Thread: What do you believe in?

Originally Posted by PMH

Shouldn't Ásatrú (Norse mythology) be on that list? We should be at least a few million heathens up here in the north.

Personal beliefs aren't everyday topic here, no matter the religion. It is the same with those who believe in Elder Nordic Gods, Goddesses and such. I'm not one of them but i know many people who do, some very close.
It is interesting but those elder Gods do not seem to have much conflict with 'modern' religions, be it Christianity or Islam or whatever. As far as i understand, believing in those elder Gods is more like respecting certain values in life and nature and human characters.

Originally Posted by Bruno

I come from a difference place, as a formerly (a)gnostic person. As I said, I am an engineer. I believe that the laws of the universe are the work of God. They were created first. Everything I learn has to conform with, or at least not contradict those. If you don't dare to address the discrepancies between your beliefs and science, do you really believe?



Just my 2 ct. Everyone has to decide how they approach things for themselves.
And I don't think any less of people who don't follow my approach.



True. Often it doesn't add up.
However, have you ever read the coldfire trilogy, by Celia Friedmann? I thought that was fleshed out very well. The story also brings a very interesting interaction between the 2 main characters of the story, one a priest and one being evil incarnate.

The trilogy expands on many interesting dilemmas and decisions. It was one of the best (and well thought out) stories I've ever read. If you are into fantasy, it is one that is likely to capture you. Even the 'evil' character turns out to be much more nuanced than appears at first glance.

I do understand what you are saying, but faith has a lot to do with going against logic in a way. Why did Jesus' disciples get out the boat and try to follow him across the water (if we accept they did?). It had nothing to do with logic. I just think there are different sets of 'rules' to govern earthly (physical) matters and heavenly (spiritual) matters. I think in the Bible we're warned against thinking on higher things or words to that effect), i think at times it can give 'evil' (Satan) a bit of a toe hold to destroy our faith with doubt. Like I said, I'm quite fundamental in my beliefs.

I haven't read that book. I do like fantasy, but for me, a lot of what came after The Lord of the Rings (I read it in the 70s) was a bit of a copy. I love the book Leaf by Niggle (by Tolkien), it's got a good message. The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever was a great fantasy book, that, as is In Viriconuim. I Read In Viriconium when I was about 19 and was amazed. Forgive me while I recount this last paragraph:

Wrinkling his nose he turned over some of the rags on the floor. Among them he found a bit of heavily worked tapestry which he thought might do as a curtain. He unfolded it nervously, having learned his lesson from the last one he had picked up. It was stained yet luminous; it had been splendid once. It showed a man in the extreme yellow of age, as bald as an egg, walking between two huge buildings. The road under his feet was carpeted with the crushed husks of insects; and a shadowy figure accompanied him on his left side, a child or a dwarf mounted on a donkey. This figure, its face partly obscured by dirt, fascinated Ashlyme. He lifted the tapestry to the light so he could see it better.

As he did so there came a load clatter of wings from the room upstairs. Suddenly the shop seemed to be full of shadows.

'A large bird had flown in through some open window,' he wrote later in his journal. 'I thought i heard a reedy voice speak indistinctly in the gloom. i put the tapestry down and walked quickly into the sunshine.'

Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

I do understand what you are saying, but faith has a lot to do with going against logic in a way. Why did Jesus' disciples get out the boat and try to follow him across the water (if we accept they did?). It had nothing to do with logic.

Only one did, it was Peter

I just think there are different sets of 'rules' to govern earthly (physical) matters and heavenly (spiritual) matters. I think in the Bible we're warned against thinking on higher things or words to that effect)

I'm not sure it does. Many times the Bible encourages wisdom. See the book of Proverbs. If you can find verses that discourage higher thought please share. Many things can give Satan a foothold in our lives, and many of them require little wisdom at all.

Jeff

Originally Posted by TURNMASTER

Only one did, it was Peter



I'm not sure it does. Many times the Bible encourages wisdom. See the book of Proverbs. If you can find verses that discourage higher thought please share. Many things can give Satan a foothold in our lives, and many of them require little wisdom at all.

Jeff

Oh, disciple then :-)

I'm probably wrong in regard to the interpretation, I was talking about this:

Romans 12:3
"Be of the same mind one toward another. Set not your mind on high things, but condescend to things that are lowly. Be not wise in your own conceits."

Anyway, what I was really trying to convey was a thought that tearing things apart with logic can leave one in a muddled mess. I don't feel the key is intelligence or logic, but faith. If one needed intelligence, I'd be doomed for sure! :-)

Anyway, I've taken this thread away from the 'survey' that the OT meant it to be, so enough ignorant comments from me!

God bless

Carl

Originally Posted by Jaxx2112

Albeit raised in a relatively reform house of Judaism, I've found myself leaning towards other nowadays. Not because i don't have faith in Judaism, or anything of that sort, but more because I've found that

all i really want to believe is that people are capable of being good without someone telling them to be so.

I love the part in bold you wrote ! So true in today's me, me , me world !

Cheers,

Scott

Good one ! So will you be using iCloud , as your storage provider on the otherside ?

cheers,

Scott