Im Coming OUT! I want RF to know!

[Djamila]

(And, I suppose equally if not more importantly, I would never think of saying other people weren't Muslim because their beliefs differed from mine).

 

[Paladin]

There are a couple of web sites I really like Rev, and they might have some meaning for you. like www.christianmystics.com
or my favorite blog: http://frimmin.com/

You just might find them interesting, or if not then you get to throw large heavy objects in my direction

Peace

Mark

 

[XAAX]

Thats too bad friend. It seems many are "spiritually homeless" because of the juridical types in many religions. I dearly love the teaching of Christ, and still try to understand the mystery of his sacrifice. I know my ideas about that would send the legalist fundamental types for a loop. It is allright to study, pray and meditate on your own, but sometimes it gets lonely and I long for a community that is merely dedicated to showing the love and devotion they have for their religion without all the dogmatic hyperbole. I looked into the study of Catholicism but because I have had several bad marriages in my past I don't make the cut. Better to go out and murder a few people than get married and then divorced apparently.
Be of good cheer though because there are many of us out there!

Peace
Mark

You speak more truth than most know. You most certainly can believe the positives of individuals without the dogma. I also agree with the seclusion that the anti-organized relgious people have. I dream of days where religion is not a brand but merely an opionion(in the real world that is).

 

[Moni_Gail]

lol

that comes from a friend of mine whom is going through similar stuff...he wrote some essays on it

joshuaforeman.blogspot.com if you wanna look at em, excellent writer btw

I've been reading through his writings and loving every second of it. His page is now bookmarked. I just wanted to say thanks for the link.

 

[XAAX]

lol true that

Trust me Rev, I know where you are comming from. Try being a hard core Baptist Youth leader, who grew up in christian school, was going to a christian college, and considering going into seminary. If you want to know a long road to recovery...try from that starting point...Almost went insane, to say the least. The only advise I can really give you is to not look to religions for answers. Study them for sure, see the patterns, and form your own conclusions...

 

[XAAX]

I wonder why this doesn't happen to the same degree among Muslims?

I have many disagreements with my fellow Muslims, even among my own specific people. I don't celebrate Muhammed's birthday, many Bosniaks do. I don't believe women aren't allowed at mosque on Kurban Bajram, most Bosniaks do.

And the differences vary depending on which particular group of Muslims we're talking about... but the fractures don't seem to manifest themselves to the same degree among us? I would never even think of saying I wasn't Muslim, or I was kind of Muslim, because my beliefs differ from others who hold the same religious banner.

Actually it does, I knew a girl who had came to the states from Afghanistan with all the women from her family. I went to college with her in PA. The stories she told of the treatment of women and her complete rejection of the muslim faith was pretty harsh. So I don't think that is a true statement to make about all muslims. They do seem to have just as many seperations and conflicts as the christian faith does.

 

[dawny0826]

the legalism, the hatred (im in the south mind you), the hypocrisy, the preachers on TV, and the judgemental---and dont forget the ignorance. Christian carries all those labels for me now

I'm with you on this. I myself tire of the hatred, the hypocrisy, the preachers on TV and the judgmental and ignorant individuals who claim to be Christian.

I've thought about stripping myself of all religious labels and to be honest, for the most part, I have. I don't live my life broadcasting that I'm Pentecostal because I personally tire of religious politics and I've accepted that it really doesn't matter whether I'm Pentecostal or not.

I remain a Christian because I'm striving to live my life for Christ. I probably don't deserve the "Christian" label on most days. But that's kind of the whole point of being a Christian...acknowledging your faults, facing your flaws, repenting for your flaws and with Christ, strive to overcome those flaws.

Not that I'm knocking your decision to ditch the title. It's just a title. It's just a label. Faith doesn't really need a title.

But when I struggle with what you've obviously struggled with...I remember that Jesus died for those who suck (hypocrites, ignorants, etc.) just as much as He died for me. And at the end of the day, even the "best" Christian, in the grand scheme of things would probably deserve the term "dirt bag" moreso than Christian, or Christ-like.

 

[doppelganger]

Xtian.


due to being paired with certain unmentionable Christians, i will no longer accept the name of Christian, i am now an Xtian--free from the bonds of Christianity. I just cant handle being one of "those Christians" anymore.

I'm all for it Rev, and wish you the very best in your journey. Welcome to the world of those who belong to no man.

 

[Mathematician]

Wouldn't Xtian be the same as Christian?

Why not follow in the footsteps of another poster and put, "Follower of Christ"?

 

[XAAX]

I'm all for it Rev, and wish you the very best in your journey. Welcome to the world of those who belong to no man.

Amen Dop...by the way, your starting to creep my out with your picture...lol

 

[doppelganger]

Amen Dop...by the way, your starting to creep my out with your picture...lol

If you squint a little, you can imagine it's Don Johnson with an awful mullet . . .


. . . if that helps . . . :no:

 

[zombieharlot]

Congratulations! Heehee!:fork:

 

[Booko]

I wonder why this doesn't happen to the same degree among Muslims?

Uh...sectarian violence in Iraq? Djamila, it obviously doesn't happen around you, but it does seem to happen.

 

[Mavrikmind]

I feel ya on this Rev. I used to be a Southern Babtist untill the day I looked around and said " Are you kidding me, what are these people thinking ? "
Thats been years ago. I still believe in god and I still strive to live the best way I can. And I'm still striving to find something that makes sense.
So as you say, your not alone. Keep putting one foot in front of the other and keep your chin up

 

[lizskid]

I know where you are, Rev. Sorry to hear that, it can be such an emotional issue. I, too, have not attended a church (well, actually, I have gone 2x) in the last 7 or 8 years. However, since that, I have gone to seminary and been ordained. It has been a good spiritual journey for me, after the initial pain, which was great.

I wish you well, and certainly understand your concern about being lumped with a bunch of people who misuse the term Christian!

Peace.

 

[Djamila]

Uh...sectarian violence in Iraq? Djamila, it obviously doesn't happen around you, but it does seem to happen.

True, but it's still not to same degree. I mean, there aren't hundreds of different versions of Islam. You don't Baptist Muslims, Mormon Muslims, Catholic Muslims, Orthodox Muslims, Lutheran Muslims, Methodist Muslims, SDA Muslims (except in Bosnia, where SDA is a Muslim political party... lol), etc, etc, etc, etc.

Iraq is only a small piece of a Muslim world, the whole of Arabia accounts for only 15% of the world's Muslims... so the rest, I think, are more representative in this regard and we certainly say it is to the "same degree".

 

[Tigress]

Rev., I hope you find the path that's right for you, and that this current change is a step in the right direction. :hug:

 

[*Paul*]

I find your decision hard to accept though it seems you have given it a lot of thought and are not being rash which is even more upsetting. You have placed your decision on the shoulders of those who claim to be chistians but are too judging and legalistic and so forth, how does that make christianity wrong? How does that invalididate Jesus' sacrifce for you? Why does that lead you to reject carrying the name of Christ and replacing it with an x? Are you not judging the other Christians?
I too reject TV preachers, i cannot find a church i can settle in that i can reach. But i cannot think of anything that would cause me to reject Christianity, your decision bewilders me and can only lead me to the conclusion that you never knew Him, for to know Him is incomparable to anything else this world has to offer and no one would relinquish knowing Jesus Christ and proudly declaring the fact that they are a follower of Jesus Christ.

I should stop typing.

Mk 4v16: And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
Mk 4v17: And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.
Mk 4v18: And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
Mk 4v19: And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

 

[doppelganger]

for to know Him is incomparable to anything else this world has to offer and no one would relinquish knowing Jesus Christ and proudly declaring the fact that they are a follower of Jesus Christ.

Rev can correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think he said anything about relinquishing "knowing" Jesus Christ. As I read it, he just doesn't want to be associated with people who use the word "Christian" to describe themselves for the reasons he provided.

 

[Scuba Pete]

You know,

I refuse to let others pigeon hole WHAT I believe in. That happens a lot. So many people are so stinking biased against Christians. Changing what I call my religion to escape that bigotry just rubs me the wrong way. I'm a Christian only. What others believe or practice does not matter one whit.