I am dreading tomorrow because of religion!

[StinkyXmasCheese]

Dreading tomorrow with my family.
They are all strong in their faith Christians and I know there will be praying and thanking god etc.
I was brought up Christian but am no longer and I'm actually quite angry about religion at the moment. (Working through these issues with my counsellor.)
I know Christmas is a Christian holiday but I know I can't have a drink or I'll say something to cause an argument and I have to bite my tongue.
I've already said to dh that we're going away for Xmas next year cos I just don't want to deal with it.
I don't know how I'm going to get through the day without letting something slip!

how should I improve then Only my suggestions. Listen to people and don't preach at them. Spend a lot of time in meditation and prayer. Meet people where they are and show care for them. Talk about your faith only when asked. Don't try to evangelise people who have had difficult issues with religion on a forum, instead build relationships with people you meet. Be guided by prayer and meditation rather than reading books by people with questionable opinions. I don't say that to criticise you and they are suggestions for what they are worth. From my perspective you are antagonising people, which is a shame.

If the 'god' described in those youtube videos actually existed I would be running to Satan and asking him to protect me. Its scary that people believe that stuff. The op was right to be 'dreading tomorrow'.

I have never understood why 'god' doesn't just make his own youtube videos and talk for himself. Maybe he doesn't have internet access?

Fortunately I can sleep soundly in my bed because I am going to Valhalla when I die.

"Here now is the conflict for the Christian. We believe that the Bible is God's inspired Word, and it puts homosexuality alongside adultery, fornication and theft as moral choices. It makes it very clear that homosexuality is as much a choice as adultery, fornication or theft."

"If you are a woman, dress modestly. If the average girl knew how the average guy thought, she would dress with a little more discretion."

"There is no authority in the Bible for a woman to have a place of supremacy in the church. When she takes it she steps out of her right place. She goes against the plain teaching of The Bible when she takes the place of the authoritative teacher in the church."

"You should never take medicine to relieve pain. You should never consult a doctor or go to a hospital for treatment, because you would be interfering with the work of God in your life."

" My own mother is always telling us how well behaved our children are, but little does she know how we got them that way! She would turn grey if she knew, I cane her perfect grandson, but she loves the result.The Word of God says that if a father "

• Ray Comfort

en.m.wikiquote.org/wiki/Ray_Comfort

@Takethebuscuitandthesink

You actually admire this man?

Presumably this is why Britain fucked the puritans off.

Let’s see, @Take, what about being alive to the hilarious circular irony of trying to prove the existence of god by quoting bits of a set of old texts which presuppose his existence?

@Takethebuscuitandthesink If your 'god' wants to play hide & seek then that is its choice. If it wants me to know it actually exists then it can get in touch, make its case and I will determine if its worthy of my devotion.

As it stands there is literally no difference to my life whether or not it exists. "I want to believe as many true things and as few false things as possible." Why anyone wants to do otherwise is beyond me.

@SquareSausages I do not know ray comfort it was just an article I found. I would like to say I do not believe it is a choice to be attracted to the opposite sex and reject all forms of hatred against anyone. I disagree with him about doctors ( from this article www.compellingtruth.org/Christians-doctors.html ) “On the surface, the question of whether Christians should go to doctors is somewhat ridiculous. Luke was a physician. Many hospitals were started by churches. There is nothing in the Bible that forbids a believer from seeing a physician. It is cultural circumstances—both in the ancient past and in the present—that cause some to stay away from doctors.”. I do not want to get bogged down in a discussion about ray comfort as I don’t know he is and that is not why I am here I never said I admired him and do not know who he is I don’t do a detailed background check into every article or video I cite- maybe I should. I have come here to try to evangelise and I have a feeling I haven’t been all that successful.

@Walkingdeadfangirl an extract from this article How does God reveal Himself?www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/how-does-god-reveal-himself-to-us/ again a number of ways in which God has revealed himself

If we cannot see the face of God, how can we be assured of His presence? How does He reveal Himself? We see God and He is revealed to us as follows:

– We see God revealed first in the person of Jesus Christ: (Matthew 11:1-6; John 1:18; John 5:19-21; John 9:4; John 10:25; John 14:5-11; John 15:26; 1 John 3:3; 1 John 5:7)

– We see God revealed in His works, which are the evidence of His existence (Psalms 40:1-5; Psalms 66:5-6; Psalms 111:6; Isaiah 52:10; Luke 3:6; Romans 1:18-20; Hebrews 11:1)

– We see God revealed in the good works of His believers who have trusted in Christ (Psalms 9:1; Jonah 3:5-10; Matthew 5:6; John 5:20; John 6:28-29; Acts 26:20; Galatians 5:22-26; Ephesians 2:10; 1 Timothy 2:9-10; 2 Timothy 3:17; James 2:14-26; 1 Peter 2:12)

– We see God revealed in His Word and through the leading and directing of the Holy Spirit (Psalms 23:3; Ezekiel 12:25; John 14:26; 2 Corinthians 2:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Thessalonian 1:5. 1 Thessalonians 2:13). When He speaks to us through the Holy Spirit, it is not in a loud audible voice, it is in a small voice that brings Bible passages, thoughts, and ideas to us (1 King 19:1-12; Isaiah 55:6-13; Revelation 5-6).

– We see God revealed in the events that we see, hear, and experience. However, in order for us to be able to see God when He reveals Himself to us, we must believe that He is and is a rewarder to those who diligently seek Him (John 11:39-45; John 20:27-31; Hebrews 11:6).

Those who do not believe that God is and a is rewarder to those who diligently seek Him, He blinds so that they cannot see Him nor His revelation to their own destruction (Deuteronomy 28:15-29; Matthew 15:10-14; John 12:37-41; Romans 11:7; Romans 11:25; 2 Corinthians 3:12-16; Ephesians 4:17-19; 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12; 2 Peter 1:5-9; 1 John 2:8-11). So, for the non-believer who asks us if we have seen God, we can say not directly, but we see the evidence of Him, which He reveals to those who believe that He is and diligently seek Him. This answer will provide an opening to sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

@SquareSausages
Having said that I do not know the context of any of these statements and you should look to the bible to confirm or deny his statements. It is absolutely not acceptable for anyone to abuse or attack someone for their sexual orientation and I do not believe it is sinful to experience same sex attention.

So, for the non-believer who asks us if we have seen God, we can say not directly, but we see the evidence of Him

@Takethebuscuitandthesink you do know what evidence is dont you? Because none of those videos you have posted provide any. I would love actual evidence, if only there were any actual evidence, not just some random american men on youtube proselytising.

I have come here to try to evangelise and I have a feeling I haven’t been all that successful.

You mean nobody has converted to your religion because you posted a bunch of youtube videos? 😲

Having said that I do not know the context of any of these statements and you should look to the bible to confirm or deny his statements. It is absolutely not acceptable for anyone to abuse or attack someone for their sexual orientation and I do not believe it is sinful to experience same sex attention.

I don't need the Bible to tell me whether to beat children thanks.

It is absolutely not acceptable for anyone to abuse or attack someone for their sexual orientation and I do not believe it is sinful to experience same sex attention.

But you quote from websites that say otherwise.

www.compellingtruth.org/homosexuality-sin.html

Why are they right on some things but not others?

@SquareSausages

1. clearly we are not talking about beating
2. as far as I can see (I have only had a brief look) they are not abusing or attacking anyone. Again abuse, attacks and slurs are totally unacceptable however quoting scripture and tackling an issue is fine.

Once again and I can’t stress this enough I reject all forms of hatred towards the lgbtq community.

Also I was talking about attraction but they are talking about actions.

This poster has pretty much proven the OP’s point in starting this thread. I was mildly annoyed by this poster at the outset now I feel sick, infuriated and more angry than I care to feel really. This is a person who is actually admitting to have come to this thread to evangelise. A thread where someone is speaking about their contempt and disgust and difficulty for such views and practices in comes the evangelical one.

I have come here to try to evangelise and I have a feeling I haven’t been all that successful.

Isn't the point of evangelising simply that in doing so you get a few more points on your go-to-heaven-and-meet-Jesus loyalty card. And anyone with the sense they were born with gets a good laugh. I'd call that a success

If I was on the fence about religion before...
where do I sign up for satanism classes?

I always want to ask people who say that every word in the Bible is true - which version? It's been mucked about with for millenia to suit politics of religion. Books have been added, removed, rewritten. Even original Aramaic versions differ as can be seen if you study what has come out of the translation of the Dead Sea Scrolls and similar. It contradicts itself in places. It was written by people in specific locations and cultures over centuries, people with their own agenda, and then repeatedly edited by people, again with their own agenda. Even the King James Version is a translation of translations, produced by a committee. It includes myths, stories and history written to push a purpose. Anyone can see that when putting it up again actual written and archaeological history of the near east in the relevant period. It's no more accurate than Gilgamesh. I find it extremely odd that those who rely on it so much know so little about it.

Also I was talking about attraction but they are talking about actions.

Oh, well that's okay then. So song as those pesky homosexuals stay single forever...

@Takethebuscuitandthesink

What's your opinion of the idea that son worship is actually sun worship? Serious question. And. Have you ever actually researched it all? Lots of interesting stuff out there from Jordan Maxwell on youtube and also sites like bibliotecapleyades.

My car’s manual says it does 50+ mpg.

When I get 35ish out of every tank what should I believe? The book or the evidence in front of me?

@xJodiex, don’t confuse @Takethebuscuitandthesink. Her idea of ‘research’ is googling Youtube videos and brilliant insights from a wizened televangelist with a dyed moustache who says things like

‘To encourage children into Rock Music is to place them into the white hot arms of Molech and the beat and power behind the music will drown out the cries of your child as occultic powers consume him and drag him into the fires of hell!’

That’s from his 1983 book The Pit of Hell! Unbelievable Satanic Deception Filling the Earth.

I kid you not. All exclamation marks are his.

@xJodiex this site has a lot on pagan origins of Christianity that might interest you, pocm.info