Answers

What was God doing before He created the world?

What was God doing before He created the world? I had an atheist friend ask me this a few days ago, and I didn't know what to say.

My husband and I don't think we ought to force our religious beliefs on our children.

My husband and I don't think we ought to force our religious beliefs on our children. We believe they should be free to choose their own beliefs when they get older. Even if we did force our ideas on them now, they'd probably just rebel against them later.

What does the devil look like?

What does the devil look like? I know he probably doesn't have a red suit and a pitchfork and all that, but do you think we'd recognize him if we saw him? Doesn't the Bible say someplace that he's like an angel?

How do we know there is only one God, instead of thousands?

Our new neighbors in our apartment complex are from a country where people believe in many gods and goddesses. How do we know there is only one God, instead of thousands like they believe? I guess I've never thought about this before.

I was searching on the Internet for the answer to a question I had about God, but I just ended up confused.

I was searching on the Internet for the answer to a question I had about God, but I just ended up confused. There must have been a dozen different websites on religion, all claiming to have the answer to my question. But they didn't agree, and anyway, most of them just wanted money. Is the Internet useless for finding out about God?

I just started college, and when my roommate found out I was a Christian, he laughed and said it wouldn’t be long before I threw it all overboard.

I just started college, and when my roommate found out I was a Christian, he laughed and said it wouldn't be long before I threw it all overboard. When I asked why, he said it's because no intelligent person can be a Christian. Is he right?

Do you have any sure-fire cure for laziness?

Do you have any sure-fire cure for laziness? I admit I'm not a very ambitious person, and never have been, but recently my girlfriend broke off our engagement because she said she didn't want to put up with a lazy husband. I guess I need to change, but I don't know how.

We read a book recently predicting that the world is about to collapse economically. If our money is going to be worthless (as this writer says), why should we bother working hard or saving money? We're really worried.

We read a book recently predicting that the world is about to collapse economically. If our money is going to be worthless (as this writer says), why should we bother working hard or saving money? We're really worried.

Everyone in our family feels sorry for my aunt, because her husband is just about the most selfish person you'll ever meet.

Everyone in our family feels sorry for my aunt, because her husband is just about the most selfish person you'll ever meet. This is obviously very hard on her, and some of us even wonder if we ought to encourage her to divorce him. Would this be wrong?

A few months ago, I asked God to tell me if I should change jobs, but He didn't, so I went ahead and changed anyway.

A few months ago, I asked God to tell me if I should change jobs, but He didn't, so I went ahead and changed anyway. I'm enjoying my new position, but I still wonder if I made the wrong decision. Why didn't God answer me? Or maybe He doesn't care about such things.

Is religion dying out in some parts of the world? Are we headed the same way?

My husband and I traveled in Europe for the first time this summer, and we were amazed at how empty the churches were, even for Sunday services. Is religion dying out in some parts of the world? Are we headed the same way?

Can you recommend some self-help books that might help me get my life together?

Can you recommend some self-help books that might help me get my life together? I have a lot of problems I can't seem to overcome. People tell me just to try harder, but that doesn't get me anywhere.