bono_212
Blue Crack Distributor
So, this kinda stemmed from a brief conversation between Diemen and myself in the "Gay" thread and I wanted to branch it into a larger discussion in a separate thread, because the direction I was going to take it really had nothing to do with the topic and it might be a nice thread to have around, we'll see.
Anyways, I had a horrible commute home and lots of time to roll things around in my head, so you're getting one of the longest posts I've ever written. Brace yourselves:
Basically the idea is this: As a religious/spiritual/whatever-term-you-want-to-use person, I've really begun to feel bogged down, almost suffocated by the world around me lately. This stems from two large issues that go as follows (and I'll be using anecdotal evidence here, so just please bear with my stories. I don't want this to come off as a long-winded blog post or something, so I'm going to write my point, and then I'll share my story in a spoiler tag for those interested):
1) In an effort to include those who had been discriminated against by the religious for so long, are people of faith being shoved out as a result?
But now, the other side of the coin:
2) Are Christians today too caught up in politics to pay any attention to the purpose of faith in the first place? This article, shared with me last week, is basically one of the best things I've ever read, and I think it sums up very well how far off the mark the loudest, most evident Christians are:
The Supreme Court Just Gave American Evangelicals a Gift | Ed Cyzewski :: Freelance Writer
So after all of that, what's my point? Is there a way to balance spirituality and the world today? Is there hope for Christianity? Have Christians had too much for too long, and as a result are others too unwilling to allow them to have a seat at the table? Have we become too caught up in the idea that if we want to extend equality to all, we have to do it at the expensive of those who believe in a creator?
Basically, this thread should just be called "Random Christianity Talk" because there are a lot of topics to speak of and my own feelings are just one of them.
Anyways, I think that's about all I wanted to say, sorry for how long-winded that ended up being. It felt good to be able to say it to someone besides my husband, mother or sister, the only three people I feel like I can talk about this kind of thing with.
Anyways, I had a horrible commute home and lots of time to roll things around in my head, so you're getting one of the longest posts I've ever written. Brace yourselves:
Basically the idea is this: As a religious/spiritual/whatever-term-you-want-to-use person, I've really begun to feel bogged down, almost suffocated by the world around me lately. This stems from two large issues that go as follows (and I'll be using anecdotal evidence here, so just please bear with my stories. I don't want this to come off as a long-winded blog post or something, so I'm going to write my point, and then I'll share my story in a spoiler tag for those interested):
1) In an effort to include those who had been discriminated against by the religious for so long, are people of faith being shoved out as a result?
In my life I have almost never had much of an issue with my faith and the people around me. I grew up in the Midwest, so maybe this had something to do with it? Once in elementary school I said something about going to Heaven, and a kid made fun of me for it, but that was about it. I never had much trouble with work, and in fact, having been in HR, I began to learn that a lot of the preconceived notions some of my family had put into my head about how I couldn't talk about my faith or anything in the workplace were almost completely BS. It was a relief to understand how the system really worked, and I took to heart the idea that you just kinda need to be kind, and feel the air around people. Don't come off abrasive, respect other people, don't push, etc.
When I moved to Los Angeles, it was all pretty good, still, until about March. I started a new job and I could almost immediately tell that the atmosphere was different. Right around the time I started, the situation in Indiana occurred, and there were people all around me very openly, harshly criticizing people of faith, mocking the religious and generally making me feel, to use a technical term, like I was in a hostile work environment. I almost went to HR, but I suddenly became afraid of being associated as one of "Those Christians" who thinks the world revolves around them, and that they can't handle any kind of criticism. But it wasn't that. I'd been posting on here, pretty openly with you all, for years by this point. I really just felt, in those moments, like I was being openly made fun of, that people were pointing and laughing at me and that I could not say anything about how I felt.
The thing is, I honestly do believe that there is a God. I honestly believe that he exists in the Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I believe in Jesus Christ, I believe in Heaven and Hell. I believe in Salvation, redemption, and unconditional love. I do believe that the Great Commission is for those who believe the same as me to spread the word of God. I truly believe all of these things, and until recently I felt like I could balance that between the idea that other people don't believe that way.
I ended up leaving, both because the job was temporary, and simply because I wasn't happy there. Basically, I still believe that my Aunt constantly saying she's "Discriminated against" is a load, but does she experience a more hostile working environment as a result of her faith? Based on my own experiences and the stories she's told me? I think so.
When I moved to Los Angeles, it was all pretty good, still, until about March. I started a new job and I could almost immediately tell that the atmosphere was different. Right around the time I started, the situation in Indiana occurred, and there were people all around me very openly, harshly criticizing people of faith, mocking the religious and generally making me feel, to use a technical term, like I was in a hostile work environment. I almost went to HR, but I suddenly became afraid of being associated as one of "Those Christians" who thinks the world revolves around them, and that they can't handle any kind of criticism. But it wasn't that. I'd been posting on here, pretty openly with you all, for years by this point. I really just felt, in those moments, like I was being openly made fun of, that people were pointing and laughing at me and that I could not say anything about how I felt.
The thing is, I honestly do believe that there is a God. I honestly believe that he exists in the Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I believe in Jesus Christ, I believe in Heaven and Hell. I believe in Salvation, redemption, and unconditional love. I do believe that the Great Commission is for those who believe the same as me to spread the word of God. I truly believe all of these things, and until recently I felt like I could balance that between the idea that other people don't believe that way.
I ended up leaving, both because the job was temporary, and simply because I wasn't happy there. Basically, I still believe that my Aunt constantly saying she's "Discriminated against" is a load, but does she experience a more hostile working environment as a result of her faith? Based on my own experiences and the stories she's told me? I think so.
2) Are Christians today too caught up in politics to pay any attention to the purpose of faith in the first place? This article, shared with me last week, is basically one of the best things I've ever read, and I think it sums up very well how far off the mark the loudest, most evident Christians are:
The Supreme Court Just Gave American Evangelicals a Gift | Ed Cyzewski :: Freelance Writer
I do believe that a marriage in the eyes of God is between a man and a woman, but I believe that it is far more important in the grand scheme of things that everyone be entitled to the same rights and privileges in the eyes of the law, because we've seen what segregation, separation, terminology and an Us vs. Them attitude can do to people. Honestly, I'm not even sure how much God cares about marriage in the first place (29 But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.) marriage is a far more earthly thing than people are willing to give it credit for being.
More than any of this, though, I believe that our job on earth is to help one another, to love one another, to care for one another, feed those without, clothe those without, care for the sick, the disabled, the elderly, the helpless, etc. I think that's really what spreading God's love is about.
So what's the other problem: I can't stand other "Christians" and I almost feel more suffocated than ever, first with the Indiana thing earlier this year, a huge in-fight with my family over a cousin that came out and now the marriage situation. I feel like I can't talk to anyone because the people who are supposed to be there with me are too caught up in politics to care.
I have had an aunt go off on me, and basically suggest that I've lost my way because I care that people aren't discriminated against.
I had a cousin go back and forth with me for nearly an hour trying to argue about how the Supreme Court works, because she so badly didn't want to admit that she just didn't like the decision.
I argued with a friend's dad for another hour because he (without knowing his son was gay) condemned all homosexuals to hell, while excusing his own infidelities as a one-off mistake that he'd already been forgiven for.
This whole attitude of picking and choosing Bible verses to fit what you want to believe has completely thrown me for a loop. This year, I have started reading the Bible all the way through for the first time. The Old Testament has started to lose some of its meaning for me, except for the chapters from Psalms forward, but the New Testament has been incredibly enlightening. Basically, I don't know what book my family and those like them are reading, but it's not this one.
More than any of this, though, I believe that our job on earth is to help one another, to love one another, to care for one another, feed those without, clothe those without, care for the sick, the disabled, the elderly, the helpless, etc. I think that's really what spreading God's love is about.
So what's the other problem: I can't stand other "Christians" and I almost feel more suffocated than ever, first with the Indiana thing earlier this year, a huge in-fight with my family over a cousin that came out and now the marriage situation. I feel like I can't talk to anyone because the people who are supposed to be there with me are too caught up in politics to care.
I have had an aunt go off on me, and basically suggest that I've lost my way because I care that people aren't discriminated against.
I had a cousin go back and forth with me for nearly an hour trying to argue about how the Supreme Court works, because she so badly didn't want to admit that she just didn't like the decision.
I argued with a friend's dad for another hour because he (without knowing his son was gay) condemned all homosexuals to hell, while excusing his own infidelities as a one-off mistake that he'd already been forgiven for.
This whole attitude of picking and choosing Bible verses to fit what you want to believe has completely thrown me for a loop. This year, I have started reading the Bible all the way through for the first time. The Old Testament has started to lose some of its meaning for me, except for the chapters from Psalms forward, but the New Testament has been incredibly enlightening. Basically, I don't know what book my family and those like them are reading, but it's not this one.
So after all of that, what's my point? Is there a way to balance spirituality and the world today? Is there hope for Christianity? Have Christians had too much for too long, and as a result are others too unwilling to allow them to have a seat at the table? Have we become too caught up in the idea that if we want to extend equality to all, we have to do it at the expensive of those who believe in a creator?
Basically, this thread should just be called "Random Christianity Talk" because there are a lot of topics to speak of and my own feelings are just one of them.
Anyways, I think that's about all I wanted to say, sorry for how long-winded that ended up being. It felt good to be able to say it to someone besides my husband, mother or sister, the only three people I feel like I can talk about this kind of thing with.