Quote from: stardust on January 06, 2010, 04:30:05 PM
Maggie, I had to reply to this. Jesus does not hate you, unfortunately its fallen, frail, and un-spiritual human beings that cause the problem and we stumble in our faith through it. Jesus did say how bad it would be for someone to make a child stumble, it would be better to put a chain around his head and jump into the sea. Such is the agony Jesus feels when he sees one of his children stumble in faith because of some person who thinks they now what God thinks.

I don't want to say things that might seem like platitudes so pm me if you want. Your sister in Christ

Stardust

Thank you for your kind words, but I'm way past this kind of thinking now. It has been far too long and too many broken promises. Not even worth discussing any further. I wasn't asking for help with it, just stating that it is my condition.

Maggie

Quote from: tekla on January 06, 2010, 08:55:00 AM
"If all the achievements of scientists were wiped out tomorrow, there would be no doctors but witch doctors, no transport faster than horses, no computers, no printed books, no agriculture beyond subsistence peasant farming. If all the achievements of theologians were wiped out tomorrow, would anyone notice the smallest difference?"

Richard Dawkins, The Emptiness of Theology

The topic is positive things. Find something positive.

Quote from: tekla on January 06, 2010, 08:55:00 AM
"If all the achievements of scientists were wiped out tomorrow, there would be no doctors but witch doctors, no transport faster than horses, no computers, no printed books, no agriculture beyond subsistence peasant farming. If all the achievements of theologians were wiped out tomorrow, would anyone notice the smallest difference?"

Richard Dawkins, The Emptiness of Theology

Dawkins is a twit.

some of the most revered fathers of science were committed believers (often with theological ideas of their own) who's views and motivations descended from the worldview molded by the foregoing theologians.

Dawkins makes the error of assuming no scientists were ever Christians.

I hope this isn't considered negative but I have to agree with Laura.

I have done some study on evolution and have a pretty good grasp of it as a subject.

In a recent interview in the UK's Telegraph, Dawkins made the following comment:

Prof Dawkins expressed dismay at the findings of the ComRes survey, of 2,060 adults, which he claimed were confirmation that much of the population is "pig-ignorant" about science.

"Obviously life, which was Darwin's own subject, is not the result of chance," he said.

"Any fool can see that. Natural selection is the very antithesis of chance.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/4410927/Poll-reveals-public-doubts-over-Charles-Darwins-theory-of-evolution.html

Dawinian evolution is entirely driven by chance. That is its beauty and why if fits so well. Dawkins response here and hos attitudes elsewhere indicate he is quite prepared to bend realities to suit his purpose.

He seems to me to be a rather dangerous and ambitious man.

It's also clear, from reading his writings, that Dawkins attempts to suggest that all Christians believe the Genesis account of creation.  He seem to imply that we have a choice between science and Christianty.

Yet the Christian Church, as early as the 2ed century, has accepted Genesus to be an alegory.

Prior to Darwin, it was assumed that life as we see it today, was pretty much what had always existed. How it came into existance was a matter of some discussion.

But it is the creationist notons that are comparitively new, mostly developing in the 1920s.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegorical_interpretations_of_Genesis

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_creation-evolution_controversy

As a minister once told me, Evolution is how God created everything.

I see I made a mistake starting this thread, it was designed to give other Christians a chance to say how Christianity has effected their life.

Not to disparage Christian beliefs.  I'm not interested in Darwin or his theory, I'm not interested in how Christ failed to meet all your needs, etc.  I recognize that not many people here are Christians, that's fine.  I recognize that many here dislike Christianity, that's fine too.

All that I ask is that those of you who are not Christian refrain from posting, you have other places you can put your disparaging messages.

This thread was placed in the "Christianity" section.

Thank you,
Sarah L.

Sarah, thanks for starting this discussion.  I regret that some people did not stick with answering your question.  But it was well worth asking.

In a positive light, I am glad that I am not the center of the universe.  I do not want that job.  The world does not revolve around what breaks I get or who happens to like me, nor do any of those things change who God is.   We live in a crazy screwed up world because of what we have chosen to do with it.  In Christianity I find a God who understands, a God who celebrates with me, a God who grieves and cries with me, a God who has promised to never leave me alone, a God who has chosen to suffer among us, a God who leads me through my trials rather than out of them.  It is not the way of easy answers.  It is the way of relationship.  It must be cultivated, struggled with, tested, affirmed.  But for those who do, something beautiful grows.

Kristi

I did say that I was a Christian for most of my life. I had a wonderful relationship with my Lord and Savior but that ended because of being trans. I would like for it to have continued as life without Him is painfully difficult. But for thirty years of my adult life, being a Christian was everything to me, 24/7. I was 100% dedicated, an elder in my church, gave lay sermons, sang in the choir, taught Sunday School, went to weekly Bible study and prayer groups. I evangelized at every opportunity. I too studied the Bible in depth and read many books by learned biblical scholars.

I'm sorry that I can't post a glowing report of how perfect and happy my life was because of being a Christian. It wasn't.

I missed your statement that you only wanted good news stories. Sorry.

Maggie

That's ok Maggie, if anyone says their life is perfect, they are probably lying.

I have had good times and bad times.  Churches are far from perfect, they have been know to attack their own much too often.  It is up to the individuals to help each other.

While many local churches have turned their backs on us, Jesus hasn't.  And my trust and relationship is with Jesus not the local church.

It is hard Maggie, very hard sometimes, words do hurt (sometimes worse than sticks and stones).

Sarah L.

Quote from: Sarah Louise on January 07, 2010, 09:54:12 AM
I see I made a mistake starting this thread, it was designed to give other Christians a chance to say how Christianity has effected their life.

Not to disparage Christian beliefs.  I'm not interested in Darwin or his theory, I'm not interested in how Christ failed to meet all your needs, etc.  I recognize that not many people here are Christians, that's fine.  I recognize that many here dislike Christianity, that's fine too.

All that I ask is that those of you who are not Christian refrain from posting, you have other places you can put your disparaging messages.

This thread was placed in the "Christianity" section.

Thank you,
Sarah L.

I think then, you are looking for specific responses.

I am a throughly committed Christian. This is how my faith has affected my life.

I seek to follow the teachings of Jesus. I don't seek to follow rituals that someone at some time, thought would be rather nice.

But I do seek answers to some of the questions we all ask. Evolution offers a brilliant explaination about how God created life. Newtons theories explain how God created the universe. I look to these as affirmation of God's brialllance.

I accept and respect, that others may take a different view. Many believe the Genesus account. I don't seek to undermine that, simply to lay out the structure of my faith, as revealed to me after reading the words of Jesus.

Perhaps, next time, you might define the narrow limits of what you seek to discuss. Because, in case you didn't realise it, Christianity is very broad.

That was the utter genius of Jesus

Quote from: Kvall on January 07, 2010, 07:51:04 PM
Not because of whether it shows there's a God or not, but because of what it says about God.

Exactly. I wish I had written that.

Quote from: Kvall on January 07, 2010, 07:51:04 PM

Though I must take exception to part of Spacial's earlier post, because to say that evolution is by chance is both true and false. Mutations happen by chance. Natural selection, however, is not by chance. That which is good for the organism is preserved, generation after generation. I am reminded of in the very beginning of Genesis where it repeatedly says, "And God saw that it was good."

Sometime, in an appropriate thread, I would love to discuss this issue with you.

Quote from: Sarah Louise on January 07, 2010, 09:54:12 AM
I see I made a mistake starting this thread, it was designed to give other Christians a chance to say how Christianity has effected their life.

I don't think you made a mistake in starting the thread, but that maybe you could have worded the original post better, asking the specific question of "As a Christian, how has your faith effected your life?" or something to that effect.

I'm sorry the question you wanted the answer to was left unanswered by most, but that may be in part affected by the question not being actually asked directly.

Well Sarah, I have gone back to the OP and it seems quite plain to me that this is for Christians to discuss their lives. 

So, here is my two bob's worth-

I am looking more closely at the Orthodox theology as it appears they do not have the concept of Original Sin at all.  That should immediately do away with a lot of guilt about the human condition.
I am still only starting to explore this, so don't feel confident in going into detail, but think it is worth looking at if anyone is having problems with their religious affiliations.
Basically as I understand it, Sin is equated with death and the fear of it, so by faith we can remove this. There is a lot more than that, and as the early Church was Greek, there is a lot in there tradition that I will be evaluating.

As to the literal interpretation of the Bible, and giving weight to the Old Testament,  I would ask how many of the anti-TS evangelists are circumcised? It is spelled out plainly in Genesis that sons should be circumcised.  If people are going to stress the need to take things literally, they better book an Op!

justmeinoz

I apologise if this might feel like interference, but on the concept of original sin may I suggest the following?

After reading the words and teachings of Jesus, I discovered that Original Sin is not sex as we have been led to believe, but defiance.

If you go back to the Genesis story Garden of Edin, you won't find any reference to sex within the context.

I will also point out that Jesus didn't die for our sins. He died because of them. He didn't take away our guilt over original sin, since only we, as individuals can do that.

He died because it was the will of God and even though, we believe, He had the power and ability, to save Himself, he accepted his death as a mark of his submission to God's will.


By dying, Jesus didn't commit original sin, defiance.

Early Christians, who were often horribly persecuted by the Romans, also accepted their fate without question. There are accounts, from contemporary Roman chroniclers, claiming that Christians who were being killed in the arena, went to their deaths, singing.

Each of us can only pray that we can accept the will of God with such grace, trust and humility.

The joy in being a Christian (for me) is knowing that God has me right where I need to be, doing what I need to be doing. I don't always enjoy it, but looking back I can see Gods hand guiding me here and there, and taking care of me. That's where the faith part comes into play.

Finding out that i'm transgendered has really, really changed the way that I think about my relationship with God. I'm still working through that one, but I believe that it is part of Gods plan for my life in some way.

Hello Everyone.
I am a christian as well, would not have it any other way.

Maggie I know of at least one LGBT church in Texas that is open to all and there family's.

It is my belief no matter who you are the Lord is accepting of you, otherwise he would not made us the way we are. I say this because I was born as a transgender person, this is my birth right. I am proud of it too and I know jesus loves me and others like me. He even cares about other persons who have not accepted him.

I am very glad this tread has been started. The main "one thing" that this web site is here for, is a meeting place for all people and there loved ones concerning the transgender world, and the main focal point is so we can help one another. Helping someone is doing the lords work, whether your christian or not, it is just that.  As christians on this web site, we do not have to boost about it or try to convert someone, but at least know, there are many here that will readily come to your aid, in your need for conversation about your concerns, or if your seeking for answers, your confused, or your in your darkest hours, know that it might be a christian who is at the other computer with genuine heart felt feelings for you and others and they have not even mentioned it, nor ever would but its in there nature as christians to do just that very thing for a stranger.   

Apologies for the necromancy, but just wanted to add my two bits. (I'm also very glad for this thread, and to see other trans Christians here, it's very encouraging )

I became a Christian nearly two years ago. In that comparitively short time, Jesus has healed most of my old scars. He's given me confidence, shown me what it's like to be truly loved for who I am, and generally been amazing

I say "most" of the scars. Because He's cleared so much of the old crap from my heart, He's unearthed this last issue. It's like He's telling me: "You can't ignore this anymore Sarah, this needs dealing with right now." I also had a dream that He was looking down on me, through to the man inside the woman and saying "I think you've been trapped here long enough", then proceeding to reach down and pull him free from her.

One Christian friend that I confided in - so far the only one - advised me to pray that it really is God telling me this is the way to go, but hasn't looked down on me or tried to talk me out of it at all. I'm very lucky that my church does practice what it preaches, and that preaching is of love. We are like a big family which is great, and I hope that when I do come out to the others, they'll give me a more positive response too. It will certainly be interesting.

   Since God renewed my faith back in September of 2009 I have had such a wonderful time of getting reacquainted with him. I didn't realize just how lost I truly was and how much of my loneliness was self imposed.

   I walked away from Christ because I had become disillusioned with churches and mans book of laws within the church and my family's obstinate belief that I was living in sin. I drifted so far away from God and even denied that there was a God for the longest time. I researched every religion and cult looking for answers and peace but I never found it until I stopped looking with my mind and started looking with my heart and soul.

   One afternoon on my way back form my therapist I broke. I called out to God and begged him to just speak to me one more time, and he did. I felt such an overwhelming sensation of love, just like he was sitting right there on the car with me. I began singing and rejoicing driving down US 31 in Indiana and I didn't care what anyone thought of me as the passed.

Since then life has gotten infinitely better and even the rough patches have not been so bad. Life is coming together for me and I know my creator lives. 

I actually came in here expecting it to be a hate thread, and I'm very surprised that it's not. :x It seems we get a lot of christian hatred on this board, at least, in my experience.

I was a hater for a long time. It truly is amazing how God can change a heart.

Quote from: The Original Cami on February 22, 2010, 07:28:45 PM
I was a hater for a long time. It truly is amazing how God can change a heart.

I'm not as much of a hater as I am a disbeliever, as I cannot find the logic in it. However, I'm not here to stir up a fuss, and I'm glad that you guys have your own thread to discuss these issues amongst themselves.

Besides, it's pointless to argue, considering both atheists and Christians never give an inch to the other side, it just stirs up strife. You know what I mean?

People that convert are usually on the fence.