07-27-2022, 02:20 PM
(07-27-2022, 01:38 PM)Bengalzona Wrote: I believe in God. I also believe in Jesus. But I don't believe because I have been told to believe, or because "it says in the Book that ya gotta believe!". Quite frankly, I have some real issues with taking everything in the Bible literally. I believe because I choose to believe. That's it. A leap of faith, as they say. And I think that that concept of 'choice' is fundamental to Judeo-Christian theology. Also, it is a very personal decision.
Some folks don't like to see religion put so simply as "a choice". They might say it trivializes their faith and fuels arguments for people who are not religious. Personally. I don't care. I don't see it as my job to "win souls" for the faith (similar to collecting scalps, IMAO). If people choose not to believe for whatever reason (evil in the world, lack of evidence, priestly perverts, etc), then so be it. That is their choice. I'm not going to argue with them or berate their choice because it differs from mine. And the reason I don't is because the one solid thing that have found in the Bible that makes the most sense is the Shema: (basically) "Love God and love your neighbor". Some of you will recognize this from Matthew 22:37-40. And I would extend this in my own believe to read "and show your love for God by loving your neighbor". Personally, I think that is what it is all about. Why would religious belief need to be any more complicated than that?
I've always found this approach somewhat curious. If I may, could I ask what you did find in the Bible that you found persuasive enough to compel belief in God? Would you still have come to that belief if the Bible didn't exist?
