Here's LF's reply to that e-mail:

 

War mongering isn't going to bring about the rapture any sooner.  Armagedon shouldn't be the goal of Christians.  It's time to stop living in fear and show the Muslim people what Christians are all about:  Love,  Peace, and Understanding.
________________________________________________________________________________________________

Alright, never mind the horrid grammar and spelling. He is college educated after all... or rather, re-educated through the socialist indoctrination system we call colleges.
It's not his reply in and of itself that got me to respond. He's entitled to his opinion and all that. What pissed me off was a previous conversation he and I had during which he told me he doesn't believe in God or the Bible.
That's fine too. He's free not to believe...and it helps to de-God ones self when you need to justify the Godlessness of the political agenda you support.
Here is where the hypocrisy of a liberal  rears its ugly head. So began our discussion:

Hey LF... good to hear from you! Glad to see you're still willing to engage. I'd hoped you would reply a few e-mails ago.  I have to say that your credibility on the subject of Christ, Armageddon and anything to do with a Christian perspective is in question with me. Why? Because you flat out told me you don't believe in God or the Bible. So before you and I take this discussion any further (which I'm more than happy to do) I absolutely have to know- how can you tell me that you don't believe in the Bible one minute, then tell me about Christ's teachings the next? Did you tell me you don't believe in the Bible just for the sake of the argument/discussion we were having that night? If that's the case... why would you do that? Lying about your beliefs for the sake of argument takes all credibility out of future discussion. If we have no mutual trust as far as honesty in these discussions, then it's a dead discussion from the get-go.
So- which is it? Do you believe the Bible? If so, we can actually have this discussion... albeit warily given the different answer from our previous discussion.

LF:

First of all, my faith and what I believe is no one's business but my own, withal do respect.  I love you, my brother, but your snap to judgment regarding my beliefs is presumptuous and a little rude.  I don't pretend to understand the nuances of your beliefs.  I believe judging others traps your own mind in a cage of your own creation.

It's not a judgement LF... it's based purely on what you said in our previous discussion. I asked you if you believe in the Bible... and you replied "no". My question regarding your belief in the Bible wasn't meant to be rude, but was indeed pertinent to the discussion. The e-mail you sent me (was it a reply to your mother? because I never sent you that e-mail) spoke of what Christ would do. I think the questions are valid to the overall discussion. Basically, you made it my business when I received that e-mail from you telling me/us (all you sent it to) what kind of Christian's we should be.

I think now would be a good time to tell you this:  If you would like to continue this dialogue I need your assurance that you will not tell my mother of my beliefs.  She believes so strongly in Christ, It would break her heart to hear that my beliefs are not her own. 

That's fine. Be assured that I won't judge your beliefs either. I do think though that one's belief in Christ or not can make or break any future conversation. Why? Because my belief in Christ is unshakable. It's the kind of belief and assurance that can only come with personal manifestation and is a completely individual experience. That being the case, I will never convince you to change your beliefs any more than you'll ever change mine.

So let me start by saying this:  My beliefs are not an indictment on anyone else's.  I believe in absolute truth, but I understand I still have much too much to learn to judge others (that's if judging others is ever prudent.)

Judging others is prudent under certain circumstances and in certain situations. But that's all relative.

It's more complicated than do I believe in God.  If that's you're question the answer is yes, but do I believe in an all-powerful man-like creature who resides in heaven and casts judgment on us based on whether or not an individual abides by a certain set of conditions, the most important of which - and to some the only condition- is do you believe in him?  To me, that's no different than worshiping the moon or the sun or the stars.  I find the whole idea simple and silly.  A story made for children and men - men too afraid to question what they are told, too afraid to look deeper.

You're assuming so much about me LF. I've been there and done that very thing. I questioned everything I was ever taught growing up. I've been in some deep dark places and done things I'd just as soon forget. But like I said before... faith and belief in Christ is a very individual and very personal experience. Sure, there are a lot of blind followers. That's the case with just about everything. I am a little offended that you've simplified my beliefs into nothing more than a fairy tale. But then, I have to stop and remember that I think about what you believe the same way you think about what I believe.

They accept the easy answer and close their mind to any other options.

Some do, yes. But the arrogance you're projecting in assuming to know that that's the case with the majority of believers in Christ is pretty disturbing. But then again, I think the same way toward what you believe. I'll illustrate that comment a little further- it'll piss you off, but read it through:
I think there a lot of young kids who go into college free thinking, intelligent, somewhat innocent and anxious to learn. They see a professor as the be all end all of their future knowledge and swallow everything they're told by that "authority" figure... hook, line and sinker. They lap up everything they're told without questioning it... and come away not educated as originally anticipated, but rather deeply and seemingly irreparably indoctrinated.

...hurts doesn't it? Maddening? Yep, I bet it is. But it's no different than your assumption that all Christian's just accept what they're told. Completely dismissing their personal testimonies as nothing more than blind devotion to a fairy tale "for children and men".

  I feel enlightened because I'm never afraid to question and never afraid to reject any idea in light of a more accurate truth.

It's good to question. It's the smart thing to do. But my question to you as you discover your new 'truths' is who is validating the answers you're finding as 'more accurate truths'?
I feel enlightened too. Go ahead and roll your eyes now, but it's true.
Again, personal testament to the truthfulness of the scriptures and the existence of Christ is just that- personal. People can talk to each other about it to no end. The truth, LF, is not complex. That's the beauty of truth. It's as simple as us getting over ourselves long enough to realize that the truth about God can be had by simply asking. With full intent. With purpose. With sincerity in really needing and wanting to know the truth.
I hope you find the more accurate truths you're looking for LF. Another question I have is- are you seriously seeking truth? Or simply trying to disprove Christianity?

I'm collecting information and my faith continues to evolve.

That's wonderful. I mean that... but your faith in what? In who? It's not a mean spirited question. It's a sincere curiousity.

I need to stop now because I have to work tomorrow and i need you to promise you will not tell my mother to pray for her heretic son.

I won't say anything to her. But I think if you're confident in your beliefs- whatever they may be- you should be proud to say so.
On the other hand- I know your mother, and it would break her beautiful, loving heart, so I'll leave it at that.

But I can't stop without asking this: Your email seemed to imply that I could not know anything about the Christian perspective or the Bible because I’m not a believer?!? Is that what you meant? 

No, that's not what I meant. What I meant was that I think if someone rejects Christ, or doesn't believe in Christ, or the Bible as a history and record of His teachings- in other words- if someone doesn't claim themselves as a Christian, they shouldn't tell people how to be good Christian's. It's arrogant and hypocritical.

Listen, I understand your confusion but I reject your rush to judge.  I was writing for a specific audience.  I feel the need to protect my mother.  The Christian right is getting radical - rejecting science and ignoring, even rejecting, the central teaching of Jesus.

This was the whole basis of my asking you the question of whether or not you believe in the Bible in our original discussion. My perspective on the current state of the world comes from a belief in the Bible. Your perspective seemed to come from something else. It's pretty much a dead argument if it comes down to simply playing the religion is a farce game.

  Jesus was about unconditional love and serving the "least of these."

That's true. But we're also told that there will be those who wish to take His teachings from us. Who want to force us to reject His teachings and accept their own. That's when we're told that we must defend the name of our Savior. Our beliefs. You can be afraid to see those facts all around us, and simply hope a hug and kiss will change the fact that there really are those who want us to die simply because we are who we are. I will show you all day long the reality of that truth if you like.
Peace and beliefs and freedom have to be defended and fought for from time to time. Those things don't simply happen on their own. The fact that you and I are free to sit here in the comfort of our homes and hash this out is the product of a long and bloody history. It's no accident LF.
You can't just take the parts of the Bible that fit your argument or your agenda. The entire existence of earth has and always will be a battle of good and evil (as in actual war)- if you believe the Bible. If you don't, then it makes no sense to refer to the Bible anyway, does it?

  You'd think churchgoers were studying Machiavelli's, The Prince, and not the teaching of Jesus.  Well that's all for now.  I mean you no disrespect.  I know you possess pieces of wisdom I do not.  Hopefully I’ve not been overly rude.  I'm TRYING to be as concise and respectful as possible.

Part III tomorrow. This may be boring to a few of  you. To me, it's a little insight into the mind of a liberal. If you're interested in the rest it'll be posted tomorrow.

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