This made me mad

My cousin posted this on her Facebook account…

So, I’m studying for Psych of Religious Experience today, and came across this quote on Wikipedia (because everyone knows that Wikipedia is just as good as lecture notes… kidding. Haha)

“Many of us saw religion as harmless nonsense. Beliefs might lack all supporting evidence but, we thought, if people needed a crutch for consolation, where’s the harm? September 11th changed all that. Revealed faith is not harmless nonsense, it can be lethally dangerous nonsense. Dangerous because it gives people unshakeable confidence in their own righteousness. Dangerous because it gives them false courage to kill themselves, which automatically removes normal barriers to killing others. Dangerous because it teaches enmity to others labeled only by a difference of inherited tradition. And dangerous because we have all bought into a weird respect, which uniquely protects religion from normal criticism. Let’s now stop being so damned respectful!”

Thoughts…?

I’m not sure what the limit is on words in a comment, but when I tried to post mine it said that I was over the allowable limit by 2464. Here is my response…

Where to start? I thought for a moment that I would bite my tongue, who cares what that person thinks anyways. But I just came from church where I heard a sermon about how when our own honor is challenged anger is neither justified nor righteous, but when God’s honor is attacked we have a responsibility to speak the truth, in His name.

For the writer, I would prescribe an education in the various religious and spiritual beliefs. I admit that some religious sects do fit into some/all of these stigmas, but that is simply all they are, stigmas. And as with any generalization, whether it is race, culture or spiritually based, it is never true of all those grouped together.

“Lethally dangerous nonsense.” Yes, the extreme beliefs of some sects, combined with the extreme personalities of some people can produce lethal danger. I am a Christian. I believe that GOD IS LOVE. So, if I become extreme about my beliefs I will love every person, I don’t think that’s going to kill anyone.

“Unshakeable confidence in their own righteousness.” I don’t believe that I am better or more righteous than anyone, no matter of their spiritual beliefs. I believe that God loves everyone equally, whether they are Christian or not; He died for each and every one of us – it is our choice whether we receive the salvation and mercy that He created for us.

“False courage to kill themselves.” My mission as a Christian is to spread the Word of God and to glorify Him in doing so. I am going to Heaven; I want you and every other person on Earth to be there with me. I want to teach others about His love for them and His passion for their lives. I want others to see the wonders and miracles He has granted in my life. How can I do all that if I am dead? I have to be here, leading by example and growing in my relationship with Him.

“Removes normal barriers to killing others.” Exodus 20:13 “Thou shalt not kill.” It does not say, thou shalt not kill unless you declare that I have commanded it, or unless you’re very mad, or unless you feel that your life is threatened. It says, very clearly, THOU SHALT NOT KILL.

“Enmity to others.” We are all equals under God, no matter of back ground, upbringing or religion. Again, GOD IS LOVE. As a Christian my job is to embody God’s spirit, Jesus’ spirit, therefore my job is to BE love to every person I encounter.

“Protects religion from normal criticism.” Go ahead, criticize my beliefs. I will have an answer for nearly every challenge. If I don’t know the answer, I will find it. If it is ‘impossible’ to prove, I will ask God when I get to Heaven. God is not self conscious or insecure. He is not upset by a question or attack; trust me, I’ve attacked Him. He created you and if you honestly and longingly listen, you will hear His voice and then you can challenge Him yourself.

So many people say that they hate religion but many of them have never taken the time to explore it with an open mind or heart. I don’t like religion. But I LOVE the spiritual relationship I have with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It’s not about religion, it’s about a relationship. Please don’t stick me in a group and think you know anything about what I believe. Ask me, I will be thrilled to tell you what I believe, and why, and how I got here. Some people will still say it’s just not for them and that is 100% ok. But it IS for me.

My Baptism

I was baptized on Sunday! It was a big day for me; very cool!

My church practices 'believer's baptism'. They require you to complete a class on baptism before you are baptized - very informative. I learned alot about it; what it means, what the Bible says about it, etc. It was a very cool experience and it made the actual service mean even more to me. Just in case you're interested, I've included my testimony below.

~~~~~

When I look back two years, I see a very different person than the one standing here today. I believed in God. I prayed often. I even read the Bible and attended Church occasionally. But, I thought that God was supposed to work for me. I was depressed, and frustrated. And I blamed God for everything bad in my life.

In the midst of my finger-pointing, and sadness, my younger brother, Aaron, asked me to attend the Alpha course here at Rocky View. I grudgingly agreed; mainly because I didn’t want to let him down.

When it came time to actually attend the classes, I was nervous. What if I say something wrong? What if they realize that I’m not good enough? There were a million “what-if’s” running through my head. I made it through the first class. No one called me names, no one told me I didn’t fit in. I know it sounds strange, but that’s really what I was expecting. I felt welcome, and after that first class, I was hooked.

I’ve come a long way since then and it’s been hard. I learned things about myself that I never wanted to see. I struggled with giving my life to God. And I really had to work on the idea that my relationship with God, through Jesus Christ, needed to be a two-way street.

There were many times when I felt like giving up on this journey. But every time I tried to turn-away He called me back. Whether He sent a friend with a kind hug and warm conversation, or spoke to me when I needed to hear that I wasn’t alone. He has given me the strength I need to get through.

There are many people here, and elsewhere in the world today who have played a crucial role in getting me to this point. Thank you! Thank you for not giving up on me, thank you for guiding and comforting me, thank you for holding me accountable for my actions. Thank you for choosing to listen when God asked you to support me.

Now, I am ready to make my public commitment to God. I am delighted to have my sins washed away and to become a new person in Christ. I am happy for the love, forgiveness and friendship He has given to me so generously. I am excited to give worship and praise to God and eager to learn more about Him. I can’t wait to see where He will lead me next.

~~~~~

To each of you who have helped me get here - whether with a kind word of support, an encouraging conversation, or through your prayer for His guidance in my life - Thank you.

remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the way of error will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins. - James 5:20

That's me giving my testimony. Pastor Rick was the one who baptized me.

This is my good friend Wendy giving me some words of encouragement.

Rick says a few words before I go under.

One Picture

My 'big' cousins - Dan, Alex, Justin & I

This is the only picture I have from the wedding so far. Turns out that the responsibilities of Maid of Honour don't leave much time for photography. I'll post more when I get them. Thanks Aunt Sue!