So I've been noticing a change in my perspective which brings me a good lot of bittersweet conviction. I'm happy to be perceiving growth in myself, but unhappy at the state of the things about which I am increasingly aware.
First of all, I want to reach back into my old posts...Aug 14, 2012. My attention was drawn to that post, and it is a hint at my changing perspective. Having been recently (since summer 2013, especially) exposed to a greater variety of religious backgrounds than before, and having been given opportunity to learn about the reasoning behind them and many of their "desired outcomes" for life and the world/universe, I find myself much better able to empathize with people who don't like what I believe. Furthermore, I find myself rather enamored to the beauty and intricacy of those great heights of human imagination in search for meaning. Relevant to my post in Aug 2012, I am now aware of many people who are not Christian and who have experienced harm done to them by Christians. I have even become inclined to think that there are more churches which, by primary mode, do harm to nonbelievers than there are churches which do not. That is to say that my post in August 2012 reflected some ignorance of mine.
That revelation doesn't damage my belief in God, but gives me an idea of just how easily people are turned away from God's intentions. I.E.
...Somebody just started a conversation with me and totally broke my train of thought. I didn't banter well. I really gotta work on shifting gears quicker...
... ...... Well, so, it's pretty easy to be lead astray. Especially if you haven't actually read the whole Bible. I would put money down on a bet that the majority of Christians have not read the whole Bible. To be honest, I haven't even read all of it. I still need to finish reading the "law", "genealogy", and "small prophet" books in the OT. In fact, I am pretty sure that most people are more well aware of the teachings of Paul than of the teachings of Jesus himself. Don't get me wrong, Paul was pretty awesome, but if most/all we hear at church is what Paul had to say -- or worse yet if Paul's teachings are considered to have equal importance to Jesus' teachings -- then we may understandably "miss the point". I was discussing this with someone recently, and approaching the close of a very agreeable conversation, they made the comment "Christianity may as well be called 'Paulianity'". What did Jesus teach? He told us to "love others" over and over and over. His parables and teachings were in large part about giving much, being content with little, being kind and peaceful toward everyone, prioritizing kindness towards people in need (or less fortunate), and respecting God. Now you tell me, does excluding gays, (or worse, homeless people,) from a church fit these teachings? How about protesting construction of a mosque? How about any form of racism? How about subjugating women?
Up next, lets consider this: Jesus was the best evangelist in the history of mankind, right? Did Jesus ever preach to a prostitute or other "hardcore sinner" that he/she was going to hell for his/her sins? I could be wrong... but I don't remember reading that he did. That's not because they wouldn't go to hell if they didn't repent. It's because reminding them of their guilt was completely unnecessary, and maybe even mean. I write this to address some really frustrating stories I've heard of "Christians" who pull that hellfire/brimstone crap thinking they're doing the world a favor by giving absolutism and hurtful criticism. I submit that their time would be better spent serving at a soup kitchen. O.O
Ok. That's it for today.
"Just seeing how the other half lives."
ETA this song
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