Hello

[henacynflin]

Hi,
I am not entirely sure I am in the right place. I have recently become interested in moral issues and doubtful about my prior atheism. I have found our society's move to utilitarian ethics worrisome and have found myself, surprisingly, in agreement with Christians when debates arise over issues such as euthanasia, death, moral duty, and so on. I have no great religious experience as my parents were atheists/agnostics and thus have no experience of church while growing up. This leaves we a bit in the wilderness. I have gone to some churches but have found the sermons, though interesting, not a place for discussion or helpful for self instruction. I don't even know which churches to go to - I am not clear about the differences between them.

I suppose what I am saying is that I am not sure I am a Christian. I agree with what I know of his teachings and he was an admiral person and I do feel that there is an external moral code to which we try to aspire. But due to my upbringing I am rudderless. Had I been born in the Middle East I might have been posting this on an Islamic forum or a Hindu one had my birth been in India. However, I was born the UK and have grown up in Europe with a culture which has a large Christian heritage so I find myself here.

If I am in the wrong place let me know. Be as robust as you like as I am not thin skinned.

Cheers

 

[HereIStand]

Welcome. Glad you've joined us. I've been listening to C.S. Lewis's Mere Christianity. Perhaps try it for further guidance. God bless.

 

[~Anastasia~]

Hi,
I am not entirely sure I am in the right place. I have recently become interested in moral issues and doubtful about my prior atheism. I have found our society's move to utilitarian ethics worrisome and have found myself, surprisingly, in agreement with Christians when debates arise over issues such as euthanasia, death, moral duty, and so on. I have no great religious experience as my parents were atheists/agnostics and thus have no experience of church while growing up. This leaves we a bit in the wilderness. I have gone to some churches but have found the sermons, though interesting, not a place for discussion or helpful for self instruction. I don't even know which churches to go to - I am not clear about the differences between them.

I suppose what I am saying is that I am not sure I am a Christian. I agree with what I know of his teachings and he was an admiral person and I do feel that there is an external moral code to which we try to aspire. But due to my upbringing I am rudderless. Had I been born in the Middle East I might have been posting this on an Islamic forum or a Hindu one had my birth been in India. However, I was born the UK and have grown up in Europe with a culture which has a large Christian heritage so I find myself here.

If I am in the wrong place let me know. Be as robust as you like as I am not thin skinned.

Cheers

Hello and welcome to CF!

This (intro forum) wouldn't be the place for me to reply in too much depth.

I guess I want to make a couple of points. Christianity is quite varied, and can be divided by how it has progressed historically. The Orthodox hold to particular teaching that rests heavily on the early Church (and most of the early Church - all except Rome) is still Orthodox. We focus on how morality/sin affects the persons we are. Rome (Catholicism) has diverged a bit if its approach and has a particular slant on morality - I won't speak for them but they do have detailed teachings. The early Protestant Reformers came out of Catholicism and broadly have their approach (though there can be significant differences between say some Lutherans and some Episcopalians). And then the later divisions differ again, and fall into a few groups - some more fundamentalist and literalist, some very charismatic, some more focused on a rather person-centered feel good kind of message, and others not in any of these categories. Most any kind has some attempt to return to how they interpret early Christianity to be. I list these general categories in order to let you know some guidelines for exploration. If you go to ten fellowships that don't suit you, and all fall within the same umbrella, I wouldn't want you to write off Christianity because you didn't know about the others.

You can learn too by coming to the congregational forums on CF. Christian Communities | Christian Forums

The other thing I just wanted to mention in passing is that we (Orthodox) believe that all good comes from God ... and draw toward morality (at least the kind that is concerned about good for people, or the value of human lives, etc.) is the work of the Holy Spirit in a person. God knows what He is doing. If you cooperate with this impulse, you will be helped.

Feel free to drop by our home forum if you wish to ask anything of us. (The Ancient Way - Eastern Orthodox) Most of the others are open to questions - you just can't debate in any of them. (Except we do have a subforum for debate with Orthodoxy.) But if you find yourself wanting to debate, feel free to ask and we can find an appropriate area for whatever you need to discuss.

Again, welcome to CF!

 

[henacynflin]

Thanks HereIStand. I listened to the audiobook of "Mere Christianity" and it was that which gave me gumption to get this far. I'd agree it is an extremely good book and I think I will look for some of his other works. Perhaps "The Problem of Pain" next ?

 

[Dave-W]

Welcome!

Feel free to ask any questions you like to help you sort this all out.

 

[henacynflin]

.. ..
This (intro forum) wouldn't be the place for me to reply in too much depth.
Again, welcome to CF!

Many thanks for the welcome, it helps when real people talk back. There is useful information in your post which I will follow up.
Thanks again

 

[henacynflin]

Welcome!

Feel free to ask any questions you like to help you sort this all out.

Thanks Dave I will take you up on the offer.

 

[~Anastasia~]

Many thanks for the welcome, it helps when real people talk back. There is useful information in your post which I will follow up.
Thanks again

I hope it helps and you are very welcome.

Don't feel rushed by it all ... just seek as you need to. And feel free to ask us here on CF if we can be of any help.

 

[HereIStand]

Thanks HereIStand. I listened to the audiobook of "Mere Christianity" and it was that which gave me gumption to get this far. I'd agree it is an extremely good book and I think I will look for some of his other works. Perhaps "The Problem of Pain" next ?

The Problem of Pain is helpful. I've read parts of it. Sinclair Ferguson's The Christian Life: A Doctrinal Introduction is good also. Also, try the Pocket History of Theology.

 

[Halbhh]

Hi,
I am not entirely sure I am in the right place. I have recently become interested in moral issues and doubtful about my prior atheism. I have found our society's move to utilitarian ethics worrisome and have found myself, surprisingly, in agreement with Christians when debates arise over issues such as euthanasia, death, moral duty, and so on. I have no great religious experience as my parents were atheists/agnostics and thus have no experience of church while growing up. This leaves we a bit in the wilderness. I have gone to some churches but have found the sermons, though interesting, not a place for discussion or helpful for self instruction. I don't even know which churches to go to - I am not clear about the differences between them.

I suppose what I am saying is that I am not sure I am a Christian. I agree with what I know of his teachings and he was an admiral person and I do feel that there is an external moral code to which we try to aspire. But due to my upbringing I am rudderless. Had I been born in the Middle East I might have been posting this on an Islamic forum or a Hindu one had my birth been in India. However, I was born the UK and have grown up in Europe with a culture which has a large Christian heritage so I find myself here.

If I am in the wrong place let me know. Be as robust as you like as I am not thin skinned.

Cheers

Glad to hear you are seeking to find more. Our great Teacher, who was and is the embodiment of the word from God -- Christ Jesus -- told us:

7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone?10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." -- Matthew chapter 7

You can learn better from His own words than from any other source, the way to Life, that we have good Life and have it abundantly. I suggest you first learn more of what He said, and the best way of all is really to hear the account of His words directly, in more complete fullness, instead of only short pieces as you'd often hear in a church service (which is also good, but much less complete and slower for hearing what He said).

Here's a good link --

Matthew 3 NIV

He told us:
John 13:35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Therefore the single most key thing to see in any church is that the people are visibly doing this, which He said shows they are His.

Reading in Matthew and the other 3 gospels, you will learn what He said, and then be able to better know that a church you visit is indeed following Him instead of only a local preacher or some ideas of men.

You want the real thing!

Welcome, and very glad to hear of your journey to find the true way of Life.

 

[Call me Nic]

Hi,
I am not entirely sure I am in the right place. I have recently become interested in moral issues and doubtful about my prior atheism. I have found our society's move to utilitarian ethics worrisome and have found myself, surprisingly, in agreement with Christians when debates arise over issues such as euthanasia, death, moral duty, and so on. I have no great religious experience as my parents were atheists/agnostics and thus have no experience of church while growing up. This leaves we a bit in the wilderness. I have gone to some churches but have found the sermons, though interesting, not a place for discussion or helpful for self instruction. I don't even know which churches to go to - I am not clear about the differences between them.

I suppose what I am saying is that I am not sure I am a Christian. I agree with what I know of his teachings and he was an admiral person and I do feel that there is an external moral code to which we try to aspire. But due to my upbringing I am rudderless. Had I been born in the Middle East I might have been posting this on an Islamic forum or a Hindu one had my birth been in India. However, I was born the UK and have grown up in Europe with a culture which has a large Christian heritage so I find myself here.

If I am in the wrong place let me know. Be as robust as you like as I am not thin skinned.

Cheers

Hello and welcome friend! It's great to see someone searching out what they should believe with an honest and open look at it; I have a great feeling that you'll find what you're looking for if you keep at it. The Christians here are a great group of people and are always eager to answer questions and be helpful.

As aforementioned, some of CS Lewis' works are great for starting out and seeing what Christianity is all about, but let me also throw out a recommendation to you, friend. There is a book in the Bible that is specifically written so that any who would desire to know more about and believe in Jesus Christ can do so - and that book is the Gospel of John. It's the 4th book found in the New Testament and it's a very easy read, and very straightforward. If you've never read the Bible or haven't read the Gospel of John, I highly recommend reading it with an open and curious heart: it will really be a life-changing experience if you do.

Anyway, I hope to be of any help as any of the others here are, and wish you the best on your journey.

 

[Shadow]

Welcome to Christian Forums Henacy. It sounds like you've come to the right place and I hope we can help you on the way to the answers you are looking for.

 

[henacynflin]

Thanks all, this has been a very welcome which has made me feel a great deal more confident that I have found the right place to start working out how to know what to do. Thanks especially for the advice about Mathew and John and the two other books in addition. I now have my bedtime reading set for the week.
Cheers

 

[~Anastasia~]

Thanks all, this has been a very welcome which has made me feel a great deal more confident that I have found the right place to start working out how to know what to do. Thanks especially for the advice about Mathew and John and the two other books in addition. I now have my bedtime reading set for the week.
Cheers

That was good advice you received - to read the Gospels.

I'd go back when you're done and maybe re-read all the "red letter words" - what Christ Himself actually said.

And if it sparks any questions, feel free to ask!

 

[Southernscotty]

Welcome to CF and may you be mighty blessed here :]

 

[faroukfarouk]

Hi; good to see you

 

[sunshineforJesus]

Hi and welcome here.

 

[Heavenhome]

Hello and welcome to the forum.
The best advice, if I may give it, is like others have suggested and start reading the Bible beginning in the gospel of John.
If you are truly seeking the Bible tells us that we will find. My prayer to you is that you find what I sought for : the Truth.
And that is Jesus.A reason for living.
And sense was made of everything that is going on in the world.
Your life will never be the same.

 

[Dropout_Theologian]

Welcome to CF sir.

 

[faroukfarouk]

The best advice, if I may give it, is like others have suggested and start reading the Bible beginning in the gospel of John.

Great advice!