posted September 06, 2012 09:01 PM            

"The more I listened to what they had to say about the 'Great Bearded White Man in the Sky' the more I realized that he was no one I could talk to. You couldn't say nothing to the 'dude'. He didn't answer prayers. He could 'go off' on you at any minute and you were supposed to be grateful no matter what he did. This is nobody who made any kind of sense to me in my naiveity. So I put him down and hung with Mary [the mother of God]."

--Luisah Teisch

posted September 06, 2012 09:19 PM            

My view is Christianity in the US has become a sort of multi level marketing affair with a show with everything but Yul Brenner.

posted September 07, 2012 04:28 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by RegardesPlatero:
I hope that I wasn't being rude or argumentative or anything (I really do want to follow the rules on that, and I'm not sure if politely disagreeing counts as 'arguing' or where the line is drawn on that).

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Generally speaking, and I think Randall would agree (if not, I'm sure he'll speak up) it's not rude to disagree. The point is be sure to address the argument than the person. That is, if you disagree with the point then stick to the point (and why you disagree or what you think also needs to be considered) and don't insult or threaten the person who made the point.

I know there are plenty of people who mistake disagreement with personal attack but I like to think they're in the minority (if a sizable one), or at least realize that's unreasonable and try to check themselves on that. If we had to refrain from disagreeing then real communication and real growth & learning would be near impossible.

posted September 07, 2012 04:52 PM            

quote:

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I don't think the bible was purposely misconstrued by anyone for the most part. I just think that the people who rewrote and rewrote over all these years couldn't comprehend the true spiritual messages and symbolism and that's why we find ourselves scratching our heads at what the bible tries to portray today.

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I believe 80% of Christians would disagree with me but...

It isn`t so much what the Bible contains or even the rewrites. Of course it plays a big part yet it is also the way it was compiled.

A group of men with a clear agenda sat around picking and choosing which texts was to be included in the Bible. Losing some of the forbidden texts left meanings and intentions scattered.

We find so many inconsistencies because the preceding or following contextual texts were omitted.

Much of the New Testament is written with a Mystical mind so the intentions of the Mystic are lost in a literal translation.

Yes, it leaves head scratching unless one uses it literal and creates their own meaning out of it leaving Christianity a hodge podge of denominations, in fighting and leaving a huge opening for fundamentalism to brew.

posted September 08, 2012 02:26 PM            

The Nicene Conference Censor Board saw to it that Humanity cannot grow beyond a point with the current version of the Bible. They wanted a text with just enough information for them to control the masses through fear.

Hence, phrases like the "The Kingdom of God is inside you and all around you, not in mansions of wood and stone. Split a piece of wood and I am there" were deleted.

posted September 08, 2012 04:23 PM            

My six/seven year old brain was convinced I had the correct answer so I held my hand up continuously for about 5mins until she allowed me to answer. I stood up and looked straight at her and said: "You Give Up Your Soul!"

She went completely grey and remained motionless for about 10 seconds, when she pulled herself together she revealed to the class that I was incorrect, and that the answer she was looking for was ofc... money LMAO!

After that she never let me answer a theological question in class again...

posted September 08, 2012 04:27 PM            

Kinds sat the cutest darndest things!

posted September 08, 2012 04:37 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by juniperb: hmm, I suspect the teacher knew you and thats why your hand was up so long before she called on you

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I think she suspected I was the anti-christ

posted September 08, 2012 09:52 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by PixieJane:
I loved hearing this said in a documentary:

"The more I listened to what they had to say about the 'Great Bearded White Man in the Sky' the more I realized that he was no one I could talk to. You couldn't say nothing to the 'dude'. He didn't answer prayers. He could 'go off' on you at any minute and you were supposed to be grateful no matter what he did. This is nobody who made any kind of sense to me in my naiveity. So I put him down and hung with Mary [the mother of God]."

--Luisah Teisch

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Along the same lines, just to lighten the mood, here's a true story.

In college I was going through a period of financial constraints [despite a full scholarship which included tuition and living expenses ]. Anyways, one night I had a dream ... I called God on the telephone with the intention of asking Him what I should do to improve my finances. I heard the phone ring and a voice answered--

Voice-"Yes?"

Me-"May I speak to God, please?"

Voice (distant, aloof, and matter-of-fact) -"What's your credit card number, please?"

I still laugh whenever I remember this dream.

posted September 08, 2012 10:32 PM              

this is the direct result of the "club" atmosphere of many churches, temples, mosques, etc...through lack of a sense of god WITHIN, people look to an organization to validate them, and a teacher to tell them what to do, from how to pray to what shoes to wear...and so control does set in, the religion is used to "tame" people, and the original intent is completely lost in most cases.

posted September 10, 2012 02:22 AM            

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Originally posted by shura:
Fair points, Randall.

By my observation and experience, Christian tenets are by fair the most difficult to uphold. No other spiritual path will ask so much of you. No other spiritual path is so seemingly nonsensical and in direct opposition to what we might consider natural human instinct. Hence the wide gap between intention and performance. As Gandhi once remarked, "I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."

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I was thinking along these lines...

I was raised Catholic and saw first hand the hypocrisy of proclaiming a belief system, and then not following it.

Example, my parents are not married therefore are living in mortal sin...yet they pushed the dogma of the Church down mine & my siblings throats all the time.It didn't make sense to me how they expected us to buy into these beliefs when they themselves didn't follow them.

Among the Christian sects, Catholicism is one of the most repressive from my observations...Now it makes sense to me why a lot of people do not follow their adopted religions...if these are too repressive and contrary to human nature, how on Earth does anyone really follow the teachings and remain balanced?

In Catholicism and other Christian sects it seems (again my own observation) that guilt and fear are constantly are tied in tightly with the beliefs.

Where as my parents probably do not really feel in tune with their adopted faith, they continue to preach otherwise to atone for the guilt/fear that it causes them to sing one tune and dance to another.

posted September 10, 2012 11:41 PM            

I approach others without expectation. I want nothing from them. Please, Christians, do not desire anything from me...no explanations, no conversion, no promises. I hate to have to hide anything simple and innocent out of fear of repulsing you.

posted September 11, 2012 02:08 AM            

quote:

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Originally posted by Faith:
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

I approach others without expectation. I want nothing from them. Please, Christians, do not desire anything from me...no explanations, no conversion, no promises. I hate to have to hide anything simple and innocent out of fear of repulsing you.

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I do believe that is called being honest.

posted September 11, 2012 02:33 PM            

I believe it isn`t the Christianity it`s self but the practitioner/s who have sullied the intentions of the Faith

posted September 12, 2012 07:10 AM            

As we my friend and I approached the entrance of the church doors, we saw a "church brother" taking everyones hand in greeting as they entered. When we got to the door, his smile disappeared and he did not extend his hand to us. He told us that we could not enter because although we were dressed appropriately, we were not wearing the right colors (black and white). I explained that we were invited and were not told about the color code. He said all guests were welcome couldn't allow us in because we were not wearing black and white!
My friend and I were shocked that we were turned away..she was quite angry actually.. we always heard priests and pastors preaching about how all are welcome to the "house of God" but that was such a contradiction.

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quote:

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Remember, love can conquer the influences of the planets....It can even eliminate karma.

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posted September 12, 2012 08:54 AM            

The more you can really accept this lesson, the happier you will be. I think Randall does one of the most excellent jobs of accepting life lessons, such as this, and hence has a great deal of maturity.

I suspect he had to work for it, step by step. If there is an express route, I want a ticket

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Passion, Lust, Desire. Check out my journal

posted September 12, 2012 08:18 PM            

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Originally posted by Jovian:
Linda Jones! There you are! I've been wondering where you are. Good to see you here.

(Sorry for butting into this thread!)

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Hiya there Jovian, good to see you too!! Funnily enough I was wondering the same about you a coupla days ago. Hope you're doing well.

*sneaking outta thread*

posted January 09, 2013 01:32 AM            

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Originally posted by Randall:
I don't have a problem with Christianity. It has some great tenets--if people followed them. I follow many of them myself, and I'm not a Christian. Like to not resist evil. I've seen that one work miracles in my life. The problem is that all of the Christians I personally know are the most two-faced hypocritical people ever. They hate other people, plot against them, are quick to anger, and slow to forgive--if they forgive at all. This is not meant to be a condemnation of a whole religion...it's just my experience. For example, a Christian is supposed to love their enemies and bless those that curse them. Anyone ever see that actually happen? I do live by that philosophy, and it works very well. But I have not personally met one Christian in my lifetime who remotely followed that. Christians give Christianity a bad name. They want conversions, but instead of leading by example, they actually do the opposite and push people away. Seeing this kind of behavior really turns me off to Christianity and makes me never want to embrace it. Once again, this has just been my experience, so don't take it as a blanket condemnation--but of all the many Christians I know, none are humble--they are self-righteous and holier-than-thou. Just wanted to get that off my chest.

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