Posted by:
Tall Man, Short Hair
(
)
Date: August 04, 2015 04:16AM
The great thing about life outside Mormonism is the unfettered access to information and freedom to examine it shamelessly. Truth is not always our friend, but it should be embraced when we find a bit of it to be reliable. Much information is biased, so that's perhaps the biggest challenge in examining things and determining truth. With that in mind, here's my biased information:
My faith path has wandered a bit over time, but remains in a fairly orthodox Christian version. It has been complicated at times, and gets simpler as I grow older. I believe Jesus is worthy of worship. I'm moved by the fact that something extraordinary occurred in the first century causing the birth of a new movement that claimed Jesus rose from the dead. I'm impressed that his body was never found, and two millennia of critics have not produced a reasonable explanation for this. Most propose elaborate schemes and conspiracies with no supporting evidence.
I cannot account for our existence and the origin of life without seriously considering a special creator who appears to value relationships and morality. I find in Jesus the embodiment of these values.
When I couple historic elements with my personal experience in prayer and scripture, it all seems to knit together cohesively. I don't have all the answers by far, and much of it is still a mystery, but I cannot ignore these elements.
I'm not sure exactly what you mean by, "Is there power in the name of Jesus?" I've seen that mean different things to different people depending upon whatever topic may be on their mind (or their pastor's) at a given moment. I believe in the perfection of God, and the true power of Jesus is in the forgiveness I find in him. Maybe others will offer their explanations.
You're likely aware that atheists dominate our community here, so I'm sure you'll hear sufficient contrary opinions to counter your belief. As with all arguments (including mine), examine the evidence and look for supporting historical elements. Take your time, and if so moved, pray along the way.
William Lane Craig is a Christian apologist who has engaged some of the more notable atheists of our time including Christopher Hitchens and Lawrence Krauss. He posts the full texts of his debates with them on his website. It's a good opportunity to see the best minds on opposite sides argue their positions:
http://www.reasonablefaith.org/debate-transcriptsOver the years, I have also found C.S Lewis's writings to be helpful from the Christian viewpoint. The Screwtape Letters and Mere Christianity are good starts.
I wish you the best in your journey.