Upon my arrival at this site I posted very little in the religion forums. As a result of what little I told of my own personal belief system, it was quite often assumed that I was a Christian. That is sometimes an occurance in physical life also.

There are attributes of my person that sometimes cause one to think of me as a peaceful man or a Christian...

However, now that my beliefs are known to not be of any specific variety, and as a result of my questioning the Bible and Christianity, all of the sudden some feel as though I had done something wrong, as if I had intentionally tricked them? They tricked themselves. Their own assumptive nature had painted a portrait of me without knowing the subject matter at hand. Does it make me any less of a good person? No.

I am the same person with the same views and hold the same pursuit of Spirit and peace.

However, rather than accept that they had assumed without knowing, the excuse within themselves is that I have somehow changed. As if it is my 'fault'.

My words became less supportive of the misunderstandings within others concerning myself. Why? Just because I have made it known that I do not believe in the personification of 'God'.

THAT is why.

I have spoken my thoughts. Others have often come to answer my statements and/or questions as if I am personally attacking them. Nothing could be further from the truth. I try very hard to avoid needless confrontation. It brings out the worst in all of us.

The spiritual awakening of the mind's heart is the reality of a changed perception. If one views all as if all fits into what one already knows, the depth of the perception is forever contained within the restraints of personal internalization.

Witness the one who trusts their own misunderstanding of the truth will indeed judge themselves blind.

The incorruptible worldly fingerprint constructed by thief teachings of misunderstanding.

I can honestly say I never thought you said you were

i do not feel betrayed
no, definitely not.

Hiya s1ow...misty...



I suppose if one questions something in religion that another holds dear, it makes the one questioning a 'bad' guy?

Question the questions...

I thought you were 'Christ-like’ before you confessed your tendency to view God in a non-personified way.

I still think you are ‘Christ-like’ after you’ve revealed your deeper philosophical views.

I hope you don’t take offense to this.

It’s not my intent to imply that you would over-turn money tables in a public square or become physically violent or abusive in any way. Nor do I mean to imply that you might be on some kind grotesquely hideous suicide mission.

I’m just trying to say that you seem to me to be a well-meaning man who tries to convey to people the importance of peace, love, and being nonjudgmental, and that you are often wrongly accused for doing this.

Abra:



No offense taken...

It does seem that many religions don't invite questioning.

I don't get it. Questioning usually is an expression of interest. Isn't it nice if others are interested in your religion?

I concur with Abra. I don't agree with you on certain things, but you seem well-meaning, friendly, approachable, and eager to discuss ideas.

Wow, who thought you were a Christian? It was obvious that you weren't, but not everybody pays as close attention as they should.

Looks like you were judged and convicted earlier than you thought Creative.

interesting

It has been my observation you seek to remove wool from eyes rather than weaving a cloak of any sort.

I would say you have been more inclusive with all then declusive(my own word, I think..lol) of any. I did not take you as a christian from start, although I felt as though you were very "christian like" at times. You have shown me though that to be "whatever I am", does not set me at odds with christianity as I was originally lead to believe. I have been "defending" my position against christians for so long in my family that I automatically did it everywhere. They are bound and determined to "convert" me back to the family beliefs....lol. That is only one of the things I have learned from you.

I love reading you creative and I hope noone will curb your desire to share the way you see everything.

Yes, that does become a knee-jerk reaction that can be difficult to break. And it’s not a healthy reaction to have. I confess to have allowed myself to fall into this ‘reaction’ mode lately myself a little more than I should.

"Defending" against the eager-to-judge Christians. So sad that life needs to be this way.

Fortunately all Christians aren’t so eager to spin webs of judgment.

But as we all know, there are those who are clearly anxious to do so, and unfortunately those are usually the most vociferous and often proclaim to speak for the entire religion so much so that they claim to be authoritarians on biblical interpretations.

I often wonder why the meeker Christians don’t speak out against these belligerent imposters of their faith?

Although, recently I believe I have met one who does just this, in a very meek and unobtrusive way.

"I often wonder why the meeker Christians don’t speak out against these belligerent imposters of their faith?"

Perhaps they truly believe the meek shall inherit.

anoasis...

I would suppose that if the questions were asked, then the answers should have to make sense to the one who does the asking. It often is not like that. I do not believe in an illogical human entity called 'God'... I do not believe that 'God' has human emotion... I do not believe that 'God' has a personal preference of some people over others.

There are so many things that make no sense which are contained in the book which is entirely attributed to this personification of 'God'.

The most profoundly curious statements come from those who will tell another exactly what this 'God' is like, as if they truly know this 'God', on a personal level. Some even claim this, as if they have done something more worthy enough for this 'God' in whom they believe that others have.

Yet, when when faced with the complexity of a question which is irrefutable, the fall back is always that human understanding cannot truly comprehend 'God's will' or purpose or whatever the case may be at the time.

Well then, how can this same person claim to know this unattainable knowledge at other times? Why would this 'God' make all these connections to someone if one cannot truly comprehend what the intent is? It is one or the other, not both. It either makes perfect sense... all the time, OR one cannot truly know... all the time. Conveniently blind to the hypocrisy of the matter, it is a fill in the blank with their own personal internalizations(proof), for your their own personal agenda(God's will). It is, after all, their own personal relationship, so it makes perfect sense to me... in that way.

I question the validity of the religion... That is a very, very big deal to those who believe they have it all figured out. Until a question disproves the omni-God, then all of the sudden, the same person who has claimed this up-close and personal relationship with this personification of 'God' changes claims and then goes on to say that humans do not truly understand 'God'.

I say huh? You claim that you understood just fine a moment ago?

The Biblical picture of 'God' in man's image makes no sense... none what-so-ever.

I trust that 'God' would be as consistent as one allows 'God' to be... and as logical, and as rational, and hateful, and as loving, so on and so forth...

Creation has the ingredients of the creator, presupposing the creator was everything and the only thing prior to creation's material existence...






Hey white boy... One quite rarely always agrees with another's perspective. Somehow I trust that you know that I harbor no ill-will to another who believes differently... I often find myself enjoying your point of view as well as many others here although I may not share understanding completely, or at all... We each must walk our own path...





wench:

Hiya wenchie!!! You are almost always quite a treat, very enjoyable humor... Thank you... I seek understanding, knowledge, and wisdom... In that order.






dragoness:



Thank you. We often see things in a similar fashion. I am not always specific in my wording. I have learned some things are best left up to interpretation of the listener. It allows the reflections of another's internalization to be shown more clearly, which can lead the speaker to better relation. There is much to learn within another's spoken reality.




Abra, my friend... I so enjoy your wittiness at times... You have had me laughing out loud on several occasions... quite unexpectedly... At times your words are spoken as if through my own mouth... and sometimes not...






Chuck...what is interesting?





spider:

You may be surprised how many times I have been assumed to be a 'relious' man... or a 'Christian'... perhaps I am... the way was I... as intended to be... is you, if only your eyes were open to see... close them, and they will open.

My heart harbors no vengeance and no hate...

This kind of thing kills me. I simply stated that I didn't think you were a Christian. I didn't say I thought you were a bad person or that you weren't religious or spiritual. I don't feel any need for vengence or hate either... Why do I feel completely clueless here? You and Abra both seem to have taken that as an insult? You don't seem like a Christian to me, why is that offensive? Maybe you guys assume I have hostility towards anywho who isn't a Christian?

I have no idea who she is, but "misty_57" said the same thing and I don't see anyone suggesting that she judged you or that she has vengence or hate towards you...

spider:



My apologies for not being more specific... I did not feel judged by you. The reference to closing eyes was meant in the way that I believe one sees within themself, as you understand that I believe the essence of spirit lives within us... no harm or judgement intended from me...

ya know what the problem with perceptions are???
They only got one viewpoint
Christian or not, you seem like a nice intelligent dude.
I guess some Christians feel that if yer not a Christian, there's no way you can be a decent, kind person lol.
I got news for them, there's a LOT of regular church-goers that are going to hell and they don't even know it

"These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph."
"The American Crisis, Number 1" Published December 19, 1776
By Thomas Paine

Brillian Man, and originally harolded as a great figure to the early American colonies. He also backed a faction in the French Revolutiony conflict, not considered 'appropriate' and returned to America to face his 'unpopular' decisions and spent the end of his life in poverty. You see like many of the French revolutionaries, he was a vocal critic of Christianity.



Public opinoin is still on the move, but at least it seems to be moving in the right direction. For today, he would surely find himself in 'good' company and his brilliance would not have been hindered by the severe judgement of those he criticized.

It's easy to answer questions when all the answers are in one little packace, neatly tied with a bow that say "answers in one word:God". A good salesperson sells the pretty package to those distracted by the bow. Most people are learning to discern the manipulative tricks of a "good" salespeson.

Ethicality will yet rue the day - keep speaking Creative, you are in 'historically' good company.