I thought this was a good topic... A woman was asking if it was OK to date someone that wasn't a christian, or just has different "faith" then you ?
I totally understand your fear... I have loads of "faith" in my belieffs (although I'm not religious) And my last girlfriend wasn't sure on hers yet or just has different ones... she did feel like I was pushing my "faith" on her... but that deffinatly wasn't my intention, I mean doesn't everyone want thier partner or friends to understand them ? I know I sure want to know what my friends believe in thier hearts and share in it... doesn't mean I will believe it aswell.
I believe that "faith" is personal...and "religion" is social, "religion" is ran by men... and "faith" is ran by your heart.
(this kind of sums it up for me)
For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it."--Matt 16:25
I think it kinda means follow the "faith" in your heart, not what someone has told you to believe... "faith" is your personal relationship with god/jesus/your belieffs and taking that into consideration will allways lead to doing things in life for "his sake"
and I know my perspective of what it means to me as someone who loves jesus... may be totally diff then another persons view who loves him aswell. so I guess what I'm getting at is that I believe faith is in the heart and mind of the observer, that if you blindly go for a partner just cause they go to the same church as you it doesn't really mean they have the exact same belieffs/faith as you.
I would say if your really interested in a person...take time to learn more about him and his belieffs in life, lol and take time to see if he follows it ;) Just cause he doesn't claim a church does it really mean he has no "faith" ? decide for yourself if "jesus/god/your life" would approve. not a label
For me I love having differences like that... it gives us something to talk about... as long as the person is fundementally a good and moral person I would be open to loving them.
I have the utmost respect for all of your belieffs, lol and if you took the time to read all of this I Thank you for your respect aswell
Peace and love to all you groovy humans ;)
(added 07/12/07)
(someone said that a non-believer is more likely to bring down a believer, ??? I thought that was kinda wierd)
If thier Faith is as strong as they usually say it is...then they would be a beaken of light to the non believer would they not ??? or are you saying that lack of faith is stronger then having faith ? I certainly don't believe that, I think that if both people have took'n time to come to thier own conclusions then they can certainly respect another for coming to thier own. and then the conversations should never be nagging or preachy.
If someone hasn't took'n the time... then allmost any conversation about god or faith will seem like preaching
