From one friend to another: questions we ask each other about Christianity

       As part of yesterday's seminar (which you can read about in yesterday's blog), we split into small groups to explore different questions we were asked by our non-Christian friends. It's an extensive list, with topics moving from technicalities of the religion to our personal stories as Christians to how religion interacts with science to how religion interacts with other beliefs to conviction and truth to suffering and back again. We don't have all the answers. 

Questions about suffering and evil:

• Why did God let this happen?
• Why is there so much suffering?
• Why doesn't God get rid of evil?
• Why does God not help us in the situations we are in?
• If God is love, why is there suffering? Doesn't that prove that God is selfish?
• If Christianity is true, how do you explain the terrible behaviour of people who claim to be Christian?
• Is God responsible for bad things that happen in our world?

Questions about life as Christians:

• When did you come to know about Christ?
• How did you become a Christian?
• How has your life changed since you became a Christian?
• Were your parents Christian? Do you come from a Christian family?
• Why do you follow Christ?
• Why do you waste your time on Christianity?
• Did you have to give up any traditional/cultural practices when you became a Christian? Will I have to?

Questions about the specific beliefs of Christianity:

• Are you against gay marriage?
• Why did God let Jesus die?
• Do you become Christian when you become baptised?
• What is the difference between Christianity and Catholicism?
• What is the difference between the different denominations?
• What is the trinity? Do you have three gods?
• Do you really believe there is a heaven and hell?
• Are you saying everyone who doesn't believe in Jesus will go to hell?
• How can God be just and merciful at the same time?
• Why do you believe God will heal you?

Questions about science and Christianity:

• What do you think about evolution?
• What evidence do you have that God is real?
• How can an intelligent person like you ignore all the archeological evidence of dinosaurs, which prove that the Bible can't be true?
• Why do you believe the Bible is true if science has proven that evolution is correct?

Questions about Truth:

• Why is Christianity the "right" religion?
• How do you know if your faith is the right one?
• Aren't all religions the same?
• Isn't your God the same as my God?
• What is the proof Jesus rose?
• If we are good, why do we need religion?
• How do you know God is real?
• How can I believe a book about God that is written by humans?
• How do you know the Bible is true?
• Is it true?

       And now, a question for you: What other questions have you been asked? What other questions do you ask your Christian friends?