My Religious Affliations And Beliefs

I just misspelled "religious" in the title there.  It came out "relugious."  Lol.

Anyway, I had been E-mailing with GodsDaughter from this site, and the last thing we talked about was religion.  I was trying to explain my views, and frankly, she didn’t get what I was saying my beliefs were.  I don’t think it’s necessarily her fault.  Maybe I wasn’t clear enough or something, or there was a comunication barrier.  I’m not sure.  In any case, I never got the chance to write back because just after she wrote the E-mail to me where I realized she didn’t understand, I got sick, and since then I’ve been working or sleeping.  Or enjoying the few spare hours I have to myself.  (Usually very late at night.)  It’s actually been quite awhile since I sent her an E-mail or anything of the sort, but I kept this as a private entry, because I would like to explain my views.

I know religion is a very touchy subject for some people who might happen upon this, but you know what?  These are my beliefs.  You don’t have to agree with them, you don’t have to follow them, live by them, etc.  But I do ask that you respect them as my opinions and respect my right to have these opinions.

This was her last E-mail, and I hope she doesn’t mind that I’ve put it into an entry.  And after it, in pink, is the E-mail that I sent that initiated the response below.

Now I understand what you meant by organized religion.  So you are saying you don’t like to sit in a church each week and listen to the word of God. That is ok if you don’t.  Everyone has their own thoughts on religon and I guess religon isn’t for everyone.  I understand how you feel about religion.  If it’s not for you that is your choice.  I am not going to stop talking to you because you are not into God.  Just in case you didn’t know I am a Christian.  The neighbor that I have and that used to take me to church is what you would call hypocritical.  Our neighbor acts one way in church and than another way when they are at home. It’s sad that people have to be that way and can’t act the same way they do inside a church when they are out of church.  I hope talking about God doesn’t bother you.  If it does bother you is that why you don’t note me to much since my diary has a lot of things about God in it.   I do like to talk about God, but I don’t obsess over God like the neighbor I have.

       What I meant by organized religion is just the organized gathering of the people in a congregation each week.  I don’t mean to act like I don’t have any faith or any belief in God, or like I hate all people who attend churches.  I am sorry if I’ve given that impression at all.  I have no problem with the real Christians in the world — the ones who are actually out to do God’s will, and who hold His love for them as a reason to live, and all that.  I have a problem with the hypocritical, gossipy jerks who hold the saying, "I am right, therefore God is with me," as a belief to live by.  The type who use their "Chritianity" as a reason to look down on others, to act so freakin’ Holier-than-thou.  I hate that type and basically refuse to associate with them.  (Which, just so you know, lets you know I don’t think that you’re one of that type.)
       I don’t knock people going to church, but for me, I don’t feel that I have to gather to someplace once a week just to show off the fact that I have faith.  I’d rather show that in the way I act during the rest of my life, instead of just an hour or so on Sunday morning.
       Yeah, I have a lot of problems with religion and the people in it.  My belief is in God, not the people, I suppose.
 
You know, reading over my E-mail, I’m not sure how I was misunderstood.  I mean, I find it kind of funny that she says she understood how I feel about religion when she so obviously didn’t.  Because it’s not that "religion isn’t for me."  It’s that the gossipy, stupid, hypocritical jerks of the church aren’t for me.  Not to mention that I never said I didn’t like siting in a church each week and listening to the word of God.  I wouldn’t mind that, (assuming it was being preached by an intelligent pastor, that is.)  It’s just like I said, I don’t think that people who are true believers have to sit in a church each week and be told what the Bible means.  I think that considering how often it’s been translated into other languages, it’s open to interpretation.  Not to mention that who is a pastor/priest/reverend to say whether something should be taken literally or figuratively in the Bible?

As I said, my belief is with God, not the people.  I have no faith anymore in the "people of God," because too many of them will disappoint you.  Not to say that there aren’t real Christians out there, but I’ve just met too many fake ones, so naturally, I’m very skeptical.

Take the pastor at the church I used to attend.  It was a Baptist Church in Matawan.  (Unfortunately, it’s also where we’re holding the memorial service for Nana.)  Honestly, if it had been my choice, we’d have held the memorial here, at the house, and told different stories and shared memories of when she came down to visit, and things like that.

But I digress.  That pastor has a daughter who’s a year younger than me.  Now, when did anyone who’s reading this see the Wizard of Oz?  Lemme guess.  You were barely old enough to remember the first time you saw it, right?  Cuz you were probably about three, four, five?  Well, his daughter didn’t see it until she was about sixteen, because of course, something with a Wizard, and a "wicked" witch has to be evil!!  Of course it’s corrupting, and can’t be shown in such a "house of God!"

Yeah, needess to say, I hate the close-minded idiots like that.  I hate that there are "believers" who condemn Harry Potter simply because it’s a book about witches and wizards.  I’ve read all six Harry Potter books and you know what they teach?  They teach values like friendship, loyalty, sticking by someone when they’re right, even if everyone else is against them, and learning to see that even if something appears to be a certain way, appearances can be very deceiving.  Well, of course they shouldn’t let the church go-ers read those books!  They might actually learn something good about how to treat your fellow man!

Yeah, I’ve got more than a few bitter feelings in my head about churches in general.

Anyway, that’s about all from me for now.  I was extremely complimented by what one person said about my last entry.  (Thanks, Mark!)  So I’m onna try to write more entries like that soon.  But I don’t want to force them, cuz then they won’t come out as well.

Honestly, I’d like to write about what I believe, but I need a sort of springboard.  Give me questions if you’d like.