TN,
The most publicly visible Christianity in the US is the "Christian right." I am simply seeking to name it, not to intensify a polarization that already exists. It is called the Christian right because it is both theologically and politically conservative. Theologically, in harder or softer forms, the Christian right affirms biblical inerrancy and literal interpretation. It is the most visible and vocal form of Christianity in America today. The evidence of its visibility is obvious. The Christian right dominates Christian radio and television. It includes almost all of the "megachurches". It received the most media attention. And it is the most politically involved. The issues f...

TN,
The most publicly visible Christianity in the US is the "Christian right." I am simply seeking to name it, not to intensify a polarization that already exists. It is called the Christian right because it is both theologically and politically conservative. Theologically, in harder or softer forms, the Christian right affirms biblical inerrancy and literal interpretation. It is the most visible and vocal form of Christianity in America today. The evidence of its visibility is obvious. The Christian right dominates Christian radio and television. It includes almost all of the "megachurches". It received the most media attention. And it is the most politically involved. The issues for which the Christian right is most publicly and visibly know are familiar:
It is against evolution. It is against abortion. It is against homosexuality. It is know for it's emphasis on "values" but it values focus quite narrowly on questions related to sexuality, including gender. It supports American imperial policy and the uses of armed force to enforce that policy. On government and economic policy, most see government as at best "a necessary evil" and embrace the "smaller government, lower taxes rhetoric of the secular political right. As a result, they support economic and tax policies that benefit the wealthiest among us. Again, I emphasize that this is not a description of evangelical Christianity as a whole, but of the Christian right in particular. Not all evangelicals see things this way Thus, how we tell the story of Jesus matters, because in him we see the character and passion of God. The Jesus of the Christian right emphasizes the literal-factual meaning of language about Jesus (even as it is commonly selective in what it emphasizes). We have sometimes made being Christian complex by indulging our desire for excessive precision and certitude. But what it means to be a Christian can be expressed with great economy and simplicity.

@Woodcut and Jorjor:

My favorite subjects; two in one and I think I can address them both in the same comment. I think I could sum it all up by saying Gays and Lesbians are God's Children, Too.
For years the Christian Right has made the denunciation of homosexuality the cornerstone of their narrow brand of morality. They accuse gays and lesbians of living an immoral lifestyle. They call them child molesters. They support discrimination against gays and lesbians in housing, employment, and the military. They refuse to accept openly gay men and women as church members. And they go bananas whenever they see a cartoon character they suspect of being gay. And of course, reflecting the tim...

@Woodcut and Jorjor:

My favorite subjects; two in one and I think I can address them both in the same comment. I think I could sum it all up by saying Gays and Lesbians are God's Children, Too.
For years the Christian Right has made the denunciation of homosexuality the cornerstone of their narrow brand of morality. They accuse gays and lesbians of living an immoral lifestyle. They call them child molesters. They support discrimination against gays and lesbians in housing, employment, and the military. They refuse to accept openly gay men and women as church members. And they go bananas whenever they see a cartoon character they suspect of being gay. And of course, reflecting the times in which it was written, traces of both primitive attitudes toward sex can be found though out scripture. But, for all the huffing and puffing of born-again Christians, it is significant that in all His public denunciations Jesus Christ never once mentioned homosexuality. Of course, he rallied against divorce, adultery, coldheartness, moneygubbing and hypocrisy. But, even though homosexuality existed in His time, He did not say one word about it. Thus, with Jesus on the sidelines, we have Paul, Jorjor. The man from Tarsus was not only misogynistic, anti-Semitic (while himself a Jew) and pro-slavery, he was also homophobic. He had little time for marriage, and even less time for homosexuality. But the important step, like a restorer of old paintings, is to scratch through the residue of history to discover the true beauty underneath. In Paul, that beauty is the fact that a man who started out persecuting Christians and denouncing them for depending less on the law and more on God's grace is himself saved by God's grace. Paul's meaning is an eternal one; that in God, all things are possible.
Now, to the bigger question of why would a just God condone suffering in the world? The answers can range somewhere between to their is no God, but there is a God, but he is (cont)

no longer active in the affairs of his creation. Indifference is part of the human condition. We drift along in our busy lives, distracted by our many obligations, enchanted by our many toys, worried about our many problems. Oh, if only we had more time. Next year, I will take God more seriously. Or after the kids get back to school. Or after the holidays. Or after I have the house cleaned properly. Or after I try this case or complete this deal. Or after the children are in college and the dog is dead. And thus does time run out. The story of the vineyard is perhaps the harshest of all of Jesus' parables. Jesus is talking about the enemies of the kingdom, those who want to take i...

no longer active in the affairs of his creation. Indifference is part of the human condition. We drift along in our busy lives, distracted by our many obligations, enchanted by our many toys, worried about our many problems. Oh, if only we had more time. Next year, I will take God more seriously. Or after the kids get back to school. Or after the holidays. Or after I have the house cleaned properly. Or after I try this case or complete this deal. Or after the children are in college and the dog is dead. And thus does time run out. The story of the vineyard is perhaps the harshest of all of Jesus' parables. Jesus is talking about the enemies of the kingdom, those who want to take it over and use it for themselves--for their own wealth and power. Politicians who use religion to support their own agenda, priests who run their parrish as if it is a medieval fief, bishops who covered up the pedophile crisis to protect their power, and on and on. Readers who are not Catholic can list their own members who think they own a church. But God is excessive in his mercy and love. Consider that Jesus chose a criminal's execution to make common cause with all the innocent victims of cruel executions though the many centuries of human existence up to an including the deaths of brother Jews in the Holocaust, the mass murders in Cambodia and Rwanda, and the killings of the innocent in Darfur and Iraq at the time of this writing. Understand the unity of Jesus and all the innocent victims and all the stories that Jesus told that so infuriated his enemies that they wanted to kill him. So, to answer why there is suffering in the world woodcut, it is because there are those who reject the kingdom of dedication and forgiveness, a great gift to accept while there is still time, and a gift to be protected from both indifference and perversion by those who would use it to promote their own wealth and power.

It's interesting to note that divorce rates are higher among Christians than among non-Xtians, and also higher in the so-called "red states" than in the so-called "blue states". In fact, the state with the lowest divorce rate is Massachusetts, which has been excoriated as being Satan's own liberal playground with no regard for "family values". Meanwhile, Arkansas, in the middle of the Bible Belt, has the highest rate (I am deliberately ignoring Nevada, which has an artificially high rate because of out-of-stater quickie divorces warp the percentage and DC because it's a city, not a state). You can check this at http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2004/10/31/wa...

It's interesting to note that divorce rates are higher among Christians than among non-Xtians, and also higher in the so-called "red states" than in the so-called "blue states". In fact, the state with the lowest divorce rate is Massachusetts, which has been excoriated as being Satan's own liberal playground with no regard for "family values". Meanwhile, Arkansas, in the middle of the Bible Belt, has the highest rate (I am deliberately ignoring Nevada, which has an artificially high rate because of out-of-stater quickie divorces warp the percentage and DC because it's a city, not a state). You can check this at http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2004/10/31/walking_the_walk_on_family_values/
and http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0923080.html.

This is all done by people who proclaim one principle but live by another. It's real easy to claim allegiance to a particular denomination, much harder to really live by the principles on which it is supposedly founded. It's real easy to concentrate on a single issue, like gay marriage or abortion while turning away from everyday injustices that are the core of what the Christ taught against.

Studies have shown that religiosity is no measure of morality, compassion, altruism and charity. One test, in 1975, asked people a number of questions which included, among other things, their religious self-identification, willingness to volunteer to help others and resist the temptation to cheat on a test, given the opportunity. The only group in which a majority reported a disinclination to cheat were those who identified themselves as atheists.

Paul could not have known about Matthew 6:5-6, and if he had, he probably would have ignored it, much as the televangelists and street preachers of today do.

For the record, I was raised Catholic and, while no longer Xtian, am not an atheist.

I have often said that when the scripture speaks of "wolves in sheeps' clothing," it is not referring to what the fundamentalists have always contended.

Consider this...who were those referred to as "sheep" in the scripture? And Jesus was referred to as "The Great Shepherd." Therefore, the "wolves" in "sheep's" clothing must be part of the "church." This should cause one serious pause.

Westboro Baptist Church (Google it if you don't know who they are) indeed exhibits "wolf-like" behavior....feeding on the broken and bleeding, basically....attacking with vicious fervor those that are wounded and crippled, such as they do to grieving families (see Matthew Shephard). Yet they proclaim to ...

I have often said that when the scripture speaks of "wolves in sheeps' clothing," it is not referring to what the fundamentalists have always contended.

Consider this...who were those referred to as "sheep" in the scripture? And Jesus was referred to as "The Great Shepherd." Therefore, the "wolves" in "sheep's" clothing must be part of the "church." This should cause one serious pause.

Westboro Baptist Church (Google it if you don't know who they are) indeed exhibits "wolf-like" behavior....feeding on the broken and bleeding, basically....attacking with vicious fervor those that are wounded and crippled, such as they do to grieving families (see Matthew Shephard). Yet they proclaim to be true "sheep." Pfffft. I don't even have to think TWICE about whether THEY are "wolves in sheeps' clothing." It's painfully obvious.

I think we need to be more aware, concerned, possibly even fearful of the "wolves" within the "church"....those proclaiming to be followers of Jesus that do not display the love and compassion of Jesus, but rather the vicious, loveless attacking of....the wolf. Just a thought.

Personally...I want to be a "sheep" in "sheep's clothing." I'm not interested in pretending to be loving (or even not bothering TO pretend) to ensnare people into my judgemental, vicious, attacking trap so that I can then rip them to shreds and destroy them for my own "gain." False gods and anti-Christ beliefs and behaviors do seem to oftentimes come from within the fold, no? Interesting to observe. Interesting indeed. And a wee bit frightening if you ask me.

Just watch all of the venomous comments you will receive if you even SUGGEST this. O.o And yet why else would the language be used..."wolves in SHEEPS' clothing?" We weren't being warned about wolves that APPEAR as wolves. It's really EASY to spot one of THOSE in the world!! We're really being instructed to look within the realm of the SHEEP. Hmmm.

This makes me want to further study the behavior of w

wolves in nature.

What should we see from REAL sheep? We should see followers of the ways and words of Jesus, the Great Shepherd....not hatemongering, hateful rhetoric, tearing down of others causing separation (can you say doctrinal bickering and warring among the denominations), divisiveness, cruelty, and vicious attacking of the real sheep? The real sheep follow the Shepherd, not some preachers words that don't line up with the Spirit of the scripture. The real sheep practice loving as He loved us. I cannot recall any times that Jesus was more angry than with the religious....the overturning of the money changers tables in the temple, and calling the Pharisees (the MOST respected re...

wolves in nature.

What should we see from REAL sheep? We should see followers of the ways and words of Jesus, the Great Shepherd....not hatemongering, hateful rhetoric, tearing down of others causing separation (can you say doctrinal bickering and warring among the denominations), divisiveness, cruelty, and vicious attacking of the real sheep? The real sheep follow the Shepherd, not some preachers words that don't line up with the Spirit of the scripture. The real sheep practice loving as He loved us. I cannot recall any times that Jesus was more angry than with the religious....the overturning of the money changers tables in the temple, and calling the Pharisees (the MOST respected religious right of the day) "white washed tombs."

Food for thought.

Excellent comments Jorjor, Kcgeekgirl, and TN!

If I may add what it mens to be Christian was expressed by Jesus many times: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength; and love your neighbor as yourself."
I also think it means understanding the wrongness and futility of violence in human affairs and being passionate about compassion and justice as the primary virtues of a life centered in God. I think sometimes some Christians have often been fearful of loving the world because they confuse that with "worldliness'. But loving the world doesn't mean getting lost in the world. It means loving the world--the creation--as God loves the world. To me, God's passion...

Excellent comments Jorjor, Kcgeekgirl, and TN!

If I may add what it mens to be Christian was expressed by Jesus many times: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength; and love your neighbor as yourself."
I also think it means understanding the wrongness and futility of violence in human affairs and being passionate about compassion and justice as the primary virtues of a life centered in God. I think sometimes some Christians have often been fearful of loving the world because they confuse that with "worldliness'. But loving the world doesn't mean getting lost in the world. It means loving the world--the creation--as God loves the world. To me, God's passion is justice, and justice is the political form of compassion, and the social form of love.

Ambrose Bierce said it best:

Christian, n. One who believes that the new testament is a divinely inspired book admirably suited to the spiritual needs of his neighbor. One who follows the teachings of Christ in so far as they are not inconsistent with a life of sin.

I dreamed I stood upon a hill and, lo!
The godly multitudes walked to and fro
Beneath, in Sabbath garments fitly clad,
With pious mien, appropriately sad,
While all the church bells made a solemn din --
A fire-alarm to those who lived in sin.
Then saw I gazing thoughtfully below
With trranquil face upon that holy show
A tall, spare figure in a robe of white,
Whose eyes diffused a melancholy light.
"God keep you, stranger," I e...

Ambrose Bierce said it best:

Christian, n. One who believes that the new testament is a divinely inspired book admirably suited to the spiritual needs of his neighbor. One who follows the teachings of Christ in so far as they are not inconsistent with a life of sin.

I dreamed I stood upon a hill and, lo!
The godly multitudes walked to and fro
Beneath, in Sabbath garments fitly clad,
With pious mien, appropriately sad,
While all the church bells made a solemn din --
A fire-alarm to those who lived in sin.
Then saw I gazing thoughtfully below
With trranquil face upon that holy show
A tall, spare figure in a robe of white,
Whose eyes diffused a melancholy light.
"God keep you, stranger," I exclaimed, "You are
No doubt (your habit shows it) from afar;
And yet I entertain the hope that you,
Like these good people are a Christian too."
He raised his eyes and with a look so stern
It made me with a thousand blushes burn
Replied -- his manner with disdain was spiced:
"What! I, a Christian? No, indeed! I'm Christ."

Woodcut, welcome to the lion's den..

I was once a born again Christian - now I'm a gay atheist in San Francisco. I'll admit it's "religion" that turned me off, but also big questions like, "If God is so powerful to run a Universe, why doesn't God stop babies from dying of AIDS, and all our suffering?"
And why does G. destroy churches by hurricanes - the very places where G. is supposed to be?

Now you have had a very long explanation from the excellent Debbyski. There's another from a simple previous believer.
If god was so powerful why not make himself know directly to his followers? Then you would KNOW for sure of his existence. If a believer tells you that they never h...

Woodcut, welcome to the lion's den..

I was once a born again Christian - now I'm a gay atheist in San Francisco. I'll admit it's "religion" that turned me off, but also big questions like, "If God is so powerful to run a Universe, why doesn't God stop babies from dying of AIDS, and all our suffering?"
And why does G. destroy churches by hurricanes - the very places where G. is supposed to be?

Now you have had a very long explanation from the excellent Debbyski. There's another from a simple previous believer.
If god was so powerful why not make himself know directly to his followers? Then you would KNOW for sure of his existence. If a believer tells you that they never have doubts about god's existence, then you are dealing with a lair, or a nut, or a dodo, or all three.

If you expand your hurricane idea, then all non believers would die, and god help us, only full blooded believers would live. Does this scenario not start to sound like that pre-Jesus Christ version of another Christianity? Does it sound anything like the JC of the 10 Beatitudes? More like the old god of retribution and XX Commandments!

Are they all heading for hell? I hope not, but that is certainly where they believe you are heading. Very Christian of them. Me? I'm just going up in smoke.

And don't ask them what JC said about money. Nor why they are so unhappy. Or why they feel obliged to mind everyone else's business as well as their own. (This should draw them out of their smug holes. For the sake of balance, you know, but not the Fox-type imbalance. Ha ha) See ya.

Well...I think the greatest thing I have discerned as I have grown older in age and in the Lord is this...

I AM NOT JUNIOR HOLY SPIRIT. O.O I know this may come as a shock to some, but there are no job openings for that position...it's already been filled. There's only ONE Holy Spirit, and it ain't me (or YOU)!

It is not my job to go around "fixing" other peoples' failings, shortcomings, "inaccurate beliefs" (in my/your opinion) and sins. If I, or you (anyone), has a problem with someone else or their behavior....I think the scripture is quite clear as to what we (as born again believers) are to do. Take it to God, to your Higher Power...pray for HIS will (which may or may not be what...

Well...I think the greatest thing I have discerned as I have grown older in age and in the Lord is this...

I AM NOT JUNIOR HOLY SPIRIT. O.O I know this may come as a shock to some, but there are no job openings for that position...it's already been filled. There's only ONE Holy Spirit, and it ain't me (or YOU)!

It is not my job to go around "fixing" other peoples' failings, shortcomings, "inaccurate beliefs" (in my/your opinion) and sins. If I, or you (anyone), has a problem with someone else or their behavior....I think the scripture is quite clear as to what we (as born again believers) are to do. Take it to God, to your Higher Power...pray for HIS will (which may or may not be what YOU think...cross-reference the words of Jesus if there is confusion on this)...then LEAVE IT WITH HIM.

It is the Holy Spirit's job to change people...it is His job to change ME. My job is to pray and stay open to His gentle leading. And as much as possible, by allowing Him to move through me, to walk in love, to demonstrate the vastness of His love, hope, and forgiveness to those around me. Not to attack them with malice when they don't line up with MY ideas of how they "should" be. I am not their Creator. He knows full well how He made them to "be." For me...it's just a good idea to let HIM be the one "rearranging" them inside (if HE wants to). For me to try to do it, would be like the local meat butcher performing brain surgery. It's just NOT my specialty, and I have no business attempting it.

Since I do not believe that the Bible contradicts itself...LOL...(I laugh because fundamentalists appear to make it look like it DOES more than anyone else on earth)...then there must be some REASON that Jesus chose the very specific things that He focused on to SAY while He was here in the flesh. It is interesting to note the things He did NOT say, as much as the things that He DID say.

After having said all that...I have to say:

I am NOT DEAD YET. He's not done working on me. I am not wise in the ways of God. My 96 year old grandmother has known Him longer than I have....I might consider her to be somewhat wiser!

I think it's important to, in humility, admit our own LACK. I have so so so much to learn about God. I don't know much of ANYTHING! But I desire to know Him more...all the time...with every day I breathe....I want to know Him more. And for me to think I have somehow "arrived" and feel qualified to go around "fixing" others is the very opposite of humility. It is pride at it's ugliest.

With that said...I will humbly shut my big mouth now...as I have a te...

After having said all that...I have to say:

I am NOT DEAD YET. He's not done working on me. I am not wise in the ways of God. My 96 year old grandmother has known Him longer than I have....I might consider her to be somewhat wiser!

I think it's important to, in humility, admit our own LACK. I have so so so much to learn about God. I don't know much of ANYTHING! But I desire to know Him more...all the time...with every day I breathe....I want to know Him more. And for me to think I have somehow "arrived" and feel qualified to go around "fixing" others is the very opposite of humility. It is pride at it's ugliest.

With that said...I will humbly shut my big mouth now...as I have a tendency to ramble on, and for that I am sorry. I do a lot of "thinking out loud" in these posts, so please forgive my rawness, if that's a word. It is very unrefined rambling of my thoughts. I apologize for being so wordy.

NOTE : I've participated in many debates re: God, & this one presents a good model - respect. In some other forums, people swear & and call each other bad names. Thanks to ALL sides for keeping this civil & intelligent. (Thx also to original poster.)
Reply to Debbyski,who wrote: "...to answer why there is suffering in the world woodcut, it is because there are those who reject the kingdom..."
You & many others, make God's allowance of suffering contingent on some inaction by a human.
If God is loving, there wouldn't be rules as to who gets to suffer and who escapes it. Many of my friends died horribly from AIDS; my Dad took 7 years to die of Alzheimer's. My question is so simple - if G. is...

NOTE : I've participated in many debates re: God, & this one presents a good model - respect. In some other forums, people swear & and call each other bad names. Thanks to ALL sides for keeping this civil & intelligent. (Thx also to original poster.)
Reply to Debbyski,who wrote: "...to answer why there is suffering in the world woodcut, it is because there are those who reject the kingdom..."
You & many others, make God's allowance of suffering contingent on some inaction by a human.
If God is loving, there wouldn't be rules as to who gets to suffer and who escapes it. Many of my friends died horribly from AIDS; my Dad took 7 years to die of Alzheimer's. My question is so simple - if G. is able to keep the planets from crashing into each other, why not stop our suffering - REGARDLESS of any belief or rule? Just do it because you love your creation. But then "religion" steps in with dogma about this, and all I see is that people can't imagine a mean and indifferent God. Who'd want to worship that? There's even a book - "Why Bad Things Happen to Good People" which is rife. imo, with excuses for God. Where this so-called loving God is amid all the worldly chaos?
If your kid is about to get hit by a car, you wouldn't yell out "PROVE that you love me & I'll save you", & if not, then the child suffers & dies.
Some religions/ beliefs have many gods, some of whom are mean & vindictive, some are compassionate. I can almost accept the duality of a god like that. What I mean to say is, "Hey, God, how about helping those you created? No ifs, no buts, no
rules, just do it." But that doesn't happen, which leads me to doubt there is a God, or maybe we're just a large ant farm in a giant's bedroom.

Woodcut wrote: If your kid is about to get hit by a car, you wouldn't yell out "PROVE
that you love me & I'll save you", & if not, then the child
suffers & dies.

That reminds me of the story about the preacher who was caught in a
flood zone. The cops came by and said, "Better hightail it out of
here, Reverend, there's a flood coming". He said, "I put my trust
in the Lord. He will care for me."

The waters rose, and he had to retreat to the upper floor of his
house. A couple of guys in a boat came by and offered him a ride
out, bet he repeated, "I put my trust in the Lord. He will care
for me."

Finally, he was on the roof, and a helicopter hovered overhead and
offered to se...

Woodcut wrote: If your kid is about to get hit by a car, you wouldn't yell out "PROVE
that you love me & I'll save you", & if not, then the child
suffers & dies.

That reminds me of the story about the preacher who was caught in a
flood zone. The cops came by and said, "Better hightail it out of
here, Reverend, there's a flood coming". He said, "I put my trust
in the Lord. He will care for me."

The waters rose, and he had to retreat to the upper floor of his
house. A couple of guys in a boat came by and offered him a ride
out, bet he repeated, "I put my trust in the Lord. He will care
for me."

Finally, he was on the roof, and a helicopter hovered overhead and
offered to send down a ladder. Again, he made the same
response. The waters continued to rise, and he was eventually
swepf off downstream and drowned.

At the gates of heaven, he said, "Lord, I put my trust in you!
Why did I die?" God replied, "I sent the cops, a boat and a
helicopter. What more did you want?"

I am answering this, not from my own spiritual perspective, but from
the context of Xtian theology - woodcut's comment and the joke I cite
are examples of the idea that divine favor is not something one should
sit and wait for, but something that requires action on our part.
We have intelligence so we can do things for ourselves. If you
have a sick kid, it's a good idea to pray for his health, but you also
should take him to the doctor. At one time, peoble used to say
things like, "If God had meant man to fly, he would have given us
wings". Well, we were given wings - we just had to
figure out how to build them first. I say "If God hadn't meant man to
think, he wouldn't have given us brains".

Someone once asked me if I ever prayed to the Christ, and I said, "Yes.
Every day, I say, 'Jesus, please protect me from the people who worship
you'."

@ woodcut:

Oh I do so understand what you mean. In times of great sorrow or grief, I too sometimes get angry and question it all and and I just feel like just throwing my hands in the air and screaming WHY? I can't explain what makes me still have faith, despite it seeming so illogical to many and even to myself sometimes. I just do! *LOL* I think we're all in this world just trying make some sense of it all. Depending on ALL our different personal experiences, knowledge and contemptations about the world as seen through our own eyes, we draw some "conclusion". Some people take one journey, some another, but atheist OR believer, I think the thing we ALL in some sense just strive (or should)...

@ woodcut:

Oh I do so understand what you mean. In times of great sorrow or grief, I too sometimes get angry and question it all and and I just feel like just throwing my hands in the air and screaming WHY? I can't explain what makes me still have faith, despite it seeming so illogical to many and even to myself sometimes. I just do! *LOL* I think we're all in this world just trying make some sense of it all. Depending on ALL our different personal experiences, knowledge and contemptations about the world as seen through our own eyes, we draw some "conclusion". Some people take one journey, some another, but atheist OR believer, I think the thing we ALL in some sense just strive (or should), to be the very best we can be. To be *good people*. Kind, tolerant and caring, giving etc. Just like kcgeekgirl said, I agree it is not up to anyone of us to try and "fix" each other, but to try and fix ourselves. To me personally, I see Jesus and the way he loved and lived his life, as an inspiration. An ideal to strive for. I don't have all the answers, I don't... Heck, I wish I did! I don't know why I have faith, I just do, it sort of carries me through. I've clipped a poem called "Footsteps In The Sand" that I find so sweet and comforting, but all the above is only my own personal thoughts. I believe each must find his own way in this crazy world and if I can believe there might be just a little help from above at the same time? ... well, it help keeps me sane. Otherwise the world with all it's 'evils' would just seem so unbearable to me. (Now, NO comments on that about my sanity okay? *LOL*) I respect and understand your viewpoint, because I have been there myself and still visit once in a while. I wish you a safe and nice journey though, whichever which way you're travels lead you. .

(Did all that make any sense? Probably only to me.) *LOL*

I've thought about the question, why is there suffering? I have my own experience of why, I think. This is gonna be another rant, so bear with me here, okay? .

I was abroad, on a charity "mission". I felt so gooood about myself, being a *good person*, who would "sacrifice" myself for a good cause. When I got there, the living conditions were horrendous!. The could hear the rats and mice scuttle in the walls, it was winter, but there was no heating, no hot water, nothing. There were no window panes, just plastic pinned across the frame and the wind howled in. The room was filthy and damp and freezing and the mattress smelled of cat pee! It was horrendous!

It was Christmas Eve, I w...

I've thought about the question, why is there suffering? I have my own experience of why, I think. This is gonna be another rant, so bear with me here, okay? .

I was abroad, on a charity "mission". I felt so gooood about myself, being a *good person*, who would "sacrifice" myself for a good cause. When I got there, the living conditions were horrendous!. The could hear the rats and mice scuttle in the walls, it was winter, but there was no heating, no hot water, nothing. There were no window panes, just plastic pinned across the frame and the wind howled in. The room was filthy and damp and freezing and the mattress smelled of cat pee! It was horrendous!

It was Christmas Eve, I was alone in my room, dressed like for a polar expedition with all my clothes on, wrapped in all the blankets I could find and beneath it, on my chest, I held a little kitten warm and alive, I had found half-dead on the street. I cried, I'm tellin' ya. I cried and cried and felt so sorry for myself. I asked God WHY should I suffer so, when all I want to do is help?!?

As I sat there, I called home and wept and whined and was in a right state. My S.O. said: "You just pack up your bags and you come home right now! You don't have stay there another minute! You come home!" THAT was exactly what I was hoping to hear and I leaned back in RELIEF that it would all soon be over...

THEN it hit me. I could leave!! For ME it could be over if I chose so! I realised, those I was there to help, did not have that choice!! Their suffering was 100 times worse than mine!! And never-ending!! OMG!! I felt so selfish and realised that God had just given me the answer to my question. (Damn fast response btw! *LOL*) Anyway... I suffered, because I needed to LEARN...

As I sat there, I called home and wept and whined and was in a right state. My S.O. said: "You just pack up your bags and you come home right now! You don't have stay there another minute! You come home!" THAT was exactly what I was hoping to hear and I leaned back in RELIEF that it would all soon be over...

THEN it hit me. I could leave!! For ME it could be over if I chose so! I realised, those I was there to help, did not have that choice!! Their suffering was 100 times worse than mine!! And never-ending!! OMG!! I felt so selfish and realised that God had just given me the answer to my question. (Damn fast response btw! *LOL*) Anyway... I suffered, because I needed to LEARN something. I was helping for the wrong reasons. I was there for ME, when I was supposed to be them for THEM. You see? Haha...do I have to say, that I stayed? .

I believe there are reasons for suffering. Not easy to bear and a real bummer, but I do think they have a purpose somehow, in some weird way, even though we might not always be able to see what those reasons are. Yeah well, real philosophical I know, but that's what get's me through.

I still have the cat too and she's doing fine. Two and a half years old now. Haha!.Luv it!.

(PS) Those I was there to help were animals! You weren't expecting that twist, eh? *LOL*! Not as in 'horrible' but as in Animal Kingdom...nature...animals. (It makes no difference to me, they suffer no less than humans.) I still learned my lesson though and that's the point I was trying to make. Thanks for getting this far! Haha...