Please stop trying to save me.
Honestly, I don’t get why Chrisitians feel they need to “bring more people to Jesus”. Ok, that’s not true, I really do get it. It’s the brownie points. I’m not sure what you can spend the brownie points on, but you get some for every soul you “save”. Right?
It irks me when people assume that spirituality is linked to the amount of time a person spends in church. Trust me, some of the least spiritual people I have ever met are avid church goers. Image counts.
Which isn’t to say that all Christians are mean, hateful, judgemental, unforgiving, intolerant……oh you get the idea. I know some wonderful Christians. I used to be one (a born again Christian…I’m not sure about the wonderful part). And yet, at my most hard core, church going best, I never ever tried to shove my beliefs down anyone’s throat. And don’t get me wrong. I think a religious creed can be a great start down a spiritual path. It certainly keeps some kids off the street.
But seriously. I am an intelligent woman. I have done my homework. I didn’t just wake up one day and decide I didn’t want to be a Christian anymore. And my jury is still out on the whole “god” thing. Personally, I think man wasn’t made in god’s image, I think god was made in man’s image. I like Plato’s view of god as a remote creative force that is not involved in our everyday lives. I truly believe that all our choices create our lives. We are responsible for our (often) shitty lives, not some distant diety on a throne somewhere in the clouds. The angel’s wings are cool though. But, I digress.
I have spent close to thirty years studying physics, metaphysics, all kinds of new age philosophies, religions of varying kinds, etc. I have read hundreds of books on the subjects. And the conclusion I have come to is that no one really knows anything. I like that. It means we get to keep creating our world every day. So don’t tell me I have to see the world one way, with one god and one religion. I am responsible for my life and my choices. And they are none of anyone’s business.
It’s not brownie points.
Gah! Can you honestly not understand how much it freaks people out to think that other people are going to Hell?
And it sucks, because, I never decided to become a Christian because of hell, I couldn’t care less about that, and yet I am faced with the prospect of friends and loved ones suffering eternal damnation.
So if some people are a little tactless about trying to avert that, well pity the poor guys!
But also, when something is really really good – don’t you just yearn to share that? When something gives you meaning and fulfillment, can you keep it to yourself and keep your mouth shut? If so, you are …well I am not sure better is the word, but a stronger man than me.
Well, pppbbt to you Ms. Tracy. I was quite sure I would get to spend my brownie points – well-earned I might add, sitting in an Episcopal church during most of my youth. I thought the points would buy me some ever-lasting Gobstoppers at the very least. It will get very boring playing with my halo all day.