Are you an ex Christian?

Does it matter if one doubts the virgin birth or the parting of the Dead Sea ?

I'm sure a lot of peoople agree with you Luckygirl, myself included. For various reasons, I do go to church regularly, where there are lots of lovely kind people. I do wonder though how many of us really believe in the supernatural aspects of Christianity.

I do not share the certainty of either Christians or atheists. I admit (with no qualms) to simply not knowing, in common with the whole of mankind. Some believe (either in no god/s or definitely god/s), some admit to the impossibility of knowing.

In many ways that is a bigger challenge, because those of us who are agnostics have no "word" to fall back on, but have to create our morality from a simple sense of love for our fellows. The more of that there is around the better. Sadly organised religions, whilst containing many people of great integrity, sincerity and goodness, do seem to be standing in the way of this. Very sad for all of us.

I like this quote from Pascal

"Let us weigh the gain and the loss in wagering that God is. Let us consider the two possibilities. If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing. Hesitate not, then, to wager that He is."

Pensees (1670)

I believe it Atqui,I don't mean he has a selfish reason to hang on through the mystical powers , just some promises, I am with you always . I will not fail you or forsake you. Just means you have free will to turn away from me, I will never turn away from you, this is my belief

was

that as to atqui

Doubt set in for me when Santa's beard caught fire from the candles on the tree! He pulled it off to reveal my uncle.

Whether to believe we can't quite let go, or God won't let us go- now there's a thought.

I would say I was still Christian and believe in God, but for reasons explained somewhere on another thread, left my own church years ago.

I still pray, but just do not want to go near any church.

I get the analogy Jings, but that was only once a year for a few years, and if you realised that it was your dad dressed up at the staff children's party....... The ' can't quite let go' strikes a cord with me.

There are never 'footprints in the sand'. And that's not my kind of religion.

Of course there was doubt then atqui. A child had died horribly. There still is doubt. But I can't quite let go. (I wish now I'd never started that wretched thread)

And if it was merely brainwashing from childhood, then, by the same token, I would still believe in Father Christmas. I don't.

Not one Synonomous

Anniebach And of course not one of us is perfect - in or out.

Jings I see what you mean , ( about once a Christian always a Christian- not the Irish thing ) and the hymn . But is this just that I was indoctrinated as a child and can't get it all out of my system? I notice you started a thread about there being no God ..was that just a moment of doubt for you then? The people on the radio programme had been full on believers but say that they are now defo atheist.

The problem for the churches are those who criticise them because they think they are perfect

Yes

the problem with churches is the people
Yes, the buildings are lovely

We have 'Footprints in the Sand' framed.

No.
I read that the problem with churches is the people and they are probably there because they are not perfect and know that to be the case.

I love that little story called "Footprints in the Sand" and find it particularly relevant for me. Just google it.

It is not belief that causes the problems, it's intolerance of others' beliefs.

Jingle , I think the same ,I think because if one has been a Christian they will know they may go though some awful tragedy and may then doubt but they will know God will not stop loving them and the love is so great it draws you back , if you truly believed in that love

Oh shoot! I'm doing multi-posts again.

I'm all for looking after nature, but I would never pray to the garden birds when I am feeling a bit down.

thatbags It's very pretty to say we are "star dust". But can you be sure the stars aren't made of human dust?