Still Waters Posted September 18, 2014 #1 Share Posted September 18, 2014 The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, has disclosed that he questions whether God exists. Britain's most senior churchman, who is effectively the leader of almost 80 million Anglicans worldwide, admitted that there are moments when he asks himself "Is there a God?" and "Where is God? http://www.telegraph...nce-of-God.html 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Paranoid Android Posted September 18, 2014 #2 Share Posted September 18, 2014 (edited) So the arch Bishop is a little bit like every other Christian on the planet. Gotcha Edited September 18, 2014 by Paranoid Android 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shrooma Posted September 18, 2014 #3 Share Posted September 18, 2014 nothing wrong with questioning, and you have to admire his bravery for making his feelings public..... . 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taniwha Posted September 18, 2014 #4 Share Posted September 18, 2014 (edited) Asked how to persuade those who do not see religion as relevant in modern world, he admitted that Christians did not have the answers to common questions such as why a good God would permit suffering. "We know about Jesus, we cant explain all the questions in the world, we cant explain about suffering, we can’t explain loads of things but we know about Jesus" "We can talk about Jesus ~ I always do that because most of the other questions I cant answer." Door to door christians have the answer to all these questions and more. Maybe its time for they paid the Archbishop a visit? Edited September 18, 2014 by taniwha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markdohle Posted September 18, 2014 #5 Share Posted September 18, 2014 The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, has disclosed that he questions whether God exists. Britain's most senior churchman, who is effectively the leader of almost 80 million Anglicans worldwide, admitted that there are moments when he asks himself "Is there a God?" and "Where is God? http://www.telegraph...nce-of-God.html No believer would be surprised by this. peace Mark 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JVG Posted September 18, 2014 #6 Share Posted September 18, 2014 This is why it's called a leap of faith.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Border Collie Posted September 18, 2014 #7 Share Posted September 18, 2014 Time for a career change? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostSouls7 Posted September 19, 2014 #8 Share Posted September 19, 2014 is he by any chance related to The Canterbury Bunny ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duke Wellington Posted September 19, 2014 #9 Share Posted September 19, 2014 (edited) The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, has disclosed that he questions whether God exists. Britain's most senior churchman, who is effectively the leader of almost 80 million Anglicans worldwide, admitted that there are moments when he asks himself "Is there a God?" and "Where is God? http://www.telegraph...nce-of-God.html He needs sacking for that. You would expect him to have been taught the theological and philosophical arguments for spirituality. If he doesn't know them then what use is he as the leader of a faith? Edited September 19, 2014 by RabidMongoose 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Paranoid Android Posted September 19, 2014 #10 Share Posted September 19, 2014 (edited) He needs sacking for that. You would expect him to have been taught the theological and philosophical arguments for spirituality. If he doesn't know them then what use is he as the leader of a faith? Why should be be sacked for admitting something that every Christian on the planet, myself included, feel from time to time? Edited September 19, 2014 by Paranoid Android Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duke Wellington Posted September 19, 2014 #11 Share Posted September 19, 2014 Why should be be sacked for admitting something that every Christian on the planet, myself included, feel from time to time? Because it doesnt inspire confidence in others. The head of the church should be someone that knows the philosophical arguments for God and has had spiritual experiences. Someone with a near death experience is more knowledgable than him and thats bad. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Paranoid Android Posted September 19, 2014 #12 Share Posted September 19, 2014 Because it doesnt inspire confidence in others. The head of the church should be someone that knows the philosophical arguments for God and has had spiritual experiences. Someone with a near death experience is more knowledgable than him and thats bad. I disagree, the head of the church should be someone who represents the people. They should also know the philosophical arguments for God but that doesn't mean that they always accept them. I know many of the philosophical arguments, I often post with them as a base for my views. It doesn't mean I never have doubts, though. Doubt is a great tool, it's helped me grow many a time, and I think a Church leader should acknowledge their failings, to let the plebs know that they aren't alone, that what they experience doesn't mean they aren't devout. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JVG Posted September 19, 2014 #13 Share Posted September 19, 2014 How can the leader of a church be a skeptic??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duke Wellington Posted September 19, 2014 #14 Share Posted September 19, 2014 How can the leader of a church be a skeptic??? Sorry Paranoid but JVG hits it on the head. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Paranoid Android Posted September 19, 2014 #15 Share Posted September 19, 2014 Sorry Paranoid but JVG hits it on the head. I'm not a sceptic, but I've had the same doubts he's expressing. I for one find it a comfort that even the most senior Church officials go through the same problems I do, it helps me understand that I'm not alone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JVG Posted September 20, 2014 #16 Share Posted September 20, 2014 I'm not a sceptic, but I've had the same doubts he's expressing. I for one find it a comfort that even the most senior Church officials go through the same problems I do, it helps me understand that I'm not alone. Either you believe or you don't, what side of the fence are you on or are you just trying to play it safe??? A true leader can not waffle on this and needs to have a true vision. When they have doubts then where is your faith??? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Paranoid Android Posted September 20, 2014 #17 Share Posted September 20, 2014 Either you believe or you don't, what side of the fence are you on or are you just trying to play it safe??? A true leader can not waffle on this and needs to have a true vision. When they have doubts then where is your faith??? Having doubts does not make you a sceptic, and no believer always 100% of the time believes with unshakeable faith, there are always times when you sit and think "what if". Every believer on the planet goes through this and I applauds this guy for publicly saying so - the number of believers in the exact same position who hear him are suddenly thinking "wow, I'm not alone" and getting comfort from his words. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+DieChecker Posted September 20, 2014 #18 Share Posted September 20, 2014 I agree with PA. People that don't occasionally have trials of faith become Megalomaniacs and end up causing more trouble then good within the Church. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JVG Posted September 20, 2014 #19 Share Posted September 20, 2014 Having doubts does not make you a sceptic, and no believer always 100% of the time believes with unshakeable faith, there are always times when you sit and think "what if". Every believer on the planet goes through this and I applauds this guy for publicly saying so - the number of believers in the exact same position who hear him are suddenly thinking "wow, I'm not alone" and getting comfort from his words. I think you are more concerned with having someone on your side and not being alone. Faith I feel is pretty much black or white either you believe or not there is not a lot of middle ground. This is just my opinion. It would be extremely difficult for me to follow a leader of a church with such doubts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Paranoid Android Posted September 21, 2014 #20 Share Posted September 21, 2014 I think you are more concerned with having someone on your side and not being alone. Faith I feel is pretty much black or white either you believe or not there is not a lot of middle ground. This is just my opinion. It would be extremely difficult for me to follow a leader of a church with such doubts. Do you follow a leader of any religious organisation? I don't know your religious beliefs to say for sure. But as I said, no believer, no matter how devout, every now and then has doubts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JVG Posted September 21, 2014 #21 Share Posted September 21, 2014 Do you follow a leader of any religious organisation? I don't know your religious beliefs to say for sure. But as I said, no believer, no matter how devout, every now and then has doubts. I think we will have to agree to disagree on this subject you have your views and I have mine and never will two be one... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
libstaK Posted September 21, 2014 #22 Share Posted September 21, 2014 I apply the idea that there may be no God to all my experiences, it ends up failing. It is an important tool, testing the idea of whether there is a God and when there is a crisis of faith, it rears it's head, but like I said in the end it fails to explain my personal experiences. What I think is more important, if not vital, is whether God is what has been described by religion and the holy books. It seems to me my main issue is whether I can know that God is what others say he is, including the bible or whether he is something I need to investigate and understand with a completely clean slate and come to my own understanding about. I don't like the idea that I may be informed by the teachings of men who are fallible by nature and thereby missing real insights because of preconceived ideas that have been brought to me through books and religions, I question this all the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+DieChecker Posted September 21, 2014 #23 Share Posted September 21, 2014 I think you are more concerned with having someone on your side and not being alone. Faith I feel is pretty much black or white either you believe or not there is not a lot of middle ground. This is just my opinion. It would be extremely difficult for me to follow a leader of a church with such doubts. That faith has to be black or white, is kind of like saying everyone in the US has to be a Republican or a Democrat. Or even better, everyone in the US has to be black or white. There is grey to everything in this life, and faith is one of those things. It is said that some people have "great faith" and others are "of little faith". It is a spectrum.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Walker Posted September 21, 2014 #24 Share Posted September 21, 2014 (edited) He needs sacking for that. You would expect him to have been taught the theological and philosophical arguments for spirituality. If he doesn't know them then what use is he as the leader of a faith? The church of England is, and has been for a long time, in large part a social doctrine church ie it believes that the preaching of Christ has the greatest relevance in the lives of ordinary people, and in constructing a society which is just and equal. Spirituality, in this context, is about love, compassion, caring, and helping others, and in seeking legislation which supports social justice and equality. This does not mean that ideas of an after life, or heaven and hell and a real god are discarded, but that, in practical terms, Christianity should be about making a difference here on earth, and this is more of a practical priority than debating if god/heaven or hell actually exist, which are theological and unresolvable questions of faith. Edited September 21, 2014 by Mr Walker 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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