I been shunned by a Baptist, (page 4)

poppers

I would ask anyone how they "know" they "connect" with god, and how anyone can state categorically that they "know" someone else can't - all belief systems are the bane of spirituality and are often the breeding ground of intolerance, hatred, and separation.

And just what does one mean by "connecting" with god anyway?

zen nudist

if we all speak from our personal experiences no one can say we are wrong, but if we pretend our beliefs about those experiences are universal truths, that is where the trouble begin... for any expeirence it is easy to come up with at least three beliefs, sometimes one of them stands out as the most likely, yet still there is no direct way to PROVE beyond all doubts that it is the correct answer...and honest poeple can recognize this simple fact and need not pretend to KNOW they are right...no matter how strongly they feel they are right... their CONviction should not become a reason to hate or harm another who feels strongly about their CONvictions. We feel better about those we have CONviNcED about our views because we feel less threatened by them... and we feel a closer kinship, they are more our reflection then an alien that may turn on us and harm us. We admire those who we wish to be like and those who wish to be like us... we fear those we do not understand and cannot reliably predict.

everyone says they want people around them to be honest...they feel that the honest are more predictable, reliable and faithful...and can be taken advantage of easier by the unscrupulous who do not feel bound by those silly notions

mouthy

MY connection is ---- I feel I have a friend,I can share my concerns,weaknesses,hurts, tears, etc:

I talk to Him , complain to him, cry to him. Sorta like a real good Husband....

Well! I dont expect you to understand!!!!I think it is a Mystery any way.... But I do find Peace this way.

Where as when I was a JW-I never could do enough, felt guilty if I missed a meeting, or didnt go out in service..
NOW?!!! I dont feel guilty !! ( only because I made 10 people JWs) but I know He has forgiven me for that. I was blind, but now I see!

gumby

I prolly shouldn't say nuthin in case I pee pee someone off and they come to Dallas with a hatchet....but...I think there was some truth to the statement that many religions ARE alike. I think they are alot alike. The Reason? The same reason dubs are the same in many respects. They all read the same book/s. If that book is viewed as a guidebook, then the readers must follow it's guidlines......which makes it easy to develop similar attitudes. I think it's fair to say that if a christian abandons his christian faith.... then other christians (regardless of denomination) will treat you different......somtimes very different. They feel you have purposely spit in gods face and it angers them that you could stoop that low and they will let you know about it in many cases.

I attended the baptist church for 3 years when I left the dubs.........lots and lots of similarities.

Gumby

bebu

If people feel that others ARE going to hell without faith in Christ before they die, they can become fatalistic, bitter, or even arrogant. Or, if they are fueled by the love of God for their lost neighbor, they are moved closer and closer to being able to lay down their lives for the 'lost' ones they love. Baptists have collectively done some amazing things in this world as volunteers so I'm not inclined to pick on them! I have known both stellar and "in the cellar" Baptists.

I didn't grow up in an evangelical household, so the phrase "accept Jesus as Savior and Lord" has been a strange phrase to me. (Why "accept"??) I don't know if it is much better to grow up with it, though, since it is used by so many people like a password of proof that they are bonefied Christians. Anything can become a religious 'form'--quick phrases or whole theologies. But it seems to be God's business to dissolve the forms (orthodox or otherwise) we cling to in order that we might find Reality in Him.

Christians have beliefs which will, eventually, set them apart from non-Christians in some way. But if 'theological egalitarians' (as I'm using the term here loosely, not a special definition in mind) get their hackles up at having someone disagree with them, doesn't this reveal that they have some very, very strong ideologies too? It seems this is a HUMAN trait, to have an ideology, even if that ideology is to insist that there really isn't a special ideology.

I'm not trying to offend anyone here or create huge arguments. I'm making my own observation. I am a Christian, and I think the plateau for knowing God is thru Jesus. People use the term "Christian" as a synonym for "Nice", but that is not what the word means. A Christian sees Christ as the mediator between his/herself (and all people who would wish have him) and God. If a person acts out of his Christian convictions with love, then maybe at that time it is accurate to say that "he acted like a Christian"... but even then, our perceptions could be wrong as we don't know people's hearts like God does.

There is more to being a Christian than being agreeable with everyone for the sake of 'keeping peace'. What's tricky for ANY person is how to interact graciously with folks who don't share your ideology/worldview...

(...and yet, don't you find it even trickier to interact graciously with folks who DO share it? --or claim to, anyway! )

bebu

muah!

(Hmmm... Am I being agreeable?)

LittleToe

Poppers:So true, yet don't forget that you have a "belief system", too

And just what does one mean by "connecting" with god anyway?

I suspect that in your own framework it would be the point at which one "submitted the ego".
A leap of faith which changed you.
How did that feel for you?

waiting

The JW's are certainly not the only closed minded fundamentalist in the world. Oh well, shunned again. -steve

I would think the high lighted words are pertinent. There are many in the world closed minded people and/or fundamentalists (I live in the South USA). But many of them aren't the shunning type. I think that tends to be a personality flaw (or jw gift). Live and Let Live. If there is a connection....okay. If not.....okay. waiting

I been shunned by a Baptist,

poppers

zen nudist

mouthy

gumby

bebu

LittleToe

waiting

Brummie

jgnat

Brummie

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