tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5080372433953859587.post3223004847971727006..comments2023-08-06T07:02:49.496-04:00Comments on Little Steps Home: My Parents and Religious TalkAmberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09002997517784638068noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5080372433953859587.post-53979491310707746692010-11-29T22:44:46.638-05:002010-11-29T22:44:46.638-05:00Athena,
There is no late in blog posts! At least ...Athena,<br /><br />There is no late in blog posts! At least not mine anyway. :)<br /><br />I think I get what you're saying - that a Christian life must be, first and foremost, lived in the heart. You have to internalise it - you have to encounter the Holy Spirit within yourself. And no, I don't think that that's possible outside of the Church.<br /><br />It's a fine line to walk though. I think my parents, and many other people, fall to the side of 'a bunch of nice thoughts' being the Christian life. I know that I, personally, have fallen too far to the side of a system of rules being the Christian life with no real understanding that it has to be within me. When I first came back to Christianity I went whole hog to the Messianic Judaism side of things - I thought that I needed all of those laws to control myself. I know better now. If it's not within me to do the right thing then all the laws in the world won't stop me. Eventually I will do what I wanted to do.<br /><br />Which isn't to say that rules aren't necessary or important. Just that, by themselves they don't save us.<br /><br />Never apologize for a long comment! :)Amberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09002997517784638068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5080372433953859587.post-29183626762159399962010-11-29T19:35:40.312-05:002010-11-29T19:35:40.312-05:00I'm probably a bit "late" but as i r...I'm probably a bit "late" but as i read this post today, this sentence, about how your parents just care about leading a christian life and that's pretty much it, seemed to sum things up. <br /><br />That is very often, i think, the problem. <br /><br />There is no such thing as a "christian life" if you limit that "life" to what takes place outside of the heart. So, according to the Fathers of the Church (and i think, according to any honest and brave conscience)a christian life is the life that takes place inside the heart where we expect to come into communion with the face of Christ. We are supposed to live in this mystery that is His face. To actually know Him, not through our imagination, not through our thinking and understanding, but to really know Him, to see Him, to have Him reveal His existence to us in the chamber of our heart. So, i suppose this is not attainable outside of the Church as the Church is Christ's Body and the "place" where one encounters the Holy spirit. <br /><br />I was just thinking that if you limit God's existence to a human thought, or to an image that we can keep in our heads, or something that derives from us (in the sense that we "form" God through our thoughts and forget that He exists in the specific way that He does, no matter what we think or not think) somehow then you can easily mistake a system of rules or a bunch of nice thoughts for christian life. But the problem is that this kind of perception leaves you in your loneliness and self-sufficiency and deprives you from the chance of meeting a Person. And this meeting, to actually encounter Christ through the acquisition of the Holy Spirit is the end, the goal of our "christian life".<br />Sorry for such a long text and for most inadequate expression of my thoughts.<br />AthenaAthenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01717044201738550615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5080372433953859587.post-83914283189926741342010-11-17T18:42:19.971-05:002010-11-17T18:42:19.971-05:00Ha, ha...well, I quit the last Bible study I start...Ha, ha...well, I quit the last Bible study I started. I hated all the sharing stuff...blah. I'd rather go learn about the Bible on my own. <br /><br />And that wasn't a Baptist church..so there! :-PSusannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03115294023069458287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5080372433953859587.post-74536378956715440492010-11-17T11:12:18.404-05:002010-11-17T11:12:18.404-05:00Heather,
My sister and I totally did that too. So...Heather,<br /><br />My sister and I totally did that too. Sometimes we still do it at the dinner table. :)<br /><br />*nods* The invincible syndrome. Yep. But it's just...I don't know why. No, that's a lie. I do know why I never went through that belief that I was going to live forever. Sometimes having life kick you in the face from a young age is helpful. <br /><br />It's just, from my perspective, religion isn't a death thing. It's a *life* thing. It's how you live your life. The other attitude is sort of incomprehensible to me. Even if you come down on the side of agnosticism or atheism, that impacts your life. So I honestly don't understand why people don't think more about it. Even knowing that they might not think it matters until their old or what have you doesn't make it any easier to understand for me.<br /><br />I get the same impression of Bible studies. It's why I haven't been to one since I got out of the school that made me go to them. Baptists. *rolls eyes* *sticks tongue out at Susanne*Amberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09002997517784638068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5080372433953859587.post-81422574235787597512010-11-17T10:50:50.483-05:002010-11-17T10:50:50.483-05:00Susanne,
You love it and you know it! *pokes*Susanne,<br /><br />You love it and you know it! *pokes*Amberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09002997517784638068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5080372433953859587.post-74084687953050989382010-11-16T20:39:18.599-05:002010-11-16T20:39:18.599-05:00Heather, glad you could relate to my frustration o...Heather, glad you could relate to my frustration over my pesky Baby Sis. :)<br /><br />I really enjoyed what you had to say. I agree that devotionals often are as you said. I don't think that's necessarily BAD because it's good to realize how we should apply forgiving our enemies (for instance) to our own lives. However, I can also see where other studies would be good. What exactly would YOU prefer? I was curious if you could delve more into what you mean by "rather than seeking an actual understanding of history and what the Bible says."<br /><br />I think I know, but I would like to hear your point of view if you don't mind sharing.<br /><br />Interesting point about people not knowing or caring because they believe they are invincible. I don't think I've ever felt that way, but maybe I have always been too preoccupied with the frailty of life and how I am not promised another breath. I think you are right about people in general though.<br /><br />I so enjoyed what you had to say in your follow-up comment. Hope you are doing well these days! :)<br /><br />Happy Veteran's Day (a few days late).Susannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03115294023069458287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5080372433953859587.post-89487477029021941212010-11-16T20:30:08.389-05:002010-11-16T20:30:08.389-05:00LOL, Susanne and Amber! You're acting like sis...LOL, Susanne and Amber! You're acting like sisters already. All you need is "Moooom! She's TOUCHING ME!!!" to make it complete. : P Actually, my brother and I did that when we were in the backseat of the car going somewhere with our mom and stepdad. My mom's response: "How old are we?" LOL<br /><br />As regards the actual subject matter - ahem - I think for many people the prospect of death is too hazy and distant for them to be interested in their religion. <br /><br />I think many of us younger folks in particular suffer from "invincible" syndrome. That is -- "I'm not old or sick. I'm not going to die for a long, long time." We conveniently forget that we don't know the hour of our death. It could be 70 years or seven minutes from now. I think my own comprehension of the fragility of life has definitely been impacted by my current experiences.<br /><br />Also in my experience, most Bible studies are more devotional type things. You know, "how can I apply this story/parable in my life" deals, rather than seeking an actual understanding of history and what the Bible says. I've always gotten an impression of studies like devotionals as watered down, which is both annoying and frustrating.Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17017554278813071029noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5080372433953859587.post-22977856967830817982010-11-16T16:14:02.716-05:002010-11-16T16:14:02.716-05:00Ah greaaaaaaaaat! A pesky baby sis. :)Ah greaaaaaaaaat! A pesky baby sis. :)Susannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03115294023069458287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5080372433953859587.post-91766956474313684062010-11-16T16:12:33.160-05:002010-11-16T16:12:33.160-05:00Cool. I've never been the younger sister befor...Cool. I've never been the younger sister before. *pesters big sister Susanne**pesterpesterpester* :pAmberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09002997517784638068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5080372433953859587.post-51871231256772776972010-11-16T12:53:59.148-05:002010-11-16T12:53:59.148-05:00:-D
Ha, ha....we could be sisters! :-D:-D<br /><br />Ha, ha....we could be sisters! :-DSusannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03115294023069458287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5080372433953859587.post-58351094796779430112010-11-16T12:51:59.877-05:002010-11-16T12:51:59.877-05:00Susanne,
You're probably right. I think my pr...Susanne,<br /><br />You're probably right. I think my problem is more that I don't understand the lack of curiosity. Why would you not want to try and understand your own faith better? All the ins and the outs, everything you could get? <br /><br />Also, I'm adopting your dad. :)Amberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09002997517784638068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5080372433953859587.post-75641137377967742292010-11-16T10:44:09.373-05:002010-11-16T10:44:09.373-05:00Wow,great post. First, I am glad you enjoyed a wee...Wow,great post. First, I am glad you enjoyed a weekend with your mom's godchildren. Another penguin lover -- ahhhhh! :-D I enjoyed what you had to say about that role. It really has lost most of its meaning as far as helping raise a child religiously if needed. We never did that, but I know a few who have.<br /><br />As far as family life, my experience was very different than yours. My dad has floor-to-ceiling bookshelves filled with mostly theological books so discussing these things with my parents wasn't like talking to a brick wall. Earlier this year I read a few books my dad had on historical OT and stuff that I blogged about. Also most of my close friends are ones who like and can talk about spiritual things. We pretty firmly know what we believe and why. Maybe attending Christian school and church 3 services a week plus Sunday school helped with that.<br /><br />Maybe they don't know so much why they believe what they believe (i.e., why Christianity and not Islam for instance) except that they have experienced the goodness and faithfulness of God and believe if you've got the best already, why search for another faith. <br /><br />Growing up in a Baptist church, I'd say we had plenty of rules so I felt my life was structured. No, we didn't have "you must cover knees and ankles" or "pray at certain times of the day" but we had plenty of guidelines at least in my area. :)<br /><br />Enjoyed this!Susannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03115294023069458287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5080372433953859587.post-32508591610742415412010-11-15T09:15:20.656-05:002010-11-15T09:15:20.656-05:00Heather,
I think you're right, and that's...Heather,<br /><br />I think you're right, and that's just sad actually. <br /><br />Shouldn't we all want to know what we're professing to believe? And what makes some of us question in the first place? I mean I can trace my own particular journey and I know why I left and all that, but I don't think that everyone who questions has a background like mine. Or at least I hope not for their sakes.<br /><br />It's the complacency that gets me, I think. The...the almost willful ignorance. The information is out there. Why don't they want to know it?Amberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09002997517784638068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5080372433953859587.post-65352837064781944872010-11-15T09:08:41.157-05:002010-11-15T09:08:41.157-05:00slice,
Yes! I get exactly what you mean. There...slice,<br /><br />Yes! I get exactly what you mean. There's this void that people are trying to fill and we shove all sorts of things at it. Sometimes people feel as though they are satisfied with that and they can live their lives that way. But more and more people aren't and they look at the faiths that they came from and have to keep looking because obviously that faith, that set of lax rules didn't give them what they needed or they wouldn't still feel this need, right?<br /><br />And they come across the more structured, older forms of the faiths and it works. It clicks and it makes sense. <br /><br />That is one of the reasons that I found Islam so attractive. It was a religion that took in all the parts of your life as opposed to just being something that you said and went to for an hour or so one day of the week. I didn't realize that Christianity had all that too, in the original form.Amberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09002997517784638068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5080372433953859587.post-53103627478398797322010-11-15T09:00:41.146-05:002010-11-15T09:00:41.146-05:00sanil,
I think you might be right. It's all f...sanil,<br /><br />I think you might be right. It's all focused on that one moment of choice and then the rest of it just doesn't seem to matter. Which doesn't work for me. It's just not right...<br /><br />I've noticed that too, that a good percentage of the people that are looking aren't satisfied with the more modern denominations. They're looking for something that encompasses their entire life and they're finding that in the older forms of their faiths.<br /><br />Yay internet society!Amberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09002997517784638068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5080372433953859587.post-60233421675891063082010-11-13T22:36:33.149-05:002010-11-13T22:36:33.149-05:00I think that, when we're raised in a faith, we...I think that, when we're raised in a faith, we have a tendency to listen to what our parents and the preacher say and leave it at that. Most Christians I know don't look into the faith at all, much less extensively. They just take it for granted that that's what it is. In changing from one denomination of Christianity to another, the most basic tenets are still there, so many people don't look past the whole God/Jesus/Holy Ghost deal. Close enough is close enough. I think that when we go looking at other faiths that vary fundamentally (as, say, Islam does from Christianity), that's when we get down to the nitty gritty of our own faith, as well as the one or ones that interest us and that we may consider converting to. At that point, we are searching for the things that we truly believe in. How can we say what we believe when too often we don't really know much about the faith we claim as ours?<br /><br />Interesting and thought-provoking post, as usual. : )Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17017554278813071029noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5080372433953859587.post-20089942131629369642010-11-13T18:11:17.362-05:002010-11-13T18:11:17.362-05:00I think I get it and what you are saying....
I ma...I think I get it and what you are saying....<br /><br />I may have said this before, but I will type it again.<br /><br />Alot of people are looking for a religion that has guidelines to follow. And is an every day religion. Not just something for a sunday.<br /><br />I think this is why quite alot of people are drawn to Islam. From the outside, it seems as if the doctrine is there and through modesty and hijab, it is a visual show of faith.<br /><br />it is hard to describe in typed word, all would be better conveyed in the spoken word.<br /><br />but I think in todays, day and age, people feel tense, lost and left wanting. the void is there and they dont know what it is. some people fill it with stuff and some people listen to the void and realise they are actually seeking faith.<br /><br />I see it at work, women running around like headless chickens. 1 small bit of bad news and the end of the world is here.<br /><br />I was told the other day that someone envied me. I said "what?". they answered that I looked like I knew what I was doing and that I have a strong direction.<br /><br />I think because of my faith, I know that I have prayer etc. And probably heal alot of the confusion alot of people have by having this as a guide. <br /><br />as I said to the person who spoke to me. "other people have faith they just dont realise it. people start to pray when they are sick. or hurt. Prayer is a type of meditation. People who have faith live longer, as they are able to talk things through out loud, relieving some of the stresses of everyday things. I bet you have done it. Maybe when one of your kids has been sick? Traded with God, if you make them better, I will give up.... or do ...?"<br /><br />I suppose when it comes down to it, faith is like food, some you like and some you dont like. Some people love food, have a huge interest in it. And other people just view it as fuel.<br /><br />the internet sure brings alot meeting of minds. like Sanil said.<br /><br />great post as usual.Solhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00809314184012834659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5080372433953859587.post-28454107719160414952010-11-13T14:59:26.934-05:002010-11-13T14:59:26.934-05:00I think for a lot of Christians, Christianity is n...I think for a lot of Christians, Christianity is not so much a system of beliefs as it is a means of spreading this one crucial idea that Jesus lived and died for humanity. So all the other stuff is details, and is dismissed as stuff that is unnecessary and only leads to divisions if people get too hung up on it. It becomes about how you're saved instead of about what that means for you after the fact.<br /><br />For people who are actually looking for a religious system that will be a more central part of their lives, though, that isn't enough. I think a lot of the more mainstream Protestant denominations are tending to focus more on this one message instead of on doctrines and guidance, and I wouldn't be surprised in that case if a lot of people start to want something more and the more Orthodox denominations start to grow. Or maybe that's just my limited experience, who knows? :) <br /><br />But yeah, the internet is good for that. Lots easier to find like minded people when your community spans the globe. YAY TECHNOLOGY!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07382787889525110718noreply@blogger.com