Hi Everyone-I'm Laura

[anti christ]

First with the name >anti christ< it isn't my intention to hurt anyone or demean anyones religion.
I say if you believe in your religion-stand by it-but allow me not to believe.
I prefer to follow some Buddhism ways & I have never been happier or more at peace,since I learned it was OK to take my own stand on the issue and not believe.


I truly appreciate all the varying religions .I only wish we could leave one another alone when it comes to the issue of religion.
It has been the preface of many of wars,etc.
OK off that band wagon.


I was forced as a youngster to go to church...alone...every Sunday.It was my folks babysitter.I never liked it.
I find it hard to believe that anyone could believe storys passed down thousands of years through thousands of hands...so that's just my take on the matter.
I bless you all in your religion

I have always been Lesbian but was forced to marry a man while I was in my mid teens because I was caught with a much older woman and IT WAS A SIN,SICKNESS,lol.
So I raised my kids and came out in 91 when my last kid left home.
I look forward to talking with you all.
Laura

[keltic63]

Hi Laura,

welcome to the forums.

I don't know that any of our regular members would force you to believe in any particular religion. we're all over the place when it comes to spirituality.

if your intention isn't to demean or hurt anyone's religion, why would you choose such a screen name?

[Matt Algren]

Welcome....I guess. You've chosen an interesting opening salvo, I'll give you that!

I'm puzzled by your chosen screen name. What do you mean by it?

Inquiring minds want to know!

[Steven E. Webster]

Laura,

Glad to have you join us. I'm Christian and I get pretty sick of Christians myself sometimes.

Like the old saying goes, "Jesus, save me from your followers!"

Good luck on your spiritual journey!

Steven Webster

[Vanessa White]

Yep, we are all differing types here in terms of our spiritual journeys, and many of us, MOST of us even, have sustained some spiritual damage at the hands of our churches or church representatives....... mutual respect for one another's beliefs is all we ask for around here, pure and simple.

I have issues with the church that my family and myself are now members of, the United Methodist Church, but I am a strong believer in Christ, his message and what his plan is for me. However, I agree that when it comes to the Bible, the trouble seems to be less with the words, but more with how humans interpret what was meant, and still is meant, by its passages. To me, there are so many lovely, beautiful parts of the writing in that book that overall I am so glad that we have it.

Anyway, see you around here......

[RaymondCharlesWoollcombe]

Hello!! Welcome to Soulforce

Enjoy


Peace and Love
Raymond.....

[livewithsoulandfreedom]

hi,
I was half expecting for you to tell us you were a satanist...

anyway, I totally understand why you don't like christianity given your story, if I were you I would hate christianity and anything to do with.

I'm glad that you don't mean any disrespect though...
Anyway, I hope that you find yourself welcome here...

Oh... and whether you like it or not, I'll be praying for you.

Have a nice day!

[Daniel]

Wow! Amazing story that you have told. Welcome!

I grew up Christian (AG fundi) and now follow the teachings of the Buddha, so you are not alone here in your 'affiliation'. That said, I still adhere to the teachings of Jesus, which I understand to be Racial Love, having little to do with what passes for modern evangelicalism.

Good for you for coming out! That's a big deal after being married and having kids. I salute you! And I'm glad you have found your 'stand'. That's great!

[Zerbie]

Originally Posted by Daniel

I still adhere to the teachings of Jesus, which I understand to be Racial love !

Danny, I'm pretty sure you meant "Radical" love. Yes?

[livewithsoulandfreedom]

Originally Posted by Zerbie

Danny, I'm pretty sure you meant "Radical" love. Yes?

Yes I was wondering about that... then I got these flashes of people in big silly white hats and dresses and thought "well hey, maybe he's from the kkk"

I'm pretty sure he meant Radical though...

[Rick336]

Welcome to the forums. I gave up Christianity a few years ago when I started reading the Bible. I now base my beliefs on trustworthy evidence.

As an example; evidence shows that the human brain is made up of billions of neurons working together to produce thoughts, emotions and memories that create consciousness and personality. After hundreds of years of scientific research, no evidence has ever been found that thoughts, memories, and emotions continue after the physical body dies. In other words, they must have a living, functioning brain to survive and cannot live outside of the body. This is why so called "proof" of ghosts, angels, and demons have never stood up to scientific scrutiny.

Rick

[pnggrad79]

AC,
Your obvious disdain for Christianity is understandable and sad at the same time. It is a shame that no one took you aside and showed you the Christ that loves you beyond imagination, and would go so far as to die for you in an effort to save you. It is abysmal that no one ever showed you that kind of grace and mercy. But having said that, welcome and hope to see you around. I pray that someday you will know the love of God, not the religion of Christianity, because as I said in another forum, the Christianity as we know it today has little if anything to do with Christ. Don't associate Christ with what you see today in Christian churces. They merely pay lip service to Christ but bear little resemblance to Him or what he came to achieve.

[livewithsoulandfreedom]

Originally Posted by Rick336

Welcome to the forums. I gave up Christianity a few years ago when I started reading the Bible. I now base my beliefs on trustworthy evidence.

As an example; evidence shows that the human brain is made up of billions of neurons working together to produce thoughts, emotions and memories that create consciousness and personality. After hundreds of years of scientific research, no evidence has ever been found that thoughts, memories, and emotions continue after the physical body dies. In other words, they must have a living, functioning brain to survive and cannot live outside of the body. This is why so called "proof" of ghosts, angels, and demons have never stood up to scientific scrutiny.

Rick

oh ye of little faith

[u-dog]

Originally Posted by Rick336

Welcome to the forums. I gave up Christianity a few years ago when I started reading the Bible. I now base my beliefs on trustworthy evidence.

As an example; evidence shows that the human brain is made up of billions of neurons working together to produce thoughts, emotions and memories that create consciousness and personality. After hundreds of years of scientific research, no evidence has ever been found that thoughts, memories, and emotions continue after the physical body dies. In other words, they must have a living, functioning brain to survive and cannot live outside of the body. This is why so called "proof" of ghosts, angels, and demons have never stood up to scientific scrutiny.

Rick

Rick,

I'm looking forward to having a beer with you in the after-life and ribbing you relentlessly (but good-naturedly) about this post.

[Zerbie]

Originally Posted by Rick336

Welcome to the forums. I gave up Christianity a few years ago when I started reading the Bible. I now base my beliefs on trustworthy evidence.

As an example; evidence shows that the human brain is made up of billions of neurons working together to produce thoughts, emotions and memories that create consciousness and personality. After hundreds of years of scientific research, no evidence has ever been found that thoughts, memories, and emotions continue after the physical body dies. In other words, they must have a living, functioning brain to survive and cannot live outside of the body. This is why so called "proof" of ghosts, angels, and demons have never stood up to scientific scrutiny.

Rick

Yeah, I have my own little picky-picky with this post. : But it's just a little one.

Rick, ya can PM me if ya wanna.

[scott snedeker]

Originally Posted by anti christ

First with the name >anti christ< it isn't my intention to hurt anyone or demean anyones religion.
I say if you believe in your religion-stand by it-but allow me not to believe.
I prefer to follow some Buddhism ways & I have never been happier or more at peace,since I learned it was OK to take my own stand on the issue and not believe.


I truly appreciate all the varying religions .I only wish we could leave one another alone when it comes to the issue of religion.
It has been the preface of many of wars,etc.
OK off that band wagon.


I was forced as a youngster to go to church...alone...every Sunday.It was my folks babysitter.I never liked it.
I find it hard to believe that anyone could believe storys passed down thousands of years through thousands of hands...so that's just my take on the matter.
I bless you all in your religion

I have always been Lesbian but was forced to marry a man while I was in my mid teens because I was caught with a much older woman and IT WAS A SIN,SICKNESS,lol.
So I raised my kids and came out in 91 when my last kid left home.
I look forward to talking with you all.
Laura

Hi laura,

I'm with you on the anti-Christian sentiment, but let me qualify. I used to be a "Christophobe" because I figured out at age 6 from listening to my parents' conversations with physicians that I was going to die --and soon-- from a congenital heart defect. I was a bright little kid and they had no idea that I comprehended their conversation.

At the same time they introduced me to the Methodist Church. There --also uknown to them--I was taught that Jesus was going to take me into heaven when I died. Death is very frightening to a six year old as the will to survive is very strong.

So I figured out what Jesus' pupose was. He was my killer. He was going to make me die and bury me in a box in a grave yard forever.

I didn't actually figure this out until I was 40! Until that time I had no idea why when people talked abut Christ that I panicked and wanted to turn inside out!

My heart defect was corrected and I have a normal life expectancy

Then I was told that my attraction to men made me a worthless deviant 7 years later. Again Christ was portrayed as my killer and torturor.

'Swhy I rejected christianity and began my spiritual journey as a Druidic pagan. As a pagan I find love and afffirmation from the forest spirit--an essence arising out of nature. This allowed me to love my self.

You received spiritual poison in in the form of a type of christianity. The Predatory sanctimonious type used for gratification by those with small minds driven by fear.



Once I learned to love my self I could let go of my fear of Christ. Once I did that I realized that it was not Christ but small-minded people that were responsible. I am stiil not a christian. I believe Christ was a very remarkable human being but a human nonetheless.

What I found here at soulforce was another Type Of christian. Instead of sactimonious predators I found loving accepting tolerant patient giving embracing christians. Wonderful people and friends.

U-dog is probably the most traditional christian that yet embraces nonchristians in a way similar to the acceptance and embraces that I get from my Druidic pagan love circle. He calls me "christian" and I call him "pagan" many times because we share same ideas yet stem from two differernt spiritual paradigms.

This is a good place to release "christophobia" without making yourself vulnerable.

[u-dog]

Originally Posted by scott snedeker

Hi laura,

What I found here at soulforce was another Type Of christian. Instead of sactimonious predators I found loving accepting tolerant patient giving embracing christians. Wonderful people and friends.

U-dog is probably the most traditional christian that yet embraces nonchristians in a way similar to the acceptance and embraces that I get from my Druidic pagan love circle. He calls me "christian" and I call him "pagan" many times because we share same ideas yet stem from two differernt spiritual paradigms.

This is a good place to release "christophobia" without making yourself vulnerable.

My name is U-dog and I approve this message.

[Zerbie]

Originally Posted by scott snedeker

U-dog is probably the most traditional christian that yet embraces nonchristians in a way similar to the acceptance and embraces that I get from my Druidic pagan love circle. He calls me "christian" and I call him "pagan" many times because we share same ideas yet stem from two differernt spiritual paradigms.

Nah, hon'. U-dog is Hindu. Anyone can see that.

[scott snedeker]

figured you would U-dog!

[paul]

Hi Laura,

I hope you come back, if only to see what you started... maybe you are the "anti christ" . nah.

I tend to be a mix of Buddhism, Hinduism and, lately, Quaker. Scotty nailed it, as he is wont to do. You have been exposed to a "type" of Christian. It wouldn't be fair to toss all Christians/Christianity. That seems like kind of a gag reflex to your rotten experiences with some. Just like it isn't fair to say all gay guys are effeminate. i.e., you are perhaps stereotyping? Still, you don't seem to harsh to me, just hurt. I'm sorry for that. If you stick around (or come back?) I think you will find some pretty cool people here who are Christian.
paul







Daniel's typos are always my favorite. "racial love????"