Zone1 How Do You Approach Faith?

[Hafar1014]

Nice deflection.

Apparently I know more than you about it.

That's the real reason you're here. To dog on Christianity. A real Christian bigot.


So which is it? Druid or Jewish?

Orthodox Pagan we have amazing toga parties

 

[ding]

Orthodox Pagan we have amazing toga parties

Beliefs not worth stating are beliefs not worth having.

 

[Hafar1014]

Beliefs not worth stating are beliefs not worth having.

Ill call that a ding dongism. Iran states its religious beliefs kill all non Muslims.

 

[ding]

Ill call that a ding dongism. Iran states its religious beliefs kill all non Muslims.

Call it what you want. I couldn't care less.

 

[Hafar1014]

Call it what you want. I couldn't care less.

Some day youll learn what context is. Maybe not hormones can get in the way of rational thought

 

[DGS49]

My view is that FAITH is a choice, and not something bestowed by "god" or what have you. You can choose to live in a universe where live begins at conception and ends when your heart stops beating, and ultimately nothing matters, or you can choose to live in a universe where there are norms, commands, and inspirations that help you live a good and productive life - where a virtuous life is rewarded after death and a life of evil is either punished or extinguished.

As a matter of policy I think it best to assume that all theological beliefs are nonsense, and to assess religion on the basis of how its adherents contribute to society. To illustrate, the LDS faith is provable nonsense. The Book of Mormon is preposterous, false, largely plagiarized, and has had to be modified countless times to correct for stupidity, BUT LDS is responsible at least partly for grooming good citizens who follow productive norms and contribute greatly to the overall society. So it's cool with me even if it is nonsense.

In my experience, atheists are not good people. They may not be overtly bad, but they contribute nothing to the society other than what is done incidentally as they seek to optimize their own enjoyment of life.

 

[ding]

Some day youll learn what context is. Maybe not hormones can get in the way of rational thought

I couldn't be happier for you to believe that too. I'm not insecure like you.

 

[onefour1]

Faith is a belief in something to the extent that you are willing to act upon those beliefs. A little child learns to walk not by knowing for a surety that he/she can walk but through pure faith. They see others walking and believe to the extent to try walking. They may fall many times but they continue in their faith and eventually do learn to walk. Faith is a principle of action. It is needed in many things in our lives. We don't have a perfect knowledge that we can graduate from High School or College yet we believe that we will and make the attempt and through our faith many things are accomplished in life. Life requires faith and does not first require absolute proof and knowledge before attempt to do anything. If proof were required, we would be of all men most miserable. Relationships are the same way. You don't know if a person will accept you or reject you but through faith you approach others to become friends. Because of this faith great friendships, marriages and families come about. If we all had nothing but a doubting attitude toward everything, life would be most miserable. Those who put faith in God may eventually receive a testimony that God does live and that he blesses their lives when they seek after him. Faith is a basic and necessary principle of our existence.

 

[Anathema]

Personally, I approach it as a personal issue. I don’t tell people how to believe. I don’t allow others to tell me how to believe. I go out of my way to be as non-religious in public as possible.

 

[HikerGuy83]

Orthodox Pagan we have amazing toga parties

Can I give you me e-mail.

I think I can still fit into mine.

 

[HikerGuy83]

Personally, I approach it as a personal issue. I don’t tell people how to believe. I don’t allow others to tell me how to believe. I go out of my way to be as non-religious in public as possible.

I understand.

Just like in politics, we have to many who misrepresent what THEY THINK things should be.

I will share my beliefs if asked. I will ask others how they believe.

People can tell you how to believe, but (99.9%) we don't listen.

It is, as you say, personal and it has to be settled on a personal basis.

But let me ask you, if I may, do you think that faith carries over into our day to day decisions? Should it?

And that does not mean being judgemental.

 

[Anathema]

I understand.

Just like in politics, we have to many who misrepresent what THEY THINK things should be.

I will share my beliefs if asked. I will ask others how they believe.

People can tell you how to believe, but (99.9%) we don't listen.

It is, as you say, personal and it has to be settled on a personal basis.

But let me ask you, if I may, do you think that faith carries over into our day to day decisions? Should it?

And that does not mean being judgemental.

I believe it should and it does for many of us. For others it’s a ‘Holy Day Only’ activity

 

[HikerGuy83]

My view is that FAITH is a choice, and not something bestowed by "god" or what have you. You can choose to live in a universe where live begins at conception and ends when your heart stops beating, and ultimately nothing matters, or you can choose to live in a universe where there are norms, commands, and inspirations that help you live a good and productive life - where a virtuous life is rewarded after death and a life of evil is either punished or extinguished.

This was a little confusing.

I think you are saying you can choose to live AS IF......God or No God.

You can't wish God away (if He exists) and you can't wish Him into being if He does not.

Am I reading that right?

As a matter of policy I think it best to assume that all theological beliefs are nonsense, and to assess religion on the basis of how its adherents contribute to society.

A very different approach than most. But to each his own.

To illustrate, the LDS faith is provable nonsense. The Book of Mormon is preposterous, false, largely plagiarized, and has had to be modified countless times to correct for stupidity, BUT LDS is responsible at least partly for grooming good citizens who follow productive norms and contribute greatly to the overall society. So it's cool with me even if it is nonsense.

 

[HikerGuy83]

In my experience, atheists are not good people.

Ouch

They may not be overtly bad, but they contribute nothing to the society other than what is done incidentally as they seek to optimize their own enjoyment of life.

I feel bad that you feel that way. But, again......

 

[HikerGuy83]

I believe it should and it does for many of us. For others it’s a ‘Holy Day Only’ activity

That's really what I was looking for.

Do people see their faith apart from them. Or is it a part of them.

Thanks for the responses.

 

[Votto]

I focus on fact.

Faith is not fact. Just the opposite.

Really?

You don't put your faith in other people or even yourself, eh?

Interesting.

 

[SaxonJackson]

I focus on fact.

Faith is not fact. Just the opposite.

The fact is ... many have faith.

 

[SaxonJackson]

How Do You Approach Faith?​

I can only speak for myself. I didn't approach faith. It approached me. All the times I felt like life was too much and my back was up against a wall and I felt like giving up, I heard a faint whisper in my ear. A message telling me that things will get better.

At one time, I was an out-of-control alcoholic. At the age of 24, I was seriously contemplating a permanent solution to my temporary problems. I hadn't been a religious person up to that point but I got on my knees and prayed that "if God existed" "could He please help me."

Long story, short and after a series of related consequences, I ended up in Alcoholic's Anonymous. It took about 4 years for me to come out of the fog. At that point, I started questioning the world and pondering the miracles of life and human existence. I started buying spiritual books of all sorts -- including a King James Bible.

Of the books I purchased, I fully read the following book from cover to cover. I read Kahlil Gibran's, "The Prophet." M. Scott Pecks, "The Road Less Travelled." And the Holy Bible. All had good things to say but the Bible had the greatest impact on my spiritual life.
I was baptized in a natural river in Colorado and have been a Christian ever since.

 

[Hafar1014]

Really?

You don't put your faith in other people or even yourself, eh?

Interesting.

Faith is belief not fact

 

[SweetSue92]

Yes, he did. But he also indicates you can cut yourself off. It's up to us.

He offered the supreme gift. We still must accept it.

In my world, we call that a testimony or more sure knowledge.

Faith become knowledge as you experiment on it and gain experience. The goal is to become converted in heart and soul.

Mormonism hinges on the "Burning in the bosom". That is, when you encounter something factual or evidentiary that contradicts your faith, you just ponder on it and if you have a "burning" in your chest (?) it must be true.

That's not Christianity though.

Paul said in 1 Cor 15 that if Jesus is not raised from the dead, our faith is futile and we are dead in our sins. Our faith does not rely on nebulous "feelings". If it's true it's the Truest truth of all. If it's not, we're most to be pitied.