I wish that I had a Faith

Religion gives many meaning and value to their lives, and we are all entitled to navigate life in the best way we can without judgment, unless it is harmful to others.

I believe it is possible to live ethical and fulfilling lives with reason and empathy, and a concern for other humans and sentient beings, without the need for a religion. Life is all the more meaningful to me because I believe this is the only life I shall have.

I believe that science can make sense of the world, and it’s evolution, but with the proviso that certainty of opinion is always open to revision and correction.

Humanism is a joyous alternative to religion, and I think there is a growing number of people who believe as I do, but do not label themselves “humanist”.
There is a quiz to try if you are interested on the Humaist U.K. site How humanist are you?.

I think its time to leave Franbern alone now.

If posters are entitled to defend their views about supernatural beings and "something in the great beyond", she's entitled to say its poppycock.

Pagans - a friend is one. Believes its that the whole of our natural world, including us, and animals, have a sort of "spirit of life" which we must care, tend, and celebrate. Very sympathetic to this POV.

Franbern, I think that your comments were patronising, but they arise from a misunderstanding of faith and an acceptance of something beyond us, a sense of the spiritual.

For a start, many people who have faith or a sense of the spirit do not believe in A God (or Gods) as such. One major religion, buddhism, does not have a God. Buddhists regard the Budda as a wise source of offering a way or ways through life and a number of interpretations of what happens when we die. but he is not A God.

Far from some kind of childish and non critical or total acceptance of a creed, for many an opening to that side of life, a spirit at work amongst us, demands a great deal of one.

It demands study and trying to answer some of lifespan's deepest questions. Why is there so much suffering?. what does happen if anything when we die? How can we live our lives in respect of this responsibility? what is the purpose of our particular life on earth? How do we use our resources? How do we live with conflict? How do we understand the relationship of psychology to faith?

He can we respect and appreciate people both of faith nd with no faiths?

I was brought up in a very definite atheist family, which has had the advantage of having to find my own way and not take on what you appear to suggest, cookie cutter answers to life's bigger issues. However I would say that my parents were unwilling to engage not only with these with faith (except he Quakers, because they had peace work in common, but they were very patronising )

Yet when my Dad died suddenly when I was 20 and my sibs 14, and my mum went into mental hospital, it was the Quaker pastoral care person who visited; she imposed nothing, but listened, and cared.

We can't dodge conflict in "politics, religion, and sex". (and a great many other matters)

Its how we deal with this conflict that matters.

I enjoy hearing about what others believe and debating about their faiths but have never been attracted to any faith myself. I was raised CofE so that probably explains it. My grandmother had a deeep belief in Godbut only went to church for weddings and funerals. I dont think I could even belong to any organised religion.

Silverlining, that is true. If we are to progress beyond small talk we must risk divisions of opinion, or else we can never learn from others's experience.

What did they used to say about politics and religion? Neither should be ever be discussed.
I don’t necessarily believe that but both subjects are certainly divisive.

FannyCornforth

Thank you Esmay what a lovely thing to say

And for Doodle, just because

LRavenscroft I’d be interested to hear from pagans too, I am very drawn to that way of thinking.
My late maternal grandmother was very pagan-y (although she probably didn’t realise it -though I must have mentioned it).
She had the biggest love for, and understanding of, nature in anyone I have ever known.
I’m extremely fortunate that she taught me a lot.

Shall I start a Pagan thread?

I am in the process of reading the books by Elizabeth Goudge and she is very nature orientated in her writings of the first half of 20th century with a lot of folklore thrown in for good measure. JJR Tolkien also embraced a land of mythical beasts. Both had deep Christian faiths but it did not stop them exploring alternatives in their writings. I stand with them.

A pagan thread would be a great starter.

Indeed it must be a consolation to believe Almighty Providence controls human affairs. But that belief is a cop out. It's the prerogative of adult humans to take responsibility for their actions and beliefs.

Thank you Esmay what a lovely thing to say

And for Doodle, just because

LRavenscroft I’d be interested to hear from pagans too, I am very drawn to that way of thinking.
My late maternal grandmother was very pagan-y (although she probably didn’t realise it -though I must have mentioned it).
She had the biggest love for, and understanding of, nature in anyone I have ever known.
I’m extremely fortunate that she taught me a lot.

Shall I start a Pagan thread?

Interested to hear what people have to say about paganism? What about the white witches? Druids etc? They have a lot to say about saving the planet and looking after nature. I have a few pagan friends and tbh they are so peaceful and kind and caring. So, what is religion really all about?

Franbern. “I am tolerant” “ I never put them down”. Obviously you do not speak your Truths to your friends. You save your thoughts for mocking those on GN. You also have a strange idea of tolerance.

Of course you have your opinions but is it necessary to share them in such an unpleasant way. Is it not enough to say I am an atheist if you have to make a comment at all.

Be amused as much as you like but I think your post says more about you than any comments I make.

Hi Fanny ,

Sorry , I didn't realise that it such an old post !
I think that the Quaker Church might be right for you .
I'm really sorry about the nastiness .
I thought of you yesterday and I remembered you in my prayers .
God Bless .

I started this thread almost two years ago.

And it’s been regularly popping up now and again for all of that time.

I’ve really enjoyed reading other’s thoughts on their faiths; and, also thoughts from those, who, like me have a lack of a real faith.

There has never been any nastiness on the thread until yesterday.

It would be a real shame if it continues in this way.

Oh dear, now I am immature as well as unatttactive. AND rude!!!! Just because I wrote how I feel Who says that Truth is good!!!! Oh dear, perhaps I should just give up and withdraw from society!!!!

I AM very tolerant of people with different faiths. Indeed, I would say that some of my close friends regularly go to Church, Synagogue, Mosque, etc. Good Luck to them, their choice, and at least, they live in a place where this is totally acceptable. Cannot help my feelings of slight amusement at (to me) this strange wish to have some sort of higher being controlling their lives.

I cannot say I have respect for these believes, I think they are very wrong, so why should I 'respect' that?. I never put them down, indeed I rarely discuss faith with any of them. But I do not hide my own humanitarism.

Well said, Doodle. For anyone to suggest that those who have faith "have been unable to grow up and become proper adults" is not only appallingly rude, it displays a hurtful personality trait which is both immature and unattractive.

Franbern

I most definitely do not 'envy' people who have a faith in supernatural beings, gods, etc. Feel rather sorry for them. They have been unable to properly grow up and become adults.

When my children were young they believed in Fatrher Christmas, Tooth Fairy, etc. etc. When I was young I desperately wanted Peter Pan to fly in through my bedroom window, along with Tinkerbell!!!

By secondary school age, nobody had to tell me or my children (or in later times my g.children) that this was all childhood fantasy - thwir own common sense and edcucation opened up their world to understand that.

As a totally atheistic family, we can enjoy any of the 'religious; celebrations which involve food and parties. ll of us at very mixed ages are totally happy with having no religious 'faith',

Never felt any need of one, We have One Life, Let's live it to the full.

No need to feel sorry for me Franbern.

Obviously being an atheist doesn’t lead you to being tolerant of others or showing some respect for others with thoughts that differ from your own. Being sarcastic is not necessarily an enviable trait in anyone with faith or otherwise.

Have you thought of going to a Quaker meeting FannyCornforth?

No creeds, no expectations laid upon you. That doesn't mean some of them don't have very strongly-held views but you aren't required to follow them. The emphasis is very much on personal spirituality. An hour of stillness on a Sunday morning – it can be a bit unsettling if you're not used to it but the idea is to empty your head of distractions and see what comes to you.

I'm not trying to sell something here. I used to be a Quaker but for personal reasons I have distanced myself from them, and it's true that some individuals can be a bit up their own backsides but you can find ways of dealing with them. In the past Quakers were helpful in helping me finding my own way through difficult times.

Faith should be a private matter- and not have an influence on the education of our kids, our Laws and Government. I am happy to respect all my family and friends who are religious, coming from so many different backgrounds in Christianity, Judaism or indeed Islam- which have the same roots. And others who are Hindus or Buddhists, or Jains, or .... as long as they don't expect my life to be influenced by their faith.

I had an overdose of the Baptist faith as a child.
If I wasn't going to church it was prayer meetings and Billy Graham rallies .
I started to find the Pastor from our church overwhelming .
He disapproved of my having Cathloic , Jewish and Muslim friends and my free thinking .
Fortunately, my grandma sided with me .

But my faith has never left me .

I read the bible and pray .
I pray several times a times a day .

A couple of years ago, I annoyed the vicar of our C of E church .
And I had a huge discussion about Islam with one of my Muslim friends yesterday - so I haven't changed !

There are probably as many, or even more, ways of beign a Christian, as ways of being a Muslim.

Fleurpepper You’d have to ask the C of E leaders who want to change things. My guess is they either think that other things matter more than what the Bible says, or they adopt strained interpretations to make the Bible say what they would like it to say. (However, there are theologians who are in favour of same-sex marriage, both Christian and non-Christian ones, who say that the Bible does forbid gay sex.)

Skye17

Being gay wasn’t mentioned above. As I said, the moral law still applies. The prohibition on gay sex (not ‘being gay’) is part of the moral law, is repeated in the New Testament, and still applies.

So why doesn't the Anglican Church still condemn homosexuality and gay mariage (which does involve sex)?

I am very content to be agnostic…

Germanshepherdsmum

Lots of people don’t believe in God. Are we supposed to be impressed that Einstein was one of them (as we knew)?

Not, not impressed as such. Just to understand that when someone says Einstein believed in God (*Nanadana*, 17:11), they are incorrect. As are you GSM, when you say that is something we knew. Obviously some of us didn't.

Probably best to read every post before you start to try to pick holes in another posters comments and views.

Lots of people don’t believe in God. Are we supposed to be impressed that Einstein was one of them (as we knew)?