[Search for users] [Overall Top Noters] [List of all Conferences] [Download this site]

Conference lgp30::christian-perspective

Title:Discussions from a Christian Perspective
Notice:Prostitutes and tax collectors welcome!
Moderator:CSC32::J_CHRISTIE
Created:Mon Sep 17 1990
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1362
Total number of notes:61362

65.0. "Why is it important to you?" by CSC32::J_CHRISTIE (A Higher Calling) Fri Oct 19 1990 14:20

Why is what you believe (no matter what you believe as a Christian) so
important to you?

Richard
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
65.1BTOVT::BEST_Gyou are living in eternal windFri Oct 19 1990 14:4718
    
    I think we become complacent with our set of ideas when we discover
    that they work for us.  
    
    That statement may seem contradictory at first glance.
    
    When a new situation arises, we have a choice about whether or not we
    are going to squeeze the new stuff into the old box (however ornate
    and pretty that box may have become over time) or if we are going to
    get a new, bigger box, or build an addition or whatever.
    
    Fear often keeps us from making additions or buying more spiritual
    real-estate.
    
    That is just fear that the old box will become obsolete (almost never
    does, in my experience).
    
    guy
65.2COOKIE::JANORDBYThe government got in againFri Oct 19 1990 17:094
    
    Because it's all I know.
    
    Jamey
65.3CSC32::M_VALENZANote while you vibrateFri Oct 19 1990 17:184
    Because I'm right about everything, and anyone else who disagrees with
    me is wrong.  :-)
    
    -- Mike
65.4BTOVT::BEST_Gyou are living in eternal windFri Oct 19 1990 17:206
    
    re: .3 (Mike V.)
    
    You must be wrong, because I feel the same way! :-)
    
    guy
65.5BSS::VANFLEETIt's only life after allFri Oct 19 1990 17:215
    I'm righter than you are!!!  Neener, Neener, Neener!
    
    :-)
    
    Nanci
65.6WMOIS::B_REINKEWe won't play your silly gameFri Oct 19 1990 17:4711
    Because it has formed a sort of center core of conviction for
    my whole life that I rely on..
    
    Bonnie
    
    (and Nanci I always thought it was Nah, Nah, Nuh, Nah, Nah)
    
    :-)
    
     
    
65.7BSS::VANFLEETIt's only life after allFri Oct 19 1990 18:138
    Bonnie - 
    
    I suppose it depends on which grade school you went to - it's sort of
    like the old Itsy-bitsy spider vs. Eensy-weensy spider debate.
    
    ;-)
    
    Nanci
65.8SA1794::SEABURYMZen: It's not what you thinkFri Oct 19 1990 18:3213
    
    Re.0
    
    
          I don't think I can answer this right off the top of
        my head. Hang on, this one I gotta mull over for a spell.
          Why couldn't you ask an easy one like the meaning of
        life or something like that.
                                     :-)
    
                                                       Mike
    
          
65.9CSC32::M_VALENZANote while you vibrateFri Oct 19 1990 20:194
    I want to hear more about this Itsy-bitsy spider vs. Eensy-weensy
    spider debate.  :-)
    
    -- Mike
65.10ban debate from this string! SRO pleaseDELNI::MEYERDave MeyerFri Oct 19 1990 20:5717
    	Flush the spiders, we're deciding the fate of the universe here!
    
    	What I believe is important to me because it is the core of how I
    make moral and ethical decisions and how I deal with other people. If
    most people lacked a similar core I believe the world would be a more
    difficult place to survive in and if more people had a more similar
    core of beliefs upon which they acted then the world would be a better
    place to live in. Then there is the side issue of God and heaven. If
    these don't exist then what I believe will just contribute to the
    quality of life here (in an Itsy-bitsy way), but if they do then living
    up to my core will help get me there. A win/win situation.
    	Please note that this is what *I* believe about what *I* believe
    and you can like it or lump it. You are all perfectly free to have your
    own opinions about your own belief systems, which I will like or lump
    as *I* see fit. I promise not to lump yours in public if you will be so
    kind as to do the same for mine. 
    	Eensy-weensy indeed !  Where WERE you hatched?  ;-)
65.11Supportive spiders only??BSS::VANFLEETIt's only life after allMon Oct 22 1990 11:1514
    Dave -
    
    Just for the record, I happen to be in the "itsy-bitsy" camp as far as
    spiders go.  ;-)  
    
    
    
    Mike - 
    
    Since Dave has requested that this topic be closed to debate I'll meet you 
    at the microwave at 11:00 and explain about the Great Spider Debate. 
    ;-)
    
    Nanci
65.12CSC32::M_VALENZANote in the dark.Mon Oct 22 1990 11:204
    Nanci, I don't know if I can make it there by 11 or not, but if I do,
    I'll have my slim-fast package in hand.  :-)
    
    -- Mike
65.13because ...GOLF::BERNIERThe Organic ChristianTue Oct 23 1990 12:5212
    What I believe is important to me because my life is not just based on
    it, my very life stems from it. Without my belief in God, His plan for
    my salvation, His purpose for my life, His truth revealed through His
    Word then my life is nothing. I am dead though I still exist.
    
      Seperating me from this is the same as destroying me utterly. 
    
    
    BUT THANK GOD THAT YOU CAN'T SEPERATE ME FROM THE WONDERFUL LOVE OF
    GOD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  (reference to Romans 8:31 - 39)
    
     Gil
65.14Whats' the difference if it doesn't make a difference?CSC32::LECOMPTEThe lost are always IN_SEASONWed Oct 24 1990 06:309
    
    	Anyone whose beliefs aren't important to them probably don't
    believe in much.  What you believe will ALWAYS make a difference in
    your life.  Even when you don't choose to make a stand about it.
    
     ...And if you don't stand for something you will fall for anything...
    
    
    				_ed-
65.15SA1794::SEABURYMZen: It's not what you thinkThu Oct 25 1990 18:5728
    
    Re.0
    
      Richard:
    
              Do you know what a Koan is ? In Zen it is a question
      used to force a person out of "normal" ways of thinking as a
      way to prod them along "the way".
              A famous one goes: Does a dog have Buddha nature ?
      The answer is: Mu ! (Nonsense) which is a way of saying there
      is no answer because this is the wrong question to be asking.
              In my case the answer to you question is, Mu !
      This is no joke I gave this plenty of serious thought and have
      pretty much concluded for a Buddhist this question just does not
      apply. The idea of attaching "importance" to a non-reality such
      as a personal belief is kind of funny actually ( well at least
      to a Buddhist it is ).
              If you are serious about a personal spirituality that 
      is beyond dualistic consciousness then attachment to concepts
      and also concepts that have become integrated with the concept
      of the "self" need to be "removed", for lack of a better word.
              Does this make any sense at all ? If not let me know
      and I'll give another try at explaining it.


                                                  Mike 
    
65.16Re .15CSC32::J_CHRISTIEA Higher CallingThu Oct 25 1990 19:197
    I hear what you're saying, Mike.  I was really trying to get at
    the core of why at least some people get so fired up and feel so
    threatened when they come in contact with incongruent belief
    systems.
    
    Peace,
    Richard
65.17CSC32::M_VALENZANoting with alms.Thu Oct 25 1990 19:3212
    Belief in God is an important part of my own belief system, but it
    doesn't generally matter to me if others do or not incorporate a
    personal deity into their own beliefs.  So in one sense belief in God
    is "important" to me, but in the sense of not being generally bothered
    about how others view God it is not "important" (It does tend to bother
    me when others sneer outright at the idea of God, however.)

    And by the way, speaking of koans, what *is* the sound of one hand
    clapping?  This one has been keeping me up nights more often than the
    question of how many angels can dance on the head of a pin.  :-)

    -- Mike
65.18From Jane outlookROULET::COMEAURomans 1:16 Never AshamedMon Oct 29 1990 20:275
    
    Well let me see... That's not so hard, I base my hole life on Him.
    He is what I am today, he is all in all like a really good home
    made cerry pie Father, Son, And Holy Spirit. He is the reson I live.
    The reson I  Will neaver die.. He is Lord to me. He is my peace.