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ArishMell · 70-79, M
That won't get the washing-up done.
Bit difficult "right now" anyway without a religious book in the house and the shops shut!
Bit difficult "right now" anyway without a religious book in the house and the shops shut!
ArishMell · 70-79, M
@Carazaa My word! The original writers could never have thought of that in their wildest dreams!
I have no more reason to read the Bible than I do to read the Koran, Talmud, or the far older Indian (Asian not American) scriptures - though I accept them as all equally valid to their own believers and to students of theology.
If I were to read any of those (and the Koran's companion book whose name I forget) it would be to examine their religions, not to follow any of them.
I am from an rather informal Anglican background so I do know the basics of the Hebrew / Christian faith.
I have no more reason to read the Bible than I do to read the Koran, Talmud, or the far older Indian (Asian not American) scriptures - though I accept them as all equally valid to their own believers and to students of theology.
If I were to read any of those (and the Koran's companion book whose name I forget) it would be to examine their religions, not to follow any of them.
I am from an rather informal Anglican background so I do know the basics of the Hebrew / Christian faith.
ArishMell · 70-79, M
@Carazaa Ah, but there is a difference between studying religions and following any of them.
I am interested in why people believe in what they do, and why some are so determined others should share their beliefs, but that does not give me a reason to share it.
If anything the more determined they are that I agree theirs is some sort of absolute "truth", the less likely I am to accept it, whilst more curious about their motive. I have found many such are actually unable to answer that question.
We had "Religious Education" at school but as far as I recall it concentrated only what Christianity what about. These days I gain some insight into other faiths from occasional talks on the radio from leading figures and academics in their own faiths.
I am interested in why people believe in what they do, and why some are so determined others should share their beliefs, but that does not give me a reason to share it.
If anything the more determined they are that I agree theirs is some sort of absolute "truth", the less likely I am to accept it, whilst more curious about their motive. I have found many such are actually unable to answer that question.
We had "Religious Education" at school but as far as I recall it concentrated only what Christianity what about. These days I gain some insight into other faiths from occasional talks on the radio from leading figures and academics in their own faiths.
ArishMell · 70-79, M
@Carazaa Each religion is unique, and the unique point about Christianity is its claim to the mystical nature of Jesus - Islam and I gather also the Plymouth Brethren respect him as a preacher but do not think he had any divine properties.
Does that mean the Muslims and the PBs are "wrong"? Of course not.
I have very grave doubts about the validity of vague "prophesies" written by fervent followers of a faith for their religious descendants; in a collection of ancient books that have gone through a lot of editing and re-translating over the centuries.
NO religion can claim itself being any sort of "absolute truth", for the very simple reason that they are all based on what are literally ideas of faith - neither provable nor disprovable.
Saying that it must be true because it's in the Bible misses the fundamental point that whatever its writers believed, like all faith's scriptures it is simply an expression of those writers' beliefs. It cannot prove itself, all it does is show what an ancient society believed.
It is your choice to be a Christian, but given that you say you have studied other faiths I am surprised that you seem to think it the only "true" one. Either all the others are just as "true", or none are true!
Does that mean the Muslims and the PBs are "wrong"? Of course not.
I have very grave doubts about the validity of vague "prophesies" written by fervent followers of a faith for their religious descendants; in a collection of ancient books that have gone through a lot of editing and re-translating over the centuries.
NO religion can claim itself being any sort of "absolute truth", for the very simple reason that they are all based on what are literally ideas of faith - neither provable nor disprovable.
Saying that it must be true because it's in the Bible misses the fundamental point that whatever its writers believed, like all faith's scriptures it is simply an expression of those writers' beliefs. It cannot prove itself, all it does is show what an ancient society believed.
It is your choice to be a Christian, but given that you say you have studied other faiths I am surprised that you seem to think it the only "true" one. Either all the others are just as "true", or none are true!
ArishMell · 70-79, M
@Carazaa Oh course it is your choice! You live in a secular, Western democracy that guarantees your choice of being religious or not, and which religion to follow!
You are as free to follow or abandon that faith as I am to remain agnostic or become a Christian (or take up any other religion).
I must admit I've not heard of that interpretation of Christianity before. I am familiar with the "Jesus died to save us all" slogan ( a hymn line I think); but your slant seems a complete abdication of personal responsibility and effort.
Like Islam actually, whose name means approximately "I surrender".
You are as free to follow or abandon that faith as I am to remain agnostic or become a Christian (or take up any other religion).
I must admit I've not heard of that interpretation of Christianity before. I am familiar with the "Jesus died to save us all" slogan ( a hymn line I think); but your slant seems a complete abdication of personal responsibility and effort.
Like Islam actually, whose name means approximately "I surrender".