This article was written to make it easier for my readers to understand some of my opinions. I will add to it as questions arise from discussions.
Fundamental
My most fundamental beliefs are inculcated in the Nicene Creed most often said in Christian churches.
"I believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen."
This is belief. That I cannot prove God I decided long ago. But then his existence cannot be disproved either. And this belief has been help in my life and it is hard not to believe.
Libertarian
Even though I am not a member of the party, I do subscribe to the fundamental libertarian beliefs.
1. committed to the belief that individuals, and not states or groups of any other kind, are both ontologically and normatively primary;
2. that individuals have rights against certain kinds of forcible interference on the part of others;
3. that liberty, understood as non-interference, is the only thing that can be legitimately demanded of others as a matter of legal or political right;
4. that robust property rights and the economic liberty that follows from their consistent recognition are of central importance in respecting individual liberty;
5. that social order is not at odds with but develops out of individual liberty;
6. that the only proper use of coercion is defensive or to rectify an error;
7. that governments are bound by essentially the same moral principles as individuals;
8. and that most existing and historical governments have acted improperly insofar as they have utilized coercion for plunder, aggression, redistribution, and other purposes beyond the protection of individual liberty.
Priesthood
I believe in the \"priesthood of all believers\", that my relationship with God requires no intervening person.
The Bible
I believe the Bible is inspired by God. In it the writers have given us guidance, often very serious, as to how we should live our lives. Because the writers and translators are human we must carefully consider what we read.
Creation
I have included this here only because a reader has made incorrect assumptions about my belief. My belief can best be described as Intelligent Design. There is plenty of scientific evidence that the literal reading of the creation in Genesis cannot be accurate. Where evolution is a widely accepted theory, there are existing scientific problems with that as a theory. Since I wasn\'t there, as well as many who want to debate, I confess I have not studied the subject in detail.