Do you believe that the responsibility for the growth of your personal faith is mostly your own ?

Question

Would you blame a' bad 'experience at a local church for your lack of observance or even your lack of faith.

Answer 1

Faith until adulthood, is pretty much a subjective affair "enforced" by your elders (parents, grandparents, teachers, etc.), and you basically follow the line according to THEIR beliefs for much of your lifetime. Once you've reached a certain age, though, you start questioning the doctrines that yopu've been taught until then, unless the indoctrination has been SO STRONG that you can't "break out of the mould", in which case you stay stuck in the rut of sheepishly following the flock (that is probably why ministers refer to their congregation as their "flock"!!)
I think however that God works in mysterious ways to allow mankind to be inquisitive, and to seek and find his/her own salvation. This is accomplished by seeking out "free thinkers" who have broken out of the run-of-the-mill rut and have developed their own personalized "doctrine"; reading extensively and beyond the commonly acceptable literature pertaining to YOUR church (the one you've been attending until now) and its doctrines. This inenvitably leads to a "broadening" of your thoughts, to become acceptable to other points of view, from which you can then form your own opinions, and thus create your own niche in the realms of faith.
I am always reminded by a tale spun by the esteemed author Mark Twain, who said he had a dream, in which he saw St Paul, St Peter, St Mark and some of the other old disciples standing next to the ring wall surrounding Heaven, and having a good giggle. When he asked them what the joke was, St Peter replied: "Its not really a joke, but more of an irony. We had this huge diamond, which we dropped down onto earth, and it splattered into thousands of tiny fragments. Along comes a Jew, picks up a piece, and claims:This is the true faith, with this I'll build a schul, a synagogue, a hospital, and a place of sanctity, where people can feel free to worship the Jewish faith.’ A while later, along comes a Methodist,picks up another piece, and say pretty much the same thing; as does a Mulsim, and a Hindu, and a Jehovah's Witness, a Mormon and a Catholic, and they all sing intrinsically the same song."
"So what's the irony?", asks Twain.
St Peter's reply: "That tiny fragment of the original diamond is worthless, compared to the original whole diamond. Only once the original can be restored, could the entire whole become worthwhile. Thus it is with all the religions on earth: each small fragment is basically worthless, yet if they could all combine they might become something of worth!"
Perhaps there is a lesson to be learned from Mr Twain!

Answer 2

It is our own responsibility. It is up to us to read the Bible, pray and practice the teachings of Jesus. A bad experience at a local church may send me to another church but it would not affect my faith. People are still people, even Christians---they can be good or bad.

Answer 3

Who else's responsibility would it be? We are fortunate enough to live in a country where our faith is our own decision and own responsibility.

I know of many people who had a bad experience at their church. My grandparents (both Christian, different denominations) left the church when the church said they couldn't marry each other.

Answer 4

Your own. Personal faith or belief should not have anything to do with a church. Personal beliefs are what make up churches-people with the same or similiar beliefs banding together; the people make the church the church does not make the people.

Answer 5

Yes, and yes. I was raised a Catholic, and while it wasn't one particular bad experience at a local church per se, it was a sum of experiences in the Catholic faith that drove me from the Church.

I've had a hard time reconnecting, although I like the message and tone of the Episcopalians. (Like George Carlin said, they're "Catholic Lite").

Answer 6

There's that high-quality line among dictating one more nation's executive and serving to to get rid of the tyrant of that nation!! Yes it's their accountability to do it, however as we obvious with iraq. The individuals are cowards!! The US went to aid and received stuck up among a rock and a rough, very rough location!! Iraq because the rock and the liberals/democrats because the very rough location!! It is not a battle of oil or aggression. It used to be intended to alleviate the tyrant of his grab and discover WM D's!! The first used to be accomplished and the moment, both by way of incorrect data (on our facet) or well data (on their facet) we discovered none!! Me pappy continuously stated taking accountability begins at dwelling!! We do must fear and aid people who cannot/may not do for themselves, however allow's begin proper right here in America!! You'll be pleased we did!!! If we exhibit that Americans take accountability for themselves, going after tyrants and dictators and discovering WM D's might be a snap!! As is the arena see's that America is not going to take accountability for it self and laughs and wipes their @sses with us!!! Do you favor being the arena @ss wipe?? I do not!!!!!!

Answer 7

people do blame others but in the end we each stand before God alone. Nobody elses' armor fits me. I must take the shield of faith the helmet of salvation, the sword of the spirit for myself.

Answer 8

Definitely. I do absolutely nothing to grow my personal faith. I put my energy into growing my curiosity, intelligence and imagination.

Answer 9

A bad experience is still your experience. We are made up of our experiences and lessons in life.

atheist

Answer 10

Yes, it's not the church's fault if you stop growing spiritually.