The crumbling wall (Jesus, beliefs, creation, experience, pray)

[Sonic247]

It's easy to boldly state everything you believe here on rf. I can say I am a Christian, Jesus is the only way and any other way you have is wrong. It's just as easy to make bold statements about other beliefs and people do all the time. Talking to people face to face in the real world is diffrent. Its personal first of all, there is no way to forget you are talking to another human being. Second of all it is more honest. Here you can look at what you wrote and say "No, this sounds better" or "this answer will change the subject." What I have found is that people's so called intellectual side functions mainly as a shield. Here you rarely hear of people being kicked out of their homes when they are 15. Or how some peoples main goal in life is to sleep with a diffrent person every other night. But stuff like that is common. I talked to a girl last week that based on our beliefs we might argue here on rf. But it's diffrent in the real world because there are way more factors. She was a girl my age hanging out at the beach with a backpack and a guitar. When I saw her she was reading the Bible. We didn't just talk about only religion but also music and eachother's lives. I of course am studying for the ministry and she was living on the beach. And we weren't stuck in front of a computer somewhere but at the beach and we also went to waffle house. She had many diffrent strange beliefs, I guess she could be classified as unitarian. She even said she prayed to Jesus because he gave the most results. The most important thing to her was probably her former boyfriend; he treated her badly, but she still loved him. I also loved someone, she had been away for awhile but had come back that week. Unfortunately she doesn't have the same feelings for me. It was more meaningful to say creation shows us some aspect of God like a painting would of an artist while the sun was almost gone and the almost new moon was shining above. She said it was the cheshire cat, I didn't get it at first but then she reminded me how the smile appears first. I told her I always thought it looked like a fingernail someone just clipped. Anyway there are many diffrent sides to people. I have heard people talk to me like they were the most eloquant philosopher, but then they got on the cell phone and every other word was a curse. My point is most peoples beliefs are formed by their past experiences and their perceived function in the persons life. One common functions is a shield which either justifies the person lifestyle or to shows a stronger version of the person to the outside world then they really are on the inside.

[doppelgänger]

That was very poetic, Sonic. I enjoyed reading that very much. I think it's our own stories that really make us connect with one another. It's easy to get caught up thinking that people are just their ideas and forget that those ideas come from our lives and our experiences.

[mball1297]

Why did you title this "The Crumbling Wall", out of curiosity?

[Random]

Originally Posted by Sonic247

It's easy to boldly state everything you believe here on rf. I can say I am a Christian, Jesus is the only way and any other way you have is wrong. It's just as easy to make bold statements about other beliefs and people do all the time. Talking to people face to face in the real world is diffrent. Its personal first of all, there is no way to forget you are talking to another human being. Second of all it is more honest. Here you can look at what you wrote and say "No, this sounds better" or "this answer will change the subject." What I have found is that people's so called intellectual side functions mainly as a shield. Here you rarely hear of people being kicked out of their homes when they are 15. Or how some peoples main goal in life is to sleep with a diffrent person every other night. But stuff like that is common. I talked to a girl last week that based on our beliefs we might argue here on rf. But it's diffrent in the real world because there are way more factors. She was a girl my age hanging out at the beach with a backpack and a guitar. When I saw her she was reading the Bible. We didn't just talk about only religion but also music and eachother's lives. I of course am studying for the ministry and she was living on the beach. And we weren't stuck in front of a computer somewhere but at the beach and we also went to waffle house. She had many diffrent strange beliefs, I guess she could be classified as unitarian. She even said she prayed to Jesus because he gave the most results. The most important thing to her was probably her former boyfriend; he treated her badly, but she still loved him. I also loved someone, she had been away for awhile but had come back that week. Unfortunately she doesn't have the same feelings for me. It was more meaningful to say creation shows us some aspect of God like a painting would of an artist while the sun was almost gone and the almost new moon was shining above. She said it was the cheshire cat, I didn't get it at first but then she reminded me how the smile appears first. I told her I always thought it looked like a fingernail someone just clipped. Anyway there are many diffrent sides to people. I have heard people talk to me like they were the most eloquant philosopher, but then they got on the cell phone and every other word was a curse. My point is most peoples beliefs are formed by their past experiences and their perceived function in the persons life. One common functions is a shield which either justifies the person lifestyle or to shows a stronger version of the person to the outside world then they really are on the inside.

Good post.

[Somkid]

I live what I believe which is why I live where I do...

[Sonic247]

Originally Posted by mball1297

Why did you title this "The Crumbling Wall", out of curiosity?

Oh, it's about the walls that people put around themselves that hide who they really are. When you get to really know a person the wall crumbles. Kind of like "breaking the ice."

[rheff78]

It's an interseting point really. It brings to mind something. If you were to meet someone one night, and you end up having a great time with them. You find out they are a person here on RF that you are continually at odds with (God knows I have many), how does that change your perspective?

[logician]

Originally Posted by rheff78

It's an interseting point really. It brings to mind something. If you were to meet someone one night, and you end up having a great time with them. You find out they are a person here on RF that you are continually at odds with (God knows I have many), how does that change your perspective?

That's because what some person believes may have little to do with their personality, and the subjects of politics and religion many times don't come up because of the possible conflicts that might arise.

[Darkness]

Originally Posted by logician

That's because what some person believes may have little to do with their personality, and the subjects of politics and religion many times don't come up because of the possible conflicts that might arise.

You have just hit the nail on the head, my friend.

This forum is designed to be a religious debate and exploration forum. We are here to be brutally honest with each other about our thoughts on life, the universe and everything. In face-to-face conversation, religion is not that important. I have Catholic friends, Jewish friends, Deist friends and Atheist friends. As long as I enjoy the person's company, I could care less what they believe. Philosophy is a thought experiment.

[logician]

Originally Posted by Darkness

You have just hit the nail on the head, my friend.

This forum is designed to be a religious debate and exploration forum. We are here to be brutally honest with each other about our thoughts on life, the universe and everything. In face-to-face conversation, religion is not that important. I have Catholic friends, Jewish friends, Deist friends and Atheist friends. As long as I enjoy the person's company, I could care less what they believe. Philosophy is a thought experiment.

Actually, practically my entire extended family is Christian, I also have a Jewish niece.
Naturally I don't go poking fun at their religion or I would be the family outcast, plus, I don't personally care what religion someone is, I haven't even tried to overly influence what my children think. One of my sons tends towards atheism, so I do have someone I can talk to occasionally about the subject w/o causing offense.