Do you feel it is important to share your views on faith or atheism?

[gingerdodger]

This is a genuine question, I am not asking to promote a faith vs atheism debate as we have plenty of those.

My question is whether people feel that it is part of their faith to share those beliefs with others? How far do you take this and how do you approach it? Similarly for those who are atheist, do you feel it is important to share your opinions and in what ways do you do this?

I know some faith groups see this as absaloutely fundamental to their faith whilst others are more relaxed. I also see that those who do not believe in God(s) also often wish to share their opinions widely. It interests me to think about what this achieves in terms of sharing opinions, understanding of each other etc.

From my point of view I strive to be open about my faith, I like to listen to other's perspectives as this makes me think (providing they are listening, I tend to bow out when it starts to feel adversarial and not inquisitorial). I don't feel compelled to actively knock on doors (metaphorically or otherwise) to share my faith but rather subscribe to the view that I hope my approach to life and openness about faith allows me to discuss my faith openly and honestly. I do believe actions speak louder than words and the best form of 'preaching' is to live Christian values of love (not saying I am good at this).

Dione. You asked me what I did in relation to my own children. I said nothing, because that was true, and explained why. You did not ask me what I was doing in my "non- mother life"

And "petition"? What petition? I must have missed that.

Oh, that petition. Great that people have signed it. this is also interesting.

There you go. The CofE want it gone, some Christians here want it gone. I guess life isn't as depressing as you thought.

Really? I find the attitude of some on here very depressing. And the fact that people like you can be so very personally rude and unpleasant. But hey ho.

Sure you can't expect everyone to agree about everything. Don't let it get you down.

I'm a Christian. I tend to be pretty quiet about my faith. Many people that I work with probably don't know about it. My faith doesn't tend to come up directly in conversation, but if someone asks me what I'm doing after work and I'm off to a housegroup I'll tend to answer honestly, rather than saying that I'm off to meet friends. Or if someone asks about what I was doing on a Sunday morning I'll tell them. If people ask questions I try to answer them.

Could we try to avoid stereotypes please? Not all Christians think alike. Some Christians have already said on this thread that they are in favour of secular education. I'm not particularly in favour of the Lords Spiritual. I am not a member of the CofE and don't feel that they represent me.

Hak, it was not my intention to be "so very rude and unpleasant" (I assume that when you spoke of "people like you" what you actually meant was "you, Dione").

I was angry and this is why: I mostly think of you as an intelligent, principled woman. Every now and then life gives us the opportunity to put our principles into action. To stand up for what we believe and make an actual difference. You had that opportunity and you didn't take it. You could have made a difference for your DCs, for the others who object to CW, to their school and ultimately your community. You could have achieved something you were proud of. I find that depressing.

I know that standing up for what you believe can be uncomfortable, difficult and scary and you won't always be successful, but don't let that put you off. Don't let those feelings render you powerless. You talk about Christian privilege and male privilege, but recognize your own privilege. You are an educated woman, living in a Western democracy in the 21st century. You have rights, you have power, you have talents, use them. And for the sake of all that is good, do not let such opportunities pass you by again.*

• Disclaimer, I could be completely wrong in what I think about you. You may have no principles whatsoever and enjoy victim status and mithering on the Internet about it. If that's the case, ignore what I have said above.

Dione, you aren't doing much right now to help correct the misconception that Christians are patronizing and overly judgmental of others.

Brdgrl, I'm not really a Christian.

Ah. That's Ok then. Carry on with the patronizing and judgement.

No, the Old testament is about those believing in God looking forward to the coming Messiah, and the New testament is about looking back from the moment the Messiah came

If you accept that so easily why would you deny Muhammad or Joseph Smith. Smith had real evidence! he had golden plates and spectacles. Not that we have any evidence that they really existed any more than we have evidence that Jesus performed miracles, but that's what faith is for right?

Just like Joseph Smith, Jesus came along (if he existed at all) and said "see those bits in the bible - they all mean me. I'm a prophet/god really even though I look like an ordinary guy and you know my dad".

If I express doubt about that then Christians say 'but the OT foretold his coming'.

This would be all very well if the OT were specific, but you can make it foretell the coming of the Mormons or the 8.15 from Paddington if you relax and let your mind go all loose and mystical.

Mostly it's like the example I dredged up from memory about the 'anointed one' or the bit about arriving in Jerusalem on a donkey. I could go get a donkey and ride into Jerusalem and that wouldn't prove I was god. Jesus admitted he only got on the donkey to fit in with the prophecy and still people don't get the joke.

I realise that you're not going to admit that the so-called evidence is is all wishful thinking, but I'm saying it anyway and really I'd like other people to go look for themselves. That's pretty much where atheists come from. People who went to look instead of just assuming the evidence was there.

LovingSummer- can I just gently warn you to be a bit careful with BibleProbe- some people there believe some pretty whacky things...........

loving this is just a list of random jumble. Where is the proof that jesus rose from the dead?

LovingSummer

But surely you must see that there can’t be the truth of a God, at the same time as the truth of no God?

Why not? There is no empirical evidence that God exists. That's why it's called 'faith'. Believers choose to treat that faith as fact, hence it is their truth. There are plenty of things that people once believed as truths or facts, that have changed over the years: that homosexuality is a choice, for example, or that the earth is the centre of the solar system. As knowledge and the understanding of empirical evidence developed, our 'belief' in 'facts' changed.

There is no provable truth that atheism is right, but you think it is.

Ah, but I am not atheist. I simply believe that atheists have the right to their beliefs, and, as these beliefs are merely beliefs they are as valid as mine.

And that the atheists have no more right to impose their beliefs on me than have to pose mine on them.

I'm a little puzzled now. I know Christians believe that Jesus was the fulfilment of Old Testament prophesy. Doesn't everyone? Surely anyone who has ever sung a Christmas carol knows that?

What am I supposed to make of the lists of actual prophesies? Are they supposed to prove something?