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sparkythefool (profile) wrote,
on 10-21-2003 at 11:06pm
Music: "Odalisque" +The Decemberists+
Okay so, here's the long journal entry I promised. Pretend that it's Sunday, because then it will make more sense. Also, I apologize if anyone's eyes fall out and burn from staring at the computer screen forever. But don't say I didn't warn you.


Ha, today we played some random Canyon team, and we killed them 7-0. It was kind of funny. The fields were awful though..every time I kicked the ball, I'd be sliding around. Crazy stuff. I did score two and assist like, three or something. That was kind of cool. And yeah, you all totally care.

Uh, let's see. Today I thought that I was going to be able to sleep in because my game wasn't until one, but no, I have to wake up at 8:30 to go to church. Oh, joy! How I love church. I've basically had the Christian religion shoved down my throat since the day I was born. I never even had a choice in the matter of going to church and all that crap. I remember the first day that I decided I didn't want to go, and my parents went nuts. Sure, in the end I got my way and got to stay home, but you can't forget the half hour screaming match that led to that. I think the only reason they stopped yelling at me was because they were going to be late to their precious church. Then, about a month or so ago, the whole family loaded up in the van and went to church as usual, but there weren't really any seats left when we got there. So me and Celia decided that we would just sit outside and wait for the service to be over, because it's not like we get anything out of it anyways. I think it's just a stupid waste of time, but what does my opinion matter? When my parents noticed we had kind of disappeared, my dad came out and lectured us for the whole service (a bit over an hour). It was so stupid, because I told him that I saw no point in church, and he told me "the further you take yourself away from church, the further you take yourself from good, moral things." He was basically saying that if I don't go to church then I'm a bad person, and I'll go to Hell. Speaking of that, me and Celia were talking to my mom the other day, and somehow Heaven and all that came up. She said something like, "Oh, when I die, I'm going to go to Heaven!" I don't quite remember the whole conversation, but Celia said something like, "Did you know that the Bible says that if you aren't a Christian, then you'll go to Hell? It says that Jewish people are going to Hell, along with every other non-Christian." Well, my mom just couldn't even comprehend that the Bible would say such things, but she didn't care. I was like, "Oh, so Lauren, Jessica, and Gabby are all going to go to Hell?" She got all flustered and tried to defend her point, but it wasn't really working. I told her that I didn't believe in the concept of Heaven and Hell, because what about the Buddhists? I'm not quite sure what they believe in (Melody, a little help? heh), but I'm almost positive that it's not Heaven and Hell. What about the Islam people? They believe in Paradise (I think). And Hindus, reincarnation. I think. But all of these different religions believe so strongly in their different..beliefs (yeah, that was a good sentence) that it's hard to figure out what's going to happen to all of them. If you're a Christian, then you believe everyone who isn't a Christian is going to Hell, and it's the same with all the other religions. I just don't get it. Sorry if I don't make sense, but whatever. I think that when you die, you're dead, kaput, the end, it's over. No reincarnation, no nirvana, no Paradise, and certainly no Heaven and Hell.

I found this online..it's rather interesting, especially the first few paragraphs. The more I research religion, the more I find that it doesn't really make any sense. It's funny, because Christians preach that material objects don't matter, and it's the treasures you store in your heart, not your house, that matter. Then I look in one of the inserts in the bulletin, and find these things (here and here). I'll explain them by number.

1. Okay, about a month ago there was a sermon preaching that you should build up your treasures in your heart, not on earth. If you ask me, the underlined part completely contradicts that sermon. Yes, because material things will allow everyone to "fully experience God." I'm totally going to believe that.
2. "Worship Furnishings Crusade"?? CRUSADE?! Alright, whenever I hear the word "crusade" I think of the Crusades themselves, when the Christians went around killing everyone who wouldn't convert to Christianity. Honestly, a much better name could have been chosen.
3. Here we are back at the treasures in the heart business. It's the same point I've made twice before, so I'm not going to bother to state it again.
4. Okay.."Building a Life That Matters." So they mean that your life is meaningless if you don't go to church and worship God? For some reason, this quote sounds awfully close-minded. Also, I can imagine someone saying this quote, and then after it, saying something like, "If you aren't a Christian, then we hate you! If you aren't a good Christian, we hate you more!" I don't know, it just doesn't sound like something a church person would say.
5. This whole passage is kind of more of the same. I'm interpreting it as the only way to find comfort and direction is God, the only way to end lonliness is God, the only way to be happy is God, and the only way you're ever going to find meaning and purpose in life is through God. Sure, that may work for some people, but really. I'm fairly sure that God is not the answer to everything.

There's more, but it's all the same sort of thing, so what's the point? If I offended anyone, then that's too bad, because this is what I think. I think that I shouldn't be forced to go to church and praise some God that I don't even believe in anymore. Actually, I'm not sure if I ever believed in Him..it's just been force-fed to me my entire life. When I was little, there was no option of not going to church, or not praying, or not worshipping. It just wasn't acceptable. You would think that now that I'm growing up a bit, I would be able to make my own choices in such matters. But no, I guess not. I'm still stuck under the dictatorship of my parents. "If you don't go to church, then your privileges will be taken away! If you don't go, then you aren't a good person!" Just some of the lovely things my father has said to me..nice, isn't it? I'm getting sick of writing about this crap. So whatever.
Post A Comment
Anonymous

10-22-03 7:22pm

Nancy knows all.

(reply to this)

sparkythefool

Re:, 10-22-03 10:11pm


(image from Mall Monkeys)


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Anonymous

Long, but something to think about, 10-23-03 1:46pm

None of us ever makes a single decision without basing it on assumptions that we don’t even understand are a part of that decision-making process. You ASSUME the chair will hold you. If you are a scientist, you ASSUME that the research is accurate. Maybe it is, but you ASSUME that the sources were reliable. And you're ASSUMING that the newest discoveries haven't invalidated what was published to be fact. The truth is, the human being is an assumption-managed person, positive or negative. That’s reality. That means assumption is nothing more than faith. Faith is accepting as truth something that you cannot prove.

A believer's faith is based on assumptions, but SO IS the unbeliever's. The believer assumes there is God, the unbeliever assumes there is not.
Faith in itself has no value. It's neither good nor evil, but it IS powerful for good or evil. The terrorists who flew those planes at the twin towers had faith. They believed in terror. They were driven by assumptions of the power of evil to serve their cause.
Faith in itself has no value. The value comes in what you choose to place your faith in. Placing your faith in God is just a good way to live. Being around those who also put their faith in God, only makes your life more enjoyable--doesn't make you a "good" person, just helps you to see where YOU want to draw your own lines regarding your life. And isn't it nice to NOT be looking over your shoulder for fear of getting "caught" doing something bad. (Yay, 10 commandments--obey them and you NEVER have to look over your shoulder). Then since we’re all naturally faith creatures (and God planned it that way) we are to relate to God and the only way you could possibility relate to God, is if God remains invisible. Look at celebrities. They can't go anywhere without people grabbing at them, and asking for autograhphs, etc...and they're ONLY celebrities But can you imagine what would happen if God Almighty or Jesus Christ, were here in flesh and bones?
The ultimate reality is that God in Jesus Christ has to remain invisible so we can each relate to Him in our own way. So as you question your own belief(s), think of that.
Anyway, so faith is a decision, NOT a debate. Your parents have made a decision. I think it's a good one. Faith is a commitment, not an argument.
So, nevermind the debate, forget the argument. Think about the best way for you to get what YOU want from life.


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sparkythefool

Re: Long, but something to think about, 10-23-03 6:45pm

I appreciate you taking the time to type that out and all, but right now I don't want anything to do with this God man. It's funny how people act like the ONLY way is through God, and any other way is wrong. You asked me to think about the best way for me to get what I want from life? I think that I can live better without any relgion pushers, be they Christian or not, breathing down my neck.

And jeez, what is it with people leaving anonymous comments lately? Honestly, cut it out. You all suck.

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Anonymous

Re: Re: Long, but something to think about, 10-23-03 9:53pm

Glad you appreciated it. Hopefully you'll be reading your journals--online or whatever, in 10 years so you can see how you've evolved as a person.
Not all anonymous posters suck, btw. Sometimes someone you don't know, or don't know very well, has something to say. Sometimes that person is someone you wouldn't give the time of day to, in real life. It's weird huh, how if you know a person's name you treat them one way, but if you don't, you completely treat them another. Aren't the words just as valid, no matter who says them?
Anyway, if anonymous posting was such a bad thing, it wouldn't be an option.
In fact, if you don't like it, can't you disable it?

(reply to comment)

sparkythefool

Re: Re: Re: Long, but something to think about, 10-24-03 3:07am

Yeah, I could disable it, but some of my friends don't have Woohu journals, so they wouldn't be able to comment.

Okay, now I'm curious. You've got me. Do I know you in person? And if I do, do I treat you like crap? I think that if you left a name (or any anonymous poster, by the way), then I would respect their opinion more than someone who hides behind the anonymous name.

Then I realize that I'm not going to get anywhere with this, because whenever I ask anonymous posters who they are, they never tell me. Ah, oh well. Such is life.

But..it would be neat if you would all reveal yourselves. Yep.

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