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Re: I was very

LOL Kaboom! I vowed never to go back--like you, I found the whole thing uncomfortable. But I don't have your conviction--I'd be sitting in the front row if there was a million dollars at stake!

posted by Sira890 on July 14, 2008 at 10:13 AM | link to this | reply

I was very

uncomfortable with my own parent's 'charasmatic' spell. I was just a kid but it totally turned me off to religion. They looked and sounded indredibly silly. I wouldn't set foot in one of those churches even if you paid me a million dollars.

posted by KaBooM62 on July 13, 2008 at 5:59 PM | link to this | reply

Re:

I love it BC-A!

Thanks for reading

posted by Sira890 on July 12, 2008 at 8:30 PM | link to this | reply

Re: Sira890

Beautifully said, Wiley darling!

posted by Sira890 on July 12, 2008 at 8:30 PM | link to this | reply

Re: Hula hoops??? lol Listen, anyone who tells you you are going to

vickip--I love that you call it a "charismatic" church--that's just such a perfectly diplomatic name for it!

I've been to some really excellent services, although I do seem to have a knack for finding the really amazingly "charismatic" ones.

posted by Sira890 on July 12, 2008 at 8:28 PM | link to this | reply

Re:

Nite, I feel much better--thank you so much! Not only did you make me smile, but you've reminded me that there are Christians who understand what it really means to be a christian.

You're brilliant, and a sweetie!

posted by Sira890 on July 12, 2008 at 8:25 PM | link to this | reply

Re: Sira890

LOL Talion! I'm going to have to remember that, and work on getting myself some thick skin when it comes to this sort of thing!

Thanks for reading

posted by Sira890 on July 12, 2008 at 8:22 PM | link to this | reply

Re: What makes it even more difficult is that a lot of those who claim

Ciel, I agree--and I usually don't even try talking to them because I know it's pointless. But there are times when my mouth gets the better of me--impulses of youth, and all that nonsense!

posted by Sira890 on July 12, 2008 at 8:21 PM | link to this | reply

Re:

TAPs, once again I find myself dazzled by your eloquence!

posted by Sira890 on July 12, 2008 at 8:19 PM | link to this | reply

Re: I was struck about them needing props to express their joy

I couldn't agree more, Azur!

Thanks for reading!

posted by Sira890 on July 12, 2008 at 8:18 PM | link to this | reply

Re: Apparently these so-called Christians missed that lesson about

I think you're right Pat. They must have skipped the class in Charm School 101--the one where people learn the concept of hospitality and proper "guest" etiquette. I'm pretty sure yelling at company is frowned upon.

posted by Sira890 on July 12, 2008 at 8:17 PM | link to this | reply

Re: Sira

LOL Naut! Nope, no personal offense here--just disagreement.

posted by Sira890 on July 12, 2008 at 8:15 PM | link to this | reply

Re:

No worries OTA--and no permanent scarring here. I've been to many services (in other denominations) which were amazingly calm, and met a lot of really good hearted people there.

Besides, I've always preferred to pay attention to the source of the "good news", rather than hear it second hand from others.

Thanks for reading, and for the lovely comment!

posted by Sira890 on July 12, 2008 at 8:14 PM | link to this | reply

Re: Sira

Naut,

I am now picturing you, gyrating with the people and playing with a hula hoop--and yes, I'm laughing! I can totally understand how you would have had trouble keeping a straight face yourself!

I think I already clarified this--and you've read the post for yourself, so you already realize--Feenix didn't attack me personally. No need to add him to your list on my account!

posted by Sira890 on July 12, 2008 at 8:11 PM | link to this | reply

Re: Sira890

Hilow, it's good to do what works for you!

Thanks for reading

posted by Sira890 on July 12, 2008 at 8:05 PM | link to this | reply

l, BCA!

posted by BC-A on July 11, 2008 at 5:58 AM | link to this | reply

Sira890

Keep it simple luv, talk to the God within you and leave the fruitcakes selling religion in here to their own madness. You are a good person, end of story. Preachers in here remind me of the line; Eagles may soar, but religion pumping weasles don't get sucked into jet engines. Think only of love and Jesus the man who talked of it constantly.

posted by WileyJohn on July 10, 2008 at 10:06 PM | link to this | reply

Hula hoops??? lol Listen, anyone who tells you you are going to

burn in hell is committing a sin themselves - it's off to hell in a handbasket for them as well if they believe in the Bible they are thumping. My daughter went to a "charismatic" church, but I never once heard them preach hell and damnation, thank goodness, I would have jerked her up and out of there immediately. Don't give up on church -- there are really good ones out there.

posted by VictoriaP on July 10, 2008 at 7:47 PM | link to this | reply

Dearest, you are by no means damned and I am so sorry that you had to go through that horrible experience at that incredibly scary-sounding church!! I am Christian, and I was raised to love one another, accept others, and generally do the best that I can with what I've got. To me, that is christianity and not toting around a bible and claiming everyone damned if you don't believe in God....or rather their religion. I believe, as you do, that we are never to judge others. That is not fair to anyone because we are not God, nor are we gods. We can only do what we feel is right and deal with the consequences when they are revealed to us.

Oddly, I never met "scary" Christians until I came up to Northern California. I had never encountered pre-judgments and selfish anger in Southern California - that, in itself, is odd to me. But I can definitely understand your fears about that church you talked about. If I was in your position, I would have ran like hell out that door. You have a lot more strength than I do to have been able to stay through the whole service!! ...I honestly don't know what the point of my comment was to you....LOL.....sorry. I just wanted to somehow, hopefully, make you feel a tad better. I hope I did.

posted by NiteTide on July 10, 2008 at 7:25 PM | link to this | reply

Sira890

As an agnostic, I've heard the "you're going to burn in hell" speech (both on this site and in the "real" world) so many times it no longer bothers me in the least. If I even take the time to respond, one of my favorite lines is, "It's a date. I'll see you there!"

posted by Talion_ on July 10, 2008 at 7:14 PM | link to this | reply

What makes it even more difficult is that a lot of those who claim

to be the very best of Christians really truly believe it of themselves... even if it is patently obvious to the rest of us that they are not, there is no way to talk to them, or even with them. They have no ears to hear.

posted by Ciel on July 10, 2008 at 5:20 PM | link to this | reply

Sira, there are churches, and then there are churches. There are Christians, and then there are people who call themselves Christian without much understanding of what that might mean. There are those who are spiritual, and there are those who are Spirit filled. One has to be discerning and choose wisely with whom they will ally themselves.

posted by TAPS. on July 10, 2008 at 4:28 PM | link to this | reply

I was struck about them needing props to express their joy

Methinks true faith needs no props.

posted by Azur on July 10, 2008 at 3:07 PM | link to this | reply

Apparently these so-called Christians missed that lesson about

"judge not," and don't realize that, according to the New Testament, (or is it the Old?) only God is capable of seeing what's in a person's heart. Also, they haven't the least notion of hospitality -- that behavior's not going to get them in Heaven's first pew...

posted by Pat_B on July 10, 2008 at 2:46 PM | link to this | reply

Sira

Well, I spoke too soon - it happens, lol. I was under the impression he had attacked you personally, which he did not - so my apologies to Mr. F. But I think I'll keep him on my list anyway...

posted by Nautikos on July 10, 2008 at 2:30 PM | link to this | reply

Sira, I am so sorry for the frightening experience you described when attending a worship servce. I read the blog post you are talking about and found it very judgemental and hard to swallow. The combination of those two experiances with "christians" would sour most of us on "the good news" as presented.~ Peace and love, OTA

posted by Blue_feathers on July 10, 2008 at 2:30 PM | link to this | reply

Sira

Back in grad school (seems like yesterday, but wasn't, unfortunately, lol) I did a study of one of those congregations. I wasn't interested in what they believed, but in behaviour patterns and how they related to differences in hierarchy and 'standing' in the congregation, etc. etc. In doing so I had to blend in, of course, and, and had to do at least a minimal amount of gyrating and such. My biggest problem was that my amusement at that sometimes threatened to overcome my 'scientific' detachment. I found it difficult at times to keep a straight face, LOL. So much for that. (I'd have to do a lot of digging through my files to see if I still have that, but it wouldn't make for a good post anyway.)

But that Feenix should berate you is an entirely different matter! I wonder what he would have to say to an atheist like myself! As you know, unlike many others of my ilk I am very tolerant of people's faith, but I have no interest in talking to people who attack me because of my lack of it. Hence I shall put this Feenix guy on my (very short) list of Bloggers to avoid...

posted by Nautikos on July 10, 2008 at 2:18 PM | link to this | reply

Sira890

All of your experiences in that church are exactly why I don't attend church. My faith, like yours, is spiritual based. It's what works for me. Excellent, well spoken post - all of it.

posted by Hilow on July 10, 2008 at 12:50 PM | link to this | reply