We are different, and I'm okay with that.

Amen to that

Amen to that

Haha!  Danny made a funny!

This is good, dharma. I don't know why so many feel the need to push their will on others.

This is good, dharma

Thanks!

I don't know why so many feel the need to push their will on others.

Neither do I.  This article came about partly because of another thread here.  Someone said that they, as a christian, were tired of compromising.  I can see why they would feel like they are....but I can see too why their insistence would make a normally tolerant person want to protest and fight until they got what they wanted.

That, and I'm getting fed up of being told I'm evil and I'm going to hell.

This article came about partly because of another thread here.

I saw that, dharma . . . he was trying to put words in your mouth and shape you into some kind of liberal Christian-basher when clearly you are not either one of those. Some people need to someone to fight against and feel persecuted by. I think that's what was going on with him.

Some people need to someone to fight against and feel persecuted by.

Why is that?  I mean, they're literally the moral majority.....why do they feel the need to play the victim?

Why is that? I mean, they're literally the moral majority.....why do they feel the need to play the victim?

I dunno. I've seen a lot of really unbecoming behavior coming from that direction, which is sad . . . they complain about the behavior of the left (and rightly so), but then sink to the same level themselves. It's particularly strange that he decided to pick on you of all people.

It's particularly strange that he decided to pick on you of all people.

I thought the same thing.....after I had stated quite clearly that I wasn't the one offending him or making him compromise. 

I think that he just needed to rant, and I was there.  That's okay.

It still does irritate me that people feel the need to 'save' my soul.  It's a bit like The Borg..'resistance is futile'...'you will be assimilated'...

I think that he just needed to rant, and I was there. That's okay.

That's one of the things that's so beautiful about you dharma. You can separate yourself from the emotion and the drama and be okay with things that drive other people mad.

It's a bit like The Borg..'resistance is futile'...'you will be assimilated'...

I think it's funny that they think they're going to "save" anyone's soul by being agressive and telling them how wrong they are.

Yup. Thanks for alerting me to the fact that I'm a wretched person and every life choice I've made is sinful. What's that you say? I'm going to hell because I don't live my life exactly the way you live yours? OK, sign me up for some of that salvation, then.

Who goes for that crap? I've never heard of anyone converting because someone told them how awful they were and that they were bound for hell . . . that tends to just piss people off and makes them stop listening.

I've never heard of anyone converting because someone told them how awful they were and that they were bound for hell . . . that tends to just piss people off and makes them stop listening.

...you're right.  It does. 

If I were to sign up for that reason, what kind of a Christian would I be?  I'd be fulfilling Pascal's wager, and I'm not going to to that.  My heart wouldn't be in it, I wouldn't really believe....and those who do believe would probably find me offensive (and rightly so).

All I want is tolerance.  From left and right, from Christian and non-christian. 

 

 

Great article Dharmagrl. People do tend to want to push their ideas of what is right, wrong, and acceptable onto others. You show a great deal of respect and tolerance in this article while at the same time expressing consternation at the lack of same from others.

Very well written and effective.

Fantastic. Best thing I've read on here yet.

Neither do I. This article came about partly because of another thread here. Someone said that they, as a christian, were tired of compromising. I can see why they would feel like they are....but I can see too why their insistence would make a normally tolerant person want to protest and fight until they got what they wanted.That, and I'm getting fed up of being told I'm evil and I'm going to hell

Fear and condemnation will never convert anyone to anything. It drives them away. Dharmagrl, we definitely have differing religious beliefs, but I prefer to enjoy what we have in common and learn from what we do not.

One of the best ways to attest to the strengths of any religion is to live your life in a way that makes other people question, "What is it about X that makes them so happy, or strong, or at peace?" Obviously the above mentioned person that attacked you has none of that. Sad really.

Viva La Difference...

Never a truer word written more succintly - lovely stuff, Dharma. You've done it again.

People do tend to want to push their ideas of what is right, wrong, and acceptable onto others

We're all guilty of that to an extent, I think.  But, what works for one person may not work for someone else...and therefore shouldn't be forced upon them.

Fantastic. Best thing I've read on here yet.

Wow...!  Thank you!

Fear and condemnation will never convert anyone to anything. It drives them away.

You're right, it doesn't, and it does drive people away.  That's part of the reason I don't want to participate in mainstream christianity anymore.

 

Never a truer word written more succintly - lovely stuff, Dharma

Wow, again!  Thank you!

Why is that? I mean, they're literally the moral majority.....why do they feel the need to play the victim?

They may be moral, but they are not the majority.  Don't sweat them and their self rightiousness.

They may be moral, but they are not the majority

What I meant by that is that they are the majority because this is a predominantly christian country.  I'm Buddhist; there aren't many of us around compared to christians. 

I'm not sweating them.  I have my own internal moral compass, I know when I'm heading in the right direction (and karma's there to remind me too!).

Know Thine Own God, Dharma....thats all that matters.

I don't have one per se.  That's okay too, though.  I'm happy with knowing myself.

Surely you recognize some power, some force in the universe, greater than yourself, right?

Oh yeah, that's why i said i don't have a god per se...I don't have a force that's personnified.  I do believe that the universe is a powerful force, and that there are more forces within it than I could possibly imagine...

Some Buddhists don't believe in reincarnation, and some don't do good deeds in the hope of being reincarnated...we do it because it's the 'right action', for no reason other than it's the right thing to do.  Karma follows us, yes, and doing the right thing will hopefully cause us less personal pain and trouble in the future, but....we shouldn't do things just because of Karma or fear of what will happen after we die.

I hope that made sense.....

My reality, of course, is a bit different, lol.

And that's what this article is all about...people's differeing realities and the tolerance of each and every one of them.

Very nice post. Insightful, I'd say. I've always believed in religious tolerance. I remember being told when I was young that all Catholics were missionaries to the world. Well, I do believe that, but people have to want to accept a change. If they are happy with their beliefs, then I'm not going to force mine on them. I think that my actions (whether model Catholic or not) are a better way to be a missionary than banging on your door and trying to make you listen (or worse yet, preach fire and brimstone). I appreciate being able to share my faith with people outside of it, but at the same time, if the topic is unwanted, I don't force it. I've also held a curiousity for other people's faiths. I've never felt the temptation to switch, but I'm fascinated by how their beliefs are similar and different to mine.

I've found that the people I like to speak with about religion are the Mormons. While they have a very active missionary program, I've never felt pressured by any of the Mormons that I've spoken with. They are very happy to tell you about their beliefs without expecting a whole lot in return. I find that very refreshing. Although, I could be wrong as I've not met and spoken with a large number of Mormons.

Hi, everyone. I've often thought of starting my own church. I mean the world needs another one don't you think? Mine would be a kinder - gentlier church. Anyone can join and do and believe anything they want, as long as they follow the one doctrine, "tithing" of course. To none other than, me. Such a deal!

Really, I believe there is always a degree of unrest due to differing beliefs. A certain degree of pluralism is managable for most societies but the resulting confusion individually can be disturbing. For the sake of survival, there needs to be some uniformity. Every child should be taught the history of religions and some comparative religions to better undestand the world in which they live. Without some knowledge of religion in light of it's history in world events, its difficult to grasp the world and its everyday events. I have just finished, Karen Armstrong's book , "The Battle For God" the history of fundamentalism. It 's the most enlightening book I have ever read in light of today's world and religion, and quite a few. Check out the reviews of the book at Amazon.com.

Hmm, Sabbatismus, you beat me to the punch. I was just about to make a similar suggestion. I was even thinking of calling 'The Church of ME", with tithing of course. The only concession I would have to money tithing is either alcohol or really good drugs...

Maybe we could join teams, you have the Northern Hemisphere and I'll have the Southern. What do you think?

Cheers,

Maso
(Lord High Mucky-muck, Church of Me)

Well, I do believe that, but people have to want to accept a change. If they are happy with their beliefs, then I'm not going to force mine on them.

Thank you!  That's all I ask! 

Every child should be taught the history of religions and some comparative religions to better undestand the world in which they live.

I think so too.  Too many fundamental christians have ostrich syndrome - they stick their heads in the sand and try to pretend that no other faith exists, save theirs.  I find that those are the kind that try and convert me.....the borg-esque ones.

 

Maybe we could join teams, you have the Northern Hemisphere and I'll have the Southern. What do you think?

I've been worshipping at the church of Dharma for years now.......I just can't seem to persuade people to tithe, though!

Hey, dynamaso, like my friend says, "you can preach to the poor and I'll preach to the rich". Let's not start defining territories. I want all I can get and pray there ain't know hell.