When a friend finds God ...

writersu · June 2008

Snake wrote:

That was well put too. lol

I agree with you.

thanks.

sponger · June 2008

long red wrote:

because it insinuates that I spend time classifying myself based on someone else's religious beliefs.

Sounds to me like the only reason why you didn't "find" god right alongside with your friend is because you're just afraid of being labeled.

catefrances · June 2008

sponger wrote:

Sounds to me like the only reason why you didn't "find" god right alongside with your friend is because you're just afraid of being labeled.

umm sponger... i'd fix that quote if i were you. youve attributed it to the wrong person

sponger · June 2008

catefrances wrote:

umm sponger... i'd fix that quote if i were you. youve attributed it to the wrong person

Thanks. lol. I didn't want to dig through 20 pages to find that particular quote.

catefrances · June 2008

sponger wrote:

Thanks. lol. I didn't want to dig through 20 pages to find that particular quote.

i did the same thing last night.

orig_long red · June 2008

sponger wrote:

Sounds to me like the only reason why you didn't "find" god right alongside with your friend is because you're just afraid of being labeled.

if it sounds like that to you, your ears must be broken.

sponger · June 2008

long red wrote:

if it sounds like that to you, your ears must be broken.

Well, let's face it. It's not that you're interested so much in developing a personalized philosophy pertaining the life and the interpretation thereof, but more or less just playing it safe and not opening yourself up to ideas which you are not ready to discuss.

In fact, that's probably why you want to punch your friend in the throat. You feel like he is stronger than you because he had the strength to choose a side, and you want to prove to him that you're also strong by hurting him physically.

Collin · June 2008

writersu wrote:

well, what I mean is if me following Christ means that I do not want to , let's say drink or do drugs. (this is only an example; I do no longer either of these but it is due to my getting older and it no longer fitting in with my life as a mom of teenagers, etc. and not feeling good when I did them either.) So, then my stance must be as follows; "doing drugs is not what God wants for me to do." and since I am not exclusively the only person that God loves, then it must also be true (for me) that He doesn't want others as well to do that. Then it is what is living life in what I believe to be "not really good ways", just due to my conclusions on life and God, right?

So, I mean that when others are living their lives these ways, then I am no better a person just because I don't drink or do drugs if my heart is a pompous asshole who looks down on others when they are doing these things.

Do you see what I mean? I did not want to sound like I was being judgemental, and I am sorry if I did that. I never want to be that way or sound that way. again, sorry.

writersu wrote:

well, the thought is hate the sin (if you believe these to be sinful) and love the sinner.

I think this post recapitulates what you're trying to explain to me? I never really understood this philosophy, however. To me it's completely contradictory. But I guess if you can somehow combine the two i.e. hating the "sin" and loving the sinner, there's no problem.

orig_long red · June 2008

sponger wrote:

Well, let's face it. It's not that you're interested so much in developing a personalized philosophy pertaining the life and the interpretation thereof, but more or less just playing it safe and not opening yourself up to ideas which you are not ready to discuss.

In fact, that's probably why you want to punch your friend in the throat. You feel like he is stronger than you because he had the strength to choose a side, and you want to prove to him that you're also strong by hurting him physically.

wow Freud, that's pretty impressive. are you going to tell me next that I want to have sex with my mother?

the strength to chose a side? are you for real? I have chosen a side. My side. Just because my side doesn't have it's own pointy building for me to kneel in once a week, doesn't make it any less of a side.

and obviously, I dont really want to punch him in the fucking throat. sometimes you say certain things to get the ball rolling. It's called showmanship.

I have my own philosophies and my own way of living. It's ethical and moral, but not because I'm vying for a spot on a cloud.

Snake · June 2008

Collin wrote:

I think this post recapitulates what you're trying to explain to me? I never really understood this philosophy, however. To me it's completely contradictory. But I guess if you can somehow combine the two i.e. hating the "sin" and loving the sinner, there's no problem.

Its pretty easy. Im sure you have a friend, or have had, or whatever, who you know is doing something wrong. It doesnt have to be "sin" but something thats hurting themselves or others. Its just simply loving the person, helping them, or supporting them, maybe simply by being their friend, while knowing what they are doing is wrong. You probably hate what they are doing, but you still love them.

writersu · June 2008

Collin wrote:

I think this post recapitulates what you're trying to explain to me? I never really understood this philosophy, however. To me it's completely contradictory. But I guess if you can somehow combine the two i.e. hating the "sin" and loving the sinner, there's no problem.

see, I have learned that like I often think of when I was 27 years old and a new mom. I had all of these ideas of what would "never be" in my life, in terms of what my kids would never do, or what I would put up with in a marriage before checking out for good,or what I would be or not be. And while I do have certain standards that I try to live by as my own personal values and goals, I also see that there are many things that can happen in your life that throw you for a loop and make you face decisions that you have to weigh against what could have been a worse fate than even the crappy one you are facing that seems so terrible.

And in that regard, I have come to think we are just one step away from desperation and we can never think we are so above life itself that we could never fathom addicition, poverty,promiscuity, etc. (fill in the blanks on your own). None of the people that are living lives in true desperate form, (not living the "sins" we just do not approve of and have taken upon ourselves to call "sin") have chosen this as what they wanted to end up like.

compassion is to me faith. and that compassion is also acknowledging that while I can and should try to make a huge difference even if it only means a smile or a small gesture, (which can be huge in someone's life), I am only a small ant --if anything--on Google Earth......

right?

Collin · June 2008

Snake wrote:

Its pretty easy. Im sure you have a friend, or have had, or whatever, who you know is doing something wrong. It doesnt have to be "sin" but something thats hurting themselves or others. Its just simply loving the person, helping them, or supporting them, maybe simply by being their friend, while knowing what they are doing is wrong. You probably hate what they are doing, but you still love them.

It's not for me to say if their way of life is wrong or right. If my friend is doing something that is hurting himself, I will indeed offer help, support and love. This I can understand. But when it comes to homosexuals or non-religious people...you're not talking about an addiction, or harmful behaviour, you are talking about a "sin" - which is not the same. If you hate the "sin" of homosexuality, can you really love a homosexual? You hate the way he/she lives, you hate how he/she loves... This person could be extremely happy having found the love of his/her live and the cause of his happiness is something you hate?

I doesn't make sense to me.

he still stands · June 2008

I can try to interpret what others are feeling, thinking, and doing in their daily lives and there is nothing wrong with that. This is human nature; watching people and trying to learn from their success or mistakes, or simply out of curiosity, this is something that we all have the right to do…

You don't believe in God? Okay, I'm no proselytizer. You think that all people who do believe in God are brainwashed? Okay, I understand your fear. You think that all illegal immigrants should be rounded up and put on trains back to Mexico? Okay, I know the value of your hatred and how it is just as beautiful as love. You think "we should nuke those dudes in Iraq." Okay, I understand that your (manufactured) patriotism overshadows your (organic) humanity. You think that you understand this life and a higher purpose of it all? Okay, I understand your false sense of security.

But I will not tell you that you're wrong; I will not judge you. There is only one person who has that right, YOU!!! Not a friend, not a family member, not even a court of law. This is the thing that most people don't get; that you are your own judge. You are a seeker of truths and you will only find truth through your own experiences, not through others' advice or proselytization. And for the people who do judge you, I hope you simply can smile and understand their fear, their hatred, their manufactured patriotism, the fallacy of their logic. Love them for it!

When a friend finds God ...

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