, can illustrate where a woman must submit to her husband?

What if she doesn't submit, can she be punished for that?  lol ? OK.. perhaps not punished, but its in the Bible that they SHOULD submit to their husbands. I frankly, i couldnt agree more. I suggest we even get them to sign beneath this verse during the wedding night so they FULLY understand their rights.

All we have to do is love them like we love our own bodies. This is great. But they have to submit to us? Why? What happens when a woman submits to a man? What exactly is she submitting?

Also, how do u get your wife to submit to you?]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/5347/my-god-my-god-why-have-you-forsaken-me Sun, 20 May 2007 21:36:47 +0000 kokiie 5347@/community/discussions does it mean?]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/5341/access-to-god Sat, 19 May 2007 06:45:08 +0000 mikeforjesus 5341@/community/discussions
King David was not a priest but he seems to have a very close relationship with God in the psalms

And how was it possible for the priests to have access to God since Christ never died yet?

We have more access to God than those in the old testament because we have the Holy Spirit indwelling us and He guides us and teaches (?) us to pray .. right? Could the Holy Spirit only be given after Christs death? Why if so? How do we know David did not have the Holy Spirit guiding him and teaching him to pray?



]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/5125/job Tue, 20 Mar 2007 07:01:15 +0000 Kristina123 5125@/community/discussions
just a question regarding the book of Job within the Bible- i just finished reading the book i found it really difficult to understand and once more there was something i couldnt figure out - what was Job's sin?

any other information regarding this book would be greatly appreciated

thanks

Kristina123]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/763/negatives-of-chatting-online Sat, 06 Nov 2004 09:35:43 +0000 763@/community/discussions 1)   Stalkers
   A) Friends or people that you don’t know can stalk you while you are chatting online.
      *Never give any personal information to anyone online because you never know who is reading your conversation. (Even if your talking to your friends)
2)    Hackers
   A) Hackers can get into your computer while chatting online and get personal information such as passwords, credit card numbers, address, etc. (Hackers can also send a virus to your computer.)
4)    Gossip
   A) Chatting with your friends online can cause you to gossip a lot more, which is a sin.
5)    Hiding information from your parents
   A) Your parents may not see your conversations, therefore they don’t know who your talking to and what your talking about. You may be talking to people they don’t want you talking to, such as the wrong crowd at school.
6)    Cursing
   A) Talking online causes you to curse a lot more freely without even realizing it. You tend to do this because you know no one can hear what you type and only the person on the other line can read it.
      * Cursing online can get the person that you are talking to in more trouble than you think. Their parents or siblings can be behind them and reading the conversation.
7)   Relationships
   A) Talking online can start relationships that you never intended. (You end up hiding these relationships from your parents)
   Addiction
   A) Slowly you become addicted to the computer, internet, chatting etc. that you become farther away from the outside world. You lose your socializing skills because you are constantly talking to people that you never see. You spend less and less time with family and friends(the people that matter most to you)
9)    Lying
   A) When chatting online you may or may not lie more to who ever you are talking to because you know that they can’t hear your voice or see your face.
]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/5299/amnon-absalom-and-tamar Tue, 08 May 2007 21:59:45 +0000 egy 5299@/community/discussions
i just read chapter 13 in the book of Samuel and and i am so confused!!!


who is Amnon [was he Tamar'a cousin] and did he rape her?

is Absalom Tamar's brother and did he tell amnon to trick the king David and tell him that he is sick and that he would like tamar to baker him so cakes, then he tricked her and then force him to sleep with him?

last question: why did Absalom order the servants to kill Amnon if he told him to lay down with Tamar?

sry if nonw of these are correct...

EgY]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/5323/our-father Tue, 15 May 2007 14:00:27 +0000 topdawg 5323@/community/discussions
Thanks in Advance

c]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/5308/persecution-of-copts-in-egypt Fri, 11 May 2007 13:20:57 +0000 5308@/community/discussions I've heard that Copts are still being persecuted in Egypt. At the same time, i've heard that they are not being persecuted, and people are just making up a lot of bad stories? What's the truth? Is there persecution?

If so, have you been persecuted?? If so what happened? I'd love to hear from you also.

Minagir - what do u think? Have u yourself been persecuted in Egypt because of your faith??

Thanks,
]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/5307/saint-constantine Fri, 11 May 2007 06:58:51 +0000 5307@/community/discussions I'm just surprised that when Diocletion came out with his edict to kill Christians, it was said that nearly 3000 to 4000 Christians were martyered. May be more even. I'm just curious about one thing: Saint Constantine replaced Diocletion after he retired. How comes Saint Constantine managed to escape persecution given that he was a practicing Christian at the same time that (303 AD) Diocletion came up with his idea to kill Christians?

Thanks]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/5225/homosexuality-and-the-anglican-church Wed, 18 Apr 2007 01:55:24 +0000 [Deleted User] 5225@/community/discussions http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070417/wl_canada_nm/canada_anglicans_homosexuality_col
How do you guys feel about this? Any thoughts?]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/5300/question-about-the-qu-ran-in-arabic Tue, 08 May 2007 22:16:06 +0000 Kyle 5300@/community/discussions
i am a Catholic, I'm white, i'm American, and yeah.. not an arab, not a Copt.. but i do love the Coptic Church!!

now i have been doing some research on islam, and have heard two different things..

1. the qu'ran has its own unique arabic style, that isn't saj', or any of that.. is that true?

2. no one can produce anything like the qu'ran, and they have tried but failed for thousands of years. is that true?

3. the style of the hadiths is much different then the qu'ran.. is that true, and if so, what do you guys think of it? like how did mohammad did that?]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/5303/ticked-off Wed, 09 May 2007 18:08:01 +0000 PopeKyrillos 5303@/community/discussions (They don't have churches, they have meetings in parks!), always cause peace, support anti-war always, and jesus is god. THAT'S IT! So I asked him that since he was christian, how does his denomination not have beliefs, commandments, and rules. He says that we believe in Christ as god, but don't believe in the bible. He also says that everyoe believes w/e they want to. How does this work!!!! He also says that the bible is bad, it contradicts itself. I said, How so? He said that the one gospel says one thing and the other says the opposite. I asked him "show me one thing". He says that he's never read the bible because his parents read it, and they told him not to because they hated it. So I asked him, where did you get this info, he says my parents told me. These types of people get on my nerves!!!! How do I answer him? What's right?

PK

]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/5273/importannt Thu, 03 May 2007 15:04:34 +0000 KrazyLion 5273@/community/discussions
EVERYONE GO TO THE LITERGUY ON SAT. AND PRAY FOR ALL THOSE TAKING THE SAT'S AND TELL ALL UR PRIEST TO PRAY FOR THEM. TELL EVERYONE U NO, IF GOD GETS ALOT OF PRAYER, HE''LL JUST GIVE US ALL 2400 !!! MAKE SURE U PPRAY THO, NO JOKE...
THX]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/5298/commandements-and-sin Tue, 08 May 2007 21:06:56 +0000 karas7 5298@/community/discussions i just wanted to get some feedback on waht everyone thought on the following.
at a meeting some youths asked the following questions and so i wonder waht everyone here thinks, and how would u answer this.these are not the exact words of i write as best i can recall

1. "Abuana please tell me why does/would a person knowing sin and its death waht ever form it may be of RETURN to and not forsake it to be wit GOD instead. waht is it(or are the things) that blinds such a person that he returns to his sin and then falls in weakness and then sighs in failure?

2. "Abuana please tell me how can i love God in other words obey his commadments such that it is not obedience to a law but obedience and steadfastness in the opposite of this.  i do not know what we call this but one thing i am sure of the saints followed this and such was their thier sucess and closeness to God. (st Paul talks about this in romans)




(this conserns the heart and those (obedience) that are not seen by any except God i.e. obedience to commandment of God in the heart and unseen not obedience to GOD in things like coming to church and all the good things these are ok and we do these  but this qestion is refering deeper than that. as i understood it i think )

so how would u answer this many answers were given and futher elaborated on but i wanna see what everyone here can comeup wit...thanks everyone and please pray for my weak self
]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/5294/what-about-the-rest-of-the-arch-angels Tue, 08 May 2007 15:29:35 +0000 gregorytheSinner 5294@/community/discussions
    * Gabriel, Michael and Lucifer (more commonly known as Satan) are the only 3 angels to be named in the Bible.

Wheather or Not this is True, I don't know, However, I do know that there are Seven Arch-Angels according to the Coptic Church, who are:

-Michael
-Gabriel
-Raphael
-Souriel
-Sadakiel
-Sarathiel
-Ananiel.

Does anyone know if they are/aren't mentioned in the Holy Bible, and If they aren't can someone explain how we know them and how we know their exact names?

Thanks,

God Bless]]>