Hello Joe,

JB>...and you still don't understand that is the central word
JB>of *your* New Testament that you and those like you have
JB>"Faith" in.  The word Faith is defined as:

JB>*religion: a strong belief in a supernatural power or
JB>powers that control human destiny; "he lost his faith but
JB>not his morality";

There is a difference between "faith" and "religion."

I might have "faith" that my car will get me to work on time.
However, I do not worship my car.  I do not build a temple or
place objects of worship to show my affection for my car.  I
simply have the faith to believe that my car will work - and
hopefully get me to work on time.

When someone says "I believe in God", is that faith?  Or is
that simply somebody saying what others expect him/her to say?
Faith is much more than mere words.  Faith is something that
must be demonstrated, by works.  After all, anybody can say
"I believe in God."  Whether they mean it or not.

A suicide bomber yells "Allah Akbar!"  He has faith that his act
will get him a free ticket to paradise.  And maybe it will.  He
has no way of knowing for sure until his act becomes fait accompli.
And even then, it might not be exactly the kind of paradise he was
expecting.

There is doubt in everything we do, and in everything we believe.
Will my car start?  Will the suicide bomber get his 72 virgins?
Will it please God that we have done what we believe will make
Him happy?

Why does anybody even need a book to have faith in God?
And why a particular translation of a book?  Or compilation
of books.  God does not need a book to speak to man.  Hell,
all S/he needed was a burning bush to speak to Moses.  And
Moses did not even bother to bring paper and pen to write
anything down.  Hence the need for God to give Moses a set
of stone tablets.  And then God had to make another set
when Moses dropped the tablets down the mountain.

Religion is a system of belief.

I can choose to worship a beach ball.
An entire community can choose to worship a beach ball.
A system of belief can be developed to worship a beach ball.
This system of belief can include many rituals.
And the beach ball would be pleased.
At least in the eyes of its worshippers.

But if it's a golden calf, be sure to invite Moses to the party.
Otherwise, watch out for flying stone tablets.

Morality is not the same thing as faith or religion.  One can be a
moral person, always doing the right thing.  Or always trying to do
what he/she sees as being the right thing.  For example, an avowed
atheist can be a moral person.  So can a Jew.  Or a Christian.  Or
a Muslim.  Or any other religious or non-religious person.

None of this has to be dependent on a book.

--Lee


 * SLMR 2.1a * hAS ANYONE SEEN MY cAPSLOCK KEY?

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