Comments | the_firecat: The Religious Debate Comes Home

the_firecat

The Religious Debate Comes Home

May 14, 2005 04:57

So yeah, I've had a thread going on a previous post about lack of religious tolerance and stuff. As it turns out that's not a problem that resolved itself with the end of the class. Yesterday my Dad and I were sitting on the couch, watching TV, and idly chatting. He mentioned that if I was ever to be married I had to be confirmed. (Naturally ( Read more... )

Comments 6

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the_firecat May 14 2005, 21:05:14 UTC

Yeah well, when I'm asked a question, I respond to it truthfully. And I just wanted my dad to stop harassing me about confirmation.

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the_firecat May 14 2005, 21:29:36 UTC

Thanks! Yeah, I thought it was going to be tonight. Dad invited me outside tonight to "look at the garden" but there's not enough light to really see anything. So I figured he wanted to talk. I stood out there for a while cold and getting eaten alive--but no talk. Who knows what's going on.

yarrowkat May 14 2005, 09:52:11 UTC

good luck. it can get easier in time. i have fundamentalist relatives, though my mom is just "christian" without denomination, whatever that means, and as an out & active Pagan, and a very active member of my own spiritual community, i have to deal with it pretty regularly when she calls. "what are you up to these days?" ....uh, organizing the Beltane fertility festival? uh huh.

but it has gotten easier over the years, even if she doesn't exactly accept it, she's willing to ignore it. perhaps your dad will resign himself in time to knowing that you have to find your own truths and you all can talk about other things when you're spending time together.

the_firecat May 14 2005, 21:08:45 UTC

Thanks. Yeah, hopefully after time he'll stop worrying about my "immortal soul" and just let me be. Its not like I don't believe in a higher being or am a horrible person. We'll just learn to avoid anything religious. (Although its going to be tons-o-fun tomorrow because my 14 year old cousin Rachel is confirming)

amyblack May 14 2005, 12:50:15 UTC

He is judging you and your (lack of current) beliefs when he has no RIGHT to do so.

There is only 1 'person' who can do that, and you father is not him *and if he was, you'd be Jesus, in which case, his whole point is moot*

You're at the point of exploring religions correct? Whose to say you won't 'go back' to Christianity?

Just call yourself a 'person of all religion' and leave it at that. It's the way I view things. Allah, God, Zeus, whoever, are all the same. Mohommad, Jesus etc, are all the same, just got different names. I don't know of any religion that says 'Go forth and kill everyone you see who isn't in the same religion as you', well, in basics. I think Old Testament had a coulple bloodlettings didn't it?

the_firecat May 14 2005, 21:20:27 UTC

Yeah that was one of the things that bothered me. All my life I was taught tollerance of all people and customs. I was proud at how well my family would blend into any community we moved to, overseas or otherwise. My Dad would always learn whatever language was spoken enough to get where he needed. Our library at home has several different religious texts. So I thought, hey we are an open and accepting family filled with the Christian understanding that all people are God's people no matter where they may be. We are all "brothers" and "sisters" as they say. I was taught in high school by Father Fred that Catholics don't hate people of other donominations or other religions; or even think that they are going to hell. As long as you were a good person it really didn't matter what you called God and no one really knows what the "right" religion is anyways. But the handout my dad printed out for me from post-Vatican 2 says that anyone not following exactly the teachings of the church are heretics and not "saved." So most Catholics I know ( ... )