Echoes of Myself

One of my favorite elements of the internet is how it keeps a readily accessible record of our past online interactions. Forty years from now, the very words I'm writing at this moment will still be searchable and accessible to my kids and grandkids. That's pretty cool, but can also be dangerous if you don't take care with what you chisel into the internet stone.

While searching for something completely unrelated, I stumbled upon a conversation between myself and another gentleman on March 8, 2003. It was fascinating to read as it gave a beautiful snapshot of my thinking and temperament at the moment. Although many of my views have since changed, I'm so glad that this still exists. I can't help but wonder what I'll think in six years when I look back at what I am posting today.

Here is the conversation in its entirety. I think the last comment I make is the most interesting when cast in the light of my current beliefs.


jinxidoru: I noticed a discussion on religion and couldn't help but input my two cents.

I am a devote Christian. I cannot accept the idea that God does not have a true church on the Earth today. Many people say that it really doesn't matter what church you belong to just so long as you do good things. I agree to an extent. The most important is to be a good person. You could be a member of the best church ever, but if you're not being a good person, it's pretty pointless. But there is a lot of confusion among the churches on the earth and what constitutes good. For this reason, God has his true church, so that the doctrines are taught properly and with the correct authority. Without this, there is confusion, and people bicker and argue over rediculous things. What is the proper way to baptize? How do we receive salvation? Are there prophets on the earth today? There have to be answers to these questions.

For example, in the times of Jesus Christ, he was very forthright about issues when they were brought to his attention. He didn't give non-committal answers. He gave cut-and-dry answers with little room for interpretation. Why should we believe that whereas Jesus Christ was very direct before, that for some reason he's decided to confuse us by spreading the truth like leaves in the wind.

I cannot accept this. It is for this reason that I have asked the only person who knows what church is the true church of Jesus Christ. I asked Heavenly Father, and I believe that he has made it known unto me personally what church is his and what church has prophets who truly speak with God in our day.

By saying this, I do not mean to be exclusionary nor demeaning in any way. I simply express my feelings and the reason I belong to the church to which I belong. I encourage everyone to pray and ask God where the truth is, and to follow not what I have said but rather what God says to you. We can be tolerant and accepting because ultimately, it's our decisions, not the decisions of others which determine the outcome of our existence.

I apologize if this sounds super-preachy. I'm sure it does, and I'm sure I'll be totally flamed for everything I've just said, but that's ok. I felt that I should share my feelings, so I did.

Creoena: My opinion is that people should live their own lives and not follow some belief imposed on them. People can believe what they want, but have religious folk really thought about their religion and the truth behind it? For example, Creation is all but proven false, and Noah's Ark seems like a story out of a children's book than something actually true.

jinxidoru: I find it funny that you say that people should live their own lives and not follow some belief imposed on them, and then you try to impose on everyone your beliefs. I could easily say that your lack of belief has been imposed on you by society.

Secondly, just because you don't believe in Creation does not mean that it's all but proven false. I have never heard a legitimate scientist say that creation has been proven false. They are not that stupid. Einstein, Newton, Galileo, Copernicus all believed in God (though some in differing ways). Even Steven Hawking, one of the greatest minds of our day, does not deny the existence of God. I don't know whether or not he believes in God, but I have read many instances where he affirms the possibility of the existence of God and of creationism. Please do not say ridiculous lies (in regards to Creation being proved wrong) that have no base in reality just because they back up what you believe.

Prove that you believe what you just said in your post by allowing other people to make the choice that they want to believe in God without people like you slandering them and calling them childish for their beliefs.

Creoena: LOL

I impose a belief that people should have their own beliefs and morals. And you're right, I do impose it on people. But there's a difference. This is that I believe people should follow THEIR hearts, and not become a collective mind. My imposition (if thats a word) does not have any strings attached, while religion does. And I do realize people's own beliefs may be to believe in god and religion and whatever else, but I guess if that's what people want to believe than it will have to be, but I honestly don't really understand why someone would not want to be a true individual.

Secondly, I do have to apologize.....creation has not officially been disproven, but every day the truth is coming more and more from science.

Third, I did not call religion childish, I just feel the story of Noah's ark is a bit childish. Religion is actually quite complex, or there wouldn't have been all the religious wars that there has been. And the day religious people stop trying to convert us to religion, and we all know that will never happen, I will stop promoting Atheism, so I guess you're just going to have to deal with it.

jinxidoru: I agree with a lot of what you said except one thing. I don't think you should ever stop promoting Atheism unless you stop believing in it, just I will not stop promoting Christianity unless I were to stop believing in it. If we feel that something is correct and right, we should do all we can to help others understand it and accept it if they can. For this I respect your desire to promote your beliefs and encourage you to continue even if I don't necesarily agree with said beliefs.

Creoena: Wow, well said. This would be a rather dull world if everyone agreed with everything.

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And here's one more extra post I found on the same forum, but a different thread. Here's a comment with which I still agree 100%.

jinxidoru: One more thing. If you're Christian, please don't post unless you have something intelligent to say. It really sheds a negative light on the rest of us. Reading some of the posts by so called "Christians" I can fully understand why we are often times labeled has hypocrites. Please quit using profanity and show a little love, kindness, and open-mindedness. As we always say, "What would Jesus do?" Well, I'm pretty sure we wouldn't go around dropping the F-bomb at people he didn't agree with.