judged by Christians and nonbelievers

I like to travel. I like to read. One of my favorite books recently was God's Politics: Why the Right Gets it Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It by Jim Wallis. I like to party. I like to stay in and have quiet nights. I listen to Bjork, Dream Theater, Devendra Banhart and Loreena McKennitt. I enjoy staying up late. I love to get up early. I like to camp out. I smile when my Grandmom smiles at me. I like scrambled eggs, and also eggs over-medium. I don't like getting water up my nose when I swim. I like to feel the wind in my hair when I ride a bike. I have been alive 24 years. I am a Christian.

If this really is a "hippy/hippie" forum, I assume that the people are here because peace and love is a crucial part of this hippiness. So how come the only thing people will remember out of my description of myself is the fact that I'm a Christian?

Share love;
peace;

Namaste

Molly

 

probobly most peple because often people see how various people identify themselces into groups, so we lump them...if you had left that out, people would probobly have remembered somethign else to identify you with...and often, i se epeople remember the first and las things they are told


another question arises from this too...although we carry our faith, whatever it may be, why do we need it to identify who we are? [ i know sometimes i do it] but i mean im still the relativly the same person i was before i solely came to Jesus [and no longer felt the love of Krishna and the guidance of Mohammed and Buddah] as i am now...

 

very sorry, double post. :&

 

well, how you like your eggs isn't even close to your highest and final views on Existence and Life and your Reason for being alive, you'll have to agree...

a person's religion is maybe the clearest indication of where their mind lies in regard to the big puzzle, and so is rightly taken as an important part of a person's description. when you say you're Christian, it says an enormous bit about who you are and how you view yourself and the world. to someone who doesn't know your finer details, it explains what you believe in. i've heard this half-whiny argument before, and i don't get it. your being christian is a huge part of who you are, and i don't see how or why you would wonder why people recognize that.

the fact that you "smile when your grandmom smiles at you", while nice to hear, really doesn't say too much about who you are and what you believe in. i'm sure most people all around the world do the same.


and finally,
i don't think that your being christian is what everyone will remember out of your description... at least in my case, i would have remembered (albeit vaguely ), that you were 24 years old. that says a lot to me.


welcome to the forums, molly,

peace,
sophia

 

Welcome!

 

You're right nitemarehippygirl: it does define me.

I guess I was just trying to make a point. See, I used to post on the hipforums all the time a few years ago on religion...and I was on all the time....but I felt like I would say the same things over and over again, and no matter what, after explaining how much I want peace, justice and love, someone would freak out at me just because I said the word Christian. *sigh* I don't know. Thanks for the welcome back brothas and sistahs.

 

camping & water up yer nose stood out to me. I would only remember that you sound normal, like someone who is a nice person.

 

You can be a hippy or a raver or a preppy or whatever clique you want to fit into, and still be religious; when did one become exclusive from the other?

 

I think the history and overall attitude of Christianity just leaves a bad taste in most people's mouths that are for liberation of the mind and body.

That is not to say that all Christians are like their forefathers, but I think it is merely the stigma of the label. It is a pity, for sure, but perhaps some of the better Christians can change that by being more tolerant in the future.

 

Because you're posting this on the Christianity forum?

Seriously though, that only sticks out to me for two reasons. Firstly, because it was the last thing in that description, and second, because...well, it IS the Christian forum, yaknow...

All things told, I agree with Blackguard, you just sounds like a normal human being, and actually sound a bit like myself, though I am not a Christian, and like my eggs hard boiled.

 

It could be because many seemingly come here only with the intent of flaming christians and attacking christianity. It would be nice to think that because this is a hippie forum, people would be tolerant of other people's beliefs, but sadly, that's often not the way it is.
And I prefer eggs soft boiled. Scrambled eggs are good too, but I hate the mess they make in the pan

 

As long as you aren't one of those ignorant morons who open the egg at the little end. Those people have no fucking clue about cracking an egg.

 

Bigendian, hey Kharakov!

 

Well what stood out to me is that you probably like the movie "Amelie".
Seriously though, being Christian is weird like that. Most people do not know that I am "Christian", and I really don't like the term as it is no longer especially accurate. It has too much crap attached to it. There are so many versions of Christianity, many of which differ greatly from one another that the term "Christian" can indicate any one of thousands of possibly contradictory belief systems. As well you've got the whole history of Christianity, much of it bad, to contend with. Jesus never said that you have to call yourself a "Christian", so don't. You don't need any label like that. If you are sure of what you believe and have the wearwithall to describe and defend it then get rid of the label.

 

I dont understand, why are bothered for being labeled christian. How would you label yourself?

 

Hungry. Although that could very well change within a sandwich worth of time.

A conceited prick would probably have a problem with being labeled a conceited prick, but then again, they might not if they are conceited enough....

Little did you know, I open my egg in the middle....

 

Freethinker

*No gods, no masters*

 

Who are you addressing? Several folks in this thread have menton various levels of bebotherment. Is that even a word? "bebotherment"? Sounds like something from Shakespeare.
Anyhow I am not bothered too much by it. Mostly it is an inadequate term. When labled a Christian one must then explain all the things that one is not. Bebotherment does happen when I have to explain why I don't believe this and don't believe that, etcetera. Without the label I must merely explain what I do believe without having to defend myself from all sorts of preconcieved notions about what Christians believe or are supposed to believe.

Oh, and I wouldn't label myself. Now if somebody wanted to label themselves that would be fine with me; you want to label yourself go right ahead, be my guest. But I try to stay away from labeling myself.

 

It's hard for someone who was raised in western culture to hear the term "christian" and not have some kind of a reaction to it. Christianity has unarguably been the biggest developmental influence in the shaping of western civilization.

America in particular having been founded by puritans.

Most of us (in western culture) were raised indentifying with one christian church or the other. even if you went on to reject it later on in life you have to admit that, for better or worse, it's played a part in shaping who you are and how you think.

I think whether you see it as "the doctrine of truth" or just brainwashing, you've been subjected to it and you have to deal with it sooner or later.

 

To me Christianity is a beautiful religion, but I think that a lot of times it is judged unfairly based on the actions of many of the christian churches. I live in North Carolina, so almost everyone here is christian. I have witnessed my share of horrible churches around here: ones that only want money, ones that persecute or pity other religions.. so I can understand where people come from. I think of Christianity more as a relationship with God, rather than a habitual church visit.. but I don't think many people agree with me. Christianity can be a very beautiful and empowering religion if it is based on love and harmony and God. I think too many people these days associate Christianity to church, rather than to God.

People are always going to find ways to label each other and themselves.. why does it matter really? We're all people, and even if we are persecuted we should use it to our advantage.. use it to become stronger people.