Stephen Baldwin praying for Tom Cruise

[Lobelia]

KD, you win the BINGO! award for tonight.

[A*O]

You're right. Outspoken atheists and agnostics are just as arrogant and strident about their beliefs (or lack of them) as, let's call them, people of faith. They truly believe that they are right and anyone who does not agree with them is misguided and morally/intellectually inferior, just like religious fundies. Ironic, eh?

Disclaimer: Scientologists don't count. It's ALWAYS open season on them.

[Sojiita]

Originally Posted by Lobelia

If I really cared what you said, I'd be offended, but since I don't, I'll just say this: you can call my faith whatever you want, and belittle it all you want, and you can sterotype everyone like me so that you feel better about yourself & oh so superior, but I know that I am most certainly not weak. The people who know me would laugh at the notion. The strongest people I know are people of faith.

I've attended church etc. very, very little, so sorry, I haven't had the opportunity to be subjected to a bunch of mind control. Whatever that is. I've had my IQ measured, thankyewverylittle, and I'll match it against anybody on this board, so I'm not some weak little person who needs to be told what to do. I sought out my faith, and I thank God I found it.

Something I've noticed here, that I'll just throw out, because I've had a crappy day & it's late. Here's the pattern on GR. You can't express negative thoughts about race, sexual orientation, nationality (unless American sometimes) or gender, but there is open season on Christianity at all times. If some of us pipe up & try to defend ourselves, then the thread quickly starts belittling "fundamental" christians, because it's OK to hoot on them. They con old folks out of money, and they have big ridiculous hair, so of COURSE it's ok to hoot on them.

Guess what, folks? The silent majority of us are NOT fundamental Christians, but when you ridicule Christianity, you ridicule US. If you put a gun to my head and told me to recite the 7 deadly sins, you'd end up shooting me, but it doesn't make me any less Christian.

I don't give a rat's ass about Stephen Baldwin, and even less about Tom Cruise. I've just been wanting to say this for a long time.

I have nothing against Christians per-se. It is the crazies that get me riled. I hope I do point this out when I say something that seems anti-Christian/anti religious. I think the person who this would most apply to is temporarily unable to respond if ya know what I mean(not hatin' on him..but let's be real, right? )
There is a heck of a lot of anti-male sentiment on this board at times too. Men are evil, men are abusers, etc. etc. But given that this is mostly a female board, I just let it go for the most part. I think sometimes people's views on here may get a little exaggerated because they may be venting on here also-and this applies to just about all topics/groups/etc. and *shock!!!* this applies to me too!

[A*O]

Pish - It's true that not all Christians are crazy fundamentalists, but that doesn't change the fact that ALL MEN ARE BASTARDS

[SammysMom]

I may get an earful on this but you know what I dont really care. In the past few years I have become more in tuned to my spiritual side. I understand alot more and find myself full of hope and patience. I say prayers all the time I have to because if I let the anger and craziness of the world take over me I will be a very very sad person. Im more spiritual were as my son is not and I do not force it on him. If he is interested, and sometimes he is, I will be more than happy to talk to him. I have a sister that tends to shove religion in your face and Im not about that. I do think it is very important to have a relationship with God. As I have said to my son, who is it hurting? No one, its a positive enriching thing.
I know people can turn their lives around, arent they entitled to do that? Baldwin may have been a jerk in the past but doesnt he have a right and a choice to have a relationship with the Lord? Yes he does and we shouldnt ever put a person down for trying to better themselves.
Read my signature, words my father repeated over and over while I was growing up.
And if anyone wants to reply to my post and its only going to be a put down I refuse to respond.
KD , Lobelia, and Delphinium I totally respect you for posts
Sojiita I just want to say I love you, you are a wonderful person
Oh and I dont think all men are jerks or bastards some are just lost

[A*O]

I suppose, broadly speaking, if I had to give my spiritual beliefs a label I guess it would be christian with a small 'c' if that's possible. I do believe in God and I think the teachings of Jesus Christ are probably those with which I can identify the most but I'm afraid that's as far as it goes. The specifics of my faith, such as they are, are private and between me and my God. Things became a lot clearer to me last year during my father's terminal illness and death but I didn't have a 'lightbulb moment'. The experience certainly reassured me that death is nothing to be scared of (although the process of dying is pretty unpleasant sometimes).

I suppose what any religion does is try to reassure us that there is something beyond death because it's such a universal human fear. The way I see it is that if there IS 'life after death' it's going to be a fantastic surprise/adventure. And if there isn't anything there I'm not going to be aware there's nothing there in the first place so either way it's not worth worrying about.

[SammysMom]

My "journey" has been slow and gradual. Yes A*O I totally agree with what you say "The specifics of my faith, such as they are, are private and between me and my God."

[Sojiita]

Originally Posted by A*O

Pish - It's true that not all Christians are crazy fundamentalists, but that doesn't change the fact that ALL MEN ARE BASTARDS

I know.. I have to deal with them romantically as well..WE ARE BASTARDS!!!! LOL

[buttmunch]

sounds to me like you've got "issues". I'm not trying to convert anyone here, merely stating what a "typical" evangelical believes. Which happens to be what I believe. Do I believe Tom Cruise will go to hell when he dies if he continues to worship thetan aliens? (or whatever he worships) yes I do.

I haven't said anyone here is going to hell, or tried to get anyone here "saved" (although of course I would want anyone and everyone to be).

So maybe you are a tad too touchy on this subject. Amazing how it is okay to try and bash on Stephen Baldwin because he didn't pass some snarky interviewers "christianity test" but when somebody clarifies it's prostelyzing. give me a break.

Nope, no issues here. I just don't buy the whole "if you don't believe in Jesus then you won't be 'saved'" line of thinking. If there is a some sort of higher being watching over the world, I should think he/she would be more interested in humans living good lives, being kind to others, not treating others shamefully, etc. than in those who bang on about how much they believe in a book or a church or a deity.
And I certainly don't think that questioning any religion is mocking it nor do I think that in questioning a religion I am insulting each and every member of that religion. That would mean that if someone, like you, says that ThetinTom will go to hell (which, yes, you did say...see above) for not believing in Jesus, etc, then all who don't believe in Jesus etc should be insulted. You have a right to your beliefs, certainly, but so do I. And I, like you, have the right to express them in a discussion. Yes, I do find Stephen Baldwin ridiculous with this praying for people crap. Just like I find ThetinTom ridiculous with his vitamins and exercise crap. Actually, anything that smacks of conversion and missionary work kind of creeps me out. Believe what you want to believe...I absolutely support that as long as it doesn't hurt anyone or interfere in thier lives. But trying to label me as someone with issues is kind of silly. I wasn't making any stance on the existence of God or viability of religion. I was making a stance on this very silly little man vs. another very silly little man. It was others who brought in being saved, etc. And quite frankly, George Bush is a born-again and I dont' care how much he believes in Jesus, God or whatever, if there is a hell, that man is first in line for tickets the day he dies.

[pacific breeze]

I don't really care what people believe as long as they keep it to themselves and don't try to mix religion and government. Problem is though, most true believers have a mission to "save" the rest of us whether we want to be saved or not. And in my not inconsiderable experience, a lot of born agains become addicted to religion in the same way that they were once addicted to sex, drugs, booze or whatever their particular vice was. I think Baldwin is a prime example of this syndrome.

[MrsMarsters]

oh will it be like an old fashioned duel..but a pray off? god..that "say a little prayer" for you song popped into my head.

[Sleuth]

I am so annoyed at people trying to "push" their religions onto others, why can't everyone keep their religion to themselves?

[buttmunch]

I don't really care what people believe as long as they keep it to themselves and don't try to mix religion and government. Problem is though, most true believers have a mission to "save" the rest of us whether we want to be saved or not. And in my not inconsiderable experience, a lot of born agains become addicted to religion in the same way that they were once addicted to sex, drugs, booze or whatever their particular vice was. I think Baldwin is a prime example of this syndrome.

I absolutely agree, PB. Well said.

oh will it be like an old fashioned duel..but a pray off? god..that "say a little prayer" for you song popped into my head.

'Say a little prayer for me...Forever and ever and...'

[A*O]

Originally Posted by buttmunch

'Say a little prayer for me...Forever and ever and...'

Pedant Alert: That ^^^ song is "I say a little prayer for you", made famous by Dion Warwick.

[buttmunch]

I know...I actually have a copy. Great tune.