I am a 66-year-old, lifelong Republican, current RINO, fiscal conservative, social moderate and environmental liberal. Not standing up for what you believe in is weak whether it is popular or not. Maintaining a belief when presented evidence that the belief is flawed is ignorant.

It would seem foolish to not be a friend of Jesus. He appears to be a very likeable guy. I value the lessons in the bible, most of them anyway. I think the bible is fiction. The thing about fiction is it makes it easier and clearer to create a message. The whole truth gets very messy, in a parable right and wrong can be juxtaposed, in life it is rarely so black and white.

faith

/fāTH/

noun

1.

complete trust or confidence in someone or something.

2.

strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof.

I don't believe faith is a good thing. Faith is a cop out. I think we should follow the evidence, question authority and not rely on what we are told. Be a sceptic, question everything, believe nothing you are told just because it is the word. Think for yourself.

or

Go along to get along, ride the wave, be a part of the herd, be part of the in crowd, be a good member, climb the ladder they put in front of you. Obey authority, have faith in God, Jesus, and your leaders.

The latter is probably easier and more likely to be "successful," if you can stomach the hypocrisy and cognitive dissonance.

Part of Jesus' message is that sometimes our leaders stray so far from the right path that we must demand change even if they will kill us for opposing them. John the Apostle is believed to have died of natural causes, making him the only apostle who did not die as a martyr.

I said the bible is fiction, it is historical fiction, much of it is true like any good historical fiction and it is good historical fiction, maybe the best ever written.

TEK