Newsgroups: bit.listserv.xcult-l
Date:         Wed, 4 Nov 1992 16:53:16 EST
From:         Deborah Economidis <DMARTIN@WCU.BITNET>
Subject:      Re: Dogma's Iron Cage

 Krista,

 I was sitting here wondering if I should get in on this discussion when your
 post came through.  Your very specific questions have prompted me to give it
 a go.  First though, I would like to say that I don't feel that there is any
 kind of bondage in true religion.  Rather, there is a freedom.  Think about.
 If you don't believe in a higher being then you are limited to what you can
 do.  If you believe in a higher being who is there to respond to your need,
 then the possibilities are endless.  I will also say that I will be responding
 to your questions from a Christian's view point.

 I grew up in a non-denominational church where we were continuously challenged
 not to just accept what we heard but to seek out the truth for ourselves
 ie.  read and study the Bible and pray about what we had read.  We were
 expected to personalize our beliefs not to just to blindly accept the teaching
 of the church.

 > Wouldn't it be a waste of the glory of the life we are given here on
 > Earth if all one did was prepare for an uncertain life after death?

 Well, that depends on how you look at it.  If you accept that you are God's
 creation then He is the One who has given you life.  I'm not sure exactly
 what it is that you think that you would be missing out on.  As a Christian,
 I have not gotten involved in the drug scene or had to deal with any drinking
 problem.  I don't damage my body by ingesting/inhaling substances that are
 dangerous for me, at least not voluntarily.  I think that it is a popular
 misconception that Christians don't have fun, no doubt because there are some
 Christians who prefer to have the appearance of martyrs.  This is simply not
 true.  I have had a good life and a happy life.  When I have run into problems,
 I have had someone to turn to.  It was a great comfort for me when I was beaten
 and deserted by my now ex-husband, left to my own resources in a foreign
 country, to have God to trust.

 So what if there is no afterlife, what have I lost by believing in God.

 > Where does faith come from?

 Ah, faith, that elusive element.  You actually exercise faith everyday in
 all kinds of ways.  When you first meet a person, you make a decision based on
 your first impressions.  One of the first things you consider about a new
 acquaintance is, "Can I trust him/her?".  The more you are around a person, the
 more situations arise that allow you to test their trustworthiness.  The
 outcomes of these situations either causes that trust to grow or diminish.
 When it comes to faith in God the difference is that you aren't physically
 coming face to face with him.  Taking that initial step in accepting that there
 is a God is probably the most critical.

 > "Well, if you only have faith, God will come to you." How???

 As a Christian I would encourage you read the Bible and to pray about what you
 read.  If you feel uncomfortable with thees and thous there is a version out
 now called the New King James Version which is very readable.  Often the
 biggest obstacle to overcome is your own self.  My pastor says that he came
 to a point in his life where he just called out to God "If you are real then
 I need you and I need to know that you exist and care about me."  If you go
 to God with a sincere heart He will not ignore you and you will know that
 He has heard.  There is nothing like feeling the peace of God in your heart!!

 I don't know if this answers your questions or not, Krista.  Feel free to ask
 more if you like.  And you can write to me privately if you feel it would
 be inappropriate to continue publicly.

 Deborah
 DMARTIN@WCU
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