1) Respect what a person decides for their religion. If i wanted to worship a piece of paper, then you should respect it.
Now this isnt saying that you dont respect my religion. I was having a messed up day yesterday and now that I look back at it, I was in the wrong. Big time.
2) Religion to me is not a crutch, not a vice, not a bane. To me its simple and pure faith. A person goes to church out of their own free will. They worship a "God" or "gods" because they believe in it. To have a man stand outside of a church saying "God is Fake", forces people to think in a negetive manner. Now, my issue with this whole thing is that said guy did all of this in front of a church... on Easter. It begs the questions: Did this man have the right to picket or protest? Did this man go through the courts, get the rights to pull out a picket sign and protest? I dont think he did, but hey... I dont fully know. Did this man know that people have the right to believe in whatever we choose? That his little sign takes away from that and ruins our belief and to a lesser degree our faith in ourselves? We go to church thinking "Yup, God is real. He is good. Nothing can change our minds." When people try to force you to think otherwise, by pulling out signs, protesting, etc, it ruins that belief and forces us to rethink. I mean not even Christians will do that. They simply go to a house and say "Hi, im so and so from such and such church. I would like to talk to you about my religion." At that point the person has the right to say "Um no, sorry." or "Yes! talk to me!" We dont say "Hey, you arent a christian, therefor you are going to hell." Religion is a choice. Heck its a right in America. Our country was based on that fact. When a person pulls out a sign and tells you otherwise... not only is it bad taste, but its down right mean. *shrugs* Note that this is all my opinion.
3) Im sorry that I didnt voice my opinion. I should have talked to you in person before going to my journal and write to the world.
You are forgiven, and I hope that I never seem unapproachable on these matters. I am a big believer in communication...and I think you are too. I don't so much mind that this went public, it just really surprised me. I do enjoy being able to talk about things in person and dealing with them in private...but I am also a sucker for a good debate. I think debate is in my DNA *grins*
So, in the spirit of good debate... "Did this man have the right to picket or protest? Did this man go through the courts, get the rights to pull out a picket sign and protest? I don’t think he did, but hey... I don’t fully know. Did this man know that people have the right to believe in whatever we choose? That his little sign takes away from that and ruins our belief and to a lesser degree our faith in ourselves? We go to church thinking "Yup, God is real. He is good. Nothing can change our minds." When people try to force you to think otherwise, by pulling out signs, protesting, etc, it ruins that belief and forces us to rethink."
Our forefathers earned the right to picket and protest and have the freedom of speech years and years ago. The First Amendment to the United States Constitution says that Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom to express opinions in speech or press. You do not need to go to the courts, big brother does not have the power to give permissions for this. Now, not to say that there are not loopholes about private property and such, but one thing that the state stays away from on these issues is the church. In a way, they are afraid to look bad (in America we've decided that the separation of church and state is necessary.) I would hate to live in a world that someone had to go to the courts and beg to say something on a sign. Also, I noted that he was not on the property of the church, he was on the public sidewalk.
to your question: "Did this man know that people have the right to believe in whatever we choose?"
I think the answer to that is decidedly yes. Otherwise he would not have thought he had the freedom to believe what he espoused on his sign.
Now to what you said here... "That his little sign takes away from that and ruins our belief and to a lesser degree our faith in ourselves?"
If a person is strong enough in their faith, this should not effect them. If they are so weak in their faith that a man with a sign makes them question...then maybe they need to question. Questioning ones beliefs can only lead to enlightenment. Meant both ways. Sometimes having the proverbial wool pulled from ones eyes is not fun or joyful. Sometimes it's painful. We learn from those painful times the most poignant of lessons in this life.
To take away those painful lessons is to stifle someone else’s growth. That, I think, is a far worse sin then say...picketing a church on Easter with a sign that makes them think.
*LOL I guess LJ felt I had too much to say...here is the rest...*
Lastly,
"When people try to force you to think otherwise, by pulling out signs, protesting, etc, it ruins that belief and forces us to rethink."
If it ruins your belief...then maybe you need to rethink that belief...as stated above. I don't respect blind faith, but I do respect well thought out, maybe even defended faith. He was not trying to force anyone to think anything. He was simply a man, with an idea and a sign.
I honestly respect that he had the balls to hold a sign like that in front of a church on Easter. I'm sure the Catholics gave him a lesson or two in humility...and honestly? I don't think that is what Jesus would do.
1) Respect what a person decides for their religion. If i wanted to worship a piece of paper, then you should respect it.
Now this isnt saying that you dont respect my religion. I was having a messed up day yesterday and now that I look back at it, I was in the wrong. Big time.
2) Religion to me is not a crutch, not a vice, not a bane. To me its simple and pure faith. A person goes to church out of their own free will. They worship a "God" or "gods" because they believe in it. To have a man stand outside of a church saying "God is Fake", forces people to think in a negetive manner. Now, my issue with this whole thing is that said guy did all of this in front of a church... on Easter. It begs the questions: Did this man have the right to picket or protest? Did this man go through the courts, get the rights to pull out a picket sign and protest? I dont think he did, but hey... I dont fully know. Did this man know that people have the right to believe in whatever we choose? That his little sign takes away from that and ruins our belief and to a lesser degree our faith in ourselves? We go to church thinking "Yup, God is real. He is good. Nothing can change our minds." When people try to force you to think otherwise, by pulling out signs, protesting, etc, it ruins that belief and forces us to rethink. I mean not even Christians will do that. They simply go to a house and say "Hi, im so and so from such and such church. I would like to talk to you about my religion." At that point the person has the right to say "Um no, sorry." or "Yes! talk to me!" We dont say "Hey, you arent a christian, therefor you are going to hell." Religion is a choice. Heck its a right in America. Our country was based on that fact. When a person pulls out a sign and tells you otherwise... not only is it bad taste, but its down right mean. *shrugs* Note that this is all my opinion.
3) Im sorry that I didnt voice my opinion. I should have talked to you in person before going to my journal and write to the world.
Paul
Reply
So, in the spirit of good debate...
"Did this man have the right to picket or protest? Did this man go through the courts, get the rights to pull out a picket sign and protest? I don’t think he did, but hey... I don’t fully know. Did this man know that people have the right to believe in whatever we choose? That
his little sign takes away from that and ruins our belief and to a lesser
degree our faith in ourselves? We go to church thinking "Yup, God is
real. He is good. Nothing can change our minds." When people try to force
you to think otherwise, by pulling out signs, protesting, etc, it ruins
that belief and forces us to rethink."
Our forefathers earned the right to picket and protest and have the freedom of speech years and years ago. The First Amendment to the United States Constitution says that Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom to express opinions in speech or press. You do not need to go to the courts, big brother does not have the power to give permissions for this. Now, not to say that there are not loopholes about private property and such, but one thing that the state stays away from on these issues is the church. In a way, they are afraid to look bad (in America we've decided that the separation of church and state is necessary.) I would hate to live in a world that someone had to go to the courts and beg to say something on a sign. Also, I noted that he was not on the property of the church, he was on the public sidewalk.
to your question:
"Did this man know that people have the right to believe in whatever we choose?"
I think the answer to that is decidedly yes. Otherwise he would not have thought he had the freedom to believe what he espoused on his sign.
Now to what you said here...
"That
his little sign takes away from that and ruins our belief and to a lesser
degree our faith in ourselves?"
If a person is strong enough in their faith, this should not effect them. If they are so weak in their faith that a man with a sign makes them question...then maybe they need to question. Questioning ones beliefs can only lead to enlightenment. Meant both ways. Sometimes having the proverbial wool pulled from ones eyes is not fun or joyful. Sometimes it's painful. We learn from those painful times the most poignant of lessons in this life.
To take away those painful lessons is to stifle someone else’s growth. That, I think, is a far worse sin then say...picketing a church on Easter with a sign that makes them think.
Lastly,
"
Reply
Lastly,
"When people try to force
you to think otherwise, by pulling out signs, protesting, etc, it ruins
that belief and forces us to rethink."
If it ruins your belief...then maybe you need to rethink that belief...as stated above. I don't respect blind faith, but I do respect well thought out, maybe even defended faith. He was not trying to force anyone to think anything. He was simply a man, with an idea and a sign.
I honestly respect that he had the balls to hold a sign like that in front of a church on Easter. I'm sure the Catholics gave him a lesson or two in humility...and honestly? I don't think that is what Jesus would do.
Reply
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