Why are you a believer and what are your beliefs as a believer?

[hrmjustin]

It has been asked in several forums here to explain what exactly we as individual believers believe.

So if you feel comfortable to share what you believe as a believer please do so.

A reminder that this is the interfaith room and criticism of others beliefs is NOT appropriate in this room nor is saying religion is a delusion or a waste of time.


I as a Christian believe in the life, ministry, crucifixion, resurrection, and divinity of Jesus Christ. I believe in the doctrine of the Trinity. I believe in an afterlife that all are called to share in. I believe in the extreme mercy of God so I don't believe in hell. I believe most of us or all make it to heaven in the end, and those that don't no longer exist after death and judgement.

I believe that people experience the divine in multiple ways so I don't call or believe in calling other faiths false religions. I think the divine loves us all equally.

[rug]

1. I start with the Nicene Creed. We say it at every Mass.

Catholic belief is succinctly expressed in the profession of faith or credo called the Nicene Creed:
The Nicene Creed


I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.

I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/index.cfm

[hrmjustin]

2. It is a great statement of faith.

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

3. Yeah, but it's only a start.

Let me consider this question, and I shall respond at greater length.

[hrmjustin]

4. .

[el_bryanto]

5. There is someone who is pushing this argument just now pretty relentlessly

The problem with it is that there is something unsatisfying in my answer - a bridge that can't actually be crossed. I believe what I believe because I had an experience with God. I prayed down, reached out, and felt his presence. I can't have that experience on behalf of anybody else, nor do I feel that my experience allows me to force others to think the way I do. But I also can't deny that I had it.

As for what specifically believe - I'm a Mormon - i went around with someone in the religion room about all the things I believe at one point (almost typed out his name).

Bryant

[Htom Sirveaux]

6. I believe in the human potential for growth.

I believe that growth is measured through it's impact on relationships: with self, immediate community, humanity at large, the ecological systems we inhabit, and all existence.

I believe that we understand this potential and our relationships through story-telling: our own stories, the stories that have been handed down to us, and the interaction between the two.

I believe that these stories have a lot of influence on how we interpret our lives, and therefore on our actions.

I believe that different stories speak to different people, and that's alright as long as we remember that the goal of these stories is growth in relationship.

I believe in the power of attention to transform us: attention to people who have made a trail for us to follow, attention to the people we relate to and to their stories, attention to where we need to make more efforts to grow and the consequences of failing to do so.

I believe that life is worth living, and that there is always potential for good to come out of disaster or wrong-doing.