Nekochan wrote:Thank you PB and Dreams, both of you.
I didn't start the thread to start a fight. I respect everyone's belief as long as they don't use it as an excuse to hurt other people. I've noticed Obama's comments about his religion over the years and I believe his religion to be, based on his own words, a belief that God is always here with us and that God is involved in our lives and has a plan for each of us and that He uses events and people to do His will. It is not an odd or unusual belief for a Christian to have. What Obama said in OK the other day is not outside the mainstream Christian belief. But clearly, the God that Obama believes in is not a God who just sits back and watches things.
And hey Neko, I wasn't fighting or arguing. This is an old, old issue with me.
I don't often talk about my personal beliefs, but the notion that God is responsible for things like tornadoes, hurricanes, drive-by shootings and murder, as well as responsible for all the pain that follows, somehow seems like a slap in the face to God to me. The power in which I believe, whom I do refer to as God most of the time, would grieve with the families, not cause that sort of destruction and pain in the first place. I believe in a loving God, not a vengeful God. Never, ever a vengeful God. Perhaps this is what keeps me sane during the hard times; I don't know.
I don't know if it qualifies me as a Christian, but I also believe in the words and actions of Jesus Christ. If the world could live by the principles Jesus explained in his sermon on the mount, what a different world we would have! But we humans, we just can't seem to do it. That's where free will comes in, unfortunately.
I have a sister who has been trying to "save" me for decades. She is a beautiful woman with a strong faith, and she fears for my soul. She was pleased when I told her several years ago that yes, I believe in the principles Jesus exemplifies. She knows that may be the best this heathen can do.