The main tenet of Christian doctrine?

Fortunately yes! Also all variations thereof!
(Couldn't cope with more than one of them)

Could anyone enlighten me please?Are JO 5, Jo7 and Jingle one person ???

I'll play 'devil's advocate' for the sake of a good debate!
And frequently did so , until I moved down here!

Quite!
As long as the debate remains just that.
A debate
And not personal!

Alexa, heretical beliefs are meat and drink to us!

I do my best to love my neighbour and accept that the lessons Jesus taught through example and parable are a good basis for harmonious social living etc but I cannot believe in God.

Also I do not like the fact that the Christian churches are so numerous and all 'believe' slightly different things, interpret and add rules etc. As they cannot agree I cannot commit to any of them!

How do you know unless you tell us what they are?
On GN you would be surprised who agrees with whom and over what!

Jo,I do trust that the life and example of Jesus are good. However I doubt if my heretical beliefs would be welcomed by any but Unitarians.

Alexa, if you get a pm, there's a space underneath it for your reply.

It's not mandatory to believe in all aspects of the Christian religion Alexa. The important part is trying to follow the two commandments of Jesus - love God and love thy neighbour as thyself.

To the right of the Gransnet banner at the top of the page. Next to the Log out box. says "inbox". Takes you through to private messages.

Please would someone tell me how to reply, where to reply, to an interesting private message that arrived in my email from a poster to this forum? I cannot find the buttons for private messages

Thanks to Marthanne which is the sort of reply I sought i.e. that Jesus was a man as well as Christ the God. As a man he was aware of and subject to the moral and physical accidents to which all flesh is heir.

I still wonder if for any Chrisyian of any denomination who promises to obey some creed, that it is mandatory to believe in the Resurrection as historical event, and not as allegory.

I understand that this human aspect of JC is what made Christianity a powerful religious force, because by reason of the human aspect of JC Christianity can and does adapt to cultural change.Other Abrahamic religions are religions founded upon books of rules. Among the more authoritarian sects such as the RCC doctrinal changes arrive tardily. Also the emotional excesses of the evangelical sects are holding the followers back from modernity.

I don't imply any criticism of Judaism or Islam, because they each have their mystic, liberal version, as does Christianity.

Where would that be, jings?

Anyone else think this thread is heading towards the best place for it?

Who was dead and stinking. And wanted to say so?

Course I believe you Jenifer. #thatisnotaspellingmistake

JO7 and of course you always believe every thing you're told?
So why don't you believe me?

People go back to previous posts , nothing wrong !!

God! I hope Dorset's not still reading this.

I haven't read your link yet, Nelliemoser, but I agree with your post. I had an RE teacher like that too, and I do think that sort of approach to Christianity is more helpful than expecting children and young adults to accept the Bible stories literally.

I like the stories. They are true.

They told me so at Sunday School.

I had an RE teacher from 1964 to 66 who didn't take a literal view of the bible at all. He actually upheld the idea of several of the issues in Joan's post such as the Loaves and Fishes: when one person takes out the food they've brought, everyone does the same. Do not take the stories literally, they were most probably never meant to be used like that.

That sort of interpretation did not trouble him in the least but he still believed in a spiritual being.

I thought the main tenet of Christian doctrine was something about loving one another. My position tends to the feeling that Christianity is not bad as a basic philosophy to live by. I have difficulties with the Divine being concept which probably rules me out completely as being a Christian.
I have at times had Buddhist leanings and I can see how this practice can help people.

This BBC religion site seems to give a more balanced perspective about what different religions believe than much of the other internet stuff.

Http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/beliefs/basics_1.shtml

I truly wasn't trying to start an argument, it was a genuine reaction I felt I wanted to express.

Something about pots and kettles!

I don't mind at all referring back to previous comments if they seem relevant but accept that not everyone feels the same.

Thanks, Sel!

Oh, Greatnan! I was talking about my experience at university. It follows on from something Joan said, then something I said, then something Joan said then..... Higher up the thread!