A post from "Jesusland"

[Johnny Stew]

Originally Posted by takenbythesky

I've had that same "spiritually healthy" feeling since about a year and a half ago, when I decided that denominational/organized religion was not for me and began to just "go my own way."

I was miserable when I belonged to a religion whose basic opinion of homosexuality is "love the sinner, hate the sin."
I don't feel like a sinner for being homosexual. Call me a sinner for any number of reasons, but not for the way I was born.

Like you, Justin, I feel infinitely more "spiritually healthy" now that I've cut through all the b.s.
And anyone who feels the need to save my soul, is better off worrying about their own.

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by dissention

Are you reading that map correctly, Jason? The red states supported slavery and the brown states were open to slavery. The green states were free states and territories.

I think it implies that the Green areas votes in 2004 for Kerry and the other areas (red and brown) went to W in 2004. Unless I am totally misreading the mad (IT HAS BEEN A LONG DAY ) - the map implies that things are like they were in 1855 or so. That is scary

Edit: I am not using the same color scheme of today.

[wondergirl9847]

"The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, then walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable."
--Brennan Manning (quoted by dc Talk, "What If I Stumble?", Jesus Freak)

Amen.

[The Tower]

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

In fact, I often expect too much of people, and set myself up for major disappointment.

I, too, expected too much from this electorate- and I was severely disappointed.

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

I always feel people can be reasoned with, and that their sense of decency and fairness can be appealed to. So, man, am I ever let down when they prove me wrong.

In order to reason with some, the have to possess a sense of decency and fairness to begin with. BushCo has neither, so any chance of any good coming out of their power is zilch.

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

So if you feel you're being stereotyped unfairly, prove people wrong by your actions. The surest way to change minds is to lead by example.

This is another reason why I can't forgive anyone who voted for Dubya. He led by example. His record was there for all to see. So, if any of you out there voted for Bush, you voted for his record. You voted for all the things he did. You gave him your approval. And you will reap what you have sown.

[dissention]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

I think it implies that the Green areas votes in 2004 for Kerry and the other areas (red and brown) went to W in 2004. Unless I am totally misreading the mad (IT HAS BEEN A LONG DAY ) - the map implies that things are like they were in 1855 or so. That is scary

Yeah, that's exactly what it says. You threw me off when you said that the states that supported slavery were not Republican states when they obviously are.

[DrummerDeanna]

Originally Posted by ontheEdgeof17

This thread is one reason why I don't believe in organized religion. I grew up in a Lutheran church. We were constantly bashed by other churches in the area because we were "too liberal" and "not Christian enough" because we do not believe in being "saved" in order to get to heaven. Lutherans believe that baptism is the only "saving" a person needs. People would beg me to come to their church in order to be saved. They thought they were "right".

Now, I have formed my own beliefs on the concept of God, and I feel spiritually healthy. That's all that matters, right? Having a faith that carries you through the day.....

I'm done with people telling me what to do and how to act to be a Christian. Everyone thinks they are right and quite possibly they could not be. All I know is that God loves me....gay, liberal, and all.

I know where you're coming from there - I was always hearing about how I'm not really a Christian etc....

One group on my ex-college campus even had a big presentation on how Catholics were not Christian and generally are just as hell-bound and atheists they were a super fundamentalist group...go figure.

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by dissention

Yeah, that's exactly what it says. You threw me off when you said that the states that supported slavery were not Republican states when they obviously are.

OOOOPPPPSSS!! W can't conjugate - I can't tyoe

[dissention]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

OOOOPPPPSSS!! W can't conjugate - I can't tyoe

He doesn't speak our language, you don't type it.

[JamieSPC]

Originally Posted by wondergirl9847

"The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, then walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable."
--Brennan Manning (quoted by dc Talk, "What If I Stumble?", Jesus Freak)

Amen.

Yes, and there are a lot of them that do just that. Then there are those that spend every day trying to do exactly like He said, screw up, dust themselves off, and try again.

And please know, for the love of God ... that map isn't implying anything about me. Back to my original point: Is it possible to avoid labels and generalization? Or is it just too easy to slip into that mindset?

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

I know where you're coming from there - I was always hearing about how I'm not really a Christian etc....

One group on my ex-college campus even had a big presentation on how Catholics were not Christian and generally are just as hell-bound and atheists they were a super fundamentalist group...go figure.

That's INSANE. Although I have recently learned that Catholics are the "white minority" or something like that. Ugh.

This country was founded by people fleeing religious persecution. The whole point is to have religious freedom (and freedom in general). What is happening???

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by JamieSPC

Yes, and there are a lot of them that do just that. Then there are those that spend every day trying to do exactly like He said, screw up, dust themselves off, and try again.

And please know, for the love of God ... that map isn't implying anything about me. Back to my original point: Is it possible to avoid labels and generalization? Or is it just too easy to slip into that mindset?

LOL - I was not implying that about you or me (I am for Louisiana ya know ). Someone sent it to me today in an email and I though the more things change . . . .

[dissention]

Originally Posted by wondergirl9847

"The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, then walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable."
--Brennan Manning (quoted by dc Talk, "What If I Stumble?", Jesus Freak)

Amen.

That quote doesn't apply to my Atheist beliefs.

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by SuzeQuze

That's INSANE. Although I have recently learned that Catholics are the "white minority" or something like that. Ugh.

This country was founded by people fleeing religious persecution. The whole point is to have religious freedom (and freedom in general). What is happening???

Well, they were fleeing primarily from the Catholics

Seriously, many many Protestant organizations to this day consider the Pope an evil person and the Catholic parishioners mere papicists (sp.?) They look on it as impossible to give your allegiance the Pope and to God because they are not one in the same. The Catholics, of course, have a different take

[Johnny Stew]

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

One group on my ex-college campus even had a big presentation on how Catholics were not Christian and generally are just as hell-bound and atheists they were a super fundamentalist group...go figure.

I get a HUGE kick out of the fact that 99.9% of all known organized religions seem to feel that THEY'RE the only faith that has found the surest road to God, and anyone else is fooling themselves.

I've never understood why being a decent and loving person isn't considered enough. Why do we all have to look, talk, act, think and believe the same things?

"So many different kinds of people, trying to be the same...."

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by dissention

That quote doesn't apply to my Atheist beliefs.

True - but clearly you can find good in Christ's life and apply it to your own just as you could Buddah, the Dali Lama, etc. I mean who would not want to help the poor, etc.