Comments on: Time Is on My Side

By: lostgirlfound

lostgirlfound — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 21:54:38 +0000

Definately! And it’s something I constantly work on. I guess instead of saying “they haven’t changed,” I should have said, “It seemed to me they were stagnate, still dealing with the same issues over and over again.” I guess that, if God is who they say he is … if Jesus came so that they could be “new creations,” and they could “turn from their ways of sinning,” shouldn’t there be some viable evidence of this? Or, do people simply say, “Well, I’m human. I just can’t change.” Isn’t that so contradictory? It’s one of those things I really struggle with … Christians who claim the “power of God” but are still the same … except now judgmental and reeking with some type of righteous superiority.
I’m not saying to be perfect … God knows (as well as my family and friends) I’m the furthest thing from. But I do change. I grow — I mature. The things that use to tear me a part, and cause me to explode in rage don’t do that to me anymore. The judgmental attitude toward “them” (whomever them might be at the time) has been replaced with grace … and often love. Yeah, except for self-righteous, all knowing Christians. And like I started to say, I’m working on that, too.

By: Monte

Monte — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 21:12:30 +0000

How long did you talk to each other? In the conversation you had with this woman/couple, did you actually get sufficient information to tell if nothing has changed with her? Maybe nothing has changed–I obviously don’t knokw–but is there any chance that you are jumping to conclusions?

Did you see the recent book from Mother Theresa? Religious people have big changes in their spiritual lives. I have been doing counseling for 40 years and I can tell you that there are lots of changes that go on with clergy professionals, although they may not share those changes with everyone they know. In that way they are not that much different from anyone else. Do you explain all of your thoughts and feelings to everyone you know, or are there some things you choose to keep private, at least for a time?

As you admitted in your posting, you were being judgmental. Isn’t that something you don’t like about organized religion and religious people?

By: LeoPardus

LeoPardus — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 18:38:22 +0000

MaryWindsor:

I went through all sorts of belief systems, following them for a time and then dismissing them as rubbish.

So why did you stop doing that and settle on your current rubbish?

To wit: we can, be and do anything we want, we just have to draw on the Universal energy, …We are all a part of everything that ever was, is or will be…. I am god even as we are all god.

Thats why mediums know stuff.

Rubbish. Mediums are frauds. It’s been demonstrated time and again. The best among them do what illusionists call ‘cold readings’ of people. Good illusionists do the same thing as mediums.

Again, why did you start off analyzing things and dismissing rubbish, just to end up settling on rubbish?

By: Mary Windsor

Mary Windsor — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 09:00:39 +0000

I was a life time believer, bought up in an evangelical environment, then 25 years ago I started asking questions, these questions made my christian friends very uneasy and I was accused of a lack of faith among other things. Nevertheless I carried on my search, I went through all sorts of belief systems, following them for a time and then dismissing them as rubbish. To the chargin of some around me I even dismissed the exsistence of all spiritual beings, good and evil, angels and a spiritiual hierachy.You may think this left me with nothing to believe in, but I do feel we are all endowed with spiritual gifts and a spiritual memory, without being to complicated, we can, be and do anything we want, we just have to draw on the Universal energy, call It God if you like. A diamond has many facets but it is still one stone. We are all a part of everything that ever was, is or will be. Thats why mediums know stuff. They think they are talking to dead people, but I feel they are just remembering something that was once a part of them, but they just believe it is something different! Even the theory of reincarnation goes up in smoke if you look at it in the simplistic way that I do! So heresy of heresy, I am god even as we are all god. Remember the bible says, “Know ye not that ye are gods”

By: Jersey

Jersey — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 01:44:41 +0000

Karen: I go to a church that some who know my Sensei and his wife think they are not “pure enough” Christian and I get the scolding if I stand up for them or say to give them a break, because no one “wiser” is teaching them the truth. (They believe in the Rapture and his wife is a music minister, which my love thinks is not Biblical.)

Deacon:I am the oddball out. People are always telling me I was fed the “wrong form” of Christianity (I grew up in a church of the Methodist tradition, now I go to a Church of Christ.) I question things, and people either try a weak defense or flatly state not to think about such-and-such as since the Bible doesn’t mention it, we shouldn’t think about it. Balogna.

By: karen

karen — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:21:51 +0000

She was one of those “super Christians” (at least in her mind). However, the reality of it all is she typified all the things I have learned to loath about religious people. She always had “all the answers,” and anything that deviated from her set theology was wrong. She could tell you how to live, while her own life was crumbling unnoticed around her. She pursued “ministry” based on her desire to have acceptance and really could not wrap her mind around love at all.

I have a friend just like this. She’s the “perfect Christian” but she’s blatantly racist and a very stingy person.

The last time we got together the talk turned to Mormons. Her comment: “Too bad they don’t have fire insurance.” I didn’t get it at first, but then I realized she was gloating over the fact that she believes they will all roast in hell forever.

It really made me realize how cruel and unfeeling even some of the the “best Christians” are.

By: bry0000000

bry0000000 — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 08:57:18 +0000

“So many Christians talk about “relationship,” but in reality, if they were forced into choosing “pure” relationship — surrounded by things unknown or mystical — or the dogmatic belief in the structure, they would choose the controlled dogma.”

That epitomized the way I felt at the end of my life as a Christian. Favorite part of the post. I would argue this occurs because the relationship is extremely one sided, but that’s just my atheist tendency.

Have a great new year!

By: locomotivebreath1901

locomotivebreath1901 — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 17:46:51 +0000

“Saying all this, I’ve learned to pity this woman.”

God bless you.

Lessons learned……

By: the deacon

the deacon — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 00:25:41 +0000

One of the problems within religion is the group think dynamic. Individuals may have questions and concerns at various points but are fearful to express them. When they look around to see others accepting the teachings they become concerned about being the odd person out and being viewed as less of a Christian for expressing doubts.

By: LeoPardus

LeoPardus — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 00:01:56 +0000

okenthief:

it is hard for me to ignore religious talk sometimes–I wonder if t is makes me an arrogant or overbearing person…

Yeah. Sometimes it is hard to ignore. You might be overbearing or arrogant about it, but the fact that you’re at least asking if you are is a good sign. And if you’re keeping the relationship strong enough for coffee and laughs, you can’t be going too far wrong.