Can One Be Over-Churched?
Religion is a two-edged sword80 total reviews
Comment from debskatz
Hi Annmuma,
Well, if I'd thought about entering this contest, I couldn't any longer, because you wrote it for me! I whole heartedly agree with everything you said. Actually, it's very parallel to my entry in another contest called My Journey of Faith. We certainly think alike!
Thank you for having the courage to speak out about the evil the church has done & is doing. And I particularly thank you since you are straight & your daughter went through such a divorce. You must be a terrific person to know!
smiles,
deb
reply by the author on 20-Nov-2008
  |
Hi Annmuma,
Well, if I'd thought about entering this contest, I couldn't any longer, because you wrote it for me! I whole heartedly agree with everything you said. Actually, it's very parallel to my entry in another contest called My Journey of Faith. We certainly think alike!
Thank you for having the courage to speak out about the evil the church has done & is doing. And I particularly thank you since you are straight & your daughter went through such a divorce. You must be a terrific person to know!
smiles,
deb
Comment Written 19-Nov-2008
reply by the author on 20-Nov-2008
-
thanks so very, very much for such supportive and encouraging words. Win or lose, I just hope a lot of people vote in this contest. There are some excellent entries.
I'm going to check out your My Journey of Faith. Thanks for mentioning it. Again, glad you dropped by. ann
Comment from c_lucas
Three major religious beliefs systems different from each other by all claiming the same God, but different holy books. Christianity has over two thousand protestants belief system and use the same holy words. The Bible can be interpreted in any way you want. Well written Essay. Good luck in your contest.
reply by the author on 19-Nov-2008
|
Three major religious beliefs systems different from each other by all claiming the same God, but different holy books. Christianity has over two thousand protestants belief system and use the same holy words. The Bible can be interpreted in any way you want. Well written Essay. Good luck in your contest.
Comment Written 19-Nov-2008
reply by the author on 19-Nov-2008
-
Thank you for the generous review. I have read the Noah and Ark story in the Quran and found Noah to be a more sympathetic figure in that story. In the Bible, Noah doesn't try to bargain with God to save anyone else, he doesn't warn anyone and seems content to save him and his. In the Quran, he does have 5 years to warn others of the coming disaster should they not turn from their wicked ways. In the end they don't, and the flood comes.
Anyway, thanks for the excellent review and your time in sharing it. ann
-
My favorite saying comes from the crusade era. Two Chritian armies were facing off. One army wanted to cross the other's territory. The home army blocked them. The leader wanting to cross uttered these immortal words, "Step aside, or I will kill you in the name of the Prince of Peace."
That was 800 years ago. Man hasn't gotten any smarter.
-
Now it is one of my favorite sayings! I can't wait to use it somewhere. Thanks ann
-
'you'll have to get the original individual's permission to use it in print. (LOL) For the first two hundred years of the Crusades, it was Christian vs. Christain. You might enjoy this observation when the invading general was told that he had attacked Christians. "If they were Christians, why were they dressed like heathens?" Charlie
Comment from wirenut
Annmuma,
Blaise Pascal, a seventeenth century mathemathician and philosopher had this to say on the subject.
"No one does evil quite to cheerfuly and contentedly as those who do it in the name of God."
For his eloquence he was excomunicated from the church, ironically proving his point in the process.
Nietzsche, George Orwell and countless other thinkers have stated the same and found themselves against an immovable object called dogma.
half the problem is that people are the uneducated louts the government has created. we have replaced morality with secularism and the worship of the rule of law, which, in some cases, is as dogmatic as church dogma.
I believe that if people had been taught to think we would still have a constitutional form of governemnt and curches would not be as powerful in that society.
well done and you have certainly opened up a few cans of worms with this one LOL
rick
reply by the author on 19-Nov-2008
|
Annmuma,
Blaise Pascal, a seventeenth century mathemathician and philosopher had this to say on the subject.
"No one does evil quite to cheerfuly and contentedly as those who do it in the name of God."
For his eloquence he was excomunicated from the church, ironically proving his point in the process.
Nietzsche, George Orwell and countless other thinkers have stated the same and found themselves against an immovable object called dogma.
half the problem is that people are the uneducated louts the government has created. we have replaced morality with secularism and the worship of the rule of law, which, in some cases, is as dogmatic as church dogma.
I believe that if people had been taught to think we would still have a constitutional form of governemnt and curches would not be as powerful in that society.
well done and you have certainly opened up a few cans of worms with this one LOL
rick
Comment Written 19-Nov-2008
reply by the author on 19-Nov-2008
-
Thank you! I love reviews that include opinions and chit-chat and sharing of thoughts. I learn so much from my fellow fanstorians. Thanks for dropping by and for sharing ideas. ann
Comment from Karen Fay
This was very good. I don't think of it as being over-churched though I think of it as more as getting the facts right and truly understanding what the Bible really says. Thank you for writing this...Karen
reply by the author on 19-Nov-2008
|
This was very good. I don't think of it as being over-churched though I think of it as more as getting the facts right and truly understanding what the Bible really says. Thank you for writing this...Karen
Comment Written 19-Nov-2008
reply by the author on 19-Nov-2008
-
You are probably right about the title. My hope was to convey that 'church' is not necessarily synonymous with spirituality or Christian behavior, but rather a place where religion may be taught. thanks so much for your generous review. ann
Comment from Celtic~Soul
Dear Ann,
This is wonderfully done! I had intended to stop in for only a quick look-see out of curiosity and found myself reading through to the end. Bravo! Your points are clear and your discussion flows well as it collects and despenses information along the way. The narrow-minded attitude and persecutory nature of so many Christians is disheartening to say the least and often borders on criminal hate-mongering. Your daughter's story was a touching personal element that brought home your essay. I'm so glad I read it and discovered your kindred spirit!
One typo:
the ethic cleansings - this chould be ethnic - ethic is related to behavior, ethnic to differing cultures
I hope many read this and are brought out of the darkness of their own bigotry! Good luck in the contest.
Dawn
reply by the author on 19-Nov-2008
 |
Dear Ann,
This is wonderfully done! I had intended to stop in for only a quick look-see out of curiosity and found myself reading through to the end. Bravo! Your points are clear and your discussion flows well as it collects and despenses information along the way. The narrow-minded attitude and persecutory nature of so many Christians is disheartening to say the least and often borders on criminal hate-mongering. Your daughter's story was a touching personal element that brought home your essay. I'm so glad I read it and discovered your kindred spirit!
One typo:
the ethic cleansings - this chould be ethnic - ethic is related to behavior, ethnic to differing cultures
I hope many read this and are brought out of the darkness of their own bigotry! Good luck in the contest.
Dawn
Comment Written 19-Nov-2008
reply by the author on 19-Nov-2008
-
WOW.WOW -- 6 stars are so very humbling and heartening. I appreciate them more than you can know. I enjoyed reading your thoughts and comments. It's nice to chat, isn't it? Also, I really, really appreciate your catching that ethic vs ethnic thing! I recently completed a required insurance course on ethics -- we could practice a bit more of the good ones in our Christianity. lol. Of course, I did mean ethnic and will correct that right away. thanks again. ann
Comment from Josipher32
This was a well presented essay. You made some valid points.
There are those who proclaim to be Christians giving true Christians a bad name. Very sad.
reply by the author on 19-Nov-2008
|
This was a well presented essay. You made some valid points.
There are those who proclaim to be Christians giving true Christians a bad name. Very sad.
Comment Written 19-Nov-2008
reply by the author on 19-Nov-2008
-
Thanks for reading and commenting. I appreciate your dropping by. ann
Comment from starman
Yes, my father was racist, although he tended to be swayed by propaganda that made fun of colored skin. eg, gollywogs. Repugnant, yes, I know.
You wrote an outstanding essay. Yes, one could quibble over small points. Children's crusade? Did you mean the Christian crusade to The Holy Land? That itself made Christan teachings look very suspect.
As for gays, the bible is rife with incest, so homosexuality is pretty lame by comparison. And what of it? Find me a man who hasn't had one single perverse or foul sexual thought or notion in his lifetime, and I'll call him a liar.
It's a relief to me at least to think that all such thoughts cannot exist in the rarified domain of the perfect mind. They'll be scorched out... but then, I have a warped mind as well.
Great work Ann.
:)s
reply by the author on 19-Nov-2008
|
Yes, my father was racist, although he tended to be swayed by propaganda that made fun of colored skin. eg, gollywogs. Repugnant, yes, I know.
You wrote an outstanding essay. Yes, one could quibble over small points. Children's crusade? Did you mean the Christian crusade to The Holy Land? That itself made Christan teachings look very suspect.
As for gays, the bible is rife with incest, so homosexuality is pretty lame by comparison. And what of it? Find me a man who hasn't had one single perverse or foul sexual thought or notion in his lifetime, and I'll call him a liar.
It's a relief to me at least to think that all such thoughts cannot exist in the rarified domain of the perfect mind. They'll be scorched out... but then, I have a warped mind as well.
Great work Ann.
:)s
Comment Written 19-Nov-2008
reply by the author on 19-Nov-2008
-
Warped minds are not all bad!!! What a dull life we would lead were there not some "warping" going on. lol thanks so much for a generous review and encouraging words, but more than that, thanks for sharing your comments. I look forward to your reviews because I always learn something from them. Have a great day. ann
Comment from Mrs Happy Poet
You have created a very strong contest entry here which gives the readers reasons to think about your points of view well done good luck regards Fuller
reply by the author on 19-Nov-2008
|
You have created a very strong contest entry here which gives the readers reasons to think about your points of view well done good luck regards Fuller
Comment Written 19-Nov-2008
reply by the author on 19-Nov-2008
-
Thanks for the generous review and encouraging comments. I'll need all the luck I can get! ann
Comment from Judian James
Wow. Amazing. I just reviewed someone who entered this contest and although the piece was well written, she was all fire and brimstone and convinced she/we are the epitome of evil!! You've got your head on straight Ann and this is a wonderful piece. "We must speak up and defend what is the essence of our belief and that is: God is Love. Any action, word or thought that does not meet that smell test is not true Christianity" Hallelujah and Amen!!
reply by the author on 19-Nov-2008
|
Wow. Amazing. I just reviewed someone who entered this contest and although the piece was well written, she was all fire and brimstone and convinced she/we are the epitome of evil!! You've got your head on straight Ann and this is a wonderful piece. "We must speak up and defend what is the essence of our belief and that is: God is Love. Any action, word or thought that does not meet that smell test is not true Christianity" Hallelujah and Amen!!
Comment Written 19-Nov-2008
reply by the author on 19-Nov-2008
-
Thanks so much for an encouraging and supportive review. I appreciate you -- especially, that Hallelujah and Amen. Have a great day. ann
Comment from babylonia
ann,
you definitely did well in this thought provoking piece. i have a hard time with watching people do as you say here, take things out of context. chances are if they actually knew the true interpetation they would be surprised. not to mention how many times the sacred text has been taken apart and analyzed. you can't tell me that all who did this, did so with an open and altruistic heart. ha~ i'm pretty sure everything has a spin on it. pretty sad, isn't it? so why do we fear? if god created everything? hmmmm .... easy to read and follow. no spaggies do i see. imagery is excellent. keep up the good work~
love,
barbara
reply by the author on 19-Nov-2008
|
ann,
you definitely did well in this thought provoking piece. i have a hard time with watching people do as you say here, take things out of context. chances are if they actually knew the true interpetation they would be surprised. not to mention how many times the sacred text has been taken apart and analyzed. you can't tell me that all who did this, did so with an open and altruistic heart. ha~ i'm pretty sure everything has a spin on it. pretty sad, isn't it? so why do we fear? if god created everything? hmmmm .... easy to read and follow. no spaggies do i see. imagery is excellent. keep up the good work~
love,
barbara
Comment Written 19-Nov-2008
reply by the author on 19-Nov-2008
-
Thanks so much for the generous review, encouraging words and sharing of thoughts. Is this a great site or what! It's such fun to debate the issues and discuss opinions. ann
-
ann,
this is a wonderful site. you are welcome~
love,
barbara
