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Re: FineYoungSinger - I don't see a distinction to be made, at least in the way
the distinction is just because you believe God exists doesn't mean you have faith or "Believe in God".
Think about the phrase: Believing in something. Believing in our loved ones, for example---We're not just saying that our loved ones merely exist, we're saying that our loved ones are there for us; that they won't let us down; that they'll be on our side through the thick and thin of life; that they most certainly love us; that we can rely on them through all things.
It's the root reason that Christ says in the Gospel, "Not all who call me Lord, Lord, will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven."
Many believers say, "I believe in God", but then rant off acting like the fool, playing God through their judging of others for their beliefs, trying to take up arguments that they just can't win, trying to prove that God exists, all the while thinking that this is what it means to believe in God; but really, if they're trying to fight "the battle", which, as Revelation states, "belongs to the Lord", how much do they really believe?
posted by
FineYoungSinger
on March 4, 2008 at 11:46 AM
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Rhisiart_Inside_Out - "amens" are allowed unless used as weapons
. . . and a belated welcome to Blogit.
posted by
gomedome
on March 2, 2008 at 4:59 PM
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I am glad someone said it
Amen - lol - oops - I mean well wishes
posted by
Rhisiart_Inside_Out
on March 2, 2008 at 3:53 PM
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saul_relative - I absolutely agree
Effectively, religious belief for some people debilitates their sense of propriety by replacing realistic absolutes with irrational absolutes. The worst of this mentality manifesting itself in a "join our God fan club" mantra. We have seen far too many people that are caught up in the superfluous trappings of their religious traditions. Some are so far gone that they do not realize just how far they have strayed from their philosophical religious core, or message.
posted by
gomedome
on March 1, 2008 at 9:17 PM
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I have rarely met an agnostic or atheist that wasn't ethically principled.
I have found that most moralists are judgmental and elitist. There are many fair-minded, kind, considerate religious people out there, but there are far more who think that their way is the best way, the right way, and the only way -- Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, whatever. Some of the latter make it their mission in life to carelessly promote and push their views...
posted by
saul_relative
on March 1, 2008 at 5:20 PM
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Christians sin as much as anyone else
more in some instances -- because they're doing it for god.
posted by
Xeno-x
on March 1, 2008 at 5:48 AM
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sam444 - you can never go wrong with always attempting to walk the walk,
over paying lip service to nice sounding words.
If one were to argue that all men are created equal in the eyes of God (a fundamental element of just about every religious dogma on this planet) then there must be a set of universal traits, qualifiers or criteria by which God (I'm assuming he exists for this comment) judges each and every individual by. We know that religious beliefs are not universal, which indicates that it cannot be how one worships God that matters . . . so what is left? The only universal qualifier I can think of are one's works or deeds in life. It becomes obvious, to me at least, that Jesus (or the messiah concept) was trying to demonstrate this for us.
posted by
gomedome
on March 1, 2008 at 3:20 AM
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FineYoungSinger - I don't see a distinction to be made, at least in the way
you have phrased it (but I could be missing something).
"How many people consider "belief in God" as accepting the fact that God exists?" . . . I do however see a distinction between not believing in a traditionally defined God but acknowledging the existence of some form of God.
posted by
gomedome
on March 1, 2008 at 3:07 AM
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Whysper - one thing that can be said about Hitler is that there was some
influence to his policies from biblical dogma.
I don't get how those stories of genocide and other merciless punishments equate with a God of love?
posted by
gomedome
on March 1, 2008 at 3:02 AM
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To know God is to do His will. To become christ like is to understand God. God loves everyone the same and reaches out to each and everyone always. For me, to be a follower of Christ is to be known by one's works and not rhetoric. sam
posted by
sam444
on February 29, 2008 at 12:20 PM
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Your post today leads me to a question about belief in God...
How many people consider "belief in God" as accepting the fact that God exists?
posted by
FineYoungSinger
on February 29, 2008 at 11:21 AM
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Always remember, or is it Never forget?
Nevermind same difference anyway.
Where was I? Oh yeah, how come genocide is ok, when your name is God? I just don't get that one. Was Hitler just trying to follow the big guy's example?
posted by
Whysper
on February 29, 2008 at 10:18 AM
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