Church & Religion

yeah, it's funny I don't really identify myself as a christian.  I identify as a lot of other things before that.  But, I've been through a lot in my life and I've always had that sort of 'quiet faith' thing going on.  I've recently tried to take a more learned stance and started attending church again after a long absence.

Last week, my bible study verses were all about how gay people are going to hell.  My bible even had a 1-800 number to call if you were gay and wanted to change.  That left me with a bitter taste in my mouth but I stood up for what I believe is right and made that clear in the class.  It's not always easy to believe so much in what I know is right and have that be counter to the Bible.  I have to say, I probably have a more 'it's a good idea but let's not stone people for eating do-nuts on thursday afternoons' approach to the bible than most other christians.

sadly. too many interpret the Bible to say what they want it to and try to push that on everyone. Who knows what is really meant by some of the scripture? basically I think its individual and you have to trust the feelings in your own heart in your own relationship with God. I think its makes things worse to force beliefs. So much fighting and war over who is right?!

Last week, my bible study verses were all about how gay people are going to hell.  My bible even had a 1-800 number to call if you were gay and wanted to change.  That left me with a bitter taste in my mouth but I stood up for what I believe is right and made that clear in the class. 

Good for you, Trillian.  That's the thing - that's just the tip of the iceberg of things to do with 'Christianity'(?) that I could no longer abide.  Anyhoo - bet you're looking forward to leaving the 'Poopshoot of America'.   I'm in Leeds - not far from Manchester.

As the daughter of a pastor and former resident in the Bible belt, there's nothing new you could tell me about people being mean and hateful.  

But there is also nothing you could tell me that would change the fact that I have a loving Saviour who is always there for me and has provided for me over and over. [there are some pretty amazing people out there, too, who are good "commercials" for Christianity]

I guess I'd say if I looked only at people, I'll always be disappointed. But if I keep my eyes on Jesus, he will never disappoint me.  I am more sorry than I can say that many of you have met mean people who tried to beat you over the head with a warped view of God and of the Bible. But the mean people don't accurately reflect Christianity, which is based on accepting Christ's LOVE and forgiveness.

The Bible even says that there are people who will claim to know the Lord, and to have done many things for him, but who will hear him say "Depart from me, I never knew you" when it comes down to it.


 Romans 1:20
Since the creation of the world, God's invisible qualities -- his eternal power and divine nature -- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

Last week, my bible study verses were all about how gay people are going to hell.  My bible even had a 1-800 number to call if you were gay and wanted to change.  That left me with a bitter taste in my mouth but I stood up for what I believe is right and made that clear in the class.  It's not always easy to believe so much in what I know is right and have that be counter to the Bible.  I have to say, I probably have a more 'it's a good idea but let's not stone people for eating do-nuts on thursday afternoons' approach to the bible than most other christians.

My one "problem" with religion is the intolerance it brings.  I am of the mind set that intolerance is against true Christian (for that matter, human) values.  My Priest is great in that he points out almost every Sunday that we are not in a place to judge others.  Just because someone has different views than us, different moral standards ect, doesn't mean they are 1) going to Hell or 2) we have a right to condemn them.  I mean, isn't religion meant to bring love and tolerance?

 I mean, isn't religion meant to bring love and tolerance?

I have a book somewhere (prolly in storage) with a copy of a speech the Dalai Lama made to members of Congress once (most likely long before the current group in power!)...one of the things that most struck me - something to the effect that, regardless of what faith is practiced, the true meaning of (any) religion is all about love & compassion.  My thing is -- you can adopt these things without need of practicing or believing in a faith at all -- love and compassion are not the exclusive domain of religion or faith by any stretch of the imagination...and in so doing, you can bypass what are (to me) the untenable hazards of religion.

C

I have a book somewhere (prolly in storage) with a copy of a speech the Dalai Lama made to members of Congress once (most likely long before the current group in power!)...one of the things that most struck me - something to the effect that, regardless of what faith is practiced, the true meaning of (any) religion is all about love & compassion.  My thing is -- you can adopt these things without need of practicing or believing in a faith at all -- love and compassion are not the exclusive domain of religion or faith by any stretch of the imagination...and in so doing, you can bypass what are (to me) the untenable hazards of religion.

C

I completely agree.  Religion is not the ONLY thing that brings love and tolerance.  My fiance (no longer a "religious" guy) says that even though he doesn't have religious faith, he is just as moral, and has just as much love and compasion as a Christian.   

Well...have you traveled through middle (bible-beating) America & spoke of being atheistic much?

I used to live in Louisiana -- definitely the Bible Belt! I was never afraid of telling people I was an atheist ... but only if they asked first. It's just something that I consider private, as I think people who have strong religious beliefs should also consider their views private. Don't get me wrong; I'm not averse to a good ol' debate every now and then -- I just don't feel I need to discuss it unless someone else wants to. But I never had to field questions about devil worship! Where was this, carolyn?! The worst I had to contend with was being pitied and prayed for ... which is bad enough!

carolyn - yeah the poopshoot of America, a.k.a  Mississippi can kiss my ass as of August 1. 

The weirdest thing that ever happened to me was at one of those crazy shaking in the aisles churches where they speak in tongues and stuff.  I had agreed to go to a revival with one of my coworkers (i felt sorry for her) and didn't realize it was a crazy church.  I must have looked startled because the preacher looked right at me and said:

"BROTHAS AND SISTAHS WE HAVE AMONGST US A NOOOOOOOOOOOON BELIVAH!!!!!!!!"

i thought i was going to get mobbed so I ran out.

The weirdest thing that ever happened to me was at one of those crazy shaking in the aisles churches where they speak in tongues and stuff.  I had agreed to go to a revival with one of my coworkers (i felt sorry for her) and didn't realize it was a crazy church.  I must have looked startled because the preacher looked right at me and said:

"BROTHAS AND SISTAHS WE HAVE AMONGST US A NOOOOOOOOOOOON BELIVAH!!!!!!!!"

i thought i was going to get mobbed so I ran out.

LOL, trillian! As a schoolgirl in Louisiana, if I ever slept over at a friend's house on a Saturday night, I'd invariably get dragged off to church with her and her family on Sunday morning. Oh, man. The preachers were always asking me if I'd "been saved" yet. Saved from what??! I couldn't have felt any safer than I did! Those are some nutty people!

Mom was raised Christian and went to religious schools/Uni but OD'd on it. Them married Dad who was a non-practicing Jew. They went to a Unitarian church sometimes which I enjoyed as a child.

Now I'm interested in all religions but pretty uncomfortable attending any service on a regular basis.

DH is dyed in the wool CofE and misses it but not enough to get himself to services on a regular basis!

When/if we have kids, I'll let him do the Cof E thing with them but will make sure they aren't forced into anything and exposed to as much other religious information as possible.

I am one of those crazy liberals --- active in Amnesty International and very vocal about what I believe in (tho not, I hope, in an annoying way). Anyway, here at work (in the Heart of the Bible Belt) one of those e-mail questionaires got forwarded around and you had to answer questions about the person who sent it to you. One of the questions was 'do you believe in God.'

I thought it was pretty funny that every single person in my office thought I didn't believe in God because of my political beliefs!! I pointed out to them that I am the only one of them to go to sunday school.

Hey, that's funny. I've taken that quiz. Everyone thought I do believe in God.  Everyone also thought I was some sort of a rock chick. Little do they know. 

Last week, my bible study verses were all about how gay people are going to hell.

As a Christian, I don't believe that at all. I've always be taught that even if you don't agree with what someone does/says, thats no reason to judge them. In the Bible, Jesus didn't hang out with the perfect people--he went to the tax collectors, people with leprosy, an adulteress and lots of other people who were rejected by others.

I think one major problems of the modern church is the tendancy to judge others.  All this does is make the church as a whole look bad.

Wow!, Thanx for all the responses. It's certainly interesting to learn a bit about how religion and spirtuality is approched in England. My wife and I are planning a move to England next summer. We enjoy being apart of a church together and find that it also helps our marriage. Church allows me to remember. I moslty practice spirutality by self sacrifice through Alcohlics Anonymous.

  My bible even had a 1-800 number to call if you were gay and wanted to change. 

You know...(evil thought- no wait! that's ok 'cause I'm not religiious)...people in the States could have a lot of fun calling that toll free number to ask for help!   I mean, some ultraconservative outfit IS footing the bill for that toll free number.  Mwooo haa haaa haa haa!!!  (If you can't beat 'em - bankrupt 'em)