peaches0405's Journal

Well it's just that people are somewhat sensitive when it comes to matters of faith and religion. I haven't really read any of your posts before, so I cannot fully understand the situation, but I tell you that generally, even if you mention a little piece of advice in the nicest way possible, some people would link it in their heads with the pushy preachy people that have annoyed them before. Totally unfair of course, but that's just the way it is unfortunately. So just be a little bit extra careful with that so as not to be faced by anyone's overreaction

Most people already have their preconceived notions and I think that regardless of what you (or anyone) say, they will still think the way they think.

Unfortunately, many people base their opinions on experiences with a select few that may be associated with that category (religion, race, or what not). 

Just another reason why I choose to stay out of the political and religious debates because more times than not, people get too personal and make assumptions. It generally ends up in insults instead of agreeing to disagree while respecting each others beliefs and opinions. 

Everyone is entitled to their personal opinions and beliefs but at the same time should respect others for theirs.  This does not always happen though. 

That PM is in violation of Cc guidelines.  The only way to forward it is to copy and paste it into a PM to Igor or Sheila

I hope you'll do that.  People like that make my blood boil!  As you know, I'm don't belong to an organized religion, but I have the utmost respect for everyone's beliefs and I support you 100%

It is rare that a person changes their prejudices.  Even when they're trying to overcome them and this person does not appear to be doing so.

Essentially here's how it works.  You get to know someone without knowing about their XX affiliation.  You like them, you trust them.  You find out about XX.  You realize that at the very least they are an exception.  Then hopefully you realize that the exception may actually be the rule.

I'm intolerant of intolerance in almost any form.  :) 

I respect the fact that you're brave enough to put your views out there, Michelle.  It sucks that you're getting trashed for them.  While I don't necessarily share all of your ideologies, I definitely think you're a good and tolerant person, and am sorry you're getting this kind of flak.

People suck sometimes... (wow, am I ever eloquent!).

SO, yeah, I get upset when someone says things implying that I deserve the anger pointed at me..that I've made my bed and now I can sleep in it.  What exactly does that even mean?  Does it mean that because there are others of my faith who are loud and pushy that I deserve to get lumped into that same category just because we believe in the same God?

That's why I was being careful to separate Christianity, as an institution and Christians, person by person. Nowhere did I say that PEACHES0405 or Mollymouser or any of the Christians I know and actually LIKE made the bed and they should sleep in it.

But alot of terrible things are done, even now, under the name of Christianity. Hateful, small-minded, ugly things. So if Christianity gets a bad rap, especially politically, I think that there's some cause for it.

How many Christians that you know of have come up to a media outlet to go "You know what? Those guys, they don't speak for me. I don't believe that it's right to be hateful. I don't believe it's right to try to rule this country by MY beliefs?" I can't think of many.

So I was adressing the OP when she said "However, I am annoyed when I see the full fledged attack on Christians in our media, schools, and general society." Without even being sure exactly what she's refering to, I felt it needed to be said that there's usually cause for many of these supposed attacks. And that's because of how many vocal Christians out there who do say these terrible, horrible things.

And if this pisses you off, I BEG you to do something about it. Be vocal. Stand up and say "You know those other guys? They're idiots and I don't agree with them." Stand UP for what YOU believe in.

Because right now, your kind, the good decent Christians who just try to get by day by day aren't being heard. The morons are.

Maybe it's time to change that.

Er... sorry.. didn't mean for that to turn into a rant.

It's a little different, I think, for you and I. I'm an outside. I've had to deal with people trying to convert me, to "save my soul", and it really soured me on 'Christians'.

I do try to remember y'all aren't that bad, but... a large number of Christians ARE that bad. And that's... just bad.

((( hug )))

You are in my prayers, dear.

Peaches - Ive never seen you say anything that crossed the line. I think that in defending your positions you come across as intelligent, thoughtful and positive.

I do think these debates on CC about politics and religion are important to have. A lot of people have preconcieved ideas and biases but a lot of people have never had their beliefs challenged before.

Are you familiar with the Interfaith Alliance?

http://www.interfaithalliance.org/

It's a group that promotes religion AND religious tolerance.

I grew up in a primitive baptist church in a very (very) rural area.  And I feel like I've been more than 360 degrees on where I am with my faith.  One of the things that the primitive baptist church teaches is that mankind is inherently wicked.  I think I was going through a depression about it for my entire teenage years.  And then when I went to college, I met so many different kinds of people, and it made all my church teachings seem so wrong and I just totally turned away from God and religion altogether.  But that didn't feel right either.

So now I still consider myself a christian, in the sense of "follower of christ" not in the sense of 'member of a church'.  I would like to find a church that doesn't use fear and guilt and shame to control its members. But I'm still looking around for that.

But about a backlash against christians, I think that for such a long time people who wanted to disagree with christianity couldn't that it's like taking the cap off a soda bottle that's been shook up pretty good. I think you're right to just live a life that would make a thoughtful person think they'd like to live like you do - behave in a way that you'll feel ok about later, no regrets, no kindness left undone.  I don't take offense at anything said against 'christians'. I wish I could find a church with a preacher like Rev. Welton Gaddy around here.  I mean, Jesus taught love and tolerance.  Why should that message be so rare in the church?

Certain subjects stir up emotions easier then others, and religion is one of them.  The negative experiences people have with religion/Christianity in the past can really imprint and reshape their views.  An example of this would be my husband's childhood experience with a southern pentecostal church.  For 15 years my hubby was told that if he watches TV, cut his hair, listens to music etc he is going to hell.  Needless to say, when my hubby did leave that church, he was extremely wary of organized religion and picked apart every church he came across.  It took him 10-15 years to figure out his beliefs after that and he is still a bit jaded. 

I've seen on some of these forums that some do believe that all Christians need to be perfect at all times, or they are not Christian enough.  I've seen even more people try to group Christians together and make broad statements relating to how "we" Christians all push our views on everyone etc. and how we are all ignorant, hateful, and judgemental.  Once again, their views come from their experiences.  It really is the case that a handful of Christians or a bad church can really have an impact of the future views of people. 

Just try to do the best you can with each situation presented.  We all make mistakes, but hopefully we learn from them and we become better people.  Better Christians. :)