Register

I Can't Stand It When People Fight Over Religion

Practice Tolerance

By: bluestilettos
Written on April 25th, 2012
I identify my self as a Christian.. I rarely go to church or study the bible.. soooo maybe, just maybe I'm not grasping why it's so important to some people to argue, defend, push, punch and kill other's in the name of religion. I don't have any investment in your choice of religious practices.. Not my business, hey, feel free to believe what you want, I will do the same. Doesn't make sense to KILL someone for any reason.. but to kill someone because they have different religious beliefs.. well let just say the irony does not escape me. Also..so, this morning I was flipping through the channels and came across the 700 club, I paused to hear what he was talking about and as it turns out he was about to start a prayer for those who want to spend eternity in heaven. I thought.. well, I wanna go to heaven and I said the prayer with him. After we completed the prayer and with tears in my eyes lifted my head to the t.v. to see the preacher holding up and item in his hand. Was it a bible..? No, it was his CD he was trying to sell. That irritates me no end! I find it so distasteful! I don't like the divisiveness, the manipulation used so he can make a buck. I mean, there I was.. humbled, vulnerable, spiritually yearning. The perfect time to go over the teachings of the bible.. but no. In his estimation, this was the perfect time to hock his cheesy wares. Sad..and disheartening.
By: bluestilettos
Age: 41-45 , Female
153 people have read this story

Your Response

Please respond with authenticity, support, and respect
By clicking "Post", you confirm that you agree to the Terms of Service of Experience Project, Inc.
13 responses
  • SpiceZ
    SpiceZ

    I'm not a christian but your the type of christian I respect :)

    Sep 28, 2012
    1 like
  • maxximiliann
    maxximiliann

    lol :) Why do you say "interesting"? :)

    May 3, 2012
    1 like
    • bluestilettos
      bluestilettos

      well.. i say interesting for a few reasons.. in previous post u seemed to have no knowledge of the bible.. that's how i perceived your questions and then you lol.. you respond with bible quotes... seems odd to me. purposeful and excessive.. also.. i've mentioned religion in a few post's on this site and eventually the responses i get start to feel a little bible thumpy.. and i understand that you and others.. myself included have a duty to spread the word.. but i don't like it.. i don't want the middle man e.g. you or anyone else.. talking to me about how "you can't be close to anyone you dont fully know, right?" ya, save all of that for someone else. i may or may not read the bible in it's entirety.. but will do so in my time.. no offense to you personally.. you probably have no hidden agenda or mean any ill will. but if im honest, and i am.. i just don't like it. and not inclined to justify why.

      May 7, 2012
      1 like
    • maxximiliann
      maxximiliann

      Not a problem :) You are certainly entitled to your own opinions and preferences. I respect that :)

      May 8, 2012
      1 like
  • maxximiliann
    maxximiliann

    No worries. I'm very nonchalant so I don't take offense quickly. (James 1:19) :)



    For the last 30 some odd years I've been reading, studying and applying the Bible's wisdom in my life. Since my early childhood it's been "a lamp to my foot and a light to my roadway". (Psalms 119:105) It's protected me from innumerable dangers, terrors and hardships. It's helped me find a path through the most bewildering and hopless crises. Molding me, it's made precious qualities like "love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, mildness [and] self-control" the very essence of my personality. (Galatians 5:22,23) Because of it I've even saved people's lives. The word of God truly is "alive and exerts power". (Hebrews 4:12)



    Most important of all, it's helped me develop a real and meaningful relationship with our loving Creator. He's my best friend :) In good times and in bad, Jehovah has always been by my side. While he's allowed me to figure things out on my own he's never 'deserted me nor left me entirely'. (Deuteronomy 31:6) He's even saved my life on more than one occassion. For all he's taught me, for all he's done for me I can't help but love him "with [my] whole heart and with [my] whole soul and with [my] whole mind". (Matthew 24:37) Like that special friend we can't wait to introduce everyone to, I want everyone to develop the same close, personal relationship with Jehovah that I've enjoyed all my life. It's what motivates me - compels me really - to inspire as many people as I can to read the whole Bible in a year. After all, you can't be close to someone you don't fully know, right? :)

    May 3, 2012
    1 like
    • bluestilettos
      bluestilettos

      hmm interesting.. ya, i've give it some thought.

      May 3, 2012
      1 like
  • maxximiliann
    maxximiliann

    How right you are my friend :) In fact, reading the Bible can be likened to peering into a mirror. (James 1:23-25) The message recorded in God’s Word has the power to allow us to see ourselves as we really are. It “pierces even to the dividing of soul and spirit.” (Hebrews 4:12) In other words, it divides what we appear to be on the outside from what we really are on the inside. It shows us where adjustments are needed, just as a mirror does.



    The Bible not only reveals where adjustments need to be made but also helps us to make those adjustments. The apostle Paul wrote: “All scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16, 17) Notice, of the four benefits highlighted, three of them—reproving, setting things straight, and disciplining—involve adjustments in our attitude and actions. If we need to look regularly in a mirror to ensure that our appearance is acceptable, how much more so must we read God’s Word, the Bible, on a regular basis.



    With that in mind, I'd like to ask. Have you ever had the opportunity to read the Bible in its entirety? :)

    May 1, 2012
    2 likes
    • bluestilettos
      bluestilettos

      no, i haven't read the bible in its entirety..i a work in progress my friend. my thought's and comments are a combination of whats in my heart an what i've gleamed from attending church. you surprise me sir.. i was getting the feeling from your previous post that you weren't familiar with the bible or were at a loss of faith.. not meaning to insult you in any way.. or casting any judgement.. just my observation because of your questions to me.

      May 1, 2012
      1 like
  • maxximiliann
    maxximiliann

    I think what we can take away from all of this religious chaos is that man has an innate spiritual need - one which he desperately seeks to satisfy but doesn't quite know how. Since it's clear you feel that God loves us and is not indifferent to our needs, do you think he would leave us to fend for ourselves in this regard? In other words, do you think God would not teach us how to satisfy our spiritual need? How to develop a close personal relationship with him? :)

    Apr 29, 2012
    2 likes
    • bluestilettos
      bluestilettos

      I totally agree with you. Man does have an innate spiritual need, and it is my belief that God loves us even though there are times in which it seems that he is indifferent to our needs. Or that he has abandoned us and we have to fend for ourselves. It's within those times our ability to maintain our faith is put to the test. God's teachings are in the bible...and everything we need to know can be found there. The bible is our tool to understanding.. our relationship with God satisfies our spirit.

      May 1, 2012
      1 like
  • maxximiliann
    maxximiliann

    There are hundreds of thousands of religions in the world. If God set these up for us to learn to worship Him properly, learn to love one another, and have useful, peaceful lives, we can only arrive at one of two conclusions: Either he failed miserably or he didn't set them up in the first place and something else is behind them. What do you think? :)

    Apr 29, 2012
    2 likes
    • bluestilettos
      bluestilettos

      hmm.. interesting perspective maxximiliann. im not sure.. maybe he did "set up" all these different religions so that we could learn to love one another unconditionally just as he has love for us. I however am not sure I would place the failure of mankind's ability to love one another unconditionally on God, but rather our own miserable failure.. It is a curious thing that there are soo many different religions.. and then again there is soooo much variety within the natural world and frankly, I don't fully understand why that is either. In addition it seems to be part of the human condition to always want there to be ONE right way, ONE answer, ONE of whatever the person, place or thing is. We don't seem to do very well when it comes to there being more than one answer to something.. hmmm I know there is a psychological term for what I'm talking about with regard to that phenomena, but I can't remember what it's called at the moment. Sorry to ramble on there maxximiliann.. but you really got me thinking. thank you for the mental stimulation :)

      Apr 29, 2012
      1 like
  • PeaceJourney
    PeaceJourney

    Well said :-)

    Apr 25, 2012
    2 likes