|
|
Post by oh2bhappy on Mar 6, 2007 12:50:43 GMT
In my opinion he had a breakdown over debts. No one seemed to agree with me, and he assures me he is very happy with the path he has chosen.
|
|
|
|
Post by hellyp on Mar 6, 2007 13:15:22 GMT
Obviously I only know what you've typed, but it seems to me like he has some kind of mental problem going on. I can totally understand why this would tarnish your view of Christians, although I assume that they're not all like that. I'm not a Christian, so I would see them all as being a bit deluded, but that woman just sounds insane, and as I said I think he seems to have a few mental issues. Your poor kids. At least they have you.
|
|
|
|
Post by oh2bhappy on Mar 6, 2007 13:25:34 GMT
I can appreciate that not all christian are like this. However, the more 'born again' type of religion, the people I come across seem to be like minded. A friend has had an experience that just seems to back this up.
My children said the first girlfriend was 'as bad as dad', where as, the one he's just finished with 'is normal'.
He likes to tell my friends he's met someone on the christian website. He enjoyed telling them that I felt he was extreme.
All that happens today counts for nothing, as tomorrow there will be another sunrise and it will be a new day.
My daughter had started to quote this. I pointed out that all that happens today does matter, as you need to learn from it.
My mother-in-law (really, ex-step-mother-in-law!) has been a rock. The school has. My youngest still has issues. But on the whole they're happy. I managed to keep most of it away from them. I'm slowly recovering.
There was huge debt too. Goodness knows where the money went too. But to loose it all...
It is so sad.
|
|
|
|
Post by bone on Mar 6, 2007 13:25:52 GMT
I'm very sorry to see what the mind virus of religion has done to your family.
However I personally would not stop my son/daughter from ridiculing the obviously bizarre beliefs of the father/mother in this type of situation, they can obviously see how crazy it is and are using essential critical thinking skills to reach this judgement..do not discourage that. This type of behavior deserves the scorn and ridicule. This man should be ashamed of himself and rightly so.
This is just another example of how very dangerous blind religious faith can be.
|
|
|
|
Post by oh2bhappy on Mar 6, 2007 13:31:15 GMT
I agree with most of what you say.
I cannot allow them though, to ridicule him in front of me. I wouldn't be a proper parent if I condone that.
I have to say though, that I'm glad he does it! They were being well and truly sucked into it. At first I feared he would take the children out of the country. My older two had to be responsible for my younger two and find a police officer if that happened. That's how serious it was.
He is extreme though. However, it seems he's not alone.
I also said it before though, he could be right!
It's ruined my life.
|
|
|
|
Post by hellyp on Mar 6, 2007 13:44:14 GMT
I think, if I've got this right, that bone was saying it's OK to ridicule the belief rather than the person. If you think that your ex is in fact ill, then maybe explain this to your son. Mind you, you have probably done this already, because you sound like a responsible and conscientious parent.
|
|
|
|
Post by oh2bhappy on Mar 6, 2007 13:51:32 GMT
That's nice of you to say. Time will tell with that one.  Eldest is 15 and I try to be as honest in my answers to his questions, with all the children. I don't bring things up but leave it to them. |
|
|
|
Post by bone on Mar 6, 2007 14:42:25 GMT
I think, if I've got this right, that bone was saying it's OK to ridicule the belief rather than the person. If you think that your ex is in fact ill, then maybe explain this to your son. Mind you, you have probably done this already, because you sound like a responsible and conscientious parent. Hellyp is correct. its the bizarre belief that should be critiqued not the person who believes it, never resort to Ad hominem attacks to make a point. However,If you think that his actions do pose a danger to your kids then you do have the right to involve the authorities. I think your kids will do just fine with you around to support them  |
|
|
|
Post by oh2bhappy on Mar 6, 2007 14:50:31 GMT
I hope so.
|
|
|
|
Post by bujin on Mar 6, 2007 17:54:23 GMT
Shouldn't family be a high priority of a christian? Shouldn't the needs of your children come first? Shouldn't providing for your children be important? Shouldn't sticking to your word with your children matter? Worryingly enough, this depends on which passages of the Bible the "Christian" chooses to read. Most Christians uphold the sanctity of marriage. However, there are passages in the Bible where Jesus himself tells people to hate their own family before they can be his disciple. Of course, the Christians will then say "ooh, you're quoting out of context!". Bullsh*t. The fact is that you can pick and choose which bits of the Bible to accept and which to reject. Some people will use this quote, but most will not. |
|
|
|
Post by oh2bhappy on Mar 6, 2007 18:32:01 GMT
Well he was told by this woman to speak to me so I could see god in him... The emails I have make fascinating reading. |
|
|
|
Post by PILLSBURY on Mar 6, 2007 19:05:54 GMT
Jane you really are a superstar. It is always muslim extremism that makes the headlines but this so called" christian" fanatacism is just as bad. I was brought up to be open to faith but make up your own mind. I found that I did not believe but had no problem with the people that did.I do have a problem with the level of extremism in the "born again " movement however.
|
|
|
|
Post by bujin on Mar 6, 2007 19:29:43 GMT
I personally have no problem with people believing in god. It's a free country and everyone can think what they want. It's when they try to use their beliefs in order to influence others - indoctrination, for example - that they really annoy me.
I very strongly disagree with kids being told they will "go to hell" if they misbehave. I think that's a form of mental abuse. It's scaremongering, plain and simple. Even worse for when they tell people that if they don't believe, they will go to hell. It doesn't affect me personally, because I don't believe in heaven or hell, so it makes little difference, but it is used as a way of forcing the layperson (who has not really looked into religion in any depth) to conform to their religious ideals.
|
|
|
|
Post by oh2bhappy on Mar 6, 2007 19:50:48 GMT
My children have been told that. Swearing and lying will take them closer to the devil and to hell.
My son with special needs responded by swearing all the way to his father's house the weekend after they'd been told that. ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by PILLSBURY on Mar 6, 2007 20:35:05 GMT
out of the mouths of babes.
|
|
|
|
Post by mesmo on Mar 7, 2007 22:03:55 GMT
I personally have no problem with people believing in god. It's a free country and everyone can think what they want. It's when they try to use their beliefs in order to influence others - indoctrination, for example - that they really annoy me. I very strongly disagree with kids being told they will "go to hell" if they misbehave. I think that's a form of mental abuse. It's scaremongering, plain and simple. Even worse for when they tell people that if they don't believe, they will go to hell. It doesn't affect me personally, because I don't believe in heaven or hell, so it makes little difference, but it is used as a way of forcing the layperson (who has not really looked into religion in any depth) to conform to their religious ideals. Nice post bujin. Actually I am one of those that does believe in God and generally try to adhere to the teachings of Christ but am not very religious in the sense of this thread. To be frank I have been rather offended by some of the things said on this thread and the one discussing atheism but have not felt the need to join in the discussion because everybody's opinion should be heard. I would only ask that, when expressing a right to criticise someone' beliefs (as I have done with spiritualism), you respect their right to be offended (and not criticise them for their response). By the way being a Christian doesn't necessarily make you the Baby Eating Bishop of Bath and Wells! |
|
|
|
Post by bujin on Mar 8, 2007 18:00:47 GMT
Thanks, mesmo.
Whenever I discuss religion with someone, it's not intended to offend the person, rather to get them to look critically at why they believe what they do. Offence at that can come from one of two things - either I've got something wrong, in which case I appreciate being put right, as long as the response is not unsubstantiated (e.g., you're wrong because God said so in the Bible!), or the other reason they'll get offended is because I've hit a nerve and they really have no response to something I've said. It's made them realise that they may be wrong, and no-one really likes to hear that they might be wrong.
|
|
|
|
Post by bone on Mar 9, 2007 9:35:57 GMT
What I have trouble understanding is why people should be offended at a disagreement with a world view or the way the universe was made? Would they be offended if the topic was economics or polictics? What a nice little cloak of protection religious opinion has eh?
Essentially a belief in a god or gods is irrational based on what we know about how the real natural world actually works so Im sorry you are offended by the truth but thats not my problem its yours!
|
|
|
|
Post by hellyp on Mar 9, 2007 12:59:34 GMT
I have a problem understanding how someone can believe in God, but not ghosts, or vice versa. I don't understand the difference between them that makes one credible and the other not. Can someone explain this to me?
|
|
chune
Egg
Original Pope of Mope
Posts: 231
|
Post by chune on Mar 9, 2007 15:01:51 GMT
I have a problem understanding how someone can believe in God, but not ghosts, or vice versa. I don't understand the difference between them that makes one credible and the other not. Can someone explain this to me? Essentially you can't. People will pick and choose what they want to beleive.Whatever fits their life view. |
|
