Religious Buzzwords

[Sheila]

"Cool. I am now a card carrying member of the "gobal warming crowd," or the vast left wing of the global warming crowd. Whatever. Hope it will open up some exclusive doors for me!

Apparently, the gate to Hail in a handbasket!

 

[Miss Critter]

It's legal to own one, just not buy or sell within state lines. (Not that I have any interest in such things.)

 

[DD]

Wow. Some interesting reading after a long day.

Miss Kitty--we've never discussed our religious upbringings, have we? I had no idea you grew up Episcopalian.

Darlene--I grew up in the same type church. Scared the crap outta me! I thought for a long time, I'd go Catholic, but ended up Episcolpalian.

I don't know enough to speak intelligently to your question, Kitty, but here's what I've always thought about "God-fearing". I have never "feared" God. I think somewhere way back, another word was translated into that word. I think it really has more to do with respect and reverence.

 

[beachwanabe]

I know isn't that just silly? Some people in Alabama didn't get the memo though. ;-)

I was brought up in the hellfire and damnation Southern Baptist Church. I was told every Sunday that I was going the hell and burn in all eternity if I was not saved. As young as ten I had a preacher come and "visit" with me. He told me that if I did not accept Christ that day as my Lord and Saviour and I died that night I was going to hell, to burn for all eternity. I was TEN years old. Well, what do you think I did? I said the save me prayer and was baptised the very next Sunday. I had no idea what he was talking about, but I knew he put the "fear of God in me".

So, I went to church every Sunday and I sat there will all the deacons, preachers, and God fearing Christians. As I got older and watched these same people, get arrested for DUI, for child molestation, I watched them tear families apart because of affairs with each other. I watched a beautiful church secretary have an affair with the pastor of my church who's wife was my Sunday School teacher that I dearly loved. The church secretary had a beautiful loving family. When the affair was made public, she shot herself in the head. These were the same people who were telling me I was going to Hell. These were my role models in the church. Family members who were God fearing Christians, making passes at there sister-in-laws, and others. Uncles who sang in the church choir, and was at the church everytime the door opened, make passes at their nieces who were 40 years younger than them. The Jimmy Swaggerts, the Jim Bakkers, the list goes on. It was sickening to me.

I know, I am sure they all asked for forgiveness and were forgiven, but my faith was shattered long ago as far "organized religion" goes. Now my religion is the sea, the sky, the beautiful things in my life. Yes, I pray to a "Higher Being" who I know loves me and watches over me. A higher being that gives me Peace. I do not need the Hellfire and Damnation sermons to assure my faith. I do not condem those that do though, to each his own.

So to answer your question Kitty....God fearing to me, is what that preacher told me long ago. Something I do not buy into.

OMG, you said it exactly how I feel. I was raised Catholic, seen the same in my family. They enjoyed the same lives as you described, now they are "Born Again Christians". And believe me for what they did to loved ones, they should fear God. Now they judge me because I don't support their new found current value system of living in church, yet my values have always been the same throughout my life, never hurting and respecting everyone in my life.

Once you throw religion out the door, understand it is, and has always been used to control the masses in society, you can accept your God.

I too love life, nature, earth, our most precious gifts. I only have to walk on the beach with my God to understand, cherish and love.

 

[Sheila]

I know isn't that just silly? Some people in Alabama didn't get the memo though. ;-)

I was brought up in the hellfire and damnation Southern Baptist Church. I was told every Sunday that I was going the hell and burn in all eternity if I was not saved. As young as ten I had a preacher come and "visit" with me. He told me that if I did not accept Christ that day as my Lord and Saviour and I died that night I was going to hell, to burn for all eternity. I was TEN years old. Well, what do you think I did? I said the save me prayer and was baptised the very next Sunday. I had no idea what he was talking about, but I knew he put the "fear of God in me".

So, I went to church every Sunday and I sat there will all the deacons, preachers, and God fearing Christians. As I got older and watched these same people, get arrested for DUI, for child molestation, I watched them tear families apart because of affairs with each other. I watched a beautiful church secretary have an affair with the pastor of my church who's wife was my Sunday School teacher that I dearly loved. The church secretary had a beautiful loving family. When the affair was made public, she shot herself in the head. These were the same people who were telling me I was going to Hell. These were my role models in the church. Family members who were God fearing Christians, making passes at there sister-in-laws, and others. Uncles who sang in the church choir, and was at the church everytime the door opened, make passes at their nieces who were 40 years younger than them. The Jimmy Swaggerts, the Jim Bakkers, the list goes on. It was sickening to me.

I know, I am sure they all asked for forgiveness and were forgiven, but my faith was shattered long ago as far "organized religion" goes. Now my religion is the sea, the sky, the beautiful things in my life. Yes, I pray to a "Higher Being" who I know loves me and watches over me. A higher being that gives me Peace. I do not need the Hellfire and Damnation sermons to assure my faith. I do not condem those that do though, to each his own.

So to answer your question Kitty....God fearing to me, is what that preacher told me long ago. Something I do not buy into.

As suspected, we are sisters (not twins) separated at birth. Until today, I thought I had been found in a cabbage patch.

 

[Rudyjohn]

I know isn't that just silly? Some people in Alabama didn't get the memo though. ;-)

I was brought up in the hellfire and damnation Southern Baptist Church. I was told every Sunday that I was going the hell and burn in all eternity if I was not saved. As young as ten I had a preacher come and "visit" with me. He told me that if I did not accept Christ that day as my Lord and Saviour and I died that night I was going to hell, to burn for all eternity. I was TEN years old. Well, what do you think I did? I said the save me prayer and was baptised the very next Sunday. I had no idea what he was talking about, but I knew he put the "fear of God in me".

So, I went to church every Sunday and I sat there will all the deacons, preachers, and God fearing Christians. As I got older and watched these same people, get arrested for DUI, for child molestation, I watched them tear families apart because of affairs with each other. I watched a beautiful church secretary have an affair with the pastor of my church who's wife was my Sunday School teacher that I dearly loved. The church secretary had a beautiful loving family. When the affair was made public, she shot herself in the head. These were the same people who were telling me I was going to Hell. These were my role models in the church. Family members who were God fearing Christians, making passes at there sister-in-laws, and others. Uncles who sang in the church choir, and was at the church everytime the door opened, make passes at their nieces who were 40 years younger than them. The Jimmy Swaggerts, the Jim Bakkers, the list goes on. It was sickening to me.

I know, I am sure they all asked for forgiveness and were forgiven, but my faith was shattered long ago as far "organized religion" goes. Now my religion is the sea, the sky, the beautiful things in my life. Yes, I pray to a "Higher Being" who I know loves me and watches over me. A higher being that gives me Peace. I do not need the Hellfire and Damnation sermons to assure my faith. I do not condem those that do though, to each his own.

So to answer your question Kitty....God fearing to me, is what that preacher told me long ago. Something I do not buy into.

Trust me, this same thing goes on in my church today. :roll: I've watched pastors sneak around with choir directors, then I've observed said divorces, then I've attended each of these weddings.

Thankfully, I work from home.
.

 

[elgordoboy]

Trust me, this same thing goes on in my church today. :roll: I've watched pastors sneak around with choir directors, then I've observed said divorces, then I've attended each of these weddings.

Thankfully, I work from home.
.

Forget the hospitals and the cul-de-sacs and police stations! Sounds like the churches are where all the infidelity, drama, and kink is going down. I am going to work up a treatment...any title suggestions? This post --timed and dated as it is --acts as my ? so none of you right wing or left wing or in between nuts can steal my creative content. Especially you 30ashopper, I have noticed you playing it fast and loose lately.

 

[full time]

Forget the hospitals and the cul-de-sacs and police stations! Sounds like the churches are where all the infidelity, drama, and kink is going down. I am going to work up a treatment...any title suggestions? This post --timed and dated as it is --acts as my ? so none of you right wing or left wing or in between nuts can steal my creative content. Especially you 30ashopper, I have noticed you playing it fast and loose lately.

Further up, you called for me to apologize for poking a little fun at one of the members of the gang who of late relish the insults hurled at Christians (see your post in quotes for the latest example). Someone else from the gang didn't think my joke appropriate either. I don't mind apologizing if Hnooe found my comment insulting but isn't that a little thin skinned given the rude and snide remarks your pals have been gleefully ringing up without a hint of caution or concern.

 

[elgordoboy]

Further up, you called for me to apologize for poking a little fun at one of the members of the gang who of late relish the insults hurled at Christians (see your post in quotes for the latest example). Someone else from the gang didn't think my joke appropriate either. I don't mind apologizing if Hnooe found my comment insulting but isn't that a little thin skinned given the rude and snide remarks your pals have been gleefully ringing up without a hint of caution or concern.

No

 

[lerxst]

Think of the respect a rock climber has for the mountain. He isn't afraid of death (or being punished for making a mistake). Death is possible, but you are going to cling to the rock and rely on its strength, not just your own. The rock climber and the mountain work together. Or think of the respect a surfer has for the ocean and all it holds. Being afraid will cripple you, but showing respect, and learning all you can about it will cause you to excel. You could say it's a healthy fear, not a crippling fear.

The book of proverbs, in the Bible, has a few things to say about fearing God ...

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

If you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.

A wise man fears the LORD and shuns evil, but a fool is hotheaded and reckless.

He whose walk is upright fears the LORD, but he whose ways are devious despises him.

Great question, I tried to read all of the responses to this thread with a focus on those who were really trying to answer the question, (being the hopeless literalist that I am), in my opinion, barefoot guy nailed it. Great answer and scripturally accurate too!