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For the past few days at work I have had so many customers wish me a "Happy Easter" before they leave. Now, I know they are being nice. As I work at a small, family owned operation, our interactions with our customers are a bit more one-on-one and involved than what you normally get at the big time places
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and I hope I've never vilified anyone who doesn't believe the same - disagree yes, try to tell them why I disagree yes, but vilify - no! and if I'm pompous, please tell me
but just as an explanation: the Bible says that Jesus is the only way, which automatically says that other ways are not valid - HOWEVER, I think it's even more important how you share that, because at the end of the day I respect your right to disagree with me, in the same way I hope you respect my belief in this God
*hugs*
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Culturally yes the world is "christian" but I think, as obviously a very devout believer yourself, that there is a disconnect between those that actually follow the religion and those that just say their christian and have it not mean anything.
As I mentioned above, this post is really more venting at my parents (heh) I'm certainly not going to yell at someone for disagreeing with me when I complain about not being able to disagree with them, I just wish that abstaining from religion or practicing something like paganism was not looked at as if the practitioners are moral-less and bad. And this feeling tends to get more fervent around cultural christian holidays. :)
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I wasn't always a believer, my family still does not think God exists, so I've seen both sides and understand both (I hope)
The one distinction I'd like to make is between Faith and Religion - one is a personal relationship and hopefully people oriented (as I see myself) and the other is something you practice with rules to follow to appease someone (hope that makes sense)
And morals, that is a mine field as it can be so personal, i.e. I'm a born again believer writing Janto Slash - many will say that I'm crossing into immoral territory there
*hugs* (and sorry for ranting)
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I agree with your distinction between faith and religion, one that I don't think many who ARE religious probably get.
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your last line is very perceptive and I think that's so true...
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Yeah, my parents tell me that too and get upset when I am totally against/disbelieving any sort of organised religion that society offers.
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faith should be individual (and though a church is part of that faith eventually - group support for want of a better word) Jesus is an individual God, not a one size fits all :) same with churches - I went to one 20 years ago I would not feel comfortable with today as I've changed / developed
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I really should try to have more of these discussions on my post as they serve to help remind me that I can't be pushy with my own beliefs either.
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it's called being a witness - it's up to the other person to judge, I can only tell you what I've experienced (like in court) but I'm not the one judging
Does that make sense?
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It's natural for when you believe strongly in something that you want to share these beliefs, it gets even more compounded when, apparently the religion tells you to do just that. I think there is a fine line to witnessing and it can be hard to do without annoying the other person.
Which, let me clarify, you did not. :) Just wanted to clear that up.
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b) I shut the door in the face of Mormon's yesterday - I've got a faith, thank you - and doing that kind of things would be my worst nightmare
c) trust me I don't always do what they tell me ;), in this case I just happen to believe that Jesus is worth sharing - but in love,not in a threatening / talking down to you kind of way
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