RoseNewLife

Thanks Linda, that was nicely said, and you are absolutely right. I wasn't gonna post on this topic again, but I wanted to thank-you for your kind and sensible reply. Your husband's insight is funny :biggrin: My husband laughs at this too. I'm not losing sleep over it, as I've been pre-occupied by getting ready for my surgery! It's coming up soon, I'll have my date confirmed sometime this week. I'm looking forward to it! Tomorrow hubby is taking me out to dinner before I start my pre-op diet . . . one last steak dinner and a couple of margaritas, and I'm oh-so-ready to start a new life! Thanks again for the smile :frown: I'm looking forward to sharing more laughs & experiences with the wonderful people that are here. God Bless that 95%! Take care & have a great night :party:

I just wanted to say a big Thanks! to Alex for creating these forums for all of us! You did an awesome job with them! It's very much appreciated!

Oy, laurend that is such a mixed up response. This is so totally wrong that it's without merit. To accuse me of being offensive to other groups because I stood up for Christians is just messed up. I stepped forward in my original post and said I had respect for others and their beliefs, and was attempting to get along, without bashing. I also said in another post that it's sad any group was bashed. As you said yourself, "what people 'see' and what they read is not necessarily reality". You created offense from a post that attempted peace for everyone in this forum, regardless of their beliefs. I said in another post all people deserve to be cherished. Implying that I said I'm suffering like Jesus Christ is extremely offensive to me, but I doubt you will see that. That's outrageous. I said Jesus indeed suffered, and His followers do as well, I never said anything - not even coming close to it - suggesting that we suffer the same. Good grief. This has just degraded into making up trash that isn't there. And I'm truly sorry green's parents had to endure such tragedy and suffering, but dragging her personal life into this debate or even implying that my post is somehow more than that, is pure craziness. From my original post: " I have a dream too . . . when can we, as atheists, Christians and all others of different beliefs, agree to disagree on our spiritually, learn to respect our differences, sit down together, join hands and share conversations without insults?" I attempted peace, and I agree with Chelle, I wish we could better appreciate our differences, but after a very vicious post like that, perhaps it can never be. I'm done here. Peace :smile:

You're preaching to the choir, my friend . . . that was the point of my original post. As you said . . . "As long as it's not abusive, it should be allowed". Precisely. I never said debating Christianity shouldn't be allowed, that was somehow twisted in here. And none of my posts are EVER forcing my beliefs onto anyone else. I don't know where you got that. Christ was killed, because of His love for us, to save us all from our sins. Yes He was killed for what He believed in . . . He believed in us. And again, I'm all to aware of His suffering, and the suffering of His followers. I would die before I would renounce the name of Christ. And no, I don't require anyone's approval or love if I speak the Gospel Truth. Peace :smile:

I think the idea of my original post has certainly been lost here, the post was about respecting others beliefs. I clearly said you don't have to accept my beliefs or my God, it was the insults that were wrong. I never said the issues couldn't be debated, I see you have conveniently twisted the meaning of my op to suit your own argument. And I'm all too aware that Christians have persecuted throughout the ages, and continue to be today. Christ Himself was, why should should I expect any less? I did not put up my original post in ignorance of that fact. I expected it. That doesn't mean I'm not going to stand up and speak out for what I believe in. If it's true that every group has had a "smack-down" here in Rants & Raves, that's a rather sad confession. I don't need to go back and read a bunch of hate. Hate does not equal intellectual debate. Rants & Raves exists for all of us, and debates are certainly welcome, and I do feel free to introduce my beliefs. As I said, Rant & Rave does not equal bash and flame. You seem to have missed that point. Perhaps you need to get over yourself, "grrl".

Thank-you, Faithmd. :wink2: I had inspiration. I doubt most of my posts will be so eloquent, but I will try and keep things civil. I like being here and learning from others! Peace :Dancing_biggrin:

No, there have been several posts other than what Draz said, his/hers was simply a last straw, however trollish and foolish it may be. There are some people who seem to like to drag Christianity into a conversation and bash it, even if that was not the topic of the original poster, and it added nothing to the conversation. There were people in the Christian forums who were also upset by the amount of bashing, so I was not the only one who felt this way. I knew my post would probably ruffle some feathers, but it is my right to rant about what I disagree with. I did so without bashing anyone else's beliefs. And I certainly don't expect any "argument" to be simply buttressed by announcing one is a Christian, as if that were the end all to the discussion. I am well aware others believe differently. My point was to be able to express oneself without slinging insults. We will simply have to agree to disagree on what we believe this forum should be. I read the title of the forum to say, "Rants and Raves" NOT "bash and flame". If I'm wrong perhaps the wording should be changed. Tossing insults at one another is really not getting anyone anywhere. A healthy and heated debate is fine; I am impressed with the intelligence of conversation I have seen in the pro-choice/pro-life thread. I believe adults can have an intellectually stimulating conversation without attacking each other. I value this forum as well, and I've learned much from it. There are some great people here. May the debates continue. Peace :wink2:

Thank-you for your kind words Kity! I'm really sorry you had this bad experience with that man you were engaged to (or a bad experience from anyone). One thing that really irks me is when someone claims their religion/beliefs are better than someone else's. (sigh) Hate in any form has nothing to do with God. I keep peace in my heart by keeping my faith simple, a deep love for Jesus Christ (We love Him, because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19), and the belief in loving others as well (And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. 1 John 4:21). I leave everything else up to God. You have a beautiful spirit and love for God! I agree, you shouldn't have to conform to anyone's "box" or explanation. We all are on different parts of our own personal path with Jesus. It's a journey. And you said that you were a lesbian . . . well, maybe it's a good thing you're not engaged to that man! lol :Dancing_biggrin: Look into your heart and find the one you really love. Amen to that! There are many fine people here :wink2: It's a blessing to have found such wonderful forums for the lap-band, I have learned so much (and have quite aways to go yet!). Best of luck to you too! Peace :biggrin:

*Applause* Transformer! You summed it all up so nicely, thank-you! :wink2:

Thank you Cherea, and to everyone else who left such kind words. But I don't take credit for it - "To God be the Glory". I somehow felt inspired last night to make a stand against Christan insults, however subtle (or overt) they may be. It will be nice to have a Christian forum, where we can go and pray together, and freely share experiences without worry. But I think we should also be able to go anywhere in this entire lap-band forum (even here in rants and raves!), without all the bashing. My whole point is that we should be able to rise above our different beliefs, and try to get along. There are some very nice non-believers here too! No one will ever get me to change my love for Jesus Christ - and I'm not here to try and change anyone else. And yes, you're right Cherea - we should continue to support and encourage each other, and pray for those who come against us. That's the Christian way - to be gentle and loving to all people. Yes, there are people who often fall short of that ideal - for we are sinners like any one else, not saints. When I fall short, I believe God picks me up and puts me back on the right track. Onward, Christian Sister and Soldier! Peace. :rolleyes2:

Just beautifully written Chelle. You have a talent of writing that fills me with peace. What you wrote about free will and bad things happening is so true. I have a son with autism, and for a long time I struggled with the "why me" attitude. Once I let go of that, I was able to truly see my son in a whole new way. As humans, we may see nothing but a child with a disability. But in God's eyes, he is perfect. My son has taught me so much about life and accepting others just as they are. He still continues to amaze me with his talents and simple beauty every day. I am blessed. Each of us, with our different beliefs, is like a flower in a field. There's not one type of flower growing there, but many. How boring would it be if there were only flower, one color in the world? I think the same is true with people. Each of us is a different flower, and each of us brings something into the world. Each of us deserves to be cherished. Peace :tongue:

You are welcome Travelgirl, and thank-you for your very kind words. You shouldn't have to stay out of any discussion because of your faith, or for worry of someone bashing you. It's wrong. Peace :tongue:

Perhaps, Pippinje. That thread you mentioned just happens to be the worst, and should be removed, I agree with you there. But there have been plenty of other threads/posts, and I'm not the only Christian who has felt this way. I just happen to be more vocal, lol. It's why I admire Martin Luther King Jr., he stood up for what he believed in. Peace :smile:

I see Banded Bikers as a long thread as well. Would you like to have a sub-forum with the other groups as well?

I have a dream . . . If I were to come to these forums as a black person, and someone called me a n!gger, there would be outrage. If I were to come to these forums as a homosexual, and someone called me a faggot, there would be outrage. If I were to come to these forums as an overweight individual, and someone called me a fat lazy slob, there would be outrage. If I were to come to these forums as Hispanic, and someone called me a "spic", there would be outrage. If I were to come to these forums as a Native American, and you called me a redskin, there would be outrage. If I were to come to these forums as a woman, and someone said I was worth less then a man, there would be outrage. But if I come to these forums and say that I am Christian, it's open season on me to bash, criticize, and otherwise act as if I were a lesser individual, a person without feelings, someone not worthy to be treated with any respect. In my short time here on these forums, and I'm not even banded yet, I have seen people bash Christianity like I've never seen it anywhere before. (And I've been in nursing for over 20 years, and on the internet since it started, so I'm no new kid on the block.) You've called us wacky, you say our ideas are rubbish, you tore apart the reasons for Christmas, you mock the Bible, you mock our belief in God as nothing but a crutch, and you do all of this under the guise of "stimulating conversation". In many ways, Jesus Christ is still being crucified. Not this time with a cross and nails, but with cruel, thoughtless words and deliberate intent to harm the beliefs of others. Christians have been treated here, as if there were not PEOPLE behind the keyboards. But they are - hello everyone, we are people with as much intelligence and feelings as you yourselves claim to have. This is a free country. You have the right to be atheist, agnostic, whatever . . . and I have the right to be a Christian. You don't have to accept my beliefs, you don't have to accept my God, you don't have to accept any aspect of Christianity. You don't want me to insult you for your beliefs, and all I ask is that you do the same - we are all here with a common goal, to lose weight with a device called a lap-band. Why can we NOT treat one another with some respect? Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. He had a dream. A great American man with a dream, someone I deeply admire: " . . . I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal . . ." " . . . I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character . . ." " . . . I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of "interposition" and "nullification" -- one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers . . ." " . . .And when this happens, when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual: Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!" I have a dream too . . . when can we, as atheists, Christians and all others of different beliefs, agree to disagree on our spiritually, learn to respect our differences, sit down together, join hands and share conversations without insults? I shall step forward and be the first . . . I accept all of you as you are, I respect you as individuals with different beliefs. Now can you please accept me as I am - just a another overweight individual seeking release from this prison of obesity, who happens to believe in Jesus Christ? I am not better than you. Nor are you better than me. The dream is to see each other and treat each other with respect. Isn't there enough stress and strain in this confusing and often angry world of ours? I have a dream . . . Thank-you Mr. Martin Luther King, Jr., for your brave words and inspiration. You have my love and deepest respect. I know God holds you close.