I wish that I had a Faith

This comment by Volver relates to the above

'Did you reason your way into religious belief or is it just a nice idea that you hope is true?'

Why should faith be dependent on where you were born, your parents and culture? Some, a very few- reason the whole thing and then choose a religion, because it truly resonates with them, for a particular reason (or reasons) - but most people all over the world keep with the religion they wer born in, or a slight variation of the same. Few reason it all out, then pick the one that makes sense to them.

So many died in the holocaust because they were a bit of nonsense

and that the others are a bit of a nonsense, quite frankly- not quite Father Christmas, but possibly worse.

Anniebach

Those who mock Christians are mocking all faiths

which is exactly what I said- if I respect one, I have to respect them all. Why should 'Faith' be dependent on where you were born, your parents or upbringing/culture- if it is Faith.

And yes, I am quite sure that those who do profess to have faith here- believe that Christianity, in one of its many many many forms, with huge disagreements, is The One and Only.

NanaDana

Anyone who doesn't believe in God is immature, childlike, and needs to grow up. Your disbelief is based on sand, and any argument that you use to support your disbelief will be personalised, and subjected to ridicule. I don't actually believe any of that. You are perfectly entitled to exercise your disbelief, without fear or favour, and most certainly without it being mocked, belittled or subjected to personal ridicule. Is anyone getting the message? I doubt it...

Oh we're getting the message NanaDana. But not the message you think you're sending.

NanaDana, that is so, but is there any point to a discussion where an opinion is all there is, no argument to support the opinion?
To argue that an opinion is mistaken because it's childlike is insufficient as there is much in children's arguments to be applauded. However I think what the objection "childlike" refers to is children's docility and inability to think clearly for themselves. Thus an argument may be childlike in its deference to authority, as children are.

Absolutely right Norah and Annie.

What other people may think of my CHurch, my Bible, and my faith matters not - my faith is between me and God. Absolutely Norah.

Those who mock Christians are mocking all faiths

I did not report, just to be clear.

What other people may think of my Church, my Bible, and my faith matters not - my faith is between me and God.

Anyone who doesn't believe in God is immature, childlike, and needs to grow up. Your disbelief is based on sand, and any argument that you use to support your disbelief will be personalised, and subjected to ridicule. I don't actually believe any of that. You are perfectly entitled to exercise your disbelief, without fear or favour, and most certainly without it being mocked, belittled or subjected to personal ridicule. Is anyone getting the message? I doubt it...

volver3

^Only God knows all answers, He will sort things out.^

let God be the judge, it's not for humans to decide.

You wonder why I think its child-like?

No, it never crosses my mind what any other people think regarding my Church, my Bible and my faith.

My husband recently told me that perhaps our adult daughter didn't exactly believe as I do regarding her upcoming second marriage (she's almost 60). Apart from the obvious - not my choices anyway, God knows.

OK, fair enough. There's no obligation on anybody to say anything.

I can see where its leading too.

My reason for holding my faith isn’t something I want to debate with you volver. It’s not a difficult question for me but one I choose not to answer because I can see exactly where it’s leading.

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

VioletSky 2. Is it Christianity where there is an old and new testament? I don't rely on my memory, if so was the new testament changed to reflect new societal norms or did the new testament change societal norms? Is it still subject to change? Can it be rewritten?

Yes, Christian Bibles are comprised of 2 parts - Old Testament before Christ was born, New Testament after Christ was born. Nothing added that I know of. However, one Christian faith has 7 additional chapters in their Bible (Sirach, Wisdom, Tobit, 1 Maccabees, Judith, additions to Daniel, and Esther). I doubt anyone except quite serious Biblical scholars give the whys a thought.

Various Christian faiths believe their Priests are allowed to give blessings, contested by others. One Christian Church finds it Biblical that they are the Church of the Bible (Matt. 16.18), obviously not believed by others.

Only God knows all answers, He will sort things out.

3. Some religions, there seems to be a disconnect. Some churches actively campaign against what they consider a sin, like homosexuality whereas others except anyone and would not preach homosexuality as a sin. How can this be? Would it benefit religion as a whole to become more progressive and accepting? Not just for itself but for its followers.

I believe Biblical belief teaches "love your neighbor as yourself" "judge not" "do unto others as you would have done to you" "glass houses, not throwing stones" "removing the plank from your own eye before worrying about the speck in another's eye" - His teaching cover human sins. Always forgive others, let God be the judge, it's not for humans to decide.

I believe God has no problem with homosexuality, perhaps just homosexual acts, premarital sex, divorce - but He is not clear, so I revert to not judging for anyone other than myself.

Perhaps she was not oblivious, but very devious and disrespectful, or patronising in the extreme.

What is a poster was Hindu, with 14 main Gods, and dozens of others?

I am all for respecting people's faiths without denigrating in any way. But I am not prepared to accept and respect anyone who is Christian (and as said before, there are so so many ways of being a Christian, even in the UK, with major disagreements among said Christians)- and ot respect my Muslim family members or friends, or others with other faiths that they sincerly believe in- even if it sounds very very strange to us- even to us with another Faith.

Would perhaps some Christians 'denigrate' Hinduism because of the many Gods and figurines?

Like the Head of a Primary school I visited on the night of Diwali. She had invited all the local Hindu and other parents to celebrate, with readings, lights, dances, etc. Then at the end of the evening she continued, totally oblivious 'May we bow our heads to pray to our Good Lord Jesus who made such a wonderful evening possible'. Totally oblivious!

Or the Methodist Minister who used to come and to Assemblies at a school where I taught- with many Hindu children, on the day of the Navrati celebration- and did the whole Assembly about how bad other religions are, whihc venerate deities and figurines.

Respect is one thing- but let's have respect for all, or none.

I bet you do. No more difficult questions after that. What about this :

Did you reason your way into religious belief or is it just a nice idea that you hope is true?

I hope your delivery soon arrives.

There you go volver well done. You've managed to state your point of view "then we disagree" without including an insult.

Depends on the child.

Did you reason your way into religious belief or is it just a nice idea that you hope is true?

Fanny, I am not going back on what I wrote above. However I have no faith in religious authorities and prefer to think for myself. My God is not the same as the authoritarian deity so often promulgated by those who don't think for themselves.

You’re basically telling them they have the intellectual ability of a child. That’s not an insult?

If you think that someone telling you that your belief is child-like constitutes an insult, then we disagree.