I live in Texas and nearly everyone here confesses to faith in Christ, but I hardly see a single soul who's living a life in anticipation of any rapture.
Well I've met and seen fundamentalist Texans who very much are anticipating that, so that just shows that
people can have different experiences in the same arena and form differing opinions. I have not met and talked
to 'all' Texans and I doubt that you have either, so it would not be the thing for either of us to consider as
anything close to a certainty, much less "truth."
They simply have faith that God is taking care of His people. now unfortunately, I am of the opinion that they have forgotten about Jesus altogether. I don't know if you read the part where Jesus said, "Watch out! Don't let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don't let that day catch you unaware,"
You see that is a big problem for Christians. I would suggest you would be hard pressed to find any educated non-christians who
would regard the bible as "revealed truth" or the "word of God" anymore than they would regard in that way similar books and
collected tales, like the exploits of King Arthur; Hercules; or Cuchulainn. Such books can of course contain important lessons,
on morality etc., and serve many psychological functions and needs, but are not meant to be history books or science texts.
Other than that, I disagree with most of what you said, but it's okay.. believe what you want.
Thanks, but ya know, agnosticism and similar philosophies are about trying 'not' to bind oneself
to any particular belief... rather trying to see what is front of ones nose as clearly as possible
and making the best decisions in the here and now moment... something like learning to rely
on ones own intelligence rather than the dogma of people who lived thousands of years ago.
But that's just trying to explain the ways I favor and not trying to get you or anyone to join me.
I do agree that evangelism is not really the way of God. It's more of a private thing. but even Jesus agreed, when He said to go hide from others when you pray. However, this is not praying, this is witnessing or stating the truth which I feel compelled to do.
You mentioned the word "faith"... and that's what religion is all about isn't it. It is an inner and very personal compulsion,
and yes 'private' like you say; not based on externalities and scientific facts etc.. That is not to dismiss it or say it does not
have value, but rather that it is not something to try and impose on others who have their own paths to follow in their own way.