Why this website? This site was created out of necessity -- the need for answers. It is the result of a personal search for answers to basic questions regarding Christianity and the Bible from a born again, non-denominational perspective. The information gathered here may then be helpful for others who seek such answers. Roughly half of the research for this site comes from the World Wide Web and is provided as an alternative to most of the commercially and visually cluttered Christian websites on the Internet. The answers to the questions posted here are developed as part of an ongoing process of seeking the truth to biblical, historical, and modern Christianity. As such, many of the answers may be incomplete and many of the questions may not have been asked. Expressed opinions are generated without any formal training, only a desire to know God's truths. Information is intended to be simple, concise, and direct. Although not always brief, it is the hope that pertinent details have been provided that will bring further clarity to help the reader come to their own conclusion about any given subject. It is not the intent of the contents of this site to attack any belief, however, offenses are to be expected. Nor is it the intent to preach, but to provide relevant data. My name is Michael McGhee (aka Shadrach Evans) and this website is my amateur hobby. I was born and raised in the Roman Catholic Church (baptized and confirmed), however, in my younger years I struggled to remain Catholic and eventually left primarily due to disagreement with many of its doctrines. I currently attend an evangelical church, if it can be categorized as such. As for the name of this site, far be it from me to sit in judgment or lord it over any other individual. Just the audacity to publish this kind of information on the Internet as authoritative makes me holier-than-thou. It is my only hope that you will find the answers to these questions fair, accurate, helpful, and if nothing else, at least thought-provoking. Although I take the Bible seriously, I tend to regard myself with a grain of salt. Attacks upon Christianity, Jesus, God, and the Bible are between the reviewer of this site and God. I do not consider myself an apologetic nor a fundamentalist, but simply a disciple of Christ. After reviewing the texts of other major world religions over the years, I have come to accept the Bible as divinely inspired and authoritative in all worldly matters, as well as the final authority in Christian affairs, which is why biblical scripture is used to answer most, if not all, of these questions. This position has developed through the use of reason, logic, and guidance by the Holy Spirit. All content of this site is weighed against Biblical Scripture, which "is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness" (1 Timothy 3:16). Unless otherwise noted, all quoted scripture is taken from the New International Version Holy Bible from Zondervan Publishing House. Why the NIV? Because of personal preference and because it's a popular version. The King James Version and the New American Standard Bible are used for literal comparisons and to help ensure the accuracy of scritpural references. The NIV provides footnotes with alternative renderings of several passages and verses (such as those used in the KJV and the NASB) and the NIV Life Application Bible contains additional information relevant to the culture and history of the Scriptures. Again, this is just personal preference and is not meant as a promotion of any one translation over another.       "My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments." (Colossians 2:2-4) Copyrights This website is copyright ©1997-2021 by Michael McGhee. Reference sources for material include various websites, borrowed books, public libraries, an old set of Collier's Encyclopedias (©1968, Crowell-Collier Educational Corporation), and a battered Webster's New World Second Edition Collegiate Dictionary from Prentice Hall Press. Please use all this information freely, with respect to other copyrighted material that may be individually noted. Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version ©1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society and used by permission from Zondervan Publishing House, along with the NIV Life Application Bible by Tyndale House Publishers, copyright ©1988, 89, 90, 91. None of this could be possible in one lay person's lifetime without the aid of a concordance -- in this case, the NIV Exhaustive Concordance, edited by Edward W. Goodrick and John R. Kohlenberger III, ©1990 by The Zondervan Corporation. Other Bible translations used as reference and cross-reference sources include: The New American Standard Bible, ©1960, 62, 63, 68, 71, 72, 73 by the Lockman Foundation; Authorized King James Version Holy Bible, published by The World Publishing Company; American Standard Version Holy Bible, ©1901 by Thomas Nelson & Sons; Revised Standard Version Holy Bible, ©1953 Thomas Nelson & Sons; The Living Bible, ©1971 by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Letters for the title graphic were adapted from the "Book of Victorian Alphabets & Designs" (twelfth century alphabet), ©1990 by Sterling Publishing Company, Inc. Quotes from Dietrich Bonhoeffer were taken from The Cost of Discipleship, First Touchstone Edition 1995, ©1959 by Simon & Schuster, translated from the German Nachfolge first published in 1937.       "If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men." (1 Corinthians 15:19) [ Index | Search | Links | Glossary | E-mail ]