Lately I’ve been slightly obsessed with the idea that — given the current outbreak of negative PR for belief — there is very little good coming out of the believing community.
You might perceive me as an anti-theist. And it’s often true. But no one can really sustain a complete anti-theist stance. At least, I can’t.
I have friends and family who believe. Many of them read this blog. They probably check it more often than you do. And often, the conversations we have about religion consist of my voice here as the only one they listen. When we sit in the same room, talk of religion is often limited or one sided.
I tend to be more of a listener, as I stumble a lot in speech. I try not to. But often, my brain works faster than my mouth, and I get caught up in delivery and word choice.
But my point is, this blog is where I talk to many people whom I love about faith, belief, and religion.
I found positive PR!
Fortunately, I saw this update on FB this morning Margaret Ann Schaaf:
I cannot believe that there are so many people out there who are so “outraged” over people building religious centers for other religions in their neighborhoods. Here’s a thought: If you are not a Muslim, then do not go to a mosque. If you are not a Jew, do not go to a synagogue or temple. If you are not a Christian, do not go to a church. And if you are determined to prevent others from practicing their freedom of religion, then don’t call yourself an American… or a Christian, please.
I like this sentiment. Own your own religious ideas and leave others alone. Yes, there are religious extremists. And they are out in droves right now. And they make groups of good people look badly.
And a week or so ago, friend of this blog Julie Ferwerda posted an interesting post, which I don’t really agree with. But it deserves a bit of recognition, as it doesn’t fall in line with traditional thought, but there was a time, when — as a Christian — it’s what I agreed with. The post is called, “The Worldwide Earthquake of Revelation” and it talks about the hardly sustainable concept of the rapture. Here’s how it starts:
There’s a lot of talk these days in Christian circles about a coming apocalyptic “seven year tribulation”…and, of course, “the rapture.” Most of this teaching comes from what I believe is colossal misunderstanding and misapplication of Scriptures, developing over the course of 1700 years of mistranslations and false propaganda by Church leaders. In other words, I think it’s total crappola and that the fruit of this is a lot of unnecessary fear for millions of people worldwide (and a source of laughable entertainment for a lot of others). For one example, the rapture was never a teaching or belief in the Church until the 1800s, but now it’s considered orthodox theology that any “good Christian” should not question.
You can click on the link above to read the rest.
One part that helps prove my point is this paragraph:
Or how about this? Rather than embracing and affirming homosexuals as infinitely valued children of God, many self-righteous, hypocritical Christians—loveless and full of all kinds of addictions—are participating in the tormenting, bullying, or blatantly rejecting of many of these dejected people to the point of utter depression and even suicide. Just a couple of examples of hundreds. Is it any wonder why 1 Peter 4:17 says that judgment must begin with the house of God first?
Have any of you seen or read anything that sheds positive light on the things believers are doing to counteract the shit coming out of way too many churches in the wake of the surge of homosexual issues at the forefront of many conversations?
Posted by Jeremy 
