>>“Religion is not a reliable gauge of a man’s Character.”
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> And what would be? His shoe size?
His conduct.
Religion is not a reliable gauge of a man’s Character. I know a devout Catholic who is probably the greatest unhanged villain on this planet: yet he never misses Mass.
And I know another devout Catholic whose place in Heaven is almost certainly assured, prepaid and Business-class.
I have a friend who is an Athiest, yet she does the “Do unto others” part of Christ’s commandment better than most Christians could ever aspire to. An Athiest (and thus Dam’ned by definition) with no hope of or desire for a reward in the afterlife!
I have another friend who is a Wiccan. She helps the homeless folk and the destitute and, from time to time, I help her help them. There was a time a couple hundred years ago when “Good Christians” would have hanged her, or burnt her at the stake, as a matter of duty. Jolly fun, a good gauge of Character this religion thing is, ay. They would have had plenty of fun stringing her up and watching her dance, a couple hundred years ago. I don’t know how many hundreds of people she has helped in her life — she probably doesn’t either. And I don’t know why she does it: surely she doesn’t think she’s going to heaven, because she is a witch! But reliably, when a mug of hot soup is needed on a cold winter nite to nourish a homeless fellow under a bridge — there she is.
I’ve got another friend who is a devout Muslim. Father of six kids. He would fight to the death to keep my family safe, and if that is against other muslims so be it. I trust him absolutely: he has proven himself many, many times. And I would fight and die if necessary to protect him and his family against any lynch mob out to get Muslims.
Religion is NOT a reliable gauge of a man’s Character.
Conduct is.
Faith is greater than deeds.
John 3:16
Great post, DieHard. Thanks.
I agree wholeheartedly with your sentiments. And the Bible supports your opinion that actions/conduct are determinative of a person’s character.
Thus, it is stated in James 2:17-24:
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
[Religion is NOT a reliable gauge of a man’s Character.
Conduct is.]
But, conduct IS related to one’s religion. For eample, Muslims cut off infidel heads because of religious conviction.
You are caught in circular reasoning without even knowing it.
Character is what one is MADE of.
There's hope YET!!
Get her name to one of our baptism for the dead thingys!
--MormonDude