Hi I'm Doug.

[redshift]

Just found this place and I really groove with resisting the opression!
Just hope I can find time to participate a little! I am a bisexual and
I personally have been deeply affected by religious oppression of gays.
I don't attend any church and probably never will because of the negative experiences I had growing up. I now associate anything to do with churches or Christianity with intolerance and shame.

I am not a Christian anyway, so it doesn't really bother me except when I have to be in a church for a wedding or funeral, but I still have a hard time being around religiosity. I know if I want to stand for tolerance I need to be tolerant myself of other people's religions, but I have deep wounds to heal before that can happen.

Anyway, just doing my first check-in.:)
http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u103/transcyclesectorsix/peacefooter.jpg

[tymejumper]

Welcome Doug. There are many people here, some very religious and others not at all. I think we may have a few Atheists here also. Hope you stay awhile

[u-dog]

Just found this place and I really groove with resisting the opression!
Just hope I can find time to participate a little! I am a bisexual and
I personally have been deeply affected by religious oppression of gays.
I don't attend any church and probably never will because of the negative experiences I had growing up. I now associate anything to do with churches or Christianity with intolerance and shame.

I am not a Christian anyway, so it doesn't really bother me except when I have to be in a church for a wedding or funeral, but I still have a hard time being around religiosity. I know if I want to stand for tolerance I need to be tolerant myself of other people's religions, but I have deep wounds to heal before that can happen.

Anyway, just doing my first check-in.:)
http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u103/transcyclesectorsix/peacefooter.jpg

Welcome Doug!

On behalf of all the Christians here at Soulforce Forum, let me apologize profoundly for all of our a*****e brothers and sisters and the pain they have caused you. Jesus loves them, I have no doubt, but they are gonna have a lot of "Splainin'" to do when they see him. :mad:

U-dog :love:

[Pablo Rafael]

Hi Doug,

I like your screen name. Does "redshift" have anything to do with astronomy? Astronomy is an interest of mine. I see you reside in both Hell and in Tacoma, WA. I think Hell is pretty far away so it must be redshifted quite a bit. And I know everyone is thinking, "What the hell is that idiot talking about now?" so I had better go on to a new topic...

I agree with U-dog. Christianity in general has done a lot of harm over the years. The oppression of LGBT individuals is inexcusable.

I must say that my experiences within the church have been overwhelmingly positive. I have been warmly welcomed. I have not been involved in any fundamentalist groups. I wish that all LGBT individuals could have had the same positive experience.

I always try to remember when I hear hateful and prejudiced talk from "Christians" that the organized church or people who claim the name Christian are not God and do not speak for God.

Anyway enough of my rambling on. Welcome and please join in our conversations.

Tu Amigo, Pablo

[Rick336]

Hey Doug. Welcome to Soulforce. Sorry to hear you have deep wounds about religion. This group is open to different beliefs.

I am also not a religious person. I believe we live in a more rational world, and therefore a happier world, when we use logic, reason, evidence, and science to solve our problems.

However, I do believe some aspects of religion have been beneficial to society.

Glad to have you in the forum.

Rick

[Zerbie]

Hi Doug!

Yes, great screen name. Reminds me of college astronomy class, ooh and we even had an observatory! I hope you'll find time to visit back.

Boy, do I hear ya about religion and churches - and I never even WENT to any! :eek:


In fact, about 4 months ago I started going to one (what possessed me, I may never know,) and --- - it isn't evil! :eek::eek::eek: I don't run screaming in the opposite direction! :eek:
In fact, it's a wonderful place full of warm, welcoming people, consistently taking a stand for social justice and speaking out for the oppressed. I always would have thought a church would be the last place to find something like that.

[Northern_Imager]

Welcome Doug, alias Redshift’

I’m a newbie of about two weeks to this forum that I have found very welcoming and accepting. I don’t believe that you’ll regret joining.

As a pastor I apologize for the negative experiences, most likely spiritual abuse, that you have experienced by some who call themselves Christian.

In my thirty years as a pastor I have come to conclude that there are many in the church who have emotional-mental problems and personality disorders and as a result inflict pain and suffering on others in the church. They were perhaps mentally, emotionally, and or spiritually abused themselves and as a result act this way toward others. Also because of bad doctrine, prejudice and bigotry churches become institutions of spiritual abuse toward those inside and outside of their membership.

I have come to realize that there is a difference between religiosity, which is institutional religion and Christian denominations, and spirituality.

Again, welcome to the forum.