Post
by runewulf » Fri Sep 23, 2005 9:43 am
hmmmm.... that, as with anything, is your choice. However, in all fairness, I haven't seen anyone here twisting your words, as you put it. Most of the responses have been directed to comments or postings you have made... an example "Catholics aren't Christian...", which is obviously false, since Catholicism was the first Christian religion and all others spawned from it over time. But the responses were made directly to your posts and comments.
Responding and correcting is not twisting, it's called being intelligent and stating the truth, whether absolute or from a person's individual point of view. Truth is truth, no matter what the religion is. If you have to lie or argue against solid fact to prove a point about your religion, I would think it's time to re-evaluate your belief system and/or your views on it. That's just common sense.
And then when you make cover all statements, or statements that are belief based and not factual, you really have to expect others to contradict them. Just because you believe that "Jesus loves you" doesn't mean he does. It means, in your personal paradigm that "Jesus loves you", not in the reality of everyone else. I warned you quite a while back that your way isn't the true way because there isn't any "one true way", but many, many paths that are just as valid. I warned you that if you come across in terms absolute, insinuating that your way was the one true way or that your beliefs were total truths, that folks would get defensive. I also explained why, both spiritually as well as psychologically and socialogically.
As to "defending your beliefs", if they're your beliefs, why do you have to "defend them"? Aren't you confident enough in them? I mean, when you get right down to it, all religions are lies... they're myths, all of them. Religions are created by man to guide and teach, over time, they grow and evolve and are often corrupted in various parts and to various degrees, by man, from how they were originally intended. Religion is external... the real thing that should concern you... and all of us, is spirituality. The connection to diety/the divine/god/goddess/spirit/grandfather sky/grandmother earth/etc. Whatever name you put it in, it's the connection to the divine and the walking of a path that connects you and leads you to being a good person, the "best YOU that YOU can be" is that is important.
Truly wise and spiritual people, no matter what the religion, always end up at a certain point coming to understand the above. The it's not the religion, or the book(s), etc... that matter... and they'll tell you as much. It's the being connected to Divinity and walking a path that continues to bring you closer. That path is going to be a good path, no matter what symbols you wear, whether you pray on your knees or standing in the woods or with your toes buried in the earth or with your arms spread to catch the wind or head thrown back in the moonlight or etc. etc. etc... It's all about connection and communing with Divinity.
If you choose to leave, that's your choice. However, make it for a real reason and not leaving a half truth behind about people twisting what you say. If you're going to leave for that reason, what are the truths behind that? That people here have their own beliefs that are just as valid as yours and will not change or agree with you when you make a statement that equates to either your religion being better or a statement that is just pain wrong. This is called "leaving because others won't play by your rules".
And I'm not saying you're wrong to leave. It will probably save you a lot of exasperation and stress in the long run, not to mention you won't have to keep trying to negate facts that challenge your beliefs. I'm just saying, be honest about it instead of leaving in a huff with an untrue statement about twisted words, just leave with the truth.
Wassail und Rhaido (health and safe travels)
p.s. Pagan religions have their issues as well. None of them don't have contradictions, etc. They're man made, or at least man modified, etc. just as much as the judeic religions (Jewish, Islam, Christian), as are Buddhism, Taoism, Shinto, Voudon, Mucambo, etc. etc. etc. The big difference? Most of us (though I'm sad to say, not all of us) realize this, recognize the truth in it, accept it and move on. Yes, some of the young ones who are still in a stage of "rebellion against the mainstream" are more hotheaded and uneducated, but most grow past that.
It's about the spiritual, religion is just man made dogma and rules... when done right, it's a guide for young ones to use until it's not needed anymore... that's all.
http://cajungypsy.blogspot.com