The Passion Of The Christ...........

[eight6]

[quote][i]Originally posted by shovelbum[/i]

My own neighbor slammed me the other day because she kept preaching to me...

[/quote]

I just hate people that do nothing but preach.

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/dbince/086scan.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

[ghosty]

[quote][i]Originally posted by shovelbum[/i]
<br>while overall I agree with what you have to say, I have to tell you that I live in the South and there is a dominant presence here of "republican/christians" who are the snake handling type you describe. In fact, (I kid you not) there are 2 snake handling churches within 10 miles of my house! It is frustrating to live in a place that buys the religion+govt. formula so whole heartedly. It effects the way our local govt. is run and how we the citizens can lead our lives.

I'm not originally from this place, so it is a very drastic change for me. We have lived here for almost 7 years and have decided that despite the warm climate and beautiful beaches we will move as soon as I get my degree. It's not a live and let live mentality here. A lot of these people honestly believe that it is their duty as Christians to do all they can to convert you. My own neighbor slammed me the other day because she kept preaching to me and I asked her, very politely, if she could please not talk to me about her religion. She told me, deadpan, that if she didn't tell me then I'd never know because it's obvious that I don't go to church. (She actually checks on our car every sunday morning to see if we go!)

I know that the whole nation is not this way (thankfully), but I just feel that it is important to emphasize that there are religiously-oriented sub-cultures in our country that are very fervant in their believe that we are nearing the end of days and that this is the time for the battle of souls. When people truly believe such things there is just no telling how far they will go in their push to convert, at all costs, because they feel righteously justified.

My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father, prepare to die.
[/quote]

Yeah, I'm aware of communities like that. Luckliy it's a small percentage. Unluckily for you..you're stuck there. I lived in the south myself for many years and never encountered that sort of thing. The Christian community I grew up in was like something out of John Hughes movie with maybe a dash of "Footloose" thrown in there. It sounds to me like what's happening by you is some sort of "social conditioning" run amuck with relgion as an excuse for it. I'd be moving soon too.

[shovelbum]

[quote][i]Originally posted by ghosty[/i]
Yeah, I'm aware of communities like that. Luckliy it's a small percentage. Unluckily for you..you're stuck there. I lived in the south myself for many years and never encountered that sort of thing. The Christian community I grew up in was like something out of John Hughes movie with maybe a dash of "Footloose" thrown in there. It sounds to me like what's happening by you is some sort of "social conditioning" run amuck with relgion as an excuse for it. I'd be moving soon too.
[/quote]

Yep, you've pretty much hit the nail on the head. I live in Charleston. It's one of the oldest cities in the nation and the blue bloods who live downtown don't want anything to change. Not changing keeps control in their hands.

It's very status oriented here. You're status is judged on what car you drive, what school your kids go to, what country club you belong to, etc. We moved here because we're beach bums and guess what- that is frowned upon here! My husband is considered weird because he doesn't golf, I am considered weird because I refuse plastic surgery and BMW's, and my kids are considered weird because they ride the bus. (They are the only white kids on a full bus!) Even riding the public school bus is considered a social status issue. A lot of our local white acquaintances think we're nuts for letting the kids ride the bus "with all those blacks!", but so far my kids have had no problems at all and have made a few more friends. Weird.

Religion is really tied into the whole debate. People vote here based on their religion, not on what the county/state needs. Two schools in the same district, 6 miles apart, can be drastically different: one looks like a private school with state of the art everything and champion sports teams; the other looks like it belongs in the ghetto and they only have 5 computers in the whole school and no sports teams because they can't afford it.

It's hard because the people here have lived here for sooo many generations they really believe that this is just how it is and there's no sense fighting it because they think this is all that it will ever be. If you suggest change they think you're revolutionary, radical . . .

I don't mind religion. All I ask is that as I respect yours, please respect mine (or my lack thereof). However, this place is probably about 40 years behind the rest of the nation and they just don't tolerate anything different than themselves.

It's a shame, because the weather is beautiful and the sailing is grand.

My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father, prepare to die.

[newwavepunkgirl]

It is interesting hearing you guys talk about Christians in America as here in the UK they seem to be mostly atheistic or agnostic like myself! Sometimes i have this vision of going to a nice little church in America just to check it out but it's gotta be a choice hasn't it? I think the UK is the revers of America but not so sure that is good either as anarchy is ensuing here! {perhaps a nice middle-ground would be nice. it amy interest you to know that in the South of England they tend to be more religious where I grew up in the country so I wonder if you live in the middle of nowhere it's like a community thing or something?We have all the converters here, Jehovah's witness are the main one's in the Uk they knock on your door and you go and hide LOL! The Jesus army is another one. Those people always seem to approach me and my friends, we must look in dire need of saving then...[:D][:D][:D]

Devolution is real

[edisonoside]

[quote][i]Originally posted by eight6[/i]
<br>[quote][i]Originally posted by shovelbum[/i]

My own neighbor slammed me the other day because she kept preaching to me...

[/quote]

I just hate people that do nothing but preach.

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/dbince/086scan.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

[/quote]I was riding my bike on Miami's South beach on Easter Sunday and I encountered a man preaching with a bullhorn. As I passed him I noticed that he was being very confrontational with some of the people there. I made a turn-around and encountered him again, This time I heard him say that "to be born-again God will forgive you of ALL sins"... I turned to him and shouted "It's NOT THAT EASY!" ..It makes me sick to think that people could do all this wrong and come up with a "ritual" to absolve all of your guilt and wrong doing..A sort of "delete" mechanism. Is "using" religion as a sort of shield or a green card so that you can do anything and clear your conscious afterwards because you are a self righteous religious fanatic...I DON'T THINK SO! He started yelling all kinds of stuff at me as I rode of in my bike and started enjoying the beautiful day at the beach[8D].

[newwavepunkgirl]

[quote][i]Originally posted by edisonoside[/i]
<br>[quote][i]Originally posted by eight6[/i]
<br>[quote][i]Originally posted by shovelbum[/i]

My own neighbor slammed me the other day because she kept preaching to me...

[/quote]

I just hate people that do nothing but preach.

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/dbince/086scan.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

[/quote]I was riding my bike on Miami's South beach on Easter Sunday and I encountered a man preaching with a bullhorn. As I passed him I noticed that he was being very confrontational with some of the people there. I made a turn-around and encountered him again, This time I heard him say that "to be born-again God will forgive you of ALL sins"... I turned to him and shouted "It's NOT THAT EASY!" ..It makes me sick to think that people could do all this wrong and come up with a "ritual" to absolve all of your guilt and wrong doing..A sort of "delete" mechanism. Is "using" religion as a sort of shield or a green card so that you can do anything and clear your conscious afterwards because you are a self righteous religious fanatic...I DON'T THINK SO! He started yelling all kinds of stuff at me as I rode of in my bike and started enjoying the beautiful day at the beach[8D].
[/quote]

I've learnt to 'tune them out' Ironic what you said as being brought up a Catholic I think it puts more guilt into you not less guilt... Still it stops you from being TOO evil I guess...[:D][:p]

Devolution is real

[edisonoside]

[quote][i]Originally posted by newwavepunkgirl[/i]
<br>[quote][i]Originally posted by edisonoside[/i]
<br>[quote][i]Originally posted by eight6[/i]
<br>[quote][i]Originally posted by shovelbum[/i]

My own neighbor slammed me the other day because she kept preaching to me...

[/quote]

I just hate people that do nothing but preach.

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/dbince/086scan.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

[/quote]I was riding my bike on Miami's South beach on Easter Sunday and I encountered a man preaching with a bullhorn. As I passed him I noticed that he was being very confrontational with some of the people there. I made a turn-around and encountered him again, This time I heard him say that "to be born-again God will forgive you of ALL sins"... I turned to him and shouted "It's NOT THAT EASY!" ..It makes me sick to think that people could do all this wrong and come up with a "ritual" to absolve all of your guilt and wrong doing..A sort of "delete" mechanism. Is "using" religion as a sort of shield or a green card so that you can do anything and clear your conscious afterwards because you are a self righteous religious fanatic...I DON'T THINK SO! He started yelling all kinds of stuff at me as I rode of in my bike and started enjoying the beautiful day at the beach[8D].
[/quote]

I've learnt to 'tune them out' Ironic what you said as being brought up a Catholic I think it puts more guilt into you not less guilt... Still it stops you from being TOO evil I guess...[:D][:p]

Devolution is real
[/quote]I tried NOT to have a confrontation and the bike path ended so I HAD to turn around. I kept repeating to myself to keep my mouth shut..keep my mouth shut... guess I have a weak will[;)]

[newwavepunkgirl]

[quote][i]Originally posted by edisonoside[/i]
<br>[quote][i]Originally posted by newwavepunkgirl[/i]
<br>[quote][i]Originally posted by edisonoside[/i]
<br>[quote][i]Originally posted by eight6[/i]
<br>[quote][i]Originally posted by shovelbum[/i]

My own neighbor slammed me the other day because she kept preaching to me...

[/quote]

I just hate people that do nothing but preach.

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/dbince/086scan.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

[/quote]I was riding my bike on Miami's South beach on Easter Sunday and I encountered a man preaching with a bullhorn. As I passed him I noticed that he was being very confrontational with some of the people there. I made a turn-around and encountered him again, This time I heard him say that "to be born-again God will forgive you of ALL sins"... I turned to him and shouted "It's NOT THAT EASY!" ..It makes me sick to think that people could do all this wrong and come up with a "ritual" to absolve all of your guilt and wrong doing..A sort of "delete" mechanism. Is "using" religion as a sort of shield or a green card so that you can do anything and clear your conscious afterwards because you are a self righteous religious fanatic...I DON'T THINK SO! He started yelling all kinds of stuff at me as I rode of in my bike and started enjoying the beautiful day at the beach[8D].
[/quote]

I've learnt to 'tune them out' Ironic what you said as being brought up a Catholic I think it puts more guilt into you not less guilt... Still it stops you from being TOO evil I guess...[:D][:p]

Devolution is real
[/quote]I tried NOT to have a confrontation and the bike path ended so I HAD to turn around. I kept repeating to myself to keep my mouth shut..keep my mouth shut... guess I have a weak will[;)]
[/quote]

Oh I see, bad luck that, I bet they knew the path ended too![:D]

Devolution is real

[sunzgem]

*Note to self*

Stay away from religious topics on all forums including this one.

[ben_at_work]

[quote][i]Originally posted by sunzgem[/i]
<br>*Note to self*

Stay away from religious topics on all forums including this one.
[/quote]

Words to live by!

It should be our mantra or at least our creedo, if you happen to have a creedo that is. [;)]

[shovelbum]

[quote][i]Originally posted by sunzgem[/i]
<br>*Note to self*

Stay away from religious topics on all forums including this one.
[/quote]

You should include in that: *note to georgie*

"I drank what?" ~Socrates