I want to thank you and everyone else on this thread for what I learned these last few days. As I have said a number of times over the years, one of the reasons I join these religion threads, is to try and learn about people, and why they believe as they do. I haven't figured that out yet, but what I have learned, is that many people seem to require reinforcement or some form of validity/proof for their own beliefs/faith. This appears to manifests itself in the constant, and sometimes repeated, requests for proof or validation from me, of my beliefs. While I almost always qualify my statements with the fact that I do not possess, nor have a need for, any substantiating evidence for my belief in God, sometimes, this doesn't seem to get across to people. Many think that I know these things to be fact. I try to remind people, that I am the first person to say that I might very well be wrong.
While it may appear to you, that I am anti-Christian, believe me, I am not anti- any religion. It's just that I frequent FreeRepublic, and the only religion threads, are Christian based. If their were any others, I would gladly ask them the same questions.
validity/proof for their own beliefs/faith
I believe that God is personal and His Spirit testifies to my spirit through His Word to the truth and I require no further validation.
sometimes, this doesn't seem to get across to people
Maybe you should try a different method of communication. ;)
I would gladly ask them the same questions.Do you think 'they' would receive your questions without wanting to know more about your beliefs? You see, Christians are concerned for God's glory and your salvation. It isn't necessarily that they are threatened, but rather they may be confident that you are wrong and in danger of spending eternity in hell. It is loving for a Christian to tell someone that they are hell bound unless they turn to the living God.