In Reply to: I can see why you would need to posted by lydia on September 20, 2003 at 15:25:59:
If Christianity holds so many wonderful answers, why do we also have the flip side of people raised as Christians turning to other religions? I have met several westerners who were raised Christians and have changed to Buddhism or other (seems Buddhism is predominant).
And can we say that amongst the Christian world people are happy and secure and have all found the truth? I don't think so, there are as many depressed and miserable Christians who are having problems and are lost in their lives as there are in other religions.
Which is why I think religion is purely a personal thing, not something that one group, or race, or religious group can claim to have an intimate knowledge of truth. It is how you personally apply and use religion in your life to find the answers.
There are perfectly and wonderfully happy and sincere Christians, Buddhists, Wiccans, Satanists, Hindus, just as there are some really fucked up ones as well.
And Christianity, or Christians using the power of Christianity, have been responsible for many horrible atrocities in history, same as Muslims, Hindus, .... As far as I know (and my knowledge is very limited) Buddhism and Confucianism haven't been responsible for causing destruction, mayhem, and misery.
I don't mind at all the people believe in Christianity, or have found the religion that suits there lives and their beliefs, I do mind if a person claims it is the only truth and everyone else is believing a lie, cause I have seen just as messed-up Christians as there are in other religions. It comes down to choice, application and personal belief.
True Christianity is love, respect, peace, and belief in God. I realise and acknowledge that there are hundres and thousands, probably millions of sincere Christians who genuinely live a Christian life, but I think it's presumptuous to say that it is the answer to everyone and the only true religion, because it obviously hasn't worked for everyone who has tried it.