When I wrote my blog post (and followup) in regard to Christianity the other day, I expected a certain amount of fall-out and fodder from it. It's inflammatory and provocative. I wasn't shocked at the names that were called. Oh, maybe a little disappointed that people still resort to that rather than going after the facts, but I know human nature; and that's exactly what humans did. I know many people experienced the same simply by sharing it. That's kind of sad.
I didn't get much fallout, personally. I had been asked to be a part of a group for religious discussions awhile ago, and because of the original post, the invitation was rescinded as I wasn't being 'religiously diplomatic'. It didn't surprise me, nor offend me. In truth, I was asked to join earlier last year, and nothing has been done with that group for months. I had literally forgotten about it, hadn't participated much (other than recommending a couple of heathens for it), and I won't have time in the near future for it anyway with all of the things that are starting to take off for me. The person who "uninvited" me was very polite and kind, and all is well. There were no hard feelings whatsoever.
I've also been drawn into several discussions with Christians and Pagans as a result of the posts. Some of them are very deep, engaging and thoughtful. One in particular that's still ongoing is my favorite. It's great when you can get together with smart people and discuss openly and honestly without name-calling, insults or condescension. I would call that dialogue and bridge-building instead.
I've also been drawn into discussions where people wanted to call me names, tell me I'm ignorant of facts and that I don't know what I'm talking about. From those, I walked away. I'm not here to educate the world on Christianity. That's not my main mission in life. I could write a book on this stuff, because I've spent way too many hours of my life engrossed in it. I've other things I want to do now. I don't need a verbal show-down with anyone. And, they don't really need it with me, either.
The shelf-life on this is quickly expiring for me. I realize several people took offense and no, I'm not going to apologize. I didn't attack anyone personally, so I don't feel badly for it.
If you are secure that your beliefs/religion aren't evil, then you've got nothing to be concerned about. I'm just some blogger off in the inter-webs spouting nonsense.
If it caused you to think, sparked valuable discussions for you, made you review your beliefs (regardless of the outcome)... well, I'm happy then.
At this point, I've said my piece, and I'm moving on. If you're wondering if I'll post something similar in the future, I doubt it. This horse has been beaten to death; I'm not beating it to the glue factory. You know where I stand on Christianity as a whole now, like it or not.
One thing you might not know is that I left it because of research and fact-finding. It was a very painful epiphany when I realized there was no evidence for Jesus's existence. I struggled greatly with that one, and when I finally got to a point where I could no longer ignore the truth, it was excruciating. To walk away from something to which I had devoted many years of my life as well as my focus was devastating.
But, no one forced it on me. I made the choice to accept facts in evidence, and to walk away. I know many people have shared this similar experience with me. They completely understand what I mean by that.
Several people have mentioned that it never bothered them at all to find out that Jesus didn't really exist as well. I'm glad for those people.
I simply felt like an idiot because I'd always thought he really existed as a human- there was just doubt about his divinity. I berated myself for not researching and fact-checking sooner. I also realized that I learned a lot along the way, and I was where I needed to be "now". I came to understand that regardless of what I called "God", I'd had a personal gnosis of something greater than myself, and I really don't think He/She/It/They cared what I called him/her/it/them. Epiphanies abounded from there.
I'm not here to take Jesus away from someone who believes in him. I'm not here to take Christianity away from anyone, even though I said it should be eradicated. The statement was meant to get the attention of those who had never walked a mile in the shoes of someone they'd attacked using the same rhetoric.
What you believe and how you live is completely up to you, and I'm fine with that, to a degree. What I will not continue to abide is the total lack of respect for the beliefs and lifestyles of others that accompanies many of the beliefs and tenets of that religion. Disrespect me, my friends and fellow world citizens, and I'm going to push back- no two ways about it.
I'm tired of hearing how homosexuality is against "God" and "Nature". There are over 1,500 species of animal in nature (that we've documented to date) that practice homosexuality. It is as natural as breathing is to humans, so it's time to put that away. Women are not subservient or less human than men. The color of one's skin doesn't make them less than human, less than you or less than anyone (don't get me started on the whole "children of Cain" theory of Christianity); and you don't get to bully your religion into the laws of my secular country.
Christianity is at a critical juncture; it's either going to adapt or die off. The beliefs of bronze age men living in tents in the desert need to be put into perspective. Common sense, facts, science, etc.. need to override a "believe it no matter what" mentality.
If you choose to accept that the bible is mythological rather than historical or scientific, and that Jesus may simply be the conglomeration of many other and older god-man-dying-for-his-people myths and want to worship him anyway, I applaud you.
If you want to live by some of the instructions he gave through parables and stories, that's terrific.
If you try to tell me that the bible is all true, and he is the only way to get to heaven, and if I don't choose him then I'm going to suffer eternal torture by burning, I'm going to walk away.
If you start attempting to legislate your religious beliefs into my secular country's laws, minimize a group that doesn't think or believe like you, bully others because yours is the 'superior' belief, you'll have a fight on your hands.
I'm all for 'live and let live', but remember, that your rights end where mine begin. That applies to all people, regardless of their beliefs, cultures, gender, and/or sexual orientation.
And with that, dear friends, this thread has reached its expiration date. Time for me to move on to blogging about other things that interest me.
Sláinte,
Kallan
I didn't get much fallout, personally. I had been asked to be a part of a group for religious discussions awhile ago, and because of the original post, the invitation was rescinded as I wasn't being 'religiously diplomatic'. It didn't surprise me, nor offend me. In truth, I was asked to join earlier last year, and nothing has been done with that group for months. I had literally forgotten about it, hadn't participated much (other than recommending a couple of heathens for it), and I won't have time in the near future for it anyway with all of the things that are starting to take off for me. The person who "uninvited" me was very polite and kind, and all is well. There were no hard feelings whatsoever.
I've also been drawn into several discussions with Christians and Pagans as a result of the posts. Some of them are very deep, engaging and thoughtful. One in particular that's still ongoing is my favorite. It's great when you can get together with smart people and discuss openly and honestly without name-calling, insults or condescension. I would call that dialogue and bridge-building instead.
I've also been drawn into discussions where people wanted to call me names, tell me I'm ignorant of facts and that I don't know what I'm talking about. From those, I walked away. I'm not here to educate the world on Christianity. That's not my main mission in life. I could write a book on this stuff, because I've spent way too many hours of my life engrossed in it. I've other things I want to do now. I don't need a verbal show-down with anyone. And, they don't really need it with me, either.
The shelf-life on this is quickly expiring for me. I realize several people took offense and no, I'm not going to apologize. I didn't attack anyone personally, so I don't feel badly for it.
If you are secure that your beliefs/religion aren't evil, then you've got nothing to be concerned about. I'm just some blogger off in the inter-webs spouting nonsense.
If it caused you to think, sparked valuable discussions for you, made you review your beliefs (regardless of the outcome)... well, I'm happy then.
At this point, I've said my piece, and I'm moving on. If you're wondering if I'll post something similar in the future, I doubt it. This horse has been beaten to death; I'm not beating it to the glue factory. You know where I stand on Christianity as a whole now, like it or not.
One thing you might not know is that I left it because of research and fact-finding. It was a very painful epiphany when I realized there was no evidence for Jesus's existence. I struggled greatly with that one, and when I finally got to a point where I could no longer ignore the truth, it was excruciating. To walk away from something to which I had devoted many years of my life as well as my focus was devastating.
But, no one forced it on me. I made the choice to accept facts in evidence, and to walk away. I know many people have shared this similar experience with me. They completely understand what I mean by that.
Several people have mentioned that it never bothered them at all to find out that Jesus didn't really exist as well. I'm glad for those people.
I simply felt like an idiot because I'd always thought he really existed as a human- there was just doubt about his divinity. I berated myself for not researching and fact-checking sooner. I also realized that I learned a lot along the way, and I was where I needed to be "now". I came to understand that regardless of what I called "God", I'd had a personal gnosis of something greater than myself, and I really don't think He/She/It/They cared what I called him/her/it/them. Epiphanies abounded from there.
I'm not here to take Jesus away from someone who believes in him. I'm not here to take Christianity away from anyone, even though I said it should be eradicated. The statement was meant to get the attention of those who had never walked a mile in the shoes of someone they'd attacked using the same rhetoric.
What you believe and how you live is completely up to you, and I'm fine with that, to a degree. What I will not continue to abide is the total lack of respect for the beliefs and lifestyles of others that accompanies many of the beliefs and tenets of that religion. Disrespect me, my friends and fellow world citizens, and I'm going to push back- no two ways about it.
I'm tired of hearing how homosexuality is against "God" and "Nature". There are over 1,500 species of animal in nature (that we've documented to date) that practice homosexuality. It is as natural as breathing is to humans, so it's time to put that away. Women are not subservient or less human than men. The color of one's skin doesn't make them less than human, less than you or less than anyone (don't get me started on the whole "children of Cain" theory of Christianity); and you don't get to bully your religion into the laws of my secular country.
Christianity is at a critical juncture; it's either going to adapt or die off. The beliefs of bronze age men living in tents in the desert need to be put into perspective. Common sense, facts, science, etc.. need to override a "believe it no matter what" mentality.
If you choose to accept that the bible is mythological rather than historical or scientific, and that Jesus may simply be the conglomeration of many other and older god-man-dying-for-his-people myths and want to worship him anyway, I applaud you.
If you want to live by some of the instructions he gave through parables and stories, that's terrific.
If you try to tell me that the bible is all true, and he is the only way to get to heaven, and if I don't choose him then I'm going to suffer eternal torture by burning, I'm going to walk away.
If you start attempting to legislate your religious beliefs into my secular country's laws, minimize a group that doesn't think or believe like you, bully others because yours is the 'superior' belief, you'll have a fight on your hands.
I'm all for 'live and let live', but remember, that your rights end where mine begin. That applies to all people, regardless of their beliefs, cultures, gender, and/or sexual orientation.
And with that, dear friends, this thread has reached its expiration date. Time for me to move on to blogging about other things that interest me.
Sláinte,
Kallan