I have always been taught that fighting with people (or preaching/getting on my soap box/etc.) is pointless. The people who really have any interest at all will talk to me like you are now. I know you have no interest in converting, but I feel it is right to share what I believe with anyone who is truely willing to hear and leave it at that. There's nothing else I could do anyway. After people know what I believe it's up to them to decide if they want to believe it too. There is absolutely no point in harrasing them. If anything that will just drive them away. Also, I try to keep my opinions about people (whether they're going to heaven or hell) to a minimum. I try not to think about who's going where at all. It isn't good for anyone.
Heh. I have no issues with you calling God an He/Her/It since I personally don't think "He" really has a gender. I think people just call Him HIm because 'he' can be used in general, and He came to earth as a man. Also, I'm glad you've felt God before. It's amazing how many "Christians" I know who haven't.
I am not surprised you haven't heard of AP before. Not many people have. We're pretty small. Technically, we weren't even an actual denomination until 1914 (roughly around there at least) when the Azusa Street Revival happened. We however, believe we are the same as the original followers of Christ were. We are pretty oddball-ish and you can usually easily pick out one of us from off the street. AP has actually done fairly well in Africa.
Why do I believe what I believe? Well, to be honest, it did start with only my parents. They taught me what I believe, but they did always back it up with the Bible. Eventually I was baptized and got the Holy Ghost. However, after that, there was a time where I seriously questioned my beliefs. I never considered that God wasn't real, it's just uncomprehensible to me, but I seriously wondered if what I believe was right. In truth I backslid, though you couldn't tell by looking at me. I was careful never to let anyone see what I was feeling and thinking on the inside. And then something happened. I have no idea what it was, but one night at church all my doubts just disappeared. I really don't know why it did, to this day I still wonder, but I have never once questioned what I believe since that night. I also have verses to back up most of what I think, so that helps I think. One issue I do still have though, is that during that time I started watching anime, and I still haven't stopped. Most Christians I know, my denomination or not, condemn me for this. Aparently, anime is evil, and anyone who watches or -God forbid- likes it, is possesed. And yet those same people watch things like Harry Potter (which I myself haven't watched). I'm not saying these people are bad, or Harry Potter is evil, but I truely cannot understand them. I can't see how anime is worse than Harry Potter. It's not like I watch the pornography stuff, or the homosexual stuff, so I honestly don't see the wrong in it. So long story short (too late probably), no denomination is filled with perfect people. Hope that answers your question!
Heh. I have no issues with you calling God an He/Her/It since I personally don't think "He" really has a gender. I think people just call Him HIm because 'he' can be used in general, and He came to earth as a man. Also, I'm glad you've felt God before. It's amazing how many "Christians" I know who haven't.
I am not surprised you haven't heard of AP before. Not many people have. We're pretty small. Technically, we weren't even an actual denomination until 1914 (roughly around there at least) when the Azusa Street Revival happened. We however, believe we are the same as the original followers of Christ were. We are pretty oddball-ish and you can usually easily pick out one of us from off the street. AP has actually done fairly well in Africa.
Why do I believe what I believe? Well, to be honest, it did start with only my parents. They taught me what I believe, but they did always back it up with the Bible. Eventually I was baptized and got the Holy Ghost. However, after that, there was a time where I seriously questioned my beliefs. I never considered that God wasn't real, it's just uncomprehensible to me, but I seriously wondered if what I believe was right. In truth I backslid, though you couldn't tell by looking at me. I was careful never to let anyone see what I was feeling and thinking on the inside. And then something happened. I have no idea what it was, but one night at church all my doubts just disappeared. I really don't know why it did, to this day I still wonder, but I have never once questioned what I believe since that night. I also have verses to back up most of what I think, so that helps I think. One issue I do still have though, is that during that time I started watching anime, and I still haven't stopped. Most Christians I know, my denomination or not, condemn me for this. Aparently, anime is evil, and anyone who watches or -God forbid- likes it, is possesed. And yet those same people watch things like Harry Potter (which I myself haven't watched). I'm not saying these people are bad, or Harry Potter is evil, but I truely cannot understand them. I can't see how anime is worse than Harry Potter. It's not like I watch the pornography stuff, or the homosexual stuff, so I honestly don't see the wrong in it. So long story short (too late probably), no denomination is filled with perfect people. Hope that answers your question!
I think those soap box preachers should remember the old saying- "you can lead a horse to water but you cant make him drink".
I tend to get very defensive when I am immediately told I am wrong for what I believe. Whether its politics, religion or anything else I am passionate about. If you attack me, I will fight back. And with religion, there is very little "fact" to back up your ideals and faith- its almost all belief. Something that I personally think is shaky ground with which to base a defense.
If I may ask- where are you from?
Its ironic that for you all your doubts were erased in one night when mine seemed to be created that same way...
I think most people get their religious beliefs from their parents. I also think a lot of people dont try to search out their own needs of faith for fear of disappointing their parents or from some sense of guilt or feelings of betrayal. My wife was raised Catholic and still "practices" that faith to some extant, even though she doesnt believe in certain aspects of it. When I suggested that she/we look into other religions to see whether another faith would fit her better, she adamantly refused stating that she liked being catholic. My arguments fell on deaf ears, lol. I will even go so far as to suggest that there may be a slight brainwashing going on with most religions to the extant that they teach how they are the only one true religion.
I think those who say Harry Potter or anime is evil is because of what those characters depict- magic, or special powers. Things that they have interpreted God to have condemned in the Bible.
I certainly dont expect any one to be perfect. I do expect people to be courteous and practice common decency. I also expect, or want, any religious leaders to be humble and by extension, those of the congregation to be the same. Basically, live by the Golden Rule.
Thank you for this discussion. I am glad we were/are able to discuss these ideas with respect and I hope with some sort of introspection as well.
Anything else you want to discuss??
I tend to get very defensive when I am immediately told I am wrong for what I believe. Whether its politics, religion or anything else I am passionate about. If you attack me, I will fight back. And with religion, there is very little "fact" to back up your ideals and faith- its almost all belief. Something that I personally think is shaky ground with which to base a defense.
If I may ask- where are you from?
Its ironic that for you all your doubts were erased in one night when mine seemed to be created that same way...
I think most people get their religious beliefs from their parents. I also think a lot of people dont try to search out their own needs of faith for fear of disappointing their parents or from some sense of guilt or feelings of betrayal. My wife was raised Catholic and still "practices" that faith to some extant, even though she doesnt believe in certain aspects of it. When I suggested that she/we look into other religions to see whether another faith would fit her better, she adamantly refused stating that she liked being catholic. My arguments fell on deaf ears, lol. I will even go so far as to suggest that there may be a slight brainwashing going on with most religions to the extant that they teach how they are the only one true religion.
I think those who say Harry Potter or anime is evil is because of what those characters depict- magic, or special powers. Things that they have interpreted God to have condemned in the Bible.
I certainly dont expect any one to be perfect. I do expect people to be courteous and practice common decency. I also expect, or want, any religious leaders to be humble and by extension, those of the congregation to be the same. Basically, live by the Golden Rule.
Thank you for this discussion. I am glad we were/are able to discuss these ideas with respect and I hope with some sort of introspection as well.
Anything else you want to discuss??
I'm the same. Generally, if I say anything (or even imply something) about my beliefs around those who disagree or on the internet, I usually get attacked fairly severely. I always tell them that there is no proof against what I believe and there is no proof for what they believe either, but they seem to think that that only matters for my side of the argument. In truth there is no *proof* of the origin of the world at all, and anything anyone believes is always faith. Which makes it difficult for any major religous (or atheist) to make a decent argument for what they believe.
I am from the state of Alabama in the USA.
That is pretty ironic. Do you have any idea what created your doubts?
Most likely. I for one am more worried about my soul than what my family thinks, so I've never been overly concerned with pleasing them. It's just a bonus that they believe the same thing. My pastor's wife was raised Catholic. According to her, the Catholics literally do brainwash people. She doesn't like to talk about that time in her life (as it was a painful time for her) but she has told us that much. Catholics themselves claim that they brainwash, though they don't use those words. They say things like, "Give us a child for five years and he/she will always be Catholic." Obviously that's not always the case. But yeah, I think a lot of religions do brainwash. I for one, believe mine is the only way, but I try not to push the point. After all, screaming at someone that they're going to go to hell if they don't believe the same thing as me isn't exactly convincing or Godly.
Yeah, I understand why people can believe they are evil. Some of them probably are. My parents always claimed (and still do) that movies/music/etc. can have spirits in them. I agree, but I think I can judge for myself what I should and shouldn't do. If it's wrong then the consequences will be mine. Being decent and humble are a sure sign of true Christianity. That is a very basic piece. But most "Christians" do not seem to understand this. We're supposed to love everyone, not treat them with disrespect and contempt.
I am as well. It's refreshing that, even though we don't agree on everything, we are able to discuss our beliefs calmly, and without fighting.
Do you believe any of the prophecies of Revelation? I for one, believe all of them (probably obvious by now) and I believe some of them have already happened.
I am from the state of Alabama in the USA.
That is pretty ironic. Do you have any idea what created your doubts?
Most likely. I for one am more worried about my soul than what my family thinks, so I've never been overly concerned with pleasing them. It's just a bonus that they believe the same thing. My pastor's wife was raised Catholic. According to her, the Catholics literally do brainwash people. She doesn't like to talk about that time in her life (as it was a painful time for her) but she has told us that much. Catholics themselves claim that they brainwash, though they don't use those words. They say things like, "Give us a child for five years and he/she will always be Catholic." Obviously that's not always the case. But yeah, I think a lot of religions do brainwash. I for one, believe mine is the only way, but I try not to push the point. After all, screaming at someone that they're going to go to hell if they don't believe the same thing as me isn't exactly convincing or Godly.
Yeah, I understand why people can believe they are evil. Some of them probably are. My parents always claimed (and still do) that movies/music/etc. can have spirits in them. I agree, but I think I can judge for myself what I should and shouldn't do. If it's wrong then the consequences will be mine. Being decent and humble are a sure sign of true Christianity. That is a very basic piece. But most "Christians" do not seem to understand this. We're supposed to love everyone, not treat them with disrespect and contempt.
I am as well. It's refreshing that, even though we don't agree on everything, we are able to discuss our beliefs calmly, and without fighting.
Do you believe any of the prophecies of Revelation? I for one, believe all of them (probably obvious by now) and I believe some of them have already happened.
Its funny how when a person states what their belief/faith is, others tend to challenge that persons stance by requiring facts. its not called faith/belief for no reason! lol
I would agree that there is no proof of how the world was created. But I do think science is correct, for the most part, with the age the world. I also think science is correct with the theory of evolution. Not necessarily ape to human, but the evolutionary process of animals is fairly well proven. Its that "magical" missing link between ape and human that keeps everyone theorizing.
Im not sure what religious denomination my bother is, but he thinks the world is about 4000 years old. I just cannot agree with him on that.
Does AP have a theory on the age of the world? And if so, how do they explain dinosaurs?
Alabama? I have never been there but I have flown over it on the way to Fla...
Right before I was first married, I talked to my pastor about some issues I was having. I later found out that he used our discussions as a "lesson" for others. I was not pleased. Im not 100% sure he used my name or anything, but at the time I felt very betrayed. I had also asked that he co-officiate the wedding with my soon to be wifes priest. He agreed but never showed up. As someone whom I looked up to as a religious and moral leader, I had higher expectations from him. I had always been taught that we can trust our religious leaders to better people than ourselves. It was one the first times I had been let down by someone I respected and looked up to. I never asked why, never gave him a chance to explain. But I did hear through other people that he was disappointed in my choices.
Im pretty sure Catholics dont brainwash people. I have gone to church fairly often with my wife and her family for various events and have never had any member of the congregation try and convert me. Well, besides her mother, lol. I do know that a big part of the Catholic religion is regimen and ritual. They are taught that specific situations, funerals, marriages, giving thanks, etc, have specific prayers and should be used each and every time. I kind of think of it like when you are a child, you have a special blanket or stuffed animal you cling to when you are sad, or scared. These prayers and rituals are meant to give strength, courage and comfort through their familiarity. i think They become more of a sort of habit, than brainwash.
Im not sure I believe movies/music have spirits in them though I do know they can make you feel things. And should. Good music can lift you up and inspire you, or it can make you energetic and angry. A good movie can make you smile and cry, and can open your eyes to the evil in the world or to cheer on the little guy to over come.
Sure, some of the subject matter can be disagreeable and down right wrong, but I dont think its evil, per se. I have listened to "heavy metal" music for most of my life- a genre of music that is always being called evil and violent. I havent gone out and committed crimes or unspeakable acts. Personally, I think the people who are influenced by this type of music, for example, to go and commit horrendous acts are already likely to commit these acts anyway.
Informative and calm discussions of peoples differences have to be courteous and respectful. It helps to not think that the other person is wrong so much as its just the way they believe. I try to look at it kind of like studying, lol.
Oh, good question. I dont think so though. Part of that is because I have seen many religions tell us that the "End is Nigh" many times, yet none of them have been right. And I know revelations states that Jesus will come back like a thief in the night- basically, no one really knows when. The signs of the end, as I see it, can be interpreted in a lot of different ways. One mans "sign" of hope is anothers "sign" of doom- its all interpretation and perspective.
I would agree that there is no proof of how the world was created. But I do think science is correct, for the most part, with the age the world. I also think science is correct with the theory of evolution. Not necessarily ape to human, but the evolutionary process of animals is fairly well proven. Its that "magical" missing link between ape and human that keeps everyone theorizing.
Im not sure what religious denomination my bother is, but he thinks the world is about 4000 years old. I just cannot agree with him on that.
Does AP have a theory on the age of the world? And if so, how do they explain dinosaurs?
Alabama? I have never been there but I have flown over it on the way to Fla...
Right before I was first married, I talked to my pastor about some issues I was having. I later found out that he used our discussions as a "lesson" for others. I was not pleased. Im not 100% sure he used my name or anything, but at the time I felt very betrayed. I had also asked that he co-officiate the wedding with my soon to be wifes priest. He agreed but never showed up. As someone whom I looked up to as a religious and moral leader, I had higher expectations from him. I had always been taught that we can trust our religious leaders to better people than ourselves. It was one the first times I had been let down by someone I respected and looked up to. I never asked why, never gave him a chance to explain. But I did hear through other people that he was disappointed in my choices.
Im pretty sure Catholics dont brainwash people. I have gone to church fairly often with my wife and her family for various events and have never had any member of the congregation try and convert me. Well, besides her mother, lol. I do know that a big part of the Catholic religion is regimen and ritual. They are taught that specific situations, funerals, marriages, giving thanks, etc, have specific prayers and should be used each and every time. I kind of think of it like when you are a child, you have a special blanket or stuffed animal you cling to when you are sad, or scared. These prayers and rituals are meant to give strength, courage and comfort through their familiarity. i think They become more of a sort of habit, than brainwash.
Im not sure I believe movies/music have spirits in them though I do know they can make you feel things. And should. Good music can lift you up and inspire you, or it can make you energetic and angry. A good movie can make you smile and cry, and can open your eyes to the evil in the world or to cheer on the little guy to over come.
Sure, some of the subject matter can be disagreeable and down right wrong, but I dont think its evil, per se. I have listened to "heavy metal" music for most of my life- a genre of music that is always being called evil and violent. I havent gone out and committed crimes or unspeakable acts. Personally, I think the people who are influenced by this type of music, for example, to go and commit horrendous acts are already likely to commit these acts anyway.
Informative and calm discussions of peoples differences have to be courteous and respectful. It helps to not think that the other person is wrong so much as its just the way they believe. I try to look at it kind of like studying, lol.
Oh, good question. I dont think so though. Part of that is because I have seen many religions tell us that the "End is Nigh" many times, yet none of them have been right. And I know revelations states that Jesus will come back like a thief in the night- basically, no one really knows when. The signs of the end, as I see it, can be interpreted in a lot of different ways. One mans "sign" of hope is anothers "sign" of doom- its all interpretation and perspective.
I personally do not believe that evolution happened, but I do believe it is possible that it did. As far as I know AP as a whole doesn't have a set age for how old they think the world is. For myself, I've always thought the world is around 10,000 years old. Dinosaurs... I've never thought much about that. To be honest I've never really been horibly concerned about the beginning of the earth. I've just read Genesis and took it at face value.
Alabama is nice. A bit hot, and lots of racism, but I think that comes with living, no matter where you live.
That's interesting. I can say I know exactly how you feel. Only a few months ago my entire immediate family (parents, sister, grandparents) went to a home missions church. We went there for almost a year and respected the pastor more than we had any other pastor. But then he went and preached, not one, but five entire sermons specifically against my family. We did try and let him explain but that only made the situation worse. I guess it's easy to tell that none of us go to that church anymore, and all of us have more trust issues than before. Being betrayed like that is a very difficult thing to handle.
I suppose that is true. I have a cousin that's Catholic. I've never liked her though (and it has nothing to do with her religious choice, she's just a degrading sort of person and unpleasant to be around) so I've never gone to a Catholic service before. My religion is about as far from Catholic as you can get. Actually, we don't teach any sort of prayers for any sort of circumstances. We just pray like you would speak to a friend or authority figure.
I believe music is the language of the soul. If you feel something, music is a good release. And the feelings music can give you are very powerful. I myself listen to hard rock, a genre considered evil by a lot of people I know. I believe music can carry spirits, but not neccesarily does. Now, I will not listen to people who are devil worshipers (such as Marilyn Mason) and/or have songs that mock or degrade God.
Intelligent and calm discussion also developes respect for your companion. When someone is just screaming at you that what you think is wrong you definitely do not start respecting them.
Heh, people who are AP usually have a good laugh when some preacher anounces that the end of the world is on some day or the other. Although I do believe that at least in the next 100 years or so the "end time" will technically have already happened, but the world will be around for at least a couple more thousand years after that according to the Bible. That's true. For every person, a certain sign means a different thing. It all depends on how you look at it. And depending on who you ask, theories on the end times seem to change. It can be pretty difficult to decide who's right, if anyone at all. Although, in Revelation there is a prophecy about seven trumpets. I believe that five out of these seven have already happened. That's just my belief of course, and there are a lot of people who disagree with me. But I'm not horribly concerned. I'll just do my best to stay right with God no matter what happens and let him take care of the rest.
Alabama is nice. A bit hot, and lots of racism, but I think that comes with living, no matter where you live.
That's interesting. I can say I know exactly how you feel. Only a few months ago my entire immediate family (parents, sister, grandparents) went to a home missions church. We went there for almost a year and respected the pastor more than we had any other pastor. But then he went and preached, not one, but five entire sermons specifically against my family. We did try and let him explain but that only made the situation worse. I guess it's easy to tell that none of us go to that church anymore, and all of us have more trust issues than before. Being betrayed like that is a very difficult thing to handle.
I suppose that is true. I have a cousin that's Catholic. I've never liked her though (and it has nothing to do with her religious choice, she's just a degrading sort of person and unpleasant to be around) so I've never gone to a Catholic service before. My religion is about as far from Catholic as you can get. Actually, we don't teach any sort of prayers for any sort of circumstances. We just pray like you would speak to a friend or authority figure.
I believe music is the language of the soul. If you feel something, music is a good release. And the feelings music can give you are very powerful. I myself listen to hard rock, a genre considered evil by a lot of people I know. I believe music can carry spirits, but not neccesarily does. Now, I will not listen to people who are devil worshipers (such as Marilyn Mason) and/or have songs that mock or degrade God.
Intelligent and calm discussion also developes respect for your companion. When someone is just screaming at you that what you think is wrong you definitely do not start respecting them.
Heh, people who are AP usually have a good laugh when some preacher anounces that the end of the world is on some day or the other. Although I do believe that at least in the next 100 years or so the "end time" will technically have already happened, but the world will be around for at least a couple more thousand years after that according to the Bible. That's true. For every person, a certain sign means a different thing. It all depends on how you look at it. And depending on who you ask, theories on the end times seem to change. It can be pretty difficult to decide who's right, if anyone at all. Although, in Revelation there is a prophecy about seven trumpets. I believe that five out of these seven have already happened. That's just my belief of course, and there are a lot of people who disagree with me. But I'm not horribly concerned. I'll just do my best to stay right with God no matter what happens and let him take care of the rest.
When you say evolution are you meaning ape to man, or just in general?
Scientists place the age of the earth at around 4.5 billion years old.
There are many discrepancies over the age of the earth according to the Bible- which does not clearly state when the earth was created or how old it is. To find this answer, the Bible had to be studied, and what time lines it does reveal, needed to be interpreted. Depending on that interpretation, and various mathematical assumptions, some people came up with 6000 years and some were 40000 or more.
For me, I tend to think that Gods "day" is not the same as what we experience. For a being of infinite power and patience as God is, it could be that his "day" is equal to millions of our days.
I tend to think that there is less racism up here in the north east than there is in the south.
Our summers can be hot, our winters downright frigid.
What I find unique about the climate here, for example, is that a week ago this past Saturday, we had snow. This past Saturday was 90.
I can understand you not wanting to listen to music that mocks or degrades God, as well as musicians who worship the devil. But how do you know Marilyn Manson is a devil worshiper? He is "out there", I admit. But I havent heard anything factual that he is actually a devil worshiper.
As an example, one of my (now) all time favorite albums is called Operation: Mindcrime by the band Queensryche. When I first listened to the album, I was deeply involved with the church. There is questionable content in certain songs, that taken separately and out of context from the whole album, could be interpreted as "evil". One song in particular talks about how a priest saves a prostitute from the streets. But as payment, for her "saving", he has sex with her in the church. When I first heard these, I was immediately turned off as I thought it was against the church. But its not really. Its against people who appear to be good, but in reality, are not.
What I like about you is that you dont apologize for what you believe and dont doubt it. Yet, you can accept the fact that you may be mistaken. I think that attitude is the best kind to have and see no hypocrisy in believing something but also admitting to the possibility of being wrong. To me, that shows you have an open mind- something which I think is needed if we are to truly try to understand other people.
Scientists place the age of the earth at around 4.5 billion years old.
There are many discrepancies over the age of the earth according to the Bible- which does not clearly state when the earth was created or how old it is. To find this answer, the Bible had to be studied, and what time lines it does reveal, needed to be interpreted. Depending on that interpretation, and various mathematical assumptions, some people came up with 6000 years and some were 40000 or more.
For me, I tend to think that Gods "day" is not the same as what we experience. For a being of infinite power and patience as God is, it could be that his "day" is equal to millions of our days.
I tend to think that there is less racism up here in the north east than there is in the south.
Our summers can be hot, our winters downright frigid.
What I find unique about the climate here, for example, is that a week ago this past Saturday, we had snow. This past Saturday was 90.
I can understand you not wanting to listen to music that mocks or degrades God, as well as musicians who worship the devil. But how do you know Marilyn Manson is a devil worshiper? He is "out there", I admit. But I havent heard anything factual that he is actually a devil worshiper.
As an example, one of my (now) all time favorite albums is called Operation: Mindcrime by the band Queensryche. When I first listened to the album, I was deeply involved with the church. There is questionable content in certain songs, that taken separately and out of context from the whole album, could be interpreted as "evil". One song in particular talks about how a priest saves a prostitute from the streets. But as payment, for her "saving", he has sex with her in the church. When I first heard these, I was immediately turned off as I thought it was against the church. But its not really. Its against people who appear to be good, but in reality, are not.
What I like about you is that you dont apologize for what you believe and dont doubt it. Yet, you can accept the fact that you may be mistaken. I think that attitude is the best kind to have and see no hypocrisy in believing something but also admitting to the possibility of being wrong. To me, that shows you have an open mind- something which I think is needed if we are to truly try to understand other people.
I mean in general. I just personally don't see it, but I really am not overly concerned.
Like I've said, I haven't had a lot of interest in the earth's age so far, mostly because I'll still believe what I believe. But what you say makes sense. I've heard many theories on the earth's age, but I've always personally thought it was at least 8,000 to 10,000 years old.
Same here. For a long time now, I've thought that God's "day" is at least around 1,000 years. Of course, that's just another theory with no true relevance. But there are verses in the Bible to back up extra long "days" for God.
Probably. But, we do have better hospitality from everything I've heard and experienced. A simple example is holding open doors. Everyone does it down here. Even the rudest of people do. It's just natural.
It almost never snows down here. Temperatures generally stay around 70 in early and late winter and 95-100 in summer. If it gets into the 30s during the day it's a very cold day. We do have a few very nice beaches in my state though (where I have been since Thursday).
Marilyn Mason. I guess I can't say I know for sure that he is a devil worshiper, since I don't know him personally, but I read some articles a few years ago, which stated that he is one. It wasn't difficult for me to believe that based on the works of his that I have seen, but I could be wrong.
I can see that. It would be easy to take that song as something specifically against Christians, but with a closer look, it's fairly easy to see what you figured out. Christians are particularly easy to pick on though, because there are so many hypocrites out there.
People who are close-minded are slightly harder to get along with, especially with people who don't believe the same things. I have come into contact with so, so many people who claim to be open-minded, but are really only liberals who want me to believe the same thing they do. When I don't agree with them, they get extremely angry. I think those people (many of which have decided to terminate their friendship with me due to our differences) helped me to be more open-minded myself though. It's mostly because of them that I try to be the way I am. You seem to be pretty open-minded too, which is something I very much appreciate. You don't seem to have doubts yourself, and you don't apologize for what you believe. I appreciate that.
Like I've said, I haven't had a lot of interest in the earth's age so far, mostly because I'll still believe what I believe. But what you say makes sense. I've heard many theories on the earth's age, but I've always personally thought it was at least 8,000 to 10,000 years old.
Same here. For a long time now, I've thought that God's "day" is at least around 1,000 years. Of course, that's just another theory with no true relevance. But there are verses in the Bible to back up extra long "days" for God.
Probably. But, we do have better hospitality from everything I've heard and experienced. A simple example is holding open doors. Everyone does it down here. Even the rudest of people do. It's just natural.
It almost never snows down here. Temperatures generally stay around 70 in early and late winter and 95-100 in summer. If it gets into the 30s during the day it's a very cold day. We do have a few very nice beaches in my state though (where I have been since Thursday).
Marilyn Mason. I guess I can't say I know for sure that he is a devil worshiper, since I don't know him personally, but I read some articles a few years ago, which stated that he is one. It wasn't difficult for me to believe that based on the works of his that I have seen, but I could be wrong.
I can see that. It would be easy to take that song as something specifically against Christians, but with a closer look, it's fairly easy to see what you figured out. Christians are particularly easy to pick on though, because there are so many hypocrites out there.
People who are close-minded are slightly harder to get along with, especially with people who don't believe the same things. I have come into contact with so, so many people who claim to be open-minded, but are really only liberals who want me to believe the same thing they do. When I don't agree with them, they get extremely angry. I think those people (many of which have decided to terminate their friendship with me due to our differences) helped me to be more open-minded myself though. It's mostly because of them that I try to be the way I am. You seem to be pretty open-minded too, which is something I very much appreciate. You don't seem to have doubts yourself, and you don't apologize for what you believe. I appreciate that.
I have heard about the South's hospitality. Up here, very few people hold doors for others. Most seem very self absorbed.
I live about 45 minutes from both the ocean and mountains. The beaches here are hit or miss- some are quite beautiful and others are rocky and uninviting. The water is very cold however- only reaching the low 70's in the summer. Pretty invigorating.
Marilyn Manson has faded away up here- he was more fad than anything else.
It does seem that christianity has more hypocrites than any other religion, doesnt it? Same with scandals. You almost never hear of other religions having the same problems. But you also dont have many other religions, if any, going around actively trying to convert people.
Its funny that you mention liberals as being close minded. I have found them to be the same way. I have also, generally, found them to be insulting when you disagree with them. Though, I do remember having a nice conversation with one "liberal" in particular. There was no name calling, or derogatory comments about my intelligence, when we disagreed. It was much like our conversation here. Refreshing.
I have only been friends with a few liberals. For the most part, besides our politics though, we had the same interests.
I am open minded because I have doubts about what I believe. I am just not sure about anything really, except what I have experienced first hand. I dont apologize for what I believe because I dont feel I need to. I also dont think people who hold other beliefs than mine are wrong. They just believe different. The only time I would consider a belief to be wrong is when a person believes something because they are expected to, or its a "handed down" belief, and they lack the courage or conviction to find the belief that works best for them.
I live about 45 minutes from both the ocean and mountains. The beaches here are hit or miss- some are quite beautiful and others are rocky and uninviting. The water is very cold however- only reaching the low 70's in the summer. Pretty invigorating.
Marilyn Manson has faded away up here- he was more fad than anything else.
It does seem that christianity has more hypocrites than any other religion, doesnt it? Same with scandals. You almost never hear of other religions having the same problems. But you also dont have many other religions, if any, going around actively trying to convert people.
Its funny that you mention liberals as being close minded. I have found them to be the same way. I have also, generally, found them to be insulting when you disagree with them. Though, I do remember having a nice conversation with one "liberal" in particular. There was no name calling, or derogatory comments about my intelligence, when we disagreed. It was much like our conversation here. Refreshing.
I have only been friends with a few liberals. For the most part, besides our politics though, we had the same interests.
I am open minded because I have doubts about what I believe. I am just not sure about anything really, except what I have experienced first hand. I dont apologize for what I believe because I dont feel I need to. I also dont think people who hold other beliefs than mine are wrong. They just believe different. The only time I would consider a belief to be wrong is when a person believes something because they are expected to, or its a "handed down" belief, and they lack the courage or conviction to find the belief that works best for them.
View all replies