Hi all:
This is an interesting discussion and I can't resist.
I have what you might call, Portia, an irrational belief in God. I have always believed in God, for as long as I can remember. It wasn't something that was "forced" on me, nor can I prove that my belief is right or not. But to me, it's a rational belief because it is something that comes from deep inside myself, something I just feel like is knowledge, kind of like my belief that people are basically good. I can't prove it, but I do believe it and for me, it's real and I see examples of it all the time.
On the other hand, I think religions are run by humans which means that they can have human error (or even people with really bad intent involved). I was educated a catholic but I disagree with plenty in the catholic religion (so I'm not a very strong catholic--it might be said). Still.....I believe in the basics that most religions teach.
If you ask me, all Gods are the same. That is...whoever the Natives, Amish, Muslims, etc call God....is the same One, imo. Just like we have apples here, which are called pomes, in France (and that...is the extent of my french language expertise! heehee). I believe God/Jeasus appeared all over the world, not just in the places depicted in the bible. It is interesting, for example, that the Inhuit describe a person, very similar to Jesus, having visited them.
Ofcourse, many religions are based on the Bible, which is full of much information. Sometimes, I think of it as a history book, that people took the trouble to document certain events, for later generations. Why bother? I guess it could be argued that it was done to gain a following/worshipping/new religious sect of some sort? But there are so many authors in it that I find it hard to believe that they would all cooperate so well with eachother and put such a collection of stuff together....hoping to get some.....famous notoriety. Therefore, it does seem to me to have some holiness about it.
I believe that there was a person by the name of Jesus who lived, performed miracles, gave lessons in moral behaviour, and died because He had developed a great following of people, which threatened the religious leaders of the day, that He rose from the dead, that he appeared to people after that, and that He is the son of God. I can't see why all of that would be documented, in so much detail, by different people, with such similarity, if it were not true. It seems rational for me to believe at least some of what is written, especially the stuff that is collaborated by different authors, over and over.
I like reading the bible, which is my choice, because it seems to be littered with wisdom and really makes me think about so much. So for me, it is the opposite of what you say Portia, it challenges me to think for myself...to read and think...to decide....to believe....not to believe....or to question.....to consider....to read again, another day.....ponder more etc.
The golden rule is simply what we are instructed to try to achieve. It is what would make the world a much better place, if more people practiced it. It does not imply that we are bad but rather, that we have the option of doing good and it encourages us to do so.
I think the idea is mainly......how we live. If you don't believe in God, I don't think you are going to hell and I don't think that's the message that is trying to be portrayed (it might be some people's interpretation of all that....but it isn't my interpretation of it). My belief is that if you live good and try to do good and try to share what's good, you are doing what God hopes you will do, by choice. Even if you don't believe in Him, you will be rewarded. The thing is.....you have the knowledge. You know what is good and what is right and what is wrong and what is not nice...to do and if you choose wrong, most often, without regard for others, without repenting, then your rewards to come will reflect that behaviour. I do believe God is merciful and that Jesus tried to teach us the value of mercy.
Ofcourse, there is no proof of this and it is irrational to blindly believe stuff . In my case, the belief came first and the information to back up the belief, was discovered later, in the bible. I do think some people are born with faith, as a gift, just as some are born musicians, some with the talent for leading, some with extreme beauty, etc. It's how we use what we are given that makes the difference.
Then.....there are people on earth who have never heard of the bible or God or any such information/ideas/beliefs. They too will be judged, as I believe we all will be, according to our works. It's not worshipping or going to church or proclaiming loyalty to God or religion that will be counted first.....it is how we behave.....how we treat others......how we choose to live....that will carry the weight.
Sometimes I think this is hell. Sometimes I wonder if there is such a thing as reincarnation and the people who don't get it right the first time, keep being sent back here to practice some more. Makes me wonder how many times it will take me?
This really struck me Portia:
The power to think our own thoughts, to question everything. If I give up my disbelief, I give up my ability to make up my own mind.
If you give up your disbelief, you are making a free choice and making up your own mind. I think it's good to think our own thoughts and to question. That's why we have a brain. Have you ever read the Bible?
I gain great comfort in knowing that so many people bothered to write it for us. It is an interesting book, to say the least.
Well.....that's the way I see it, anyway.
GFN
