Sageman's Blog

I would also reiterate that accidents happen and that no matter what the precaution you can be caught off guard and unprepared, at that point no one is to blame. We all become complacent at times and at that point, unfortunately, disaster strikes . Then we are left to pick up the pieces. It's no one's fault but at the same time it's everyones fault if we continue to let it happen.

All in all I only have the most heartfelt compassion for those suffering from the recent events in China, Myanmar and our own area. I hope we all find the time to say a prayer and wish all of those affected well.

i have asked on these blogs for some enlightment and no one would give an answer..so I guess I will just put it in God's hand. On the other topic you touch about people enforcing or bullying their beliefs.. I think God helped you write this SO THAT i can see that I am not wrong in my judgement..You see my soon to be 19 year old has been dating this boy for six months, he and his family are Petescostal. I for one was never keen on this particular religion since I think they just GO OVERBOARD..but when I saw my child who has changed dramatically and they even had her baptize..i am still in shock. My daughter is neglecting us and wont allow nothing wrong to be said about that church she's attending....please if you have any words of wisdom I can sure use it now..I have been praying and I am hopeful that the good Lord will guide her I am just afraid for her well being......thank you

I think what your daughter is experiencing is a sense of euphoria from finding a religion and because of that she has been swept up in it. I would try and be objective about your daughter and see where she is coming from. Maybe she feels defensive because she knows you don't approve of her new found religion.

Here is what I would do in your position. I would go with her to her new church and see exactly what they are preaching. You'll have a chance to meet the other parishioners there and get a sense of where they are coming from.

As for the pentecostal church, I think it's gotten a bad rap from the many articles about their wild behavior, snake handling etc... My mother and sister both go to pentecostal churches and I have gone with them on occasion. I can tell you that there was no rolling in the aisles or snake handling of any kind. They did speak in tongues which can be a bit disconcerting at first but overall it was a pretty typical Christian sermon.

One of my good friends is a pastor of a Pentecostal Church in Seattle and he is for lack of a better word, "hard core." They consider themselves Judaic Christians and they follow the laws of the New Testament, the Old Testament and the Talmud. I know a lot of people don't get him or his church saying that they go overboard but seriously, they are good people and they are just living their lives as they deem they should. Their religion isn't for everyone but it makes them happy and they are not hurting anyone with it. They are not fanatics they are just devoted.

Hopefully you and your daughter come to some type

TAllen - I didn't mean to insult you or your beliefs. I for one feel that every person has a right to believe in what they do.

I do agree that those who follow their faith out of fear do it for the wrong reason. I know in part what you are talking about. The whole, "fire and brimstone" approach to religion. I don't agree with it but sadly the same type of approach can be found in every religion not just Christianity.

I think another point is that even though I don't understand why people choose to be Atheists they are free to make that choice.

I've read your post's and though I don't agree with you all the time, you are an intelligent man, so I don't see any reason to try and convince you of anything. You believe what you believe, you know the options and you simply aren't able to find faith in them. In short it is your life to live as you see fit. I have no right to tell you whether it's right or wrong. I think everyone at points has the faith shaken but in the end it's all about the heart, when you try to over think things it's because you don't feel it in your heart. Like I said faith is not about logic. I mean seriously what's so logical about love? Faith is a lot like that, you don't know why can feel that way about some people and not others but you do. Same with faith you can feel one way about one religion but you don't feel the same about another.

I'm glad to get your side of this though.

the only thing I have left to do is visit the church itself and I am gearing myself for it because I know me and I know I wouldn't be able to contained myself if I do go and don't like what I see and I don't want her to start hating me for showing up and making a scene if you will......I am deeply appreciative for your remarks .. they do share some light but I am afraid I am in for a long haul..please pray that she will find herself..as I do believe that PRAYERS ARE POWERFUL...one more thing, it worries me cause if she's practicing this religion she should be the most loving daughter and know to respect me and her father SHE ALWAYS HAVE BEEN A GREAT DAUGHTER...I have to tell you her behaviour have changed immensely and she acts as though we are non existant...that is what worries me...thanks again

Sageman, I just wanted to share my thoughts with you on your post, it's an excellent one! I agree with everything you have stated. We have been gifted with the opportunity to make our own choices and I do believe we make our own destiny. And with 2nd chances, I think one needs to experience that before they can say one way or another. I have experienced the opportunities of having a 2nd chance in life and there is more to life than just our mere comprehension of what we see and know, we need to have an open mind. I appreciate, and love life even more for it. It's nice to see that I am not alone in how I feel as well. If you haven't read my Blog in reference to the Fox News Reporter, Keith, "Taking God with you every where you go," take a moment to check it out, I believe it goes well with your post that you have shared with us.

I don't think "blind faith" is a good thing either. I think if you really don't know why you have faith then you truly don't know what you believe in. The whole fact of the matter is that blindly following any religion is as bad as not following one at all. Like I said faith is about choices and if someone doesn't know why they make their choices and they don't evaluate the choices they make, then they are lying to themselves.

As for those that say one thing and do another, they are hypocrites but they also are human. Everyone makes mistakes, the great thing is that you have the chance to learn from them. I think everyone has been a hypocrite at one point or another.

The definition of Christian is someone who follows the tenets of Jesus Christ and try to emulate his own life and teachings. One of things Jesus taught was forgiveness and compassion. As for that, no one is perfect we all make mistakes. Also I can't imagine Jesus defining someone who doesn't have faith in his teachings to be evil. I think he might feel sorry for them (just being honest) but I can't see him declaring them to be evil.

I think a lot of people forget that Jesus wanted them to believe in him, but it wasn't him physically it was his teachings he wanted them to believe in. He was a teacher and he tried to teach people the lessons that would help them lead a good life. Lessons that would take them down the path that would lead them to heaven. To think that just believing that he was the savior is enough to get you into heaven is naive. I mean seriously there are no free rides, why would god

Robin I read your posts. Good stuff.

Your observation about morality in all religions is called "conscience." It is a good starting point but imperfect and can be seared to the point of being worthless if it is continually ignored.

About hell, if the person's holy book talks about it that isn't arrogant. We do, however, need to evaluate the credibilty of those holy books whatever they may say (hell or no hell). The Qu'ran teaches that as a non-Muslim, I am an infidel who is going to hell. I take no offense at that. If I believed that I would accept that religion ... but I don't.

The Qu'ran teaches that those who hear the word and turn away from it go to hell. An infidel is someone who knows the word but rejects it. It's someone who has no religious belief at all.

As for conscience, it's true but sometimes simplistic. As for being imperfect, that I can not agree with. How can having a conscience be imperfect? That baffles me, it's the knowledge of right and wrong. The choices we make have nothing to do with our conscience they have everything to do with ethics and morality which are components of a conscience. The simple knowledge of right and wrong in itself is anything but imperfect. It's intrinsic in almost every religion in the world.

As for arrogance,man does not have the right to make any speculation or declaration on who or who is not going to hell. When man takes that step he is arrogant and he is in my opinion claiming to know what only God knows with certainty.

Faith is beautiful thing but arrogance is an ugly one. To put ones religion on a pedestal and place ones self above all others goes against the face of almost every major religion in the world, including Christianity, both Protestant and Catholic.