Originally posted by moonbusWe all live out our faith, I would like to add I admire yours.
Six years ago my wife and I adopted two severely traumatized girls from Haiti. I gave up my career to raise them (my wife works full-time to support us). I am learning to cope with two galloping cases of post-traumatic stress syndrome, although I have no technical training in child psychiatry. We are giving the gift of an enriched life to two people who, if ...[text shortened]... brutality. That's my 'faith building' exercise, not once but every day for the rest of my life.
Originally posted by RJHindsPretending to be offended by a thought exercise reflects poorly on you and your religious beliefs. If you are not pretending to be offended, then your religious beliefs have hamstrung you intellectually and emotionally, when surely they should have emboldened and strengthened you. Manufactured outrage, so virulent in this internet age, is either a symptom of brittle beliefs or it's a sign of sneering insincere smack down partisanship.
I have also stated that I agree with Suzianne that the question under such a hypothetical is offensive as a Christian. But I can understand that if one is not a Christian and does not believe in God that it would not be offensive.
I responded to a different hypothetical example that I thought was also offensive and I even referred to it as despicable tha ...[text shortened]... gave is not really in the same category in my opinion and should be made in a different thread.
Originally posted by FMFI don't see how one that deeply loves his wife could actually believe what you say. But I guess that is just me. Beat me with a wet noodle. 😏
Pretending to be offended by a thought exercise reflects poorly on you and your religious beliefs. If you are not pretending to be offended, then your religious beliefs have hamstrung you intellectually and emotionally, when surely they should have emboldened and strengthened you. Manufactured outrage, so virulent in this internet age, is either a symptom of brittle beliefs or it's a sign of sneering insincere smack down partisanship.
Originally posted by FMFI would not compare my trials to anyone else's; one man's dark night of the soul might be another man's pizza parlor.
Apples and oranges, mate. Suzianne has to decide whether to answer, or not answer, the question "If it could actually be proven that the Christian god doesn't exist, how would that change your life, if you're a Christian?" Unless this question formed part of the aftermath of the humanitarian disaster in Haiti, you don't necessarily know what it's like to walk a mile in Suzianne's forum bovver boots.
I merely wished to say that I am not an armchair philosopher; my contribution to world peace is no mere hypothetical exercise. Suzi and LJ will make peace with their consciences in their own way.
Originally posted by moonbusWe adopted twin boys who were severely abused, we got them in full body casts and they didn't get out of them till they were 5 months old. The birth mom was a prostitute who hated the father and took that hate out on the twins. They were also born addicted to cocaine and heroin, crack babies.
Compliment noted. Thanks. It is not a simple world; it is a complicated world which requires complementary solutions. Live and let live.
We almost lost the love of our other kids over this, but they finally are coming around after 25 years. The boys graduated from HS but with special education all through those years.
We were told they would never even speak and they would be vegetables and were destined to be separated and institutionalized but we said We don't think so, and took the task of raising them.
They were tested to have low IQ's, around 90 or so but the psychologists who tested them said if they hadn't been born so damaged they would have been gifted since some of the results were very much higher than average.
It has been rocky road for a long time but they have come out ok, as best as they can get, in the long road.
Originally posted by sonhouseWell done!!! Proof positive that you don't need religion or god to bring out the best in people!
We adopted twin boys who were severely abused, we got them in full body casts and they didn't get out of them till they were 5 months old. The birth mom was a prostitute who hated the father and took that hate out on the twins. They were also born addicted to cocaine and heroin, crack babies.
We almost lost the love of our other kids over this, but they ...[text shortened]... rocky road for a long time but they have come out ok, as best as they can get, in the long road.
Originally posted by OdBodI don't know if you ever heard of George Winston, the pianist. We have been friends for 40 years and he came to our house and we took a picture of him and the twins when they were 3. Now 24 odd years later, we went to his concert held here in Bethlehem Pa and took another picture of George and Jonathan and Chasity, Jonathan's daughter together. I am going to email both pictures to George, he'll get a kick out of them.
Well done!!! Proof positive that you don't need religion or god to bring out the best in people!
Originally posted by FMFAnd what, exactly, is this post about? Yes, manufactured outrage against manufactured outrage. "Well, that seems honest enough." Umm, no.
Pretending to be offended by a thought exercise reflects poorly on you and your religious beliefs. If you are not pretending to be offended, then your religious beliefs have hamstrung you intellectually and emotionally, when surely they should have emboldened and strengthened you. Manufactured outrage, so virulent in this internet age, is either a symptom of brittle beliefs or it's a sign of sneering insincere smack down partisanship.