Belief does not define character

by Nickolas 25 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  skeeter1

  Character is defined by actions.

  Belief is inside one's head, and we really don't know unless we read minds. Sometimes, people will "say" thier belief. But, I look at thier actions to see if thier character and belief's are aligned.
• 

  suenott63

  Simply saying "its gods will" or "it says so in the scriptures" pretty much absolves religious people from responsibility. things that a person using their thinking and analytical powers would find obscene and immoral can quite easily be allowed from a religious brain washed point of view . Hence murder and genocide in the middle east arabs & jews, the crusades christians and muslim and pretty much every war since the beginning of history.
• 

  ProdigalSon

  I don't think surface beliefs always define character because people usually "believe" all the things that are morally right and good. The problem is the subconscious stuff.... like JW's for example, deep down believe that God is a petty, jealous monster, who screwed up right from the beginning, and then complacently sits around for thousands of years doing nothing, until one day he decides he's had enough and obliterates the planet. So I think what comes out of a person is directly tied in with their self-esteem, and when it comes to Biblegod, a person can't have much.
• 

  trevor

  People with Christian belief try to live up to the ideals that they think Jesus expects. ‘Turn the other cheek.’ ‘Seek first the kingdom.’ Pray for those persecuting you.’ Should they fail, they consider they have sinned. Just ask Jesus to forgive and all is well. The arrangement works well, provided the person shares Jesus view of life. Unless they share Jesus character, they will be forever trying to live his life instead of their own.

  When it comes to character, the best place to start is with self examination. I have no god given ideals to live up to and don’t entirely buy into Jesus’ philosophy. After all, he came a cropper in his short time on earth. My character allows me to do whatever is expedient.

  I don’t claim or desire to be totally honest. I don’t wish to love everyone I meet. My aim is to enjoy life, to survive and prosper. I avoid hurting others whenever possible because it helps me to fit in to society. Being liked by others opens doors for me and allows me to be accepted into the safety of the group. In other words, it serves me well to make friends of people and keep them close. If threatened, I will be ruthless without guilt or regret. If I make a mistake, I will apologise and make amends personally.

  I feel no need to ask an invisible being for forgiveness or live through someone else’s character.
• 

  Nickolas

  After ruminating on it overnight I understand your first comment, Tammy. I have seen for myself that people have a capacity to exhibit more than one character. It is often been said that members of the WTBTS have two personnas: the one dictated by the doctrines and teachings of the Society and the one that is true to themselves. Taken as an average, belief will then have an influence on character but it falls short of defining it. It could also be said in another way that beliefs that are programmed have the capacity to cause people to merely act out of character and therefore has no capacity to define character in an absolute sense.
• 

  cyberjesus

  I disagree. What you believe will define your character.. why because it will try to influence your actions eventhough does actions are against your natural needs.

  A catholic priest that gives up sex ( a natural need of his body ) will live a life of frustration against his natural desires. Will live a lie and will tell himself his natural desires are a sin... but secretely his thoughts will come as a male. He will conceit his true self. His deceitful character will be molded by his beliefs.

  Any one familiar with a double-life?
• 

  tec

  I can see both sides, I think.

  "I believe its right, but I just can't seem to do it..." This is more an example of character out of sorts with belief. Though part of your character could be trying to live up to a standard that your weaknesses prevent you from attaining.

  But if your actions reflect your belief, because you TRULY believe that, then your character is in sync with your belief. Then, acting against those beliefs in a mistake, is acting out of character and belief.

  I think it must depend on how deeply your beliefs are a part of your character. Programmed beliefs might just be rules that people are going to break, because this is not part of their persona.

  Tammy
• 

  Band on the Run

  I think this is a very important point. It recalls my own search. I left the Witnesses around 1968. During college, I studied New Testament at Columbia University with the leading Gnostic Scholar in the U.S. It was such a turning point in my life. We had to read the Bible in whole books, verse by consecutive verse. I did not take the course to dump on the Witnesses. The whole idea of school and religion seemed strange to me, coming from public school. Columbia was founded as a religious school. Church of England. I could study scripture and use all my innate skills and acquired knowledge in all my courses. Within an hour, I found outright lies of doctrine by the Witnesses. This shocked me. I kept calling home to reveal more illuminations.

  Over the years, I study everything about New Testament that I can acess. My dream was to major in New Testament but I would have to learn Koine Greek and I had major problems with simple French. So I have this learning. Yet I feel what I should focus on my Christianity is applying it in my life. Is my knowledge of Barth, Bonhoeffer or Hans Kung essential or how I deal with people.

  People are notorious for actions that are dissonant from their beliefs. Larry Craig, the Senator dude in the men's bathroom, is a classic example. He said the most dreadful things against gay people. His votes adversely impacted gay people. Yet he apparently was soliciting a gay prostitutde.
• 

  Nickolas

  Thinking on it. Will respond later.

  Good night.
• 

  Low-Key Lysmith

  I think it goes without saying that Christians are more honorable and trustworthy than nonChristians, especially nonbelievers in any higher power. I wouldn't trust an atheist as much as they don't believe in God. They're unscrupulous individuals and lack the moral fortitude that Christians have to do whats right.

  Please tell me that this completely asinine and short-sighted statement is meant to be taken as sarcasm.