(October 19, 2012 at 8:59 pm)John V Wrote:(October 19, 2012 at 8:19 am)Faith No More Wrote: You can dismiss it all you like, but the fact of the matter is that the surrounding culture plays a strong factor in determining to what religion a person will turn. If people want to be honest with themselves about why they believe what they believe, the role that culture plays in those beliefs must be considered.Who's dismissing it? I agreed with it. Why shouldn't I - you said it's not problematic for Christianity.
(October 19, 2012 at 11:34 am)Ryantology Wrote: The question is asked of Christians specifically because Christians believe in a personal God who takes an active interest in their lives. What is implied here is that God is a lot more interested in people born in Tennessee than he is about people born in Tehran.Yes. For a long time he was mostly interested with Israel alone. He says plainly that he'll have mercy on whom he'll have mercy. So, how is this surprising or problematic?
The problem is that if another religion is right, yours most likely is then wrong. If you admit that social factors and not actual proof were the main reason for your being a christian, then perhaps another religion is actually the right one. Of course, if at least most of them are wrong (as they contradict each other) it is not unreasonable to consider that they are all wrong.
John Adams Wrote:The Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion.
