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[Guest]

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[redjacket]

Okay I WILL NOT claim any religious doctrine of man to distinguish myself from others but I will say simply that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Saviour. What I wanted to learn about and hope to get a discussion going about is relationships and interactions with those who are unbelieving or have different views. As in Christians are fellow brethren to Jewish believers right? And so we are
All apart of Gods family as His children too? So those who are Muslim..I do not know much about the basics and tenets of this religion if someone would inform me I would appreciate it. As for those who do not believe in God how do I or anyone else interact? I am seriously seeking these answers and it would fill me with joy if everyone would help to contribute some opinions and information. Thank you

[Arkav]

As for those who do not believe in God how do I or anyone else interact?

I'm probably not the right person to answer to your questions, since I guess you wanted other christians to reply,
but let's see if I can give something which could resemble a contribution

Let's say I could be listed among the "unbelievers" (I was once a christian, catholic, but that was a good amount of time ago).
I don't think it takes any particular attention to deal with atheists, expecially when the situation isn't strictly related to religion. Most atheists simply don't think about religion at all, or most of the time, at least, so they probably won't get to discuss or question your faith explicitly unless you push them to. But, of course, it can vary from a person to another.
I have at least a couple of good friends who are believers but I think we never had problems because of that.

[RAVENOUS]

A very powerful statement in scripture which is often overlooked or not even read at all (also one of my favorites ):

...for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’
Acts 17:28

We are one physical family, both believer and unbeliever because as scripture also says, we come from one man and one woman:

ONE BLOOD (Father)
And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,
Acts 17:26

ONE MOTHER
And Adam called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.
Genesis 3:20

Now religiously for all intents and purposes Christianity is a Sect of Judaism, just like the Pharisee Sect, Sadducee Sect, and a few other Sects of Judaism. This is exampled by these texts:

Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation,
Acts 5:17

But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”
Acts 15:5

For we have found this man a plague, a creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.
Acts 24:5

THOSE are our "Sibling" faiths as these sects share the same direct root, the Judeo-Christian Bible's Old Testament or, "Torah". Our "Cousin" faiths are faiths that are called "Abrahamic" which basically means any faith that points its "roots" to Abraham but does not believe that the Torah is the fully divine word of the Almighty. Islam states that Abraham was the faithful one who followed the Almighty, but they disagree that it was Isaac who received the blessing, they feel it was Ishmael, the son who was sent away by Abraham. From there they start to differ widely in many things, but they believe very much like we do when it comes to important rights and wrongs. For instance, Adultery is wrong, Murder is wrong, Theft, etc. It's too deep for a post on here, but they do differ a lot down the line.

When it comes down to who dies and gets reward, the Muslims and Christians think that everyone else except them are going to hell. Judaism teaches a more universal approach in that they think that if you are not a Jew, you only have to obey certain key rules known as the "Noahide" laws, here's a link if you want to check it out: http://www.auburn.edu/~allenkc/noahide.html. They feel that if you are not a Jew and follow those rules, you will be looked upon favorably by the Almighty though how that favor is displayed in the afterlife is up for debate.

Hope I helped a little at least.

Peace

[Keith]

As Atheist I think I can answer your question more properly then a "non-Atheist", as because I would be the one you have to deal with.

I am just a normal Human-being, just like everyone else in this place. I eat, I drink, I might even have the (some) of the same interests.

Let me unfold my believes.

Every Human, believes in something, wether it is a God, an important person, science or even just himself.
Also every Human has his own ways of expressing himself, his own way to blow his "steam" of, wether you do it with praying, running, listening to music or whatever.

So to get back at your question redjacket, the way to live with me, accept me how I am, and I will accept how you are.

Most atheists simply don't think about religion at all, or most of the time, at least, so they probably won't get to discuss or question your faith explicitly unless you push them to

These are wise words, no one likes to be forced by someone else to believes in something else. So please leave us Atheists believe in ourselves.

[RAVENOUS]

I might point out Keith that the majority of personal contact that I've personally had with Atheists tends to be something of a mutual effort to proselytize each other. The religious one seeks to bring the atheist to religion, the atheist seeks to bring the religious away, whether directly or indirectly. Usually either side can't "leave each other's beliefs alone".

Peace

[beforHim]

. . .Usually either side can't "leave each other's beliefs alone".

Yeah, I've tended to notice that anyone who makes it a point- however subtle, quick, subversive, "in the closet", etc. it may or may not be- to mention their atheism usually ends up, sooner or later, trying to push their beliefs on others, like we Christians.  I'm sure there are those who just don't think about it, but trst me, there are TONS of Christians who "just don't think about it" as well (I call them names like "sunday morning Christians").  But to the actual topic at hand-


To make this quick, let's name some big differences between camps within Christianity.  Catholics teaches that the Eucharist actually becomes, literally, Christ; Baptists teach it's just symbolic.  Methodists teach that Christ died for everyone, period, no exceptions; Presbyterians teach that Christ died Only for those whom He unconditionally elected.  Messianic Judaism doesn't teach that baptism is required for salvation; the Church of Christ does.  Seventh Day Adventists teach that the sabbath is on Saturday, period, and to worhsip any other day and not Saturday is a sin; Episcopals don't teach this.  WOW!  These are major differences indeed!  To me, it's unloving to teach election the way Presbyterian Doctrine teaches it.  For Adventists and Church of Christers, it's unholy to take a command which seems so clear and just say "it's the spirit of it".  Like, dang.  What do we do?

I've learned this: are we going to get a theology exam when we get to heaven, and those who answer the right questions are in?  "Well", says Jesus, "You got the Election and Baptism questions right, but you were wrong on the Sabbath. . ." *pulls lever, floor opens from under you*.  Yeah, you see.

We are told to judge others by their fruit.  The more we get to know God, the more clearly we see fruit when it comes up.  We DO NOT know who's going were (only God can read hearts), but we can make educated guesses, based on fruit, as to who loves Jesus treuly, and who doesn't.  I've known people from all those denominations above, even people who are Mormons and Jehovahs Witnesses, even Muslims and Hindus, who show fruit of loving Jesus with all their heart.  Are they going to heaven?  I'm  not to say.  But I can say, based on their fruits, that to all practical and outward appearances, I could and should treat them just like a brother in Christ.

Now as for knowledge, doctrine, I can try and convince people of what I believe to be true, because I think it will better show them God, hence helping them produce better fruit.  But in the end, I truely can only be super humble in my judgment, and treat everyone with brotherly kindness, while treating some as Christian brethern, and the whole time teaching everyone the doctrine I feel is correct (being humble, as I said).

I hope this helps.

[herrymoris]

beforHim, the information which you have mentioned here its really very useful and hopefully it will surely work but the one thing is that I believe that the Brethren Fellowship had it’s origin at the University of Life and also the young group of Christians on leaving school, got together with others in Lagos to form what was known as The Brethren Fellowship.

[beforHim]

herrymoris:  What're you referring to?  Your post seems random, so explain a bit.  Thx!