Kevyn

For those of you with deeply held religious convictions, do you think it is good to objectively explore faiths other than the one you were brought up in?

Quakerwidow Loc: Chestertown, MD

yes

Mom8052 Loc: Lost in the mountains of New Mexico

Did that growing up, each religion has a set way of doing things. Some I liked, others fell short of my expectations. Was married to a Mormon for a while, Temple Marriage is good for the man but not for the woman. (that a story on it's own merit) I found that God is with me all the time, so why pick a faith that has restrictions. The whole world is my chapel.

out of the woods Loc: to hell and gone New York State

Those of us with deeply held convictions, have arrived there after exploring or investigating other faiths. To have a convictions, means to be struck by the t***h, in my case the Bible, and what it reveals about life, God and Salvation, sin, death, other beliefs... It would be regression to attempt to adopt other beliefs as I am convicted deeply that God has revealed the t***h, through scripture.

Mom8052 Loc: Lost in the mountains of New Mexico

rebob14

I think we should strive to be self aware, and have at least some basic understanding of all major belief systems. Christians, Jews, and Arabs at one time were able to live together civilly until “leaders” were able to change their mind sets. Being ignorant leaves us open to anything. I read the Koran after 9/11 hoping for some insight.

Mom8052 Loc: Lost in the mountains of New Mexico

Peewee Loc: San Antonio, TX

Good question Kev... it's important to know "why" you believe what you believe. Here is my take, I'm the most curious person I know... and I have read about most every belief system there is but it was after I asked Jesus into my heart... and somewhere along your journey you will have doubts and a crisis of faith. I've read the Koran for knowledge to see what it said and compared it to the Christian faith. The muslims worship the moon god and bow down to a black rock in Mecca. That to me is a pagan idol worship and a big no no to me... it didn't shake my faith at all. Neither did Budda, Joseph Smith, Krisna etc... what gave me the biggest problems was the different Christians denominations... so I read about the Catholics, Methodist, Baptist, Eastern and Western Orthodox, etc... I found that the one I most identified with was the one who put a personal relationship with Jesus first, so I most identify with the Baptist. Never put your faith in a system or a denomination or a man or woman. They will lead you astray every time. None of the other faith's have a God who took on human form so He could know first hand what we go through except Jesus... then He became a human sacrifice for us so that His blood could cover our sins... then wonder of wonders He rose from the dead... that's a God and Saviour I can believe in and trust. He kept Torah, observed the feasts, was circumcised, didn't preach until He reached the proper age of thirty. Then He went around the country only doing good with many signs and wonders, and pointed out the errors of the priest and rabbi's and all their additional rules they burdened the people with. He even lost His temper and chased out the money changers in the temple because they were defiling His Father's house. The Son of God and a man's man. Yes, that's a faith I can believe in and follow to the best of my ability. No other faith has a Saviour like that. A great many Jews don't want to believe in Jesus because the Bible speaks of two Messiah's; a suffering one and a conquering one. They were looking for the conquering one because of the Romans when they should have remembered about the suffering one. So they missed the Messiah. They follow rabbis instead of Jesus and the rabbis still don't like Jesus. But Jesus commands me to bless them and to pray for the peace of Jerusalem which I do. What I find kind of interesting is there would be no modern day Israel except for Jesus. Lord Balford was a christian, the first nation to recognize Israel was a christian nation, the biggest supporters of Israel in the UN is the good ole USA. Israel is the root and we are the branch, we serve the same one and only God. Jesus name in Hebrew is Yashua which means salvation and He is all over the Torah and Old Testament, especially Isaiah 53. Guess what book and chapter the rabbis don't want the Jewish people to read, if you said Isaiah 53, you're right. The good news is more and more Jews are coming to Jesus. Did you know that if you are a Jew born in Israel, served in the IDF and marry a Jewish woman born in Israel and you believe in Jesus you are now a second class citizen. The rabbis won't marry you so you lose some benefits. The Bible is God inspired, it was written over 2000 year and by 60 different men and it all meshes perfectly. There are hidden codes in the Bible that were only discovered after the computer was. You can't predict the future with them, but after a major event, you can find that event using the code. There are over 500 predictions in the Bible and over half have come to pass. No other religion or faith has that. No man who has ever lived has had a greater impact on the world than Jesus, No one has been more written about, He even divides time. I'd forget all those other religions and run to Jesus if I were you Kev because none of them has a God and Saviour like Jesus.

maureenthannon

out of the woods,You're ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!! I long ago rejected the religion of my childhood. Since I've been with the GOD who IS LOVE and THE T***H, I'm don't need to look for something that isn't real. We've ALL been given a fee will by our CREATOR, so we're free to accept or reject HIM, HIS way,and ETERNAL LIFE in and with HIM> Why would anyone want to settle for a cheap imitation when the REAL ONE is available to "Who so ever will believe and receive the t***h. Eternity is an awful long time, why would anyone choose to spend it in hell?

no propaganda please Loc: moon orbiting the third rock from the sun

I too have arrived at my beliefs after much soul searching and examining what my life experiences led me to believe. Of course marrying SWMBO, a good Christian whose behavior and that of her entire family exemplified what Christ taught, has helped in my search for the one t***h.

Kevyn

What is SWMBO?

Peewee Loc: San Antonio, TX

I don't know either Kev, Single White Male Barack Obama, just doesn't sound right?

saltwind 78 Loc: Murrells Inlet, South Carolina

KEVYN, I am constantly reviewing my religious beliefs. In recent years, I have been attracted to many Buddhist ideas. With the exception of the idea of the Buddha that he was either an agnostic or atheist, I really like other ideas. They do not run counter to Jewish ideals. In short, Jewish law says to be a good person and Buddhism tells you how to do that. Live in the present is one idea that I love. Have you ever spent time feeling terrible about things you have done in the past? Buddhism says live in the present. That also means forgiving people that have wronged you in the past. There are many other ideals that I really love in Buddhism. I have been thinking a lot about how modern scientific t***h can coexist with religious thought and beliefs. I guess you can call it post biblical religious thought. The universe and our knowledge of it has expanded in the past couple of centuries. Instead of rejecting modern scientific t***hs and religious traditional beliefs, I think that knowledge has greatly expanded the awesome power of G-d.The universe is no longer just the earth, it is now an eternal multiverse with eternal boundaries. That means that the G-d that created it all is much greater than the G-d described in the Bible. Science doesn't challenge my belief in the creator, it enhances it!

lindajoy Loc: right here with you....

Absolutely.. in all my search in different churches I still wound up finding Him through my own study.., Which was and still is~~ about He above..

Spiritual awakening comes from what you believe not what is preached in the different denominations... Church is a moral reinforcer for what my spirit and mind already know.. A never ending quest, Kevyn..

Why do you ask??

lindajoy Loc: right here with you....

Who is SWMBO~~ she is npp’s wife...An amazing, loving, caring lady, that is a walking angel amongst us!!