tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3113535730415912557.post7997563821695101576..comments2024-02-16T19:07:42.535-08:00Comments on Darcy's Heart-Stirrings: On Leaving ChristianityDarcyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702441292981376229noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3113535730415912557.post-79421634302003137732014-04-30T12:21:18.817-07:002014-04-30T12:21:18.817-07:00Remember there is more than one god (and goddess) ...Remember there is more than one god (and goddess) - check out paganism. Seriously - you can be very spiritual, and have a close connection to Deity/ies who are NOT jealous, NOT vindictive, NOT blackmailing. janettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17974836379781055003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3113535730415912557.post-83001446270459826652014-02-12T09:54:22.086-08:002014-02-12T09:54:22.086-08:00I completely understand your dilema and frustratio...I completely understand your dilema and frustration especially when I read your background, it was so painful. I am from third world and my parents converted a year before I was born so I grew up in a christian home. <br /><br />Unlike the christian beliefs in US, in my country churches advocate for women's right and a very holistic living and my parents taught me to love the poor and the needy all their lives without being judgemental because Jesus taught that. My home was the home a local woman come to if she was beaten by her husband, or if she wanted a cup of tea as she could not affort it in her home and my mother gladly helped her. There were men who hated my mother for disturbing their community but she had the courage to stand alone (in christ) for the truth and for the needy and I feel that it is the real Christian faith. A faith that puts others needs before your own family and risk your own life sometimes doing that.<br /><br />I do not remember my mother ever feeling sad when I left for US or other places (she cannot see me for 5 years or longer) because according to her there are lots of other daughters that need her guidance and love and she is busy doing that. This is so different that all the christians in US who only talk about their own family, their own children and nothing else seem to matter to them. <br /><br />We also left American church to start a church among our people and that has been fulfilling and the American church where we were members (we paid tieth) never even called us to see why we are not coming to church - they never cared for non-whites I think. partime mumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11259409098448737105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3113535730415912557.post-45184796682616668992014-01-09T10:35:43.609-08:002014-01-09T10:35:43.609-08:00But what if hell is real? Wouldn't you rather ...But what if hell is real? Wouldn't you rather be safe than sorry later on? There's no going back...<br />And I understand how some Christians "ruin" it for others. However, leaving God and the Bible behind isn't the answer or the solution. We all have a God-shaped hole in us. He created us for Him; to worship and glorify His name.<br />You don't have to go to church to be a Christian. I don't.<br />Modern day churches are full of hypocrisy. They don't teach the true word of God.<br />And many are full of "progressives". =/<br />Jesus was not progressive. He loved the sinner and hated the sin. Remember the incident in the temple and the moneychangers? Jesus is love but He is also justice and truth and righteousness. I think He would be ashamed to see how corrupt we have become.<br />"Progressivism and fascism come from the same ideological root.”<br />True Christians stand up for what is right while still loving their neighbor. One can speak the truth in love.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3113535730415912557.post-37556660942788266692014-01-03T15:21:29.164-08:002014-01-03T15:21:29.164-08:00Except gay people, from what I hear. :PExcept gay people, from what I hear. :PDarcyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03702441292981376229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3113535730415912557.post-77907933885109356402013-12-30T13:21:12.687-08:002013-12-30T13:21:12.687-08:00Ever hear of Emanuel Swedenborg? In the 18th centu...Ever hear of Emanuel Swedenborg? In the 18th century he received visions, where God showed him how the Christian church had departed from the true faith and became corrupt. I see many people leaving the church because of the same errors that Swedenborg pointed out over 250 years ago. He describes an inner spirituality and way of living that is much more complete than what most churches are currently teaching. I left the standard churches many years ago, and yet I go to church in my heart every day.Doug Webberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11071107950046910342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3113535730415912557.post-81633630779626829002013-12-20T12:15:14.459-08:002013-12-20T12:15:14.459-08:00Try The Salvation Army :) Everyone belongs.Try The Salvation Army :) Everyone belongs.Rachel and Familyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17330180136504703687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3113535730415912557.post-69546121679444210482013-11-25T18:42:44.918-08:002013-11-25T18:42:44.918-08:00My position is that agnosticism is the only ration...My position is that agnosticism is the only rational conclusion. There is no compelling way to prove the existence, or non-existence of God. So far as I know, no one has ever returned from the grave to tell us what's on the other side. Every spiritual experience that has ever been documented (other than fraudulent ones!) have been completely subjective. I have profound spiritual experiences myself all the time! But I know better than to trust myself on stuff like that.<br /><br />The key, I believe, is to approach the bible differently: Take a moment and consider the bible as a collection of ancient documents, a work of human culture. If it is nothing else, it is certainly that! If you study the bible in this manner, devoid of the massive accretion of doctrine, theology, interpretation, etc. that religion has added, you will make some amazing discoveries.<br /><br />For example, did you know that the God of the Old Testament (referred to in Hebrew as Elohim, or El for short) was a pagan god as well? Also, there is very compelling evidence that Yahweh was also a pagan god. Yahweh's daughter, Sophia (the Canaanite goddess of wisdom) is also referred to in the OT.<br /><br />At that point, consider the Book of Ecclesiastes in light of the Works of Plato. Read Job in light of works like Oedipus Rex. You will find amazing similarities. Likewise with the story of the Children of Israel contained in the Books of Genesis, Exodus, etc. Those books work best if you consider them alongside things like the Odyssey of Homer.<br /><br />I think you see where I am coming from. Once you deconstruct the bible, you begin to understand it much better. Then you can come to the point where you can relate to the God of the bible in a more realistic manner.<br /><br />Regards,<br />Jeff BrowningJeff Browninghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14802546335587332127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3113535730415912557.post-66597885700814086402013-11-22T11:06:53.204-08:002013-11-22T11:06:53.204-08:00So many great points here, Gwen! Thank you for thi...So many great points here, Gwen! Thank you for this comment. :) I relate to all of it. Darcyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03702441292981376229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3113535730415912557.post-60016296543597708832013-11-15T22:11:55.185-08:002013-11-15T22:11:55.185-08:00I always wish that all of us outcasts could get to...I always wish that all of us outcasts could get together and make our own church. I was a liberal atheist until I was 21. Then I became a liberal Christian, but the things that bothered me about Christians as an atheist still bother me as a Christian. I don't have a connection with a church and my husband and I struggle daily with it all. I don't know if we'll ever find a physical church community. I know they exist, we just don't live in the right place!<br /><br />One of the biggest things I realized, in going from atheist to christian, is that both positions take faith. There is no damning piece of evidence for or against God. Because of that, we could all stand to be a bit humble with our beliefs. But, uncertainty is uncomfortable, though it fits better with faith, a stance that doesn't rest on fact. And so, because lacking certainty is a terrifying part of the human condition, people choose to claim certainty. Truly having faith would mean being comfortable with doubt. That's what a leap of faith is after all, trusting that something will catch you even though you can't see it and therefore aren't "certain" it is there. Learning how to sit with ambiguity is one of the most difficult things a person can do, regardless of a person having faith or not. It's just plain hard for human beings in general. It's why as an atheist I was "certain" that no God existed. If you can rest in your doubt, but still find joy, in whatever brings you joy, then I think you have succeeded at something quite hard!Gwennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3113535730415912557.post-87170216563205720552013-11-07T11:12:32.943-08:002013-11-07T11:12:32.943-08:00And if that is where you're at, that is perfec...And if that is where you're at, that is perfectly valid. I too would've said the same things not very long ago. But where I am now is giving up on all of it. It's time for me to withdraw and stay away from the toxicity for a while. To let my soul rest in the peace for a bit. Peace that I have tried but failed to find in church. Darcyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03702441292981376229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3113535730415912557.post-67520240947836612042013-11-06T22:27:26.310-08:002013-11-06T22:27:26.310-08:00Thanks for the thought-provoking post! Like so man...Thanks for the thought-provoking post! Like so many others, I'm also frustrated by many things going on in mainstream Christian culture. And honestly, maybe I've been part of those problems. But I'm not quite ready to give up on Christianity or reject offensive Christians. They are people after all. And although I have no doubt there are many believers/churches that have done some serious wrongs, I think to adopt a negative attitude towards them because of their faults is just as much an error as it is for them to reject us/others/unbelievers because they are different. The problem with churches is that there are people in them. Organized religion is often messy and painful, but so is organized society of any culture and so is disorganized religion and disorganized society. As humans, I have no doubt that we will go on hurting each other despite our best intentions. Sure, I think some things need to change, but I'm not going to scrape church because I honestly think I'll run into many of the same issues inside or outside the walls. As Greg Brown put it, "it's a messed up world but I love it anyway."Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14212181332159011446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3113535730415912557.post-17753360624960630522013-11-04T13:44:26.632-08:002013-11-04T13:44:26.632-08:00You summed up exactly what I think and feel on org...You summed up exactly what I think and feel on organized religion! Thank you for putting it into words.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3113535730415912557.post-46994162350191405572013-10-28T11:12:42.380-07:002013-10-28T11:12:42.380-07:00I believe God and have accepted him as my Savior. ...I believe God and have accepted him as my Savior. I read my bible, study it on my own. I know what it reads/says. One verse may mean something different a week later, depending on what is going on in my life then. I have had preachers tell me "this is NOT what that verse means". REally? i think not, just as said at the beginning, God talk thru me by a verse in different ways, meanings. Also, church is a "building" only. People make up the foundation. People can worship outside of a building and find God wherever he/she is at. As for the people inside of a church who claim to be "Christians" well, that is another sad state of affair. The church preaches to be friendly and love one another, yet, I have not been to a "friendly, people" loving church who loves another Christian. More to the point, if you do not belong to a certain circle of female group, click with them, then your an outcast. I never had that click with women inside of a church. Well, because, I was a "single" parent and I did not fit into their perfect little family life picture frame. Every church I attended, be big or small, I was treated like an outcast. So, I will stay an outcast to a building. But not to Christ. Jesus taught to love. Not to give up on people, Christian or not, pray for them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3113535730415912557.post-65468353994575556512013-10-23T20:37:42.691-07:002013-10-23T20:37:42.691-07:00The Emperor has no clothes, and you are just one o...The Emperor has no clothes, and you are just one of the children that dares point it out. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3113535730415912557.post-76612938249683029892013-10-22T19:23:42.024-07:002013-10-22T19:23:42.024-07:00Thank you for your honesty. I used to feel the sam...Thank you for your honesty. I used to feel the same way until I found a church that I feel a connection too. I'm a mormon and I think it might be worth considering for you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3113535730415912557.post-79108024665219244372013-10-22T06:38:46.754-07:002013-10-22T06:38:46.754-07:00An excellent well written article that describes s...An excellent well written article that describes so much how I feel too. Thank you for sharing. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14558356612712239886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3113535730415912557.post-1503868104552445682013-10-21T11:29:06.030-07:002013-10-21T11:29:06.030-07:00I am really sorry. Sometimes things that happen an...I am really sorry. Sometimes things that happen and people in the church really mess up. Life is messy. There are just no perfect church or people. Don't let that ever stop you from having a relationship with Christ!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3113535730415912557.post-55052912695962175642013-10-20T00:51:13.715-07:002013-10-20T00:51:13.715-07:00I don't go to church because I go out in natur...I don't go to church because I go out in nature and feel much closer to God than I ever do in a cold building. But yet the church is offended by that statement, so I won't put up with their guilt trip. Lanahttp://www.wideopenground.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3113535730415912557.post-11021914596979966532013-10-19T23:40:15.217-07:002013-10-19T23:40:15.217-07:00Darcy, you're the best and this was great, as ...Darcy, you're the best and this was great, as usual.<br />Thank you!Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10942187922246383744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3113535730415912557.post-74067304470671184332013-10-19T19:45:39.685-07:002013-10-19T19:45:39.685-07:00Thank you for your raw honesty. We are in NZ, hav...Thank you for your raw honesty. We are in NZ, have been "unchurched" for a year now - and to be honest - God has been closer than when we were churched. All the best with your journey.One Happy Mamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12602549712430993764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3113535730415912557.post-45207018840300049172013-10-19T11:09:48.033-07:002013-10-19T11:09:48.033-07:00(Applause). I'm glad to see one more person sa...(Applause). I'm glad to see one more person say "enough is enough" when it comes to the Americanized brand of Christianity. Your spiritual searching may keep you in Christianity, it might not, but don't be afraid to go where your searching leads you.<br /><br />I had enough of the bigotry, the " 'murica!" mentality, and the hypocrisy, the bigotry/ignorance about mental illness, and the abuse from my family.<br /><br />Modern American Christianity reminds me so much of the song "American Jesus" by Bad Religion:<br /><br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=12kcpP-8jfMSheldonhttp://ramblingsofsheldon.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3113535730415912557.post-67306974316502604342013-10-16T22:24:40.269-07:002013-10-16T22:24:40.269-07:00You have stated it well. :) I love the Mark Twain ...You have stated it well. :) I love the Mark Twain quotes!Naomi T.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02998747324631030012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3113535730415912557.post-68899967537069276472013-10-16T18:32:22.940-07:002013-10-16T18:32:22.940-07:00AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Kathy F.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17962879278622492158noreply@blogger.com