To Salli.
I will say this in the nicest way possible. I have been to church, I used to be a full-hearted christian. I went to my church through out school. I was in AWANA, I did 30-hour famine, Project Serve, I was on a christian dance team called Step It Up. I can tell you that a huge part of my life has been spent serving the church.

You know what I got in return? Critized for asking questions and yelled at for explaining the WHOLE context of verses quoted in our high school sunday school class. I went to a non-denominational church. I actually attended 3 different churches. I was indoctrinated that homosexuality is wrong and I must do anything to stop it. I learned that Catholics and Mormons aren't really christian, but Anti-Christian (the exact words of my youth pastor, then later the senior pastor.) As I got older, I was actually told not to come back.

There were scandals in one church I attended. 3 girls I KNOW and consider friends told me on separate occasions of sexual advances from the youth pastor. That was really hard to hear.

Another church I have attended about two weeks ago was teaching kids as young as 10 about sex. The sermon was on sex. No, not the technical stuff, but what God had to say about it. There is no way I will ever let my daughter go to a church unattended after that. I know the parents of these kids were NOT told about it. Maybe they wouldn't care, but I certainly know that if my daughter, at age 12, came home after a sermon spouting off verses about homosexuals burning in hell (some that are completely taken out of context) I would be livid with whoever had put their opinions into her. Children have a right to pick their own opinions, and yeah they need guidance. It is my belief that indoctrinating children with a political/religious viewpoint is wrong.

The world is better with religion, but it is something I DO NOT want to be a part of ever again. My daughter will be able to attend a UU church. I want her to so she can make her own choices about life. I do not want her to be as hateful as many of the christians I know. In christianity it is not our place to judge others, yet so many do it as an active part of their day.

To Stephen,
By the way our trash is full, seeing as it's close to a holiday. If you could kindly take it out so we can have it disposed of in a landfill. I mean we are paying for it per month.

Thanks Love you.

all wars are started because of religion!!!

Take that back or DIE!!

the aspect of 'love' delivered to smiley's doorstep that irks me the most is that it says you must 'admit: you are a sinner.' what kind of unconditional love is that? assimilate or burn in hell, hmm... heaven is going to be one lonely town according to those folks.

That reminds me of what someone said on here a while back. "The problem with us Christians is we love you, and if needed we will beat it in to you."

How about you go love yourselves in the privacy of your church? Leave good citizens alone. Go solicit at the jail, or pine hills, those people need an influence a lot more then intelligent people who have moved past the idea of irresponsibility at the hands of god.

Although I attend a Christian church I have always had a problem with the idea that Jews, Muslims, Hindus, etc won't reach some kind of heaven. I'm not even sure that I believe in heaven as it's commonly defined by Christian religions but it's the exclusivity of some religions that bothers me. Church is for the imperfect. As imperfect people how can we tell others what their fate will be? It's ridiculous.

I don't think it's wrong not to believe 100% in the doctrine of your church. It's enough that you go. People can go for the social benefits but it's silly to believe that that is all they go for. I go because I like the people, the services and I think prayer is a lot like meditation-which helps me focus on the important things in life. Sometimes I need reminding. So I don't fault people who go for the social aspects.

Now I send what I can to the man
With the diamond ring
He's a part of heaven's plan
And he sure can sing

Now it's all I can afford
But the lord has sent me eternity
It's to save the little children
In a poor country

This is the kind of conversation that pisses Xenu off, totally.

Churches are run by people. People are by nature fallible. There are too many churches being run by people who really don't believe in God but use the church as a means of being in power and control. There are those just need to have people look at them! They need to be the center of attention. There are those who preach on Sunday and spend the rest of the week high from one recreational activity or another. And there are those who reek of "God's messenger" yet treat women as second class citizens.

I believe what I believe because of a number of things. But none of those reasons are anyone else's business. I don't need someone telling me I'm going to hell if I don't follow their protocol.

I believe God is love. And I believe my heaven will be being able to be with those I've loved in this life and lost.

I feel sad for those who feel the urgent need to tell others how much better they are because they know 'THE WAY'. Spend your life loving and giving. Give food to a food bank. Donate to charities. Visit the elderly shut ins. PROVE you believe in God and what he represents.

It could have been worse, you could have found Josh on your doorstep! (sorry Josh, I couldn't resist :lol

Personally I think there are much more serious problems in this world than someone asking you to join them for church. It's only natural for someone who has found something they enjoy to want to share that with others. Look at all the space on this board which has been taken up by people sharing their opinions of the best restaurants in town.

There's nothing wrong with smiling and saying a polite "No thank you" if asked in person or just throwing out the flyer.

Although I attend a Christian church I have always had a problem with the idea that Jews, Muslims, Hindus, etc won't reach some kind of heaven.

Stop with the worry already. Jews don't proselytize and would appreciate the same consideration. Jews get enough worry from their Mothers without some twit trying to sell them something they don't need. Who in their right mind would want to spend an eternity with some of you?

I don't think Wendy is worrying in a "therefore I must pester these poor benighted unbelievers until they too are in the right column of God's Salvation Spreadsheet", but in more of a "there's something a little off in the Kool-Aid" sort of way.

Back to the original topic, they just dropped off the baggy at our house today. Silly them though, because I am already going. Hah.

Brigidier's right, Tucker. I disagree with that aspect of Christian doctrine. Next time read the whole post please.

Dropped off the baggy Josh??? I didn't realize this was a Rastafarian Church

[This message has been edited by Dave Golterman (3/30/2010)]

Lol Josh! See TREE WASTERS! HOW EVIL. Nah, jkjk. I'd go, but I heard a commercial today where the dude said how the ticket "wasn't just an admit one." I wonder if this post was brought to his attention?
Don't you work for the radio Josh?

I work at 92.3 FM.. But I haven't heard that ad. Maybe it isn't on our station?

Well there was a 1 in 3 chance it was yours lol. I miss cali But I am glad I understand everything on the radio here. There I couldn't even listen to half of the stations because I didn't speak a work of spanish. So that left about 20. I thought I was being gypsied then!

Just as an aside, as much as I'd like to claim the rank of "Brigidier", I have never been, nor ever plan on being, a commissioned officer in the US armed services, although I do have a uniform (or at least a pair of epaulettes and a union cockade) that I wear on special occasions.

"Bridgier" - one extra 'i', not two...

Just for clarification, our intent at Valley Drive was not to offend. It is simply an invitation to join us in celebrating the ultmate sacrifice of God. For those offended by the 'admit you are a sinner', it was not meant as a condemnation. Being human, I am not perfect, therefore I am a sinner. All who enter heaven will be sinners. That is why Jesus' sacrifice was necessary. As far as denominational issues, people of all walks in life will be in heaven. Simply being a 'good person' will not get you there. Simply believing there is a supreme being (God), will not get you there. Accepting that Jesus gfave His own life, His own blood will. Accepting this does not make you perfect. It doesn't mean you will never sin again. But it will change your life. God is love. Pure and unconditional. He loves us, ALL of us, even though we hurt Him every day. He simply asks that we let Him into our lives.

Please come join us, or any church, this Easter Sunday, and give God a chance to love you completely.

As far as denominational issues, people of all walks in life will be in heaven. Simply being a 'good person' will not get you there. Simply believing there is a supreme being (God), will not get you there. Accepting that Jesus gave His own life, His own blood will.

I think that the frustration stems from people's unwillingness to concede that this is a statement of opinion, rather than fact. Perhaps if the subject was approached in this manner (that it is a matter of opinion), this thread would not exist in the first place.

This statement, for you, may be a statement of fact, due to your belief system. However, whether or not this statement is true depends on whether you are approaching it from a Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jehovah's Witness, LDS, Hindu, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Confucist, etc. standpoint. The belief in the proper avenue to reach Heaven (either the physical realm or a plane of existence) is different for each person, based on their beliefs. The disconnect occurs when one tries to tell the other that their belief is flat-out wrong, as the post implies. To each his own.

Very well put Denise.

thank you denise! very well stated. i wish all others knew and accepted that religious ideas are a matter of personal opinion. thank you all for your prayers to save my damned soul, but i'm not worried. pray for rain, health and happiness instead of me.

Hey Bridgier, if you're going to have a non-standard name you have to expect a few extra i's once in a while.

Very well said, Denise!

I could add my two cents (or more) worth, but I really wouldn't be saying something that others haven't already said.

"Just as an aside, as much as I'd like to claim the rank of "Brigidier", I have never been, nor ever plan on being, a commissioned officer in the US armed services, although I do have a uniform (or at least a pair of epaulettes and a union cockade) that I wear on special occasions.

"Bridgier" - one extra 'i', not two... "



The rank is actually Brigadier with an 'a', not an 'i'

Well... yes. But there was already a "Commadore" in my class, so it wasn't a stretch for a lot of teachers to assume that my name was pronounced "Brigidier", with some confusion if the "g" should be hard or not.

Aren't homophones awesome?