ELENATION

I like to hear this.... I know I can definitely forgive, but I don't have the desire to be nice or even be close to that person sometimes and Ithought that mean that I'm still holding a grudge, but really, it doesn't have to mean that... so maybe it's possible to really forgive without forgetting, but just letting go.... thank you.

Very good point....

yeah, interesting.... you said If the person has wronged me, and wants to make it right, they will reach out - we can talk and move on Isn't that forgiving anyway... at least somewhat.. oh gee, this is complicated...

interesting... I don't care about the small things or disagreements, they may bother me at the moment, but 15 minutes later I'm over it, it's the big things that get to me... I saw an Oprah show where this lady's little girl was killed by a gang member, it had happened a year ago or so, she was still crying and devastated, I could see that, but she said that she forgave the man that killed her daughter, she even went to the prison and spoke to him and hugged him and told him that he forgave him.... the guy cried too, maybe he was sorry, who knows... I admire that lady, but I don't know I could do that.... she gave reasons why she was forgiving him, religious belief was one of the reasons and some other reasons, but she said that she felt so much better after she forgave him because the resentment was eating her alive...now, my children mean to me more than my own life, how could I forgive that man? maybe I should, but I know it would be so, so hard, it seems actually impossible right now, I guess I would have to be in her shoes... who knows...

I can do that to an extent, if the offense is minot, no problem! or if the source is someone I probably won't see again, no problem... But if it's a major offense that caused me major pain and it came from someone that I cared for that pretty much betrayed me, then I have a problem, I don't take much personally either, but there are some things that one must just take personally because it was intended that way when it was said or done to us... and in those cases, it's hard for me to let go and/or just never talk to that person again and forget the whole thing.... I have a problem with that, I feel the need to know in my heart that I DO forgive that person and that I don't feel resentment anymore, and if I don't have to keep in touch with them, that's ok, but I still feel the need to feel ok with myself... I guess people do matter to me... at least most...

Hey, different take and very interesting... my thing is I want to be able to feel good about what I'm doing ....the way I'm forgetting... I want it to feel good inside...maybe I'm just silly....lol! and believe me, sometimes I can't do it....

and I'm in the wise category of that quote....but I'm not comfortable with that... I think I should do better, I actually would like to be in the naive...hehehe..

wow....the thing is that it's tought to live our lives keeping so much resentment... it's just not good for us, it's been said that it's not even good to our health, plus I don't think it's the right thing to do, not that I haven't felt that way some times.... I just keep trying to work on it until I can forgive, but it's hard, I understand...

I can understand that and I can put myself in someone's shoes and that helps me forgive , but say it's someone that has done you wrong more than once and twice and that same person you see that is doing the same to others all the time, so in cases like that, I start having big problems forgiving...

You are so right.......... but like you, it takes me a long time.....and I wish it wouldn't....

gee....I'm moving with you! do you have an extra room there for me? hehehehe... How could I possibly pass on those lifestyles? they sound so wonderful...NOT...

I'm not saying that it will harm society, but it wouldn't prevent other religions from taking over which may harm society, we just never know... that's why I don't think it will be generaly "better" or "worst"

Yes, but the extreme Christians do not represent all Christians... I don't think someone could win based on religious belief only, but maybe a Christian or a religious candidate could probably win over an atheist and that is not fair, however, by Christianity dropping that doesn't mean that other religious groups wouldn't gain popularity, which doesn't help the atheists either...that's why I say that it won't necessarily mean that things in general will be better, but maybe what you are saying is that generally it will be more balanced?

hhhmmmm, maybe.... it wasn't bumped because I checked all the pages, but it was maybe moved... that's ok.... I appreciate it though. THanks, Elena

I understand... I hope our country never goes to socialized medicine.... despite the flaws of our healthcare system, I like it much more... I lived under socialized medicine for years and it was the worst health care I've ever seen...

With all due respect... "Since the rise of the religious right, the invasion of Iraq, the numerous political gaffes of mini-Bush and his gang - and these are all documented in the foreign press - and the mishandling of the Katrina tragedy, America has lost much of its former lustre globally speaking. This is to be regretted. The rest of us in the West really do need a strong, wise and modern America" THe foreign press? so far from accurate a lot of times.......Katrina could've been handled better, also by the local government... I respectfully disagree with each of the other statements that you made above... But that's ok, that's why there is Canada and America we thankfully are able to live in our country of preference.... I couldn't agree more with Canadian entertainment....brutal...

Ok then, so I was understanding correctly... if that trend continues, I agree it could be beneficial for non-christians... now better in general...? I don't know about that... I personally don't think it will be better...

Yes, I know that....

Firstly that law is ridiculous and I don't agree with it. Now, do you mean that since atheism and Wicca are growing and Christianity is dropping and because of that things are going to get better? I'm sorry I'm a little slow today....I'm tire, sleepy...ugh! please elaborate....how is it going to bet better? meaning that by Christianity not being the main religion or lack of thereof is supposed to makes things better? excuse my mentally defective brain this morning...lol!

Oh I appreciate your help very much....it is weird... but it wasn't all that important.... Thank you much!

Hey, I lived in Florida at the time, as a matter of fact, I lived in South FLorida... those allegations are not entirely accurate and they are blown out of proportion and even so, not worst by far than the John Kennedy election...

I just recently heard about Blackwater, I never knew about it.... but from what I read from the previous post, it did remind me of the 911 conspiracy theorists....

You cannot be serious when you say that we "attacked" Iraq and that we devastated their poeple, in my opinion, we went to Iraq looking for weapons of mass destruction, that even though were not found, it was believed Hussein had them , even by Clinton.. and Hussein did not comply with the UN over and over again , as far as I'm concerned, we have helped greatly the people from Iraq..

And it isn't.... again, what's not fair is that a group, any group, is judged by a few or some tha are doing wrong... I don't think anybody should be judged by others. period.

Hi there, I just did that, went all the way to the last page twice and nothing....the whole thread is gone... weird... THanks though!