This is a 14 year old from London saying I LOVE GOD!!!!!


NrrdGrrl! Discussion Forum: Lives and Confessions: This is a 14 year old from London saying I LOVE GOD!!!!!
By Rhiannon on Friday, September 4, 1998 - 03:38 pm:

The title says it all.
Does anyone wish to add a coment, go ahead.


By Soph on Saturday, September 5, 1998 - 10:31 am:

What exactly do you love about God?


By Anonymous on Saturday, September 5, 1998 - 02:00 pm:

I think god sucks


By Klueless on Saturday, September 5, 1998 - 05:29 pm:

Exactly, God & Jesus ROX!!!!


By Anonymous on Sunday, September 6, 1998 - 11:52 am:

WHY???????????I seem 2 have given up on god, personally i think god is a pprick!!! First he takes my ma when i an only 1, then he takes the only person i care for my granny, then my granda,Thenhe lets my da marry sataan and after 5 years gives him a bonus of separation.Satan keeps calling,telling me i ruined her life-then when i get over that "god" decides to let a perverted bastard do everything but rape me .Then i get around 45 rowdy bitches on my tail for a year and a half...Im not finished but i reakon you get my point, im only turned 15!! Now i hope u c why god is a bastard !! I hope if he exists he can give me some reasons...
Oirio


By Gene on Sunday, September 6, 1998 - 01:05 pm:

oh, well, i've been going to a private school my whole life and i think the christians are fascist...they try to shove it down my throat in every subject...but i'm not going to scream at everyone if they love god...that's their business....i do, however, remember when my dad was holding my face in a pillow and beating me with a big fat leather belt when i was 4, and i asked him why, he said the bible told him to discipline children with a rod of iron...that's all i got to say


By Rhiannon on Sunday, September 6, 1998 - 02:36 pm:

What your dad says is a lie!!!!! I also do not agree with those who try to force christianity down their throats, I am definately not a bible-basher! My dad is an alcoholic and WAS a manic depresant, at one point I was depressed and even tried to commit suicide but someone walked in. I can't even really explain why, I didn't have any friends because I was nasty to them all, I never did any work (literally) I just sat and watched T.V and eat untill I was really sick and couldn't do anything (although I'm as skinny as a rake naturally)and I was UGLY. The one thing I am gratefull for is that my dad did not beat me. I couldn't turn to friends because I didn't have any, I couldn't turn to my family. The only options I had left were the devil, God, or death. I had enough common sense to try suicide again, I'd heard of people who had had their lives turned around by God, so I tried church. It was amazing, everyone listened to and instead of just saying "There there" or "Poor Rhiannon" they gave sound advice, also, what I didn't expect was that they didn't say "Read this Bible verse..." or "Jesus would want you to do this..." they gave down to Earth advice. I went every Sunday and gradually, bit by bit, I rebuilt my life. Now I have loads of friends and a proper social life, I go dancing and singing lessons, I go to a theatre club and do loads of other theatrical things, I am a top student, MUCH more attractive, I havent kissed a boy yet but I've come very close, (I have in spin the bottle but that doesn't count). I have a big choice on careers but have chosen theatre acting. I believe that God is testing you when bad things happen, and these things have probably because you weren't really a christian in the first place and God was testing your faith, hopefully I have not let him down. Even if you have not even been to church before, it's not too late. Anon, God will have his reasons, and you may not ever find them out, I believe that the reason God did this to me was to make me stronger person and to help me find God, God obviously took you mum away so early because it was her time and he wanted them with him, I believe that the meaning of life is to prepare yourself for heaven and your relatives were obviously ready. Just give church a try you might like it, you might not it usually depends on which church you go to.

Rhiannon


By Anonymous on Sunday, September 6, 1998 - 03:09 pm:

O.K , so I think that there is no god sometimes and sometimes I hate him. I lived a pretty sheltered life. My mum and dad were both normal and stayed together, I have loads of friends and thought that all these problems only existed in soaps! I go to a private school where everyone has loads of money and live in a part of town like is totally like the Truman show. I always thought that my life was bad sometrimes but sheesh Anon, have u ever considered getting help? no offence. And anyways I 'm not Christian i'm jewish


By Esther on Monday, September 7, 1998 - 10:49 am:

Why love God?
How can you love a God if you don't even love yourself?
Is god a man? no
Is God a woman? No
I don't believe in *god*,but I believe in the spirit that surrounds us all.
That spirit is everything that IS,and ISN'T
I don't think that the things happening to us,whether good or bad, are send to us by God.
They just plain happen. And they aren't even good OR bad. They just plain happen. They just ARE.
They only thing you have to do with those experiences is learn from it. Whether you got raped,beaten up by yer dad....whatever.
Don't blame it on some God,don't blame it on anybody
Why can't nobody accept that things JUST HAPPEN?
Don't live be the norms written 2000 years ago,live by your own norms and values.
There is no Satan,there is no God,everything just IS.
When you understand that Hitler went to heaven,you understand God.
This may seem painful to some of you,but I'm jewish myself and I lost lots of family in the war.
Esther


By Cara on Monday, September 7, 1998 - 11:43 am:

Excuse me but I don't think that hitler went to heaven


By Wominist on Monday, September 7, 1998 - 06:05 pm:

Soph,

I love that God knew me in the womb. I love that God chose to get to know me. I love that God forgives me when I ask Her to. I love that no one can take God away from me. I love that God loves all people. I love the nature God created. I love the peace God gives me. I love knowing God is always there for me...

Oirio,

I'm sorry that you've seen the uglier side of life so young. I wish you wouldn't call God a bastard. Prayer is a great way to talk to God.

Gene,

Humans have a way of perverting God.

Anon,

The God you sometimes don't belive in and sometimes hate, has blessed you and your family anyway.

Esther,

Nothing 'just happens.' (You sound too intelligent to really believe that)

Rhiannon,

Very bold, I applaud you. People make it hard for you to stand up for your faith. Remember, you don't have to defend God! Keep shouting from the rooftops.


By Gene on Wednesday, September 9, 1998 - 12:40 am:

oh, well, i'm not christian and it's not because of my devoutly religious father beating me and saying the bible told him to...i just don't really believe in it...i'm sure there's something that controls us, but i don't believe in an almighty god that controls everything..if i ever in my life did it was cause my parents tried to force me to at a young age...but i'm not going to tell all of you that god sucks or whatever....i admire everyone on here for speaking your beliefs..it's refreshing...i guess i brought this up cause i exploded the fact that if i have children i'm never going to treat them the way he's treated me...he just simply said, "then you'll be sinning...go ahead...it's your choice..." yeah, i hate my dad, but i don't just hate christians in general for what he's done...well, i just wanted to clear up any confusion that i might've stirred...thanks..


By Rhiannon on Wednesday, September 9, 1998 - 04:57 pm:

That's alright Gene, it's good to get it all out, and it's even better when you apologise afterwords.
Everyone can believe what they want to and I am not complaining, I chose my beliefs and you chose yours!
I HATE HITLER SOOOOOOOOO MUCH, I EVEN BELIEVE HIM SATANS SIDE-KICK, HE'S A COMPLETE AND UTTER BASTARD AND EVEN HELL IS TO GOOD FOR HIM AND ANYONE LIKE HIM TOO!!!!!!!!!!!
I believe in that spirit that you believe in too, he's called the Holy Spirit.
Has any Christian out there ever EXPERIENCED the Holy Spirit, I'd like to hear about it. I had an absolutely amazing experience at a Christian camp I went on this summer: I was having serious doubts of Gods existance and no matter how much I tried to show feeling when I was praising him, but inside I new I was pretending. One night my dorm leader prayed that my doubts would be taken away. The next night they showed us some slides of nature and the world and there was this one of a beautiful field that really hit me, then during a flute only chorus of 'Be Still' the guy told us to picture one of the slides with our eyes closed, so I pictured the field. Then the most amazing thing happened suddenly I was in the field and Jesus was there with me and he told that I was sooooo special to him. This was like a vision kind of thing and 'in the real world' I had actualy fallen onto my friend and she placed me on a chair and I started crying. Anyone who doesn't believe, I can't prove it to you, and you might believe me, and you might think me mad, I don't care, I saw what I saw and NO-ONE is going to take that experience away from me!


By Rhiannon on Wednesday, September 9, 1998 - 04:59 pm:

Womonist, please e-mail me;
Rhian24891@aol.com


By Cara on Thursday, September 10, 1998 - 01:43 pm:

O>K, so Rhiannon................what?


By Anonymous on Friday, September 11, 1998 - 04:08 pm:

wominist, my dear, get a clue !! Why would i not call god these things?? Everyone seems 2 say that god decides all and personally i think 2 take the 1 thng i needed was bastard like , i reallyt doubt u'd understand.Do u know hopw it feels when a teacher says "why was u'r mother not at the meeting last night ?" or my , if ur mother knew the way u acted shed die.The bastard about it is even after 13 and a half years i have not even started 2 come 2 terms with it.Yes i think i have every reason to call god a shithead,
oirio


By Rhiannon on Saturday, September 12, 1998 - 11:49 am:

Okay, okay, there's no need to get angry, we all understand that you may not have had a very good life so-far, niether have I really. But I turned to God and you turned away. Now I don't know about you, but after about a year my life is bnow brilliant and I love life. We all have our belifs, womanist, don't rude to her about her beliefs, and anonimous, don't be rude to womanist about her beliefs then things can stay calm and we'll just be getting our opinions noticed, okay?


By Rhiannon on Saturday, September 12, 1998 - 11:49 am:

Okay, okay, there's no need to get angry, we all understand that you may not have had a very good life so-far, niether have I really. But I turned to God and you turned away. Now I don't know about you, but after about a year my life is bnow brilliant and I love life. We all have our belifs, womanist, don't rude to her about her beliefs, and anonimous, don't be rude to womanist about her beliefs then things can stay calm and we'll just be getting our opinions noticed, okay?


By Sophie on Sunday, September 13, 1998 - 09:26 am:

People have a right to believe in what they want to. I don't believe ALL of any the religions, but I pick the bits that I believe in. Therefore, I am Catholic, Buddhist, Muslim, and Sikh, at the same time. Sometimes I see people who are forced to go to church, but do not believe in what they are say. Personally, I prefer to believe in MY god, the god that's personal to me, not some set guidelines.

God is what you make him.

Hope this helps.


By Rhiannon on Sunday, September 13, 1998 - 11:49 am:

Thank-you soph, a personnal but not opinionated answer.


By Wominist on Sunday, September 13, 1998 - 03:51 pm:

Oirio,

I won't tell you that I understand your grief. I hope one day you will live your life without it. I think Rhiannon put it very well. Life deals everyone a blow. Sometimes it's a severe permanent one, sometimes it comes without warning, sometimes we're born getting hit, sometimes it comes when we think we can't handle another one. In any case you make your choice. You turn to God or you turn away from Her. And in everyone's own heart they will know which choice brings answers and peace.

I went to the library to look up your mom's book. They didn't have it but I'll keep looking (smile).


By Endora on Sunday, September 13, 1998 - 11:12 pm:

I wasn't quite sure what to say about all of this. On one hand, Oirio may not have phrased her comments in the most respectful way possible, but on the other hand, she's been through a hell of a lot for anyone, let alone a 15 year old. And not just the usual life can be tough stuff. She's lost 3 people she loved and been abused in various ways.

Considering that conventional religion teaches that God is BOTH benevolent & omnipotent, I think Oirio's anger at God is understandable. Honestly, can those of you who believe in God truly say you've NEVER, EVER been angry at God when something bad happens in your life? I'm not that familiar w/Bible, but I think there were a number of situations where people began angry at God. People may work through it, etc. but anger at God is a fairly human reaction.

Personally, I'm agnostic & leaning towards paganism. I think a number of deities explains life better than one omnipotent deity.

We all find spiritual peace in our own ways. I do respect people's beliefs. I have religious relatives who go to Mass. When they visit, I make it a point to find out the schedule at the nearest church so they can go. When I lived w/a roommate who keeps kosher, I looked for symbols which indicated that the dishwashing liquid, etc. was kosher. When I had parties back in college, I always made sure that I bough extra fruit juice for a friend who doesn't drink because she is Muslim. It's a matter of respect & courtesy. I wonder though how many people would respect my beliefs as a pagan if I choose to go that route?

Oirio,

I'm not going to say I know how you feel (because I don't). I just want to say that you must have a lot of strength to get this far & I just hope that life brings you some wonderful experiences to counteract the bad experiences you've had.

Rhiannon,

I'm glad you found spiritual peace & I wish you well. However, I think you should realize that the old "God takes people because he's ready for them" doesn't do it for everyone & it can anger people who are grieving. Have you lost someone before their time? Religion helps some people cope, but not others.

When I was 18, my high school went to an amusement park before graduation. My friends & I were going to go in the Haunted Castle, but decided to play skee ball instead. We came back from skee ball & the Haunted Castle was burning. Eight teenagers (ages 14-18) died in that fire. Luckily no one was from my school, but I had friends who had just come out & friends who were waiting on line. Five minutes either way & it could have been someone I knew. For all I know, if my friends & I hadn't played skee ball, it could have been us.

The fire was a couple of days before Mother's Day. Would you tell the 8 mothers who spent Mother's Day making funeral arrangements that it was their children's "time"? It wasn't anyone's time, the amusement park just met the minimum safety standards. In the state of New Jersey at that time, that meant it was perfectly okay to construct a haunted house out of trailers & decorate it w/flammable, toxic materials. I think those deaths were more a result of human greed & stupidity than any deity's plan.





By Oirio on Monday, September 14, 1998 - 01:32 pm:

Okay, Well i've gotten a bit calmer,i was having a very lousy day last time i wrote but i wish 2 apolagise for being like that.I do stand by what i said but i wanna say thanx 2 wominist for not going mental and cursing me for life and u might not get my mums book as its not globally known.Only a couple of people have it.When i get it back ill post a good one!!Endora ,Thanx for being so nice !!How long did it take u 2 write all that ?? Well i've decided 2 invest in a red,pink and green stone(red 4 happiness,pink 4 love & green 4 money)Dunno why i wrote that.
c ya
oirio


By Endora on Monday, September 14, 1998 - 07:36 pm:

Oirio,

Glad things are going better for you. Actually didn't take me too long to write that post. At one point, I was known as Queen of the Overnight Paper because I could write 10+ page papers overnight (I did do the research before that :-)


By Wominist on Monday, September 14, 1998 - 09:23 pm:

Endora,

Why do you think a number of deities explains life better than one?


By Endora on Tuesday, September 15, 1998 - 11:11 pm:

Womanist,

Not to offend the monotheists, but for me personally, life's inconsistencies are better explained by several different deities than one benevolent, omnipotent deity. Maybe it's a form of humanizing deities, but I can explain away the bad things that happen by deities either working w/out knowledge or cross-purposes.

I'm not saying everyone has to believe in multiple deities. In fact, I'm rearranging my work schedule so that a co-worker who observes Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) can have the day off. Interestingly enough, w/out either of us planning it, this works out so that I'd get out earlier on the Autumnal Equinox than I normally would. I joked that I'd get to celebrate the equinox & she mentioned she has a friend who's into paganism. I may check it out.

I don't mean it in an obnoxiously challenging way Womanist, but I've been thinking about your "life deals everyone a blow" statement. It sounds similiar to the God doesn't give people more than they can handle argument. Is this what you were saying? If so, what are you thoughts on the people who REALLY can't handle it? For example, the people who commit suicide or turn to drugs or just quietly despair when faced w/tragedy & difficulty? Having some suicides & substance abusers in my family, I personally can't say it's just a matter of weak people turning away from God. What's your take on it?


By Laurel on Wednesday, September 16, 1998 - 08:47 pm:

Okay, this will be a bit liberal for some Christians but I don't think God has an active role in the world exactly. Like if there's a car accident I don't think, "Oh, God did that." I think God helps people in more of an emotional way. If someone gets sick I pray that God will give them strength and comfort them rather than heal them.

Unlike Rhiannon, I haven't had such a direct religious vision but I do believe i've had a religious experience. It was a time when I was seriously depressed about lots of things and I felt a presence in my room at night, and he/she/it was very comforting and very powerful and very loving. And I knew it would always be there. That's why I believe in God. I didn't used to.

Also, I'm an art student and I get overwhelmed when I see pictures of crucifixions and pietas (that's a statue of Mary grieving over the body of Christ in case you didn't know). I don't know if that's exactly a religious experience but I think it means something.


By Gilmoure on Wednesday, September 16, 1998 - 10:49 pm:

The Pieta by Michelangelo in the Vatican is something to see. I must of stood there half an hour, just looking at it. Totally beautiful.

G


By Wominist on Wednesday, September 16, 1998 - 11:16 pm:

Endora,

"Explaining away" the bad things that happen can be done without paganism. Evil in our world exists because of satan and because we as humans often choose to participate in or not stand up against things that are wrong.

The way you talk about respecting other's beliefs makes me think you are sensitive to spirituality and to humanity. You sound very...curious, like you are checking out religions for one that you can understand and feel connected to.

I wish I could say to you 'Church won't let you down' or 'Catholism won't let you down' or 'Judaism won't let you down' The truth is "organized religion" isn't the answer. A personal relationship with God is the only hope for spiritual fulfillment.

The fact that your considering paganism worries me because I know how important one's spiritual journey and choices are. I'll pray for you.


As for God not giving people more than they can handle...the message in the Bible is that God offers strength and peace in times of unbearable suffering. There's a subtle difference. God isn't saying 'You won't suffer' but 'If you turn to Me you will find comfort in Me so that your suffering will be bearable'

"In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul"-Psalm 94:19


By Wominist on Wednesday, September 16, 1998 - 11:27 pm:

Laurel,

I think you're right that God helps people in an emotional way. That is very true. However, God also participates in our very practical day-to-day lives. God is present in financial issues, career choices, parenting, everything. The Earth and everything on it is Her creation! Your an art student, if you made something you loved will all your heart would you turn your back on it? Just a thought.


By Suki on Saturday, September 19, 1998 - 11:15 am:

if God exists he sure as heck doesn't know what he's doing - and even Christians can't justify some of the things he does. I reckon he's as messed up as all of us and isn't really much use if he can't stop the world being such an awful place. I don't love God and I live a life without religion or spirits because I don't see why I should bow down and say "I'm shit and you're great" to someone who's done nothing for me. God didn't give me life - my parents did!


By Endora on Sunday, September 20, 1998 - 05:29 pm:

Warning, this is a long one, even by my usual standards :-)

Womanist,

I appreciate your concern, but why does the fact that I'm considering paganism worry you? It's not satanism. There may be some overlap w/with witchcraft, but there is good witchcraft as well as bad, think of Glinda the Good in the Wizard of Oz :-)

Spirituality is a personal thing. I'm not saying that you have to give up your belief in God & believe in paganism, just that I'm interested in paganism & I want to explore it further. Another reason I like the idea of multiple deities is that deities can be both genders, all colors, etc.

Ethics/values transcend individual religions. A person can act in an ethical manner w/out being religious or w/out even believing in God or deities. Conversely, some alleged Christians can be pretty unethical. Consider the fringe lunatics who go on about how AIDS is God's punishment for gay people. They claim to believe in/love God, but their behavior isn't too ethical, now is it? I don't condemn all Christians for the insane rantings of a few, hence my use of alleged Christians to describe them.

Also, in response to the following comment:

"The way you talk about respecting other's beliefs makes me think you are sensitive
to spirituality and to humanity. You sound very...curious, like you are checking out
religions for one that you can understand and feel connected to."

It's basically a matter of common courtesy. I started school in a diverse community where my classmates were from Ecuador, Thailand & Israel, just to name a few places. Both in school & at home, I was taught to respect other people's beliefs/values even if they weren't the same as what I was used to.

In response to another comment:

"As for God not giving people more than they can handle...the message in the Bible
is that God offers strength and peace in times of unbearable suffering. There's a
subtle difference. God isn't saying 'You won't suffer' but 'If you turn to Me you will find
comfort in Me so that your suffering will be bearable'"

I never gave the old God wouldn't make people suffer argument. I was questioning why people say God doesn't give people more than they can handle. By that I meant that some people argue God won't send people more suffering than they are capable of handling w/his/her comfort, etc. However things such as substance abuse & suicide tend to suggest to me that's not the case. And it's not like the ones who can't handle it don't believe or whatever. Some people just can't handle it, which tend to indicate that if God does distribute life trials, etc. among people, someone did some miscalculation.

Personally, I tend to agree w/those who say God (if he/she exists) doesn't have much of a role in these things. I was reading the newspaper yesterday & some sick, depraved man beat & drowned his 9 year old daughter because her skirt was too short. The family had a long history w/the child welfare authorities, but no one saved this girl. You can argue "the devil made" him do it, but what about the human incompetence & bureaucracy that let this family keep children when they obviously shouldn't have? What about the neighbors who didn't report anything?

Finally for those of you interested in the science vs. religion argument, here are a few sites you may find interesting. I saw them in a newspaper article (sorry, couldn't find the link to the arcticle) & thought I'd pass them along:

Science & Spirit Resources

Center for Theology & the Natural Sciences


P.S. Happy New Year to any NrrdGrrls/Guys celebrating Rosh Hashanah


By Rhiannon on Monday, September 21, 1998 - 03:36 pm:

Some of you lot are REALLY CLEVER,
Laurel,
Those were definately a religious experience, I get that all the time. Anyone who tells you that you are imagining it and that get that feeling all the time it is probably because Jesus was there with them they just didn't believe enough to think that it was him.

Gilmoure,
The Pieta? Is that the one with God and Man touching fingers, if so, I LOVE that painting.

Endora,
I still believe that those children are chosen, they're ready for heaven, only if they are Christians though. One girl once said to me, "Where was God to help me when my gran died?" and my reply was, "You're okay now aren't you?" So that means that anyone mourning, God doesn't control us, so therefore he does not control our emotions, he can only help them so you must get over mourning through Gods HELP only. Also many bad things happen for a reason, you may not ever find that reason, but is usually that God is testing you're faith. Pain, like I said, can either turn you further towards God or further away, you may say that you are a strong Christian but as soon as something bad happens or someone pressures you about being a Christian, you turn away, that is because you weren't really a strong Christian and God made that bad thing happen to help you decide whether you were really as stronger Christian as you thought. Or you may not be a very strong Christian in the first place or not even one at all, but God will send a bad thing to help you to realise that God does help.


By Shampoo on Monday, September 21, 1998 - 09:54 pm:

rhiannon: i believe the one you're thinking about is called "the creation".


By Endora on Monday, September 21, 1998 - 10:25 pm:

Rhiannon,

Sorry, I'm still going w/human stupidity, etc. on the fire. Also what about people who aren't Christian but believe in God (e.g. Jewish, Islamic, etc.)?


By Laurel on Wednesday, September 23, 1998 - 08:37 pm:

Shampoo: Yes, I think it is the Creation of Adam from the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Same artist as the Pieta though, Michelangelo. I have a poster of the painting. I don't exactly believe that creation story (I think God started the process of evolution) but it is a dramatic and powerful image.

The Pieta is a white marble statue of Mary holding the body of Christ on her lap. Gilmoure is right, it is beautiful (although I haven't seen it in person like she has).


By Rhiannon on Friday, September 25, 1998 - 04:07 pm:

The Creation, Oh! I love it!

Endora, no need to apologise I was just explaining why I believed that.

(Gilmoure, you are a bloke aren't you? Otherwise there's a bloke who writes to NrrdGrrl with a name like yours)


By Rhiannon on Friday, September 25, 1998 - 04:07 pm:

The Creation, Oh! I love it!

Endora, no need to apologise I was just explaining why I believed that.

(Gilmoure, you are a bloke aren't you? Otherwise there's a bloke who writes to NrrdGrrl with a name like yours)


By Endora on Friday, September 25, 1998 - 10:13 pm:

Rhiannon,

1) Well, actually that sorry, was more of a way of saying no offense to your beliefs but ... than an apology :-)

2) What about the second part of my message? I asked, "what about people who aren't Christian but believe in God (e.g. Jewish, Islamic, etc.)?"

My question was in response to your comment,

"I still believe that those children are chosen, they're ready for heaven, only if they are Christians though"

A friend of mine died in a car accident at the age of 22 (10 years ago). He was Jewish. If there's a God & a Heaven, my friend is most assuredly there. He was too decent, good & kind to be anywhere else.


By Gilmoure on Friday, September 25, 1998 - 10:41 pm:

Yeah, I'm a bloke. And yes, the Pieta is a beautiful statue. Without knowing too much about Christianity, it still got to me. There is a feeling of compasion for the world's hurts that flows from it. If you get a chance to read about it, you'll find that it is amazing in how is is designed. The figures of Christ and Mary are of different sizes but it fits together and works so beautifully. There is a statue of a sleeping Buddha (reclining full length, on his side). It seems to have a similar calming effect, though I have only seen it in pictures.

G


By Rhiannon on Wednesday, September 30, 1998 - 04:40 pm:

Endora,
sorry. I just say Christian because that is the first thing that comes t mind, I mean anyone who believes in God. Although I believe that it's better to believe in Jesus, but all have our own opinions.


By Endora on Sunday, October 4, 1998 - 05:09 pm:

Personally, I think if there is one, single God, he/she is more interested in how people treat others, etc. than whether or not people believe in God. My friend wasn't conventionally religious, but he was a good person.

At his funeral, his brother gave the eulogy & mentioned how he'd always stop by his aunt & uncle's after a snowstorm. They were too old to shovel the snow themselves & their kids had all moved away. He'd shovel their walk & driveway for them & get embarassed when they said thanks.

He just saw it as something he should do, rather than something he should be thanked for. In social situations, he'd always be on the lookout for the shy newcomer & he'd make it a point to make them feel welcome.

Don't get me wrong, if believing in God/Jesus makes the hard times better for you, by all means, more power to you :-) I have problems when people pervert this belief to condemn others who've done nothing wrong (e.g. people who say AIDS is God's punishment for gay people) or to gloss over other people's pain.


By Kate on Monday, October 5, 1998 - 07:53 am:

Hi - Ive been away for a month and I was wondering, what happened to the other forum about religion that was originally in plain talk 2. Shampoo and Gilmoure who're both posting here originally posted there about stuff.

Sorry this is slightly off topic, but there were some good discussions going on in that original thread that would probably of interest to the people who post here.

Nice to be back

Kate


By Anonymous on Monday, October 5, 1998 - 02:51 pm:

Erm, don't mind me, I used to be a believer until I was sent to a private school where they shoved it down my throat, and they changed my view completely, I was so confused that I gave up.
Now my family shoves philosophy down my throat and confusing me more, I hate how people can distroy what you build up in your mind because they want you to think the same as everyone else.
I used to think God could fix everything, but it really can't, but what God can do is give people hope, and thats the best thing that anyone could have, even if God doesn't exist, it still gives people hope. Just think, if people didn't belive in it, what would the world be like? Total chaos. Its true, believe it or not.
That God takes away family is total bullshit. God doesn't do any of that.
The bible is something I do not agree with, its just a rule book made up by some phoenies, what God really is about is in your mind, and in your mind only. People SHOULD NOT beat their kids because the bible says so..no...no, like I said, there should be no rule book about God. God is something that all religions have in commen, its the bible that makes all the difference, its the bible that is causing all that crap in northern Ireland. The bible is nothing, its God that brings people together, if only people would realise that, maybe, just maybe the world would be a better place?


By Laurel on Saturday, October 24, 1998 - 02:25 pm:

Is it too late to answer that? I don't believe that the Bible is causing Northern Ireland's problems. They always say Catholic and Protestant, but what they really mean is that the Protestants want unity with Britain and and the Catholics don't. When the British took over N.I., they gave their own people (Protestants) better jobs and better houses, and the people already there (Catholics) were pretty disadvantaged. It's more about nationalism than religion. Israel, on the other hand, is having problems because of religion. But not because of the Bible (since Judaism and Islam don't use it), and they just signed a peace agreement, so I'm being hopeful.

Also someone mentioned those who think AIDS is God's way to punish gays and said it was wrong. I agree. That is a terrible thing. If you want to be Christian and live by what CHRIST did, you should love and accept everyone. I am not a huge expert on the Bible but I do know this.


By Arianne on Saturday, October 24, 1998 - 11:33 pm:

I'm kinda of new to nrrdgrrl, but i have read all the postings in this topic. I'm not very religious, but it really bothers me when people say they hate God or there is no God soley because of the bad things that happened to them or in the world. Just because the bible says God loves everybody, doesnt mean that God has control over everything. People have their own free will to do what's right and wrong. For example, your mother,best freind, boyfreind or whoever says they love and want nothing bad to happen to you-but then SOMEONE ELSE robs, rapes, kills you or someone you love. Its not the person who loves you fault, they didnt do the bad thing to you or make the rapist rape you. I completely respect atheists or people who disagree with the bible(granted there is alot of biggoted bullshit in there), but dont say you hate God because of all the ills of society.


By Laurel on Wednesday, October 28, 1998 - 08:27 pm:

Arianne: Good answer. Are you familiar with the terms natural evil and moral evil? Natural evils are things that no-one on Earth causes, like earthquakes and tidal waves. Maybe God is responsible for them, who knows? Moral evils are things like rape and murder that are caused by humans. I agree that you can't blame God for that. I think the free will argument is a valid one. People choose their actions. I believe that God the power to tell people to do the right thing, but ultimately we decide for ourselves.


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