Defending what you are...

[LittleRedDevil]

This is something I've been struggling with for a while. I know who I am, and what I believe. I'm not a Christian, I'm not an athiest. Some people think I'm an agnostic because I can't verbalize what I believe, but I don't think I'm agnostic. I know what I believe, and it's hard to explain. It's hard for a lot of people to understand. I live in a very conservative Christian community, and most of the people I run into are Christians. They try to tell me that I'm wrong. I know I don't have to defend myself to anyone, and that I am free to be what I am. I just wish they would stop preaching and just let me be what I am.

Don't they understand that I can't be anything but what I am?

[Edited by LittleRedDevil on 02-24-2001 at 10:30 PM]

 

[Angel]

I used to, until I realized that I was just stressing for no reason. Now I can honestly say that I don't care. I am happy with me, and if I constantly defend myself over ignorance then it just gets me down.

If people want to preach to me I let them. It does me no harm, and hey if they want to waste their breath on me that is their problem. I made sure to fully educate myself on Christianity at a young age, which in turn caused me to question it and later stop being one. But it also gave me a huge advantage, because I usually end up knowing more about it than most of the people trying to preach to me.

Which is pretty much what shuts them up.

 

[Problem Child]

LRD...

Don't worry about it.

The most powerful tool of religion is guilt. That's how all the major religions of the world get their converts- by convincing them that if you aren't members of THEIR sect, you will go to hell, or whatever the equivalent is. At the very least you will be viewed as a bad person in the eyes of THEIR "God". I'm speaking mainly of western religion here, maybe someone could enlighten me as to what the eastern beliefs are.

For all the joy organized religion brings to individuals, I think it brings an equal or greater amount of grief to individuals and nations. This might be a stretch, but I would wager that more people have been killed over the span of humanity in the name of God, Allah, etc. than for any other reason, especially before the 20th century. We've gotten fairly efficient at killing each other in the last hundred years.

Look around at the world. If you really use your eyes and your brain, and are reasonably balanced, you will know the difference between right and wrong. After that, all you have to do is follow your conscience and have the guts to do something about it if you're able.

When they come knocking on your door to hand you the little pamphlet, be polite and tell them thanks, but you're not interested.

And DON'T feel guilty about it, OK?

 

[Xander]

You know. No one should really have to defend who they are. BUt still, there are some people who just dont see that. Or cant see that.

It's sad, really.

I wish I could turn the deaf ear to them, like Angel. BUt Sometimes, they just tend to piss me off, and I ahve to say my peace.

 

[Laurel]

This is something I've been struggling with for a while. I know who I am, and what I believe. I'm not a Christian, I'm not an athiest. Some people think I'm an agnostic because I can't verbalize what I believe, but I don't think I'm agnostic. I know what I believe, and it's hard to explain. It's hard for a lot of people to understand. I live in a very conservative Christian community, and most of the people I run into are Christians. They try to tell me that I'm wrong. I know I don't have to defend myself to anyone, and that I am free to be what I am. I just wish they would stop preaching and just let me be what I am.

I wonder how they'd feel if others were constantly telling them that what they believed was evil or wrong. I wonder how they'd react to being proselytized by the Church of Satan, or the Church of Scientology. I also wonder what it'd be like to sock people like that in the eye. I think I'd probably like it. Thankfully, I'm a non-violent kind of chick, but the thought does cross my mind.

 

[Xander]

Sorry folks

Laurel. You got mail. It's rather important that you read it.

Sorry folks for this personal message.

 

[genderbender]

I watched a video movie this evening called "The Little Buddha." I told my friend when we finished watching that the Buddhists really have a handle on this being a human thing. I grew up a Christian but eventually tired of accepting the label of sinner and walked away from the guilt. I've explored many other spiritual paths since then and have finally arrived at the pathless path. I am. What a great relief to no longer pursue some other person's vision of who I am, or who I should be.

To quote the Buddha - "The universe and its inhabitants are as ephemeral as the clouds in the sky; Being born and dying are like a spectacular dance or drama show. The duration of our lives is like a flash of lightning or a firefly's brief twinkle; Everything passes like the flowing waters of a steep waterfall."

Life is too short and too precious to be spent in denying ourselves, whether we're bent or straight, joyful or depressed. This is the only life we'll ever have, so gratitude is the best response, followed quickly by kindness since we're all in the same boat. So, my advice is to be gentle with yourself and tolerant of those who may not tolerate you for your beliefs. You'll find your way. Good luck on the journey, the magical mystery tour called life.

 

[Merelan]

Wanna know what's on my id? Freelance Christian. Hahahaha.... though it isn't really funny. But it does make you think. Why does everything have to have a label? a Name? My name isn't Adam, so it's not my job.

 

[LittleRedDevil]

I happy to say, the one thing I don't feel is guilt. I have no guilt about not being a Christian, I was a shitty Christian, and because I was such a bad Christian, I became what I hate most; a hypocrite.

I can't define what I am, but I do know what I am.

I don't feel guilty, I'm just tired. Tired of defending myself, and I know I should turn a deaf ear, but I can, not when someone calls me evil and tells me I'm going to hell, just because I'm not what they are.

 

[His Whimsicality]

Stop to defend yourself and go over to attack like Angel. After all 'Attack is the best defence'.

 

[Angel]

Xander, it wasn't easy to get to the point of letting comments about my spirituality slide off my back.

There was a point in time when I would verbally abuse the person, and then proceed to tell them why exactly *they* were wrong. And then I realized I became exactly what I hated.. a Hypocrite. It took educating myself, and deeply studying many many religions to realize how wrong *I* myself was, and once I did that, I was more comfortable about who I was. Which is why it no longer bothers me.

I do not verbally attack people who attack my beliefs. I have found that the people who do attack them are insecure about their own faith, and are not at all as familiar with it as they should be to even be practicing their faith. What shuts them up is the fact that while they are trying to preach at me, I am always one step ahead of them and they end up walking away mad because I have more knowledge about their religion then they themselves do. It is an overused line, but knowledge is power.

 

[LittleRedDevil]

So then you do believe in evolution. If you believe in evolution then how come baby monkeys that are being born now arent turning into humans. And if it takes a long
time for a baby monkey to turn into a human then how can they do that, monkeys don't live that long. If you say that you believe in evolution then how come theres not a answer for half of the stuff out there about evolution,
at least I know the answers about the man that created me. GOD.


This is one of the arguements someone made to me about why my religion was wrong. I didn't argue back, I felt bad that they were ignorant about what the theory of evolution is.

 

[Laurel]

An interesting article on evolution:

http://biz.yahoo.com/rf/010211/l11353997.html

 

[Svedish_Chef]

Wanna know what's on my id? Freelance Christian. Hahahaha.... though it isn't really funny. But it does make you think. Why does everything have to have a label? a Name? My name isn't Adam, so it's not my job.

Thats me a freelance Christian

 

[fgarvb1]

why should i defend myself.?

I'm here at the discression of my father {God}.

Trying to convert someone is not what what i'm down here for. I am not an apostle. Having said that if someone asks
i will tell what i know, think and what seems to be the general line of thought gleamed from the many years of searching for answers that many people and churches do not
want you to know.

As for those perverts {yes i said perverts} Those gangsters
who try to force the law of moses upon us to whom it does not belong, as paul said may they be God Damned.

I enjoy them showing up at my door, as i look upon it as i do a good steak set before me. trouble is they will not come around when i'm home. hmmmmm i wonder why.?

I have nothing against other peoples beleifs as to other
gods or ways of life as they see it. Truly it is their
problem to work out not mine.

Evolition is not a problem for me. Why should i be surprised that all living things share some of the same DNA
as the humans walking the earth as i see it God made them too. Considering the gap of time in genesis.
i'm sure a lot of creatures evolved from others. God is reported to have created Adam {the origanal translation}
special and gave him a soul.

p.s. to all my fellow christians out there "all cessation of
againstness and unmerited favor unto you from god are father" is a good thing to remember.

[Edited by fgarvb1 on 02-26-2001 at 04:22 AM]