What we believe

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Posted by Debbie Herring on 2000-08-11
On Fri, 11 Aug 2000 00:20:51 +0100, Sleepalot
 wrote
:

>The flaw with religion is the same as for life insurance.
>The policy doesn't promise to pay until *after you die !

You've reminded us often enough that you are an atheist.   I am (call
myself at least) a christian.   But the God you don't believe in - I
don't believe in that one either!

If you want to actually find out about what we do believe, hang
around.   You'll find we have a very broad range of beliefs about God
between us.   But to really understand, you have to start listening to
*all* of us, and not just base all your arguments on things that only
a small sub-section of us believe and some odd ideas that you have
picked up in the past.

I for one do not buy into a religion that just promises pie in the sky
when you die, and I think you'll find that there are loads of people
here who feel the same.   I'm trying to make living a better thing for
everyone because that's what incarnation is all about.

I'm not trying to convert you - if atheism works for you, that's your
choice.   My faith is such that it withstands honest questioning, and
I'm pretty sure that if God exists (The God I believe in, not the one
you don't) than questions and criticism can't undermine him/her it.
And if he/she/it is undermined by such questioning, then he/she/it
isn't God.   Several people have remarked that you are far more
fundamentalist in your understanding of God and the bible than some of
us are.   Try opening your mind a little.   You might discover that

1.   Not all Christians are stupid or uneducated.
2.   Many of us are as critical of literalist interpretation of the
Bible as you are - and most of us have a much more profound
understanding of the Bible through years of reading and study.
3.   Many Christians have asked exactly the same questions that you
are and have come to different conclusions in good faith.
4.   We hold some things in good faith and after much soul searching,
and continue to ask questions, to learn and to broaden our
understanding of faith and human living.
5.   That we are open to ideas and insights from other faiths and
none.
6.   Some of us are prepared to honour and respect your lack of
beliefs with considerably more courtesy than you extend to us.