Quote Originally Posted by itsme_iye View Post
To Aposhark,

The argument that you cannot support your wife because you do not agree with her religious views is crazy. That is almost like saying that your wife would not support you because you like watching football and she doesn't. If that was the case there would be very few couples in the UK still together. :-) In any case it is variety, and the differences between people, that makes them interesting and often what attracts us to someone in the first place.
Vive la difference!
Although I do not agree that it would be crazy as you put it, it would certainly be a misguided suggestion that one cannot support another in something that one did not believe in. Who do you believe put forward that argument? I've looked but cannot find it in this thread. Certainly, I never suggested thatsuggest that. My points related to Aposhark and his manner, etc. specifically. I deconstructed my queries in a particular way and raised some relevant issues which the honourable gentleman shied away from.

Likening a football interest to a lifestyle and in many cases a fundamental determminant of the essential them is perhaps not the most useful analogy. Clearly, variety is the spice of life etc etc. I agree with you totally. No intelligent person would challenge that on a general basis.

Being a Christian is about striving and is an ongoing struggle to be increasingly Christ-like. Being a Christian is not an absolute end-point as some seem to suggest. Because of that, Christians will always by definition be imperfect, just like everone else. Christianity is fundamentally about establishing and maintaining a relationship with God. There area variety of reasons that people attend church services.

The remnants of more traditional churches which tend to be steeped in tradition and rituals and are less scripture-led, are in decline but as stated before the Charismatic denominations that encourage bible-reading and understanding and a personal relationship with God and are more current, contemporary and engaging of the youth are on the up globally. London is a great example. It's difficult to address particular points by some unbelievers as it seems that the points raised are sometimes aimed at the wrong targets and without the understanding of the clearly discernable differences between Catholicism, Religion and Christianity.

It is true that some Christians are unfamiliar with the word of God. Much of that is historical. We could all do more in that regard. Many people should attend church as they can share the word of God and learn a great deal from their peers and often it is the one place where they can receive spiritual nourishment or indoctrination as some unbelievers may perceive it.

I think it's fine that Aposhark, I and others have differing opinions; as far as I'm concerned it does not detract from our friendship. That people can disagree on issues important to them helps develop relationships, e.g. marriage. Some of my good friends are devoutly-Islamic Arabians; I have on occasion found I have more in common with them than athiesits and many Christians. So long as true respect is given by all concerned we can overcome all things.

I as always, wish everyone the best and for one, have found all comments/responses really interesting whether I agree with them or not.

Peace to all as always!!!!