[kala83]

so i am on a christian forum online that I post onto and it can be kind of a combo of both good and bad things.

I grew up christian but over the years I started to lean more toward paganistic views. But my christian roots held a lot of value to me so i did not want to fully let it go.

well I decided to come out of the broom closet so to speak on this forum and it got me in some hot water not to where I am getting kicked off but where I am being told.

pretty much "how dare you call yourself one of us"

my spirituality is a very important aspect of my life and it hurts that a lot of people that are neither near to me in reality or online judge and try to tell me what I am or am not right off the bat.

I truly wish these people knew the effect of their words when saying this. Do they realize not everyone can handle hearing this so incredibly well. Sadly it seems they do cause they do have a section on the site for people that are depressed yet they don't seem to mind at all possibly triggering this in people that much either.

Yes I am different from other people in how I do things in my life. I am just a individual that is like that. But to say things to others that is rude and mean...and flat out even say this is not mean or rude. When if you were to put yourself in anthers shoes umm yes it would be...

I spend a lot of time on message boards online thinking since it has a since of ambiguity to it. There is a safety net, but not all the time is there a safety net for you and your feelings.

sorry this happened.

unfortunately, this is such a common thing when you're online on a forum or what ever, people can just run their mouth, say what they want, and don't really care how you feel afterwards. it's happened to me a couple of times on forums too

sorry you have encountered the lower side of the web. As well as (apparently) a few christians who forgot what that label means.....

"Love the sinner, not the sin."

That is not me "judging", that is what I believe Christ was largely about. He hung out with the sinners, the adulters, the murders, the thieves. The only people Christ seemed upset with - where the "righteous ones".

So, I say "WELCOME". I do not care about your past. I do not care about your private issues. You are as welcome as anyone else!

[winter4me]

There is actually a forum (I guess it still exists, I know if it does my eyes just don't "see" it anymore as I browse), on this site that troubles me in this way, I am not a religious person but my spiritual/non-material life is very important to me also; I have only read the forum a few times after I inadvertently hovered over a thread line that was so full of hatred for those who are different that it really shocked me.
So, you now know there are people who so narrowly interpret their beliefs that there is no room for thoughtful discussion----but there are others who are open and there for you. I think those who cannot tolerate experiences/beliefs other than their own are sad, frightened people, easily threatened, full of a kind of anxiety---so, they do not think of how they impact others but only of how others "threaten" them...perhaps that is simplistic.
I haven't been on the site,(except to read a few posts) but I think the Sanctuary for Spiritual...seems open and caring here. We are all deserving of respect, sometimes we all fail in giving that but as long as we try... Hey WELCOME!!!!!(((((((hug))))))))))

[gayleggg]

Hi, kala83. I'm glad you posted this, since the persons/people resort to putting peope down, especially, over religion. I live in the US and are suppose to have freedon of speech and religion. Words do hurt and can turn us off on society, but there are those of us that have an open mind, to say you are free to believe what you wish. It definitly should be respect on the forums. If you need to talk you can PM me? I will listen with no judgement.

[ToeJam]

Odd as my wife is a devout roman catholic who is both a Eucharistic minister and a teacher at a catholic school. She grew up with a friend who is a devout Druid (slight differences but essentially like paganism) and as such she has learnt to appreciate that side of faith and has also recognised influences of paganism in Christianity. I.e December the 25th coincides with the winter solstice (Yule is a week before it) and the principle of giving back to the earth what you take links into many ways how the Christian god made mankind custodians of the world with the responsibility to look after it.

My wife has been to many moots and doesn't believe this hinders her faith, it's just a cross over and she has respect for both.

If anything I think those who condemn you are just ignorant of what faith is and you shouldn't pay any attention to it.

My wife wanted to add something:

'If they were truly Christians they would follow what Jesus did. Jesus welcomed the tax collectors, the prostitutes and the sinners and he said to his disciples if you are not welcomed into a town leave that place, do not stay there, not even for one night but go and when you leave shake the dust from off your feet as a sign to the people.

So I think you should shake the dust off your feet and come join us over here where everyone is welcome whether they follow Jesus, hold varying views or not!'

[sewerrats]

If there was a god ,why would he inflict this hideous illness on us,

Originally Posted by sewerrats

If there was a god ,why would he inflict this hideous illness on us,

In an attempt to avoid pointless arguments.... I will not take your "bait".

[sewerrats]

Originally Posted by Useless Me

In an attempt to avoid pointless arguments.... I will not take your "bait".

NO BAIT , I shoot from the hip , if you do have the answer you will be the first.

[ToeJam]

It's probably irrelevant to there being a right answer as it falls on the notion of faith... Which I too do not have (atheist)... That being said I find religion fascinating and I've always tried to learn more about it and have respectful conversations in the process.

The answer that comes to mind (for those with faith) is that for most who are religious, life is seen as a test. To achieve peace and happiness in whatever after life they believe in, they must struggle with the challenges life throws at them whilst striving to be good and follow the doctrines set down for them.

If life was hunkey dory and everything was sunshine and rainbows then the 'test' would be a doddle and that would defeat the object.

To me this is how those who are religious rationalise their struggles and it helps them to keep going.

I'm not in any way mocking this and from a rational point of view (as a non believer) it's a pretty decent coping strategy if you can use it/have faith.

I don't necessarily think this is the place for this discussion though but I wanted to give some kind of closure to it, so please feel free to take it up in pm with me or others if you want to chat it through

[kala83]

I do find it ironic since most Christians want people to be open and honest about their sins yet when you do some tries to intersect Scripture into the situation to say why this may or may not be a good thing.

[sewerrats]

Originally Posted by ToeJam

It's probably irrelevant to there being a right answer as it falls on the notion of faith... Which I too do not have (atheist)... That being said I find religion fascinating and I've always tried to learn more about it and have respectful conversations in the process.

The answer that comes to mind (for those with faith) is that for most who are religious, life is seen as a test. To achieve peace and happiness in whatever after life they believe in, they must struggle with the challenges life throws at them whilst striving to be good and follow the doctrines set down for them.

If life was hunkey dory and everything was sunshine and rainbows then the 'test' would be a doddle and that would defeat the object.

To me this is how those who are religious rationalise their struggles and it helps them to keep going.

I'm not in any way mocking this and from a rational point of view (as a non believer) it's a pretty decent coping strategy if you can use it/have faith.

I don't necessarily think this is the place for this discussion though but I wanted to give some kind of closure to it, so please feel free to take it up in pm with me or others if you want to chat it through

No its ok ,I see that some get comfort in the fact of believing in something?? it helps keep them going. I am a believer in the Steven Hawking EXPLANATION thanks for your reply

[IndieVisible]

I agree with Joseph Campbell's philosophy, whatever your bliss is, go with it

[amyyrexx]

It's really hurtful the things people say online, especially since they don't even know you or what you are like. It just makes people doubt their actions even more. They should be nowhere near a site like this if they are judgmental and/or have no empathy.

[kala83]

they ignore common sense and being kind basically to do what they feel is saving a person. Even after I ask lets stop this you are not going to change my view on things. And I literally get to the point where I have to tell them I have depression and can't do this any more for my health sake...which usually tends to work.
but it feels like I am making someone guility about things to my advantage. But people that do nothing but blast bible qoute after bible qoute at someone are really doing no good for anyone.

Originally Posted by kala83

But people that do nothing but blast bible qoute after bible qoute at someone are really doing no good for anyone.

Please do not assume that all Christians are like this.

Bible quotes??? Such as judge not, least ye be judged. Or let the first person without sin cast the first stone.

I can be a hypocrite... but I try not to be. Because the reality is - that I have failed as much or more than anyone else on this planet. And if I can be saved, so can you. And NO sin is greater than another (again not judging your sexuality).

I may disagree with something you are doing, you certainly could find things about me that you would disagree with. I do not decide if you get into heaven any more than you get to decide if I walk through the gates....

Point is - ALL should be welcome. And ALL should be loved. Anything else is not Christ-like.

Just my opinion......

[Wren_]

Hi everyone,

We (the community support team) are closing this thread at this time in response to our community guidelines (http://forums.psychcentral.com/rules...15-2013-a.html)

which state:

Limit your direct discussion of politics and religion, as people usually hold pretty strong opinions about these topics (you can discuss spirituality in the Sanctuary for Spiritual Support)

Thanks