has christianity dwindled in the uk

@Pfuzylogic Well, simple theology. The Catholic Church recognises Jesus as being the representative of "all men" rather than being simply "a" man. Therefore a catholic would have an inbuilt relationship with Jesus Christ. Not just a relationship with Jesus. It's all in the theology.

Try to think outside your own particular theological box.

@SW-User
Let me help you out with a religion you don’t know.
In the Holy Bible Jesus was promised to come all the way from Jesus and prophesied in every book before him to come and save his people from sun.
Jesus came from the line of Abraham and King David not by accident but intention.
Jesus lives now so a relationship with him now is possible when you confess Jesus as your personal Savior.

@Pfuzylogic Thanks for your exposition of the Protestant Reform Tradition of the Living Word

Fortunately the Christian Faith has deeper things to offer.

@SW-User
If you can’t respond in an apologetic manner; why are you pretending to defend your ethereal thoughts on life.
They have no root in reality.

@Pfuzylogic I am simply stating a fact. Your posts reveal a particular take on the Christian Religion, a religion which is in fact historically wider and deeper than your own particular brand.

My thoughts are no more "ethereal" than anyone elses. Reality is the root.

The mind/heart is at once both knowledge and reality, at once the knowing subject and the known object, yet transcends them both at the same time. This non-dual conception of mind means that what we know is what we are, and what we are is what we understand. Therefore ontology, epistemology, and soteriology are inseparably united.

You can actually derive such thoughts from many of the great Christian mystics, those who sought to experience the divine rather than simply "believe" in a particular dogmatic expression.

As another has said:-

Truth is inherently fluid – open, alive, metaphorical, and inclusive; dogma is inherently rigid – closed, fixed, literal, and exclusive.

Whatever, there is no pretence.

All the best

@SW-User
I don’t see any truth present just embraced human aesthetics.
Truth has authority established by the creator. When you get real with God through Jesus it will open the eyes of the blind.

@Pfuzylogic Hello again.....😀

You are obviously free to see whatever you like in my posts. From my own perspective you "see" from within the limited parameters of your own belief system. A system, a formula, handed down to you and derived from the Protestant Reform Theology, the creation of mass literacy and the printing press. A relative modernism. Yet to you "established by the creator". And you imply total blindness to any who challenge your beliefs, formulas, creeds and allegiances.

Today I have washed the feet of my dear wife, less mobile than myself. Got her breakfast. Gone out into town, got shopping, returned home and got lunch. Then travelled three miles by bus to collect my little grandaughter from school, got her home on the bus, then cooked five meals for the rest of our family. Washed up and now rest. At 74 it is rather tiring. But there is love in our family. You are free to jeer if you so wish and speak of blindness.

Ethereal and rootless indeed! My creed of "human aesthetics"....😀

Sadly, you are getting close to being blocked.

@SW-User
You are the one trolling me make no mistake about it. Notice the order of responses and the constant heckling.
There is no protestant modernism involved. When one becomes saved there is a promise of the Holy Spirit.
Do what you must!

@Pfuzylogic Obviously that is your perspective. This is in part a discussion forum. You began by implying that a "relationship with Jesus" was the only reason to attend a Church, that anything else in a particular case (that of the writer of the OP) would only be "nostalgia".

In the interests of dialogue I pointed out that in the Catholic Tradition, in their understanding of the Incarnation, Jesus was the Incarnation of all men, rather than being simply a man. This has implications if such a theology is true and instigated by the creator. The implication being that a "relationship" with Jesus is "built in" as it were.

This further implies how Grace is to be understood. Not an "offer" which we accept or reject, with all its consequences, but a gift to be realised as having already been given.

Such a theology is brought out and amplified more in the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Whatever, since this opening exchange your accusations against me are there for all to see. Accusations of "trolling" are a bit rich. Sorry, but on any open Forum you cannot simply assert your own creed without having to face such being challenged. I have been polite. You refuse to engage.

All the best

@SW-User
We just had another post we interacted on and while the OP didn’t respond you found it okay to track and hence the trolling.
Your last explanation was actually a decent level but you keep leaving out an essential part of salvation and Faith.

The indwelling of the Holy Spirt.

I hope you experience the true religion of Jesus. There is never a better future.

@Pfuzylogic You obviously have a different definition of "trolling".

No, I did not leave it out. You merely fail to read it into what was said. I am a Pure Land Buddhist. It is essentially non-dualist. One has to touch base before differentiation and diversification. The base is pure Grace. Pure Gift. Given, not attained.

"The Entrusting Heart is itself
Given by the Other Power"

@SW-User
And so your confession demonstrates the need to confess your sins and need for Jesus otherwise you are just being strange.

@Pfuzylogic Oh, here we go again.......😀

Fortunately many Christians and many theologians are in dialogue with the Pure Land tradition of the Buddhist Faith.

"Strange"? Really? Simply because you don't understand, or do not agree?

Good grief!

😀

@SW-User
Back to the beginning to keep this on track.
Do you understand why the Catholic Mass was established?

@Pfuzylogic I see no connection. But assume it had to do with the Gospel story of Jesus instructing his disciples to "do this in memory of me" etc etc.

But please tell me.

@Pfuzylogic Oh, and do you know why Amida made his 48 vows?

😀

@Pfuzylogic Anyway, "keeping things on track" is a sign of.........

😀


I just might not respond again. You are taking far too long to answer.

Remember to smell the flowers...

@SW-User
Thanks for the gift.
I state this as a warning that Jesus gave.
1 Corinthians 11:28-29

@Pfuzylogic Your sense of self-importance is tragic. Really, it is more a case of self examination. The implied presumption that you have sufficiently "examined themselves" or "discerned the body of Christ" to the Creators satisfaction is quite apparent. It is not we who judge. It is not our own test that we pass.

@SW-User
Are you still referring to the Holy Bible because it sounds like you are into a whole different religion.

@Pfuzylogic Are you assuming that your own discernment of the Holy Bible is definitive?

@Pfuzylogic Sorry mate, this has to end. You appear to be turning into a carbon copy of the stern patriarchal idol you have discerned as being in charge of it all. That you seem to equate your own thoughts and judgements with that of the Source, the Creator, that you seem to have "made peace" with what are only your own concepts handed down to you by others.....well, sad. You can call this arrogance on my part. Please call it what you like - I have no regard for your judgements.

But I end it here. Respond to me how you wish. I will not respond again on this particular thread.

Sincerely, all the best.

@SW-User
Aren’t you full of insults today.
I see you have nothing to offer in rebuttal except to try and debug me.
Better luck next time and it doesn’t hurt to do your homework before an apologetic defense!