(OT) Some advice for me / My Depression Thread / Thanks forumers

[Erax]

Originally posted by Atrocities:
If an atheist experienced what I did this weekend, s/he would be going to church this week.

Some people may have a belief in God, but not in religion, are they considered atheist? I honestly don't know the answer to that question, but I would like to.

According to the Catholic Church, you would not be an atheist but you would be a heretic. But then so would all Protestants. This is a word that you don't hear a lot these days, BTW, but it's still the official definition.

[tbontob]

Originally posted by narf poit chez BOOM:

quote:

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This doesn't mean we shouldn't examine the faux pas and think about changing future behaviour. Quite the contrary. But we do need to be gentle with ourselves when we inadvertently make mistakes.

apologizing also helps.

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Yes, I agree.

But with or without an apology, it is still the choice of the person as to how he is going to respond to the behaviour or behaviour/apology.

It is not uncommon for a person to carry a grudge even when all attempts of reconciliation have been tried including apologies.

[Atrocities]

i believe that people would have trouble gathering all the information they needed, so god put religon on the earth.

It can also be regrettibly said that man invented religion as a means to control people. Play upon their fears and use that fear to make the weak minded or fearful do as you wish.

Or one could also say that God tought man religion in order to give a privelaged few the power to control the masses.

Either way you cut it, religion has resulted in abuses of power of people, and in many cases lead to wars, death, and terrorism.

So if a person chose the values of God without the mindless following that is dictated by a religion, one is labled a name by those who control the said religion and therefor will be cast out of heaven.

Ya right, and they have a red phone that links them directly to GOD. They have been empowered to speak for God by god. I don't think so, and I, as a free sole, choose to believe in God, and not religion, and I know that God has not foresaken me because of this. And how dare some one ever emply that he has.

[ June 03, 2003, 15:01: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

[tbontob]

Originally posted by Taera:
[QB]i dont know if anyone realy cares... QB]

Taera, you may want to take a look at this area.

It has to do with a sense of self-worth.

Some of us get our sense of self-worth from others. If they like us or if they care then we are worthy, of value and deserve to be liked/loved.

In such a case, we are dependent upon others for our sense of worth and well-being.

You may also wish to examine your definition of "caring".

Please do not take the following examples as an attempt to fit you into one of them. They are given by way of explanation only. I often get into trouble when I give examples and they are taken personally.

Some people define it as "listening when I am in real trouble". By this definition, we will find someone who will listen and feel that people care.

If we define it as "listening to me ad nausia", well, there are fewer people willing to do this.

If we define it as "listening to me on demand whenever I want it and have to listen it to ad nausia", we would be very fortunate to find such a person.

And we are in real trouble if we expect most or all people to exhibit the level of care we want.

But it may not be listening at all. It may be something else which you feel falls short of the standard of caring which is expected.

Whatever the standard, it does need to be examined if you feel uncared.

On a somewhat similiar vein, but taking it from the perspective of the care-giver, some of us buy the care we want. So we shower the person with gifts, take them to restaurants etc.

Both parties need to examine the basis of their sense of worth/value.

I saw a poster once. "God loves me because he don't make no junk!"

If we can accept that we are worthy and loveable for all our warts, mistakes, errors and indiscretions, then we will have a sense of worth that transcends all that happens around us.

And this applies to criminals who by societal standards make the most serious mistakes.

Some people go though their whole life without examining this question. Those who do, often find it is a lifetime journey.

[Erax]

Originally posted by Atrocities:
It can also be regrettibly said that man invented religion as a means to control [...]
I know that God has not foresaken me because of this. And how dare some one ever emply that he has.

I'm sure this wasn't aimed at me directly. For the record, my views are similar to yours. But I decided I would study religious doctrine so I wouldn't be caught by surprise in certain situations.

[Alpha Kodiak]

Originally posted by Atrocities:
If an atheist experienced what I did this weekend, s/he would be going to church this week.

Some people may have a belief in God, but not in religion, are they considered atheist? I honestly don't know the answer to that question, but I would like to.

I hope that what you experienced was good rather than bad, Atrocities. Both types of events can lead one to seek God, but it often seems that troublesome events are more likely to get us searching for something more than ourselves.

As for your question about atheism, a person who believes in God would not be an atheist. In fact that person would not really be agnostic, since agnostic (Greek - "without knowledge") refers to a person who is not sure whether God exists or not.

A deeper question is, what do you do with your belief? I totally agree with you in one of your other Posts that God does not foresake you because you do not believe in religion. I do believe that the main reason we are on this earth is to have a relationship with God. I also believe that I am unable to have that relationship in my own strength, because I am imperfect, but I believe that God has provided a way for me to have a relationship with Him in His strength. Yet believing in something, but not acting on that belief is almost like not believing in it.

Rather than post again about my views of Christianity, with which many who read these threads are no doubt familiar, I would encourage you to honestly ask Him what His will for you is. You know He is with you, and you know He is taking care of you, so trust as well for Him to reveal to you what the next step in your relationship should be.

[narf poit chez BOOM]

religon's of all types have been used by corrupt people. that is why one must have a personal relationship with god. to simply condemn all religons for the corruptions of a few people is a mistake.

[ June 03, 2003, 22:00: Message edited by: narf poit chez BOOM ]