The subject of the Christian LPSG group was raised in another thread and when I read through it I became concerned that it seems Christian members feel that non-Christian LPSG members are intolerant or biased against them. Had just one person said this I'd chalk it up to a personal grudge but hearing it from two former mods who have been around long enough, I became worried.
Jase, your concerns and sensitivity are appreciated and yet again demonstrate the kind of man that you are.
There have been times where I've felt as if these boards are prejudiced towards Christians. Why do I say this? Because pre-judging has taken place. And a lot of the time, it's based on projection. It's a case of "these are my viewpoints, these are my bad experiences and I'm going to project this information and my subsequent emotions on you because you ascribe to Christianity". The fact of the matter, though, is that before anything else, the person is talking about where he/she is at with his/her beliefs and emotions more than anything else. You can call me a pig, but that's your perception of me...it doesn't make it fact...and while I know who I am and what I stand for, why should your perception bother me?
Everybody is entitled to their opinions etc. and much as I'm Christian, I think that you know me well enough by now to know that I'm critical of Christianity, so it's got nothing to do with criticisms about Christianity. The thing that troubles me is the kind of approach that is used. Things can be dealt with constructively where one creates dialogue in order to better understand the views of another whilst sharing criticism and welcoming explanations in order to learn and grow from one another. However, a lot of the time, things are dealt with destructively where there isn't any interest in receiving explanations for consideration before making criticism; ultimately, it's based on personal agendas where, at times hypocrisy is at play because much as the person says, "You people ram your beliefs down our throats," the approach of the person is pretty much doing the same thing. Other than having one's ego stroked and feeling better emotionally because of the release, the only thing that stands to be gained from such an approach is division on the boards which will ultimately lead to a corrosion of community on these boards.
As a Christian, I am always open to criticism because it challenges me to learn and grow and it also calls me to re-examine my beliefs. However, I expect for it to be based on fact; there needs to be critical research and understanding because I am not the Christian neighbour/religious leader etc. that pissed you off so don't project that person onto me. And there also needs to be an openness to dialogue; don't expect me to listen to you if you're unwilling to listen to me. Minds are like parachutes, they only work when they're open so I'm unwilling to humor what someone has had to say by spending time in consideration before offering him/her my response. I've got better things to do with my time, most especially when I know that what I have to say will fall on deaf ears anyway. Which explains why I haven't engaged in any of the Christian related threads of late.
I think that there needs to be an awareness that just because a song sounds nice and the lyrics echo what I feel, it doesn't mean that the lyrics are reliable and can be treated as fact.
I am not critical of religions/religious beliefs along with non adherence of religions/religious beliefs. I do not have enough understanding in order for me to be critical of them and I am willing to enter into dialogue with non Christians in an attempt to better understand their beliefs and subsequent visions of the world. The only arena where I am able to apply my criticism would Christianity but most especially, myself.
My intolerances are not just for organized religious instituions, but go to the heart of christian doctrine and the "Good Book" itself.
I respectfully disagree. If you were going to the heart of things, then you would have studied things carefully before being critical and in the instance of the Bible, you've displayed very little understanding about it...and little interest in better understanding it, so I think it would be more accurate to say that your intolerance goes to the heart of your beliefs, experiences and personal agendas.
Yes, I despise the ancient Jews for writing the Book of Leviticus in the first place and inadvertantly foisting their sexual views on the larger world.
Which sexual views would these be?
Jews don't believe in the concept of "Original Sin" and Adam and Eve is their mythology. Jews do not believe in eternal Hellfire because Jews by and large do no believe in an afterlife; for many jews the idea of "burning eternally" is a sick, twisted notion on their Creation stories.
I don't understand your reference to the Creation myths. I'd be very grateful if you would elaborate.
The only reason this Blood has now been abated is because christians are under a new Law, Democracy, and not God's Law.
How would you define God's Law and can you please explain what your definition is based upon?
