That's a rather sinister and skeptical view of religion...with which I agree. While you are merely stating that power corrupts people, and religious power is still power, I would be too timid to say that for fear it will draw out the zealots and this thread will go down in flames. I hope that's just my personal problem instead of an accurate assessment of an international forum which is open to the public.

 

Evil is pervasive. It exists in organizations of all types, and religious organizations are no different. Power does corrupt, and corrupt individuals always seek more power. It's the oldest story in the history of humanity.

The saddest part of evil in organized religion is the effect it has on outsiders who recognize their own fallibility, look there for answers to the most serious questions of life and death, become disillusioned by the presence of evil, and fail to find the good.

And yes, I am a Christian, and thankful to be one.

 

...I figure the way to address discrimination is to let people know someone who is transgendered....

Wendy,

You are the only person I know (although our acquaintance/friendship has only been through this forum) who has made this identity decision. Although I don't really understand it, I wish nothing but the best for you, am glad you chose to live, and expect to continue our friendship unchanged.

 

Wendy,

You are the only person I know (although our acquaintance/friendship has only been through this forum) who has made this identity decision. Although I don't really understand it, I wish nothing but the best for you, am glad you chose to live, and expect to continue our friendship unchanged.

You must not have a TV or read the paper.. Bruce Jenner (Now Caitlyn Jenner) just came out in the last month or so and its been the #1 news story basically

Then just last night a on the TV show Big Brother they had their first transgender player who announced it immediately upon entering the game. She is actually attractive for a woman but I picked her out as a "former" man immediately as you can only remove so much "man" from a body..

 

You must not have a TV or read the paper.. Bruce Jenner (Now Caitlyn Jenner) just came out in the last month or so and its been the #1 news story basically

Then just last night a on the TV show Big Brother they had their first transgender player who announced it immediately upon entering the game. She is actually attractive for a woman but I picked her out as a "former" man immediately as you can only remove so much "man" from a body..

I don't know Caitlyn Jenner; I only know about her. And I don't watch Big Brother.

 

and I don't think it's, "news". More like pandering to the audience the producers imagine they want.
(50 Shades of Jerry Springer.)

 

Wendy, you have always been, and will always be, my friend.

It's not gender, appearance, race, creed nor religion which helps to determine who may be friend or foe; it is what is within the person in question.

You aren't lacking in any aspect of character. I'm proud to call you Friend.

Others should ask themselves if they themselves are worthy of your friendship; your generosity and kindness are difficult to match.

I'm sorry I've not been more available as of late; my world has been a very busy one.

 

Do you take estrogen therapy and testosterone blockers?

 

Way beyond that I'm afraid. I have had SRS, though it didn't go well. I'll be on hormones for the rest of my life. The T-Blocker, spironalacitonine, is pretty rough on the system, so I'm glad to be off of it.

 

Stop deleting responses you do not like. My three posts are gone.

You are anti free speech and anti Christ.

Know that now you will be put in darkness because you seek to keep others in darkness.

 

Did you really sign up to an electronic forum to make your first post about religion?

Read the forum rules.

 

Stop deleting responses you do not like. My three posts are gone.

You are anti free speech and anti Christ.

Know that now you will be put in darkness because you seek to keep others in darkness.

There is a difference between free speech and hate speech. Learn the difference and your posts will stop being deleted.

And try reading Matthew 7:1-3.

It's not your place to judge anyone.

 

One primary problem I have is that many seem to think that you cannot obtain or achieve moral values without the aid of religion or religious instruction.
Max.

 

One primary problem I have is that many seem to think that you cannot obtain or achieve moral values without the aid of religion or religious instruction.
Max.

I think that's a common misconception, on both sides. From the "outside" (and by that, I mean those who do not have religious beliefs) it all looks very hypocritical -- Those who have such beliefs often preach about right and wrong, while they do wrong elsewhere. Speaking from my own experience (and this will vary from person to person), I do not get my morals from my religion per se, they are only supported by it. If you look at the actual teachings of Christ, or Buddha, etc., (Love, caring, helping others) you can't argue with the fact that those are good morals. It doesn't matter who you are. From the "inside", some people (such as a particular member of whom you are all aware) take being a member of a religion as permission to judge others and talk down to them, when the truth is that nobody is perfect and all have done wrong. Even the person judging others is just as much of a "sinner" as those he's condemning.

A good preacher does not condemn others for their faults. I have met a few who use their lives as "perfect examples", saying "you should be more like me" (maybe not in those exact words, but you get the idea). I strongly disagree with this approach as it goes against the religion they are trying to preach. But a preacher who talks about love and forgiveness rather than hate and condemnation is actually following the religion he claims to believe in.

Obviously I'm referring primarily to Christianity in this post, but I'm sure the same concepts can be applied to most other ones out there as well.

That's enough "preaching" from me

Matt

 

I grew up at the end of WW11, and although young at the time, one of my First experiences in 'unjust' judgements on moral behavior was the allowance for an individual to be a Conscientious Objector, who many did not exactly think highly of, but the thing that I questioned was, because someone claimed that because of his religion, he could not bring himself to kill another person, the non-religious person could not claim that this offended him in the same way and was conscripted regardless.
There have been many, many comparable examples since, believe me.
After years of thinking I was alone in this vein of thinking, I discovered Christopher Hitchins and Richard Dawkins, et al.
Max.

 

Religion and I got off to a bad start. I was about 7 or 8 years old when my sister dragged me into, "Sunday School" where they told me I was such a bad person that I was already condemned to damnation for all eternity if I did not something something something. I didn't believe them.

 

My religion is kindness. (Dali lama)

I lived in Northwest Florida for about 22 years. It was very common for a religious zealot to invade your space just to tell you that you were going to hell because you didn't believe in their particular sub-group of a sub-group religious sect.

 

Guys, Religion is indeed a taboo subject here, because it leads to flaming, always.

I see our friend received a temporary ban, and did not seem to get the message. I did not impose the first ban, but I did make it permanent when he proceeded to show he wanted to pick up where he left off.

I am religious, but choose not to bring it up on this site. It is no one elses business but mine and God's.

 

There is a difference between free speech and hate speech. Learn the difference and your posts will stop being deleted.
And try reading Matthew 7:1-3.
It's not your place to judge anyone.

Will you please describe in terms that are unambiguous the difference of which you are so certain? For example, is a statement, such as, " I hate spinach," hate speech?

John

 

I have no trouble telling the difference. The three posts by the newly banned that were deleted were pretty bad. If you need to see them I'll sent them via PM.

I have heard worse, to my face.

Still, most folk have been decent and well spoken. I do not mind talking about it and answering questions. The core concept is that transgenderism is fundamentally caused by a medical condition. I would not wish it on anyone, enemy or no.