John Oakes
Q: Can you prove that Daniel 9:24-26 is a prophecy about Jesus?
Question:
Jews always criticize the Christian explanation of Daniel 9... https://jewsforjudaism.org/knowledge/articles/daniel-9-a-true-biblical-interpretation/Can you prove that Daniel really spoke about Jesus in Daniel 9?
Q: Is the "second death" a complete disappearance or is it eternal torment in a lake of fire?
Question:
Please tell me whether the concept of the "second death" means a complete disappearance or eternal torment in a lake of fire?Q: Is Secular Humanism a Better Source of Morality than Christianity?
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Are Richard Dawkins' points valid in his response against faith as the only way to morality? [Editor's Note: View Dawkins' video that claims that secular humanists have created a better kind of morality than religion.]
Q: Why are there thousands of religions and how do I know Christianity is true?
Question:
Before Jesus' birth in about 5 BCE, there were thousands of different religions around the world from the those of the Native Americans to thoses of the Africans and of course, those of the Far East. 1. Why do they exist? 2. Why did God choose the Jewish people? 3. What could make Christianity true despite thousands of other religions existing?Q: Does Neuroscience Prove Determinism?
Question:
It is becoming a more and more accepted theory that humans have no ability to truly make “willful decisions.” Under this assumption, how can one come to salvation? Wouldn’t this render John 3:16 useless, because we cannot choose to
believe in God? I understand the argument that this just points to predestination, but as someone who has never been a believer, that certainly turns me off from it. If I cannot make willful decisions, however, it certainly seems like Christianity and salvation cannot be true. I have spent lot of time trying to figure out what I believe about this, but this has been a huge roadblock for me with believing in God, or in believing that Jesus can save me. Thank You.Q: Is Solomon the "son of God"?
Question:
In 2 Samuel 7, God didn’t allow David to build a house for Him to dwell in. In verses 12-16, God says He will raise up David’s offspring and build a house for His Name. So, is it referring to a single person, since the Scripture used the singular form: he? If so, who is it referring to? Is it Solomon, since he built the temple for God later on after David died? But did God ever call Solomon his son?Q: Why does Hell Exist?
Question:
I've been a Christian for almost four years and I'm 19. Recently I have been having some doubts that I don't want to have any more and I really want to solve them.... I know that God is not forcing us to know him and have a relationship with him, and obey him...He has given us freedom to choose, but lately (and I'm actually very embarrassed to ask) I've been wondering if by creating hell and heaven in some way he actually is forcing us. I've been praying about it because I don't want to think this way. I don't really get why does hell even exists. Please help!! Thank you!
Q: How do I respond to a Unitarian interpretation of John 20:17?
Question:
How would you build up an apologetic defense against a Unitarian argument about John 20:17? In John 20:17 Jesus is speaking to Mary Magdalene: Jesus said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren, and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’ ” There are Unitarians who say because Jesus said "My God" (which He also said on the cross) that He can't be God so they deny the Deity of Christ.Q: Can You Address Doubts I have about the Resurrection?
Question:
These are the questions I have in mind. They stem from a discussion I had with a friend of mine who likes Christianity (especially Bart Ehrman and the Gnostic Gospels) [Editor's note: we are not sure what the questioner means by this comment], but rejects the idea that Jesus was resurrected because:
- It reminds him of the "Rising God" archetype JG Frazier discusses, which indicates it's part of a universal human myth making process.
- Jesus' tomb can't be proven to have been empty, and if it is it's more likely someone robbed it.
- Other historical figures have had supernatural stories added years later (like Siddhartha Guatanema).
- There isn't any extrabiblical account of Jesus' divinity and the biblical one comes at least 20 years later and with a conversion agenda which makes it suspect.
- The whole argument put forth by folks like Mike Licona and NT Wright that the early Christians' sincere belief in Jesus resurrection despite cultural beliefs going against that is evidence of it's authenticity bothers him because the same argument could be made hundreds of years from now by scientologists (thousands of people, despite cultural attitudes against it, chose to believe it so in the future historians could say that's proof of it's authenticity)
Q: Did Daniel Get All the Historical Facts Wrong?
Question:
am happy to find your resourceful website and I hope you can help solve my puzzle. Why did the book of Daniel get all the history wrong from verse 11:35 to the end? I tried to find answers in your power point but you list the historical facts just up to 11:35. This is puzzling to me because people claim the book of Daniel was not written in Daniel's time but much later at around 165 B.C.E. because all the facts from 11:35 to the end of chapter 11 were wrong. I hope you can help me on this.