You and Your Faith

Merika · 12-14-2004, 11:55 PM

If or when someone says to you that all religions think they are right.......do you just THINK yours in right....or do you KNOW yours is right? Any reason why either way?

Duke · 12-15-2004, 01:10 AM

Isn't that where the phrase "holier than thou" comes from?

Adonaicole · 12-15-2004, 03:36 PM

"Abraham believed in God and it was reckoned to him as righteousness."

Although I attend church, I do not believe that organized religion can get you into heaven. It's all about if "you" believe or not.

darkangelism · 12-15-2004, 04:03 PM

i havnt found the right religion yet, i dont like what i grew up with, too liberal

Duke · 12-15-2004, 06:31 PM

I agree, going to church doesn't mean your going to heaven. I could go to church every 5 minutes for the rest of my life and I know that I'll be lucky if I get through the Pearly Gates without taking a beating.

Merika · 12-15-2004, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adonaicole

"Abraham believed in God and it was reckoned to him as righteousness."

Although I attend church, I do not believe that organized religion can get you into heaven. It's all about if "you" believe or not.

As usual, we agree!

This whole thought came from an email I recieved which asked me what if the Muslim religion was correct and MINE was wrong. I didn't have an answer because in my mind...there is no possibility. But perhaps it's exactly this type of thinking which gets Christians/Catholics in trouble.

I was wondering if anyone else felt the same way.

Fayebelle · 12-17-2004, 11:53 AM

I was raised Episcapalian and have long considered myself Christian- though I had not been to Church in a while

This summer my BF and I decided to find a church together- well we had a time! He was raised Methodist and although we both considered ourselves Christian- we couldn't agree on a place to share faith! That got us to thinking something was wrong- Here we are the same faith-but dif religions- and it made us doubt the beliefs of our own hearts and history

So we decided to branch out a bit.

Last month we started taking Kaddampa Buddhism classes and it just felt right for both of us. Kaddampa Buddhism CAN be used w/other religions (from their view though the other religions may disagree) or as a person who is Buddhist. It made us see that faith affects are actions here and now and that is what should be important. Most religions have the same "guidelines" (I don't know how to word that... criteria for sin perhaps) and as long as you live your life w/love and compassion- then you will reach a higher realm.

Is that realm w/God? Is it a state of enlightenment? Could it be peace and joy on Earth? Whatever your religion calls it- or however they describe it- it all means Nirvana- a place of supreme happiness. To me it just makes sense to remove the labels and live the life w/Nirvana as the goal.

Merika · 12-17-2004, 12:44 PM

I hope Ayla gets back to read all that. She was doing some searching for alternatives awhile back. I'm too old to be that progressive.....just give me a pew and an old hymn book and I'm happy.

Fayebelle · 12-17-2004, 12:54 PM

See- being Episcapalian I appreciate tradition and ritual- that's one of the things that was off between my BF and I (Methodist is waaaay more relaxed) We found Buddhism to be a nice combo of the 2

Stone · 12-17-2004, 12:59 PM

I am still searching for a religion, I do however go to a church that is Non Demo- and I love it my sons adores it so we're staying there. The mormon's used to come to my house once a week, I just couldn't slam the door in there face and I let them in.... They came back every tuesday for 2 months. :oops: ( That religion is deffinatly not for me)

Merika · 12-17-2004, 01:10 PM

I don't know all the various aspects of what the Mormons believe....but I've sure met some FINE people who were Mormon in my lifetime. They seem to have a tremendous sense of family and good values. The church really supports the financial needs of the members. I was really impressed.

I was raised Baptist.....but consider myself Charismatic/Non Denominational. There's no way I would ever get away from that because it's just too much of who I am and what I believe.

I think it's great though when people take the time to search for something which works for themselves and their families. It seems to me that families who have some sort of organized religion within their home to the point of really applying loving principles.....seem to be the happiest and most well adjusted families.

Stone · 12-17-2004, 01:15 PM

I was raised Baptist as well, I some times go back to the baptist church but It isn't really geared for young adults where I live.

Mormons are wonderful people these poor guys we're so nice, I knew I would never convert to their religion but it was nice to see how they we're so devoted so young. They we're only 18 living here from Oklahoma somewhere and they knocked on doors all day trying to convert people although I don't really agree with that, I was nice because I felt sorry for them.... They probably came over because they felt sorry for me HAHAHAH

Fayebelle · 12-17-2004, 01:16 PM

DEFINATELY!!! I think so many are floundering today b/c we were raised by the liberal arts generation who were taught and reared us to QUESTION EVERYTHING!!!! Faith means believing w/out answers- it means trust and love even when you can't see why you should trust or love. Those are values missing from so many these days and I think that lack of faith is at the heart of the issue

Merika · 12-17-2004, 01:25 PM

I think that's an excellent point Fayebelle. A lot of people think seeking a religion (who you are, where you come from, sorting thru your values) somehow represents a lack of education.....like you should be too smart to think you need a God. LOL!

YellowLioness · 12-17-2004, 04:33 PM

I got really burnt out on religion. I was southern Baptist actually, but by the time I was older I just couldn't hack the constrictions.

I consider myself close to God-- I pray, and I believe he has a plan for us all. I'm not going to even try to understand him, I just accept that I never can, and that sometimes I can catch small glimpses of him as I go.

Oh, and I never go to church anymore. I can pray any time I want. I don't have to go to church to be holy.

Stone · 12-17-2004, 04:37 PM

I wouldn't go to church as much if I didn't have a little one, he loves it and I think it is important to have "church" in childrens lives or mine anyways to help maintain values,

Saying that I would LOVE to sleep in Sunday mornings

Adonaicole · 12-17-2004, 05:16 PM

Quote:

but consider myself Charismatic/Non Denominational.

Interesting, that would be me too!