I agree with Claire and Jo, trying to understand why someone believes one thing over another has always interested me.
Well it breaks my heart to see you this way,
The beauty in life, where's it gone?
And somebody told me you were doing okay,
Somehow I guess they were wrong.
I guess I'ev had a few batterings from being religious (Christian).
In year 7 (12 years olds) I went to a Christian school and was subject to pretty nasty bullying due to being a Harry Potter fan (which of course meant I was a satanist yadayada). When my Mum went to the school (after beatings that left noticeable red marks on me) they said 'oh we're all Christians here, of course there's no bullying.'
Other times I've been told my mental illness is the Devil attacking me etc etc, I'm possessed, all sorts of stuff.
I get told that I'm not a Christian because I don't believe the world was made in 7 days, because I'm friends with Muslims without trying to convert them, etc etc. And especially because I don't 'evangelise.'
I have some controversial beliefs, one is that people from other religions can find God through that religion. C S Lewis is who bought this about to me. If someone finds spirituality and faith and serves one religion well they must be accessing some God through it, so as I only believe in one God, surely they can access that God but callhim a different name? I don't know, I could be wrong. I knowpeople might get pissed with me for that last one, and I also believe that people will get a choice when they die as to whether they want to accept God and such and as to whether they don't.
When people say I can't be a Christian because I don't go around preaching Christianity to people, well I don't believe doing that does anything to convert people. If we want people to find God the best way is to be a good Christian, follow the Bible and then when someone wants to know and asks you talk about it.
I dont to be honest.
Which is surprising, but yeah.
My school is meant to be all non religious/open to all but our head is constantly trying to get some christianity into our assemblys.
And the junior choir, my friend quote because shes an athiest and it was all christian songs blah blah blah.
Even I get annoyed by the people in the street shouting at me :P
Cos i go to Salvation Army, i sometimes enjoy when we are outside and have little meetings, cos we get a massive crowd! And carrolling with our band is really good because we dont preach, we just entertain with music! tbh which is just busking.
One year we had eggs thrown at us.
thats the only flack ive got.
:)
And i enjoy having debates :D
Alice
xxx
Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man's heart, and the fall through the air of a true, wise friend called Piggy.
If we dont get home soon, we'll be barmy..
I get hassle from people for my athiest standpoint, but that's ok because I give as good as I get. Not that it's something I talk about very often, but when it's brought up with me I will tend to have a bit of a rant and/or ask them questions about why they believe what they believe and if I don't know about it, the religion in general.
xxxxxxxxx
How could you become as awesome as you are and still feel like a loser?
I don't argue 'my' beliefs anymore. I jsut point people in the right direction and they can look for themselves.
Aidey, the Baha'i Houses of Worship are beuatiful. I worked at the one in sydney. I did a geography assignment on them once because there is only one on each continent (though there's a new one being built in Chili) and the one in India (in the shape of a lotus flower) is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the world and all the big Hindi Celebrations are held there ^_^
I have a fascination with old churches, and one day i want to travel around Europe and visit all the old churches. They're just so... awe-inspiring. They have so much history!
I don't think you should have to argue your beliefs. I dont' anymore becasue I had some guy yell at me until I was in tears becasue he kept arguing different points and basically telling me I was wrong/burn in hell and all that other fun stuff. I know what I believe in. If people are really interested they can look for themselves ^_^
"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."
I don't think you should have to argue your beliefs. I dont' anymore becasue I had some guy yell at me until I was in tears becasue he kept arguing different points and basically telling me I was wrong/burn in hell and all that other fun stuff. I know what I believe in. If people are really interested they can look for themselves ^_^
I think there's a difference between arguing and explaining your beliefs. I had a quick look at the website you posted but that won't fully explain to me the intricacies of the religion. You need to speak to a person who follows it to understand better. For me it's more about the person who follows the religion rather than the religion itself, if that makes sense?
EDIT: I would ask why you chose to follow that religion instead of any other one? What parts of it do you agree/disagree with?
Last edited by The One Who : 24-12-2008 at 12:20 AM.
you could speak to a hundred different Baha'is and get a hundred different explanations. The fundemental part would be the same (laws and the such) but each individual has a different interpretation. We have no clergy. We aren't allowed to preach. I can't tell you what something means. I can read something and say "well i think it means this" but I can't say "well this is what it means". With religion i think arguing and explaining are a fine line to cross between...it depends on what the motivation is behind someone asking abuot it I guess. I hate being asked about it just so someone can disagree with me. I believe what I believe in. That should be enough.
Does that actually make any sense? lol
"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."
Yes, it does. I edited a little bit so it made more sense why I would discuss religion. I would want to know what your interpretation is, not anyone else's.
I have some controversial beliefs, one is that people from other religions can find God through that religion. C S Lewis is who bought this about to me. If someone finds spirituality and faith and serves one religion well they must be accessing some God through it, so as I only believe in one God, surely they can access that God but callhim a different name? I don't know, I could be wrong. I knowpeople might get pissed with me for that last one, and I also believe that people will get a choice when they die as to whether they want to accept God and such and as to whether they don't.
I think you're entitled to that belief, but that is not actually what CS Lewis believes or says. He does write about it in the Last Battle, but in Mere Christianity he actually says that he was just speculating and basically does not think that happens.
And also in the bible, Jesus says "I am the way, the truth and the light, you cannot get to heaven except through me" or something like it, can't remember the exact words.
Isn’t it funny how day by day nothing changes but when you look back, everything is different…
you once called your brain a hard drive, well say hello to the virus.
Except the bible was written a few hundred years after the fact. I believe in Jesus, but I don't believe that he is the one true way. And no matter what anyone says, a religion that promotes peace shouldn't condemn people to hell just because they believe something different. *nods* buuuuut, that's just my opinion. Unless it's written by the person who supposedly said something, I have a healthy lot of scepticism.
"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."
I went to a catholic school and as an atheist (a loud one at that) I was quite the spectacle. Most were good-humored though or out of that look something different lets go poke it type of curiousity.
Didn't bother me, I actually like discussing religion, and different beliefs, why they believe, etc, if the person is mature about it of course.
In response to the very first post in this thread, all the time! being a catholic is tough enough. being surrounded by a lot of fairly mature good skilled at debating atheists... it's tough. I try to never get into religious debates, sheerly because i fail at debating, i don't take it seriously enough when i'm losing :P and i don't understand half the vocab
(Also, it's Flak not flack if anyone really cares..... didn't think so)
I agree with Claire and Jo, trying to understand why someone believes one thing over another has always interested me.
Same.
I've never really been given flack for being an atheist. I get the occassional "you should go to church" off my Grandma, but she knows I never will. She doesn't know I don't believe in God though, that would upset her.
I don't believe there is a God, and I don't believe there is any kind of life after death, but I guess I could be proved wrong. I love having discussions about religion just because the huge range of belief systems fascinates me. I'd never give flack to someone for their faith, though like most people here I get annoyed when people try and shove it down my throat. I don't preach to you, so don't preach to me.
I'm not religious, I'm an agnostic but I get 'flack' about that by those preachers who come knocking on my door trying to sell me bibles! Now, I have nothing wrong with people being religious but I think that people should stop going door to door tyring to convert others. If someone wanted to, they could go to church...but I want to be left alone in my own home and I'm sick of being told by strangers that I'm a 'sinner'.
Previous username: Miss-Ruby
R.I.P my budgie Bubbles 26/01/09...in my <3 forever.
