Dixie - In Memoriam
New member
We are all inherently born with the inclination to believe in something greater than self. This is clearly a distinct part of what makes us so unique among all other living creatures. Every single individual accomplishment and achievement as a species, is attributable to this inherent belief. It can take many various forms, some good and some not so good. But it is fundamentally what makes us what we are, and has brought us to this point of intellectual philosophical discussion.
For some, the thing they believe in is clear, Christians believe in the Bible, and believe it's the literal Word of God... Buddhists believe in Nirvana, and a sort of "inner-self" power. Agnostics are not sure what to believe in, and Atheists often claim they believe in nothing... Nihilists. The vast majority of us can define what we believe in, and at least acknowledge they do have this belief in something.
I am often thought of as Christian, because I have defended the Christian teachings of Christ. I am a Spiritualist, and what I have is not as much a belief as a profound knowledge and understanding of something greater than myself. I do believe in this profound knowledge I have, but it requires very little "faith" for me to maintain my belief. The Power (we'll call it God here) is ever-present in my life, and it has been a beneficial asset to me in ways that can't be measured in words. Trying to convince me it doesn't exist, would be the equivalent to me trying to convince you that your mother doesn't exist. It's just a silly superfluous argument that doesn't comport with reason in my mind.
So why is it, I would defend Christian teachings? The great thing about the God I believe in, it allows me to comprehend the nature of spirituality in humans, and not concern myself with the methods of others in embracing it. My God is not a human, so it has no human attributes or feelings. My God is emotional-less, and doesn't "care" about whether it is worshiped. My God is not there to met out punishment or judgment based on the dogma of man. However, the God I believe in has some requirements of me. I find that many of the teachings in Christianity are in harmony with what my God requires. Not fully or universally, and maybe not to the degree taught by Christians, but following the teachings of Christ is conducive with satisfying many of the requirements of my God.
Now you say, Dixie... if your God doesn't have feelings and emotions, how can it "require" something of you? Well... it's like a newspaper box! You see the newspaper front above the fold, you see the box... neither of them are demanding or requiring you to put your money in and buy the paper. You can choose whether to do it or not, it's entirely up to you. If you choose to put your money in, you gain a benefit, in my case, a blessing. So it's not a "requirement" for me to follow my conscience, it is my own free will. I have found great advantages to having the strength and power of my God in my corner, and that is my motivation for my beliefs.
Since I sort of 'plugged' Christianity above, let me add, this also includes a host of other spiritual beliefs. I think there is something to be gained in humanity from following the teachings of many major religions, not just Christianity. Is there a Heaven and Hell? I don't know! If there is, I believe they will both be full of souls from all religious beliefs, because my God doesn't discriminate.
For some, the thing they believe in is clear, Christians believe in the Bible, and believe it's the literal Word of God... Buddhists believe in Nirvana, and a sort of "inner-self" power. Agnostics are not sure what to believe in, and Atheists often claim they believe in nothing... Nihilists. The vast majority of us can define what we believe in, and at least acknowledge they do have this belief in something.
I am often thought of as Christian, because I have defended the Christian teachings of Christ. I am a Spiritualist, and what I have is not as much a belief as a profound knowledge and understanding of something greater than myself. I do believe in this profound knowledge I have, but it requires very little "faith" for me to maintain my belief. The Power (we'll call it God here) is ever-present in my life, and it has been a beneficial asset to me in ways that can't be measured in words. Trying to convince me it doesn't exist, would be the equivalent to me trying to convince you that your mother doesn't exist. It's just a silly superfluous argument that doesn't comport with reason in my mind.
So why is it, I would defend Christian teachings? The great thing about the God I believe in, it allows me to comprehend the nature of spirituality in humans, and not concern myself with the methods of others in embracing it. My God is not a human, so it has no human attributes or feelings. My God is emotional-less, and doesn't "care" about whether it is worshiped. My God is not there to met out punishment or judgment based on the dogma of man. However, the God I believe in has some requirements of me. I find that many of the teachings in Christianity are in harmony with what my God requires. Not fully or universally, and maybe not to the degree taught by Christians, but following the teachings of Christ is conducive with satisfying many of the requirements of my God.
Now you say, Dixie... if your God doesn't have feelings and emotions, how can it "require" something of you? Well... it's like a newspaper box! You see the newspaper front above the fold, you see the box... neither of them are demanding or requiring you to put your money in and buy the paper. You can choose whether to do it or not, it's entirely up to you. If you choose to put your money in, you gain a benefit, in my case, a blessing. So it's not a "requirement" for me to follow my conscience, it is my own free will. I have found great advantages to having the strength and power of my God in my corner, and that is my motivation for my beliefs.
Since I sort of 'plugged' Christianity above, let me add, this also includes a host of other spiritual beliefs. I think there is something to be gained in humanity from following the teachings of many major religions, not just Christianity. Is there a Heaven and Hell? I don't know! If there is, I believe they will both be full of souls from all religious beliefs, because my God doesn't discriminate.