Prejudice towards non christians

[victor-victim]

i just went through a situation at work, in which a guy tried to have me officially told that i could not quote the bible because i was "forcing my faith" on him and "interfering with his freedom of expression". the ruling went against him, because, as it turns out, i had never told him to shut up about his belief system... not even once. i had, in fact, asked him lots of questions, because i was genuinely curious. this was easily established from witnesses. the third party decision was that he was in fact "forcing his faith" on me by criticizing mine, and "interfering with my freedom of expression" by attempting to control my conversation. that just happened today.

a person should not have to keep his mouth shut about the things he cares most about. it does not mean they are forcing it on you. my daughter likes to talk a lot about whatever subject or person she is currently obsessed or excited about. i don't take offense. she is not trying to force me to accept her opinion, or change mine. she isn't trying to make me like what she likes. she doesn't even want me to join the club she is so happy to be a member in. sometimes she is telling me about great new food, or movie, or music that she thinks i should try, but she does not get upset if i don't share her enthusiasm. she is just glad to share her feelings and thoughts.

that is how i listen to other people's spiritual scientific supernatural metaphysical materialistic religious realist idealistic ideological philosophical paranormal existential experiential transmigrational transcendental theories about the who/what/when/where/why of life.

i listen and i learn.
i judge and compare and weigh and balance and filter and research and consider and deliberate and collect and accept and reject millions of opo's (other people's opinions).
which is, unfortunately, ultimately, all we are dealing with.

that is how i eventually form my own [font:Fixedsys]OOPS[/font], which is my current [font:Fixedsys]Operating Opinion Paradigm System[/font].
i keep it well maintained and update daily with fresh facts and new information.

I accept no man's authority in that realm where we are all equally ignorant.
The beginning and the end of creation are not our concern.
~ Gore Vidal

 

[Hoping4Peace]

I always felt judged and belittled around my Christian relatives... I always knew that Jesus was true, and I would pray to God regularly. I also knew that the other major faiths were also based on the same truths and followed the same patterns. The same light shines in many different lamps. All truth systems teach that sexual desires need to be controlled- that casual sex is wrong... that sex is a sacred life-creating and marriage strengthening act. So I have chosen in my life to try my best to be faithful to God and to become a man the way he intended me to be... in spite of the abuse. I have been married for 35 years and we have a beautiful sex life still and four children plus 5 grandchildren so far. The sexual relationship continues to live and develop and with modern medical science it has even re-blossomed recently (I am over 60).

I know that God is helping me and that I am doing my best to follow His will. The struggle is very much a spiritual struggle. I only wish the Christians would be more open and less narrow minded, to realize inside that God is a lot more merciful and loving than their theology allows them to consider. Jesus was love- but many Christians are not channeling that love. Forgiveness, tolerance, kindness, compassion, and friendliness, are all signs of love, and the lack thereof is a sign that Christ is not present. I love it when I find spirit filled Christians who are filled with love and mercy for all, including those who they consider lost.

 

[victor-victim]

beautifully written, Austin54.
thanks for your insight.

what i have discovered is that a very small minority of people who identify themselves as 'christian' actually read their own instruction manual (holy book). they rely on word of mouth and mythology and customs and conformity to current church trends and tradition and faith in the church authority and hierarchy.

in other words, they are not follows of jesus, but followers of men.
they are doing the very thing that jesus denounced, according to the gospels.
but then, i remember, it was the religious institutions and political infrastructures of his time that were responsible for his execution.

 

[Bluedogone]

THANK YOU Victor-Victim and Austin54 for your insights and thoughts. A lot to consider there, as well as all posts on this thread.

When you consider that this thread has been open for a couple of months and several posters have made comments during that time it's hard for me to accept the original concept:

Room is not made for us.

If that's true, how do you explain the very existence of this thread? It's only natural for someone expressing their beliefs and who believes in God (or a Higher Power, or Whatever) to frame their thoughts and ideas around their belief and experiences. Even using scriptures, which might be offensive to some.

But in any discussion of this nature we have to realize that atheism is a belief in itself.
I've been emailing off and on with a man from the UK who every chance he gets reminds me that his father was an atheist, and he and his son are atheists, constantly vehemently insisting that I'm all wrong. It's a form of cyber-bullying, so it happens on all sides.

Thank you MS for open forums that allow discussion from all points of view.

 

[Hoping4Peace]

Mr Blue, I agree... atheism is a belief system in itself. Some atheists (non-believers) are just as fanatical as the believers! It is not that this site is excluding non Christians but the vast majority of those who find religion in this darkness of abuse will indeed be Christian because that is what is available and dominant in the western world. True religion and true humanity shows tolerance and moderation not fanaticism, and exalting oneself above others. Austin

 

[GonnaBalright]

Well said Austin! True Christianity brings forth leaders that act as servants but what I find that is so hard to believe is that we have leaders that want everyone to serve them. It should not be this way! The Bible teaches in Philippians chapter 2 to be like minded, and to esteem others better than himself. Why do so many churchgoers feel justified in letting everyone know how "right" they are?

Todd

 

[Hoping4Peace]

Todd you summed it up very well... many use religion as a way of feeling they are superior to others. Us and them.

 

[victor-victim]

Why do so many churchgoers feel justified in letting everyone know how "right" they are?

because they are "churchgoers" and not "christfollowers" or "scripturestudiers".

watching worship is not worship, that is theatre.

unfortunately, a lot of people believe that "church" is a building, that "spirituality" is a spectator sport, and that you can "pray" by proxy through proximity to preachers.

many use religion as a way of feeling they are superior to others. Us and them.

i use religion as a way of feeling i am superior to who i was. and i rejected the concept of "us and them" back in 1975 while i was listening to pink floyd dark side of the moon as a trippin' teen. that concept evolved into a lifelong search for a simultaneous separation/connection with creation and a quest for a meaningful relationship between the creature and the creator.

"us and them" becomes "God and I".

everything is between God and me, and my struggle is putting god first in my heart.

"And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt."

i want to follow the man who said that.
the same man said "If ye love me, keep my commandments." and "If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Fathers which sent me."

these are the primary and secondary laws of humanity, according to jesus, whom i choose to believe and trust.

"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might."

once i have figured out how to do that, i might be able to move on to the next level.

"Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord."

i have not been able to completely comply with these commandments consistently since i first committed.

until i learn to LIVE these... i have much work to do.



as outlined above.
god gave me a shove.

i choose love.

 

[Hoping4Peace]

Victor I wish more Christians were like you, but then it may be you suffering that made you humble. So much damage has been done by others less humble and loving. The greatest injustice is that sincere and needy and sensitive seekers are repulsed when they experience the arrogance of the believers... All the best in changing that situation.

 

[Bardo]

I had a lovely Australian girl with whom I was hitchhiking around Ireland tell me in all sincerity that, despite our deep attraction to each other, she knew for certain that I was doomed to hell because I was not born again. That was the beginning of the end for me and organized religion.

 

[GonnaBalright]

Bardo, so sorry for that expeience!

Well isn't this ironic - here we are, broken, struggling people having to meet on a message board because the people within the 4 church walls want nothing to do with us!

I agree with you also Bardo about organized religion, I really don't want it either. No, I have found something better. I have peace in my heart because I know that Jesus died for me and met me right where I was at.

Just don't let people turn you away from seeking him.
I don't want to preach a sermon here and I understand that people of all faiths are welcome here and that is fine with me. I just want healing and pray that I can help others find healing too. I am right there with you guys. I am in my mid 40's, I was practically raised in church and have been a part of it. I am married and I have been faithful to her (at least on the physical level), but I am an outcast to all these churchgoers because I have had a label placed on me that reads : GAY. I have the feelings and urges but I have not acted on them since I was a teenager. I have to deal with the gossip ("He's gay", "He stares at guys")etc, I deal with being isolated, left out the loop. I just thought that church was place where broken people can come and find healing, unless you are gay, of course.

But even though I feel this way about church and organized religion, I do not let it stop me from seeking God and receiving his grace, mercy, and peace. Some would say that I am in error because I do not go to church and therefore I am "forsaking the assembly". Quite the contrary - they are rejecting me!

 

[GonnaBalright]

Austin, I like your signature - thumbs up