[Livia]

Originally Posted by housemate

And many agree with you, to a degree and I am an (..allbeit unbaptised) Christian.. I agree with you.
Dave seems to have invented his own branch of Faith which has introduced lots of supersticious beings such as fairies, werewolves and the like into its teaching. This does offend me because he incorporates it all under the same banner of 'Christian Faith' and 'Gods Glory'... etc.. etc..
I can understand that you might argue that in your view it is the same thing ... in my view it is most certainly not. I'd go further and say it brings my beliefs into disrepute... it also thoroughly undermines the good, faith can bring to those who need it.

I do understand what you mean. Thing is, I don't have a problem with anyone believing anything they feel drawn to if they have faith in it. If we start to say that people can follow the main Christian religions, but not the offshoots of it, then we surely have to look at all religions and see whether they are worthy of being allowed followers. And who's going to say what's right and what's wrong? What's worthy and what's not?

If Dave has invented his own branch of faith, then he's following in the footsteps of many other people. The Christian church is younger than my own religion (the one I was born into) by about three thousand years. The Church of England is barely five hundred years old and was itself once a new branch of Christianity devised so someone could get a divorce that the Catholic church wouldn't give him. That doesn't make Christianity invalid in my eyes. Live and let live, I reckon, and let people follow the faith they choose.

[housemate]

Originally Posted by Livia

I do understand what you mean. Thing is, I don't have a problem with anyone believing anything they feel drawn to if they have faith in it. If we start to say that people can follow the main Christian religions, but not the offshoots of it, then we surely have to look at all religions and see whether they are worthy of being allowed followers. And who's going to say what's right and what's wrong? What's worthy and what's not?

If Dave has invented his own branch of faith, then he's following in the footsteps of many other people. The Christian church is younger than my own religion (the one I was born into) by about three thousand years. The Church of England is barely five hundred years old and was itself once a new branch of Christianity devised so someone could get a divorce that the Catholic church wouldn't give him. That doesn't make Christianity invalid in my eyes. Live and let live, I reckon, and let people follow the faith they choose.

Right .. totally agree except that he has gone in there under the guise of being a preacher ... not an individual.
I find it offensive to see and hear him fly in the face (lying, scheming and being entirely vile about his 'friends) of the teachings and morals he reads everyday, and which he claims he believes in ..and this sometimes just moments after waving his Bible around.
I don't give a flying fig what his belief system is, good luck to him but why should he feel free to mock the people who belong to the Christian Faith ,who also read those passages and regard them WITH some reverance?
Its totally wrong of him in my opinion.

[Livia]

Originally Posted by housemate

Right .. totally agree except that he has gone in there under the guise of being a preacher ... not an individual.
I find it offensive to see and hear him fly in the face (lying, scheming and being entirely vile about his 'friends) of the teachings and morals he reads everyday, and which he claims he believes in ..and this sometimes just moments after waving his Bible around.
I don't give a flying fig what his belief system is, good luck to him but why should he feel free to mock the people who belong to the Christian Faith ,who also read those passages and regard them WITH some reverance?
Its totally wrong of him in my opinion.

Yeah, I can see you could find that offensive. However, religious freedom is a right that goes back to the Magna Carta, and it's a right that is upheld in this country now more than ever. I wonder what Jesus would make of him?

Anyway... I'm off to bed. It's been nice, and interesting, to talk to you.