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I've always looked upon it as a walk with God. That means praying, worshipping, seeking him, studying the Bible, build relationships within the body of Christ, etc. and involving God in your everyday life. In short, it is an active faith that you incorporate into your life as you step out in faith concerning what you perceive God's will is.
Without this active faith, your faith will more than likely shrival up and die and mean nothing to you other than just an intellectual exercise acknowledging that God exists or merely attending church.
Originally posted by KellyJayWell you're still a Christian, so it makes sense to you, presumably. I used to think the same sorts of things as you do, but I am not a Christian anymore, so I am not claiming 'Jesus left me'. I find it odd that you still think this is what I am claiming. It must have something to do with whatever personal affirmation you are seeking by insisting that a person cannot lose their faith.
Well since Jesus said He'd never leave us or forsake us, I'll take His Word over
yours.
Originally posted by whodeyBased on my experience, I think people can stop believing - for both spiritual and intellectual reasons - regardless of whether the exercise of those beliefs had been "active" or "passive" in the ways you suggest.
Without this active faith, your faith will more than likely shrival up and die and mean nothing to you other than just an intellectual exercise acknowledging that God exists or merely attending church.
Originally posted by FMFSo based upon your experience, what was the cause?
Based on my experience, I think people can stop believing - for both spiritual and intellectual reasons - regardless of whether the exercise of those beliefs had been "active" or "passive" in the ways you suggest.
Originally posted by FMFI do not think Christ left you, I've been very clear about that.
Well you're still a Christian, so it makes sense to you, presumably. I used to think the same sorts of things as you do, but I am not a Christian anymore, so I am not claiming 'Jesus left me'. I find it odd that you still think this is what I am claiming. It must have something to do with whatever personal affirmation you are seeking by insisting that a person cannot lose their faith.
Kelly
Originally posted by whodeyI've had friends convert from Islam to Christianity, from Christianity to Islam, from atheism to theism, from theism to atheism, from adhering to a religion to being a non-religionist etc. etc. When it comes right down to it, if the necessary folklore and dogma doesn't work for someone anymore, then they have the choice of either pretending to believe, or being open and honest about how they have stopped believing.
So based upon your experience, what was the cause?
Originally posted by FMFI believe it is good that you are open and honest, because pretending never really works, it only seems to. 😏
I've had friends convert from Islam to Christianity, from Christianity to Islam, from atheism to theism, from theism to atheism, from adhering to a religion to being a non-religionist etc. etc. When it comes right down to it, if the necessary folklore and dogma doesn't work for someone anymore, then they have the choice of either pretending to believe, or being open and honest about how they have stopped believing.
Originally posted by FMFSo when the dogma "doesn't work for someone anymore" I think is an accurate way to put things.
I've had friends convert from Islam to Christianity, from Christianity to Islam, from atheism to theism, from theism to atheism, from adhering to a religion to being a non-religionist etc. etc. When it comes right down to it, if the necessary folklore and dogma doesn't work for someone anymore, then they have the choice of either pretending to believe, or being open and honest about how they have stopped believing.
Typically people only want to embrace dogma that is beneficial for what they want to do. It is a rare thing when serving self takes a back seat to dogma.
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Originally posted by whodeyNo, I am talking about not believing something. I am talking about someone realizing that they do not believe the content of the dogma. And I am talking about someone being honest about that. Dogma "not working for someone anymore" is just a figure of speech, whodey. It's about whether the "embrace" of dogma is genuine or whether it involves pretending.
So when the dogma "doesn't work for someone anymore" I think is an accurate way to put things.
Typically people only want to embrace dogma that is beneficial for what they want to do. It is a rare thing when serving self takes a back seat to dogma.