Well as predicted last night Summer stayed in the bedroom all night relaxing. I stayed on the computer until 10:30. I was fine with that I got to hold her for a little bit when I got in bed. The thing is that she told me earlier that she was in the mood for ice cream. So I went to the store and bought some Ben & Jerry's. MMMMMMMMM! Good Stuff. Well it's still in the freezer unopened. Why would she tell me she wants ice cream then lock herself in the bedroom? I just don't understand women.
On to what you all want to know about. I called Kaiser today. Unfortunately the counselor I wanted to see has moved to Oregon. So I can't see her. Summer is glad because when we saw this person for marriage counseling a few years ago she didn't like the counselor. But this time she's not going so what difference does it make? Anyways they would not set up an appointment for me yet. They need to have one of there psychiatrist's call me between 2 and 4 on Fri. to talk to me and see what I want and which person I should see. Then they will make the appointment.
I tried to have a conversation about religion again with Summer. But it didn't go to well. I felt like I was being talked down to. All I wanted to know was what exactly is an evangelical Christian. When I hear the word evangelical I think of TV people who try to take your money. Then we started to talk about how I don't like the way that different religions always say that they are right and all others are wrong. Like my friend who is Christian says that only Christians go to heaven. None of the others do (Catholic, Jew, Mormon, etc.). My Grandma who is Catholic believes that Catholics are the right religion. And so on and so on. I believe that it don't matter what religion you believe in as long as you believe in something. Am I wrong?
Sorry it was longer than I wanted it to be.
11 comments:
Definitely some confusion in your post, perhaps typos? Catholics believe they are headed to heaven, and the rest of us aren't. Non-Catholic Christians often don't believe this. Certainly we Episcopalians don't ;-)
Religion is a touchy subject. Did you have conversations with Summer about religion before getting married? I had them with my wife and, still, once we had kids it became a point of difference.
Ooh, ooh, there's a fun question for discussion!
I don't care much for the word "religion." It sounds like a set of rules from old white men in ugly tweed jackets. As a Christian, I believe the way to heaven is a relationship with Jesus. Call that whatever religion or denomination you want. Some people who call themselves "Catholic" have it, and some don't. Some people who call themselves "Christian" have it, and some don't.
As a "Christian," I go by what the Bible says -- that we're ALL sinners (I sure know I am) and can't get to heaven on our own. Not by trying to be good or by going to church. That's why Jesus came and died -- in our place, as a sacrifice, so we could be "made right" with God. He wants that relationship with us, and what we need to do is accept it, believe it, and begin letting him developing that relationship.
Jesus was either right, or he was crazy. He wasn't just a "pretty good guy." It was either Him as the way to God, or he was dead wrong. Completely unpopular to feel this way, but I'm just going by the things that he said 2000 years ago.
That's pretty abbreviated, and I imagine some of the dreaded "Christianese" snuck in there. But it's great that you and your wife are having those kinds of conversations... I hope she can do it in a way that isn't "talking down" to you. Like I said, we are all sinners, and we're in the same boat -- without Jesus.
By the way, if you read all of that out loud in a televangelist voice, I bet it would sound really funny.
So what happens if you don't believe in anything?
What fascinates me most is how this belief in something you can't see is so strong and powerful that some people can't function without it.
Faith wasn't a part of my upbringing, but it's something I enjoy reading about. I haven't gone as far as to read the Bible because I have a feeling I'd need an interpreter, but I think I have the basics down. Very interesting topic! Hope others share their views!
John, welcome to my little space on the web. Glad to see new commentors. :) To answer some questions: 1) no there were no typos. My best friend is a Christian goes to church every Sun. and gave up hunting because of his religious beliefs. He tells me that my Grandma will NOT go to heaven because she is a Catholic not Christian. Another good friend says the same about best friend and grandma because he is a Witness. 2) No we did not have the "religion" talk before we got married. She did not attend church at that time. She started about 6 years ago. She went a lot as a child and teenager but stopped for quite some time before we met.
I have no problems with the kids going to church with her and I encourage them to go. BUT if they come to us and say they want to become a Mormon or Catholic or Jew whatever they want IT IS THERE LIVES. It is a decision that they need to make on there own. We will NOT force them to go to church if they don't want to. I won't let that happen.
FTN, That is kind of the point that I keep trying to make. People say that if you don't go to church you really can't be a believer. I say why do you need to go to church to prove your belief? I say go to where ever YOU feel that you need to go to have that one on one relationship with God or Jesus. Asa log as you live by the bibnle it should not matter if you go to church or not.
o272, I was raised by my parents to believe what I want to believe. My grandma tried to force her religion down my throat whenever I stayed with her. But it was something that I was doing fine without for the past 31 years. Now all of a sudden I'm finding myself questioning everything that I always felt. I just feel that I would be a "hypoctite" for changeing in the middle of the game. There are still views I have that go against organized religion.
Way to long for a reply. Should have been a post of it's own.
CH
This is just one guys view, so take it as it is intended. Spent a LOT of time working this out, studying and growing up in several different phases. To answer your first question, an Evangelical Christian is one that typically is based on the words that Jesus spoke to the disciples to "go out into the world and spread the good news" (paraphrase), so there major thing is to share the gospel (good news) to people around the world. Now, if they actually do this or not is open to some debate.
To answer the bigger question, and again this is my own opinion, church going and type of church going (from a strictly Christian perspective) is NOT what gets you into heaven. Sorry Catholics, and others. The ONLY thing that will get you in is a personal relationship with Jesus. Period. If you need to go to church for that, it can be any church honestly. But simply going to a church doesn't count, being "religious" certainly doesn't count and just being a good person don't cut it neither. Those might go along with the personal relationship thing, especially the good person part, but they don't have to.
Jesus himself taught these things, if people would actually read what the guy said instead of warping it to their own viewpoints, so I tend to go with the guy in the know. :) Tolerance from strength as it were. Faith is the belief in things unseen and unprovable. It is easy to believe in something you've seen for yourself and takes very little effort, just look at any Cubs fan!
Again, I'm not a expert or anything, just a guy figuring stuff out on his own. I do know the world would be a much better place if we could get beyond the differences and understand the important things a little better.
I have to agree with FtN on this. Organized religon has gotten a bad rap for a long time, and for good reason. A lot of bad things have been done through out history in the name of GOD and Christianity. But what it comes down to is your relationship to Jesus. My Dad grew up Catholic, but changed to Baptist after getting more into the Bible. He was one of those that thought most Catholics wouldn't make it to heaven because they focused too much on Mary (Jesus's mother) and the Priest. I know some Catholics who seem to have a relationship with Jesus, and others who put all their faith in the Priest. Usually people will stick to the belief they were raised with. But looking into something and changing your mind after a little research doesn't make you a hypocrite, it makes you an independent thinker.
M-
Michael and ArtfulDodger had some comments I really agree with. I said that going to church won't get me to heaven -- but I still go to one. And the "church" isn't a building anyway, Jesus said that the "church" is the "body of believers." Christians are the church. I would say that just going to that church building isn't a big deal. But I would say that getting involved with the "church" (other Christians) is. When I was looking for one, I looked for worship that engaged me, sermons that preached the Bible, and a place where I could get involved and not just show up on a Sunday morning.
Those good things, like church involvement, should be a by-product of our relationship with Jesus. A result. If anyone (O272) thinks they would need a translator for the Bible, I would recommend starting with the New Testament, perhaps Matthew or Luke, with an NIV translation of the Bible. It's actually much simpler reading than what many would have you believe, and those are the books that detailed Jesus' life. Good reading for Christmastime anyhow!
Confused - See what you started?
Evangelicals, in my understanding, are those that "evangelize" which is spreading the word. So they are more interested in converting non-believers. Organized religion has been guilty of many atrocities throughout history, and some religions are also more accepting of science than others. I was raised an Episcopalian and we accept science, and also have a strong support of the arts (music, singing, painting) as expressions of God on earth. But what can really kick up the conversation is how to teach your children about religion. In fact, its such a great topic that I will probably make a post on it on my blog ;-)
I don't think it matters what religion you are.
I don't believe in a God who would cut out most of the people who believe in him just because they didn't express it a certain way. That sounds a bit petty for a loving God.
I don't have anything to do with Jesus. I was raised a Catholic but the hypocrasy was too much for me to bear. I would rather have a personal relationship with God than approach him through Jesus.
That said, I don't care what anyone else believes. I have friends of all religions; their religion isn't important to me. And I can't see how God could be less accepting of people than I am.
Oh, and I think it's great that you are allowing your children freedom of belief while educating them about religion. I am glad I was taught about Christianity, but my mum is still sad that I'm not a Christian. My dad couldn't care less.
Wow I guess I can really pick a topic. Don't think I've ever recieved this many comments before. :)
Thank You all for your comments and input. I do agree with most of them. And thank you for explaining what an evangelical Christian is. I really agree with this comment from hasarder "I don't believe in a God who would cut out most of the people who believe in him just because they didn't express it a certain way. That sounds a bit petty for a loving God."
I would comment more but I think I'm going to go with my wife this morning if she wants me to. Maybe later I'll post more about this and what I really feel.
CH
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