dharmagrl dharmagrl

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

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

from JoeUser Forums

I'm different.

I'm not like you.  I don't share your faith, your beliefs, your religion.

And I am perfectly okay with that. 

I'm not against your praying for me.  I'm not against your quoting the bible  to me.  I'm not even against your talking to me about your faith. I'm happy for you that you have something that you wholeheartedly believe in, that gives you comfort, that makes you happy.  I experience the same feelings when I practice my life philosophy.  I'll even go to your houses of worship with you, because I respect your right to practice your faith.

What I am against is your relentless pushing and shoving and insisting that I conform to your rules and to your standards.   I am tolerant of your beliefs, and I ask that you be tolerant of mine.  I don't put rules and conditions before you. You do it to me, though. I don't tell you that you cannot do this or cannot do that because it offends me. Again, you do it to me.  Your intolerance towards me makes me, the person who is usually tolerant, want to dig my heels in.  It makes me want to insist that you respect me and my beliefs, it makes me want to force you to accept me.  I don't like intolerance, in any form, but your relentlessness makes me become that which I dislike.

It makes me want to scream.

I'm different, and I'm okay with that.  You, apparently, are not.

 

misc
12,095 views 30 replies
Reply #26 from JoeUser Forums Top
I find this post one of great insight and wisdom.
Reply #27 from JoeUser Forums Top
Reply By: SabbatismusPosted: Tuesday, November 23, 2004Hey, 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.


ROFL! Say hello to my dad, everyone!
The Political Machine 2024
Reply #28 from JoeUser Forums Top

Dharma, I think I will write a blog along similar lines.  Christmas is always a time of reflection for me.  I'm not christian but I am certainly not anti-christian.  I think we share the feeling that Jesus being the son of God and dying for our sins doesn't make sense in either our minds or hearts.  I try to explain to christian friends and family that perhaps I haven't been touched by something they have but all of the preaching in the world is not going to bring about that faith.  If it is going to happen ("it" being faith in Christ) it is going to have to be a personal journey.


I accept the christian way and even am jealous in some ways.  I think I would find great comfort in that kind of faith.  It just isn't there for me.  This causes many to judge me or pity me.  I need neither judgement nor pity but like you said Dharma, tolerance.  That's all I ask.  Just because I don't share one's faith doesn't mean I think any less of it or that my way is any better.  I am just currently on a different path.  It is a journey I have to take on my own. 


You seem like a very happy, well adjusted, moral person Karen.  I think I fit that bill too.  That is why I don't understand why people such as ourselves get judged so often and so harshly.


Great blog.

Reply #29 from JoeUser Forums Top

I haven't been touched by something they have but all of the preaching in the world is not going to bring about that faith.

You hit the nail on the head there.  It just isn't there for me, it doesn't make sense to me.  I cannot accept that as truth, and I have tried.  I've beaten myself up in the process and made myself miserable.

I accept the christian way and even am jealous in some ways. I think I would find great comfort in that kind of faith. It just isn't there for me.

When I say that I am happy for people that have found solace and comfort in the christian faith, I truly mean it.  I am happy for them.  Up until recently, I was somewhat jealous....but since I found my Buddhist path again I've experienced the same kind of happiness.

 

You seem like a very happy, well adjusted, moral person Karen. I think I fit that bill too.

I am, and that's what I'd like for people to see.  Just because I'm not christian doesn't mean I'm not a good person.  You are too, you're a wonderful person.... and I wish that people could see that before they label us 'heathens'. 

I've stopped telling people I'm Buddhist.  If they ask, I'll tell, but I don't volunteer the information.  One lady at our last base was shocked to find out that I didn't attend church and that I didn't believe what she did.

 

Reply #30 from JoeUser Forums Top
Beliefs are such funny things, aren't they. So personal, yet everybody else seems to have an opinion about your own. I gave up trying to answer this question years ago for similar reasons as Dharma has said - I just got tired of trying to justify my personal beliefs. These days I have learnt to evade the question by simply bouncing it back to the person who asked. Usually, this works a treat because most people like to talk about themselves, I get to learn a little more about that particular person and I don't have to justify anything to anyone.

Sabbastimus: ah, greed IS good in your church. What about sloth and lust? (I picture myself being led in prayer by a beautiful priestess from my lounge because I'm too lazy to get up).

Cheers,

Maso