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Jesus Will Take Your Bisexuality Away
Do you believe that Jesus will take your attraction to same sex away?
If not, what do you say to the Phil Robertsons of the world who state that your attraction to same sex is a sin? (inferring or bluntly stating that you will go to Hell and are a bad person, you should be shunned etc.)
Robertson also said that he believed faith in Jesus could eliminate homosexuality. “Jesus will take sins away. If you’re a homosexual, he’ll take it away....”
http://arts.nationalpost.com/2013/12/23/i-will-not-give-duck-dynasty-star-phil-robertson-stands-by-his-anti-gay-remarks/
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Re: Jesus Will Take Your Bisexuality Away
Robertson and others like him assume that bi or homo sexuality is a choice. At least for me, it's not. Being bi sexual is part of who I am. I can, however, choose whether to act on it. If I considered having sex with men a sin (and I do not), then perhaps prayer would strengthen my ability to accept who I am and avoid sinning.
Bisexual Explorer
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Re: Jesus Will Take Your Bisexuality Away
It makes me wonder if Mr Robertson is speaking from experience. Maybe he preys to Jesus to take HIS homo/bisexual thoughts away?:rolleyes:
We could all do that. Everytime we think of sex with same gender, just flood our minds with thoughts of Jesus and all that is 'holy'. That's nothing new! Any time we want to stop a hard on when it's not appropriate, we can think of things that turn us off, like menstrual periods etc.
Doesn't mean that Jesus or menstrual periods has 'cured' homo/bisexuality though. Just that they are a major turn-off.:tongue:
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Re: Jesus Will Take Your Bisexuality Away
See you all in Hell I guess. It's going to be a PARTY!!!
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Re: Jesus Will Take Your Bisexuality Away
Back in the day, we agreed to be "born again" whatever that's supposed to mean. My sinful thoughts went from just thoughts to thoughts accompanied by tons of guilt. I'm not going to live like that. If there is a god that has ANY resemblance to the fantasy of humans, you can have him.
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Re: Jesus Will Take Your Bisexuality Away
I have read lots of theories about Jesus like he never mentioned praying in a church or a temple, he has a grave in India etc. Honestly I see Jesus as a spiritual figure to learn from, and he said that a person must love himself how God made him. I'm not a religious person, more into spirituality, but don't like when some people uses his teachings in a radical way or mix it up with their own. I was born bisexual, and will be like that all life so what is the point of changing that.
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Re: Jesus Will Take Your Bisexuality Away
God (or Universal Holy Spirit) made me perfectly and loves me just as I am. It is an abomination to judge God's work of art.
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Re: Jesus Will Take Your Bisexuality Away
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Re: Jesus Will Take Your Bisexuality Away
I got into a (very) one sided conversation about something very along this line a little while back.
I had come across a video on YouTube that posed a "What if homosexuality was the norm and heterosexuality the 'aberration'?" The protagonist was a young girl who found that she was attracted to males instead of females, like her society said was the way things were supposed to be. Well, I made the mistake of bringing this video up to a friend of mine (should have known better) who is quite religious. Of course, the only opinion he had was that homosexuality was a choice and a sin, and only through Jesus... blah blah blah. Really, what this video was truly about was a statement about intolerance and bullying, simply using this premise as the vehicle.
What I really wanted to say when he brought up the whole choice bullshit was, "Why on Earth would anybody CHOOSE such a thing, knowing how people like him were going to react?
And by spouting such uninformed dogma, wasn't that judging, and isn't the only one truly fitted to judge such things one much greater than any of us, regardless how committed their religious conviction?
As well, those who are convinced they would know Jesus, should he return, I believe might be surprised, because look at who he's reported to have hung out with the first time around. Was it those involved in what was decidedly a most flawed and biased system? No, it was those on the fringes, the ones society shunned and persecuted. It's a big part of the reason he was treated as he was by the establishment: He didn't give the people who believed they deserved it the preferential treatment that they thought was coming to them.
And while I have no illusions about how pious a person I am, I am of the opinion that those who consider themselves better than I am because of their religious beliefs - and use that as a basis for criticism and marginalizing others because they supposedly go against what their religion has taught them - wouldn't know Jesus if he came right down and showed him the holes in his hands...
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Re: Jesus Will Take Your Bisexuality Away
This is my favorite topic, there is so much I could say, and so much I have said already in other forums.
My childhood was a mental and spiritual hell, it was the love of God that kept me here. I used to beg God growing up as a teen, "Why did you make me this way??" The answers I got ranged from silence, to "I'm sorry" to "I had to so you would understand." Whether or not I worship the same as other people, I cannot deny that without divine love I just wouldn't be here.
I feel as though I've had to fight my entire life just to be here and it left me very jaded. The things I saw men do, let's just say that for a long time in my life I was angry and spiteful. I wanted to be a woman, because if being a drunk, abusive asshole was what it meant to "be a man" I wanted to be as far away from that as possible.
You have to understand - I saw men beat my mom, I saw them cheat on her, I saw plates flying around my head smash into walls, I saw the worst side of people who were supposed to protect me - with adult eyes I know better now but at the time it was a lot for a child to go through. I've witnessed alcohol, drug, sexual, mental, spiritual and physical abuse growing up. I was born premature, with cerebral palsy and because I was different men treated me like a piece of shit. They took out their frustrations on me. ..all I ever wanted was just to be loved.
Just about the time I was ready to write off men completely, the universe says, "Ah, but wait, look what I can make you do!" - and one boy, as screwed up as it was, held me intimately .. and I was hooked.
It wasn't men, but God that said - "I've already lost one son, I don't need to lose another. Please hold on, just a little longer - I love you."
People can throw any Bible verse they want at me but it does not compare to walking through hell on Earth.
So you might think I'm a little bitter over that - and it is true that I am a bit hypersensitive to alcohol use and dishonesty - but in the second half of my life I have come to recognize all of the love, support and blessings that folks have given.
My mom told me a neat story too. She said that the rich white male doctor on call that night when she was in labor walked out on her since she was a "teen mom" - I was delivered by a black man, an indian and a hispanic and since I was premature I was blessed by both a catholic priest and a rabbi..
I weighed so little my mom literally held me in the palm of her hand. So many people did everything in their power to keep me alive..it's foolish to think I was ever alone, or to be afraid to make a mistake or to believe that I was not loved.. I only thought those things because I truly did not know what it took to get me here.
That was a neat story to hear..is it any wonder I want to love people?
I am not pagan, although I can appreciate hearing about spirituality in different ways. I liked the message of the Winter Solstice because we often forget that winter (at least in nature) is a quiet, still time - for contemplation and rebirth.
I'm not entirely Christian either - although my guide called me that one time because I guess to him on a good day I had those values in my heart. For a while I considered myself Gnostic.
I'm not entirely humanist, buddhist or kabbalist either although those values have helped me in my journey to come to terms with myself and my relationships with others. The buddhist philosophy of lovingkindness really helped me come to terms with self worth - seeing myself and others not as "flawed" but rather "full of potential".
To me religion is sort of like a kaleidoscope - many different ways to see the same energy. Human beings are very creative and they love telling stories. Having to question my sexuality gave me the (sometimes painful) gift of having an open mind.
As long as a faith is not abusive (something along the lines of the rede) I usually let it be what it will be to those who wish to practice.
http://smallsphere.wordpress.com
..that's funny. while I was writing this - this song was playing on kickradio..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcU57tAKzng
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Re: Jesus Will Take Your Bisexuality Away
I'm not looking to start any arguments, but I do appreciate an opportunity to share my own personal beliefs and experiences. I also like listening to other people's stories as well..
http://www.bisexual.com/forum/entry....Eat-mor-Chikin
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Re: Jesus Will Take Your Bisexuality Away
I like Bisexual Explorer’s view that your sexuality is not a choice. What I am less clear on is the idea about it being a choice who you get sexually involved with. Yes, there is choice in that regardless of the sexuality of the person.
The concept of prayer to prevent you from doing what you have no choice about is on less solid grounds imo. It still leave a huge argument between science and religion. Science in particular Maslow’s Hierachy of needs places sex as a physical need that needs completion before other aspects enlightenment or self actualization. Does the body's physical, psychological or even spiritual health suffer if sexual expression is ignored? Maslow said yes. Much to explore on that issue.
As far as I can determine, Fundamentalist Christians do say Jesus will take your bisexuality away if you pray and they do not say sex itself should be excluded as a human expression. Just certain sexual activity is a sin but sexual activity itself is not. They seem to state that sexual activity is a choice while those of other sexual orientation say that since it is not a choice why deny your natural birth orientation?
This thread's purpose is to discuss, debate and argue these ideas about bisexuality, sin and behaviour. It is not set up for personal attacks or fighting. There is a difference. Not all threads are about salacious sex..lol Bisexual.com is about the bisexual community and discussion, debating, and arguing are part of any vibrant community and this site. Personal attacks are not and violate the rules.
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Re: Jesus Will Take Your Bisexuality Away
What I always tell people is that I can choose who I have sex with, it's a lot harder to choose who I fall in love with..
Sexual orientation is like eye color - we don't flog people for having the wrong eye color.
I can't understand how people can be so cruel. God has given me enough experience to have empathy and a heart to love. It is NOT "anything goes" It is patience, love, caring. It is being able to celebrate with each other in good times and take care of one another when we aren't well. To communicate honestly, and openly. To know that someone cares for you and you care for them. Someone is cheering you on, even if you're not God, even if you're having a bad day, even if you've made a mistake, even if you're not perfect - they want to be there, with you. It is birthdays and anniversaries - Mother's day, Father's day - Christmas, Valentine's Day, even funerals - the joy of sharing life deeply with another person, without reservation among those we love; falling in love with your best friend. It is learning, growing and sharing together - to enrich your life and when life is over, to give comfort to someone in their last days so that they know they are not alone. That is part of the best of our humanity. That companionship is something that every human being should be entitled to if they seek it. I am pefectly fine not defining every circumstance under which such a relationship happens - platonic love, romantic love, physical love - all of the above. If you don't believe that God understands a loving committed relationship as more than "sin" then I think you are missing out on a big part of life.
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Re: Jesus Will Take Your Bisexuality Away
"Sexual orientation is like eye color - we don't flog people for having the wrong eye colour."
Good analogy Elian!! If we add the concept of sin/wrong to your analogy then we might tell blue eyed people that it is a sin for them to look unless they put brown coloured contact lenses in before looking at anything in life..lol Blue being the recessive eye colour in the world they might be the ones found to be sinners/wrong. Blue eye colour maybe the analogy that parallels to bisexuality if we use eye colour for sexuality analogy..lol?
http://www.athro.com/evo/gen/inherit1.html
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Re: Jesus Will Take Your Bisexuality Away
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Bisexual Explorer
Robertson and others like him assume that bi or homo sexuality is a choice. At least for me, it's not. Being bi sexual is part of who I am. I can, however, choose whether to act on it. If I considered having sex with men a sin (and I do not), then perhaps prayer would strengthen my ability to accept who I am and avoid sinning.
Bisexual Explorer
I find the underlined text extremely interesting. I completely agree that sharing love with another person (in and of itself certainly) is not a sin, so this is in no way related to that part of what was said.
No, what I find fascinating is the additional qualification "strengthen my ability to accept who I am and avoid sinning." Are you truly tying the (non)sin of sex with men to your ability to accept who you are? This would seem to imply that you believe you find yourself attracted to men because you can't accept who you are? And does that not carry within it the additional implication that it is not natural for a man to want sex with another man? That only a man who cannot accept his masculinity would want sex with a man?
Don't get me wrong...I'm not judging or saying you consciously believe that (not necessarily, even if I'm understanding the implications correctly)...but is it possible that you do at some level, and this is why those words snuck out?
Myself, I would say that by having sex with men, you *are* accepting who you are.
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Am glad im atheist but if Jesus is part of the trinity he caused the bloody problem if problem it be... if he is merely the son of God then are we saying he is a bigoted gett? Surely not...why expect him to cure it? The analogy Elian makes I have made I dont know how many times.. we are who we are... or hair is our hair.. our eyes our eyes and skin our skin... daft bloody question...:eek2:
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Re: Jesus Will Take Your Bisexuality Away
What if all these fantasies…..
(musical interlude ;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwtdhWltSIg
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Re: Jesus Will Take Your Bisexuality Away
Well you keep asking about prayer tenni, Unitarians have a saying about prayer that goes something like this. "Prayer doesn't change things, prayer changes people, and people change things.."
Smart eh? I have seen it both ways, I have seen things that absolutely seem like miracles that come into our lives as well as change through determination and hard work.
Of course for me to pray that God will take my same-sex attraction away would mean that I'd have to think there was something wrong with same sex attraction in the first place.
For as long as I can remember I've ALWAYS wanted to love and be loved, I was a very affectionate child. I never thought that gender should be a barrier to love, at least not until everyone around me made such a fuss about it.
I believe that the divine knows the difference between lust and love..
BTW, here is a video about the kabbalist model of prayer - which I happen to think of as a very accurate depiction..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mFRUGDY8Ao
..the Kabbalist philosophy is that the the divine is the ultimate force of bestowal..the creator ALWAYS has best intentions in mind for us, things that we encounter in our lives are not punishment, but challenges that help us to reach our full potential in this life..
It really helped me to think of the divine as a loving partner who ultimately wants me to succeed rather than an overbearing angry old white man on a throne..
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If we're playing music videos, this one sort of resonates with me for some reason - I love the images of the dancer..it isn't an overly spiritual song, but for some reason I feel a spiritual connection to it..maybe because the biggest part of me loving men was wanting so badly to be loved unconditionally.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFnVdN2GEC8
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Re: Jesus Will Take Your Bisexuality Away
Quote:
Originally Posted by
tenni
"
Sexual orientation is like eye color - we don't flog people for having the wrong eye colour."
Good analogy Elian!! If we add the concept of sin/wrong to your analogy then we might tell blue eyed people that it is a sin for them to look unless they put brown coloured contact lenses in before looking at anything in life..lol Blue being the recessive eye colour in the world they might be the ones found to be sinners/wrong. Blue eye colour maybe the analogy that parallels to bisexuality if we use eye colour for sexuality analogy..lol?
http://www.athro.com/evo/gen/inherit1.html
More common, some (unfortunate?) people feel the need to wear blue contact lenses to hide brown eyes. So, there must be better analogy that will resonate with Heterosexuals, although I do not have a clue what that would be. Zealots are passionate about their beliefs. Sometimes, I feel very uncomfortable trying to avoid conflict with people that have no respect for other's beliefs. Especially, when they express satisfaction about the plight of others that do not share their values.
I do feel relief that they are not able to help God with their prescription for punishment.
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Re: Jesus Will Take Your Bisexuality Away
Responding to the thread directly, I would be OK with Jesus taking away my bisexuality if I was transformed to 100 % homosexual.
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Re: Jesus Will Take Your Bisexuality Away
Quote:
Originally Posted by
tenni
Do you believe that Jesus will take your attraction to same sex away?
If not, what do you say to the Phil Robertsons of the world who state that your attraction to same sex is a sin?
Question one's reply: No.
Question two's reply:
Note: Reply two is dumbfounding silence metered with a blank stare through the person.
Then, I move on to discussion with others. Or, I move away from such persons in a polite
and slow, non-aggressive manner and look for others to engage. I am learning at times
discretion is the best form of diplomacy. Remember, everyone is entitled to voice an
opinion the same as everyone is entitled to not listen, to not engage.
*drifts off into staring blankly at tenni's presence in the forum*
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Re: Jesus Will Take Your Bisexuality Away
Not this again....if straight people cant get their urges to go away, why would it happen with a person who is attracted to the same sex? Or both?
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Re: Jesus Will Take Your Bisexuality Away
BEST RESPONSE EVER!!
DEAR AMY: I recently discovered that my son, who is 17, is a homosexual. We are part of a church group and I fear that if people in that group find out they will make fun of me for having a gay child.
He won’t listen to reason, and he will not stop being gay. I feel as if he is doing this just to get back at me for forgetting his birthday for the past three years — I have a busy work schedule.
Please help him make the right choice in life by not being gay. He won’t listen to me, so maybe he will listen to you. -- Feeling Betrayed
DEAR BETRAYED: You could teach your son an important lesson by changing your own sexuality to show him how easy it is. Try it for the next year or so: Stop being a heterosexual to demonstrate to your son that a person’s sexuality is a matter of choice — to be dictated by one’s parents, the parents’ church and social pressure.
I assume that my suggestion will evoke a reaction that your sexuality is at the core of who you are. The same is true for your son. He has a right to be accepted by his parents for being exactly who he is.
When you “forget” a child’s birthday, you are basically negating him as a person. It is as if you are saying that you have forgotten his presence in the world. How very sad for him.
Pressuring your son to change his sexuality is wrong. If you cannot learn to accept him as he is, it might be safest for him to live elsewhere.
A group that could help you and your family figure out how to navigate this is Pflag.org. This organization is founded for parents, families, friends and allies of LGBT people, and has helped countless families through this challenge. Please research and connect with a local chapter.
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Re: Jesus Will Take Your Bisexuality Away
Quote:
Originally Posted by
tenni
Do you believe that Jesus will take your attraction to same sex away?
If not, what do you say to the Phil Robertsons of the world who state that your attraction to same sex is a sin? (inferring or bluntly stating that you will go to Hell and are a bad person, you should be shunned etc.)
Robertson also said that he believed faith in Jesus could eliminate homosexuality. “Jesus will take sins away. If you’re a homosexual, he’ll take it away....”
http://arts.nationalpost.com/2013/12/23/i-will-not-give-duck-dynasty-star-phil-robertson-stands-by-his-anti-gay-remarks/
religion is such a complete waste of human intelligence that there really is no response needed. Stupidity speaks for itself. I never had imaginery friends, I always believed in reality, even as a child.
Let us look at the definition of brainwashing as it pertains to religion.
Mind control (also known as brainwashing, coercive persuasion, thought control, or thought reform) refers to an indoctrination process which results in "an impairment of autonomy, an inability to think independently, and a disruption of beliefs and affiliations. In this context, brainwashing refers to the involuntary reeducation of basic beliefs and values.
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Re: Jesus Will Take Your Bisexuality Away
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Annika L
I find the underlined text extremely interesting. I completely agree that sharing love with another person (in and of itself certainly) is not a sin, so this is in no way related to that part of what was said.
No, what I find fascinating is the additional qualification "strengthen my ability to accept who I am and avoid sinning." Are you truly tying the (non)sin of sex with men to your ability to accept who you are? This would seem to imply that you believe you find yourself attracted to men because you can't accept who you are? And does that not carry within it the additional implication that it is not natural for a man to want sex with another man? That only a man who cannot accept his masculinity would want sex with a man?
Don't get me wrong...I'm not judging or saying you consciously believe that (not necessarily, even if I'm understanding the implications correctly)...but is it possible that you do at some level, and this is why those words snuck out?
Myself, I would say that by having sex with men, you *are* accepting who you are.
Annika,
Yes, having sex with men *is* accepting who I am. Let me clarify what I meant by "strengthen my ability to accept who I am and avoid sinning." I know from long, painful experience that denying my desire to have sex with men does not make the desire go away. Accepting that wanting to have sex with men is who I am allowed me to choose to become, and enjoy, being bisexual. Under different circumstances, accepting who I am might have allowed me to pray to have the strength to make a different choice.
Bisexual Explorer
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Re: Jesus Will Take Your Bisexuality Away
I'm not Christian or sth so I don't believe in Jezus
I barely know if I belive in what my Religion wants me to
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Re: Jesus Will Take Your Bisexuality Away
When I was a teen I did just what tenni was asking, I used to beg God to change my orientation - well actually the prayer I used is, "Why did you make me this way?" - so it was more a plea for understanding or self acceptance..but I certainly did wish growing up that I could be "normal" as far as sexuality goes. If "he" could have taken it away I bet you he would have - I mean one response I got was, "I'm sorry" .. and looking back on it now, I would have to say that probably meant sorry that I was suffering, not that I loved.
It was only many years later when I finally gained some experience that I realized what having to question my sexuality had done for me..it meant that I could see a little window into the world of what it was like to be a minority, and it meant that my default mode of thinking was now with an open mind..
Later on I found this website, and then I realized there is a whole continuum of desire and attraction - very little in nature is strictly black -or- white but many shades of grey. On good days I think of my bisexuality as a gift - I have the capacity to form deep loving relationships with people regardless of what is between their legs. Sometimes it seems like a curse but with so many people in this world who are hurting I think it's actually a blessing.
I'm not ENTIRELY Christian either, but I still like this video, because I feel that what he says is true .. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9woWAs2i5Ps
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Re: Jesus Will Take Your Bisexuality Away
and all of my experiences could've been a chemical reaction to a mind doing anything it desperately could to keep me alive when I was confronted with thoughts of suicide..
..then again when I was five years old I played a game - I didn't intend for this to happen but I would dream about something specific the night before, like my grandfather coming to visit and talking with me, sure enough he showed up the next day - the same exact environment, the same situation, the same words were said, the same feeling I remember from the physical touch.. Like Deja vu - except that I remembered the experiences very clearly. This happened for about three days in a row. It's hard to forget or dismiss something like that..so I do believe that there might be things that happen in our environment that we simply cannot measure properly right now.
Apologies to anyone who is Christian here but I did find it quite hypocritical that a religion who seemed to worship a man being crucified could blatantly accuse every other faith of being a cult except for that one. One thing I regret and realize now is that I was actually jealous of the Christian faith. How easy it seemed, to just simply believe in an all-loving father..especially for a young 'gay' boy.. I really resented the fact that they seemed to preach love, but yet withheld that love from others because of sexuality.
I now recognize what my true feelings were and I try not to resent now.. I still don't always agree with the institutions, but I try not to fault the actual people.. As Plato says, "Always be kind, for everyone is fighting a hard battle". I credit my ability to forgive not to Jesus Christ, but to the Buddhist concept of lovingkindness.. (Jesus is a whole other subject - ever get a hug from pure love?)
Anything taken to extremes can be abused, spiritual faith absolutely can be abusive and it can be abused - however used in the right way for some people it might be a catalyst for positive change in their lives. It really depends on how willing you are to allow people the freedom that we all cherish. I believe that each person is entitled to pursue a free and responsible search for truth and meaning in their own lives. Some people do want to take that freedom away (or at least they thrive on power and control), and believe it or not, some people want to be led.
Whether you believe in the supernatural or not perhaps the important thing is to realize that self ego isn't the biggest thing in this world. I am worthy of giving and receiving dignity, love and respect, but I also recognize that without my community, without this world that gives nourishment and sustains us - I would have never survived and been successful in this life.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
bobsmith
religion is such a complete waste of human intelligence that there really is no response needed. Stupidity speaks for itself. I never had imaginery friends, I always believed in reality, even as a child.
Let us look at the definition of brainwashing as it pertains to religion.
Mind control (also known as brainwashing, coercive persuasion, thought control, or thought reform) refers to an indoctrination process which results in "an impairment of autonomy, an inability to think independently, and a disruption of beliefs and affiliations. In this context, brainwashing refers to the involuntary reeducation of basic beliefs and values.
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Re: Jesus Will Take Your Bisexuality Away
`
Is there any doubt that Jesus was Bisexual?
....besides that he was actually, probably, Pansexual.
`