APPLAUSE!! APPLAUSE!! Mother told me once that people of good breeding do not speak of sex,religion or politics in mixed company. These are things that are deeply personal and should remain so. It is considered rude to steamroll someone with your personal beliefs. I will never forget a number of years ago when I had managed to tear a ligament in my foot and had to go to the doctor on a Saturday. I was young and newly married then, so my husband went with me. What we did not know was that there was a right to life protest happening that day at the medical building. This was a large facility that had all sorts of offices ranging from dentist to OB/GYN. Here I am oblivious to what was happening and this woman runs up to me screaming how I was going to hell for wanting to kill my baby and waiving a bible in my face. I was mortified and very scared, these people appeared and dragged us in the door, with this woman trying anyway she could to stop us. The bottom line was at that moment she made a judgement of me as a woman and a person and what was going on despite evidence to the opposite of a large bandage on my foot. Till this day it makes me angry that there are people that will go to this extreme for what they consider God's work. Judge not least you be judged and leave what is divine to the divine.
Yes @Ken Anderson beliefs do change, but religious beliefs tend to be very entrenched. @Brittany Houser Yes, that's the only way I see beliefs changing. The person has to have a curiosity, and be open to hearing about other points of view. I don't foist my beliefs on anyone, but if someone inquired, I would, and have, discussed the issue.
I just wonder. What if those violent activists and harmful protesters were paid-to-protest? Their aim is to give well-meaning religious groups a really bad name and aweful media reputation? Next time, take photos of these so-called pro-life activists and investigate who these troublemakers are. Do some detective FBI research. I'd do an intensive investigation to expose these impostors and liars.
You got it David, right on the mark. People all over the world do things and call it biblical, but in fact, they are just fanatics and some people who don't know any better, just believe it and run Christians down because of it. I don't impose my faith on anyone, not friend, not family. Most of my Christian friends are the same as me. We don't talk about it unless we are asked. People who push religion on you are not who they say they are (IMHO)
We were honored here in my town recently when members of the Westboro Baptist Church came to town to protest the National weather service Storm Forecast Center here. A small group of college students met them to counter protest. It gave our local papEr something to write about.
Yes, I'm very grateful that in these forums, I can say the word "God", within a sentence, and not be criticized for it. Like, when saying "thank God". In another forum I was in, I would almost get tortured for saying that. I finally had enough and left. I did have a Supervisor/Director once tell me "the three things you don't want to get into a discussion with people about is sex, politics and religion. It can turn into World War III." My wife loves to write and has written a couple of small Prayer Books. She made a Business Card, but I warned her about who to give it to. So far, she has been lucky and the people she gave it to, took it in a nice way. With the wrong person, that might not happen. One thing we don't do in public is pray before a meal. Even though some do it, we don't. Discussing religion and politics in public can become a very touchy thing to do.
I'm surprised that God is a banned word in some places? God is a universal word that is used to denote only positive things so it is strange to me that members of that forum would not only chide you but torture you for mentioning God. If that would happen here, those against God would be ostracized, socially. Our country is predominantly Catholic - some say 90% but statistics lie, I guess it's around 80% or 70% at the minimum. God is a great thing here and prayer is also a standard in any event or gathering. Several months ago when my husband was invited as consultant of a movie shoot, the director requested to start the project with a prayer. Before leading the prayer, the director clearly said that she has no religion but she believes in prayer. That's silly, isn't it? My husband took a video of that prayer as evidence of that director's silly act.
Seems a lot of people are down on organized religion but believe in God. I was born and raised Catholic, but I don't understand some of their doings. Even though I haven't attended any church services for many years, I pray every day. My God is available everywhere, anytime. Churches are fine and I enjoyed going at times. However, I'm not a social person. Crowds make me nervous and in social situations with people, I tend to be quiet and reserved. The last time I was in a church the priest asked everyone to turn to the persons around them and shake their hands or give them a hug and say "I love you". This made me extremely uncomfortable. My family isn't into hugging and some of us will barely shake hands with strangers. So, I opted out of the love fest and am content to listen to sermons on TV, occasionally.
We've lived in northeastern Florida since Jan '09 and still haven't found a church that we are comfortable going to. We've been to five or six. When we lived south of Denver, CO, we attended a church we really liked, but we ended up moving out of Colorado. It had an early service (8:15AM) and after the Service, we would take our power boat out fishing. As for me, I'm more into the traditional church and church services. Not that much into the Praise Band. It can sound more like I'm at a rock concert than a church service. And, a lot of "modern day" churches don't sing out of a hymnal, the words are on three big screens. We do have one church here that we attend Christmas Eve Service every year and it's a very nice Service. I like watching/listening to Joyce Meyers Ministries on tv and my wife likes watching/listening to John Hagee. During my high school years, my step-parents had me going to early-morning church every Sunday. I wound handing out the Bulletin and turning out the sanctuary lights when the minister started the sermon. Was in one church Christmas Play and that was fun. My step-dad went to church, but anyone could tell that it sure wasn't his "thing". While in Basic Training in the Navy, I chose to be the Protestant Petty Officer and got all the guys, who wanted to, to go to church on Sunday morning. After that, went to a few church services onboard ship on Sundays, but that was it. My religious days pretty much ended there until I met my second wife in 2000. She bought me a Men's Bible a few years ago for my birthday and I love it. I can pretty much tell people who are not religious and REALLY watch what I say around them. Wife and I are very picky with whom we make friends with and that's why we don't have many friends. LOL, but true.
As long as those budding young journalists report the truth. Besides, why were Westboro Baptist people protesting against Storm Forecast Center in your area?
I don't think it silly. The director was only responding to her inner voice or conscience for the need to ask God for direction for the day and for the entire production. I think she recognizes God as King of the universe, and not a religion.
I think the protesters from Kansas were protesting the Severe Forecast Storm Center here because they said or thought the weather people was messing in God's business and were going to hell because only God has charge of the weather. or some such nonsense.
@Ike I'm a somewhat traditional Catholic, and it took me forever to find a church I felt comfortable in when I moved back down here. I never realized how different the various churches could be, I thought Catholic was Catholic, but it's not. I prefer hymns over modern church music, and it's rare to find a church that uses hymns during the mass. Not only do they expect (even in the more conservative church I attend sometimes) you to shake hands with those around you, but they expect you to all hold hands and raise them at certain times, and I'm really not into that. One of the first Catholic churches I visited when I moved back here was closest to the university, which is why I went there. I called my Dad and told him there was a jacuzzi in the church. I guess it's used for baptisms, but it was front and center, and it looked very out of place to me.