Religious tolerance

Anniebach (((( hugs )))) - I just can't begin to imagine what that must be like, for any mother, of any Faith or non faith.

now better if no.one says the poor babies died to test the parents' faith- or I'll serioulsy lose it here. And if anyone says that no-one has the 'right' to be upset on someone else's behalf- I might lose it too.

What about the poor child drowned on the beach, and millions like him all over the world- that is OK because they are not Chrisitians? Perhaps.

I am so glad you've suffered very little bereavement soon- and I sincerely hope your faith will never have to be tested that way. I do hope you are not saying that you haven't because of your unlimited faith or prayers, I sincerely do.

The clergy are trained in some of this. I have had very little bereavement personally, so I even stay out of the bereavement threads on here, on the whole.
It isnt a matter I have looked into a lot.

For me to start to answer that[and really it is not my place] I guess I would need to know some personal details [and again that is not my place].
Also, I am not really qualified in any capacity.
Obviously I am happy to offer opinions on here or privately.
I presume you have discussed this with the clergy at various points?

Tell me soon, why didn't he save my third and fourth babies, why didn't he save my husbands life ? Because he chose not to ? I will not and cannot accept he chose not to .

or not!

Not sure about God picks and chooses who should suffer pain.

With Christians though, if Christians pray, and God agrees, he can take it away, or lessen it, or make it more manageable.

soon, it seems you believe God picks and chooses who should suffer pain , who should have their pain taken from them. Tell a mother with a child dying of cancer God thinks the child will learn from this ? I just cannot accept this

I think you are wrong Alea, but not sure.
Epistles are letters aren't they? And they were letters[in the New Testament].
But pretty sure they are classed as books as well.
You know me, my knowledge of that type of stuff is not high.

To me there is no doubt whatsoever that all scripure is inspired by God. I have probably said before that there is no way that God is not going to have the Bible how he wants it.

I actually think there are quite a number of Christians who struggle with Paul, I know a few myself.

Pain. God can do anything. For him all things are possible. I dont think I quite understand your question regarding pain.

Well soon he would say that wouldn't he?? Paul was not going to say to the Galatians, Timothy or the Ephesians etc etc 'Hi there, I am Paul, formerly Saul. I am putting forward my thoughts and policies for how I think you should live!' Of course he was going to say God told him!

Just a picky note, but weren't these Epistles e.g.to Timothiy, the Romans, Ephesians, Colossians etc i.e. LETTERS and not BOOKS as in " the books of the OT?
Correct me if I am wrong.

I find it strange what AS said too. Perhaps he was trying to up his credentials in some way? With someone?

Perhaps it was pain soon, he never said so we will never know . Not comfortable with your opinion that God could have taken the pain away but thought Paul needed it etc. Does this apply to all who suffer pain?

Paul wrote Timothy so this is Paul's opinion isn't it? I accept many Christians don't have the problems I have with Paul

The book of Timothy was written by Paul.
Paul seems to have been used by God to put order into things.

He got a bit of the short end of the stick but he was obviously very blessed by God.

And 2 Timothy chapter 3
All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.

Physical pain in my opinion Anniebach. God could have taken it away of course, but Paul needed it to stop him getting too elated, because of the things he knew about.

That's it granjura, every faith has extremists , Muslims, Christians and Jews certainly do

Paul, to me seems a trouble man, what was the thorn in his side? Was he always troubled that he had persecuted Christians , was he homosexual, was he epileptic , these have been put forward as possibly the thorn in his side. He often seems to lack Christliness, rather bossy really

He should have married Lydia

So, from this interesting discussion- can be at least agree on one thing, and that is that 'Chrisitians' come in a massive number of varieties, with beliefs that can go from one extreme to the other, with anything in between, and with huge cultural influences mixed in in different parts of the world, and that even from Christians from the same small of large denomination (just like Muslims btw).

Seems it was in a video he was making for the Church of Scotland, pen. I do not wish to investigate further as I now think he is a complete twat (in Scotland that doesn't mean the same as in England; it's just a version of twit).

tharbags in what context does AS prefer people of faith? Politically, socially or serving him in a cafe?? What a very
odd thing to say!

Alex Salmond has said he 'prefers' people of faith to atheists. I had thought he was intelligent up till then even though I disliked his politics. Imagine if an atheist politician said something similar about 'preferring' non-believers to believers. There'd be an outcry, quite rightly.

Before Paul saw the light on the road to Damascus he was equally enthusiastic in acting against the pesky Christians, so he already had a tendency to be over-zealous. He may well have mistaken his own strong controlling streak to be God's will working through his. Many others have done the same.

How do we know Paul was inspired by God and not his own ego? He may have started off being an enthusiastic convert to the teaching of Christ but when he realised he could start telling people how to live in the way he wanted them to he might have just got on a roll! God could have had nothing to do with it! He may have been convinced God was speaking to him but possibly he was not!