Post 2

Thanks to everyone that's responded to the lj post thus far- the range of responses have been very interesting and enlightening. I appreciate them all very much.

As I read through them, an overwhelming theme was developing, a theme echoed by the statistical analyses in the book I'm reading. It seems, to quote the book, that among those outside of Christianity, we are known more by what we oppose than what we are for. This scares me because I don't want to be known by what others who share something with me are against. I'm angry that small, very vocal groups have defined the culture of a large group.

So based on what the big conclusions the study made, I want to spend the next few posts addressing them...

-Hypocrisy-

I find it interesting that this is such a large complaint, not because we aren't hypocritical, but because everyone is hypocritical. Saying that, I do acknowledge that Christians have had a bad track record because there are principles put forth in our theology that would then hold us to a higher standard. And to top it off, we go around telling people about these standards and applying them to everyone. Do I think its bad to hold people to high standards? Of course not- even if you don't believe anything else about Christianity, I hope that you'll agree that there are standards, such as not murdering and loving each other, which if followed through would be a good blueprint for society.

Does anyone succeed at these? Of course not. No one is perfect- period. I absolutely fail at loving and being kind to everyone. At the same time, I don't expect myself to stop trying. I think (and I may be wrong) is that there is too large a group of people who aren't willing to admit that they fail at "being perfect." So yes, we are at fault for not wanting to admit when we fail- although, I will (reluctantly) cut some people some slack because in a culture that has put people under a microscope its difficult to admit your mistakes, period.

There's also the man-made hypocrisy in the values that many Christians have attached to their faith. There are many things that people say and do that are contradictory to the whole "love" doctrine. I plan on addressing those over the next week or so.

So I'm asking for your forgiveness for not always following through and for being unpleasant and downright rude at times. For misrepresenting the message of love and perfect acceptance that is at the heart of Christianity. We are a group, I am a person, at fault for expecting love but not always giving it. At the same time, please know that what happens to you does really make a difference to me. I do believe that God loves and accepts everyone, no matter what their fault, and that I'm striving to do that I do fail, dramatically at times and that we all can learn to just forgive each other when we fall short.