For the sake of clarity, and understanding, why don't we just all stand up and say

[Thats my opinion]

79. My response

The invitation for each of us to state what we believe was a positive step, even if the invitation was somewhat loaded. At this writing there have been 55 responses. Take a look at them. While there were a few focused on the invitation, take a look at responses 1, 3, 7, 11, 17, 36, 25, 49, 48, 50, 55, and others. They are in part or in whole attacks on belief and believers, not what the original post suggested. It looks like just another excuse to savage religion and those with religious commitments. That may be a legitimate subject in this forum, but it is not what the invitation was all about. And having been subject to this savaging of belief and believers, the original poster wondered why so few believers will choose to respond. “Put your neck on the block so we can chop your head off,” is hardly the kind of invitation that invites an open response. If you wonder why so few believers have posted here, just read what has gone on.

Since I feel, however, that the initial invitation was legitimate I will risk putting my neck out by beginning to tell you what I believe. I do this realizing that whatever I say will probably be savaged by a few. Nevertheless there may be others out there willing to hear, even if they disagree.

First, as a beginning, here are a few things I believe.
Then I will describe how I came to these conclusions.

I believe:
In the generation of a peacefully world and the absence of violence where at all possible. That love is better than hate, peace better than war, justice better than inequality.

The care of the earth, the dignity and sacredness of the environment and the sacred obligation to preserve it.

The dignity of every person regardless of race, gender, sexual preference, age,
nation, disability or economic condition.

I believe a woman has the right to control what happens in here body--and that includes the right of conscience.

I believe in music, art, poetry, literature, architecture and all those things which point to the transcendence of purpose and beauty. I believe there is a transcendence that is beyond all human efforts.

I believe we all have a responsibility to the poor, the fragile, the left out, the discriminated against, and that “no one is an island entire to him/her self,” and that we have a mutual obligation to care for each other.

I believe that society is responsible for sustaining the dignity of all its members.
That includes fair housing opportunities, nutrition, health care and a decent old age.

There are so many more—but that is a beginning list.

Furthermore I believe that these are all moral problems, not just social or economic problems. As such they are proper subjects for those persons and institutions based in moral commitments, which have not only the right, but the responsibility to be directly involved in the humanization of society and the care of the earth.



Now let me very briefly state how I have come to these conclusions. I know that many other people come to the same conclusions by a variety of other paths—all of which I support and celebrate. Mine is not the only way—but it is a way and it is the way that has determined the focus of my life and multi-millions of other religious believers.For me it has been a life-long quest.

The polar star is the life and teachings of Jesus, who was “all of God we can see in human form.” (from my book , "Building a Biblical Faith.&quot

I believe that these ethical commitments are profoundly rooted in the Mystery which is part of all of life and the essence of religion.

I believe that what we call God is not to be found in doctrines, but in the energy by which all things exist. God is not to be identified with the world—that is pantheism, but that God is the energy, the process which infuses everything –that is panentheism. This energy is seen in the upward thrust which we call evolution.

I believe that God is far more than a person, but the energy by which the world functions.

I believed that in every person there is the spirit of nobility—a holy spirit--which which at its best reaches in and through the whole creation.

All this is just a brief start. The filling out of this synopsis can be found in much larger writings of mine. What I have said is not just a private opinion, but is what is understood in almost every progressive seminary and in hundreds of thousands of local churches. It is an orthodoxy which talks about the real world and real reasons for faith.