I have not been a regular church-goer for many years. In fact, it is many years since I have attended a church service at all, other then weddings or funerals. But I still call myself a Christian. My rationale is that all the Christian denominations I have looked at have something about them with which I disagree, so I consider that it would be hypocritical of me to join them. I just hope that my form of worship, which involves doing good works, will be sufficient for me to scrape a pass mark when the test comes.
Another ‘problem' is that my view of God and religion in general might be somewhat unorthodox. I have never been able to understand why there is so much bitterness — hatred, even — between Christians, Jews and Muslims. I thought we were all worshipping the same God, albeit in different ways and with different beliefs in the role of Jesus, but fundamentally the same. I'll go further: I think that any religion with the core principle of loving others is a good religion, and probably has my God at its heart. In the King James version of the Bible, John 14:2: ‘In my father's house there are many mansions.' Surely, then, there will be room enough for Christian, Jew and Muslim to live alongside each other?
I always figured that if you're not atheist, agnostic, Taoist, Buddhist, Shinto, pagan, Wiccan, Muslim or some obscure faith, then Christian is what it is.
ReplyDeleteHow you worship... or don't... is your business. No matter how much I know about it, it is none of my business because all I have is second hand information.
I know my view of religion is unorthodox. My faith is a whole other issue.