Quote:
Originally Posted by ClodMaxx
why?
what makes it ok for you to have found God at a young age (or whenever you did) and it be 'suspect' when someone hits rock bottom and finally accepts needing help much bigger than any person? or the average atheist/unbeliever who has some life-changing event and suddenly comes to terms with the fact that there must have been some kind of divine intervention? millions of situations like this happen daily! who are we to decide who really believes and who doesn't? doesn't the fact that them making the decision to end the destructive cycle they're in count for something?
we also have to keep in mind that all things are good in moderation - that regardless of whether you are christian or not, that all spiritual beings should have an open mind, and open heart. they should eliminate 'categorization' and suspicion in anyone. it's the zealots we should all be careful of. so, so many fervent religious people i've met in my lifetime - and it has been a LOT - have been so incredibly close-minded. which in turn usually makes them scared and paranoid, and then angry if buttons are pushed in the right manner. we need not forget that the bloodiest of wars hundreds of years ago were formed on the basis of 'christianity and my way of thinking is the ONLY way.'
sorry, TexasSP...none of this is addressed specifically at you - just at that point you made.
|
I think you misunderstood my context of the "found God" part. I have never found God because to be found something must have been hidden and it's the expression and the idea it propagates that bothers me.
I was not taking anything away from people who have come into a relationship with God which I stated in the "may or may not have part" of my sentence. Please understand special I am not and do not have anything that is not available to anyone else. I am volunteering with recovering addicts and felons right now and do not hold myself above them in anyway. I was an addict myself. I am the same as them and they are the same as me. I celebrate anyone who has hit rock bottom and come to a relationship with God as a result. In fact I believe rock bottom is where most people really experience God's love. I know that's were I first did and first started to truly understand it. In fact one of the other two men being crucified along with Jesus was definitely at rock bottom when he saw and experienced God's love.
Please understand I may poorly articulate what I am trying to say which is why I direct myself and others back to the Bible for clarification.
Back to Redshift I know Atheists are not demon worshipers. It doesn't really work. For one to worship the devil you must believe in God as well. I have known satanists and talked with them about their beliefs. They do not reject the existence of God but reject him as their savior/provider. Most in fact show anger towards God. I have atheist friends and certainly do not reject them.
Again none of the questions or anything else anyone has presented offends me. For the ones whom it does offend and/or scare I can only suspect that they have weak faith to begin with. When those type things offended me in my past and/or scared me I know it was because of my own weak faith so that is the only answer I have. I am not stating this as fact just an observation based on my own life experience with it.
Really, when it comes to religion and the behavior of religious people, I pretty much agree with most of you. I have no problem with the questions, thoughts, answers and so on and actually really appreciate what is going into them.
I will give a quick example in reference to my feelings. There is a group called Triple X Church that has a website at
www.XXXchurch.com and they minister to the porn industry. I remember several years ago reading an example from someone in the group in reference to a Porn Conference they were at in Vegas.
A guy (you know the type I am sure) is set up with his pamphlets outside the convention ranting on in the name of Jesus about how the porn people were all going to hell and how Jesus hates them. One of the porn stars in response says "I thought Jesus loved everyone" more of a statement than question. The guy with XXX Church mused at how the porn star was correct while the "religious" leader was wrong, dead wrong.
There are many other stories on the website about interactions with hateful "religious" people as well. I remember seeing these same types at every Slayer, Pantera, White Zombie, Metallica, and so on concert that I have ever been too.