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OP, have you looked into Unitarianism? If you have any desire for fellowship, that could fulfill your needs, if the congregation suits you.
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Originally Posted by lilred0005
Thanks for the reply. Yes, I would like some fellowship so maybe I will check it out. I'm probably going to be seriously flamed(blackened like a fish sandwich, lol) for mentioning this but I am seriously looking into the nature based beliefs like Wicca/Paganism. I have always felt a kinship with nature and I perfer to pray outside so it would make sense to worship outside. Take care, lil red
If it's fellowship you seek then I would also suggest Unitarianism - they typically are open to all denominations including those outside Christianity (Buddhism, Wicca, etc). I followed a similar path but have come to the decision of why do I have to choose a box - why can't I just be one with it all? I don't need a label to define me. True UU'ers are open minded folks - check it out
Wouldn't it be ironic if because of the arrogance of Christianity that they were wrong, I have often thought that who was it that said that this man Jesus was supposedly the son of their god, the only place that you find that it is in their sacred book, and who wrote that sacred book, those that proclaim him to be their savior, like I said, wouldn't it be ironic if they were all wrong. Just a thought.
Well, the bible does say that the majority of people will not get into heaven, so it probably makes sense, not to follow the herd.
Good for you lil red
You are now on the road to self awareness, and a better understanding of the world around you, and yourself.
This is the only thing this life is good for, to begin to understand why we are here, you must look inward, not out.
My suggestion for your next step, take some religious studies classes. Learn as much about other cultures philosophy and religions as you can, and take the similarities, study them, and then decide for yourself whats real to you.
And what's with that "personal relationship" thing anyway?
Oh, that's just the new 'buzz' phrase in Christianity these days. After millenniums of saying that their god is mysterious, an enigma, unknowable, beyond comprehension, beyond space and time etc, suddenly, they all have a 'personal relationship' with him!!
Congratulations: You are halfway on the journey to true freedom and enlightment. Once you realize that without the constant mantra from organized religions brainwashing of the unforgiving deity who loves and causes untold suffering and kills freely is just a fictional character that plays an important role in their message of control through paralyzing fear.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lilred0005
After years of difficult soul searching, I have decided to end my relationship with organized religion, specifically Christianity. I believe in God, whether it be an entity or entities, or a natural force, with all my heart and soul. I would be a lost soul without my faith, however, I do not feel I can obtain spiritual fufilment(sp?) by following blindly organized religion. My disillusionment with Christianity was painful at first, but now that I have accepted it, I feel free. My main issues with Christianity are as follows: I can't follow a group that thinks it knows, or has figured out everything about life and the divine. I don't believe there is "one true Faith" and "one true" spiritual path. I can't deal with a group that is so obviously misogynistic and had no room for women. I don't believe the Bible came directly from God and that it should be taken literally. The Bible was obviously written by powerful, educated men who used it as a tool to manipulate and keep the uneducated masses in line. I can't deal with a religion that views mankind(especially women) as inherently evil(sin) and weak, slaves to their base natures. Finally(I could go on but you get the major points), I don't believe that ONLY Christians will be saved and that everyone else, no matter how good, pious, and selfless, will BURN, or that the only way to salvation is to declare alliegence to Jesus. Those "saved" ppl can now never lift a finger to help others because "good works won't get you into Heaven" and no matter what they have done in the past(child rape, et al), all is forgiven but the Pagan/Hindi/Buddist who helps his fellows and is moral is condemned for Eternity. These are the major reasons why I can no longer call myself a Christian. If I BURN, so be it ; I followed my heart. ...lil red...... Btw, I am very sorry for the single paragraph. My PDA removes all the paragraph spaces. Thank you.
After years of difficult soul searching, I have decided to end my relationship with organized religion, specifically Christianity. I believe in God, whether it be an entity or entities, or a natural force, with all my heart and soul. I would be a lost soul without my faith, however, I do not feel I can obtain spiritual fufilment(sp?) by following blindly organized religion. My disillusionment with Christianity was painful at first, but now that I have accepted it, I feel free. My main issues with Christianity are as follows: I can't follow a group that thinks it knows, or has figured out everything about life and the divine. I don't believe there is "one true Faith" and "one true" spiritual path. I can't deal with a group that is so obviously misogynistic and had no room for women. I don't believe the Bible came directly from God and that it should be taken literally. The Bible was obviously written by powerful, educated men who used it as a tool to manipulate and keep the uneducated masses in line. I can't deal with a religion that views mankind(especially women) as inherently evil(sin) and weak, slaves to their base natures. Finally(I could go on but you get the major points), I don't believe that ONLY Christians will be saved and that everyone else, no matter how good, pious, and selfless, will BURN, or that the only way to salvation is to declare alliegence to Jesus. Those "saved" ppl can now never lift a finger to help others because "good works won't get you into Heaven" and no matter what they have done in the past(child rape, et al), all is forgiven but the Pagan/Hindi/Buddist who helps his fellows and is moral is condemned for Eternity. These are the major reasons why I can no longer call myself a Christian. If I BURN, so be it ; I followed my heart. ...lil red...... Btw, I am very sorry for the single paragraph. My PDA removes all the paragraph spaces. Thank you.
I actually saw someone on a message board once post "there is no such thing as an ex-Christian".
And what's with that "personal relationship" thing anyway?
Yeah I've wondered this too....personal relationship...hmmm...curious phrase isn't it? Like as opposed to an impersonal relationship? What? How can one have a relationship with someone that doesn't respond or answer you when you speak?
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How can one have a relationship with someone that doesn't respond or answer you when you speak?
