[semidevil]

I have a small concering regarding beliefs and faith.

To start off(a prequisite to my story), my gf wants to be a Christian now because she meets so many people at school who are christians, and they seem to be the nicest person in the world. She met this women recently, and she is also a very nice to everyone. Calling us to lunch, shopping, etc etc etc. My gf's mom, is a chrisitan also, so she used to push her to go to church and all that stuff....

So my gf has a lot of christian exposure, and decides she wants to try to be a chrisitian.

This women that she met, is a missionary person, and usually goes to different country to tell biblical stories to kids. She always tells us about God and stuff, and one day, she took me and asked me if I wanted to be chrisitian(I had no religion up until now). She told me to read some passages from the bible, and asked me if I will be going to heaven or hell if I die. She told me that if I chose the Chrisitian life, I will go to heaven when I die, and that is the greatest gift of all.

I told her that I will try to accept jesus christ in my heart and she was really happy. Now, my reason for wanting to be a Chrisitan is not about where I will go when I die.........the truth is that I dotn really care actually. The reason that I want to become a christian is because I want to be a nicer person. I met a few christian people, a pastor, and some close friends who are christians, and to me, they seem to be the nicest person in the world.....what I found in common is that they were all christian. And to me, I thought if I were christian and go to church and be exposed to these people more often, it will make my life happier...........

The next day, the women took another of my friends out and wanted to convert her. She rejected her, because she says "My ancestors are her gods."

This is where my concern came in.

I am asian, and every month, I burn incense to my ancestors out of respect for them. This is something taht I did when I was young, and 21 years later, I still do it. I dont really consider my ancestors "god" or anything, but I do remember them and want to continue doing this. To me, what I do is not a religion, but more of something for family.

So techincally, am I having 2 different faiths and beliefs now?? I mean, does being Christian mean I shouldn't burn inscense and all that stuff? I just dont know.............

Sorry for a confusing story.......but........

[RSM123]

semidevil,

I cannot see how anyone would hold it against that you burn incense and remember your ancestors. A healthy respect for those who preceded you can never be a bad thing.

[pyritechips]

semidevil:

Burning incense in the memory of your ancestors is an honourable tradition and not a religious act. Nobody should ever try to take that away from you, or make you feel unworthy because it it. If somebody doesn't like it then they have a problem, not you.

And forgive me if I misunderstand you, but wanting to be Christian just because Christians "seem" to be nice is not a solid basis on which to want to be Christian. Do you really need a God to make you happy? I am not for nor against conversion; I just think we all seek different ways to happiness.

Be at peace.

[EdGreene]

A two, three year-old, being exposed to a warm stove or match and being told those things are "hot": from that point on, they would know "hot" and whats more, forever understand what s/he is told. Just like that, they have ineradicable knowledge. They may go through life never really knowing "Why" hot is "hot" (chemical exchange of energy sources) but they would forever know it is.
Their fertile minds are given religion the same way: but then, they also have religion before they know what it is and nearly no one can or will tell them "why" religion. They (the telling adults) too go and have gone though through life never knowing "why" religion?
Why?
If you were born in Iraq you would be Muslim and never question "Why" Muslim? Born in China, you would be Atheist and never question "Why" Atheist?
Born in Ft. Madison Iowa you would be born "Christian" and never ask "Why".

[valley]

Originally Posted by semidevil

I am asian, and every month, I burn incense to my ancestors out of respect for them. This is something taht I did when I was young, and 21 years later, I still do it. I dont really consider my ancestors "god" or anything, but I do remember them and want to continue doing this. To me, what I do is not a religion, but more of something for family

So techincally, am I having 2 different faiths and beliefs now?? I mean, does being Christian mean I shouldn't burn inscense and all that stuff? I just dont know.............

Hi Semidevil If it makes you feel any better....after I became a christian, I still did plenty of things that other christians did not approve of. Dont worry about the "do's and dont's" at this point. Focus on being right with your Savior for now.

I commend you for desiring to be a better person. I would suggest that you join a small bible study group and just sit silently and listen a few times and see if it sparks more of an interest. If you havent accepted Him yet...you would do well to learn a bit more about before you try to commit to it. Just be fully informed before you go forward too much.

I wish you well in your searching.

[semidevil]

thanx guys......sometimes, I feel like that I have the wrong reasons for wanting to be a Chrisitian.....

Ofcourse, the first reason is that my gf wants to be a chrisitian. She is really happy that I am starting to go to church with her....and she really wants a couple to have same beliefs.

2nd, is more about me. I feel that I'm just not really a good person sometimes(whether it be my temper or whatever), and I feel that it will help me if I became christian and looked at their values too.

I mean, the lady that wanted me to convert kept saying stuff about being "saved" and stuff like that. I understand her point, but at this point, I dont really feel this dramatic about it.

but anyways, thanx guys.

[ComputerFix]

semidevil,

You burn incense, I bring flowers to a cemetery (and so do boatloads of other "Christians"), no big difference. It would seem that a cultural practice is being confused with a religious one (Buddhists use incense in temple, as an example), not entirely uncommon when it comes to the Asian culture.

[brushmaster1]

You do not have to be a Christian to be a good person...

[AlbertB]

Semidevil,

Are Christians the only kind people you have met? Is every Christian you have ever met kind? Don't make the mistake of thinking that all kindness comes from Christianity. Many Christians are good kind people but so are many Musslims or Hindus or Atheists for that matter. And many Christians (and Musslims and Hindus) will put on the smiling face of a salesman to get you to buy their product. By your own words you are not looking for a God to worship, you are looking for a group to join. Go and find a tennis or football club, it suits your current needs much better.

What you should consider here is that you can already genuinely feel you have an honest desire to be a better, caring, kinder person. If that desire is so obviously in you then that is already happening to you. Why do you need someone else to tell you how to be better and kinder? You don't need to change anything at all to achieve what you say you want.

Christianity is about much more than just being a kind person. There are beliefs you have to possess and commitments you have to make. You will also have to accept a lot of concepts which you yourself have declared mean nothing to you. Don't take on, (or be sold if that applies), any profound religion without knowing all about it up front and knowing that it all applies to you. To do so can only do you harm and shows no respect to the religion.

Be strong and just look for your answers inside yourself.

[oldie]

Originally Posted by brushmaster1

You do not have to be a Christian to be a good person...

That's it - period

PS - Benito Mussolini was a Christian

Oldie

[valley]

Originally Posted by oldie

PS - Benito Mussolini was a Christian

Oldie

with all due respect Oldie...I dont believe that he was. People say Hitler was a christian too...I say the proof is in the pudding. But of course to question his faith is a no-no. Its just "too judgemental".

[oldie]

Originally Posted by valley

with all due respect Oldie...I dont believe that he was. People say Hitler was a christian too...I say the proof is in the pudding. But of course to question his faith is a no-no. Its just "too judgemental".

"IL DUCE" was born into a a Roman Catholic family and never denounced the Vatican, regardless of the fact that he is credited with inventing "Fascism" and being Hitlers mentor

There are of course numerous other tyrants who excused themselves as being Christian, in order to justify their acts of inhumanity and insanity

Regards - Oldie

[oldie]

Motto of pope Gregory VII. ????

Constantine The Great ???

Constantius 11 ???

And of course His Holiness, Pope Pius XII ... Church property and all medieval (!) privileges of the Church were restored. No other religion was allowed. Protestants and ex-Catholics were sent to concentration camps for refusing to attend divine service. Freethinkers, democrats, Socialists and Communists were deprived of civil rights, imprisoned, or shot. In the foreign field, Catholic Spain promptly supported Hitler and Mussolini, the former receiving a letter from Spanish dictator Franco on February 26, 1941:

The list is endless

Oldie

[slickoe]

I served in the Marine Corps where I was exposed to people from all walks of life. I found some of the most shallow, mean spirited, self centered, closed minded people to be "Christians" who owned Bibles and attended services regularly. Just live life by the golden rule;the golden rule is my religion.

[Mr. Peabody]

She always tells us about God and stuff, and one day, she took me and asked me if I wanted to be chrisitian(I had no religion up until now).

Based on your comments, a good approach would be to learn more about the Christian faith from other people in your life. Visit different churches in your community with your gf each week. Talk to people in the church, participate in some of their activities. In time your concerns will be answered.

Mr. P