30 Jul 04
Good Morning and welcome to the first class in the series entitled: “How to avoid being a fundamentalist nut job.”
Proverbs 16:19 Better it is to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Many of you may be thinking you have made a mistake and stepped into the wrong class, sit back down there RB, but I’m here to tell you we can all benefit from a few less nut jobs in this world. So sit back, relax, and let’s see if we can teach each other a few things.
Now, I’m sure many of you have faith in a higher being, some of you have faith in yourself, and still more of you have faith in nothing in particular except maybe your sports team. I don’t care who or what you have faith in, nor do I care if you have any faith at all. It is not for me to answer these questions for you…in this matter you are on your own. Which leads me to the first lesson…Faith is a profoundly personal matter, and if you think it is important to respect other people then it is equally important to respect their faith.
Now, I know you are very excited about your faith, somebody give RB something to chew on, and you want to share what you have found with your friends AND total strangers. The problem many of you seem to be running into is that you try to share your faith before you share the only thing anybody is going to be interested in…YOURSELF. Once you have established a relationship with these people you will find them to be a far better audience to your ideas about faith. Incidentally, you will be more responsive to their ideas as well, but this is for a later lesson.
So, for homework, I want you to make a conscience decision to change your behavior. When you feel the desire to wax poetic about your faith or your God, instead, say something about yourself, and take a genuine interest in the person(s) in front of you. Concern yourself, first, with the ‘person’ in front of you, before you go trying to save their soul.
Good Luck!!
TheSkipper
30 Jul 04
Originally posted by TheSkippersaid like a true athiest 😉
Good Morning and welcome to the first class in the series entitled: “How to avoid being a fundamentalist nut job.”
Proverbs 16:19 Better it is to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Many of you may be thinking you have made a mistake and stepped into the wrong class, sit back down there RB, but I’m here to ...[text shortened]... person’ in front of you, before you go trying to save their soul.
Good Luck!!
TheSkipper
preaching christanity is a funny thing-jesus told the disiples to bascially preach the gospel to anyone and everyone, and it is also written that anywhere where the gospel is preached it shall have an effect (that is, a positive effect towards God) upon people-be it only one or everyone there. be it even the preacher...
but yeah, i do actually agree wholeheartedly with what your saying. only probublem is, i've been enjoying reading all those heated religious debates! the only thing related to them that irritates me is all the threads complaining about them-there's more of them than there are arguments! and also those ones asking for a seperate forum for them. iwannaflamesomepeople! :'(
30 Jul 04
Originally posted by TheSkipperWhat if you are just bursting at the seams from being filled with the Spirit?
Good Morning and welcome to the first class in the series entitled: “How to avoid being a fundamentalist nut job.”
Proverbs 16:19 Better it is to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Many of you may be thinking you have made a mistake and stepped into the wrong class, sit back down there RB, but I’m here to ...[text shortened]... person’ in front of you, before you go trying to save their soul.
Good Luck!!
TheSkipper
Should you pray to the Good Father Above to take a little bit of that away,
lest it leak out of your mouth at an inopportune time, like,
"Hi, my name is RB. Nice to meet....WILL YOU GO TO HEAVEN WHEN YOU DIE???"
Dr. Cribs
30 Jul 04
1 edit
Originally posted by geniusNot that it matters, but I am no athiest. I'm just a guy attempting to approach religion in a way that is respectful of others. I think with a little more mutual understanding and a calming of the enflamed religious passion...we can once again enjoy civility in our desire to exchange ideas.
said like a true athiest 😉
preaching christanity is a funny thing-jesus told the disiples to bascially preach the gospel to anyone and everyone, and it is also written that anywhere where the gospel is preached it shall have an effect (t ...[text shortened]... asking for a seperate forum for them. iwannaflamesomepeople! :'(
You seem to be making a good start...maybe you even desreve you name, Mr. genius! 😉
TheSkipper
30 Jul 04
Originally posted by CribsA good question Dr. Cribs.
What if you are just bursting at the seams from being filled with the Spirit?
Should you pray to the Good Father Above to take a little bit of that away,
lest it leak out of your mouth at an inopportune time, like,
"Hi, my name is RB. Nice to meet....WILL YOU GO TO HEAVEN WHEN YOU DIE???"
Dr. Cribs
You should never pray to God to take away that which he has seen fit to give. However, it is appropriate, and honorable to ask your God to help you control and focus the gift he hath bestowed upon you.
Those that invented/documented our various religions have left them in our care. We are duty bound to treat those religions with respect, and perhaps more importantly, be good stewards of those religions. Whether it be for good or ill, once you align yourself with a particular faith or set of beliefs, you speak FOR those faiths and beliefs to one degree or another. It is for this reason that you must speak carefully, and allow your mind to guide your tounge, and use your heart for inspiration.
TheSkipper
30 Jul 04
Originally posted by TheSkipper*coughs*
You seem to be making a good start...maybe you even desreve you name, Mr. genius! 😉
TheSkipper
it took me 2 and a third years to make a start...😉
and actually, i don't think i've ever claimed to deserve my name! i've often defended me not not being a genius...and as to mutual understandin, IMO an atheist often cannot understand christians. you cannot describe what it is like to be a christian with words. it has be be, well, felt...😛 but a christian can understand an atheist, as often christains were once athiests! (eg paul-also, a christian who became an athiest, again IMO, would not be a "proper", so to speak, christian to start with. i doubt a true beleiver would wary from the path so much as to beleive that there is no god. snobbish though it may sound, tis just my opinion 🙂)
30 Jul 04
Originally posted by CribsOther ways to leak out spirit
What if you are just bursting at the seams from being filled with the Spirit?
Should you pray to the Good Father Above to take a little bit of that away,
lest it leak out of your mouth at an inopportune time, like,
Dr. Cribs
Give some money to the poor. Spend time with a child/person/elder who may be lonely. Call someone who has helped you and say Thanks. Go buy a flower for the cranky person behind the counter. Smile beautifully. Be more loving. Or gaze upon the wonders of the created world. Maybe...this is radical...look for the God spark in another human being and then celebrate its expression. Tell a good joke.
Words may be the least of all expressions of spirit...when I think of Christ...I remember that Wedding at Canna, the hanging with folks, the easing of pain and fear.
If I have to tell you about Christ maybe it is because you cannot see him in me?
Of course, I am a sinner...so I may be confused...preach on....
30 Jul 04
Originally posted by geniusNonsense. Many atheists started off as christians. Dan Barker of the FFRF (Freedom From Religion Foundation) started off his career as a minister before he realized what a bunch of nonsense his faith was. People are capable of changing their minds about things.
*coughs*
it took me 2 and a third years to make a start...😉
and actually, i don't think i've ever claimed to deserve my name! i've often defended me not not being a genius...and as to mutual understandin, IMO an atheist often cannot understand christians. you cannot describe what it is like to be a christian with words. it has be be, well, felt...😛 ...[text shortened]... o much as to beleive that there is no god. snobbish though it may sound, tis just my opinion 🙂)
30 Jul 04
Originally posted by CribsOh, my brotha, Dr. Cribs, I do believe that I just made an important connection between you and yo chosen field of endeavor and what our new faculty, Dr. Skippy is trying to say. You know it kinda be like foplay, ya dig. It's kind of like slowin' down sort of enjoyin da moment and all. Like day say half da fun is gettin there. Know what I'm sayin?
What if you are just bursting at the seams from being filled with the Spirit?
Should you pray to the Good Father Above to take a little bit of that away,
lest it leak out of your mouth at an inopportune time, like,
"Hi, my name is RB. Nice to meet....WILL YOU GO TO HEAVEN WHEN YOU DIE???"
Dr. Cribs
It be kind of like if you train yo stable to go out there and say "Hey wanna get it on?" And a wam bam badda bing it be all over. HOw you gonna get repeat business? It's all about want em to come back fo more if I'm hearin my new professorial brotha correctly. N'est pas?
30 Jul 04
Originally posted by rwingettbut if they decided they had no faith, then there must have been no faith to begin with. just because he was a minister, it does not mean he was a -well- true christian. not just someone who beleived in God...
Nonsense. Many atheists started off as christians. Dan Barker of the FFRF (Freedom From Religion Foundation) started off his career as a minister before he realized what a bunch of nonsense his faith was. People are capable of changing their minds about things.
there is beleif, and then there is christianity. i, personally, beleif that once you have felt God touch on your life, it is not something you can give up.
you have no proof, i have no proof. it is all opinion 🙂