Why can't everyone respect & accept each other for what & who they are?
We are all different in many ways, including our religious/philosophical
beliefs. Is it really nessisary to be rude, condescending & judgemental
of others? There is an old saying, "You can catch more flies with honey
than you can with vinegar." The way to win friends & influence enemies
is not by acting like you know everything about everything & that
everyone is wrong if they don't think or believe the way you think they
should. It is by listening & respecting everyone's right to be themself
& have their own thoughts. We are not all meant to walk the same path.
Everyone has the right to choose for themselves & just because we do not
choose another's path does not mean we are going to "hell", "heaven",
"purgatory" or any other mythical place. Tolerance & acceptance of
others seems to be lost in this forum & that is really a shame.


**Disclaimer: Just my thoughts and opinions**

Very well said GhostWhisperer

This is true. Sometimes people think everybody else is ganging up on
them and they feel driven in a corner. That this is mostly a reaction to
their own behaviour doesn't enter their mind and so they become very
aggressive which then provokes aggression from others. I am often guilty
of getting angry with somebody like that
and it makes things worse as one word gives the other.
I try to be as polite as I can usually and I do respect other beliefs as
I wish mine to be respected.

Thanx Cat~~~


Long time no chat~~~how are things in your little corner of the world?
How are the furry babies? Mine are all doing well & into everything, as
usual!

i understand where u are coming from whisper..i cant stand people that
preach and get me to practice theyre religion, etc..its wrong..its
pride..dont they know that one of the seven "deadly" sins is Pride? I
have my own religion, but i dont go around preaching..in fact why do u
think we are at war most of the time in the world..over religion..its
sad

Doin great GW...the fur critters are doing what they do best...being
spoiled rotten brats Hope all is well with you too.
Haven't seen Thunder around much, she doing OK?

invisible~~ we are human & have emotions. Not all of them are "pretty".
But they are in us for a reason. It is difficult to be diplomatic when
you feel you are being attacked for having your own thoughts. As you
know, I can relate to that all too well. Just this morning I was very
upset over something that had happened & you, along with a few others
made me really think & reconsider not posting anymore. I thank you for
that!!

sweet~~~ exactly & well said. Actions speak much more loudly than words.
I have never forced my philosophies on anyone & expect the same in
return. I enjoy this forum to a point, but when it becomes what is has
lately it reminds me of the reason so many have died in for the sake of
religion. Too many unwilling to accept that others do not have to thin
or believe the way they do.

Sad, very sad indeed.

I get tired of the holy hell crap myself.

I just don’t view god from a sin & salvation point of view.

I also don’t see the Bible as having anything at all to do with god.

Because of this there’s little for me to discuss in the ‘Religion’
forums.

It’s just too Bible-oriented. That’s just not my religion.

In fact, I don’t adhere to any indoctrinated ‘religion’.

I believe that we can know god directly by intuition and that’s all
that’s important to me.

CAT~~~Mine are rotten as well, especially the stinker you see me holding
in the pic. Glad to know you are doing well. I talk to my Ghostly Sis
everyday. She is doing well & her brat cats are also. Like me, she has
been very busy. I am working 3 jobs now & it keeps me hopping! I got
lucky & had today off.

I said I wasn't going to post here, but I just want to see if anyone
else sees what's wrong with these two sentences: "Everyone has the right
to choose for themselves & just because we do not choose another's path
does not mean we are going to "hell", "heaven", "purgatory" or any other
mythical place. Tolerance & acceptance of others seems to be lost in
this forum & that is really a shame."

Let me explain it, so that I don't have to make two posts.

You demand tolerance and acceptance, but then you call heaven, hell and
purgatory mythical places (and place the words in quotes to ensure we
know you don't believe in them). Therefore, you are showing neither
tolerance nor acceptance to Christians, Muslims or anyone else who
believes in heaven, hell or purgatory.

So if in your opinion, tolerance and acceptance is mocking someone's
beliefs (remember, you did call heaven, hell and purgatory mythical
places, which is, by definition mocking), what would someone have to do,
in your opinion, to be intolerant or unaccepting of other's beliefs?
Can you give examples?

Well said as always Abra. Your intelligence & humor is cherished in this
forum by many, myself included. I always read your posts, while certain
people's I kind of look right past.

Thank you!! You are one of a kind & I appreciate that.

GW..I find I admire passion..I admire someone who has taken the
initiative to study something, and to whole heartedly 'walk their
talk'..be it religion, philosophy, career, or simply being an honest
human being.

When someone has the urge to share their thoughts...I choose to listen,
when they force their opinions, and denounce all others as wrong, they
are interpreted as saying that person as wrong, and my ears close to
them.

I have been guilty of allowing snide and silly comments that were
personal, and intended to be reducing, to affect me.

Ridiculous on my part, I know better, and of course, once sat in ego,
there is no way of resolving nor 'hearing', the other person's
information.

This is 'light chat' about heavy stuff..and over the past few weeks it
has become rather 'heavy'.

Each to their own, and I can respect someone's beliefs, and hope that
they can respect mine.

Whether we are right or wrong, is irrelevant, we are speculating, as to
what comes after this body dies.

SO, hell in a handcart, is how some will see me, others see me as dust
and not much else, I see me as icecream in hand, moving on to the next
part of the all.

Spider~~~ I will not join in your bashing of other's thoughts, beliefs
or opinions. Please refer to the disclaimer at the bottom of my post. I
did not demand anything. Nor was I mocking anyone's beliefs.

Have a nice night!

Ghost,

Man has always used religion as a means of creating a PURE QUEST of his
own ambitions. God doesn't need money, man does.

Also agree that people today seem to need to push their agenda on
others. We all need to learn acceptance of others & allow for more
peace in this world.

Peace to you & all on this site.

Enjoy the ice cream Jess. It provokes a lovely picture/sentiment.

Thank you for posting Jess. Your opinion is valued & shared by many, I
am sure. Because of some of the reasons & things you have stated, I do
not discuss my actual philosophy as I know how that would end up. I must
laugh at how some people read things into posts that do not exist. I see
this all too often. That is one of the reasons I add my disclaimer. My
opinions & thoughs, only. What part of that do some people not get? Oh
well, I tried.






Follow me, I am driving the ice cream truck!!

Peace, and love here as well, to all of you.



michael

Peace, love & happiness should be what everything is all about. Maybe we
can start a new trend?




Remember the words to the song "Imagine", by John Lennon.

I just happen to have that handy. One of my favorite songs.


~ Imagine ~
By John Lennon

Imagine there's no Heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one

~~~