Question of the Day: Pushing Religion on People or Just Being Kind?

[teh_bug]

So recently, a handful of people on my flist have been having pretty lousy days/weeks/time frames.  I've been trying to do the appropriate friend thing, "It'll get better,"  "I'm here for you," "Stay strong," etc, etc, etc.  However, as I was going along typing, periodically I just wanted to say "Me and Jesus love you!" (which is true), but most of

Comments

[norgbelulah]

Whoops. I ticky boxed not offensive, but really meant to ticky box not to me, but possibly to others.

That said, I would probably be sort of weirded out, think about it, then shrug and say whatever. I was raised in a vaguely evangelical christian church and my grandmother is very committed to being a good christian (in addition to being one of the greatest people I have ever known), so I am used to such sentiments being sent my way occasionally.

But I can see where someone would just get mad. It depends on how threatening you find religions other than your own to be (or the political/social/whatever implications/actions of said group).

All that being said, I wanted to let you know how refreshing it is to read your thoughts on your religion in this journal. You seem to be really easy going about your views and I really appreciate it, especially with all the blowhards who shout their opinions the loudest over all sorts of media outlets these days.

Cheers to you!

[teh_bug]

:-) Well, thank you! My faith is important to me and I love it dearly, so I talk about it, but conversely I try not to be obnoxious about it, because I know not everyone believes the same way as I do.

Thank you for your point of view and your encouraging words! :-)

[fobmarwi]

Maybe an Atheist would be offended?? I don't know, I'm Agnostic and wouldn't mind, encouraging things are always welcome!!

Me and Buddha are Team Bug
LOL, I wish I were Lisa Simpson to say that!

[teh_bug]

Hmmmm... good point. Well, at least I know I won't offend you. :-)

Hee! Yeah, I was looking for random deities/persons that are worshipped and that one kinda popped out, lol. :-P

[r37r0]

i would have to say it really does depend on the person and their views and what they find acceptable. some people are anti-religious and some are not. on top of that, you have many different religions and every religion has both laid back believers (people i think would be more appreciative of such words) and extremists (people who'd be offended by them) and so first you should learn what camp they belong to before saying such things because there is no "one size fits all" answer

Butting in!

[norgbelulah]

finally, i want to say, Buddha was in fact real. it's a common misconception that he was a deity, he wasn't. Buddha is actually just a title that roughly translates into "the awakened one" or something along those lines. he was merely the creator of Buddhism and the first person to reach a higher level of consciousness.

I think that the root of this misconception (which is an excellent point you made!) is that in certain parts of the world he is worshiped as a deity and there are other Buddhist demi-god-type figures that are fantastical in nature or have their original root in folklore.

I also like the idea you put forth in #2 above. I've heard similar perspectives before, and have to say I'd lean towards agreeing, but never connected with the Tower of Babel story. How interesting!

Butting in as well

[hope_calaris]

... because this is a really interesting topic

Re: Butting in as well

[r37r0]

i would have to disagree with you and Douglas Adams about proof denying faith. in fact i go so far as to say that, in my experience, people who make that claim are more often than not ignorant and trying to avoid some kind of inconvenient truth that they have no desire to face. i'm speaking of past experiences, btw, and am not aiming anything toward you because i don't know you. anyway, faith and science can work hand in hand. in fact, throughout history we have examples of clerics who were also scientists. i'll provide some links as examples

[rogoblue]

Religon and politics (and maybe sports team affiliation) are things that are so utterly personal that you cannot hope to please everyone.

I recall Brent Spiner saying on Twitter, that no matter what you tweet you will make someone laugh and offend someone else.

So maybe it's about what you believe and how you wish to connect with people. Them not liking it might not be the point so much, as the spirit in which you communicated.

Btw, I said it wouldn't bother me but might others (and I'm Catholic by accident of birth, as a very good friend of mine once said).

Not sure I've contributed much, but that's my 2 cents.

[teh_bug]

Heh! I agree with the sports teams! :P

I like your 2 cents. :-) It's been reassuring to hear that at the very least, my flist won't mind if I occasionally tell them that Jesus loves them. ;-)