The Gap

[dyvinesweetness]

I wanna talk about the gap. The gap between religious folks and those who don't follow a religion. The gap is the pause and physical tension you feel when you mention a nice event or moment and someone who doesn't know your beliefs says "isn't that a gift from God?" You pause not knowing how to react. Do you lie and feign piety, sprinkling your

Comments

[infamousone]

I honestly feel that people get defensive because they can't answer your questions other than the standard "You can't question God or His will" But that's what faith is. Believing in something blindly.

It was funny you posted this though 'cause the other day I was pumping my gas and this guy across from me was all smiles and was like how are you doing buddy? And I say fine and smile back but on the inside I was like, yeah this guy is a christian because no one is generally that happy to strangers otherwise. Then I turn to take my receipt and then i turn back around and he was standing right next to me still smiling. I'm like oh Lord, he's going to ask me about my relationship with God and ask what church I go to......

turns out he was just trying to sell me something

But I was preparing myself for that Gap because I know it well.

[dyvinesweetness]

"I honestly feel that people get defensive because they can't answer your questions other than the standard "You can't question God or His will"

Yeah, that idea always gets to me. To me, it sounds like "I don't have the answer and this is the way I resolve that with myself." Now if folks would say THAT, I'd could deal with it better. Moreover, people try to live by god's will and adhere to whatever his plan may be, but how can you do that when you can't understand it nor question it?

I just don't stop with the questions!!

"turns out he was just trying to sell me something"

haha!

[toodani]

oooh the GAP lol. for me, my response is much easier with strangers. I remember once at work, a coworker invited me to her church. and i said "no thanks I'm not christian" and she was like 'oh.." and gave me the googly look for a moment. And then i said "but i would love to hear about what they're offering" because it was some kind of.. contest going on or something. And she hesitantly explained it to me, but i could just SEE her brain racing behind her eyes, trying to figure me out. It's really kind of funny now, breaking people's stereotypes. Even funnier than when I tell them i don't smoke weed, and actually never have

[dyvinesweetness]

"for me, my response is much easier with strangers."

Chica, you are damn near leading a double life. lol How do you think your parents would react to knowing about your real beliefs? I feel obligated to tell my family what I believe soon. What's funny is I've never spoken to them about my beliefs, but I know they assumed I was Xtian. That shit really is the default.

"My personal faith isn't really people's business."

I hear you. And I know how personal religion is for folks, so that is one area that I do try to be careful with and use some sensitivity, but at the same time I sometimes want to shake people and be like "for all you know I'm buddhist." It's the presumption that gets to me.

"Even funnier than when I tell them i don't smoke weed, and actually never have."

I've never had anyone react surprisingly when I said I don't smoke and never have. I think they were usually just thinking "shit, more for me!"

[illwauk]

The gap? And here I thought you were about to talk about some capri pants lol

[lovelylind]

It was created by the chruch for the specific purpose of killing all open discussion about religion.

Don't agree with that. Maybe ....in the 1300s, yes, but not now.

People question, people share, people go through ups and downs. Just because someone is Christian doesn't mean that they have no point in their spiritual lives that they question even God's existance.

Christians are very well aware of certain "fallacies," and that's why there are different denominations. That's why people continue to break away from certain churches and create their own.

[illwauk]

Don't agree with that. Maybe ....in the 1300s, yes, but not now.

You don't agree that people are uncomfortbale discussing religion today?

People question, people share, people go through ups and downs. Just because someone is Christian doesn't mean that they have no point in their spiritual lives that they question even God's existance.

I remember that point in my life and was called blasphemous and a bad x-tian for going through it. Granted, that might have been due to the environment I was in, but the fact remains that even questioning the church's teachings is grounds for a verbal beatdown from the holier-than-thous.

Christians are very well aware of certain "fallacies," and that's why there are different denominations. That's why people continue to break away from certain churches and create their own.

And I can't see why someone go through the trouble of forming their own church and basing their philosophies on what they see as a flawed testament unless they thought that belonging to a church was their only option.

[lovelylind]

Good topic. I feel like this is something that both ends of the spectrum struggle with, and it's mainly a result from an experience with someone else.

On the one hand, the Christian person... some of them are old school. They'd look at you some sort of way for not being Christian. But, it says in the Bible not to be judgmental. To encourage someone to be Christian, but if they choose not to, you've done your job and it's on them.

At the same time, people don't necessarily view Christians as the "life of the party," either. As if to be a Christian means to be at home and watch the televangelists all day.

On the other side, for someone that isn't Christian, it doesn't make sense. Many of them do have questions, but some already take up the "I'm gonna stump this Christian" attitude

[infamousone]

Due to all my years in Christian schools I've been through the Bible forward and back and there are no real answers to some of these questions. I'm that kid that used to get mad for real for real when my moms was like, "'cause I said so"

And that's what the Bible is to me alot of the time...."'cause I said so..."

And there are some things that are taught that I will never be able to accept wholeheartedly even if I did become a believer. And I will never understand why some things are written in the Bible that when questioned about people come back with....oh well we are not bound by that law anymore.

[dyvinesweetness]

"And I will never understand why some things are written in the Bible that when questioned about people come back with....oh well we are not bound by that law anymore."

Yeah, I think it's been referred to as "cafeteria faith." Picking and choosing which you want to adhere to and which you don't. That disturbs me too. The truth is the bible does have some evil, hateful shit in it. It's definitely not entirely hateful, but some of it is undeniably wrathful (one of the deadly sins!!).

For me, it was easier to discard it all and accept that if evil is in part of it, then it's tainted all around. But I guess for others it's easier to discard the parts they don't like and keep the parts they do. But that seems sorta half-assed to me. *shrugs*

Leviticus as a whole is a trip.

[dyvinesweetness]

"Perhaps, instead of seeking answers from people, you should look at religious texts (not only the Bible but other texts that are available at any library or bookstore)."

"In fact, I wish more people would actually read, whether they are Christian or not. Maybe that in itself would close the gap."

I studied the bible as a child. My gramma made me read it regularly. And I still have hers which I use as a reference from time to time. But honestly the answers I seek are not in that book. The religion lives in religious people. The practice comes from those who practice. And each person takes different things from the book (which is something else I question), so I can't learn what one person values from the book, nor why they value it.

I could stand to read up on other religions though. I have my birth mother's Qu'ran. I could be reading that. If I knew Hebrew I'd get a Torah.

To Lighten Things Up a Little...

[lovelylind]

I thought you were talkin about the store, too! Like, dang, UPS AND The Gap?? What is goin on in NYC??

Re: To Lighten Things Up a Little...

[dyvinesweetness]

lol There are NO men at the Gap. Please believe it.