Hello Jeff,
First of all, my compliments on your website. You're obviously intelligent, articulate, and have a passion to share your beliefs. I can appreciate anyone who expends their time and energy on a subject, whatever that may be, as strongly and wholeheartedly as you do.
As you can see by my email address, I'm one of the dreaded committed Christians. Please don't throw up red flags - I'm not your enemy! It does hurt to be "lumped" in with ALL Christians - we, as you, are individual persons with varying viewpoints and standards! Unfortunately, those who supposedly "believe" differ in size, shape, frame of mind (or lack thereof), and specific "truths". A true Christian, in my opinion, is just a person who realizes and believes that a man sacrificed his own life by dying on a tree for my selfish and sinful nature so, when my inner being leaves this earth, I have the promise of a better "homeland". Personally, I have seen God's power in action through prayer and it's indescribably awesome! The Bible is my handbook, but if I read and don't comprehend on a heart level or deliver by my actions, then I don't deserve to be called a Christian! We are commanded (not asked politely) to love EVERYONE - doesn't mean we have to agree with them or even like them. If I don't love you unconditionally for the man God created you to be, then I'm the hypocrite who needs to be tossed in with 90% of Christians who are so in name only! I respect you for YOU, and would hope for the same in return.
Jeff, although I'm sure you don't believe in the power of prayer, I do! I will pray for you daily! If you so choose to rip me up and down for my beliefs on your website, so be it! It will, however, not deter me from praying for and loving you!
Sherry
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JEFF SWENSON RESPONDS:
...but if I read and don't comprehend on a heart level...
This always concerns me, when people think with their heart--or rather, their emotions. That's also how people say God talks to them, through a feeling and not actual words. It concerns me because I can't argue with emotions. Emotions are healthy but not necessarily logical. I would be a liar to say that my emotions don't affect me. If I'm angry I might say something in the heat of the moment that is irrational. And the same would be true for a Christian who goes to church to get emotionally charged by the singing and worship and then is told what to believe by a pastor. Dare I say this is a subtle form of brainwashing.
Sorry, that's not really fair but that's what is so frustrating about religion. They will say "I feel it to be true" or my faith in the Bible says it's true. It's not a real examination of what's true. I can't argue with faith in God just as I can't argue with faith in Leprechauns.
I don't try to lump all Christians together. Some are extreme and some are moderate. I would have to say that the extremists are the ones being true to the Holy Bible. It is not a moderate book.
And I doubt Sherry has remembered to pray for me daily :) It is a nice sentiment said with passion but then there's so many things to pray for and well I'm sure I'll get pushed off the daily list eventually or at least forgotten a couple of times. Exactly how many prayers does it take to save an atheist. Can God not hear you the first time or does he require pleading?
As for unconditional love, Sherry might practice it but God doesn't. If I don't believe in him, I'm going to Hell. That's a condition. And no I don't send myself to Hell which is a mindless apologetic justification for the cruelty. If we saw a Father on the news burn his son because his son was disobedient would we blame that on the son or the father? It is like saying it is the son's fault for being burned because he knew better than to disobey. Very twisted reasoning.
I don't think I ripped on you too much. I know Christians look for mild martyrdom to earn their coin in Heaven. Hope I helped a bit. Because just as you say you love me, I can say in return that tentatively speaking maybe I like you as a person. I certainly don't claim to love you because I don't know you and I don't throw that word around carelessly in that manner.
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