Religious Freedom

[Strangler Lewis]

Originally Posted by tracilicious

Oh, when I say I'm not Christian anymore what I mean is that I don't really believe in God anymore.

Congratulations! You're a Jew! Shalom, chaver!

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by tracilicious

Oh, when I say I'm not Christian anymore what I mean is that I don't really believe in God anymore. Or maybe I do, but not a God that has much to do with earth. I believe in infinity and that's as close to a belief in God as I'm willing to get right now. Or perhaps it's that I just don't care whether there's a god or not. Maybe I should just sit next to the atheist table and eavesdrop.

I believe the word you're looking for is agnostic.

[Disneyphile]

^ What GD said.

I have many Agnostic friends. Even Ken is more Agnostic than Pagan, in that he doesn't really believe in God/Goddess, but more of an all-encompassing spirit of which we are all part.

The nice thing about Agnosticism is that no belief is "wrong".

[tracilicious]

I just think agnosticism sounds kind of lame. (No offense to anyone who's agnostic.) I don't really believe in god, I'm just open to the possibility that I'm wrong. I also think it's possible that there is some sort of different energy-ish thing that people call god, but definitely not a walking around in his castle in heaven looking like a person kind of god.

[flippyshark]

I think the atheist table is a jollier place than people imagine. I'm hoping that the term "atheist" will eventually lose it's pejorative sense. (According to a recent poll, us atheists are the least trusted group of people in America.) I've only recently grown fully comfortable with the label myself, (I identify as a secular humanist more often because it doesn't produce the same shock that "atheist" does. Maybe it's because a lot of people don't know what "secular humanist" means.) I hope to promulgate "atheist" as something perfectly warm and fuzzy. (Ask those who know me - I'm a kitten doting, cry at dog movies, sentimental sap whose big vices are corn dogs and Dole Whip.)

Anyway, Tracilicious, it's inspiring to hear about you grabbing hold of your own emotional and intellectual freedom. Wherever this journey takes you, you rock.

[alphabassettgrrl]

Congratulations on your new-found freedom. I always thought religion was supposed to guide people to being good people, but a lot of it seems... I guess not concerned with god. I don't know, I just know that while I'm ok with god existing or not, I generally dislike organized religion.

[tracilicious]

Just a quick update.

I am officially out of the religious closet. Only one of my sisters has decided not to talk to me anymore. We were good friends. Could have been worse I guess.

[lashbear]

Originally Posted by tracilicious

Just a quick update.

I am officially out of the religious closet. Only one of my sisters has decided not to talk to me anymore. We were good friends. Could have been worse I guess.

Now all you need to do is get the others to work on the one.

Glad to hear you're not cut off from all.

[Strangler Lewis]

Originally Posted by tracilicious

Just a quick update.

I am officially out of the religious closet. Only one of my sisters has decided not to talk to me anymore. We were good friends. Could have been worse I guess.

You thought you were good friends.

I have an elderly aunt who still lives in the Father Divine mission in Philadelphia. My mother said, "Fine," on that long ago. Don't lose too much sleep over it.

The family stories I have about people who, having experienced intolerance generally and from going their own way, could still heap intolerance on others for the way they went could fill a book.

[MouseWife]

Originally Posted by tracilicious

Just a quick update.

I am officially out of the religious closet. Only one of my sisters has decided not to talk to me anymore. We were good friends. Could have been worse I guess.

Hmm. This makes me wonder~

Is this why my sister really doesn't talk to me anymore? She had loaned me 'The Passions of the Christ' and I told her I couldn't watch it because I couldn't sit and watch the torture, no matter to whom. I don't go in for that sort of visual, ya know?

So, after, she 'witnesses' to me. I know it is her new church and I know they are supposed to 'save' people and I love her for wanting to 'save' me.

I told her that I felt that I was living a life that would make God happy, I am honest and I care about people, etc. She said it wasn't enough. I told her it was for me and while I appreciated her attempt and the reasons behind it, no thanks.

I also told her 'You did do a great job in your attempt'. See, me, always trying to be positive. Even though I wanted no part in all of it, even though I felt attacked, insulted and my whole life knocked, I still wanted to encourage her on her attempts.

Anywho, don't hear from her much anymore. I wondered what was up and now this makes sense.

Aren't they supposed to cut people out who aren't positive Christian role models? I really wonder if I've heard this before.

Well, while it saddens me that there are two people who come to mind {one being my sis} who have been absent from my life, it is such a nice feeling not to be judged every freakin' time we are together that what I say is wrong and that I think the way I do or have problems that I have because I don't go to church, etc.

Strength to you in this time and remember you are a great person.