Being pushed out of a religion.

[Twisted_Hippie_Chick]

My best friend is a very devout Christian. I'm also a Christian, but I'm not as strict in my beliefs as she is. When we're not talking about religious or political beliefs, we get along great. For some reason, they keep getting brought back up, and when I try to change the subject, she won't let go, and keeps trying to prove her point. When I try and tell her why I think certian things should be legal, she dismisses them and refers to the Bible. Like I said, I'm Christian, but there are parts of the Bible that I'm not sure I agree with, I do however, believe the blunt point of the religion, but when she tells me how wrong I am, and how the way I think is screwed up, it makes me feel like I'm a blasphemist. Sometimes after talking to her, I think about leaving the religion completely. But it's only some of the time, most of the time, I'm glad to believe what I do. I don't want to try and force her to see things the way I do, but I do want her to listen to what I have to say. Can anyone help me?

P.S.
I know I'm in the 'Ask the Old Hippies' section a lot, so I would really like to thank all of you for taking the time to answer my questions, I know I can be annoying. =)

[dollydagger]

Hey sister....I am the same as you. I was raised a Christian, and still consider myself one, but I do not like the "Institution" of Christianity. You are fighting a no-win battle here with your friend. You do not have to leave the faith......you would be surprised at the many faces of Christianity. I think your friend is wrong for saying that you are wrong, but she feels that way because that is what she has been taught (and Im sure her parents feel the same way, and their parents, etc). You guys are both young, but now is the exciting time in your life when you start to question these things and find your own voice in this world. My advice to you: follow your gut and instinct and listen to your heart - they are NEVER wrong! There is absolutely nothing wrong with asking questions.....

Feel free to pm me any time! I would love to discuss this even further with you because I know exactly where you are at!

[hippymuso]

Dolly has given you some good sound advice and I agree with everything said.


Having read the Christian bible, around 4 or 5 times I learned a lot.

There is only ONE commandment, and Jesus himself stressed this point.

"Love each other as you love yourself", everything else will fall into place.

I am not an orthodox christian. I believe in the teachings of Jesus, Jah, Bhudda, Chrishna, Ghandi, the whole lot. They all have something to teach us.

The Bible should be condensed to contain just the things that Jesus said. All the rest is hearsay.

Hang in there kid, it gets better as you get older, truly

cheers, Hippy from Oz.

[dollydagger]

^^ I agree with you as well!!

I believe that the One Truth lies within all religions and faiths. I have recently become a student of Buddhism, and I have been reading alot about Taoism and Confucism, and the similarities of all these faiths/philosophies is too similar. I believe that God has his/her people in many faiths...

[pixeewinged]

I was raised in a fundamentalist baptist household (much like your friend by the way it sounds) and I can tell you that she is only doing what is expected of her by either her parents, her church or both! You on the other hand sound like your not interested nearly as much in what your parents, the church or anyone else expects out of you spiritually... imo - a damn good quality for someone who is a self professed christian!!

I think the others are right in that hell will probly freeze over before your going to convince someone like your friend that you have a valid argument... she just cant see past the programing she has recieved. I wish I could tell you that there was something you could say to her that would help, but sadly, if she is one of the types I grew up with, there isnt a whole lot you can say without her either taking offense or trying to get you to repent. - its just something she is going to have to figure out on her own!

What Im going to say next, goes against what many of the other people were saying, but, my advice to you... (especially since you said you sometimes think about leaving the religion all together)- would be to do just that!!
Now, I dont mean denounce Christ and all.... I simply mean, why not explore other religions, cultures, and belief structures?? People like your friend might try to convince you that your treading in dangerous *satanic* waters by doing so... but, you seem a bit more open minded than all of that hellfire and brimstone crap! I believe the best way to truly understand something - especially something as important as the personal beliefs you hold to be true - is to explore whats out there and make your mind up for yourself!!

I think a great example of what I am trying to say could be found in the character of Issac Newton. Here is a man who though a devout christian, teetered on the brink of heresy with his work on universal gravitation and the laws of motion. Though the work itself wasnt necessarily an affront to the religious institution of the day, his drive certainly would have been! - Newton himself admitted that he saught to know the nature of God through his equasions! Of course he went on to become arguably one of the most influential and important figures in human history... all because he thought outside the box!

If he were like everyone else, and assumed god planted us on the earth, and thats why we stick to it - we might still be without many of the wonderful advances we have today.. but, instead of listening to the people around him, who must have thought he was a real weirdo (he was obsessed with his work most of the time) and instead of listening to the church who would have told him that attempting to seek the creator or understand his design was sin.... he said to hell with them all and went ahead went on a personal religious journey, that became one of the most significant scientific discoveries ever made!

All Im saying, is that being like Newton - exploring your own convictions, and seeking a better understanding the nature of all religions (or god to simplify things) can only bring about powerful personal discovery!!!!!!

well anyway, I really wish the best to you, and I hope things with your friend work out, as everyone else said, dont stress too much, things will get better with time and age!

[dollydagger]

^^Bravo!! Great advice, spoken out of true wisdom!!

If I may add....exploring other faiths and philosophies, for me anyway, has only strengthend my faith as a Christian...dont be worried that you might be treading in "Satanic" waters...its just a scare tactic that they use because 1) they dont understand other views, therefore they are afraid of them and 2)heaven forbid that you understand the world around you and have respect and understandings of other faiths!! Isnt that what Christ taught? To love others around you NO MATTER WHAT? And love comes through understanding, and with love and understandig comes compassion, and compassion is what this world needs to live in peace, harmony, and respect.

[Pennyroyal_Tea]

I'm a conservative christian, yada yada, you get the story...

Just because somebody in a religion can be an ass sometimes, doesn't mean you should deny what you believe. I take the Bible as literal indisputable fact. However, I was mulling over some things last night... The Bible says homosexuality is wrong, and I'm entitled to believe that. So many people call christianity a religion of hatred because of that...

Some people choose to hate on gays because the Bible says it's wrong...
Well, my brothers and sisters in humankind... Jesus, he preached love. God himself loved the world and all the people in it. It's all in the way people interpret the word, not the word itself. It may be wrong, but that doesn't mean that hating on it is right.

I think it's wrong, but I respect my gay brothers and lesbian sisters. If that's who they are, fine. If that's just their choice, fine. God loved the world, and Jesus preached love. People who say christianity is hateful are wrong... It's the people, not the whole religion, man. I just wish more people would realize that... I wish more Christians would realize what I realized...

Jesus had it right, man. Peace, love, faith, and righteousness.
People gotta realize, the Bible promises, in the words of Jesus himself, all who believe in Him will be forgiven. I'm about to start smoking pot. If that's wrong, he'll forgive me for it. If being gay is wrong, he'll forgive them for it.
Forgiveness... That's how I learned tolerance... If somebody's a Christian, why worry about what they do? Yeah, if it's dangerous and could kill them, yes try to get them to stop. Otherwise, let them be as long as it doesn't hurt anybody. They're forgiven.

"Your good is better, and your better is blessed" -G

[Elizabeth77]

A great post and I believe that is never the religion that is good or bad, it is all about the individuals.
http://www.koparion.com/photoi.jpghttp://www.koparion.com/photoi.jpghttp://www.koparion.com/photoi.jpghttp://www.koparion.com/photoc.jpg

[rabbitholes]

Had this same problem.

I like the morales of Christianity.

Mostly just the peace and love.

But i couldn't agree with the institution.

So now i'm not really part of any religion...

I'm on my own, and honestly, i'm happy with it.

Buddhism has caught my eye though.