Quote:What I meant when I said that was, I believe in the Christian teachings, principles and ideals, and have found them to be true in my observances and experiences throughout life, but I do not claim to know if they are real or not. I.e.- I have never literally met Jesus Christ in the flesh, I have never spoken with an angel or with a manifestation of God, at least ot in the English language, et cetera, et cetera.
I'll accept that personally as an answer, but then it brings up another question of morality of those before a Judean type sect. In other words, the civilizations throughout our history that had moral teachings, in which, were considerably older than any type of "Judean, Christian, Islamic, sect....Almost the same type of teachings at that, and then some.....??
Quote:I am applying the lessons I have learned throughout life to the Bible, and in so-doing, I gain more understanding of the Christian religion and its beliefs.
Live and learn lessons I get.....But again, the above sentence I put forth still comes to play and why you would label/follow to a "Christian" backing...
Quote:I have had experiences throughout life which I can not explain, nor can anyone else explain, as being anything more likely than God. These experiences are things which are very real to me, and which can only be explained or make sense through a theist view-point.
I believe you to be smart enough to acknowledge that this answer is nothing more than a "Goddidit" type response.
We all have had crazy experiences throughout our lives in which are unexplained. Hell, the so called, "Dejavu" is an interesting phenomenon...But as a rational thinker, I still do not believe the "Theist Approach" is the answers to questions unanswered. (And for many reasons)....
Quote:It is unfortunate, but such is human nature. People are bound to misinterpret, warp, or otherwise take out of context what they read in books, see on TV, or simply hear from word of mouth. It permeates our society, even in things outside of religion.
And everything you stated in the above response, is exactly what formed a "Theist Approach" instead of trying to identify the trials and reasons for behavioral thinking.
Quote:I agree with this. Our perception is largely based on what we believe in; believing in a world with God reveals His markings quite clearly; believing in a world with no God reveals a quite Godless looking world. Only if you understand God, however, will you be able to see His nature for what it truly is.
No, you believing in God and putting "IT" in "YOUR" world, is what makes sense in a world of "your"-reality, but, no more, no less.
I could state the same with any written down "God". It still does not make it true or evidential.
Quote:Well, in a sense, I also believe this. Jesus was simply a man, a son of God just as I am a son of God. The difference between He and I, however, was that He was supposedly the prodigal son of God. Prodigal indicating He was a protege, He would have been connected and in tune with the lessons of God in such a way as to be adept, nearly perfect, at them, and at understanding and teaching them.
By your definition of "Jesus", you could say the same for every other "Preacher/Priest" out there....
Or for that matter, what about Confucius or Buddha? You can say they were the "Son's of God", but would you say they were "His" protege as well...??
If so, then your labeling of yourself as a "Theist" would be a bit different....
Intelligence is the only true moral guide...
