I do my best to never push, shove, shout or threaten my faith on anyone. If anyone here feels I have then I honestly and sincerely apologise.
However, when someone posts a statement on Christianity I will respond with my beliefs. If I were to sit around a campfire enjoying the company of those here posting on this thread of the lack of belief in God I would not be the one to bring the subject up for conversation but that does not mean I do not have concern for them.
To use an example, I consider Antelope_Sniper a friend. We do not think the same on this subject so unless he asks I don't generally respond with an answer. Now that in no way means I do not think he is missing the boat so to speak and I do feel real concern for him because in my mind I believe in a afterlife and if I am right and he is wrong the consequences I would never wish on him. On the other hand, if he is right and I am just living a life in an unfounded faith the consequences will amount to nothing.
As I stated above in an earlier reply I chose to follow Christ. No one made me do it, I did it because my life sucked big time and I had no inner peace. I chose to try something different and from almost that moment on my life has been much better. No, the hurts and pains did not go away, neither did the hard times, but I felt much better equipped to handle those hard times. As Peter said to the lame man (Acts 3:6) silver and gold have I none, but such as I have give I thee —. I did not become rich in the things of the world. The Ruger 45 LC I have wanted since 1973 did not magically appear under my pillow. My bank did not call telling me I had to transfer some money because I had more in my accounts than the FDIC insurance covered nor did Publishers Clearing House knock on my door. But in spite of all than a peace and contentment have enabled me to persevere. Through the tough times, injuries aches, pains, low income and for the four and a half years of no income we have never gone without a roof over our heads and enough food on out table to share with those who may not. Today I suffer from daily bouts of dizzy spells bad enough that if I don't sit down or better yet lay down I would fall down. I have back pain the doctors can do nothing about. At 66 years old I have the joint pains than most my age know all to well. But with all that my life is pretty darned good. I am at peace and I am content. I choose to thank God for that.
Scott,
I hope this finds you well.
You made a reference that if in the end, your faith was misplaced it would cost you nothing. Often I would take issue with such a statement, but in your case, it would probably be close to true. I see you as someone who uses his faith as a philosophical guide, without making extravagant investments into it. I don't imagine you as someone who went on a two year mission to some South American schit hole to to try and convert Catholics to Christianity, no someone who give a large portion of his income to some mega church, nor spends many hours each day praying to someone who does not answer.
I see you more as a pragmatic Christian who faces his daily challenges in a very practical way. You have people you need to take care of, and that woods not going to chop itself, so you make it happen.
When people follow scriptures (from any religion) too fanatically, or to literally, it can result in real costs for them in this world, so their faith becomes a gamble between what they've sacrificed in this world, vs. what they hope to gain in the next. Fortunately I don't see you as the kind of man to be lead to far down that road.
You didn't use logic or reason to get into this opinion, I cannot use logic or reason to get you out of it.
You cannot over estimate the unimportance of nearly everything. John Maxwell
