Kolya on 23/4/2009 at 10:16
Quote Posted by SNAFU
that quiet desperate need to reach out and truly touch someone, even a perfect stranger
You can still be that. Just by being a friendly person with your own mind and history, who accepts that others have theirs too. It's just this passion for making others believe what you do, thinking that your truth is absolute, that's kinda creepy and dangerous in worst case.
I know a woman I've spent almost a third of my life with, a long time anyway, and she's very religious, while I never was. And whenever we talk about that (we're still very good friends), she tells me:
"You will go to heaven, because you have a good heart. God loves someone like you, whether you believe in him or not." Hard to believe, I know...
She practices her faith in a very personal, quiet way, just trying to be the best person she can. And even I - being an atheist by heart, and in my younger years prone to whack away at all things religious - even I could always accept this.
I don't believe I'll go to heaven, I think my life will end sometime and I should better make the best of it until then, whatever that might be. But if she likes to think that way, I can appreciate it as a sign of her affection. It never felt intrusive to me, but instead has mellowed my attitude towards (her kind of) religion quite a bit.
So what I'm basically trying to say is this: If Christian faith and being human really is about loving other people, you won't try to force your views on them, but find the good sides they have in them. And that means you have to be open minded about other life-styles and other beliefs. You might actually learn something for yourself this way.
Vasquez on 23/4/2009 at 10:23
Quote Posted by Rogue Keeper
Such excuses would pop out elsewhere in the society. If you want to end religions, you should put an end to politics as well.
Now this would be almost TOO perfect a world :cheeky:
fett on 23/4/2009 at 13:20
Quote Posted by SNAFU
Painful, yet common story
Kolya has the right idea - you eventually even begin to appreciate the diversity of perspectives and experiences that other people have. The human race is fascinating when you're not trying to shove them into boxes labeled "saved," "lost," and "fallen from grace."
I'm coming through the fire myself, and it does seem to get easier as it goes. Believe it or not, there eventually comes a certain peace that you can't change people, that you're alone in the universe, and that only you are the master of your destiny. As you start to see that walking away from it all makes absolutely no difference in your core personality traits, it will be easier. You'll find joy in serving people for simple humanitarian reasons, and realize that what looked to you from the outside like cold, calculating atheism, is actually a logical, warm, and full way to live. For the first time, you truly enjoy every breath for the miracle it is. I've said several times and I say again - leaving faith behind has produced all the comfort, peace, joy, and love that I sought after with my whole being in the confines of faith and church community. It's what being "born again" should feel like, but never does. It also lasts longer. I'm going on three years and I'm still amazed at how much passion I have for life.
