Foundations, hopes, and contributions

[Confused]

In another thread, a poster made the following statement:

United we stand, divided we fall. I forget who actually said that, but it doesn't' really matter. Non-theists can throw logic, reasoning, and the scientific method at us all they want. Let them ridicule us because of our beliefs. Because of our faith. At least we have something. It is better than nothing. At least we stand on a foundation that is meaningful. One that offers eternal hope.

Despite the many things wrong with this one statement IMHO, the one I find the most troublesome is that this poster actually believes that a non-theistic foundations offers nothing meaningful or no hope. (sink or swim)

So up for debate:
1) What is the Christian foundation?
2) What is the atheistic foundation?
3) What foundation does Christianity offer that atheism can not match with beliefs such as humanism?
4) Does Christianity offer more hope than atheistic beliefs, or only the illusion of more hope?
5) What meaningful contributions does Christian beliefs add to society that atheistic beliefs cannot and/or do not?

[achilles12604]

So up for debate:
1) What is the Christian foundation?

I think this depends on what kind of foundation you are referring to. If you are referring to the foundation which supports the beliefs, then my foundation is analysis of facts. If you are referring to my the foundation for hope, then I believe that there is hope because of the amazing potential of humanity with God's spirit and direction. I think I would need to know foundation for what in order to answer this question completely.

Ok, I will come back to the beginning since my sarcasm was bad originally. I am referring to the individual foundation that each individual considers their foundation. Nothing more nothing less. It is your interpretation of your foundation as a Christian. What makes you Christian. What holds your beliefs. What separates it from an Islamic foundation. What makes your Christian foundation?

First off, analysis of the facts. Second, logical reasoning when posed with questions. Third, personal experiences. Fourth, my preconceptions.

But this doesn't tell me what a Christian foundation is. Only how you came to what you consider yours to incorporate.

Ah. I think I may understand. You are not asking what I base my faith ON but what my faith IS?

Is this correct?

Yes. Finally, I worded it right.

In the meantime, understand that when I say atheism does not offer hope I seriously mean ATHEISM. Not any other philosophy commonly associated with atheism.

Duly noted.

Ok then. What is my Christian faith?

Hmmm . . .

You know, to put it into a neat box is really hard. I may have to think about it for a while.

[Confused]

Ok then. What is my Christian faith?

Hmmm . . .

You know, to put it into a neat box is really hard. I may have to think about it for a while.

Well, you know I am not going anywhere for the next few days. So time is something I have too much of.

[achilles12604]

Ok then. What is my Christian faith?

Hmmm . . .

You know, to put it into a neat box is really hard. I may have to think about it for a while.

Well, you know I am not going anywhere for the next few days. So time is something I have too much of.

Ok. I have decided that I have boiled down what my faith IS

My faith is that God exists, and that he cares about his creation.

If you want to expand it more then my faith is also that God has reached out to man in the past with guidance and love and now he is waiting to see what man does.

[Confused]

Ok then. What is my Christian faith?

Hmmm . . .

You know, to put it into a neat box is really hard. I may have to think about it for a while.

Well, you know I am not going anywhere for the next few days. So time is something I have too much of.

Ok. I have decided that I have boiled down what my faith IS

My faith is that God exists, and that he cares about his creation.

If you want to expand it more then my faith is also that God has reached out to man in the past with guidance and love and now he is waiting to see what man does.

Now, is this in line with the Christian foundation? Or can it be applied to any religious foundation? What makes it unique to Christianity?

[achilles12604]

Ok then. What is my Christian faith?

Hmmm . . .

You know, to put it into a neat box is really hard. I may have to think about it for a while.

Well, you know I am not going anywhere for the next few days. So time is something I have too much of.

Ok. I have decided that I have boiled down what my faith IS

My faith is that God exists, and that he cares about his creation.

If you want to expand it more then my faith is also that God has reached out to man in the past with guidance and love and now he is waiting to see what man does.

Now, is this in line with the Christian foundation? Or can it be applied to any religious foundation? What makes it unique to Christianity?

Sorry. Late reply.


Confused . . . Don't you know by now that the question you asked me doesn't really apply to me? I think God approaches mankind where they are at. Thus, Christianity is not the end all is all of religions. Neither is Judaism. Or Buddhism. Or the Great Spirit.

[Confused]

Ok then. What is my Christian faith?

Hmmm . . .

You know, to put it into a neat box is really hard. I may have to think about it for a while.

Well, you know I am not going anywhere for the next few days. So time is something I have too much of.

Ok. I have decided that I have boiled down what my faith IS

My faith is that God exists, and that he cares about his creation.

If you want to expand it more then my faith is also that God has reached out to man in the past with guidance and love and now he is waiting to see what man does.

Now, is this in line with the Christian foundation? Or can it be applied to any religious foundation? What makes it unique to Christianity?

Sorry. Late reply.


Confused . . . Don't you know by now that the question you asked me doesn't really apply to me? I think God approaches mankind where they are at. Thus, Christianity is not the end all is all of religions. Neither is Judaism. Or Buddhism. Or the Great Spirit.

Then why do you identify with Christianity? If there is nothing unique to its foundation, then why identify with the Christian God?
Yes, I know you are anything but the stereotypical Christian. But there must be some reason why this is your foundations and not Judaism or any other religious doctrine.

[achilles12604]

Ok then. What is my Christian faith?

Hmmm . . .

You know, to put it into a neat box is really hard. I may have to think about it for a while.

Well, you know I am not going anywhere for the next few days. So time is something I have too much of.

Ok. I have decided that I have boiled down what my faith IS

My faith is that God exists, and that he cares about his creation.

If you want to expand it more then my faith is also that God has reached out to man in the past with guidance and love and now he is waiting to see what man does.

Now, is this in line with the Christian foundation? Or can it be applied to any religious foundation? What makes it unique to Christianity?

Sorry. Late reply.


Confused . . . Don't you know by now that the question you asked me doesn't really apply to me? I think God approaches mankind where they are at. Thus, Christianity is not the end all is all of religions. Neither is Judaism. Or Buddhism. Or the Great Spirit.

Then why do you identify with Christianity? If there is nothing unique to its foundation, then why identify with the Christian God?
Yes, I know you are anything but the stereotypical Christian. But there must be some reason why this is your foundations and not Judaism or any other religious doctrine.

Because Christianity is where God first reached to me. Just as Ghandi chose the tenants of Hinduism yet accepted Christianity, Buddhism, Islam etc. It was familiar to him.

I would not expect a Native American to switch to Christianity if he was being reached out to by God through the Great Spirit.

[Confused]

Ok then. What is my Christian faith?

Hmmm . . .

You know, to put it into a neat box is really hard. I may have to think about it for a while.

Well, you know I am not going anywhere for the next few days. So time is something I have too much of.

Ok. I have decided that I have boiled down what my faith IS

My faith is that God exists, and that he cares about his creation.

If you want to expand it more then my faith is also that God has reached out to man in the past with guidance and love and now he is waiting to see what man does.

Now, is this in line with the Christian foundation? Or can it be applied to any religious foundation? What makes it unique to Christianity?

Sorry. Late reply.


Confused . . . Don't you know by now that the question you asked me doesn't really apply to me? I think God approaches mankind where they are at. Thus, Christianity is not the end all is all of religions. Neither is Judaism. Or Buddhism. Or the Great Spirit.

Then why do you identify with Christianity? If there is nothing unique to its foundation, then why identify with the Christian God?
Yes, I know you are anything but the stereotypical Christian. But there must be some reason why this is your foundations and not Judaism or any other religious doctrine.

Because Christianity is where God first reached to me. Just as Ghandi chose the tenants of Hinduism yet accepted Christianity, Buddhism, Islam etc. It was familiar to him.

I would not expect a Native American to switch to Christianity if he was being reached out to by God through the Great Spirit.

I guess my question then is do you represent the Christian foundation? Or with your liberal views, can you represent it?

[Metatron]

Ok then. What is my Christian faith?

Hmmm . . .

You know, to put it into a neat box is really hard. I may have to think about it for a while.

Well, you know I am not going anywhere for the next few days. So time is something I have too much of.

Ok. I have decided that I have boiled down what my faith IS

My faith is that God exists, and that he cares about his creation.

If you want to expand it more then my faith is also that God has reached out to man in the past with guidance and love and now he is waiting to see what man does.

Now, is this in line with the Christian foundation? Or can it be applied to any religious foundation? What makes it unique to Christianity?

Sorry. Late reply.


Confused . . . Don't you know by now that the question you asked me doesn't really apply to me? I think God approaches mankind where they are at. Thus, Christianity is not the end all is all of religions. Neither is Judaism. Or Buddhism. Or the Great Spirit.

Then why do you identify with Christianity? If there is nothing unique to its foundation, then why identify with the Christian God?
Yes, I know you are anything but the stereotypical Christian. But there must be some reason why this is your foundations and not Judaism or any other religious doctrine.

Because Christianity is where God first reached to me. Just as Ghandi chose the tenants of Hinduism yet accepted Christianity, Buddhism, Islam etc. It was familiar to him.

I would not expect a Native American to switch to Christianity if he was being reached out to by God through the Great Spirit.

Where does salvation through faith in Christ fit in with this very general religious framework? After all, a Hindu may worship the Godhead through the avenue of Brahma and the Muslim through Allah, but neither base a belief in salvation through a redeeming sacrifice of the Son/Avatar of their gods. Does not your conception make Christ's sacrifice ultimately unnecessary if others can come to God without Christ?

[achilles12604]

Ok then. What is my Christian faith?

Hmmm . . .

You know, to put it into a neat box is really hard. I may have to think about it for a while.

Well, you know I am not going anywhere for the next few days. So time is something I have too much of.

Ok. I have decided that I have boiled down what my faith IS

My faith is that God exists, and that he cares about his creation.

If you want to expand it more then my faith is also that God has reached out to man in the past with guidance and love and now he is waiting to see what man does.

Now, is this in line with the Christian foundation? Or can it be applied to any religious foundation? What makes it unique to Christianity?

Sorry. Late reply.


Confused . . . Don't you know by now that the question you asked me doesn't really apply to me? I think God approaches mankind where they are at. Thus, Christianity is not the end all is all of religions. Neither is Judaism. Or Buddhism. Or the Great Spirit.

Then why do you identify with Christianity? If there is nothing unique to its foundation, then why identify with the Christian God?
Yes, I know you are anything but the stereotypical Christian. But there must be some reason why this is your foundations and not Judaism or any other religious doctrine.

Because Christianity is where God first reached to me. Just as Ghandi chose the tenants of Hinduism yet accepted Christianity, Buddhism, Islam etc. It was familiar to him.

I would not expect a Native American to switch to Christianity if he was being reached out to by God through the Great Spirit.

Where does salvation through faith in Christ fit in with this very general religious framework? After all, a Hindu may worship the Godhead through the avenue of Brahma and the Muslim through Allah, but neither base a belief in salvation through a redeeming sacrifice of the Son/Avatar of their gods. Does not your conception make Christ's sacrifice ultimately unnecessary if others can come to God without Christ?

I have written in detail about my views on salvation. If you would like, I go into great detail in the Heresy thread and I include links to threads I started specifically on salvation.

A summary is that sin must be accounted for. A Penalty must be paid to clean these away, and Jesus was sent for the sins of the whole world. He was not sent just for the sins of Christians but rather for all. Once sin was put aside, we are free to be judged by the content of our hearts.

As I said I have gone into detail in my heresy threads and others where I have linked to scriptures to support my views.