Talked to a friend tonight that's 'concerned' about my spiritual

growth and well-being... Because I no longer attend church.

Told the friend dh and I no longer attend church--our last one started cheering for bush LOOOONG before the election. Seriously, dude seemed to create ways to cheerlead for * during services. It just got sickening. We got fed up and left.

Personally, I've been much happier NOT going to church. I still have a spiritual life--it just doesn't involve church, church services or the religious rules of men.

My friend is SO Christian (sigh). We had a loooong discussion about gay rights--while they don't condone people mistreating gays, they won't condone gay rights per say, because of biblical beliefs(sigh)--this is in HUGE conflict with my ideals. :banghead:

that one does not need church, or even religion, to be spiritually healthy.

Stick to your guns (not that you need me to tell you that). You know what's right for you and what will make you healthy and happy. Your friend is the one who apparently is heading down the wrong path.

:hug:

I just don't do well with dogma. I respect the choices he makes for himself, but I personally choose not to live my life entirely by a book (the Bible). I think it's great for guidelines... but oh it's just so frustrating...

In fact, it can be downright dangerous--particularly in the hands of zealots. Books are great for education and entertainment, but not as blueprints for living.

a kid that is their parent's personal punching bag (physical and emotional), only to be told by an 'born again' relative to 'read scriptures' to become a better person--then my abusive parent will magically treat me better...

:banghead:

Such a load... Why didn't someone tell my abusive parent to 'read the bible' to be a better parent?

I shouldn't allow that and other experiences to sour me on religion, but unfortunately they have.

I despise that attitude that somehow you're defective because others treated you like shit, so you need to repent. :eyes: I'm sorry you had to go through that. :hug:

And you don't need to feel bad for allowing that to sour you on religion, it should have--that attitude is crap, and one of the reasons that religion (at least in that form) is BS.

I appreciate that! :yourock:

I find religion scary when people seem to cease to be able to think when it comes into their life.

What a cool bumper sticker! I wish more questioned religion, instead of just blindly following it...

But hey, some people never wake up, so we're ahead of the game, right? :thumbsup:

I *know* you're going to hell! What, with all them ideas about women being human and all, you're damned, lady!

These are my exact words to my friend!!! :rofl:

I'm serious. They laugh with me when I say it, but then they launch the talk about the Bible, god, etc., etc.,...

We seem to agree on a lot of the same things, but you're nicer (and I don't mean to damn you with faint praise).

Bring marshallows so we can make smores in Hell!

isn't that the name of a rock group? LOL! It should be... :evilgrin:

You flatter me :blush:--thank you for saying such nice things about me. I don't know that I deserve it...

I told my friend I would read the bible more, but it gets hot and starts to burn my hands.

...humanism is spirtual, and exists without religion at all.

gays are people and human beings they agree--but somehow that still doesn't equate for them to 'civil rights' for homosexuals. Because apparently god won't deliver the riches of his kingdom to the homosexuals--this is biblical (my friend) tells me.

:crazy:
No, I don't get this stuff either...

...of spiritualism, and their definition, are two different things...

http://www.lsadproco.com/Slagkick.mp3

:evilgrin:

:rofl: Too funny! :rofl:

that I told my friend I comfort myself by believing god doesn't love gw bush.





:evilgrin: :rofl:

The Gospel according to Jesus... Stephen Mitchell

The Gnostic Gospels..... Elaine Pagels

The Secret Gospel of Thomas...

All books look at the spirituality of early Christians and the history behind what came to be today....

It's a good way of looking at secular spirituaty...

I'll check them out--thank you! I appreciate the recommendation. I'll try to pass them along to my friend (if I talk to her)--don't know if she'll be interested though...

You know how that goes.

Just saying.

for reminding me of that movie! I wanted to see that when it was released, and somehow never did--

I'm really happy to be reminded of this, as it looked so hysterically funny! I can't wait to rent it.

The part on the commercial of Mandy Moore throwing her bible at someone yelling,"I am FILLED with Christ's love..." always reduced me to hysterical giggles!

spirituality has nothing to do with organized religion.

Good for you.

I appreciate that!

She is so brainwashed (or christian) she finds metaphysics, other new age sorts of spirituality and people refering to 'their higher power' very offensive.

Whatever.

I've tried to make the point that there are other religions and they all have a book that they believe in--and shouldn't we allow some room that maybe, just maybe everyone's at least a little bit right. That everyone has a different name for their god, but it's all the same--just different languages to communicate with their god. That just leads to more quoting of scripture and verse of how THEY are wrong, and ONLY christians know the truth...

:banghead: