Since Im going to be gone for a few days, I wanted to keep you all "engaged", and I havent put out a question of the day...week...whatever in a LOOONG time.
In the spirit of me slowly starting to be more honest about some more serious stuff, allow me to pose a question. you can just answer anonymously, Im really curious as to what everyones thoughts are on this.
Every now and again, I get the, "Why-aren't-you-guys-going-to-church"....."After all you've been through"......Some people actually say it, so I HAVE to think that other people are thinking it.
I have to admit, if anything, these last four years of insanity have actually left me more confused if anything. Heres the deal. Everybody knows about that horrendus experience I had in a church (that will remain nameless) the day before my son's funeral. That really put my confidence on the fritz. Throw in the fact that the drag queens who didnt waste a breath before putting on a fundraiser in my honor to help me with my meds wouldnt be welcome in ALOT of churches, and you've got one confused little pup here.
I actually had a really odd thought last night that may come across as an Awful, awful way to interpret religion, but here goes.
Lets say Jesus was the star quarterback that played with your dad in high school. Jesus was AWESOME, he was a kind heart and wanted to make sure that everyone treated everyone with kindness. And then he built an amusement park (heaven) for all the people in town (with money from his dad of course) for all to enjoy. He worked really hard on the amusement park, and all the guys on his football team promised to tell as many people as they could about his good works, and to assure that the only way you could get into the park was if everyone followed his lead and worked hard to be a good person.
So when you get old enough, your dad tells you about this great QB, who built the amusement park, only, your dad has a few alterior motives himself, wants to keep you in line. Keep all the kids behaving like angels. So your dad tells takes some creative licensing and throws in that Jesus the QB really encouraged kids to eat all their vegetables, do all their chores, and also, Jesus was really big on making sure that you marry someone of the opposite sex.
Does anyone else feel that way about the Bible? That maybe some "Creative Licensing" took place? Does anyone else feel that if certain "instructions" dont seem to fall in line with what we know about Jesus, then it creates doubt about everything else?
I belive in Jesus....its everything else I just cant seem to comprehend. And Im not against going to church, just still trying out some different ones.
Can ANYONE shed some light on this?
- Fort
- I changed the look again. Moving furniture takes too much effort. This seemed to fill that void. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the fall and havent decided if Ill ever change this, although, a new seasonal header seems like fun. At the moment the summer is winding down, Im back on chemo for my fantastic THIRD relapse (and hopefully the last!), work knows my situation so Im not sneaking off on my lunch break to get blood work done, and everyones been great. Desperately seeking great health by the time fall rolls around. Theres way too much goin on.
Above is the "Chemoquilt" my mother-in-law made from all the scarves I wore during my 1st round of chemo in 2003
SM
15 comments:
An interesting topic, one that I think about a lot. I consider myself a faithful person, but as I grow older I find that I go to church less. There's many reasons for this, the top one being that I am extremely unhappy with the church. I have problems with the archbishop that may only go away when he does. I believe there's a major distinction between "religion" and "faith" (by my definitions) and church/religion is a tool that I can use, but my faith is something I live by. There is so much hypocrisy in the church it's sickening. But then there are so many good people of faith that it is inspiring.
When I think of "church" the two words that pop in my head are "power" and "money" which have been associated with it since almost the beginning. I have a problem with teaching one message and living another. Why is it that the many of the people who are looked at as such "good" Christians are the ones who judge and exclude? I whole-heartedly believe in the Christian values and morals, but they are not being lived out by the church.
Other reasons for not going is that bringing little ones to church causes me to leave hating the world and questioning why it is we make an effort to go--we don't get anything out of it other than raised blood pressure. And probably the poorest excuse not to go is: we get so few days to sleep in and take it easy, it's nice to be able to do that.
As you can see I have a lot to say about this topic! Just no conclusions other than to go every once in a while when my guilt builds up or it seems that my kids will possibly allow me to get something out of it!
This is my favorite topic of all time. I am agnostic. If you don't know what the means, in short I believe there could be a God, but since there is no evidence of such a thing, I am skeptical about it.
It is my belief that all religions are based on the same thing. Keep people in line. In days past, it was a way to keep the rich rich and prevent the poor from killing the rich in order for them to be rich themselves!
My biggest gripe is that one religion is better then any other one. Take my favorite religion to pick on, Christianity!! No other religion in the world DENIES you entrance to Heaven if you don't believe in a profit. Jesus was just this. So, according to this sect of religion, ALL OTHER RELIGIONS IN THE WORLD ARE WRONG AND WILL BE CONDEMNED!!! Ha! Are you kidding me right now?!?!
And I love when people condemn a Jewish faith or a Muslim faith when in fact Yahweh (Jewish name for God), Allah (Muslim name for God), and GOD (Christian name for God :P) are all the same deity.
I will end by saying that ignorance is bliss...and religion keeps you happy most of the time! Just my two cents!!
I believe in a higher power. And,I like to think I am a spiritual person. I work at growing in a spiritual direction on a daily basis. I know in which way I need to grow. I also know what I need to talk about with my higher power and I do that several times a day,whenever I feel it is needed. I have looked into many different beliefs and have taken a bit from all of them.
Growing up Catholic I learned that God was a God of shame and guilt. I never left the confessional feeling upbeat and released of my sins , I felt punished and humiliated. I got no inspiration from the priests reading which were always done in a dull tone of voice. I heard the same reading all the time. there was so much of the Bible that I never read when I was a practicing Catholic.
Church's want to condemn people for their religion and their lifestyles. They want money,money ,money. Solid Rock Church is a SCREAMING example of that! Why do these people think their money is going for anything good?
You can be the most Spiritual person in the world and if you don't go to Church there will be people to judge you for it. I simple say I have my own personal relationship with my higher power and I like to keep it that way.
I don't think there's anything wrong with trying out different churches to find which one works for you. The church I belong to has a priest I don't like, so I alternate going to two that are a few miles up the road. I actually get something out of their services and homilies! There's also a lot to be said of the community--whether they're warm and inviting, have a positive spirit, and don't give you "looks" when you come in late or your child acts up.
Organized religions claim to be all about inclusiveness and bringing people together, but from my viewpoint most religions (or should i say, the "popular" interpreters of those religions) teach divisiveness and intolerance for anyone who has his own viewpoint or opinion. I've always felt churches want to keep the herd by discouraging individual thoughts and freedoms, and encouraging devout adherence to (mostly impossible) tenets set forth by the church. As long as churches hold power over the thoughts and ideas (and actions) of individuals, they will continue to be able to influence our government to practice discrimination against gays and lesbians, make/change laws about the reproductive rights of women, as well as anything else they deem "wrong" in the eyes of the church. Give me faith and spirituality and karma and whatever else makes people be more accepting of their neighbor with a different lifestyle/viewpoint/belief, and you can stuff organized religion where the sun don't shine. Just sign me Els in San Diego, who cannot bring her partner to the U.S. legally because apparently our relationship will be the cause of the downfall of marriage in America. I am woman, hear me roar.
What's sad is that within the organized religion is that there are not all "bad" people. In Catholicism for example, there are nuns, brothers, and priests who fight for social justice, peace and understanding for all (i.e. homosexuality), but are looked upon by the church as radicals and renegades, not fully accepted. There is good out there, but it is in people and within relationships, not in large power organizations that, as previously stated, are out to control people's minds, actions, and wallets.
I don't think the Bible was written with an agenda in mind, but I do believe that those who INTERPRET the Bible have agendas in mind and use it out of context to achieve them.
I'm not the most religious person, but I was raised Catholic, and I think it had a mostly positive impact on me. I don't really care what people's religious views are. However, there is one thing that really irritates me...People who claim to be atheists, yet celebrate religious holidays. Sorry...but if you don't believe in Jesus, you shouldn't be having Christmas or Easter. They are RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS whether you like it or not. If you really don't believe in any higher power, you shouldn't get to celebrate those days. Period.
I just ran across this very interesting "rant" about this on the Charleston, SC CraigsList. Very dead-on, and says much more than i could in the limited space i tried before. Here's the link in case anyone's interested: http://charleston.craigslist.org/rnr/311461969.html
I am athiest and I celebrate any holiday that I can. There is no way I am going to pass on a day where people give me gifts or candy - or even better, gifts and candy.
So you don't care what people's religious views are - as long as they are christian or they stay away from you and your holidays? --- Misti
Sure Stetson, and you really help to drive that philosphy home, what with you dressing up in Drag for Halloween.....a pagan holiday.
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=128714665&albumID=0&imageID=1387990
I always thought Halloween was (eventually) tied in with "All Souls Day" on Nov. 1st, that originally the dressing up came from posing as deceased family members or others. Am I wrong?
I just think it's hypocritical when people constantly bash religion...yet celebrate religious holidays. If you are truly an atheist...take a stand for your beliefs.
F Easter, and as far as Christmas is concerned, it is far to commercialized in our country to be a religious holiday. If it were truly a religious holiday there would be too many people up in arms about one religion pushing its beliefs on everyone else. You don't hear a lot about Kwanzaa or Hanukkah around that time for that exact reason. If it makes you feel better, I won't call the 25th of December Christmas anymore, I will just call it "Give a huge chunk of my money to my friends and family" day. Seems more fitting anyhow. :)
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