Long Vent Alert: Setting the record straight

E

elsie3

Cathlete
Edited to say that I'm quite embarrassed about my little rant getting so much attention, but I do like the open and respectful sharing of views that it has prompted.

Arrrggghhhh! Here we go again. I just needed to vent. I'm NOT trying to stir up any political or religious controversy: I'm just ornery this morning and should NOT have turned on the radio as I evidently don't have my thick skin on. Ornery: adj. bad-tempered and combative--yep that's exactly the right word;):D

I'm just getting fed up with being called a non-Christian and a member of a cult. I know attacks such as these are purely political and entirely to be expected in a presidential race, but please people, can we get out of the Jr. High mentality? Attacks on Mitt Romney's religion are an affront on all members of that church. Which, Pastor Robert Jeffress, IS a church and the actual name of said church is "The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-Day Saints." "Mormon" is a nickname given to the church because of our belief in the Book of Mormon--which, by the way, is ENTIRELY about Jesus Christ (if any of these people would care to read it instead of just reading anti-Mormon literature). It does not replace or displace the Bible, which we also believe in. Why would anyone who truly follows Christ feel the need to gain political points by impugning someone's very personal religious beliefs--Christian or not?

Phew! Thanks for letting me vent, my friends. I'm off for a run as I obviously need the endorphins.:p
 
Last edited:
My bigger question is why does his or anyone else's religion matter in the first place!? He's running for president, not pope (or whatever "ruler" title you'd like to enter here). The founding fathers explicitly indicated a separation of church and state. Unfortunately, there are people of the extreme right who would like to turn the US into a church state (specifically their church, of course), which is sad. As a non-Christian, I find all of this insulting and infuriating. One should be able to run regardless of one's religion - Christian, Jew, Muslim or atheist. Religious beliefs should be personal and kept that way. It doesn't freakin' matter!!
 
I completely agree. Wouldn't it be nice in politics if everyone could stick to the pertinent issues?

Anyway, thanks for listening. I've had my run, including many deep breaths and a fabulous dose of sunshine, so I'm happy now.:D
 
Unfortunately, the race to win political power happens every time. There seems to be no mercy except hard hits and power play. Very unfair from my point of view. Why they have to go that far to make the other opponents look bad, I just don't understand it. :( It sickens me.

Janie
 
Mud slinging (of all kinds) in political campaigns sickens me. If ever a candidate did NOT sling mud, he/she would get my attention in a heart beat! But, then again, with the way our media reports things, that wouldn't be reported AT ALL, or it would be reported on the back page, lower corner!
 
I would not vote for anybody who is openly very religious and it does not matter what religion.

Leading a country and being religious is a dangerous combination. In the name of religion (Christianity is a sad leader) millions of people have died, been tortured and prosecuted throughout history.

Organized religion is evil....
 
As someone else noted: why should it matter???? Just because someone is a Christian does not mean that person is a just or moral person. I know someone who is a deacon in his church, but yet, he's very racist towards black people, and calls them derogatory names. I can't stand it. And let's not forget that many bad things have been done in the name of religion...things that I don't think God would be very happy about. I cannot stand to have religion crammed down my throat.
 
LastTango said:
And let's not forget that many bad things have been done in the name of religion...things that I don't think God would be very happy about.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, that is too true.

The point of my original post was that misrepresentations and derogatory comments about groups of people (no matter the group) shouldn't be appropriate--even in politics.
 
Last edited:
I do not believe that deriding one's beliefs is productive or kind. Whether they belong in the political arena...??? I do not know.

Having studied Religions in university, including the Latter-day Saints and the traditional historical Christianity, I would respectfully submit that there are some fundamental differences between the two belief systems:

historical Christianity posits that Jesus Christ is God in the flesh, and belief in Him ( and his death, burial and resurrection) is the only way to "eternal life" and "forgiveness" of sins. They do not believe that man can become a god, and they believe that God is "other and set apart" in his greatness and holiness from man which is why Jesus Christ had to become God in flesh to reconcile man to God.
Isaiah 43:10 says, "You are My witnesses," says the LORD, "And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me, And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after Me.”



the church of Latter Day Saints believe that Jesus Christ is the spirit-brother of Lucifer, who "won" in a battle with him and therefore was exalted above him. They do not believe that Jesus Christ is the one-true living God in the flesh.(which is essential to historic Christianity) Also, Latter-day Saints are working for godhood
"The LDS Church has said that man is a god, “in embryo” and may attain exaltation to godhood as his heavenly father has. According to LDS teaching God and man are of the same “species.” They believe that before birth into this present world, all human beings preexisted in heaven as spiritual offspring of a father and mother, a god and goddess. Being born into this life here on earth is something that we agreed to in heaven. This life serves as a test and a means of obtaining exaltation one day to godhood. Brigham Young the Church’s second president said: “the Lord created you and me for the purpose of becoming Gods like himself...We are created to become Gods like unto our Father in heaven.” (Journal of Discourses, 3:93) One achieves exaltation by living a life of obedience to Mormon teaching and practices. Those exalted to godhood will inhabit a planet and procreate spirit children, continuing the cycle I just mentioned."


There are many more differences than these between the two belief systems, I just don't think it is necessary to list them :confused:

But this is a fundamental and essential difference.

Again, I respectfully submit this just to clarify that there are some differences in the belief systems. I do not seek to deride anyone, respecting that everyone has the absolute right to choose what to believe. And no one ought to belittle anyone. :)
 
Last edited:
Again, I do not seek to start any political or religious debate. Nor do I intend to imply that being a member of ANY religion puts one person above another--or qualifies any person for political office, for that matter.

tralaiven said:
I do not believe that deriding one's beliefs is productive or kind. Whether they belong in the political arena...??? I do not know.
Again, I respectfully submit this just to clarify that there are some differences in the belief systems. I do not seek to deride anyone, respecting that everyone has the absolute right to choose what to believe. And no one ought to belittle anyone. :)
Click to expand...

Thank you, Tracy, for your respectful comments. I recognize that there are fundamental differences. My objections are that I don't think those differences mean that any church that accepts Jesus Christ as the only Savior and Redeemer should be classified as "non-Christian." The term "cult" is particularly offensive as it has such negative connotations. But these comments are made by people much less informed and tolerant than you.
 
Tracy, that's really interesting ... I never knew that fundamental difference before! At some point in my life I would like to study religions and learn where the similarities and differences are across all the major world religions.

Stebby
 
Stebby said:
Tracy, that's really interesting ... I never knew that fundamental difference before! At some point in my life I would like to study religions and learn where the similarities and differences are across all the major world religions.

Stebby
Click to expand...

Yes, Stebby, It was important for me to understand what the different "religions" believed in my quest for truth and to know what is true, that is: what I would base my whole life upon.

I believe it is incumbent upon us all to know and seek the truth, for truth's sake, but also, for our own sake. I didn't want to wake up dead and realize I missed it :confused: that would be bad! (not to be too maudlin.:eek:)
 
can someone please define the word "Christian"? I know some who claim to be but do not act it...I've been told i am not one because I do not attend church. What is the definition?
 
"Christian" - " person professing belief in Jesus as the Christ, or in the religion based on the teachings of Jesus". Taken from an old Webster's dictionary, but I agree some people claim to be Christian but their acts do not reflect the teachings of Christ.
 
elsie3 said:
I completely agree. Wouldn't it be nice in politics if everyone could stick to the pertinent issues?

Anyway, thanks for listening. I've had my run, including many deep breaths and a fabulous dose of sunshine, so I'm happy now.:D
Click to expand...


Glad your run helped you feel better :D I also find running so therapeutic!
 
gettingfitmom said:
can someone please define the word "Christian"? I know some who claim to be but do not act it...I've been told i am not one because I do not attend church. What is the definition?
Click to expand...

this is such a good question! there is so much false info rolling around out there!

"Christian" actually means "little Christ". The historical definition of the historical "Christian" faith is based on the person of Jesus Christ. The true "Christian" is someone who believes in the shed blood, death upon the cross, burial and resurrection from the dead of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins, which they have acknowledged and confessed to Christ and trusts Him for eternal life. Also, a historic definition of "Christian" is someone who follows and adheres to the teaching of Jesus Christ and the Bible as contained in the Old and New Testaments and has been "born again" by the Spirit of God, wherein God comes to dwell in the person upon belief in Jesus Christ. (note this does not make the person a "god") It is this same "Holy Spirit" that causes them to follow Jesus and obey that which God has written in the Bible. Thus it is not a works-based thing. The Apostles' Creed,dated from the 15th century kind of sums it up. However, I would also add that "Christians" also believe in the total humanity as well as the total diety of Jesus Christ.

There is a great fallacy today in America wherein many people think or say they are "Christians" because they are born in the United States of America or because their parents went to church (I am not saying this is the case with you, I don't know, this is just an observed generality). But this is simply not the case of traditional, historical Christianity. According to what the Bible says in many and various places, a Christian is someone who has made the conscious decision to believe the claims of Christ and then actually live for Him the rest of their days in obedience to God via His Word, the Bible (note: not perfectly, but continually). The fact of the matter is that many people can say they are Christians, but they simply are not, because there is no evidence in their lives as such, as described in the Bible.

Traditional, historical Christianity is not a list of do's and don'ts (like go to this church or don't watch this movie, or wear your hair this way!) or would even describe itself as a religion (such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam). It is more of a relationship of man with God, wherein God reaches to man and man responds to the love of God as demonstrated by the death of Christ on the cross so that man may gain eternal life and cleansing from sin and guilt.
 
Last edited:
tralaiven said:
this is such a good question! there is so much false info rolling around out there!

"Christian" actually means "little Christ". The historical definition of the historical "Christian" faith is based on the person of Jesus Christ. The true "Christian" is someone who believes in the shed blood, death upon the cross, burial and resurrection from the dead of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins, which they have acknowledged and confessed to Christ and trusts Him for eternal life. Also, a historic definition of "Christian" is someone who follows and adheres to the teaching of Jesus Christ and the Bible as contained in the Old and New Testaments and has been "born again" by the Spirit of God, wherein God comes to dwell in the person upon belief in Jesus Christ. (note this does not make the person a "god") It is this same "Holy Spirit" that causes them to follow Jesus and obey that which God has written in the Bible. Thus it is not a works-based thing. The Apostles' Creed,dated from the 15th century kind of sums it up. However, I would also add that "Christians" also believe in the total humanity as well as the total diety of Jesus Christ.

There is a great fallacy today in America wherein many people think or say they are "Christians" because they are born in the United States of America or because their parents went to church (I am not saying this is the case with you, I don't know, this is just an observed generality). But this is simply not the case of traditional, historical Christianity. According to what the Bible says in many and various places, a Christian is someone who has made the conscious decision to believe the claims of Christ and then a ctually live for Him the rest of their days in obedience to God via His Word, the Bible (note: not perfectly, but continually). The fact of the matter is that many people can say they are Christians, but they simply are not, because there is no evidence in their lives as such, as described in the Bible.

Traditional, historical Christianity is not a list of do's and don'ts (like go to this church or don't watch this movie, or wear your hair this way!) or would even describe itself as a religion (such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam). It is more of a relationship of man with God, wherein God reaches to man and man responds to the love of God as demonstrated by the death of Christ on the cross so that man may gain eternal life and cleansing from sin and guilt.
Click to expand...

Thank you! I live my life according to the 10 commandments...i know people who live by one book during the week, and the other book on Sunday. One guy I know is not an honest person, and he is the Deacon of his church! Whatever, I live mylife right and that's what counts for me!
 
measuredoak said:
"Christian" - " person professing belief in Jesus as the Christ, or in the religion based on the teachings of Jesus". Taken from an old Webster's dictionary, but I agree some people claim to be Christian but their acts do not reflect the teachings of Christ.
Click to expand...

I agree! Thank you
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Our Newsletter

Get awesome content delivered straight to your inbox.

Top