Toxic Faith

Book not in library. Ben Haden, Chattanooga, Tenn., writes: "The #1 stumbling block to the unbeliever about the Christian faith is not the Cross or the Second Coming or the Virgin Birth. It is the money angle." - "1/4th of U.S. adults who state their religious preference as Christian claim to lead a 'very Christian' life . . . The top categories in terms of descriptions of 'person who lives a very Christian life' are: a good person (22%), someone who helps other people (19%), one who seeks God (16%), an honest and trustworthy person (11%), happy and contented (10%), charitable, giving or kind (10%), A person who lives a very 'unChristian life' is most often described as self-centered (16%), a person who does not follow the will of God show more (14%), unconcerned or uncaring (14%), indulges in immoral conduct (11%), unhappy or sad (10%), lost, without direction (9%). Five areas of congregational life related to maturity and loyality: Thinking, warmth, caring, service, worship. THE NATURE OF MATURE FAITH: eight core dimensions--1) trusts in God's saving grace and believes firmly in the humanity and divinity of Jesus; 2] experiences a sense of personal well-being, secuiryt and peace; 3) integrates faith and life, seeing work, family, social relationships and political choices as part of one's religious life. 4) seeks spiritual growth through study, reflection, prayer, discussion; 5) seeks to be part of a community of believers in which people give witness ot their faith and support and nourish one another; 6) holds life-affirming values, including commitment to racial and gender equality, affirmation of cultual and relgious diversity, and a personal sense of responsibility for the welfare of others; 7) advocates social and global change to bring about greater social justice; 8) serves humanity, consistently and passionately, through acts of love and justice. show less