[Vision2020] Re: My personal views on religion, as requested by Mike...

[Joe Campbell]

Tony,

I want to make it clear that I was just passing along a message; I'm interested in seeing what Michael has to say based his post when he asked the question in the first place. But the discussion has more to do with civility, as I recall, than religion per se. 

I don't much care about particular religious beliefs, in general, and I don't have any firm opinions about what counts -- or does not count -- as genuine Christianity.

I think that your view on this subject is pretty interesting, though.

--
Joe Campbell

---- ToeKneeTime at aol.com wrote: 

=============
Joe -n- Mike,
 
A Christian?  Good question, guys.  At this point in my life, I  don't know 
exactly how I would define my beliefs.  I am inclined to think  that there is 
some overarching intelligence out there somewhere.  The  universe is too large 
and too complex on a macro cosmic as well as micro cosmic  scale to not be 
guided somehow by something.  I don't have any way of  knowing which religion has 
the most accurate take on the nature of "God".   Probably none of us are even 
close and unfortunately, will never be able to  answer that question.  I 
identified as a Christian some years back, but I  have the same concerns with 
regard to some of the seemingly uncivilized  teachings in the Old Testament.  Is 
the Bible the intact, unaltered word of  God?  How the Hell can we know?  
Sounds a little convenient to  me.  Maybe old King James had his own moral and 
political agenda at work  when he translated those old texts...
 
None of us, I believe, can KNOW that there is a God any more than we can  
KNOW there is no God.  We can only be INCLINED TO BELIEVE.  From this  
standpoint, the atheist is every bit as devout as the Christian.  One  believes very 
firmly in NOTHING, while the other believes very firmly in  SOMETHING.  
 
Now I have to get to work.  Tear it apart boys.
 
--Tony