Author Topic: Conflict/Drama/Religion/Respect  (Read 5074 times)

lighter

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Re: Conflict/Drama/Religion/Respect
« Reply #15 on: December 14, 2007, 03:43:07 PM »
Mud..... I believe the bible's been thumped a bit harder than just sharing and caring.

I don't want to hear a sermon, be judged or listen to hypocrits smack each other around with bible verse..... and I realize you're not suggesting I would.

If someone wants to talk about the strength they receive from their spiritual connection, that's one thing.

I can't say I've seen anyone find fault with that.... have I missed something?

If they're going to wield it like a sword or affect an elitist's stance..... my hackles go up.  


Gabben

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Re: Conflict/Drama/Religion/Respect
« Reply #16 on: December 14, 2007, 03:58:42 PM »
Just because I speak of my faith background does not mean that I am trying to evangelize. I have found that non-Christians tend to bristle easily when they hear the word, Jesus, Christ, or Christian.
 
Bottom line, they, people in AA don't care what faith you are. I hang out with people of all faiths, especially new agers because I am IN AA.
But there is one thing that we all seem to agree on, that there is a God and that we are not it.

The people I know in AA live and walk the straight and narrow path more than most people I know at my church. We have a saying in AA - "hang with the winners."


Excerpt from BB - "We Agnostics"
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We know how he feels. We have shared his honest doubt and prejudice. Some of us have been violently anti-religious. To others, the word "God" brought up a particular idea of Him with which someone had tried to impress them during childhood. Perhaps we rejected this particular conception because it seemed inadequate. With that rejection we imagined we had abandoned the God idea entirely. We were bothered with the thought that faith and dependence upon a Power beyond ourselves was somewhat weak, even cowardly. We looked upon this world of warring individuals, warring theological systems, and inexplicable calamity, with deep skepticism. We looked askance at many individuals who claimed to be godly. How could a Supreme Being have anything to do with it all? And who could comprehend a Supreme Being anyhow? Yet, in other moments, we found ourselves thinking, when enchanted by a starlit night, "Who, then, make all this?" There was a feeling of awe and wonder, but it was fleeting and soon lost.

Yes, we of agnostic temperament have had these thoughts and experiences. Let us make haste to reassure you. We found that as soon as we were able to lay aside prejudice and express even a willingness to believe in a Power greater than ourselves, we commenced to get results, even though it was impossible for any of us to fully define or comprehend that Power, which is God.

Much to our relief, we discovered we did not need to consider another's conception of God. Our own conception, however inadequate, was sufficient to make the approach and to effect a contact with Him. As soon as we admitted the possible existence of a Creative Intelligence, a Spirit of the Universe underlying the totality of things, we began to be possessed of a new sense of power and direction, provided we took other simple steps. We found that God does not make too hard terms with those who seek Him. To us, the Realm of Spirit is broad, roomy, all inclusive; never exclusive or forbidding to those who earnestly seek. It is open, we believe, to all men.

When, therefore, we speak to you of God, we mean your own conception of God. This applies, too, to other spiritual expressions which you find in this book. Do not let any prejudice you may have against spiritual terms deter you from honestly asking yourself what they mean to you. At the start, this was all we needed to commence spiritual growth, to effect our first conscious relation with God as we understood Him. Afterward, we found ourselves accepting many things which then seemed entirely out of reach. That was growth, but if we wished to grow we had to begin somewhere. So we used our own conception, however limited it was.
« Last Edit: December 14, 2007, 04:04:18 PM by Gabben »

JanetLG

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Re: Conflict/Drama/Religion/Respect
« Reply #17 on: December 14, 2007, 04:02:37 PM »
"Just because I speak of my faith background does mean that I am trying to evangelize. "


Oh, what a lovely Freudian slip!!



Janet

Gabben

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Re: Conflict/Drama/Religion/Respect
« Reply #18 on: December 14, 2007, 04:03:57 PM »
typo fixed -- an yes, deep down inside I would probably love for everyone to know who God is, that is what makes me a good Christian.

But is does not mean that when I am writing about Him that I am thinking gee, "I hope people convert."
« Last Edit: December 14, 2007, 04:14:00 PM by Gabben »

Gabben

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Re: Conflict/Drama/Religion/Respect
« Reply #19 on: December 14, 2007, 04:05:33 PM »
Hi Janet

Is that hatred or are you just happy to hear from me?

Lise

teartracks

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Re: Conflict/Drama/Religion/Respect
« Reply #20 on: December 14, 2007, 04:20:52 PM »



Hi lighter,

If they're going to wield it like a sword or affect an elitist's stance..... my hackles go up. 

I think this verse gives clear guidelines for expressing one's hope in Christ. 

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:KJV

I think with that approach, the offensive way you mentioned would be avoided.  What do you think?

tt






CB123

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Re: Conflict/Drama/Religion/Respect
« Reply #21 on: December 14, 2007, 04:21:08 PM »
The Spirit gives us discernment and discretion on when, where and how to deliver the gospel.
Guess it depends on what your goal is; to just say it louder than anyone else or to seek and save that which is lost by becoming all things to all men that by so doing some might be saved.


heehee, Mud!  Guess we were on the same wavelength! (I just read your post in the next thread).

Love
CB
When they are older and telling their own children about their grandmother, they will be able to say that she stood in the storm, and when the wind did not blow her way -- and it surely has not -- she adjusted her sails.  Elizabeth Edwards 2010

Gabben

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Re: Conflict/Drama/Religion/Respect
« Reply #22 on: December 14, 2007, 04:21:43 PM »
Mud, I made a couple of comments about the use of religious arguments on the board--and that may be a bit of why this and other threads started. 

Actually CB - my strong statement of spirituality WAS what started all of this....


Hmmmm...

Ami

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Re: Conflict/Drama/Religion/Respect
« Reply #23 on: December 14, 2007, 04:24:38 PM »
When  person has a true ,deep realtionship with God, it IS  the best love relationship . . I have been there. I don't stay there b/c of my own failings.
  God is supposed to be our first love. For those of us who believe in Jesus as a living,breathing "alive" God, He IS our lives,as I see it
                                                    Ami
 
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.        Eleanor Roosevelt

Most of our problems come from losing contact with our instincts,with the age old wisdom stored within us.
   Carl Jung

Leah

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Re: Conflict/Drama/Religion/Respect
« Reply #24 on: December 14, 2007, 04:25:48 PM »
The Spirit gives us discernment and discretion on when, where and how to deliver the gospel.

Let your light shine, and always, may your speech be seasoned with salt.


Leah
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mudpuppy

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Re: Conflict/Drama/Religion/Respect
« Reply #25 on: December 14, 2007, 05:43:39 PM »
Using scripture or "faith" to gobsmack someone is no more about God than using psychobabble to shame someone is about Jungian psychology. Both are about conflict and aggression.

Nor do I think that is what axa was even referring to, and my post was in response to hers.
She seemed to be uncomfortable with Christians bringing their faith to the board. I just wanted to point out that in most cases it is in the context of how it has helped them.

mud

Gabben

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Re: Conflict/Drama/Religion/Respect
« Reply #26 on: December 14, 2007, 05:46:22 PM »
Using scripture or "faith" to gobsmack someone is no more about God than using psychobabble to shame someone is about Jungian psychology. Both are about conflict and aggression.

Nor do I think that is what axa was even referring to, and my post was in response to hers.
She seemed to be uncomfortable with Christians bringing their faith to the board. I just wanted to point out that in most cases it is in the context of how it has helped them.

mud

Who are you addressing now?

Ami

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Re: Conflict/Drama/Religion/Respect
« Reply #27 on: December 14, 2007, 05:47:04 PM »
. Discernment is from the Holy Spirit---not FROM another person(human being). Discernment is a private matter between a person and God--only. It is NOT for another human  to judge.                           Ami
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.        Eleanor Roosevelt

Most of our problems come from losing contact with our instincts,with the age old wisdom stored within us.
   Carl Jung

reallyME

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Re: Conflict/Drama/Religion/Respect
« Reply #28 on: December 14, 2007, 06:35:16 PM »
I am quietly observing comments at this time and will contribute when and if the Lord leads me to :)

mudpuppy

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Re: Conflict/Drama/Religion/Respect
« Reply #29 on: December 14, 2007, 07:20:20 PM »
Quote
Who are you addressing now?

I am not addressing anyone in particular. Some posts referring to mine seemed to miss my point so I contrasted what they were referring to, to what I was, which was axa's original post.
I consider the discussion of ideas and ideals worthwhile. Indulging in personal animosities less so.
If you took it as a swipe at you, you were mistaken.

mud