Grandson of a pastor who took care of me since I was a baby, attending Sunday school since I can remember, occasionally preach at Church, sort of a semi-active member. I believe more in faith than in religion and more in deeds than words. I hate when people tell one thing and do the opposite, which is a sort of common problem we have as believers, unfortunately.
Grandson of a pastor who took care of me since I was a baby, attending Sunday school since I can remember, occasionally preach at Church, sort of a semi-active member. I believe more in faith than in religion and more in deeds than words. I hate when people tell one thing and do the opposite, which is a sort of common problem we have as believers, unfortunately.
Wow, that's so interesting, I totally would not have thought that about you (not an insult, just surprised).
Grandson of a pastor who took care of me since I was a baby, attending Sunday school since I can remember, occasionally preach at Church, sort of a semi-active member. I believe more in faith than in religion and more in deeds than words. I hate when people tell one thing and do the opposite, which is a sort of common problem we have as believers, unfortunately.
Wow, that's so interesting, I totally would not have thought that about you (not an insult, just surprised).
LOL. Well I do not what to say. ;D
Grandson of a pastor who took care of me since I was a baby, attending Sunday school since I can remember, occasionally preach at Church, sort of a semi-active member. I believe more in faith than in religion and more in deeds than words. I hate when people tell one thing and do the opposite, which is a sort of common problem we have as believers, unfortunately.
Wow, that's so interesting, I totally would not have thought that about you (not an insult, just surprised).
LOL. Well I do not what to say. ;D
I don't know, it probably has nothing to do with anything you've actually said, but when I interact with people online I tend to like make up little stories about them in my head, most of which are usually completely false.
I've been on this journey for ~27yrs far from perfect and not a very good example, believe it or not I've got this piece of paper with the words ordained minister on it. :o
Don't judge me and I won't judge you. :p
Grew up in the church, went to Christian school, and went to a Baptist university where I, for lack of a better phrasing, had a falling out with religion. I had seen tons of hypocrisy in high school, most of which was fine if you were rich or were related to or knew the right people, but I had a ton of bad experiences at university and churches there that really turned me off. I spent time discussing things with a religion professor there who didn't try to push me one way and came to realize that I was happier in my life without religion and that I couldn't accept it as Truth, only a truth.
I respect people's faith so long as it is reasoned faith. Faith is something that should be challenged, not followed blindly and used as a tool for control (both of which were reasons I left the church). It's why I prefer spiritual to religious. One is a quest for betterment of self and of self-discovery, the other tends to try and force control and conformity.
It bothers me that both in the title and in romevi's post, religion is equated with Christianity. I was raised in a faith different from most people and definitely have an outsider's perspective on things now. There are many other beliefs and religions. I think some people and Christians forget that. Just going to point that out and see myself out of this thread.
It bothers me that both in the title and in romevi's post, religion is equated with Christianity. I was raised in a faith different from most people and definitely have an outsider's perspective on things now. There are many other beliefs and religions. I think some people and Christians forget that. Just going to point that out and see myself out of this thread.Hmm, I don't think I ever mentioned religion, and I didn't mean to. I've always differentiated faith and religion, and for me Christianity is a faith, a lifestyle. I've struggled with faith, hardly ever religion, but I've seen how helpful religion can be for many.
I appreciate your honesty about your experience. Unfortunately, I think the Church has done a disservice to its young people when it rewards them for performance. Instead of developing the heart and realize that actions should be an outpouring of a maturing and growing heart, we, the Church that is, often train up little hypocrites that are going through the motions with no more motivation than to get the most points or to avoid disapproval. I'm not sure what the answer is because it would be irresponsible for a parent or leader to not pass on the values they believe and hold dear. I do think that the answer has more to do with a good example than instruction.
The word religious has gotten a bad rap in the last few decades. Today it seems to represent a state of feeling superior to others, hating those who don't agree with their world view, ignorance. and close mindedness. Charges which the religious are sometimes guilty of and made even more prominent by a backdrop of professed high standards. My concern with professing being spiritual is that it is so convenient. Convenient because one can enjoy the status of being deep, without the discipline of adherence to a fixed standard. "I cheated on my wife because my mistress and I are soulmates", and similar statements are quite common and no one can point a finger at you because, after all, you're not a hypocrite. You are living within the rules you have established for yourself.
Really interesting to hear some people's backgrounds so far in this thread, and some really well thought out positions on the topic.
When I was a Uni I was a very strong Atheist. One of my majors was also comparative religion and I considered doing a masters in that field. I lean towards Pastafarianism now.
I seem to identify quite strongly as a cultural libertarian, so while I may (or may not) disagree strongly with some things you say, I want you to have the freedom to say these things (In reply to the OP saying "...in such a civil manner. I really can't get that going through social media or..."
and yes I acknowledge the free speech thing is not a problem in the USA
When I was a Uni I was a very strong Atheist. One of my majors was also comparative religion and I considered doing a masters in that field. I lean towards Pastafarianism now.Lmao
When I was a Uni I was a very strong Atheist. One of my majors was also comparative religion and I considered doing a masters in that field. I lean towards Pastafarianism now.
I seem to identify quite strongly as a cultural libertarian, so while I may (or may not) disagree strongly with some things you say, I want you to have the freedom to say these things (In reply to the OP saying "...in such a civil manner. I really can't get that going through social media or..."
and yes I acknowledge the free speech thing is not a problem in the USA
It's amazed me the ratio of scientists/engineers i've met irl who are religious.
Please guys be respectful. I'm not trying to start an argument on religion on here. Just trying to see if I have fellow brothers and sisters.
It's amazed me the ratio of scientists/engineers i've met irl who are religious.
It's amazed me the ratio of scientists/engineers i've met irl who are religious.
I live near a prestigious university, and the church I attend is loaded with scientists and engineers from that school. How do I know? They're pretty vocal about it. :-X
Max Planck's evil ghost comes to people, who think that, in their sleep.It's amazed me the ratio of scientists/engineers i've met irl who are religious.
I live near a prestigious university, and the church I attend is loaded with scientists and engineers from that school. How do I know? They're pretty vocal about it. :-X
West Lafayette churches are full of scientist and engineers as well; I wonder why we think knowledge automatically should lead to atheism, that is just an arrogant sentiment, that only people less literate could be believers. Another false common assumption.
It's amazed me the ratio of scientists/engineers i've met irl who are religious.
I live near a prestigious university, and the church I attend is loaded with scientists and engineers from that school. How do I know? They're pretty vocal about it. :-X
West Lafayette churches are full of scientist and engineers as well; I wonder why we think knowledge automatically should lead to atheism, that is just an arrogant sentiment, that only people less literate could be believers. Another false common assumption.
Grew up a consistent churchgoer but at a progressive mainline church, and kind of fell out of it as I got into my late teens. A lot of good people that did good things and helped others, but for some reason it never really got through to me. I was basically agnostic/ felt that if God existed he wasn't that concerned with us. These feelings coincided with a general philosophical soft-nihilism that kind of pervades the West. Suffered from depression for a long period and was suicidal for a while. SSRI's kept me from trying to kill myself again, but didn't really help the depression and overall ennui.
On a whim one winter break read C.S Lewis' Mere Christianity and it completely transformed me. Ended up reading the whole Bible from cover to cover over the next couple months. Suddenly those word finally got through to me. Finally understood God's love and care for us, the jewel on the crown of His universe. I still have off days, but it's been years, and it's hard to even comprehend some of my former feelings. Don't go to church every week, because I work 40 hour weeks on top of full time school, but when I do, the messages that the pastor preaches fill me with hope and make me want to become a better person, a better Christian, and serve to remind me just how much God's given me. I'm so glad that I was brought back into the fold. I can truly say that Christianity gave me a new lease on life.
Grew up a consistent churchgoer but at a progressive mainline church, and kind of fell out of it as I got into my late teens. A lot of good people that did good things and helped others, but for some reason it never really got through to me. I was basically agnostic/ felt that if God existed he wasn't that concerned with us. These feelings coincided with a general philosophical soft-nihilism that kind of pervades the West. Suffered from depression for a long period and was suicidal for a while. SSRI's kept me from trying to kill myself again, but didn't really help the depression and overall ennui.
On a whim one winter break read C.S Lewis' Mere Christianity and it completely transformed me. Ended up reading the whole Bible from cover to cover over the next couple months. Suddenly those word finally got through to me. Finally understood God's love and care for us, the jewel on the crown of His universe. I still have off days, but it's been years, and it's hard to even comprehend some of my former feelings. Don't go to church every week, because I work 40 hour weeks on top of full time school, but when I do, the messages that the pastor preaches fill me with hope and make me want to become a better person, a better Christian, and serve to remind me just how much God's given me. I'm so glad that I was brought back into the fold. I can truly say that Christianity gave me a new lease on life.
This is an encouraging story. Thank you for sharing.
Grew up a consistent churchgoer but at a progressive mainline church, and kind of fell out of it as I got into my late teens. A lot of good people that did good things and helped others, but for some reason it never really got through to me. I was basically agnostic/ felt that if God existed he wasn't that concerned with us. These feelings coincided with a general philosophical soft-nihilism that kind of pervades the West. Suffered from depression for a long period and was suicidal for a while. SSRI's kept me from trying to kill myself again, but didn't really help the depression and overall ennui.
On a whim one winter break read C.S Lewis' Mere Christianity and it completely transformed me. Ended up reading the whole Bible from cover to cover over the next couple months. Suddenly those word finally got through to me. Finally understood God's love and care for us, the jewel on the crown of His universe. I still have off days, but it's been years, and it's hard to even comprehend some of my former feelings. Don't go to church every week, because I work 40 hour weeks on top of full time school, but when I do, the messages that the pastor preaches fill me with hope and make me want to become a better person, a better Christian, and serve to remind me just how much God's given me. I'm so glad that I was brought back into the fold. I can truly say that Christianity gave me a new lease on life.
This is an encouraging story. Thank you for sharing.
Man, everyone keeps mentioning Lewis and I've been postponing him for too long. Maybe that's what I should read next month.
Grew up a consistent churchgoer but at a progressive mainline church, and kind of fell out of it as I got into my late teens. A lot of good people that did good things and helped others, but for some reason it never really got through to me. I was basically agnostic/ felt that if God existed he wasn't that concerned with us. These feelings coincided with a general philosophical soft-nihilism that kind of pervades the West. Suffered from depression for a long period and was suicidal for a while. SSRI's kept me from trying to kill myself again, but didn't really help the depression and overall ennui.
On a whim one winter break read C.S Lewis' Mere Christianity and it completely transformed me. Ended up reading the whole Bible from cover to cover over the next couple months. Suddenly those word finally got through to me. Finally understood God's love and care for us, the jewel on the crown of His universe. I still have off days, but it's been years, and it's hard to even comprehend some of my former feelings. Don't go to church every week, because I work 40 hour weeks on top of full time school, but when I do, the messages that the pastor preaches fill me with hope and make me want to become a better person, a better Christian, and serve to remind me just how much God's given me. I'm so glad that I was brought back into the fold. I can truly say that Christianity gave me a new lease on life.
This is an encouraging story. Thank you for sharing.
I mean I don't want to **** on this because that's not what this thread is about--
I mean I don't want to **** on this because that's not what this thread is about--
If you don't want to **** on anyone(or this thread) then don't, use some restraint.
I mean I don't want to **** on this because that's not what this thread is about--
If you don't want to **** on anyone(or this thread) then don't, use some restraint.
I'm sharing my experience being raised christian, isn't that what this is about?
Please guys be respectful.
I don't think that you had to be offended by my post. If you're a "real" Christian you should be saddened so many ****bois live on my side of the globe.
Thanks for your effort though baldye, see yourself out.
:-*Grew up a consistent churchgoer but at a progressive mainline church, and kind of fell out of it as I got into my late teens. A lot of good people that did good things and helped others, but for some reason it never really got through to me. I was basically agnostic/ felt that if God existed he wasn't that concerned with us. These feelings coincided with a general philosophical soft-nihilism that kind of pervades the West. Suffered from depression for a long period and was suicidal for a while. SSRI's kept me from trying to kill myself again, but didn't really help the depression and overall ennui.
On a whim one winter break read C.S Lewis' Mere Christianity and it completely transformed me. Ended up reading the whole Bible from cover to cover over the next couple months. Suddenly those word finally got through to me. Finally understood God's love and care for us, the jewel on the crown of His universe. I still have off days, but it's been years, and it's hard to even comprehend some of my former feelings. Don't go to church every week, because I work 40 hour weeks on top of full time school, but when I do, the messages that the pastor preaches fill me with hope and make me want to become a better person, a better Christian, and serve to remind me just how much God's given me. I'm so glad that I was brought back into the fold. I can truly say that Christianity gave me a new lease on life.
This is an encouraging story. Thank you for sharing.
I mean I don't want to **** on this because that's not what this thread is about-- I was raised religious and that's why I ****ing HATE Christians with a brimstone-y passion.
In my experience they're all*prudish[word for goodie-two-shoes to an unreasonable degree], condescending, pious mongrels. [pious definitely meaning hypocritical, and mongrel meaning mutt and especially un-discernible] I know people are all different but I can't help but be biased being raised in the church.
edit: *MOSTLY
only problem is that you only see and hear from the prude and narrow minded ones.
I mean I don't want to **** on this because that's not what this thread is about--
If you don't want to **** on anyone(or this thread) then don't, use some restraint.
I'm sharing my experience being raised christian, isn't that what this is about?
I'm not trying to start an argument on religion on here. Just trying to see if I have fellow brothers and sisters.
I mean I don't want to **** on this because that's not what this thread is about--
If you don't want to **** on anyone(or this thread) then don't, use some restraint.
I'm sharing my experience being raised christian, isn't that what this is about?
Not really, no. Did you read the OP? He wants to know if there are others like him here, so that he can connect with like-minded individuals.I'm not trying to start an argument on religion on here. Just trying to see if I have fellow brothers and sisters.
only problem is that you only see and hear from the prude and narrow minded ones.
The only problem is that Jesus was an open-minded, compassionate, generous, and forgiving man, but the overwhelming majority of those who publicly refer to their own selfish (ie political) so-called "Christian values" misrepresent and insult his teachings in the most egregious manner possible.
It's amazed me the ratio of scientists/engineers i've met irl who are religious.
I live near a prestigious university, and the church I attend is loaded with scientists and engineers from that school. How do I know? They're pretty vocal about it. :-X
West Lafayette churches are full of scientist and engineers as well; I wonder why we think knowledge automatically should lead to atheism, that is just an arrogant sentiment, that only people less literate could be believers. Another false common assumption.
MoreIt's amazed me the ratio of scientists/engineers i've met irl who are religious.
I live near a prestigious university, and the church I attend is loaded with scientists and engineers from that school. How do I know? They're pretty vocal about it. :-X
West Lafayette churches are full of scientist and engineers as well; I wonder why we think knowledge automatically should lead to atheism, that is just an arrogant sentiment, that only people less literate could be believers. Another false common assumption.
Absolutely, and it's largely thanks to very outspoken anti-theists like Richard Dawkins. The irony is that most of them are not even very good scientists.
Adding my voice to the thread: I believe in an intelligent Creator who made the universe and who is greater than the universe itself (otherwise He could not have created it). I also believe that the whole focal point of His creation is us humans. The entire universe is fine tuned to support us. I believe we have a "soul" which grants us conciousness and free will and is not emergent from neurobiology, but has a genuine "outside of the physical universe" spiritual component. I believe this is an aspect of being made "in God's image" and is what gives rise to conciousness, intelligent thought, reason and creativity (along with morality).
I believe that this spiritual aspect of ourselves can interact with the Creator, and right after creation in fact did.
I also believe that this concious free will led to disobedience (through deception and desire) and that this broke our intrinsic bond / communication. I believe the Creator took on the aspect and form of a human, even allowing the indignity of human birth and death, in order to restore this bond and succeeded. I personally accepted and trusted the actions of the human aspect / form of the Creator and experienced my first direct interaction with the Creator which forever changed me. For the first time in my life I Knew something: that the Creator exists, has love for His created people, enjoys interaction with them and that what he did to restore the bond was successful.
Before that point I understood a lot of Biblical stuff, "knew" a lot of things about God, tried to obey all the rules I was supposed to, etc, but after that point, I started to actually know God and interact with Him and suddenly had the Holy Spirit poking me in the conscience to let me know what He likes and what He doesn't. I don't always listen, though...
I agree with a lot of nubbinator's points, especially that faith should be reasoned. In 1 Peter it says: "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have". You may know the reason, but be unable to express it in a way that makes sense (or only able to echo responses you've heard others giving that seem to be correct enough). It's worth working through your own faith to understand the reason well enough to express it when asked.
For me, faith - and particularly a relationship with God - is an intensely personal thing and I'm not all that comfortable with many larger prayer meetings, etc where you're sharing this very personal and intimate relationship with a bunch of other people. So I find a lot of church-related stuff to feel a bit odd or intrusive, even if I know the people well. I prefer smaller prayer meetings and discussions, but enjoy a good "preach" once in a while :)
I'd definitely describe myself more as a spiritual person than a religious one. I'm not big on traditions and ceremonies, although I appreciate the grandeur and respectful solemnity of some of them, but only when they're executed in the spirit of the thing rather than the letter, if you get my meaning. This is kind of a big thing with me, since I consider it part of the essence of what Jesus did, to bring us back to the spirit of doing God's will instead of the letter of the law of it and I see too many "Christians" following the letter without the spirit. God respects honesty more than show. I really don't like to see people using emotion to get support for their "message".
I grew up in a Christian home, going to Sunday School, etc. My dad was a sales representative for a plastics company, but also a lay preacher in the Church of England. I "believed" the Bible, in God and Jesus and what He did and it was all very valuable to know later when I had my "conversion experience" (although it wasn't a flash of light and the voice of God speaking directly like with Saul!), knowing a bunch of scripture is handy since the Holy Spirit can pop the verse up right from my memory instead of having to prompt me in more obscure ways.
So I'd call myself a Christian, but only to those who know what I mean by the term (that I believe God made everything, that Jesus is God and He died and was resurrected and thus succesfully became the sacrifice that restores our connection), since I can't tell what they think a Christian is, especially nowadays living in scandinavia. The word has a lot of associations that have nothing to do with the central meaning of being a Christian.
I hope this is not all considered too off-topic... If so, you can edit it down to: "Hi, I'm Oobly and I'm a Christian, too."
[/m]
It's amazed me the ratio of scientists/engineers i've met irl who are religious.
I live near a prestigious university, and the church I attend is loaded with scientists and engineers from that school. How do I know? They're pretty vocal about it. :-X
West Lafayette churches are full of scientist and engineers as well; I wonder why we think knowledge automatically should lead to atheism, that is just an arrogant sentiment, that only people less literate could be believers. Another false common assumption.
Absolutely, and it's largely thanks to very outspoken anti-theists like Richard Dawkins. The irony is that most of them are not even very good scientists.
Adding my voice to the thread: I believe in an intelligent Creator who made the universe and who is greater than the universe itself (otherwise He could not have created it). I also believe that the whole focal point of His creation is us humans. The entire universe is fine tuned to support us. I believe we have a "soul" which grants us conciousness and free will and is not emergent from neurobiology, but has a genuine "outside of the physical universe" spiritual component. I believe this is an aspect of being made "in God's image" and is what gives rise to conciousness, intelligent thought, reason and creativity (along with morality).
I believe that this spiritual aspect of ourselves can interact with the Creator, and right after creation in fact did.
I also believe that this concious free will led to disobedience (through deception and desire) and that this broke our intrinsic bond / communication. I believe the Creator took on the aspect and form of a human, even allowing the indignity of human birth and death, in order to restore this bond and succeeded. I personally accepted and trusted the actions of the human aspect / form of the Creator and experienced my first direct interaction with the Creator which forever changed me. For the first time in my life I Knew something: that the Creator exists, has love for His created people, enjoys interaction with them and that what he did to restore the bond was successful.
Before that point I understood a lot of Biblical stuff, "knew" a lot of things about God, tried to obey all the rules I was supposed to, etc, but after that point, I started to actually know God and interact with Him and suddenly had the Holy Spirit poking me in the conscience to let me know what He likes and what He doesn't. I don't always listen, though...
I agree with a lot of nubbinator's points, especially that faith should be reasoned. In 1 Peter it says: "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have". You may know the reason, but be unable to express it in a way that makes sense (or only able to echo responses you've heard others giving that seem to be correct enough). It's worth working through your own faith to understand the reason well enough to express it when asked.
For me, faith - and particularly a relationship with God - is an intensely personal thing and I'm not all that comfortable with many larger prayer meetings, etc where you're sharing this very personal and intimate relationship with a bunch of other people. So I find a lot of church-related stuff to feel a bit odd or intrusive, even if I know the people well. I prefer smaller prayer meetings and discussions, but enjoy a good "preach" once in a while :)
I'd definitely describe myself more as a spiritual person than a religious one. I'm not big on traditions and ceremonies, although I appreciate the grandeur and respectful solemnity of some of them, but only when they're executed in the spirit of the thing rather than the letter, if you get my meaning. This is kind of a big thing with me, since I consider it part of the essence of what Jesus did, to bring us back to the spirit of doing God's will instead of the letter of the law of it and I see too many "Christians" following the letter without the spirit. God respects honesty more than show. I really don't like to see people using emotion to get support for their "message".
I grew up in a Christian home, going to Sunday School, etc. My dad was a sales representative for a plastics company, but also a lay preacher in the Church of England. I "believed" the Bible, in God and Jesus and what He did and it was all very valuable to know later when I had my "conversion experience" (although it wasn't a flash of light and the voice of God speaking directly like with Saul!), knowing a bunch of scripture is handy since the Holy Spirit can pop the verse up right from my memory instead of having to prompt me in more obscure ways.
So I'd call myself a Christian, but only to those who know what I mean by the term (that I believe God made everything, that Jesus is God and He died and was resurrected and thus succesfully became the sacrifice that restores our connection), since I can't tell what they think a Christian is, especially nowadays living in scandinavia. The word has a lot of associations that have nothing to do with the central meaning of being a Christian.
I hope this is not all considered too off-topic... If so, you can edit it down to: "Hi, I'm Oobly and I'm a Christian, too."
Oobly 3:16
Oobly 3:16
For oobly so loved the GH that he gave his one and only post, that whoever shall read it shall not die but have eternal joy.
:-[
Thanks for the response. I didn't mean to stop this thread with my post, though :)
It's really nice to see there are others on GH with the same worldview and "compatible" ways of thinking.
May also be considered off-topic: For anyone who has a deeper interest in gaining insight into the "Intelligent Design" vs "Evolution" debate from a well-reasoned philosophical and scientific standpoint (cosmology, natural history, mathematics, paleontology, molecular biology, etc), "God's Undertaker: Has Science Buried God?" by John C. Lennox is a great book.
:-[
Thanks for the response. I didn't mean to stop this thread with my post, though :)
It's really nice to see there are others on GH with the same worldview and "compatible" ways of thinking.
May also be considered off-topic: For anyone who has a deeper interest in gaining insight into the "Intelligent Design" vs "Evolution" debate from a well-reasoned philosophical and scientific standpoint (cosmology, natural history, mathematics, paleontology, molecular biology, etc), "God's Undertaker: Has Science Buried God?" by John C. Lennox is a great book.
:-[
Thanks for the response. I didn't mean to stop this thread with my post, though :)
It's really nice to see there are others on GH with the same worldview and "compatible" ways of thinking.
May also be considered off-topic: For anyone who has a deeper interest in gaining insight into the "Intelligent Design" vs "Evolution" debate from a well-reasoned philosophical and scientific standpoint (cosmology, natural history, mathematics, paleontology, molecular biology, etc), "God's Undertaker: Has Science Buried God?" by John C. Lennox is a great book.
Sorry, but there can be no scientific or logical comparisons between a fact a and hypothesis.
:-[
Thanks for the response. I didn't mean to stop this thread with my post, though :)
It's really nice to see there are others on GH with the same worldview and "compatible" ways of thinking.
May also be considered off-topic: For anyone who has a deeper interest in gaining insight into the "Intelligent Design" vs "Evolution" debate from a well-reasoned philosophical and scientific standpoint (cosmology, natural history, mathematics, paleontology, molecular biology, etc), "God's Undertaker: Has Science Buried God?" by John C. Lennox is a great book.
Sorry, but there can be no scientific or logical comparisons between a fact a and hypothesis.
I suppose I was mistaken to post that, but it really is what I said.
Which are you claming is which?
"Fact" is always a personal decision, based on evidence. Let's respect the OP's wishes and not turn this into a debate in this thread, please. I'd be very happy to discuss this with you an another one, though.
Yeah I don't want to derail this thread and have previously pointed out when someone tried to do exactly that, I think that there is space for a thread of believers to share there views and opinions on there personal beliefs without being attacked (this thread).
But at the same time it shouldn't be one that pushes extremist ideas.
:-[
Thanks for the response. I didn't mean to stop this thread with my post, though :)
It's really nice to see there are others on GH with the same worldview and "compatible" ways of thinking.
May also be considered off-topic: For anyone who has a deeper interest in gaining insight into the "Intelligent Design" vs "Evolution" debate from a well-reasoned philosophical and scientific standpoint (cosmology, natural history, mathematics, paleontology, molecular biology, etc), "God's Undertaker: Has Science Buried God?" by John C. Lennox is a great book.
Sorry, but there can be no scientific or logical comparisons between a fact a and hypothesis.
I suppose I was mistaken to post that, but it really is what I said.
Which are you claming is which?
"Fact" is always a personal decision, based on evidence. Let's respect the OP's wishes and not turn this into a debate in this thread, please. I'd be very happy to discuss this with you an another one, though.
Yeah I don't want to derail this thread and have previously pointed out when someone tried to do exactly that, I think that there is space for a thread of believers to share there views and opinions on there personal beliefs without being attacked (this thread).
But at the same time it shouldn't be one that pushes extremist ideas.
Yeah I don't want to derail this thread and have previously pointed out when someone tried to do exactly that, I think that there is space for a thread of believers to share there views and opinions on there personal beliefs without being attacked (this thread).
But at the same time it shouldn't be one that pushes extremist ideas.
So can we share our beliefs or not?
Because most would probably identify believing God became man to die on a cross to save sinners pretty extreme, especially those who also believe accepting that is the only true way to salvation.
The truth is extreme. ;)
ah ok it's going to be like that... and in light of current events I figured common sense and rallying against extremist religious beliefs (regardless of faith) would be something we could share a common ground on, my mistake.
"Fact" is always a personal decision, based on evidence.
ah ok it's going to be like that... and in light of current events I figured common sense and rallying against extremist religious beliefs (regardless of faith) would be something we could share a common ground on, my mistake.
Lol believing in Jesus != Islamic terrorism
Baldgye I like you but you've gone off the rails bro
ah ok it's going to be like that... and in light of current events I figured common sense and rallying against extremist religious beliefs (regardless of faith) would be something we could share a common ground on, my mistake.
Lol believing in Jesus != Islamic terrorism
Baldgye I like you but you've gone off the rails bro
Any further off-topic/flaming comments will be removed - final warning. You've missed the entire point of the thread.
TimIsABat, if you want the thread cleaned up, just let me know.Not really, no. Did you read the OP? He wants to know if there are others like him here, so that he can connect with like-minded individuals.I'm not trying to start an argument on religion on here. Just trying to see if I have fellow brothers and sisters.
just beat baldgye with a stickNah we all have our own beliefs, opinions and perspective on the world, life and keyboards.
"Fact" is always a personal decision, based on evidence.
I can't understand this statement. Facts are provable or at the very least consistently demonstrable.
"Beliefs" are what I have a problem with, because they are sometimes/often not fact-based.
What are generally referred to as "beliefs" are usually things that are accepted without proof.
Nobody says that they "believe in" gravity.
As I said, I'd love to discuss this further, but this thread may not be the place for it.. depends on the OP I guess.
As I said, I'd love to discuss this further, but this thread may not be the place for it.. depends on the OP I guess.
Going to second this. I think it's a very interesting debate to have, but having it in a thread that's supposed to be a safe space for Christians to share their faith may not be the most appropriate.
You all are free to start a religion debate thread if you wish, just please stay respectful of everyone's freedom to believe what they choose :thumb: