Religions/Beliefs of Browncoats
POSTED BY: EngineAngel
UPDATED: Wednesday, September 10, 2025 01:24
VIEWED: 30205
PAGE 13 of 16
I agree with you (all), that no-one wants to have someone others faith forced on him. However, tolerance is easy, as long as you don't care ...
Let me clarify my point with a (personal) story:
When my mother became sick of cancer, my father (being a preachers son) lost his faith. When my mother was dying (we papmered her for about 6 months and she died at home), her faith gave her a lot of strength (that's what a faith should do, is it?) I did some praying with her, but my father just couldn't.
I remember a day, when she laid there wheeping, saying, that she was so scared, that she might be in heaven and he might never come.
Granted, there are may people, who try to "convince" others, because they just cannot bear the thought that there might be another truth (and their own believes might be wrong). They are "missionnaries" for their own sake. But sometimes, it's just because you love sombody, and you believe in heaven, and you want him to go there too.
The question is: is my belive just a way of living, or do I think, it's the truth (with all my heart, thoughts and actions).
Just a thought ...
Esther
Love my captain!
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That is a question of faith. We are human. We have doubts and it happens. But the way a person live is also the way a person dies. Though some die in very violent ways, most are able to release without pain if they are at peace with themselves.
And it does go both ways, especially when comforting another person. The main thing is that you loved them in this life as well as the next.
CaliforniaKaylee mentioned that she was (raised?) LDS. My little brother has found peace there. I feel bad for him. Not because he cannot drink, smoke, or get tattoo's, but because of the guilt he feels over not being able to convert me and the rest of the family. I really felt bad about this after he returned from his mission. He'd done a very good job in Detroit of all places. But he knows what will happen to my soul according to his beliefs. He also knows that I am the kind of person to accept whatever consequences for my actions. He loves me and believes I am good. Almost in tears thinking how that makes him feel.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that Heaven is for the deserving. No one should be denied. Possibly put on hold for purification, but not denied.
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another "new/old age" hippie here... i prefer "tree hugging dirt worshipper" :P
with a sprinkling of buddhism and a pinch of gnostic/mystical christianity for flavor.
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Quote:
Originally posted by Esther:
I remember a day, when she laid there wheeping, saying, that she was so scared, that she might be in heaven and he might never come.
Esther - that's heartbreaking! It's really, really hard. What a horrible situation for all of you to be in.
I hope I'm not saying anothing to offend you, but your story is a grievance I have with religion. It lets someone believe that she'll be parted with the man she loves just because he won't, or can't, pray.
The rules of religion can get too rigid, and don't allow for humans to be human. I wish your mom could have been sure that no God would be cruel enough to keep her apart from your father.
** Imagine huggy emoticon here **
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I'm the president. I don't need to listen.
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Quote:
Originally posted by LiuYan:
another "new/old age" hippie here... i prefer "tree hugging dirt worshipper" :P
with a sprinkling of buddhism and a pinch of gnostic/mystical christianity for flavor.
I knew I wasn't the only one!
*hugs LiuYan*
More animations available at http://desktophippie.googlepages.com
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Yeah, NV, I was raised LDS, and I know the guilt you speak of. I realized that it wasn't the religion for me when I was 15, but it's been a long 10 years since then, to finally come to Judaism. And my family has never "given up hope" on me, which is difficult to handle sometimes. I remember late in my high school years, watching Fiddler on the Roof, which is one of my mother's favorite movies (my family feels a very close kinship with Judaism, which means that in some ways, it's easier for them to handle this choice than if I had chosen any other religion). Anyway, during the Chava ballet sequence in Fiddler, I just broke down crying, because I knew I was going to do that to my parents.
In some ways, I'm thankful that it has taken me as long as it has, because it means that my family has had a long time to get used to the idea. It's not a sudden break with the family, it's been a slow process of asserting my difference of opinion in this one area, while growing closer in other areas. I cried during that scene in Fiddler because I saw (and still do see) my father as very similar to Tevya, and I knew I'd be breaking his heart. At the time, we didn't have a close relationship at all, but in the 7 years since I first went away to college, we have gotten very, very close. I've worked at the same companies as him, sharing rides in the morning, he set me up on my first date with my husband, and for the past three and half years I've been working for his company. I can honestly say that outside of my husband, my dad is my best friend. Seven years ago, I never would have thought that possible.
I know my parents still pray that I will come back to the LDS church, but I think there is a level of respect between us now. I've never tried to talk any of my five younger siblings out of the LDS church, and they see how happy Judaism is making me. It's difficult, but it's not the relationship-destroying process I had feared it would be.
And while I have my own issues with the LDS church, I can see that it makes my family happy. It helps them to live clean, family focused lives, keeps them involved in charity, and gives them a religious community, which are all things that I prize. But I do wish I could convince them that they don't need to worry about that fate of my soul. Thankfully, like I said, there's a high level of respect for Judaism in my family (they even celebrate Hanukkah, because as my mother says, "It's one of God's miracles"). I haven't ever questioned them on the issue, but now that I think about it, they may be convinced that once I officially convert to Judaism, I'll be fine with God. They respect God's covenant with the Jewish people that much.
Anyway, I wanted include one other reply here...
Quote:
So, anyway, in the end I've come to the conclusion that I am a Jewish Agnostic
Aubrey, if you get a chance, you might want to check out Reconstructionist synagogues. I'm still new to all of this, but the synagogue that I've been attending is Reconstructionist, and while we do the prayers all in Hebrew, the emphasis on God is much different than what I've found in other movements. There are more than a few "Jewish Agnostics" in the congregation, as well as Jewish Humanists, Jewish Deists, a whole range of beliefs that de-emphasize God as an anthropomorphic being. And then there's the other end of the spectrum, people who hold nearly Hasidic beliefs, but believe that the Law is changing and changeable, and who have found a home with Reconstructionism.
In short, there's an emphasis on the traditions, on being and acting Jewish, but God's nature and role in the world is seen significantly differently from the other movements, from what I've learned thus far. Maybe something to check out?
~CK
You can't take the sky from me...
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I was raised Catholic, I'm an atheist now. I don't have a problem with other people and their religions (until they get pushy about it). Everyone is entitled to their own belief systems. I checked out Wicca/Paganism for a while, I like the whole nature thing, but atheist suits me for now.
Interesting thread.
I used to be an agnostic, dyslexic, insomniac. I'd stay awake nights wondering if there was a dog.
Sahara
Blackbird fly into the light of the dark, black night.
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There is a book, called The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold in which the author writes of a young woman going to her Heaven after her death.
Everyone's Heaven was different, but if your idea of what is Heaven intersects with someone else's idea of Heaven, you would meet.
So...if your idea of Heaven is living by the beach, and your Mom's idea of Heaven is living in Inner Mongolia, you would never meet again in Heaven.
I was captured by this book, and loved the idea of a personal Heaven.
I guess why I'm posting is that I have always felt religious tolerance towards just about everyone and everything, because my religion is mine, and its personal. Yours is your own, and personal. If they intersect, fine. If not...that's okay too.
"Have you ever been with a Warrior Woman?"
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Quote:
Originally posted by DesktopHippie:Quote:
Originally posted by CaliforniaKaylee:
I've only skimmed the thread, but I thought I'd pop in and add my bit. I was raised LDS (Mormon), but I'm working towards converting to Judaism. I'm loving the journey -- both the spiritual learning and the cooking learning! I've been trying out whatever traditional Jewish recipes I can get my hands on. I passed my challah bread recipe on to my sister, who's been making it up at BYU. And my husband is a big fan of my mashed-potatoes-mix latkes. Not what I'd call "traditional", but hey, only requires dry potato flakes, milk, and butter, and it's kosher, so who am I to complain?
~CK
You can't take the sky from me...
Mmmm... Jewish cooking... *drools*
My boyfriend is Jewish. He says that if I ever wanted to convert, I'd be a shoo in with my brisket!
Sahara
Blackbird fly into the light of the dark, black night.
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Quote:
I used to be an agnostic, dyslexic, insomniac. I'd stay awake nights wondering if there was a dog.
::giggles::
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Go to http://richlabonte.net/tvvote/ and vote Firefly!
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