Claudio;

The measurement of a man is through his deeds. There are religious persons throughout history and even today that commit atrocities against mankind and in the name of God. Perhaps this is so because being a religious person does not guarantee what type of person you are.

I was raised a Roman Catholic and practice my religion. This is something I am very comfortable with and do not wish to change. Throughout all my life growing up in San Francisco, I have known people of many faiths and those who have no faith in any religion.

Regardless of our lack of religious belief or how strongly we may believe in God will not determine who we are or how we act. How we act and react to others and ourselves is not governed by our attitude towards religion.

You will find in life that a person will have a philosophical approach, which guides him in his everyday life. This approach may be a set of moral standards or elements of a system of socialization embraced by the individual.

Going to church and having “the right God”, guarantees nothing. Many can tell you that theirs is "the only religion – the true religion". I would suggest this is something personal and should be taken in a context to allow each person to make his own choice.

We have to attempt to understand others and not judge them by the religious beliefs they may or may not have. To do so is to judge others and in my book only God can do that!

As just one question about religion and especially Christianity, why are there so many different Christian Churches? It seems that Christians are still attempting to find “the truth” and when this occurs some will establish a new church. The new church will profess to be “the true church of God”. This has continued for centuries and I know of several examples in my area.

In San Francisco we have many churches. Some are what they call “store front churches”, which is a small store that is rented or leased. One that comes to mind is “The First Baptist American Indian Church”. I can list dozens more and I hope you understand my point.

What is religion? What is Christianity? You will receive many differing viewpoints. Which answer is correct yours or another persons? Should we exclude all of humanity that does not agree with our religious attitude or preferences?

By the way I truly enjoy discussions about religion and politics – the so called taboo subjects.

Tom



>>I wouldn't put it that way as I don't see any evidence for anything like what you think of "soul". It is just one more part of the Christian mythology.
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>If we do not have soul.. How wasted time it is our lifes.. Don't you think so ?
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>No purpose to live in places like Africa, or other (where the quality of life is 0)
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>No purpose for love, friendship, etc..
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>No purpose to have children, to have family, etc..
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>But, If you are right, the better deal it is to understand that the "Matrix" does not exist.. :)
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>>OK. But I read the Bible and I see countless acts of murder, ethnic cleansing, depravity, lies, deceit, fantasy, magic, etc. Hard for me to see a message of love from the book(s).
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>Second to the bible.. God it is the father.. The father must take care of his children.. Sometimes fighting, sometime giving affections, etc..
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>If you want to see love on the bible just go to New testment books.. Jesus came to our life to bring us the God's will for love..
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>If the purpose of bible it is to be the will of God.. How can we could know about the right and the wrong.. only for examples..
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>Countless acts of murder, ethnic cleansing, depravity, lies, deceit, fantasy, magic, etc.. Are our actions and not God's actions.. This is the reason that we must have that kind of will.. To learn !!
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>>Thank you for your words. That is something I like to do. Has nothing to do with a deity, just a wish to help.
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>It is a fact.. You are a great guy.. Most Valuable Person!!
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>Pardon me for this question.. But, for what reason, do you waste so many time on it (helping others)? My question it is based on your point (that we have only one life to live).. No soul, no continuations of life, etc..
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>>Martyrs? Many. But few have been written about by some many people, long after his death, and all by people that never met him. Are these stories true to life? We will never know.
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>This is the greatest paradox of faith.. Second to Jesus words.. Our behavior, or our acts does not take us to the god's kingdom.. Only the faith !!
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>The same faith used for us when we develop some application.. That will work in "some" people's hand.. :)
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>Claudio