05-30-2016, 07:13 AM
(05-30-2016, 05:09 AM)pbrower2a Wrote:(05-30-2016, 01:02 AM)Eric the Green Wrote:(05-28-2016, 11:22 PM)radind Wrote: I realize that you are unlikely to accept the barna.org results. The key issue to me is how many have a Biblical worldview.....No, I can't. To me, any member of an evangelical religion, or any loyal and church-going traditional-believing Catholic, has a Biblical worldview. The Barna survey defines it as a very specific, lengthy, and quite superstitious list of outrageous beliefs which they attribute to the Bible. No, that's not a basis for such an assessment.
Quote:I don't belong to or follow any large Christian organization and do not recognize any 'Church' authority except for my local congregation.As I hear your views on some of these religious and "moral" subjects, they are views that can only be the result of belief in traditional teachings as given by Church authority, whether local OR organization-wide. I mean, geez; you seem to accept the Barna interpretation of things, and he says, "Christian families, Christian schools, and Christian churches would be wise to invest more effort and tangible resources into helping young people understand and adopt the core ideas of Christianity..." If that isn't "recognizing Church authority" I dunno what is.
I believe that each person is accountable for his or her views, so I absolutely disagree with your assessment of my views. I think that the large organizations( 'Churches') actually are responsible for most of the problems attributed to Christianity.
Of course, it is every individual's decision whether to believe these things, or generally what spiritual convictions to have. So in that sense, I don't doubt that you have decided what your views are, and take responsibility for them. They are not, however, and as I see it, what Jesus really taught at all. The New Age/New Thought interpretation is correct, as I see it. And I take responsibility for my view on that
But I doubt you can question that the golden rule is Biblical, or that my interpretation of what the resurrection means is true.
Quote:Our points of view ( worldviews) are so different that we are unlikely to agree on much.
Not on some of these sorts of subjects. I find them unfathomable, and you did not try to justify them here, as I challenged you to do. It's a different culture that we come from; a different part of the country too. But, I'm sure I agree with you on some other subjects, as we have in fact.
The climate of religious and intellectual freedom has made possible the rise of fundamentalist Christianity in America, often to the consternation of the secularist types who believe themselves the heirs of the Enlightenment. It also makes possible inquiries into alternatives, including Islam and Buddhism.
People get to choose what authorities they accept and reject, and they are free to express their contempt of some putative authorities with the staunchest contempt. But such is freedom.
I just hope that freedom of religion for Christians does not go away.
… whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Phil 4:8 (ESV)