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).

[headinhands]

there is a pecking order

Which is why I used that passage as someone, maybe you, asserted how Jesus was all about how equal people are. And the NT has instances where Jesus is not treating everyone equally.

[capsium]

head I still stand what I say, Faith and belief is something you have to choose for yourself, otherwise we are talking about ignorance. The reason I believe there is some correlation between Faith and the prevailing culture, family beliefs, is that they provide opportunity to decide to believe a particular way.

Caps if it's not too personal how far do you feel your Christian belief has secured your child's progress?

It meant I had hope. I was not ready to write my child off. It meant I recognised the power in the words I spoke over him. I pro actively looked for ability in every area and encouraged it from the level he was at. Too many of the professionals relied on 'warning signs' and focussed on lack of ability in order pigeon hole his needs and prescribe pre prepared programmes, without differentiation, which were inappropriate to his individual needs or (best) interests.

[headinhands]

It was niminy who said:

Those who are not Christians may want to claim that love, the uniqueness of the individual, the equal worth of all human beings are universal human values. But they are rooted historically in Christianity,

And yet this passage, as has been asserted by lovingsummer shows Jesus operating a pecking order. He didn't call her dog, no, he used an analogy where she was portrayed is less human than the disciples. Either way she was being portrayed as inferior so the equality line is looking decidedly flimsy.

[Jux]

Capsium, I am very confused by your answer to Hak.

Are you saying that you would rather all those situations had been dealt with by Christians who will ask God for guidance on how to treat your dc, your dad?

Wasn't it written somewhere or other that you should render unto God that which is God's, and to Mammon that which is Mammon's. The situations you describe are Mammon's surely, and therefore dealt with properly, imo.

I have an aunt and uncle like that. They pray that my cousin's terminally ill children will somehow be saved. That's it. They disapprove that my cousin and her husband are raising funds for research into their children's very rare genetic condition, and despite being rich as Croesus themselves, watch my cousin/her husband beggar and exhaust themselves trying to raise money for the various operations and treatments their children need to ameliorate their condition, lessen the crippling physical pain the children suffer, give them greater mobility, and ultimately lengthen their lives.

My aunt and uncle are massively wonderful Catholics. He is a member of that Vatican secular elite whose name I always forget, she is something important in some organisation to do with Mary. They are generous in their village and highly thought of, perform good works, blah blah blah. Down on their knees every morning and night asking God's intercession for their only grandchildren and telling their daughter and her dh that they must have done something to deserve it, this "wrath of God's". The pair of them disgust me.

Excuse me. I get a bit emotional about it.

[headinhands]

So caps it's being positive that has helped support your dc and not anything specific to a deity. You're probably quite a determined person, as seen on these boards , and that's what's been so great for your dc's super progress. (What a trooper. You must be so proud of him)

[capsium]

Jux in my answer to Hak I am not talking about going against sound science. It was not sound science that would have written my child off as needing additional support for the rest of his school career at 4years, the NHS practitioners who assessed him detected no actual dysfunction, only some mild/ borderline delays. It was not a sound scientific decision to prescribe my DF Statins, on the strength of a very rudimentary blood test that did not distinguish between HDL and LDL cholesterol nor take into account his medical history which should have contradicted prescribing Statins in the first place. Both of these decisions were made, IMO, as a result of the way funding was structured at that particular point in time.

Christian belief does not prohibit any form of medical treatment. My point is that these potentially detrimental decisions were made due to cultural beliefs, concerning what is best, that is beliefs which were not religious ones, beliefs which excluded God.

[capsium]

head yes he is a trooper, more determined than myself sometimes.


I still give my thanks to God though.

[headinhands]

because of our wrong doing

At what age do we become responsible for our eternal destination? Is it moral that if Peter does on Tuesday he goes to heaven, but on Wednesday he goes to hell?

[headinhands]

didn't even believe in god

I thought the Canaanites had loads of gods?

[headinhands]

you are a perfect example

I'm one person. Most kids in Afghanistan become Muslim and most kids born to devout Christians follow in their parents religion.

[headinhands]

I don't understand how your paragraph about the NHS relates to niminy saying the notion of equality coming from god and me using the Canaanite woman as an example of Jesus dabbling in a little casual racism. I might not have private health care but I'd be kicking up an almighty fuss if my GP referred to me as a dog in an analogy of comparison to other people, other people he or she clearly felt more worthy of their expertise.

You have a vested interest in not seeing it as it is, I understand that, really I do but seriously, if you heard that exchange anywhere else and with anyone else you'd allow yourself to acknowledge the racism.

[headinhands]

they would not have as much evidence

Nope. They have as much as you. So what's your evidence then?

[headinhands]

uk or middle east

So all religions lead to Yahweh? Or people harden hearts more for whatever reason in Afghanistan?

[Hakluyt]

"Time and time again people say how they don't like being "influenced" by Christianity "

I don't mind Christians trying to influence me. What I don't like Christians having a privileged postion in society and having undue control over things where religion should have no sway.

[Hakluyt]

Capsicum, I honestly don't know what to say to you. If you can't see that the examples you give are absolutely nothing to do with atheism, and would have happened to you whether you were a Christian or not, and whether the person making the decision was an atheist or not, I honestly don't think it's worth us talking to each other.