Comments on: Part of the Problem (the way I see it, anyway) http://de-conversion.com/2008/01/29/part-of-the-problem-the-way-i-see-it-anyway/ Resources for skeptical, de-converting, or former Christians...... Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:07:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: lostgirlfound http://de-conversion.com/2008/01/29/part-of-the-problem-the-way-i-see-it-anyway/#comment-15660 lostgirlfound Wed, 06 Feb 2008 22:14:12 +0000 http://agnosticatheism.wordpress.com/?p=713#comment-15660 Hugo ... I have heard Martoia speak many times, and read a couple of his books. Haven't heard from him in a while, though. "Generous Orthodoxy" is one of the catalysis for my entire de-con journey ... actually, it was the proverbial slap in the face that made me realize I don't have "all the answers," and no one else who calls themselves Christians really does, either. (to be fair, "... or anyone else who deems themselves spiritual superior to everyone else ..."). I think my email is on my lostgirl site. If not, leave me a comment there, and I'll get it to you. Hugo … I have heard Martoia speak many times, and read a couple of his books. Haven’t heard from him in a while, though. “Generous Orthodoxy” is one of the catalysis for my entire de-con journey … actually, it was the proverbial slap in the face that made me realize I don’t have “all the answers,” and no one else who calls themselves Christians really does, either. (to be fair, “… or anyone else who deems themselves spiritual superior to everyone else …”). I think my email is on my lostgirl site. If not, leave me a comment there, and I’ll get it to you.

]]> By: Hugo http://de-conversion.com/2008/01/29/part-of-the-problem-the-way-i-see-it-anyway/#comment-15599 Hugo Tue, 05 Feb 2008 15:14:23 +0000 http://agnosticatheism.wordpress.com/?p=713#comment-15599 lostgirlfound, can I contact you somehow? I'd like to suggest a book, or even send it to you. I share your like for McLaren. I also fail to "walk away", I have too many friends and family members stuck in fundamentalism. This morning I met Ron Martoia, I think he has a book you'd like. "Static". I'm basing this on a "sermon" of his I listened to, and his talk this morning: I have yet to read the book, but he says what he said this morning and on Sunday comes from the book. (Asked for book recommendations, he suggested McLaren's "A Generous Orthodoxy" above his own books...) I'm keeping an eye on what you discover, methinks we're on the same mission. Best of luck with your endeavours. lostgirlfound, can I contact you somehow? I’d like to suggest a book, or even send it to you. I share your like for McLaren. I also fail to “walk away”, I have too many friends and family members stuck in fundamentalism.

This morning I met Ron Martoia, I think he has a book you’d like. “Static”. I’m basing this on a “sermon” of his I listened to, and his talk this morning: I have yet to read the book, but he says what he said this morning and on Sunday comes from the book. (Asked for book recommendations, he suggested McLaren’s “A Generous Orthodoxy” above his own books… ;)

I’m keeping an eye on what you discover, methinks we’re on the same mission. Best of luck with your endeavours.

]]> By: lostgirlfound http://de-conversion.com/2008/01/29/part-of-the-problem-the-way-i-see-it-anyway/#comment-15475 lostgirlfound Fri, 01 Feb 2008 18:31:12 +0000 http://agnosticatheism.wordpress.com/?p=713#comment-15475 HIS -- should we tell them what "baloots" is? No, you're right -- too "sic". Interesting, too ... my husband and I, both from fairly sheltered midwest backgrounds, saw our first limb-less begger in Juarez years ago ... it was the first time children ran up to us, asking for money. To this day, it tugs at my heart and makes me a sucker for people in need on the street. Regardless of if they're "for real" or not, I always empty my pockets ... HIS — should we tell them what “baloots” is? No, you’re right — too “sic”. Interesting, too … my husband and I, both from fairly sheltered midwest backgrounds, saw our first limb-less begger in Juarez years ago … it was the first time children ran up to us, asking for money. To this day, it tugs at my heart and makes me a sucker for people in need on the street. Regardless of if they’re “for real” or not, I always empty my pockets …

]]> By: HeIsSailing http://de-conversion.com/2008/01/29/part-of-the-problem-the-way-i-see-it-anyway/#comment-15468 HeIsSailing Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:25:13 +0000 http://agnosticatheism.wordpress.com/?p=713#comment-15468 lostgirlfound reveals her taste in the disgusting: "maybe even sharing some “baloots” (sic)" No thank you. I will eat any and all sorts of bizarre asain food, but you can keep your "baloots". That is a line I dare not cross. sic indeed. lostgirlfound reveals her taste in the disgusting:
“maybe even sharing some “baloots” (sic)”

No thank you. I will eat any and all sorts of bizarre asain food, but you can keep your “baloots”. That is a line I dare not cross. sic indeed.

]]> By: samanthamj http://de-conversion.com/2008/01/29/part-of-the-problem-the-way-i-see-it-anyway/#comment-15458 samanthamj Fri, 01 Feb 2008 04:05:01 +0000 http://agnosticatheism.wordpress.com/?p=713#comment-15458 Nice post lostgirlfound, and feedback from everyone. Thanks. I guess I was lucky - and made a clean break from church many years ago. I still have lots of family and friends that are Christians, but all of them know me well enough to know I don't go... and we manage to all get along anyway (for the most part, anyway). All I can do is what I feel is "right", and often, that makes our two worlds overlap. When that happens, I think it always amazes my Christian friends for some reason and makes them want to believe that I'm a believer after all... ~smj Nice post lostgirlfound, and feedback from everyone. Thanks. I guess I was lucky - and made a clean break from church many years ago. I still have lots of family and friends that are Christians, but all of them know me well enough to know I don’t go… and we manage to all get along anyway (for the most part, anyway). All I can do is what I feel is “right”, and often, that makes our two worlds overlap. When that happens, I think it always amazes my Christian friends for some reason and makes them want to believe that I’m a believer after all…
~smj

]]> By: lostgirlfound http://de-conversion.com/2008/01/29/part-of-the-problem-the-way-i-see-it-anyway/#comment-15449 lostgirlfound Thu, 31 Jan 2008 23:11:59 +0000 http://agnosticatheism.wordpress.com/?p=713#comment-15449 Wow ... thanks for the comments and suggestions, folks! Tristan, yours was especially encouraging for my soul, and HIS (Dude - that's freakin' funny) ... always good to hear from you. I think, in "real" life you and your wife would be our friends ... maybe even sharing some "baloots" (sic). Sorry for those of you who are not familar with McClaren. And, please don't think I am a "devotee" of any one man. I just enjoy his writing, and the way he tends to "shake up" mainline thought patterns. That's all ... for now. Wow … thanks for the comments and suggestions, folks! Tristan, yours was especially encouraging for my soul, and HIS (Dude - that’s freakin’ funny) … always good to hear from you. I think, in “real” life you and your wife would be our friends … maybe even sharing some “baloots” (sic). Sorry for those of you who are not familar with McClaren. And, please don’t think I am a “devotee” of any one man. I just enjoy his writing, and the way he tends to “shake up” mainline thought patterns. That’s all … for now.

]]> By: TheNorEaster http://de-conversion.com/2008/01/29/part-of-the-problem-the-way-i-see-it-anyway/#comment-15445 TheNorEaster Thu, 31 Jan 2008 21:23:36 +0000 http://agnosticatheism.wordpress.com/?p=713#comment-15445 Sailing: "Contemporary Christianity, especially in America, is sick of the old “churchy” way of doing things - that is, to say, the dreaded “organized religion.” So instead they have created and, dare I say, emboldened a new sort of spirituality (simply look at the first response to this article)." How would you define "spirituality"? I am trying to find my own definition and I would really like to learn as much as I can about how others define the term. Sailing:

“Contemporary Christianity, especially in America, is sick of the old “churchy” way of doing things - that is, to say, the dreaded “organized religion.” So instead they have created and, dare I say, emboldened a new sort of spirituality (simply look at the first response to this article).”

How would you define “spirituality”? I am trying to find my own definition and I would really like to learn as much as I can about how others define the term.

]]> By: Brad http://de-conversion.com/2008/01/29/part-of-the-problem-the-way-i-see-it-anyway/#comment-15430 Brad Thu, 31 Jan 2008 13:46:26 +0000 http://agnosticatheism.wordpress.com/?p=713#comment-15430 HIS, Hehe, I normally suppress my use of "dude," but considering the topic at hand and my common frustration, I think the emphatic use of the word was very appropriate. :-) "That article that I wrote several months ago could easily have been written by me even as a believing Christian, because the anxiety caused by the intamacy we were required to feel with Jesus was very real." Man, do I hear you... It really wasn't far off from something I would have written either. You hit a chord ridiculously common among Christian men, much less ex-Christian men like yourself. Would you mind if I used your article on our blog (with all due credit of course)? It's an absolutely perfect example of what I was writing about... God Bless ya, brother... Peace. HIS,

Hehe, I normally suppress my use of “dude,” but considering the topic at hand and my common frustration, I think the emphatic use of the word was very appropriate. :-)

“That article that I wrote several months ago could easily have been written by me even as a believing Christian, because the anxiety caused by the intamacy we were required to feel with Jesus was very real.”

Man, do I hear you… It really wasn’t far off from something I would have written either. You hit a chord ridiculously common among Christian men, much less ex-Christian men like yourself. Would you mind if I used your article on our blog (with all due credit of course)? It’s an absolutely perfect example of what I was writing about… God Bless ya, brother…

Peace.

]]> By: GoDamn http://de-conversion.com/2008/01/29/part-of-the-problem-the-way-i-see-it-anyway/#comment-15426 GoDamn Thu, 31 Jan 2008 12:06:21 +0000 http://agnosticatheism.wordpress.com/?p=713#comment-15426 JOURNALIST IN AFGHANISTAN SENTENCED TO DEATH A student of journalism has been sentenced to death by an Islamic court for downloading a report from the internet. Sayed Pervez Kambaksh is accused of blasphemy for printing a report from a Farsi website which states that Muslim fundamentalists who claimed the Koran justified the oppression of women had misrepresented the prophets words. Sayed was tried by religious judges without legal representation and in secret. The Afghan senate upheld the verdict yesterday with a motion condemning Sayed. This is Hamid Karzais 'free' Afghanistan. Newspapers have also been threatened with prosecution if they protest. The Independent has launched a petition requesting Hamid Karzai to pardon Sayed. You can help by signing the petition here- http://www.independent.co.uk/petition JOURNALIST IN AFGHANISTAN SENTENCED TO DEATH
A student of journalism has been sentenced to death by an Islamic court for downloading a report from the internet. Sayed Pervez Kambaksh is accused of blasphemy for printing a report from a Farsi website which states that Muslim fundamentalists who claimed the Koran justified the oppression of women had misrepresented the prophets words. Sayed was tried by religious judges without legal representation and in secret. The Afghan senate upheld the verdict yesterday with a motion condemning Sayed. This is Hamid Karzais ‘free’ Afghanistan. Newspapers have also been threatened with prosecution if they protest. The Independent has launched a petition requesting Hamid Karzai to pardon Sayed. You can help by signing the petition here-
http://www.independent.co.uk/petition

]]> By: HeIsSailing http://de-conversion.com/2008/01/29/part-of-the-problem-the-way-i-see-it-anyway/#comment-15410 HeIsSailing Thu, 31 Jan 2008 03:52:11 +0000 http://agnosticatheism.wordpress.com/?p=713#comment-15410 <blockquote>Dude. I totally hear you. Ha - I have not been called 'dude' in at least 25 years. Anyway, I am glad you understand my frustrations I felt when I was a Christian. That article that I wrote several months ago could easily have been written by me even as a believing Christian, because the anxiety caused by the intamacy we were required to feel with Jesus was very real. I think lots of Christian men have just as hard a time as I did. I'll check out your article later - thanks Dude.

Dude. I totally hear you.

Ha - I have not been called ‘dude’ in at least 25 years. Anyway, I am glad you understand my frustrations I felt when I was a Christian. That article that I wrote several months ago could easily have been written by me even as a believing Christian, because the anxiety caused by the intamacy we were required to feel with Jesus was very real. I think lots of Christian men have just as hard a time as I did. I’ll check out your article later - thanks Dude.

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