Quote Originally Posted by graymatter
Hey, Braddog, I've encountered two types of religious people in my life, those who are spiritual and those consumed by dogma. The latter are controlling and intolerant. I've never had a problem with spiritual folks, they're easy to get along with (and fun to talk to when high); their world is beyond the matters of Caesar.

My point about where Christianity stands on slavery, segregation, and civil/gay rights is that it still stands in the dark ages. If we'd let Christianity (again, every sectarian voice) determine the question of slavery, they'd still be debating it. Fact is, it took some secular minds to move off the question and say "No, slavery isn't really a good thing for humanity."

My problem with God in government is that it is a God of committee, made up of the same minds that made the arbitrary and anal rules for the senior prom in high school... Peace!
Hey Gray,

Man, It is always a thrill to engage with you, Genuinely. I must differ with you concerning the secular leadership as it relates to civil rights. Many of the whites that marched with King, were wht men of the cloth, so to speak. I come also from a line of pastors from the Carolinas. Many blacks are name after one of my great great grandfathers Jeramiah Jones. A statue is erected there, on a mountain to honor this man for his righteous beliefs as it applies to his aid to the african american cause, He also suffered greatly from the righteous stand that he held. It was, I believe a very active voice of christians that gave the primary momentum for the very cause.

Abraham Lincoln, made many refences to the fact that they like us should enjoy the same inalienable rights. He knew, that he put himself at great risk for his righteous stand also.

A heart shaped and moved by God, will fall in line with His.

On this forum, I came in, as I realized ~ judgemental. My heart as I became more involved, (hopefully apparent), moved more in alignment with His. God can't steer a parked car. But when we move, adjustments of the wheel, should occur.

We certainly love our loved ones, adjustments of the wheel are just healthy, appologies should be alarge part of the coarse taken.

My personal prejudices, (judgements) involve primarily the ridicule of God that I found here. I have been in many ways in a fish bowl as Pink Floyd would say. It is stupid or at least unrealistic, for me to be suprised that, not everyone believes as I do,..... Sounds like I should shelve my own Narcissism,... so to speak. How I came on initially is counter to Him and certainly ~ Not..His..Heart ~ . The everday people loved Him. Flocked to Him by the thousands. He wasn't shocked by any thing he saw. He was criticized by the religious people of his day.....

Religious people.....My last post about this was hurried and fragmented.

Well, hideness is at the core. I said on another forum that I for a time stopped getting high largly due to wife, personal issues of hiddeness....etc... etc....What I failed to develope was the fact that the freedom that God wants us to live, accept, and enjoy, requires that we must get beyond shame dilussions (rooted in religion) and come out and ~ be where we are ~ In fact a councilor, when I was hung up over cigarettes, suggested that, hiding on my back porch so that my kids wouldn't see me,.... well,.... teaching my kids hiddenness, was worse than the fact that I was smoking.

What I have observed, teaching our kids to be open and unhidden is one of the best blessings that we can give and impart.

When I bought weed in "03". the circumstances of which are irrelevant. I hid nothing from my wife, kids (in their 20's), folks, my Dr., who was facinated by the way. My family now is more open and candid, with far less shame than even many unreligious. Also, by the way, ocassionally, my stash would seem to come up a little short. They can say comfortably, Mom Dad,.... Going to a party,.... there will be drinking,... probably will not be back tonight. Does ANYONE think I would ever give that up? I tell them.... thank you,... thank you....Have a good time and be careful. My daughter was able to address the fact that she had - had sex at 19. I regret, much of my own pushiness as a horney adolescent. Whatever, not the topic.

I know this is long, I tried to be less hurried. I'm still at work, may have to.. all freakin night.....I'm taking the rest of this and part of next week off.

I hope you all, along with myself, can learn more about this sickness of religion, which God Hates ~ Perfectly.... Oh By the way.. Christians don't have corner on the religious market, by the way. Many, as in Plenty, are just as hidden, tremendous need to be right, shamed.....on and on....

My opinions,, But look at what freedom really is, That God desires for us.
Openness, honesty, accepting, free of guilt, shame.

I will find the passages that are absolutely clear, about these points. Give me a few days.

Blessings.