Terry - thanks for the examples of self-destructive behavior. I don't disagree with you on any of the points you've given. Of course, I see that this just means we have to be very careful about who we place our faith in. That our faith should be examined honestly and critically. But not that faith, itself, is destructive. Only that it can be.
Exactly like what you said here:
If we actively examine the truth and reliability of too-good-to-be-true offers we won't be swindled by them.
Gladiator - Nice to be hanging in there. :) Thanks. I understand the things you wrote. We do become vulnerable to trickery when we place blind acceptance and faith in someone or something. And joining a group does put us at risk for adopting group mentality and sacrificing self. I don't think it absolutely amounts to self sacrifice, although I think that it can - if we lose the ability to question the things that we are told.
I don't feel like my faith has caused me to sacrifice or suicide my 'self'. Though it seemed I would join for a while, when it came right down to it, I did not join the extremist group I studied with. (JW's)
I questioned too much. I still do. But I still have my faith.
I don't think I exhibit these self-destructive behaviors as a result of my faith, but I could have if I had not questioned an organization.
I don't think my faith causes me to suicide my 'self' - but I do think joining a group and doing what I am told without question would have done this. Except we should keep in mind that suicide is a conscious (if unhealthy) choice. You choose to die. So I would have had to knowingly choose to be sacrificing my 'self'.
In fact, I did want someone else to do my thinking so that I wouldn't have to search for the 'truth' anymore. There was appeal in that for me. But in the end, I could not join.
Now I no longer want someone else to do my thinking. I don't trust someone else to do my thinking. I always read the fine print (law, politics, religions, etc)
Yet I still have faith - in Jesus.
Tammy