I joined an alumni site of my old high school a couple of months ago. At first, it was cool: a trip back down memory lane, reconnecting with some people I haven't seen in many moons and who, upon further thought, I wouldn't mind the reconnection.
Then there are the bible-thumping idiots who are ruining the site. (yeah, I said it).
My hometown is heavily religious. Churches abound and Christianity rules. Protestant-based religions are the norm, with Baptist being one of the big ones. Then there is the abundance of storefront churches and their ilk, with creative, rather long names like Temple of the Anointed Apostolic Assembly of God the Redeemer Who Lives. A small sect of Muslims have staked their claim, as evidenced by the Muslim school and mosque that have stood for at least the past 10 years.
Good for them.
Back to this alumni site. I was asked by one of the admins to contribute original content, which I did. I definitely didn't expect to be vilified by those who proclaim Jesus as their personal savior. If bibles could have been thrown, I would have been buried in them...all because I didn't feel like adding to my friend list those who made my high school life unpleasant. The"people change" and "forgiveness is divine" mantras flew so much, it was like the product of one huge Vulcan mind meld. One even went so far as to tell me that during his ten years of ministry, he noticed that those who didn't forgive didn't have a relationship with Jesus.
Hmm...someone else (a voice of reason!) brought up a point: just because someone has changed, and that I've forgiven them for being teenage demon seed, doesn't mean that I need to invite them into my personal space for them to demonstrate that they have indeed change. I also added that having x amount of years in anyone's ministry doesn't qualify one to be an expert on Jesus, God, and the Gospel, any more than standing in a garage makes you a car (word to Joyce Meyer).
I read the comments of these people, and also notice that one of the most popular groups is a group for those who love Jesus. Now, I'm not knocking anyone's spiritual path (I believe in God myself), but hitting everyone over the head with it is a bit much. Everyone has their own personal connection with God/Allah/Buddha/(insert your favorite deity here), and that is that person's choice on how to walk it.
Then again...my hometown is not known for its original thinking.
As noted in my blog profile, I state that my location is the Federal Witness Protection Program. Today, someone actually posted a comment telling me that he practiced law for many years and that I shouldn't be on the Internet if I was in this program.
*head in hands*
Jesus, be a critical thinker.
I never noticed how...cult-like the religious activity is in this town.
Loving God, Jesus, or whomever your Higher Power is is one thing, but the God I serve doesn't want His followers to fall for the okeydoke, either. He liked people to use the brains He gave them. There is a scripture about narrow is the way and strait is the gate to Heaven...well, a bunch of people spouting Scripture without thought of what it actually means brings to mind another incident--Jim Jones, anyone?
Well, the Kool-Aid must be mighty good down here. Or maybe it's anointed sweet tea (this is the South, after all).
I saw a bumper sticker that says it best: God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nuts. The people in this town are clear examples of the latter category, as is anyone who blindly follows a religious system that is predicated and mandates such blindness...especially since anyone other than a pastor/bishop/reverend is apparently too low on the totem pole for God to speak to and through directly.
Faith is one thing (and is highly recommended), but deliberate ignorance is unacceptable. Repeat the mantra: stupid people should be avoided because they will get you killed. You see what happens to lemmings. Exactly.
Speaking of religious leaders...the whole self-appointment of titles has always amused me. Call me a bit sheltered, but it has alwyas been my understanding that the only true Bishops are either of the Catholic faith--where the title of Bishop requires YEARS of study, work, and ceremony...even a special outfit, complete with purple sash and amethyst ring)--or of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) faith (think Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie)--come to think of it, their bishops wear purple, too.
(y'all need to read The Thorn Birds. For real.)
Yet people are so quick to follow behind someone who adopts such a moniker and proclaims him-or herself to be on God's speed dial.
I guess slavery isn't outlawed after all.
Thanks for stopping by.
T.
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3 comments:
T
excellent read. i actually read the exchange you're speaking of on our alumni website and was appalled to say the least. i am what i like to call spiritual but not religious, and one of the things i can't stand is when bible thumpers(southern and otherwise, especially southern)advise people under the guise of character assasination.
i recently had an experience online. (ok it was online dating. yes, i was desparate. lol.) i created a profile on a popular african american meet and greet website and for the "religion" section i chose "other." T, you should have seen some of the responses i got. "i don't date heathens." "if you don't know God, you won't know me." "get in touch with me when you get that religion thing worked out." (all true, no exageration). I eventually explained in my profile's "about me" section that i felt any true religious experience was a calling and i hadn't been called yet. not that i don't believe or don't want to be immersed in faith, i'm just not going to claim to be a Christian when i know i'm not. at least not yet.
i even remember back in high school, my u.s. history teacher verbally attacking me because i said i didn't have a home church. my mother did, and i attended with her on occasion, but in my mind it wasn't "my" church.
i said all this to say, the people i described above, as well as the people trying to "advise" you on the alumni webite, are the same elitist folks that you had uneasy feelings about in high school and were hesitant to add as a "friend." whether its through picking on the shy kid in school to turning a friendly discussion into a religious forum and then railing on the discussion's originator, there will always be people who have to put others down, however subliminally, to make themselves feel better.
T
excellent read. i actually read the exchange you're speaking of on our alumni website and was appalled to say the least. i am what i like to call spiritual but not religious, and one of the things i can't stand is when bible thumpers(southern and otherwise, especially southern)advise people under the guise of character assasination.
i recently had an experience online. (ok it was online dating. yes, i was desparate. lol.) i created a profile on a popular african american meet and greet website and for the "religion" section i chose "other." T, you should have seen some of the responses i got. "i don't date heathens." "if you don't know God, you won't know me." "get in touch with me when you get that religion thing worked out." (all true, no exageration). I eventually explained in my profile's "about me" section that i felt any true religious experience was a calling and i hadn't been called yet. not that i don't believe or don't want to be immersed in faith, i'm just not going to claim to be a Christian when i know i'm not. at least not yet.
i even remember back in high school, my u.s. history teacher verbally attacking me because i said i didn't have a home church. my mother did, and i attended with her on occasion, but in my mind it wasn't "my" church.
i said all this to say, the people i described above, as well as the people trying to "advise" you on the alumni webite, are the same elitist folks that you had uneasy feelings about in high school and were hesitant to add as a "friend." whether its through picking on the shy kid in school to turning a friendly discussion into a religious forum and then railing on the discussion's originator, there will always be people who have to put others down, however subliminally, to make themselves feel better.
make that assassinate character under the guise of giving advise. lol.
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