Can anyone help me out

[ANDY-J]

Minister,
I have read both of your posts,and while you argue a convincing case there are ,certain inherent flaws in your argument.I accept that few of us are fully free thinking creatures but it doesn't necessarily have to be so.Any human being can attain a more enlightened state of being if they choose to free themselves of the material concerns of our western society and I believe ,free themselves from an excessive adherence to religious dogma.Like you I have a firm belief in God but unlike you I do not believe that one needs christianity to achieve a knowledge of God.An atheist who treats his fellow human beings with love and respect will be greater in the eyes of God than a christian who does not.It says in the bible if a man has not love then he has nothing.And a great number of christians have a greater love for material wealth than their fellow human beings.Some christians can quote endless scripture without I believe possesing any real insight into it's meaning.You say 'I would rather think like God'and I couldn't agree more with that sentiment.However I firmly believe that such a goal cannot be achieved by anyone who is chained to the millstones of materialism or religious credo.

[Edited by ANDY-J on 2nd February 2001 at 21:49]

[explorer]

Our views are very similar in this. People use the term "chritian" far to easily. I have a deep belief in the bible and have gone through stages where I have attended church on a regular basis. I always got hung up on refering to myself as a christian and the man made rules that are created in the church. I have met some very good christian people but I have met many more people that are "good" that dont fall into the "christian category"
They dont attend church and their beliefs in God are simple. I have had more damage done to my faith by so called christians, then the guy next door. Like I said,
I have met alot of chritians too. The extra baggage that can be attached to God is very damaging. It should be an easy thing.

[aurrasing]

hi Al, I've been reading all the messages posted for you, and I have to say that I definitely agree with the Minister. I too believe in God and I believe that he is the true way. Now while the other people here have talked of reincarnation and such and their belief in God, you have to know that no one can make you choose to convert to anything, God wants you to do so of your own free will.
I'll tell you what you will find if you decide to make the Lord your savior and friend. You will forever have his peace, you will forever have him to lift you when you fall, when it seems things are bleek he is there to guide.And best of all His love and an eternal place with Him in heaven. Christianity is not about religion, it is about having a personal relationship with God. Religion can be found anywhere, but a relationship with God can only begin with you.



from aurrasing in California

[Rachel_E]

Hey Al,
Exp told me to stop over on this board and now I find you here... my OLD friend
By the way, it's Raelise, if you're wondering.
Anyway, I want to answer your question(s) according to what I believe.

Wait, now I have to scroll down and remember what you asked- LOL.
Okay, got it...
First, how can I believe in God if the evidence says the opposite. Well first, I guess I'd want ot know what evidence you're speaking of. I'll be honest and say that believing in something that I can't see is just a step of faith. Have you heard the saying-- I can't see the wind but I can see the effects of the wind. It's the same with God I guess. I can't see him physically, but I can see the effects of his presence on earth. And I'm like Andy, just looking at the world around me makes me believe in God. It's so intricately formed, so beautiful, that I know it can't have happened by chance. Someone had to put it there.
I heard about a new book, and I want to read it, cuz it sounds really interesting. It's by a professor at U Cal Berkeley, I think, or maybe USC. Anyway, he's been studying the creating, or the formation of earth and the thigns on the earth. And he's not a religious man, from what I've heard. But he talks about how even Darwinism has been proved to be false now. Yet, it's still being taught in schools and stuff. And I took some classes at my university when I was in school (not too long ago, just 3 years ago) that discussed evolution and things like that. And most of the professors agreed that scientists have actually found that most of their theories cannot have happened. I think it takes more faith to believe that everything just came about by chance than to believe that God formed it.

And i do believe that I can follow the Bible and have a free mind. That's the mind God formed me to have. The crazy thing is, so many people, myself included, think or thought that to follow the Bible, you have to give up all fun and pleasure and live this boring, timid life where you can't have a single intellectual thought. but it's such the opposite. I feel freer now than I did before I came into a relationship with God. But that's another one of those things that are hard to explain unless you've experienced it.

Okay, why is it that I always tend to write books when I'm on here? Someday I"m gonna have just a one sentence post and i"ll surprise you all

Al, I'll meet you back on our other board. Too-da-loo!

[AFI]

Thanks everyone, nice to see you Nonson!

Ive enjoyed reading all your replys.

Al