Have you ever noticed how "Born-Agains" get angry when you don't believe?

by booker-t 24 Replies latest jw friends

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  AuldSoul

  booker-t: We have different beliefs about some things but I accept your viewpoint on that passage.

  I don't know what passage you are talking about, so I am hard pressed to answer in that way. Thee are some passages where I can accept many different interpretations. But, quite often, I can only bring myself to allow other interpretations. I find it interesting that you paint all twice-born Christians with the same brush, and in the same shade of dogmatism. I find such generalizations bigoted, and the likelihood is that you will tend to find, from any stratum of humanity, that which you expect to find.

  I do understand the logical flaw in your reasoning that has been pointed out. If I accept your viewpoint on a passage, either I have been converted in my viewpoint or I have admitted that I can see more than one way of interpreting that specific passage. If cannot admit either of those and still maintain integrity, I won't be saying what you've never heard.

  If you changed the statement that you've never heard to, "We have different beliefs about some things but I am willing to allow your viewpiont on that passage," then you'd have heard it often from me. It is very tough to change my mind to another viewpoint, but it has been done. Several times on this forum, hundreds of times in my life. I am resistant to change, but I'm not opposed to it.

  Respectfully,
  AuldSoul
• 

  lovelylil

  Thanks Parakeet! Lilly
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  daystar

  Conversely, I've also known some self-proclaimed "pagans" who rather act the same way... self-righteous, indignant, patronizing...
• 

  whyizit

  I think Lovelylil hit the nail on the head.

  Many religious people, even those who claim to be born-again Christians, are so tied up in legalism and doctrines, they completely ignore the Gospel. Just because some one claims to be a Christian, does not mean that they actually are. Some are Christians, however they are very carnal in their attitudes and legalistic notions. They are missing out, by being like that. Some have no idea what a Christian really is, they just think they are one because they attend a church that has Christ in the name.

  In Galatians, it tells what the fruit of the spirit is. (Anger is not one of the attributes.) However, everyone gets frustrated and angry at some point. Even Christians. Some people are bullies and blow-hards that insist that you HAVE to see it THEIR way. I have a self-proclaimed preacher in my family and he is the most obnoxious person I've ever met. He causes trouble every where he goes. He has to be right. (He even gives you physical "cues" on when you are suppose to nod in agreement with him! ) I doubt that many have become Christians as a result of listening to him. Infact, I imagine many have high-tailed it to the other direction, because if that is what a Christian is suppose to be, they want no part of it. He start religious wars every place he goes!

  On the other hand, my father-in-law is a peaceful and kind man. He displays the fruit of the spirit in his life every minute he breathes! He is one of those people who makes you want what ever it is that he has. He is one of the people who led me to Christ, and he didn't have to thump any Bibles to do it. That is the kind of Christian that I long to be. A contagious Christian. The type that people just can't help but be drawn to and wonder, "What does this person have that I don't, and how can I get it?" I bet my father-in-law has led more people to Christ than church full of preachers!

  Just bought a shirt the other day at a Christian book store! It's my motto. It says:

  "It's against my relationship to have a religion."

  Isn't that so cool and so true?! Jesus never preached religion. Infact, he admonished the religious leaders of His day for their legalism and self-righteous attitudes.
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  mouthy

  <<<<Well see my fist I,ll let it fly-I am a born again. I dont give a hoot in hell what anyone else believes. I only find out what I believe .I had a support group for ex-cult from 1990 to 2005 & we had every religion come to it. also all those out of cults.
  Dont say ALL born again do this or that. Just like we cant say ALL jws are evil they "aint" So watch it bud!!!! See my sleves are rolled up to do buisness.
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  Good Girl or Bad Girl?

  If someone believes they have the correct interpretetation of something, why would they accept another's? And why wouldn't they want to share it with others? Isn't that why we all preached to people at one time, because we thought we had the truth?

  That of course does not mean they have to cram their beliefs down your throat. Although I guess for me that'd be a taste of my own medicine, so to say, as that's what I did for most of my life with my beliefs.

  I got a glimpse of this with a Trinitarian I worked with; she wanted to go out for lunch just to show me why I MUST believe in the Trinity. She was worried for my soul because I was a Jehovah's Witness. It was a bit unsettling the way she'd come after me about it. It made me think about what Jehovah's Witnesses do and maybe it's really annoying and maybe they (I, at the time) should just stop it already.

  Live and let live, y'all. We all have the right to believe whatever the hell we want. So if I decide to believe the sky is purple and I worship the marshmallow gods, who am I hurting? If I'm happy, I'm happy, right? Crazy, perhaps, t'is true, but happy nonetheless.

  GG/BG
• 

  Badger

  That's the Core Problem with Monotheism. When you only have one God, that makes the stakes that much higher on being right or wrong. A single God is much more personable (and personal), and while Genesis teaches that we are made in His image, many people return the favor.

  So, when you create an omnipotent God in your image, and the new surrogate you is given all that power, Then might does make right, and your feelings are given the backing of your own God. We then move to Lord Acton's words: "Power Corrupts, and Absolute Power corrupts Absolutely." Of course, it rocks absolutely, too.
• 

  LittleToe

  Booker:
  Are you sure it's not just your manner that rubs them up the wrong way?

  Daystar:

  Conversely, I've also known some self-proclaimed "pagans" who rather act the same way... self-righteous, indignant, patronizing...

  And atheists...
• 

  Rabbit

  To DayStar & LT's comments I would add...political liberals & conservatives, evolutionists & creationists....

  Come to think of it, I can think of a bunch of groups or types of people that "get angry when you don't believe" something that they promote.

  Booker-T...what was your point again ?

  Rabbit (quite angry, because, someone will probably disagree with me)
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  daystar

  Rabbit & LT

  Absolutely my point!