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MissConstrue
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07 Sep 2009, 7:04 am

Khan_Sama wrote:
MissConstrue wrote:
Khan_Sama wrote:
When I was a pot smoking atheist, I had dozens of friends, we all had the same interests. However, they all had a bad influence on me.

Now that I'm a conservative Baha'i, I have only one good friend, who lives an hour's drive away. He's soon moving further away, a two hour's drive. He's been nothing but the best influence on me. Initially, we had no similar interests, but now, his interests are mine, and my interests are his.

My life is now much better than it was before.

These decisions can have a profound impact on our lives.


What kind of conserative? IMO, and in experience there is the mob mentality that goes along with the conservative theory.

For instance, it was ok to kill jews and other so-called inferiors to his race b/c Hitler said so.

I guess I expect that from a so-called conservative.


In the sense that I'm trying to obey the laws and moral behaviour guidelines of the faith, as much as possible. There are no groups or factions here.


Yes but in a sense it is a group and faction.

For instance, when you look at the religion of Christianity, it seems pretty peaceful until you look at the standards of moral. For instance, casting away the unbelievers or in history's extreme's killing and slaughtering factions of religions that do not follow up one's ideal of religion.


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Fuzzy
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07 Sep 2009, 7:22 am

MissConstrue wrote:
For instance, when you look at the religion of Christianity, it seems pretty peaceful until you look at the standards of moral. For instance, casting away the unbelievers or in history's extreme's killing and slaughtering factions of religions that do not follow up one's ideal of religion.


What he means is that the Baha'i dont have subgroups, the way that Christianity has Lutherans, Catholics, Seventh Day Adventists, Calvinists, etc. I dont know much about Baha'i, but I believe it is structured in a way that makes such subdivisions impractical to unlikely, maybe pointless.


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MissConstrue
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07 Sep 2009, 7:50 am

Fuzzy wrote:
MissConstrue wrote:
For instance, when you look at the religion of Christianity, it seems pretty peaceful until you look at the standards of moral. For instance, casting away the unbelievers or in history's extreme's killing and slaughtering factions of religions that do not follow up one's ideal of religion.


What he means is that the Baha'i dont have subgroups, the way that Christianity has Lutherans, Catholics, Seventh Day Adventists, Calvinists, etc. I dont know much about Baha'i, but I believe it is structured in a way that makes such subdivisions impractical to unlikely, maybe pointless.


Ah, well in that case I......can argue no more... :(


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Khan_Sama
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07 Sep 2009, 9:05 am

Yes, we don't have any sects. After all, unity is one of the main goals of the faith. This unity is not restricted to Baha'is alone, but the whole world.



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07 Sep 2009, 9:33 am

mgran wrote:
How will changing what you say you believe change who you are?


There you go again. Being logical.

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07 Sep 2009, 12:21 pm

I know exactly what you are going through. You want to fit in with other people, but don’t compromise being yourself. Being a Christian does not mean you have to be a conservative. I am a Christian and an independent. I think you should take the advice of the previous post and question what you believe. What do you believe? Also, explore different parts of the country maybe Texas is not the right place for you.



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07 Sep 2009, 2:09 pm

bdubs wrote:
Also, explore different parts of the country maybe Texas is not the right place for you.


My experience supports this statement.



Tim_Tex
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07 Sep 2009, 3:27 pm

Texas is one of the few places I can afford, and can easily find work.

I am a responsible, goal-oriented, career-focused person, and I take good care of my health and have good hygeine, yet people are hung up on my religious and political beliefs.

As for the sexual stuff...a while back, someone posted about how a couple must be together for x number of months before they have sex. If the guy leaves before then because it's more than he can handle, then he was just going to use her for sex. You can't put arbitrary time periods on things like that. In the other thread I posted in L&D (which is now locked), people misinterpreted my "sexual openness" as meaning I was wanting a booty call or was into polyamory, when I am not. I meant someone who doesn't put arbitrary time periods for when they can be intimate, and is open to certain positions, or doing it outside of marriage.


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pandabear
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07 Sep 2009, 6:51 pm

Outside of marriage would constitute adultery. If you wanted a wife who was interested in that, then renouncing Christianity may be morally superior to hypocrisy.

As for certain positions, I believe that the US Supreme Court struck down Texas' anti-sodomy laws. Nothing really to worry about there.



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07 Sep 2009, 8:50 pm

There are Christians who don't have a problem with it.

I have watched porn before, too. There. I said it.


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pandabear
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07 Sep 2009, 9:23 pm

Christians who don't have a problem with adultery?



Are you sure that you wouldn't have a problem if your wife cuckolded you?



Tim_Tex
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07 Sep 2009, 9:31 pm

I meant not having a problem with doing it outside of marriage.

I would never cheat, nor would I let anyone cheat.


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NeantHumain
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07 Sep 2009, 10:17 pm

Tim,

I'm an atheist, but even I would say renouncing your religion to be better liked is silly. My opinion is you're better off just worrying less about possible religious and ideological differences between you and others and just interacting with them as people instead.



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07 Sep 2009, 10:35 pm

NeantHumain wrote:
Tim,

I'm an atheist, but even I would say renouncing your religion to be better liked is silly. My opinion is you're better off just worrying less about possible religious and ideological differences between you and others and just interacting with them as people instead.

hmmm, I on the other hand wouldn't like to renounce my beliefs, just make people think that I believe what they believe, not sure if that would be hyprocricy, I'm realising that things might be better if I do that, but I'm unable to, sadly. It seems renouncing, in all honesty to a belief system to be .......... easier and more honest?


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MissConstrue
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07 Sep 2009, 11:26 pm

Well can't say much here b/c nothing has really been "scientifically" proved that a faith based system is worse than a non belief system.

I will say though, is it not more healthy in giving yourself some faith for a change Tim?

Before you answere that, please don't comment with the rejections you've had and how much they've you. Not that I can't relate but have you tried "suspension of disbelief"?....Please do, it's not about being an actor but giving up some of your identity to another. BTW, I'm not very well versed as some of the regular PPR fans are but I think it would be wise not to choose sides but let yourself choose them for you. Stop thinking you should be a certain way, even though ppl have told you. Believe I know which is no longer why I put my location down. Get into other people's interests...and again this calls for a suspension of disbelief. Doesn't mean you have to belief in what they do, it's about finding what there is that you missed out on or think you're not interested in.


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08 Sep 2009, 7:54 am

Tim_Tex wrote:
I meant someone who doesn't put arbitrary time periods for when they can be intimate, and is open to certain positions, or doing it outside of marriage.


You're a Lutheran. Martin Luther was a Roman Catholic priest who married. I think that he enjoyed sex, and possibly various positions.

If you're thinking about trying positions that you've watched in pornographic movies--some of them appear not to be especially comfortable, and are performed primarily for the benefit of the camera angle. Unless you're planning on filming your exploits, it would probably be better not to be overly ambitious.

So, by "outside of marriage", you in fact mean "prior to marriage?" Does your church have an official position on this?