A view of what faith is

Some people lose faith, but not absolutely all of it.
I agree, dont pretend. There is no point to that. And I agree that hypocrisy is a real faith killer.

I grew up attending Sunday school and going to church, like my brother and sisters. By the time I was a teenager I had worked out for myself that I didn't want a religion and didn't believe there was a god - I saw too much hypocrisy and had been told things that patently weren't true. So I lost faith and found confidence in not having to pretend. I don't want to go back - there is nothing unfortunate about it.

Elegran, people around the world become christians every day.

And unfortunately, some go from being christians to non christians, and then cannot get back again.

I would find him scary too, Mishap.

I wouldnt dream of condemning you annodomini. It is only Jesus that can do that.

Yes, Galen.

I have only ever met one Christian who did not interpret the bible as myth and parable, and related to the cultures and time in which it was written; and he was of the view that anyone who happened to be born in a non-Christian country was damned to hell for eternity. I found him very scary indeed. That sort of certainty and inflexibility is the basis of fundamentalism and we know where that leads.

Anyone who invokes god to justify their behaviour is to be feared.

God is always on both sides of a war apparently; or so the combatants believe.

The title of the thread is "A view of what faith is"

I've not looked for an official definition of faith, but I'd say that it is believing something without asking for proof, or seeing proof in something that cannot be proved or disproved by human logic.

That can be taken as a virtue or a fault, a display of loyalty or of blind obedience, and no amount of arguing for or against will move anyone from the believing camp into the disbelieving one, or vice versa.

I was referring to the doctrine of justification by faith, not to the creation story. There is more than one way of believing and truth in any narrative is open to interpretation.

I couldn't care less that you might condemn me to your hell, soontobe, since I, along with other humanists, don't believe in life after death and therefore much of this discussion is irrelevant. I know I have no more chance of persuading you of my point of view than you have of persuading me of yours. Happy Saturnalia.

But if they do subscribe, I know there is no point in even trying to argue. Closed minds, I am afraid.

Yes, Lilygran theology is endlessly interesting, but I'm not sure which branch of theology we're talking about here. Is there a continuum of religious belief? I thought the creation myth was not one that many christians subscribed to?

Do you honestly believe that the world was made in 7 days and Adam and Eve created in the way described?

Jimmy Saville, the liverpudlian?

Yes, it is not a myth.

Soon does that mean that you believe in the creation myth?

That's the doctrine. Theology is soooo interesting!

...or the Jimmy Saville who would have gone to heaven if he repented in his dying moments?

You mean Jimmy Savile the devout catholic who received a papal knighthood, soon? .......or some other Jimmy Savile?

By the way, I will disappear for a few days soon. Christmas is calling.

when, that is my only point of reference. Others, including christians are free to believe what they want to believe.

Let's just not rely on the bible for facts, soon. What you quote will be refuted by those who know these passages well and can counter them with opposing biblical statements or decisions by the church to pay no heed.

when and Galen.
I agree with more than most christians. I try and agree with all of it.

Elegran. I dont make the rules.
If you think of an extreme example like Jimmy Saville, how can a persons' good works alone be enough for Heaven?

I will keep it all very short I suppose.

How am I going to answer all these questions without it looking like a sermon?

Such as the creation story with Adam and Eve and the serpent!

soon are we really heading for a discussion about what the bible says? I don't know if you've noticed but there are rather a lot of silly statements in there, which even you would not agree with!