Last week I was in the midst of pursuing a discussion in this forum concerning a loving God when I suddenly realized that I had argued the same points numerous times before, and that this discussion would end the same way as all the rest - in seeming futility. This made me begin to re-examine why I spend so much time here and why I had even begun in the first place. I decided to back off, take a breather and summarize in my mind what had transpired in my thinking and beliefs since I had joined the form on December 14, 2013. What I have discovered is there has been quite a change since that day. I found that it can be very scary to venture out of the comfortable world that you've come to accept and face new possibilities. My thought was that if my faith was real and defensible, it should stand up up to all the questions, and I wanted to face them head-on. As I found out, you folks here were only too happy to oblige me in that regard.
Here's some things that have changed since Dec 14, 2013:
I was a progressive creationist and I am now an evolutionist. I've acquired a greater appreciation for what science can teach us.
Although I was never a biblical literalist, I am now more convinced that the bible is true and inspired, but it was not written to be a scientific or historical textbook, and so it can't always be relied to be specifically accurate in that regard.
Early church fathers supported views of hell other than eternal torment, but because the catholic church embraced that view, it became the prevailing view. I believe that, although the bible does definitely teach of hell as a place of torment, I don't believe that it teaches that one's time there will be eternal.
I have come to believe that those who haven't been able to hear of Christ , but truly seek God will be with him.
I was against gay marriage and civil unions, but I now support civil unions, but not gay marriage. I don't think the government has any business in marriage. I have come to realize that we are not a christian nation, but a secular one. Because of that all citizens are deserving of equal treatment under the law. I still think that homosexuality is sinful, but I think a lot of things people do are sinful, and this doesn't effect whether or not I care for an individual.
I realize that we can't count on God to always directly intervene in our affairs. Jesus didn't tell us if we believe in him he will make sure our lives are without trial or suffering. He also commissioned us to love our neighbor and to work to alleviate the suffering and oppression in the world. Our faith is to be active in the world and not just a spiritual "experience". Sorry to you non-christians and non-theists, but when I look around and see who is carrying out works of mercy locally and in the world, it's mostly christians. I believe that if a person possesses the truth, it will emanate from him or her.
Lastly, I have come to understand the atheist point of view on most matters. If I didn't believe in God, I would have the same views concerning faith, the bible and worldview. Unfortunately, I can't say I've made any friends here, but I think if we could meet in person that would happen. In this forum christians and atheists discuss their differences and not their similarities, so we don't have a rounded view of each other. The problem is that we discuss and re-discuss the same issues with no resolution because we can't claim any common ground. So sometimes I wonder if it's all a waste of time, but when I look back, though, I can say that it's been a benefit to me. My advice for searching christians, or anyone for that matter, is not to take anything in a forum as final, but to check it out for themselves using multiple sources, and not just one side of the issue.
As for me, I see myself as being a more enlightened christian, and will most likely be one for the rest of my life.
Here's some things that have changed since Dec 14, 2013:
I was a progressive creationist and I am now an evolutionist. I've acquired a greater appreciation for what science can teach us.
Although I was never a biblical literalist, I am now more convinced that the bible is true and inspired, but it was not written to be a scientific or historical textbook, and so it can't always be relied to be specifically accurate in that regard.
Early church fathers supported views of hell other than eternal torment, but because the catholic church embraced that view, it became the prevailing view. I believe that, although the bible does definitely teach of hell as a place of torment, I don't believe that it teaches that one's time there will be eternal.
I have come to believe that those who haven't been able to hear of Christ , but truly seek God will be with him.
I was against gay marriage and civil unions, but I now support civil unions, but not gay marriage. I don't think the government has any business in marriage. I have come to realize that we are not a christian nation, but a secular one. Because of that all citizens are deserving of equal treatment under the law. I still think that homosexuality is sinful, but I think a lot of things people do are sinful, and this doesn't effect whether or not I care for an individual.
I realize that we can't count on God to always directly intervene in our affairs. Jesus didn't tell us if we believe in him he will make sure our lives are without trial or suffering. He also commissioned us to love our neighbor and to work to alleviate the suffering and oppression in the world. Our faith is to be active in the world and not just a spiritual "experience". Sorry to you non-christians and non-theists, but when I look around and see who is carrying out works of mercy locally and in the world, it's mostly christians. I believe that if a person possesses the truth, it will emanate from him or her.
Lastly, I have come to understand the atheist point of view on most matters. If I didn't believe in God, I would have the same views concerning faith, the bible and worldview. Unfortunately, I can't say I've made any friends here, but I think if we could meet in person that would happen. In this forum christians and atheists discuss their differences and not their similarities, so we don't have a rounded view of each other. The problem is that we discuss and re-discuss the same issues with no resolution because we can't claim any common ground. So sometimes I wonder if it's all a waste of time, but when I look back, though, I can say that it's been a benefit to me. My advice for searching christians, or anyone for that matter, is not to take anything in a forum as final, but to check it out for themselves using multiple sources, and not just one side of the issue.
As for me, I see myself as being a more enlightened christian, and will most likely be one for the rest of my life.
