I think the key to this forum should be "sanctuary for SPIRITUAL support".....nowhere does that say Christian support.......that makes this forum open to all in my opinion.

To me, spirit is what is inside of us.......I believe that everyone is made up of physical & spiritual (everything that isn't physical).....& we all have feelings & thoughts & needs with these. I think this forum is set up so we can talk about the spiritual feelings, thoughts, & needs......which makes it available to all.

I think that in an ideal setting, we should be able to post in threads that might not be our exact beliefs.....but that would be only if we don't ATTACK the person who is posting. I think that differing beliefs can combine without attacking....asking questions or providing other ways of thinking......as long as they aren't posted in an ATTACKING presentation.

I spent years working with people of all different spiritual beliefs & even life styles. We were always able to be open with our discussions & never attacked each other. I loved it because it enabled me to understand many other thoughts that I never would have been able to know if I had isolated myself with only those who thought & believed the way I do.

Tolerance doesn't mean that we are going to change our beliefs.....but it does mean that we can respect that others have their beliefs without ATTACKING them....just as we expect to be respected & allowed to have our beliefs without being ATTACKED.

When we believe something passionately, it is sometimes difficult to word our discussions without it sounding like an ATTACK or even having it sound like we are trying to FORCE others to believe the way we do.....even though we may not mean it that way. When we believe something completely, it is impossible to force generic wording. It is like a Lutheran pastor who was asked to give the benediction for a medical school graduation. He was told everything he couldn't say & the words that weren't politically correct.....it came down to the fact that he couldn't say anything that the Luthern beliefs were all about or even pray a Christian/Lutheran prayer.

The problem with that is that he couldn't say what he spiritually believed himself......that in it's own way is taking away the freedom of speech to be able to say the things we truely believe. I think however that when we have to publicly speak a religious presentation that isn't specifically for our specific religious group.....we shouldn't force our beliefs on others. I do however believe that when we are publicly asked about our beliefs, then we should be able to speak out with what we truely believe....not in generalities.....without fear of being attacked....& that goes for all beliefs.....not just Christian beliefs.....that is where I believe true tolerance comes in.

I hope that everyone can feel the freedom to post their spiritual thoughts & needs & that we all can learn how to post out thoughts, support, & true beliefs without attacking others or sounding like we are cramming out beliefs down their throats (no matter what the beliefs) while doing that.

This forum should be here for all because we all have a spiritual part & need support.

Debbie