Can we?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 6:05 pm

Hi Lauren:
How many Christians have you known personally?

~~~ ALMOST EVERYONE I KNOW IS CHRISTIAN.
ROUGHLY 80% IF I HAD TO GUESS. THEY WOULD NEVER CHALLENGE MY BELIEFS. I LIVE MY LIFE BY EXAMPLE. I DO NOT PREACH, JUDGE THEN, OR QUESTION THEM. THEIR PATH, MY PATH, MUTUAL RESPECT.~~~~

Have you heard this song:?

~~NO~~

"just as I am without one plea,
but that Thy blood was shed for me."

~~THE ONLY BLOOD BEING SHED ARE FROM THOSE FOLLOWERS WHO DO NOT UNDERSTAND GOD. RELIGION BRINGS ABOUT HATRED. I SEE IT IN ALL YOUR GUYS POSTS. WAS IT YOU WHO REMINDED US ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THE LADY WHO HAD PRAYER TAKEN OUT OF SCHOOL? WASN'T SHE KILLED? SHE WAS MURDERED ALONG WITH HER SON AND GRANDDAUGHTER. AND THAT MAKES YOU HAPPY? THAT MY FRIED IS WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE WORLD. BRAINWASHED PEOPLE WHO FOLLOW IGNORANCE OUT OF FEAR. ~~

I don't have to do anything for salvation. It is free. It is given. It is by grace. All I have to do for salvation is to believe that Christ paid for all my wrongs. He paid my debt.
Totally without anything from me.

~~OF COURSE. CAN'T FORGET THE OLD TALE. JESUS COMES, SPREADS THE WORD, DIES FOR MAN KIND AND MANKIND GETS TO REPAID THIS DEBT OVER AND OVER AGAIN. GIVE GOD SOME CREDIT. YOU DON'T THINK THAT HE COULD HAVE HAD A BETTER PLAN THEN THAT? WHY DOES YOUR GOD WANT EVERYONE TO SUFFER? WHY CONTINUE TO COME TO EARTH? WHY WOULDN'T HE JUST KEEP YOUR SOUL IN HEAVEN WITH HIM FOR ALL ETERNITY AND NOT FORSAKE YOU TO THIS HELL HOLE? I DO NOT LIKE YOUR GOD. I DO NOT LIKE YOUR IDEAS ABOUT HIM. I DEFEND HIM BECAUSE YOU ARE WRONG ABOUT HIM. HE LOVES ALL HIS CHILDREN, NOT JUST YOUR CHOSEN FEW. AFRICA DOESN'T FOLLOW YOUR MANMADE BIBLE, ARE THEY GOING TO HELL? WHAT ABOUT ALL THE OTHER CONTINENTS? WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN WHO HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS BLOOD SHED STORY? THEY GET TO GO TO HELL TOO? SOUNDS LIKE CHRISTIANITY HAS IT ALL FIGURED OUT HUH? WHAT GOD DIDN'T SAY MANKIND FILLED IN THE BLANKS. AND YOU BUY IT.~~

I listened to the you tube thing. Yes, I heard stupidity. But that doesn't change what Jesus did. There are all kinds of people out there.
I don't need to judge them. I just need to thank God that he gave me a way to be free.

~~JESUS WAS MISUNDERSTOOD. HE WAS KILLED BECAUSE OF FEAR. FEAR AND IGNORANCE. AND NOTHING HAS CHANGED!! THE ONLY WORD JESUS WAS PREACHING IS WHAT YOUR HEARING FROM MY POST NOW. THIS BUSINESS OF HIM DYING FOR OUR SINS IS A FABLE YOU NEED TO BELIEVE. WE NEED TO BE THE VICTIM AND EVERY VICTIM NEEDS A HERO TO RESCUE THEM. JESUS TAUGHT THE POWER WITHIN. HE TRIED TO SHARE THIS WITH YOU. CRACKING BREAD AND WALKING ON WATER? ONLY THE POWER WITHIN COULD HAVE ACCOMPLISHED THAT ON THIS LEVEL OF EXISTENCE. LUCINDA TEACHES THE SAME THING HERE. PANIC SUBSIDES WHEN YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT IT DO AS WELL. POWER WITHIN. FREE WILL. JESUS WANTED PEACE, LOVE AND LIGHT, BUT MANKIND CREATED SEPARATION, HATE AND DARKNESS.~~

There is nothing to do , nothing to earn.

~~AGREED~~

Now , you suggest that people open up their minds and listen to what God wants us to hear.
So I am asking what is that which you say He wants us to hear. I would like to know what that is.
I'm not down on you at all. What is it that you want us (or me) to know?
In what way has Christianity touched you negatively. How have you been hurt by it or by someone in it?
Don't you feel any peace when you read those beautiful old Psalms?
I'm not trying to sell you anything. If you don't want to be a Christian that is your choice. God did give everyone a free will.

~~GOD ALLOWED FOR US TO MAKE CHOICES FOR OURSELVES PRIOR TO COMING HERE. THAT IS WHERE YOUR RELIGION GOES WRONG. IF I CHOOSE THIS LIFE AND ALL THE LESSONS IN IT, HOW THEN CAN I BE A SINNER? YOU CAN'T EXPERIENCE LOVE WITHOUT HATE, LIGHT WITHOUT DARKNESS. YOU CAN'T EXPERIENCE YOUR TRUE SELF IF ALL YOU EVER KNEW WAS ONE OR THE OTHER. THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A MINUTE. HOW WOULD YOU KNOW LOVE IF YOU DIDN'T EXPERIENCE HATE?????????? AND IF HATE IS A SINFUL EMOTION HOW THEN WOULD GOD EXPECT YOU TO GAGE THE DIFFERENCE? YOUR NOT GOING TO EXPERIENCE THE NEGATIVE FROM WHERE YOU CAME. EARTH IS HELL HONEY. YOUR NOT GOING THERE CAUSE YOU ARE ALREADY HERE AND FURTHERMORE, YOU CAN NEVER GET ANYWHERE, YOU CAN ONLY BE.~~

I just feel much safer believing in Jesus. I realize that my end on this earth can't be too far off. And I sure would rather find that God is there waiting.

~~AND WITH THOSE THOUGHTS YOU WILL EXPERIENCE EXACTLY WHAT YOU EXPECT. THAT IS THE BEAUTY IN GOD.~~

I don't hate anyone. I may have at some point in my life. After all, I was divorced once. My hubby fell for a younger woman. I'm human.
But time heals. Thank God. I'm glad I didn't die when I was full of resentment. I'm over that resentment now. And it feels good not to be mad at anyone. Or any group.
It feels peaceful. And calm.

~~HATE IS NOT AN EVIL EMOTION, IT IS A HUMAN EMOTION. THAT BELIEVE IT OR NOT IS A GIFT FROM GOD. GOING BACK TO WHAT I SAID, IF YOU DIDN'T HATE YOU WOULD NEVER FULLY APPRECIATE LOVE. THE ONLY THING I CAN CAUTION ABOUT HATE IS IF WE CAN'T RELEASE IT OUR BODIES LOOSE THEIR LIGHT. WE AGE QUICKER, EXPERIENCE ILLNESS AT A GREATER RISK AND BEGIN TO SELF LOATH WHICH LEADS TO DEPRESSION. THE GOOD NEWS IN ALL OF THAT, SOMETHING POSITIVE ALWAYS COMES FROM A NEGATIVE. YOUR EXHUSBAND JUMPING SHIP WAS PROBABLY A GOOD THING AND YOU DIDN'T REALIZE IT TILL LATER. CAN'T MAKE ROOM FOR THE NEW WHEN WERE HOLDING ON TO THE OLD.~~

I can let you live however you want. I think that you'd likely be happier if you did accept
God and His goodness. But I would never try to force you to believe anything.
And that is the beauty of a belief system. God lets us decide. He never forces. And He is love. That is what He is. He is Spirit and he is love. It is His whole essence.

~~I AM LIVING GOD. EVEN IF I CHOOSE TO NOT BELIEVE, HE WOULD STILL BE WITHIN ME. HE CREATED US NO MATTER WHAT OUR BELIEFS. WHEN THIS LIFE COMES TO PASS IT ALL COMES FULL CIRCLE AND WHICH EVER PATH YOUR CHOOSE LEADS TO ONE PLACE.~~

I just don't think anyone is trying to "get you" here.
Be gentle with yourself. Do like Lucinda says and be kind to you. Be your best friend.
Do like Boon says and talk to that little girl inside you very gently.

~~THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT. I REMIND MYSELF OF THAT OFTEN. WHEN I AM WELL OTHERS SURROUND ME. WHEN I AM NOT, MY WORLD GETS SMALLER. LIKE ENERGY WILL ATTRACT LIKE ENERGY. I CHOOSE MY THOUGHTS CAREFULLY, DECIDE WHAT IS WORTH CHEWING ON FOR A WHILE AND RELEASE WHAT DOESN'T WORK. HOW I STAY SANE.~~

I guess we just have to accept that everyone is different. Evidently anxiety has hit us all no matter what walk of life we are in.

~~AMEN~~

I have a grandson that is gay. I'm sure he feels that Christians hate him. But we, his family do not. I love him very much. HIs mom loves him very much. We all pray for him. But we pray for all the grandchildren. We wish that he were not gay. But we can't force him to be otherwise.

~~BEING GAY IS A CHOICE BUT ONLY ON A SPIRITUAL LEVEL. ONE BEFORE COMING HERE. A GAY PERSON CHOOSE THAT VISAGE. GODS PERFECT PLAN IN ACTION. HOW ELSE WOULD YOU LEARN SO MANY LESSONS? UNCONDITIONAL LOVE IS HARD TO GIVE AND GET. THEY ARE TRUE WARRIORS IN MY OPINION.~~

There are things in life that bring pain. And there are things that bring joy.
I take it that you joined this forum like the rest of us, because you had anxiety or depression or you know someone that does have it.
I have had some serious depression in my life time.
But my faith in the love of Christ has helped with that a great deal.
I'm not perfect. I'm still learning and still growing.
I might even learn from you. I've learned from many people on here. I can name a whole bunch of them. There is Pecos. A very learned and intelligent young woman, and lOVpIGGY, and a lady that was on her a couple of years ago , Mello Nello. I could keep on going down the list. Nearly everyone adds sometihng in this process. And Mary Wargo. Oh there are a host of wonderful folk on here.
I'm still learning.
I'm going to keep on learning.
My best to you.
MaryJane

~~IT'S ALL ABOUT THE JOURNEY MARYJANE. IF WE, MANKIND COULD PUT ASIDE OUR RELIGIOSE BELIEFS AND JUST LIVE FROM THE HEART OUR WORLD AND ECONOMY WOULD BE AT PEACE. SO MUCH GREED, HATE AND MISUNDERSTANDINGS.~~

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 8:09 pm

Wow...Talking about brainwashed...I just read a post of someone who is totally out there..Must be the "New Age Movement"....LOL

Tinkerella · Post by **Tinkerella** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 3:15 am

Well I lived half of my life as a non-Christian and the other half as a Christian and I will say my mind was definitely CLOSED before. So "open you mind" doesn't apply to me here.

I also found a level joy I never knew or experienced as a non-believer.

I lived in more fear and uncertainty as a non-believer.

I lived with more negativity and anger as a non-believer.

I lived with more self destruction as a non-believer.

It is true that I've dealt with this anxiety during both times as this has been a life-long issue for me, but have had a far more fulfilling life having anxiety as a believer than a non-believer.

The scriptures are the most accurate and historical book available. Scribes copied the scriptures letter by letter and would toss the whole thing away after one error and start over again. Prophesy has been fulfilled through the bible and archeologists have uncovered evidence proving the Bible's accuracy. So my mind is at piece because I'm not following some hokey fiction.

And, if there ever was a slight chance that it isn't accurate, I would rather put my heart and mind into a belief that promises a life of eternal paradise than not. To me, giving my heart to God and allowing his spirit into my life is a decision based on joy not fear.

Jesus said if you are not for me you are against me. If you aren't following him you are denying him, his words, his purpose and his truth. I refuse to be half a believer or half a Christian and just believe that God exists without embracing the Bible.

My last thoughts on this are that I'm not "religious"....I was more religious when I didn't have a relationship with my Creator. I am a spiritual being, plain and simple.

All the best to you on your journey Lauren. May you find your own peace in the world.

epa · Post by **epa** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 3:22 am

Thanks, Shifrah:
That was so beautifully said. Such a beautiful
testimony and so truthful. So real.
I agree exactly.
You express my sentiments. You are gifted with words.
You will be blessed.
MJ

BTTRFLY · Post by **BTTRFLY** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 3:28 am

Shifrah..You are one wise lady, since I don't consider myself religious either, but, a very "Spiritual" human being...Filled with the Holy Spirit...Love Ya...God Bless!!!

natalief · Post by **natalief** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 5:00 am

There is nothing new age about what I have said. The truth is as old as time. New age is just another label to keep you and I separated. Your religion promotes that block. It's what it needs to be to divide the crowd. That's where your road map, bible comes in. It was written with the purpose of this in mind. You claim to only follow God, yet you worship a story that was written by man. Do you not see the hypocrisy in that? God SAID this, God SAID that and I say oh really? Do you ever question why God stopped talking? Supposedly Eve was a rotten seed who infected Adam (which is where woman being inferior came in) and Gods solution to this problem was to send his only begotten son Jesus to earth for you all to get another chance? This is the same God who has given us the ability to create a computer? Communicate via energy, cure cancer, and travel to the moon to name but a few? Would it then be safe to say that God himself is growing in intelligence with us? That he wasn't thinking clearly back in the day? And as for prophecy, wouldn't that be physic powers that you Christians detest? The chosen few were given dialog from God and anyone from that reference point on would be demonic? The holes blown in your theories are so many that I can hardly see how this veil of deceit can keep you covered. Well times are changing and God is STILL talking. Talking through people like myself. This notion of the second coming of Christ and a dooms day is a silly fable. We are living in the doom of this day now. Your too wrapped up in your warped beliefs to see it. We treat our earth like a rental we have little respect for. We are filled with so much greed that children starve and die as a result of it. We use our righteous armor of God to justify our ignorance. On this thread alone (which was for was for the purpose of Wiccans) you guys hoped that I got my head bashed in, I would go to hell, and even suggested murder as a result of rejecting your dogma. Someone said and I quote " If heaven is with people like this, I honestly DON'T want to go! Can you imagine an eternity of hypocrisy?" I agree 100%!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 5:32 am

To Whom It May Concern,

My Jesus speaks to me in a very "quiet still voice"...and I do know that voice!!!! I am one of His own, and another I will not follow!!!!

I am chosen...All praise Glory and Honor be Given to God!!!! I was chosen before the foundation of this earth!!!!

And, I do know one person, who, if she doesn't turn from her evil ways will split hell wide open!!!!

And I could care less who began this thread, since, my God owns it all!!!! Doesn't phase me in the least!!!! If God is for me, then who can be against me???? For I am persuaded that nothing in this life, nor in the life to come, will ever separate me from the love of Jesus...

snow_chick · Post by **snow_chick** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 5:46 am

WOW....

I believe that all Spowers was wanting... was to find some people with similar beliefs. Let me start by saying, I have been a member of the StressCenter.com for quite a while. Let me also say that I am not sure what I believe, so am totally unbiased (sp?) to this thread.

If I saw a thread with something I believed in I would respond. If I saw a thread that did NOT pertain to me, I would not. I don't think it's fair that you have turned Spowers thread into some kind of pissing match.

I don't read the spirituality part of this forum often, but I'm betting that, if there was a Christian thread on Christian beliefs, Spowers would not respond because that is not her belief. So why is it that the Christian people of this forum felt the need to come onto a thread that is not of their beliefs.

Please don't think that I am argumentative of rude. I am a person who respects all beliefs and I also believe that it is an individuals right to believe what they wish.

Spowers, I'm sorry that your thread has become what it has. Like I said, I don't know what I believe right now, but I know for sure that you didn't deserve all of this.

To the Christians to whom I respect just as much. Can you please let Spowers have her discussion on her beliefs without your involvement? It just seems very unfair to me that you came onto her thread knowing that her beliefs are different. Like I said, I am pretty darn sure if you had a thread on your Christian beliefs... she would not have posted on it.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 6:33 am

spowers, I am TRULY sorry for the way this all turned out here. You were simply asking for a "non Christian" thread. You have that right to discuss your "beliefs" with like minded individuals.
For the first two pages of this thread, I think it is safe to say that everyone understood what you were trying to do. There were actual inquiries on the "Wiccan" beliefs..no harm done, right?
This is an "anxiety/depression" forum, in which, I too am battling. One of the things that most of us "anxious" folks deal with is being Over sensitive. We also, through the program, have to learn how to change "aggressiveness" into "assertiveness". Perhaps it was the way this thread was started(?)
______________________________________________
quote: "Can we have a discussion that is NOT about Jesus? It seems like every time a thread is started about other religions than Christianity, we are shot down, and pretty harshly. Now, if you are a Christian, and disagree, please PM me, as this thread isn't for debate, but for a nice, respectable discussion about OTHER religions
_______________________________________________

none the less, I feel that respect was needed here. No matter what "belief" you have.

If you read "other" posts, you will soon begin to understand why THIS thread(that you innocently tried to start) turned into a "spiritual battle". Lauren has it out for G'man. Too bad that "it" continued here.

Please understand here, that I am not apologizing for standing up for my God. As Lauren become more angry and throwing her insults, I felt I needed to speak up. I COULD not keep silent. I am proud of my God and cannot just sit back and watch someone tear down my "Christian" friends. I'm sure you have a ton of friends and wouldn't allow that to happen to any of them, as well.

I just wanted to let you know that this is NOT about YOU. Unfortunately it was "continued" on this thread you tried innocently to start.
Peace~
Robin

Karilynn · Post by **Karilynn** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 6:42 am

Originally posted by Ms. T Bones:
Coop...Thanks for dropping in!!!!
I understand what you are saying here...I really do!!!

I just need for you to understand that these two people who are this thread are doing this for reasons unknown to you, as of yet!!!!

There are some people in this world Coop, who live, breathe, and eat the word "trouble".
And, that is exactly why they are in this specific "Spirituality Site" to begin with!!!

We as Christians who love the Lord with all our hearts cannot tolerate these "particular" type of people lashing out at our other brothers and sisters in the Lord!!!!

Coop...Believe me, this thread was not begun by accident; it was begun for the "sole" purpose of making fun of our Lord and Savior...Jesus Christ!!!! The author of this site wanted us to join in...Get my drift!!!

These two people are not victims in this particular sense of the word. Please try and trust me on this one!!!!

Coop...Again..Thanks for dropping in, and giving us your input...Completely understandable!!!!! God Bless

Can you just go away? Please? I didn't do anything to you, and you've done nothing but attack me. Wasn't it Jesus that said "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone?"