@Deidre
Ah, I totally get this, Carlita. I came back to faith nearly two years ago based on what seemed like a true and real experience with the ''Holy Spirit.'' I was filled with joy like I hadn't felt before and felt ''born again.'' I didn't return because something jumped out at me from the Bible, and this magical lightbulb moment happened. I find that many people are driven away from all types of faiths, because of the strong adherence to dogma that was handed down by others. The Bible is one book, is one set of ideas when it comes to how people process if there could be a god or not. But, is it ''thee'' book? That requires faith to think that. I feel that people should experience faith, that it's an experience, not just a handed down set of values from thousands of years ago, and we are just supposed to accept it because they did. That's one of the problems I have with the Bible.
Actually, I honestly don't feel the bible is
thee book; and, to those who believe so (like how you see people in dogma), I see people idolizing the bible rather than living it through action and devotion. How you feel about dogma, I feel about the bible. Dogma and rules (if one likes) structures how one praises god so they won't go running around thinking god accepts everything they do. Not everyone can follow a structure-it's not wrong just who they are doesn't click with that type of discipline.
Depending on the bible more than devotion or in place of devotion is pure idolism. Many people think christ words and the bible are one and the same. Yet, I wonder when they pray to christ, do they hear christ himself or read the words the authors wrote about him instead.
This is interesting. Well, I can't help but wonder if the people who actually put the books together to form the Bible, did it all with altruistic motivations. That said, suppose you never read the Bible in your life? Can the Holy Spirit not speak through us...through others to us...in order to bring us to faith? I think so. How else could we explain all the conversions that happen in places where they don't have access to any Bibles.
If we generalize it
a lot and took out religion, I think so. Like Hindus go to god directly and have a one-to-one relationship with god. So, I would think the Holy Spirit can talk through christians without the bible. If god is everywhere and spirit, I'd assume he would not be dependent on things to define him.
I think a lot of people who are into dogma and rules, have no experiences of faith. So, they believe largely out of fear, sadly.
I disagree. That's like saying I never had experiences in faith because I value dogma and rules as a former Catholic. I just don't think dogma and rules in any denomination, JW for example, is for everyone. We learn about god (or so have you) in multiple ways. When you look outside the bible and talk to god directly, you may find a way to communicate with him that works for both of you and not the people and their opinions.