no one in particular
muse
- Joined
- Feb 20, 2003
- Messages
- 1,056
Well, supposedly...triadboy said:
Lord Emsworth
Je ne suis pas une de vos élèves
- Joined
- Apr 22, 2003
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- 3,181
triadboy said:
I take on your bet and say he is male and in hsi twenties.
But then again what will I do with a stack of Bibles?
Edited to add:
no one in particular said:
Damn you I were just typing the above when you came …
Christian said:
Sorry to offend you. I should have rephrased that statement to say "I am so F&&king sick of most fundamental Christians!!".
I realize that there are some nice fundamental Christians out there, but I feel sure that most of them would give me a bashing for the things I am believing in....or not believing in.
Most atheist's I have met online have been kind and understanding. I feel at home on JREF. Do you think if I posted on a fundamentalist Christian forum that I would get the same treatment? Not likely!!
I'd be accused of being used of the devil or being possessed or deluded by the "dark side". I'd have scripture after scripture shoved down my throat and I'd be warned that I was on the highway to hell.
I am not willing to open myself up to more "spiritual"/emotional abuse.
triadboy
Master Poster
- Joined
- Aug 4, 2001
- Messages
- 2,556
Ruby said:
But, Ruby, don't those 'nice fundamental Christians' smile at you, and think, "You are going to rot in hell."? Then - knowing you are going to rot in hell - their whole demeanor can't help but be affected. They can't be bothered with someone taking the highway to hell. They want to associate with other people who will be flying around clouds, wanging on harps with them.
That's the problem with heaven/hell religions.
Meanwhile, back in rural Texas...
Our heroine, a gentle girl with a good past, has been cruelly betrayed along with her family by a deranged "minister of God" who previously kept them in the dark, literally and figuratively.
So, what will she do, folks???
She has already asked some of her new friends quietly for advice, and they offered her support and encouragement aplenty. The family started to understand that some people whom they were told were called "friends" were nothing of the sort because they remained under the thrall and wrath of "the minister". And that some people they were told were "the enemy" were nothing of the sort because they were kind, comforting, supportive and non-judgemental (like their "friends" weren't).
Will our heroine and family complete the break and see that they are far more free than they thinks they are? Will they put "the minister" behind them completely for good and move out into the world confidently?
Ruby, you go for it! Do not be afraid to move on out and do what you think is best for yourself and your family. You can see that our opinions on things here in the JREF forum vary significantly (and we are all over the world), but that doesn't seem to stop us from getting along fairly well in the main. And your opinions and views on stuff are just as welcome!
Don't let yourself believe that someone else makes your mind up for you - believe what YOU want to believe, not what some raving lunatic wants you to believe.
cheers
Zep
Our heroine, a gentle girl with a good past, has been cruelly betrayed along with her family by a deranged "minister of God" who previously kept them in the dark, literally and figuratively.
So, what will she do, folks???
She has already asked some of her new friends quietly for advice, and they offered her support and encouragement aplenty. The family started to understand that some people whom they were told were called "friends" were nothing of the sort because they remained under the thrall and wrath of "the minister". And that some people they were told were "the enemy" were nothing of the sort because they were kind, comforting, supportive and non-judgemental (like their "friends" weren't).
Will our heroine and family complete the break and see that they are far more free than they thinks they are? Will they put "the minister" behind them completely for good and move out into the world confidently?
Ruby, you go for it! Do not be afraid to move on out and do what you think is best for yourself and your family. You can see that our opinions on things here in the JREF forum vary significantly (and we are all over the world), but that doesn't seem to stop us from getting along fairly well in the main. And your opinions and views on stuff are just as welcome!
Don't let yourself believe that someone else makes your mind up for you - believe what YOU want to believe, not what some raving lunatic wants you to believe.
cheers
Zep
evildave
Unregistered
E
My Recommendation:
Simply drop it. Have nothing more to do with it. This minister is only history for you. He's not worth your time to worry about. The negativity you're allowing to fester in yourself by fretting over this bozo will not improve your life in any way. Quite the contrary.
No more consideration. No more discussion or gossip. Drop it.
Sure it's hard. Just change the subject. You seriously don't want to bother with any more news about it. His opinions are crackpot enough, why bother worrying over them? His followers' opinions that are reflecting his own are also simply mindless ranting, so why concern yourself with that, either?
HE IS NOTHING TO YOU. Get it through your head. Get over it. Move on.
As I said before, there are likely many other churches and religious organizations in your community. Maybe try Methodism. They aren't usually in the news.
Simply drop it. Have nothing more to do with it. This minister is only history for you. He's not worth your time to worry about. The negativity you're allowing to fester in yourself by fretting over this bozo will not improve your life in any way. Quite the contrary.
No more consideration. No more discussion or gossip. Drop it.
Sure it's hard. Just change the subject. You seriously don't want to bother with any more news about it. His opinions are crackpot enough, why bother worrying over them? His followers' opinions that are reflecting his own are also simply mindless ranting, so why concern yourself with that, either?
HE IS NOTHING TO YOU. Get it through your head. Get over it. Move on.
As I said before, there are likely many other churches and religious organizations in your community. Maybe try Methodism. They aren't usually in the news.
MRC_Hans
Penultimate Amazing
- Joined
- Aug 28, 2002
- Messages
- 24,961
I agree with Evildave. One more thing: Following that good advice is gonna hurt, temporarily. You have been part of a group, and that group has been an imprtant part of your life. Leaving it behind will geve you a feeling of loss. If you have no knowledge of grief processes, I suggest you get a book about it and read it.
You have a regular grief process to go through, and knowing a bit about it will help you tackle it.
Good luck!
Hans
You have a regular grief process to go through, and knowing a bit about it will help you tackle it.
Good luck!
Hans
Zep said:Meanwhile, back in rural Texas...
Our heroine, a gentle girl with a good past, has been cruelly betrayed along with her family by a deranged "minister of God" who previously kept them in the dark, literally and figuratively.
So, what will she do, folks???
She has already asked some of her new friends quietly for advice, and they offered her support and encouragement aplenty. The family started to understand that some people whom they were told were called "friends" were nothing of the sort because they remained under the thrall and wrath of "the minister". And that some people they were told were "the enemy" were nothing of the sort because they were kind, comforting, supportive and non-judgemental (like their "friends" weren't).
Will our heroine and family complete the break and see that they are far more free than they thinks they are? Will they put "the minister" behind them completely for good and move out into the world confidently?
Ruby, you go for it! Do not be afraid to move on out and do what you think is best for yourself and your family. You can see that our opinions on things here in the JREF forum vary significantly (and we are all over the world), but that doesn't seem to stop us from getting along fairly well in the main. And your opinions and views on stuff are just as welcome!
Don't let yourself believe that someone else makes your mind up for you - believe what YOU want to believe, not what some raving lunatic wants you to believe.
cheers
Zep
You are so sweet!!!
evildave said:
I must admit, I am finding it very hard to "drop it". I am still hurt and still angry.
Our little girl still attends "dayschool" at our church twice a week. I won't go to the church anymore, but my hubby takes her in the mornings and picks her up in the evenings. The lady who runs the dayschool is an active member of our church....and although she is nice to us, I can't help wonder what she really thinks about us.
Several of the children in the dayschool are not a part of the church. It's ok to attend and not be a member. Julia has some little friends in her class that we hate to do anything to end.
I don't know how long we will keep letting her go there. It's her birthday this coming weekend and we had really wanted a nice birthday party with her friends from church and dayschool....but we feel unsure that any of them will come. We don't want Julia hurt.
MRC_Hans said:I agree with Evildave. One more thing: Following that good advice is gonna hurt, temporarily. You have been part of a group, and that group has been an imprtant part of your life. Leaving it behind will geve you a feeling of loss. If you have no knowledge of grief processes, I suggest you get a book about it and read it.
You have a regular grief process to go through, and knowing a bit about it will help you tackle it.
Good luck!
Hans
I have definitely been feeling as if I am grieving!!
Hexxenhammer
Malleus Malefactorum
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- Jul 17, 2003
- Messages
- 2,122
evildave said:
Most Presbyterian churches are pretty good too. Find out if they support allowing gay pastors and you'll know if they're the liberal or conservative type.
Hexxenhammer
Malleus Malefactorum
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- Jul 17, 2003
- Messages
- 2,122
Ruby said:
Yep. I considered visiting a Methodist church this past Sunday, but starting panicking about it and did not go. I realized I am not even ready or willing for now to visit a church.
Church Smurch I say. Love, respect and faith are where your friends and family are.
hgc
Penultimate Amazing
- Joined
- Jun 14, 2002
- Messages
- 15,892
It's sickening and heartbreaking to consider how your children can become entangled in this craziness. As I was reading your post, my first inclination was to scream "get your kid out of there!" But, then considering that she has friends that she wouldn't want to be ripped away from, it's more complicated than that. Then the threat of having friends withheld from her birthday party is really disturbing. I hope that doesn't happen, but I can unfortunately believe that some vicious lunatics (billiefan2000) would use children as pawns in their spiritual power-plays.Ruby said:
I must admit, I am finding it very hard to "drop it". I am still hurt and still angry.
Our little girl still attends "dayschool" at our church twice a week. I won't go to the church anymore, but my hubby takes her in the mornings and picks her up in the evenings. The lady who runs the dayschool is an active member of our church....and although she is nice to us, I can't help wonder what she really thinks about us.
Several of the children in the dayschool are not a part of the church. It's ok to attend and not be a member. Julia has some little friends in her class that we hate to do anything to end.
I don't know how long we will keep letting her go there. It's her birthday this coming weekend and we had really wanted a nice birthday party with her friends from church and dayschool....but we feel unsure that any of them will come. We don't want Julia hurt.
hgc said:
Yes, that happens!!
Inside, I am also thinking I need to get my little girl the heck out of the dayschool. She is only four.......so I wonder if it will not be as traumatic on here to lose her little friends. It's just that she loves going to "class". Then there is her birthday.
I don't know what we will do!!!