Okay. I'm a Christian. Jesus Christ is my lord and savior. My relationship with NHim has gotten me through some very tough times.
What irks me about other people saying that sometimes is that they feel the need to say the inevitable "But I don't force it on other people" or something like that. Well, I don't go around preaching myself, but I don't believe it's my responsibility to deny the stereotype that people have of us. They're the ones who shouldn't have the stereotype in the first place.
I feel like I offend people sometimes because I am unapologetic. I don't want to be forceful at all, but I don't shy away from the topic in conversation, if it comes up. If you ask, I will tell you. My relationship with God is nothing to be ashamed of.
You might want to rephrase the title to: Yes, I BELIEVE God is real and alive, and no, I'm not sorry about it.
No, because that's exactly the kind of thing I was talking about.
Does being a Christian make me any better than anyone else? No. It doesn't make me any worse, and I really don't see a reason to use qualifiers.
Because you don't KNOW that God exists.
The generally recognized minimal criteria that one must meet before they actually KNOW something is:
(1) They must believe something
(2) They must have justifiable reasons to believe it.
(3) That belief must be true
Everybody will accept that you have #1
If your reasons for believing in God are subjected to sufficient scrutiny they will be found to be not justifiable so you lack #2
#3 is either demonstrably false or unknowable depending upon exactly what you mean by "God"
Regards,
Darwin's Beagle
It's not really 'exactly the kind of thing [you were] talking about'; I'm not asking you to apologize for being Christian, I'm merely suggesting that you be realistic and recognize the fact that it is a belief you hold, as opposed to an irrefutable fact.
Umm, why would I believe something that wasn't irrefutable fact? I know God is real. I also know that I can't prove that to other people which means it's not an "irrefutable fact." I know "facts" are statements that can be proven, but I'm choosing to reject it.
In other words,you should know that the title was phrased that way mainly for effect. I originally used "I believe in God" but I changed it to match the sentiment of my post. I was hoping it would be subtle but recognizeable. Guess not. I had to go to class and didn't have time to really write this like I wanted to.
Why would you believe something that wasn't irrefutable fact?
I honestly don't know....
I edited my last comment, it explains it a little more.
That's called willful suspension of disbelief.
You'll notice I used quotation marks. God's existence is fact to me, but because I can't physically prove it to you in the way you want it to be proved, it doesn't meet most people's definition of "fact." It meets mine.
I have a habit of playing with words like that so please try to take what I say differently than how you would automaically take it. I really don't want to sound argumentative, and I'm afraid that's what I'm doing.
Sorry, posted twice.
actually, i think the notion of faith for christians is rather different for those on the "outside". faith is based on pattern. it could be thus explained. A man gives his brother money each week to buy milk and bread and other necessities. each time the brother takes it and returns with the said items. one day the man, using FAITH in his brother, gives him enough money to buy a house. that FAITH is requisite of the brother's past behavior, not a hope that brother will-without previous compliance-carry out the transaction. To all who question a christian's ability to know with uncertainty that god exists, it is good that they should read hebrews 11.
I think I understand where you're heading to here... but there's more clarification needed.
For the example of the man giving away money, his faith was based on past behavior - it was a logical founding and his brother had earned trust in handling the money given to him.
For most Christians, actually - scratch that - for most *creationists* the faith is not based on completely logical or factual thinking. It is based on stories of legend, parental beliefs, interpretation, and personal perception.
And, factually, the Bible is nothing more than a mass-produced book - a collection of stories. Just because something is in there does not make it an irrefutable fact. But it does serve as a source of faith for some people.
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"Dream as though you'll live forever, but live as though there's no tomorrow" --James Dean
http://www.progressiveu.org/user/fanaile-drupal-org
I don't know what Hebrews 1:1 has to do with anything. But faith is belief NOT based on logic, but rather a strong belief in something with no tangible proof. Most religious faith refers to belief beyond evidence or logical arguments, more less fideism.
People have bad stereotypes about Christians because many Christians have done bad things to them. If those Christians were, in fact, acting like Jesus, then they would not have done those bad things in the first place. I have a friend who is gay. He is a preacher's son. People have left the church because they don't want to be near a gay person, despite the fact that they have known him his whole life and never had a problem with him before they knew of his sexual orientation. Would Jesus do this? Would he turn his back on someone because what they do is taboo? No, I don't believe he would, and neither does the non-Christian world. I feel no need to apologize for being a Christian, because a true Christian is a loving and giving person. I do, however, see nothing wrong with apologizing for the acts of all of the people out there who have soiled the name and image of Christ by acting nothing like him. Part of being a Christian is having humility. That means stepping down off your high horse and admitting that Christians, as a whole, have been wrong far too many times.
Well said.
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"Dream as though you'll live forever, but live as though there's no tomorrow" --James Dean
http://www.progressiveu.org/user/fanaile-drupal-org
You're absolutely right. Christians aren't perfect by any means. I know I'm not, not at all, but no one should make assumptions about someone based on other people they've met. Not all Christians are me.
I agree with you whole-heartedly, you don't and shouldn't ever have to apologize for your beliefs. My only problem with most people is that they completely and flat-out refuse to listen to anyone rationally explain their beliefs. There's a quote I read recently... "Those who are eager to share their religious views with you aren't often eager to hear your's." And that's precisely the thing that irks me. I have no problem with anyone believing anything they want to, as long as they're up for listening to others with an open mind.
Yeah, I don't mind listening to others' beliefs. In fact, I love it, as long they're not trying to make me believe it, two-way street and all. I've always found differences like that very interesting. Even if they were trying to persuade me, I probably wouldn't say anything to stop them. I'm just like that.
If religion makes you happy I say stick with it. All I ask is do not preach or throw versus at me to try and make me believe. I have made up my mind a long time ago and decided religion in general is just not for me.
http://www.colbertnation.com/
http://www.NRA.org/
*head-desk* That's the kind of reaction I'm talking about dude. Why do I even try? It's like no one even reads it.
It's a little patronizing too.
Whats wrong with it. I respectfully answered it and it is a personal preference that I want to not be preached too. I am not saying that you will do it but just any Christian who happens to read it.
I mean come on I get preached to by my father on a regular basis. It gets pretty annoying after a while.
http://www.colbertnation.com/
http://www.NRA.org/
But I was talking about stereotyping. Your knee-jerk reaction was "I want to not be preached to." Too many other people have that same reaction, which causes most Christians to feel like they need to assure people they won't be preaching to them. I feel like I have to say that or people will have the reaction you did.
'
And, for the record, I don't like being preached to either, in the way that a lot of ministers write their sermons. I've found one now that's less preachy and more natural. I've decided that churches and their leaders don't always accurately represent what Jesus taught, like someone mentioned earlier. But that's a different topic...
I respect that but it is more or less how most Christians are. It is one thing to mention it but it is another when someone tells the person that they don't want to heari t and they keep on it.
http://www.colbertnation.com/
http://www.NRA.org/
Would you make a "most ________ are like that" statement about other groups? Do you know most Christians?
As the whole no but as far as the Christians I come in contact with they are like that.
http://www.colbertnation.com/
http://www.NRA.org/
I'm a Christian too, and I want to tell people about God, only if they want to listen. If not, then they just haven't given it a chance, and I don't mean a couple weeks or months kind of thing, it's about getting to understand the church and God.