An amazing story

Not "mine" I'm sure. Part of my recommendation is that we get better at it. No, that's what goes on now. That's why I emphasized how thoroughly I'd like to see the case presented. This is exactly what my recommendation is aimed to cure, Crash. Seems to me I was pretty clear about it. I'll risk it.This message has been edited by Faith, 01-03-2006 06:46 PM

Hey all,to get back on topic. I'm sure not all fundamentalist churches are like the one she describes in her story... I did not find this interesting because I want to bash christianity...What I found interesting is that reading this really helps me to understand why there is such a disconnect between atheists and fundamentalists. The woman really explains her thoughts well. It really helps one get inside the fundmamentalist and skeptic mindset.What I wish people could take away from this story is that we don't have to all agree to get along.The most important part of the story was how the woman was able to keep her wonderful relationship with her grandparents even after her deconversion. I think that is the key message here. There are things more important than dogman, namely love and family

Faith and randman. I really appreciate your input here... I hope you don't think this is an attempt to bash fundamentalism or anything like that.It would be interesting to hear perspectives on why you think the woman was able to keep her relationship with her grandparents... but unable to keep it with her husband.Again, let's all try to keep from bashing each other's beliefs!

Who's "bashing?"That thing is SO long. I haven't come to the part about her grandparents yet. She's struggling with her husband and having more doubts. It started to read like a novel a while back. Besides its length, it is written in a "literary" way, as if she began to imagine it for publication. Or "she" is a fiction even -- but I admit that suspicion is pretty far out. And there are different editors I've noticed, as their names appear at the bottom of various frames. What does that mean? Why should anyone get to edit it other than the author?So again, although I have no particular reason to doubt its authenticity, it's begun to sound like no more than a particularly shrewd and well-crafted presentation of the whole attack on the Bible that we get here at EvC all the time. I find her doubts and questions puerile and carnal {abe: "carnal" merely means of the flesh or fallen nature as opposed to the spirit, by the way}, as I always find those questions. A believer doesn't have a problem answering those questions, only unbelievers do. {OK this is an exaggeration, it's not that the answers are always available, it's more about attitude.}What am I to do with this story? I don't know. But I haven't finished it yet. Maybe by the time I get to the end of it, and pray about it, I'll have a better idea.Cheers.This message has been edited by Faith, 01-03-2006 11:23 PM

Faith,I know it's long. It took me a long time to read it last night.It is all written by one person on a message board (she was an admin and was the only one who could post to the thread). She did edit some small errors which is the editing you see.It's just one person's life story. Doesn't mean her choices would work for everyone.It is real, and not some contrived attack on anything.

The editors' names are different from the poster's name on at least two frames.OK, I'll take your word for it that it's real.This message has been edited by Faith, 01-03-2006 11:10 PM

I'll agree with Faith that it is too verbose. I did get to the end, but with some skimming in the middle. As Faith said, it does read as if the author is writing a drama. Note that I am not questioning its authenticity. It seemed to me that she had made a poor choice of whom to marry. He never did have the warmth of feeling toward her that her grandparents had.To be fair, I have only seen her side of the story. Her husband might have described it differently.

I guess that's the official position then? It's just someone's life story, someone's personal "choices." That's safe isn't it? Avoids messy questions about truth, who may possess it and who not etc.There's a lot of bashing that does go on about people's beliefs, here at EvC and everywhere. But sometimes there is a fine line between "bashing" and critical analysis, and when someone admonishes against "bashing each other's beliefs," as you did in your previous post, I know I'm being told I'm not to argue religious questions at all, certainly not suggest anyone's are false, on pain of being accused of violating The Multiculturalist Credo (and far worse offenses sometimes). Unless of course I have Scientific evidence -- that may count, depending on the circumstances.Just thought I'd mention it, in case it becomes relevant. You never know.This message has been edited by Faith, 01-04-2006 12:05 AMThis message has been edited by Faith, 01-04-2006 12:06 AM

good to see so many converted former christians dropping dead on the spot.
or are they dying slowly like adam did?This message has been edited by brennakimi, 01-04-2006 12:09 AM

my very favourite saying. if you really believed, you wouldn't have doubts. amazing. do you really hold this stance?

No. Because you misread me. Finding "her" doubts puerile and carnal does not mean all doubts are verboten. But for a believer they don't amount a doubt of the faith itself.This message has been edited by Faith, 01-04-2006 12:27 AM

maybe not to you. what about those believers who are doubting the faith?This message has been edited by brennakimi, 01-04-2006 12:35 AM

Actually Faith I was thinking more of the opposite. Since the article doesn't paint fundamentalism/evangelicalism in a very good light I was more concerned with people bashing x-tianity.But since it's the coffee house let's have at it.... don't hold back

I'm not for bashing. I was questioning the definition.

She does go on rather, doesn't she? Good grief! I read in it and then skipped to the end. I wanted to see what happened. She became an atheist and is now happier than she has ever been before. I love happy endings.It seems to me that the crux of the matter is that she felt her husband betrayed her. I must say I'm not real crazy about her husband.