It's all in my head, if you want, you can look inside..
I have been very conflicted in my spiritual journey. I still am, and I will be in the future. I am a skeptic, and doubtful and untrusting by nature. Cynical, if you will.
Some of the best advice, I have gotten from my father. He is my hero, my inspiration. A divorced, recovered alcoholic who does not smother me, but gives me guidance and wisdom in my life and faith - something that a priest will never be able to give me.
I question things. I don't take what someone tells me and blindly follow it, blindly believe it. This, of course, contradicts the "nature" of my chosen religion.
I, perhaps naively, believe that God is more than a building and a book, more than what the Church tells us. I believe that the religion is full of contradictions, not God himself. And perhaps I am a "bad" Christian for not blindly following everything that my religion throws at me. Oh, I apologize that I have a mind of my own, and it doesn't agree with everything I am told at Church.
I've been told that "real" Christians do not pick and chose things that they like about their religion, and forget about the rest. Oh, I'm sorry that I don't live up to your expectations of a Christian, oh-wonderful and all-knowing atheist. And I'm sorry you so crudely see it that way, as "picking and choosing" and as "only reading the parts of the Bible that appeals to you".
I try not to be offended by comments like that, I really do. It's hard sometimes, though. I believe in God, and I love Him. Yes, I have my issues with the organized religion of Christianity and with the Roman Catholic Church, but does that belittle and diminish the basis of my beliefs?
I will not apologize to an atheist for the choices I have made in my faith, and in MY life. I do not and will never try to convert you - I respect your decisions and all I ask is that you respect mine, as well. Conflicts and fights (and wars) over religion and personal beliefs are the most disgusting things that I have ever encountered in my life.
I do not normally talk about this stuff, but things happened today that brought up a lot of these thoughts and I was filled with the need to get this off my chest. And I will stop here, because otherwise I will talk myself dry.
I do not intend to start some huge, religious debate with this entry. Not at all. Thus, comments will be disabled.
Some of the best advice, I have gotten from my father. He is my hero, my inspiration. A divorced, recovered alcoholic who does not smother me, but gives me guidance and wisdom in my life and faith - something that a priest will never be able to give me.
I question things. I don't take what someone tells me and blindly follow it, blindly believe it. This, of course, contradicts the "nature" of my chosen religion.
I, perhaps naively, believe that God is more than a building and a book, more than what the Church tells us. I believe that the religion is full of contradictions, not God himself. And perhaps I am a "bad" Christian for not blindly following everything that my religion throws at me. Oh, I apologize that I have a mind of my own, and it doesn't agree with everything I am told at Church.
I've been told that "real" Christians do not pick and chose things that they like about their religion, and forget about the rest. Oh, I'm sorry that I don't live up to your expectations of a Christian, oh-wonderful and all-knowing atheist. And I'm sorry you so crudely see it that way, as "picking and choosing" and as "only reading the parts of the Bible that appeals to you".
I try not to be offended by comments like that, I really do. It's hard sometimes, though. I believe in God, and I love Him. Yes, I have my issues with the organized religion of Christianity and with the Roman Catholic Church, but does that belittle and diminish the basis of my beliefs?
I will not apologize to an atheist for the choices I have made in my faith, and in MY life. I do not and will never try to convert you - I respect your decisions and all I ask is that you respect mine, as well. Conflicts and fights (and wars) over religion and personal beliefs are the most disgusting things that I have ever encountered in my life.
I do not normally talk about this stuff, but things happened today that brought up a lot of these thoughts and I was filled with the need to get this off my chest. And I will stop here, because otherwise I will talk myself dry.
I do not intend to start some huge, religious debate with this entry. Not at all. Thus, comments will be disabled.
Posted on June 18th, 2009 at 01:01am
