Dear All:

I think this is a great discussion and very relevant. "All" should be welcome in this forum, because people of all faiths (and also those with no faith at all) can have marital problems.

Can`t we just draw a line in the sand regarding "evangelism". No one wants to be sold to here. We all must have the right to say how we feel, but it is not right to sell our particular brand of religion to others.

If we could just use alternate more inclusive words: i.e.,

not Christianity, but spirituality
not God, but spiritual Power
not Jesus, but spiritual Friend,

etc. etc. I hope you know what I mean.

Let`s be as inclusive as possible and be of help to "all" who need it. Shouldn`t our goal should be to build marriages rather than to evangelize.

Standing in Finland

Don't get me wrong I am not against religion in anyway. I am just against people making others feel less than good because perhaps they have different backgrounds ect.

I believe that faith is very strong for some people and that is a good thing. I have worked in long term care for the past 24 years. I have sat by the bedside of many people and watched them take their last breath. Some towards the end look up and start whispering to someone the rest of us can't see.I believe its angels coming to get them or perhaps loved ones. My strongest memorey was one night I was sitting by a dying paitent. He was still conscience and I knew he was scared. His kids were not there yet and I knew he needed comfort. I asked him if I could read from the bible. I read the 23 psalm and we said the lords prayer together. He looked at me held my hand and whispered "thankyou". His eyes then rolled back and he died a short time later. I never felt such spirituality then I did at that moment. I know that God is there, I just feel that he, like I do with my kids wants us to make the best choices for us. the ones that fulfill us and makes us happy. We like my children all make mistakes but God, like I do with my children, will love us all no matter what mistakes we may make in our short time here on earth. I feel that if you are a good, caring, loving person who trys to treat everyone and everything with respect and dignity, then God will open you with open arms into heaven.

<small>[ September 10, 2003, 04:48 PM: Message edited by: jillybean36 ]</small>

Issue noted, and I will pray about it.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial"> I feel that if you are a good, caring, loving person who trys to treat everyone and everything with respect and dignity, then God will open you with open arms into heaven.
</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Jilly---you just opened a can of worms. It is very hard for a Christian to hear that knowing that Jesus died a horrible death to pay for our sins. If you don't want to talk about religious things than why would you make a judgment like this?

According to my Higher Power, who I choose to call Jesus, this is contrary to what He says. Jesus claims to be the Way, the Truth and the Life and no one can come to the Father except thru Him. He claims many more things also that totally contradict what you just stated above. Either Jesus was a whacko or God and this is something we all have to come to grips with, BIG TIME!!!!

TW

jillybean

Thanks for bringing this up. Not that it's going to change anything, but thank you anyway.

I get tired of reading the printed scripture. So, I just skip over it. If I wanted to read about scripture I could join a religious site. Or, just stay here. lol

I think some go way overboard, imo. Because to me all of the answer's are not in the bible as some seem to believe.

This site is for one and all, not just christians. That's not a slam either. But not everyone on here is Christian and the Harley's don't only sell their wares to Christians. You can live thru the bible if you wish, but, because someone else doesn't choose to live that way, does not make them immoral or any less of a person.

I also read at other sites and this web site is constantly ridiculed about the amount of "bible pushing". It is overwhelming at times.

As the resident infidel (in the religious sense) on these forums, I'll throw my hat in the ring on this one...

Recently, I felt very unwelcome at MB, in large part due to the over-abundance of proselytizing.

I almost left MB altogether, but changed my mind due to the respectful attitudes of some of the more obviously Christian posters here.

There was even a thread dedicated to the views of secular humanist/agnostic/atheists like myself and how they relate to marriage and morality.

That said, these forums must seem (at first glance) to be overwhelmingly Christian to an outside observer...at least lately. I know that had I happened upon the MB forums now (as opposed to 3 years ago), I never would have bothered to get involved, dismissing it as a Christian site where non-believers like me were not welcome.

As with any post -- you take from it what you can use and leave the rest behind.

I for one would NEVER had made it through this mess without God. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

Hi Jill, hi CJack,

I would like to post more here, but sometimes I am a little hesitant, becasue while I am a Christen, I feel like my negative feelings will be picked on becasue I am not perfect and God like.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">I would like to post more here, but sometimes I am a little hesitant, becasue while I am a Christen, I feel like my negative feelings will be picked on becasue I am not perfect and God like. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">But that's just it!!! YOU don't have to be perfect and God like. Don't feel that way. Be yourself and love yourself.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Originally posted by Lora:
<strong>Hi Jill, hi CJack,

I would like to post more here, but sometimes I am a little hesitant, becasue while I am a Christen, I feel like my negative feelings will be picked on becasue I am not perfect and God like.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">None of us are perfect. We all fall short of the glory of God. That is why He died on the cross for us- we ALL have negative feelings. Expressing them so you can move on is a GOOD thing.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Originally posted by adgirl48:
<strong>None of us are perfect. We all fall short of the glory of God. That is why He died on the cross for us- we ALL have negative feelings. Expressing them so you can move on is a GOOD thing.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">In the spirit of this thread, allow me to present a non-sectarian version of your post:

None of us are perfect. We ALL have negative feelings. Expressing them so you can move on is a GOOD thing.

See how that works?

Cjack:
See how that works?

I see, and I respect your freedom of choosing your religion and to believe or to not believe <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" />

<small>[ September 10, 2003, 11:14 PM: Message edited by: adgirl48 ]</small>