Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Merry Christmas!!!!!!! With a Capital C!

I remember when people used to say things like "Merry Christmas" to each other. Everybody said "Merry Christmas, hey, Merry Christmas to you, Mr. Lowenstein." You know why? Cuz it wasn't about a religion, it was about something as a culture that we thought was so valuable, that we would all do it together, even if I disagreed with the religion behind it, because it was good for ALL of us instead of just ME. But what do people say now, "Happy Holidays. I'm gonna say happy holidays because I don't wanna say Christmas cuz you don't believe in Chritsmas, cuz I dont want to offend you, chakcskdfjldksj......

Oh, yes, we want to say happy holidays because we don't want to leave anybody out, really, how come there's a ton of holidays in February, nobody ever says happy holidays in February, do they, they say what it is, "happy valentines" OOH do you believe in love?



More Random Thoughts on Religion...

Just some random thoughts that came across the brain on the way to work this morning. So a friend of mine told me his ex is now a lesbian... and he told their daughter she is going to hell... so as many of you probably could guess, I have a problem with that.

I'm becoming less and less the religious "type" I used to be... I'm starting to see organized religion for what it really is... a frustrating, stressful worldly mess. I'm talking about RELIGION here, NOT faith. My faith remains strong. My personal belief & relationship with God remains unshaken. In fact it grows stronger as I remove the bonds of religion. All religion ever made of me was a sinner with a stone tied to my feet.

I watched Christmas with a Capital C last night - GREAT movie with Brad Stine... if you haven't seen it you should. But the point at the end of the movie was to quit arguing over Christmas decorations and focus on the love and meaning of Christmas - don't idolize the decor... A lawyer returned to his small home town from California and filed an injunction against the lone nativity scene on government property, and also decided to run for mayor... The lawyer and mayor had a history of competition, so the mayor felt this was another personal attack and tried to fight him and find out how to make him look bad, etc. He was talking to his family about how the lawyer was ruining Christmas... but his wife and kids' said he hadn't ruined their Christmas... in the end the mayor learned that Christmas isn't about the nativity scene or other decor, but about Christ. They showed love to the lawyer, and he dropped the injunction and his candicacy, and became part of the town again. They agreed to disagree and respect eachother's beliefs... awesome story.

So what I'm getting at here, is I respect my friend's belief... I'm not trying to tell him how to raise his daughter or what to think about his exwife, or other homosexuals. I personally believe condemning homosexuals to hell is wrong. I do not think basing this on religion is fair. I think it is a hateful tactic, and that God is a God of love. I think many of us will be shocked when we get to heaven and see who is really there... and who is not. I can tell you what won't get us into heaven: hate, arguing, arrogance, condemnation of others, focusing on the sin in people's lives...

I know I've said this 100 times, but I will keep saying it, because it is what I believe... and no one should be afraid to stand up for what they believe. Christianity as a religion is a mess... it's segregated, it can be hypocrtical and condemning. The bible was originally transcribed by man, and it has been translated and retranslated many times... the different versions contradict each other. And if we really study the passages back down to the original language, there is error in the translations. I Corinthians 6:9-10 is just one example... As for the divine inspiration of the original text, the jury is still out.

My life and relationship with Christ should be my #1 priority. How I live should reflect my faith. The love I show for others is what will bring them to faith... Seeing the blessings in my life, the happiness, the love... that is what will appeal to others.