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I reconcile it by going with honesty. I can't lie and say I believe something I just don't believe, and if God is what God is supposed to be, God gets that.
I feel sure He does. I've finally come to that conclusion, and it has relieved a lot of stress for me. I think God wants us to think for ourselves and not just blindly follow either a book or other human beings. But I also believe He will reveal His truths to us individually once He knows we're ready to accept and act on them.
If you are actually affiliated with a specific religion or denomination of Christianity, how do you reconcile what your religion teaches with what you actually believe? If there's a conflict, do you just toss out the baby with the bath water and move on to a new set of beliefs, do you stress out about the discrepancy between what you believe and what you have been told you're "supposed to" believe, or have you found a good way to reconcile these conflicts while still remaining part of the group you affiliate with?
I tossed out the baby with the bath water and moved on to a new set of beliefs.
I guess it depends on the beliefs. Anything major, I'd move on to something that aligned better, as someone else said. Minor things, it doesn't matter. I've most recently gone to churches in denominations that practice infant baptism. It's not something I believe in, but it's not a dealbreaker; it's not like I encounter it very often, it doesn't affect me, and no one has said "infant baptism or you're going to hell!"
Sometimes I wish my church was more heavily involved in charitable work, but there is some stuff they do, there are members who do things on their own, and I feel free to do the same; I don't need my church to direct me as to what I will do as far as charities are concerned.
If we differed on matters of exclusiveness or equality, I'd have to move on, but when I first thought I wanted to start attending my church, I met with my pastor to discuss the beliefs of the denomination to make sure it was a good fit.
I suspect very few people are 100% onboard with every last doctrine or dogma their particular church espouses, and I really take issue with anyone who would label someone a "hypocrite" for sticking with a church they agree with, say, 95%. I actually have a word for such people, but I can't use it here.
This is a rebuke from a "Lady" and, sadly, there seem to be fewer and fewer of them today than in the past. My wife is one that is how I recognize one. Of course, I did cheat a little knowing she is a Mormon.
This is a rebuke from a "Lady" and, sadly, there seem to be fewer and fewer of them today than in the past. My wife is one that is how I recognize one. Of course, I did cheat a little knowing she is a Mormon.
This is a rebuke from a "lady" who does not want to become an ex-member of City-Data.
to general to be useful.
anything can be considered "dogma" and personal opinions can be seriously flawed.
these are the statements that us middle of road types see...
died and rised for our sins
love thy enemy
we evaluate these statements on the statements themselves not if they are "dogma" or not.
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