Some of the things I believe

I find that,so often,my beliefs come up in the course of my interactions so I have decided to do this blog to state some of what I believe in. 

I’m a Christian of the more positive and spiritual type not the narrow minded judgmental type. I don’t attend any church because,for the most part,the churches make a mockery of everything Jesus Christ taught.

I am a pacifist because I believe that the historical context of the sermon on the mount leaves no room for doubt that Jesus advocated pacifism. He was living in an occupied country and his own conduct makes it clear that the command to do good to your enemies applies to national enemies as well as personal enemies even when that national enemy is a member of an occupying foreign army.

Pacifism and non-violence are often regarded as the same thing but they are actually distinct. Pacifism is the rejection of war and lethal force along with the offensive use of even non lethal force. Non violence is the rejection of all violence (and obviously incorporate pacifism within itself). I’m 100% pacifist but only 99.9 % non violent because I accept the defensive use of non lethal force. For example, when I punched one of my kidnappers on the nose. (If you want to read about that I have a blog about it).

I’m a vegetarian. Animals are lovely sentient beings and I believe that it’s wrong to kill and eat them. Humans are omnivores. That means that biologically we can eat meat not that we must. We can live healthily on a vegetarian diet.

I believe in treating people well no matter what the rights and wrongs of their own behaviour including their behaviour towards me. I believe that forgiveness is pleasing to God. It’s alright to be angry and upset about how someone treats you but I don’t allow that to carry over into hatred. Also,where appropriate,it’s alright to seek justice but not revenge.

I believe that no matter how dark your situation God can still bring his light into the darkness of your situation. (For my own personal experience of this read my blog A dream of the Virgin Mary).

I believe that however great your sins God’s love is far greater and he will fully forgive and pardon the sins of all who truly repent. There’s a saying about great sinners making great saints. For a moment they turned away from evil completely and God intervened to make that momentary change of heart permanent. (That’s what I believe happened with my dad. He was always a wicked and brutal man but since he changed I have fully made up with him).

I believe in the right of everyone to choose their own beliefs. While I am a Christian myself I respect the fact that some people have different beliefs that are just as important to them. I also respect the fact that some people have no beliefs. I do not agree with intolerance in any way.

This blog is a statement of some of what I believe but obviously no blog can cover everything but I hope that it may have helped someone somehow somewhere.