BellaOnline Forums Religion and Spirituality Spirituality Is Christianity a religion of fear?

Seriously folks.. and I would be remiss if I didn't point this out.. The Hopi Indians as well as the Mayans and other tribes of ancient descent have stories that involve the end of the world and three days in total darkness. They say it will happen before the "fifth" world begins. Of course, in their versions they are the ones that will be saved.... Hmmmmmmm

I found it interesting that the Navajo dont have a word for religion or God!! but they do have a word for the white people which is Belladonna it means the wondering right arm and it is a put down much like calling them heathens is to them!! and they view are christian religion as a one day a week go to Church religion and it makes no sense to them!!! But they like Jesus and the Ideas He had for living because it is much the same as there beliefs!!!

Maybe the whole idea is that when someone says to me "God says this or God says that" or "Jesus say this or Jesus says that" or even "Allah says this" or "Allah says that", I have to answer them with .. "Well what God, Jesus or Allah says does not apply to me. Nor does Jesus and his sacrifice."

So, if I agree with those ideas, I am in essence agreeing that a Deity that I do not believe in has control over my soul.

I try to be careful never to say "This is so" I try to say "this is what I believe to be so." But, I do admit sometimes I forget to tack on that all important disclaimer.

When someone says "In my belief, God says to ME ... or Jesus loves ME or Jesus loves those who believe in him... that makes it a personal belief and I am fine with that..because then it is not the random out there and includes everyone and everything "truth." The person is applying their personal belief to themselves and not to me. I have yet to have a Buddhist or a Pagan imply that what Buddha says or the Goddess says applies to those who do not follow that particular pathway.. They keep it on a personal level and not an all inclusive level.

The word "us" implies that all of us are under jurisdiction of a certain deity which I believe is definately not the case, as do many other people in this world.

I have a great respect for Jesus and his teachings... I love the Gnostic Jesus.. but I don't feel the need to speak for him. Nor do I feel the need to make anyone else respect and honor him.. that is my personal choice.. so yes, I am technically a follower of Jesus.. but not the way that most Christians WANT me to be.

ok Linda Well said and point taken!!! I truly believe that if more christians gave a personal account of why they believe the way they believe and they were more tolerate of others and stoped tring to change everyones views, then more people would believe or at lest respect what we believe more!!

So In short I agree with you!!! :))

Thanks again Freebubbles.. I wasn't sure that I said what I was thinking in a way that made any sense at all.. But, I like the way you said it better!! When I speak about the Goddess.. my personal deity of choice..lol.. I never say "us" or "we" because I realize that not everyone has that same type of belief. I use the word I. I indicates the personal relationship I feel with her.. us would indicate that everyone else should try and build a similar relationship.. and I am sure that if I posted that way.. more than a few people would take exception to that.

I use I when it is my personal believe and I use us and we when talking about christianity in a general way like: most of us believe in God the Father Son and Holy Spirit! or we believe in Love your neighbor as your self!

but then I only speak in gernal terns when as what christians believe or the church...

I hope that does not offend anyone!! I try to avoid lumping everyone in one group!!!

I personaly like small personal groups myself!!! lol

Linda, which goddess do you believe in?

I don't believe in the Goddess in the same way that Christians or Jew believe in God or Muslims believe in Allah.

In their belief they see God or Allah as an actual entity who reigns over the Earth... In both cases they believe that they will be meeting their deity in their afterlife. They also believe that they are answerable to the wishes of that deity while they are here on Earth. And, they believe that the entity created them

In my case, I understand that I created the Goddess. And, I created her in a way that I am comfortable with and that I can respect and honor. As my creation, I am not at her beck and call.. nor am I answerable to her. She is the way that I CHOOSE to manifest a higher power.

Basically, I see the Earth as feminine in nature, since she produces young, nurtures them and also takes them back within her body. I don't worship the Earth.. I simply respect and honor it for sustaining my life and the lives of all other living things. And, that is how I perceive the body of the Goddess.

Actually when you think about it.. all of choose our own individual way to manifest a higher power.. whether we see it through scientific means, evolution, or an actual deity.

So, when I think about that higher power.. and because I am a woman and can more easily relate to an understanding and compassionate mother than I can a patriarchal disiplinary father, I choose to make my manifestation of a higher power in the Goddess.

Hope that makes sense to you Das..

Ok not to start a war or anything but I am wondering about balence!

I have heared many Wiccan, Pagan, Buddhist and others that believe in a Goddess talk about balence between the God and Goddess so with that said...

Do you believe in a God as Well and a Goddess? and if not where is the balence?

Good question Freebubbles. Just as I see the Goddess as the Earth itself, I see the God reflected in the Sun. The Sun brings light to the Earth, embraces her with warmth. It is an outside force which helps her to sustain and nurture the life within her... Just as every good father or father to be will do for his mate.

The Earth is the mother that is ever present, feeding and caring for her offspring, while the God is transcient, seen in the ever changing cycle of the seasons. The sun retreats and advances allowing the Earth a time to rest and recover from her endeavors.

One is no more important than the other. Both of them are in perfect balance to create and sustain life.

So, yes, I do believe each of them are equally important.. but I always had an easier time talking to my mother than my father..lol... So, when I want to have a heart to heart talk with my higher power.. I go to mom.