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).

It is a side issue Hak, as to the reasons why I feel it is valuable.

Protecting DCs from indoctrination and brainwashing is not the same as using them as pawns.

I am disgusted that any school would stigmatize DC. What did you do about this Combust?

I am not suggesting that a school would deliberately stigmatize a child dione, but how do you think a child would feel being led out of the class several times a day to avoid indoctrination. How would that child feel?

capsium "If you believe according to your own beliefs, and not mine, are you really less privileged, according to your own beliefs? " because the church is in bed with the state, therefore christians have a privilleded position.

I don't have religious beliefs.

Everybody has beliefs, need not be religious ones.

For example your if your view of the Christian church is that it is a harmful force, then I, as an ordinary Christian who is influenced by it, would be more likely to be a victim of it. Does not sound especially privileged.

Good job my view is different really. I don't like being a victim.

In the world view I outlined above we'd all be victims in this country....

I will rephrase that. I have no religious faith.

So, combust do you feel your non-religious faith is beneficial? If so do the benefits it provides you with, not make you feel privileged?

I don't have a faith combust- that's the point. " A non- religious faith" makes no sense.

Oh I thought you were clarifying something, when you said this:

I will rephrase that. I have no religious faith.

I can see how a very personal set of beliefs could together form a type of faith which is non religious, in that is does not conform to any organised religious doctrine, and is individual to that person.

The word belief has many meanings. I used it initially to describe faith, which is what I meant.

I believe my son is still asleep in his bedroom.
I knew he went to bed last night, I passed his bedroom door this morning and could hear him breathing deeply. this "belief" requiires no suspension of rational thought , unlike a "belief" in god.

In no way do my "personal beliefs" "form a type of faith". I have no dogma, no doctrine, I don't need to suspend logic to hold my "beliefs" together. I don't believe in imaginary gods.

A political party could have a doctrine and dogma, here:

www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/doctrine?q=doctrine

www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/dogma?q=dogma

Are you not political combust, at all? Or party to any doctrine and dogma, at all?

My point is BigDorrit is that doctrine and dogma is not exclusive to the religious. Thus I don't assume an atheist has none.

So? Being religious is not compulsory. Anyway I think you'd be surprised at just how much dogma is about, especially within institutional practise. I don't think dogma is necessarily a bad thing either, so it is not a problem for me to admit I have one.

My Christian beliefs do not prevent me from changing my mind if I think I was wrong.

Other examples of dogma, apart from the religious kind, can be seen within medicine and the Hypocratic oath that governed practice and certain premises within the SEN CoP - such as early intervention and graduated approach. Many adhere to the dogma within these.

Some teachers are dogmatic concerning the theories behind the use of synthetic phonics in teaching to read.

You have two user names?

I don't believe dogma, in itself, is good or bad. There are circumstances where it can protect and circumstances where it can prevent the appropriate action. Which of these it does depends on the dogma.

Yes, I use the other one for less argumentative threads!

Novel

How do you decide when to go in with your arguing name? Do you sometimes start of all sweetness and light and then bring in your argumentative alter ego?

What if an element of the dogma is unpredictable, not for humankind to judge, as in Christianity as we are justified by Faith and not works?