Random Thought

[nailit]

If I *need* (why would I need?) to believe in a God for whatever reason (Eternal life. Avoiding eternal hell etc) then how could I be sure that the God that I believed in would be the one?
If 'God' himself appeared to me how could I be sure that this entity would indeed be the God of truth and not some impersonating spirit/delusion/demon/ etc?
Ive sometimes been asked what would turn me into a believer.
The answer is that I don't know.
But any God who cares enough about me WOULD know.
After 53 yrs on this Earth, I can only conclude that
1) God doesn't want me (or he would show me that he exists...no questions asked)
2) God doesn't exist

Either way, the problem is not mine.

[jourdain2]

Nailit 17.41 I don't think Satan would have tried to influence me to work my socks off with jumble-sales etc. etc. to keep a village church going. :)

[nailit]

Village life, quaint Norman churches, jumble sales etc.

Some peoples lives are so far removed from others.
It makes it impossible to have a meaningful conversation.

[GymLadTim]

Nailit even in Stoke without some of the work the religious organisations do a lot of people would be destitute. I've seen mosques donating food to the homeless, without a foodbank run by a church me and my mum would not have eaten a few times. What are the government doing for people when there benefits are stopped and they can't buy food - NOTHING.

[Theland]

Jesus said, "My word will never pass away," therefore, we can measure any life experience or belief against the scriptures. Nothing must contravene the Word.

[nailit]

GLT
I *WORK* for the foodbank. Ive actually collected food today from the city mosque.
AND???
Again, these arnt religious values.
These are HUMAN values.

[jourdain2]

Nailit - I also taught for over 30 years in tough comprehensive schools in inner-city Bradford, Halifax etc. Drugs, pupil prostitution, knives - you name it - the Bradford Riots; I was in there naming ringleaders, providing a safe house for some friends in there. Eventually (I'll soon be 70) I reached my now beloved backwater - after a spell in France which started with the wrong man who turned out to be a psychopath and tried to kill me, so I ended up handling a court case, in French, before I met my much-loved Mr. J2 - but I am very much aware of other areas and am actively involved in trying to help homeless people locally.
So, you are jumping to a few conclusion, the most serious of which is that I cannot communicate on deeper societal issues. I think I'm entitled to spend my twilight years in peace and a lovely setting having 'fought the good fight'. I also volunteer in school to help slow readers by the way and when a little boy broke down in tears recently I discovered why and was able to set the correct wheels in motion. Don't tell me that I can't and don't understand.

[Theland]

Well said j2