I was watching the TV show Bones tonight and the corpse they uncovered was of a Amish teen. The big part of the plot was that the kid found out he had a natural gift for playing the piano and the Amish religion states that music is wrong or bad or something like that.

My question is: Would you leave your religion if it turns out that you excel in something that is prohibited by it, like the kid and the piano? I don't know the specifics of religions to create any other examples but I think that one is enough.

Interesting question, Bobby. If I were torn between my talents and my faith I would sacrifice my talents. “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.” Philippians 3:7 (NIV) If there is something that I can or want to do but it does not give glory to God I am to throw it away for Him.

i would drop the religion in an instant, if ever a religion which is made to help life a better place, is holding you back, i would leave maybe get a new one when i can be bothered

Good question. The only time I would drop my beliefs would be if I knew in my heart they weren't spiritual, and were just looking for more rules. The Piano kid seems like an example. But with good reason I would sacrifice my talents. Even if I didn't entirely know what for. I think the glory of God is good enough.

I actually feel that we need to define what talent is. Some people can go so far in defining a certain thing that they can do as a talent, when it really isn't anything special, other than the fact that you are one of the few that can do it.

But if we are defining talent as something evidently in the arts, like music, artistic abilities, dancing, and you know that your talent could not be used to glorify God, then I would sacrifice it. However, if you are a Christian, you know that talents that you have are gifts from God, and can be used to glorify Him in some way. Ex: King David was a musician.

play4fun : I mean something that could provide enjoyment to possibly thousands of people, like the kid with the piano.

Originally posted by Bobbynibbles

---

I mean something that could provide enjoyment to possibly thousands of people, like the kid with the piano.

---

This does sound fulfilling towards a personal gain, but I'm in agreement with the majority here: the life of one who's seeking God should be motivated by pleasing him, not people.

If I found that I was forbidden from something that was not hurting anybody, such as playing piano, it would cause me to question my religion. Not necessarily abandon my beliefs instantly, but it would lead to me questioning it and seeking for why it is forbidden. If it goes against logic and reason then I would stop being a follower.

"If I found that I was forbidden from something that was not hurting anybody, such as playing piano, it would cause me to question my religion. Not necessarily abandon my beliefs instantly, but it would lead to me questioning it and seeking for why it is forbidden. If it goes against logic and reason then I would stop being a follower."

that pretty much sums up my feeling on the subject as well.

I think a religion that unreasonable restricts freedoms in an area like we seem to be talking about is going off in the extreme in my opinion. I can't think of any other examples than the music one that was mentioned.

Annette : i was about to say that, you beat me to it.



well for example islam typiclaly denounces

western music like the electric guitar as

sinfull but there are muslims i know that

 listen to rock and rap, if you didnt agree with

certain factors thats when religions split e.g

catholicism has splits in the form of

 protestantism, orthodox, etc.

and it wouldnt be an extreme split if you were

muslim because the quoran has no specific

argument against it, muhamed never

appeared and said the electric guitar is sinfull.

i dont know much about the amish religion

but id say it would be similar scenario.

I would have to drop my talents for the sake of my faith. I believe that my spiritual connection to God is worth more than any talent or happiness that I can achieve in the world. Also, if it was a talent that clashed with my connection with God, it obviously would be something I should be morally against anyways. If I weren't a Christian however, then I'm not sure what I would do. It would depend upon the religion. If it was a religion I was attached to then probably not, but if it were a religion I didn't particularly care for or was forced upon me against my will that caused me to harbor a deeply rooted hate for it, then probably. But I would also need to consider other things, like would my family and friends still accept me if I went through with it, because pursuing the talent might not be worth total isolation from your friends and family.