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Religious discrimination

reviewed by numbah16tdhaha

numbah16tdhaha
03/28/2008

Religious discrimination 3

Imorovan, I feel a compelling need to provide a counterpoint to your review, so here it goes. I, a Christian, have been discriminated against based on my religious beliefs. Oh yes, its true. Funny part is, I have been discriminated against by five denominations that claim to fall under the umbrella of Christianity. That's right, Christians. Now I'll give a pass for the Mormon's and Jehova's witnesses because I've always considered them rather odd, but when a Catholic Chaplain told a US Marine he couldn't take communion because he wasn't Catholic, I was kinda pissed. Had he not been an officer I would have mouthed off a bit. I've also had baptists and some variety of pentecostals pass judgement on me, so its more than just a trend. Your statements remind me of these people as you claim we are a Christian nation, when are founding fathers, Christian as SOME of them may have been, intended for ALL to have freedom of religion, and right now nobody wants to allow it from any of the armed camps of religion that we have in the world. It also seems odd to me that you use this site to preach instead of witness. You know the difference? When you witness you tell somebody how you think and let them make up their mind, but when you preach you tell people how to live and how to act. That is out of place on this site, I think. Now, you also claimed that Christians never impose their beliefs and anyone and that's where those Pentecostals come into play. They told me I wasn't saved because I wasn't speaking in tongues. Silly, huh? So, if I babbled like they did and let them IMPOSE their belief on me, I could stay. I left. If I'm way off in left field here, feel free to set me straight, but my expirience is that people who at least claim to be Christian have just as much potential to be just as exclusive and narrow minded as the faithless people who they claim to want to save...

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magellan commented 607 days ago.
awesome

FranksWildYears commented 607 days ago.
Amen

numbah16tdhaha commented 607 days ago.
Hmm... see, I can't really support the idea that you speak for some majority of good Christians. I've been in to many churches where most of the people there are present because they fear God's judgement. I'm guessing that their lip service made in fear of God doesn't sit well with him, either. This seems the real majority anymore and its one I'd rather not be berated by, since these are the same people who take issue with my relationshp with God and tell me what I need to do to live in his GRACE. If you want to be part of that majority, be my guest, but aren't we as Christians supposed to be a bit more humble? Shouldn't we strive to be an example of the loving inclusiveness embodied by Christ instead of barricading ourselves in our church because we think others are out to get us?

numbah16tdhaha commented 606 days ago.
So you would rather stick to your guns and hope that validates you?

Wiseguy commented 606 days ago.
Awesome?...Hardly. What are your religious views? Don't forget...There is always Islam.

Wiseguy commented 606 days ago.
Numbah, when I came back to the Catholic church after a long leave I couldn't take communion, that was the rules. Are they supposed to make an exception for a US Marine, just because he's a Marine? You give no context to that statement, did the church say why? You cherry pick stories in an attempt to reflect balance. I think your issues with Christianity have more to do with a lack of not knowing what you really believe in, your post leaves that out as well. Your helpfuls? All you have to do is cough on the keyboard to get helpfuls.

numbah16tdhaha commented 606 days ago.
Wise, I was brought up in a gaggle of different denominations and I was confirmed in a Lutheran Church. Still, I drifted away a bit in my teen years as some do because I saw alot of drama and BS over what I considered a fairly simple message, that being that Jesus wants people to love their neighbor and be kind to them. I left church after church because I saw fear, hipocrasy, and even cruelty in the people who were supposed to be children of God. I'm not cherry picking anything, I'm just sharing my walk, and to this point the most moving religious experience I've had was a four hour conversation I had with a professed atheist who would later be killed in an ambush in Iraq. I discovered he was no atheist and I hope that conversation helped him like it helped me. I guess I see God missing from the lives of people anymore. Lots of people spout scripture and theology and it falls dead for me until how its really impacted the lives of people. Maybe I'm a weird blend of ideas and expiriences that can't have a denomination, maybe that even REFUSES to have a denomination because I see one type of people and that is Christians. I think Jesus might dig that view...

numbah16tdhaha commented 606 days ago.
By the way, Wise that Chaplain was my only chance at communion for about a 200 mile radius and Catholic or not, he there to see to the spiritual well being of the troops.

magellan commented 606 days ago.
Guy, you should go get yourself a beer or something. You're picking on people that aren't the enemy.

numbah16tdhaha commented 606 days ago.
I dunno, Dyna, I've always kinda thought that the first component of being saved is the realization that you don't deserve to be saved. On that end of it I'm there, so I at least have the humility to be saved. Eh, we all try and we stumble and we all suck, so I guess getting saved is about accepting that you suck and at least trying not to suck as bad as did before you came to this realization. Other than that you just really gotta hand over to the Man and hope He has you in the book...

numbah16tdhaha commented 606 days ago.
Imoravan, its cute that you tried to pick on my age. Expirience is not to be discounted, but some people never get it. Case in point? My father is closing in on 60 and generally lost in the sauce on a great many things. If you would like to compare expiriences, I've talked to a diverse group of people from all walks of life and every racial, political, religious, economic, and any ohter kind of persuasion that you can think of. I've shook hands with CEO's and lended a hand to people in third world countries. I've discussed high minded things with high minded people and I can talk NASCAR with a redneck. I can walk into any room with any people in and find a friend. How can I do this? We're all just people, man. Why is that you think people dig the odd drivel that I spout? I've asked myself the same question and I think people see a little bit of me in them, just like I see a little bit of them in me. Eh, maybe I'm babbling now, but somebody is going to enjoy it somewhere, so I'm cool with looking crazy and out there, I guess...

Donovan commented 606 days ago.
Numbah, you make many good points. No person which includes preachers, pastors or priests has the right to deny anyone communion or any practice of the church for that matter. Only God knows your heart. Also, knowing what being "saved" means and actually asking for forgiveness and accepting the gift from God are two different things. One is knowledge with no action and the other is action based on knowledge. Numbah as you know Jesus accepted many people who where considered outcasts and some even became his chosen 12. People need to take their eyes off man and put them on Christ. He is the best example for us and will never forsake or leave us.

numbah16tdhaha commented 606 days ago.
That was nothing but net, Donovan. While everybody is looking funny at their fellow man they do indeed lose focus on God. That's where every problem that Christians have with each other begins. I told my friend Crunch not to take what people say about God seriously, but to take what God says to you seriously. I think that's how you accept the gift more than anything else.

Donovan commented 606 days ago.
True, but with that said I do believe we need the fellowship of other believers. We just need to be careful that we always test what people say against what God says. We have to accept the gift of salvation then follow God's plan for our life, not what man thinks is best for us. Numbah I appreciate your openness regarding spiritual things, it is refreshing.

Wiseguy commented 606 days ago.
I'm inclined to agree with Donovan, but that doesn't change a thing. Nobody wants to be judged on anything, or imposed upon, frankly, I find this quite disturbing. We can't have a discussion on morality, why...someone might get upset. Maybe I'll start my own version of Christianity, I won't impose, I won't Judge, in fact, you won't even have to get out of your car...

Donovan commented 606 days ago.
Wise, you are correct in saying talk of morality is taboo in today's world. The discussion of right and wrong should be a topic of much concern for the believer and non-believer alike. We do not have to judge each other because we all have our faults but open discussions on morality can only be helpful to the reader.

Wiseguy commented 605 days ago.
Donovan, with all due respect, what your stating about whether to " judge" people or not doesn't square with reality. We all judge in some way, it's human nature, I refuse to let the word fall victim to political correctness.

Donovan commented 605 days ago.
Wise, I wasn't trying to be politically correct. It is just how I feel.

Wiseguy commented 605 days ago.
Donovan, I wasn't saying you were, but you see where I'm going with this, its a problem...

Wiseguy commented 605 days ago.
The search for an answer that will solve Numbah's spiritual delima, and conform to his sensibility's will require much stamina. Maybe you've witnessed some bad teachings, but to paint a negative picture of the faith as a whole is not responsible writing in my view. The fact that you roam from church to church seem to indicate something lacking from within. Your stories are very nice Numbah, but you keep dodging the question, ask it to yourself...what do you believe? Christianity, with all it faults and hypocrisies still made this nation great, don't ever forget that.

Donovan commented 605 days ago.
Wise, your point is well taken. It does come down to what a person believes and their personal relationship with God. There is not a perfect church out there nor is there a perfect person. We all need God. The church with all of it's faults can still be used by God. We can really hold no one accountable for our sin; we are the ones who must answer for our own actions.

numbah16tdhaha commented 602 days ago.
Wise, I told my "atheist" friend not to confuse what idiots tell him about God with the nature of God. You ask what I believe? I believe God is out there and he is pissed. I also believe that pissed as he is his hand is still there for those who grab it. I don't think you have to be lacking anything to be uninspired by what I've seen, but if I let that stand in the way of me and God I wouldn't be living up to my own advice to my friend.
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