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Pressure by others because of your religion? - Page 2

Sorry to hear that Mss. I cannot speak for your Preacher but like JB says I think you have to give the members credit for calling you and being interested in you, you cannot really judge why they're calling you and stuff (we don't read minds or hearts after all ). The same with the Preacher, maybe he's trying his best but remember that not everybody knows exactly why they go to Church to and even though it may seems annoyning receiving all those phone calls and stuff, it is nice in my opinion that somebody is thinking about you I don't know I say this because I visit every months those sisters who don't come to Church and they feel really appreciated that someone thought about them, my intention is not to bother them or make them feel uncomfortable...I just want to be there for them and yes see them getting back in the Church . Some people just do not know how to talk with someone that doesn't want to get back into the Church, they need to be more sensitive and caring about the person and their feelings, instead of asking when are you going to get back into the Church :
Regards to the Preacher and the tithing it is sad to know that sometimes people feel like a 'number' rather than an individual in the Church we should all feel loved, cared and nurished...but happens in all Churches, because Churches are led here on Earth by people and we are imperfect....that's why we need to be more sensitive about other's people feelings.
I know how you feel Mss, just remember God loves you and your family and He has a Plan for you....and he will show it to you very soon

religion of others Pressure

I believe often people who don't follow the teachings of their faith want to see you also not follow it. Their concience is making them feel bad and to help them feel better they need to convince themselves that no one lives their faith fully so it is o.k. that they are doing whatever it is they are doing. While they are correct in thinking no one is perfect, that doesn't mean there aren't a lot of people honestly trying to fully live according to the teachings of their religion.

Those who really care for you want you to be happy and generally won't try to persuade you to fall from your beliefs. Those that are constantly commenting on how you are not living up to what you profess to believe are really just trying to make themselves feel better.

I think others watch those of us who try to live righteously, but not all are hoping we fail. Some just can't believe it. To them we can be good examples. It is for these people that I worry about how I live my faith publicly. If I don't do my best when they are watching, I can harm them in that they might think my faith can't be all that great or my religious beliefs can't be all that strong. So, they may not then seek to find what I have. Those who are looking to see me fail, will not be converted by my success either, so to me it doesn't matter what they think or what they observe.

Edited: tenaheff on 23rd Jan, 2004 - 9:01pm

Pressure by others because of your religion? Beliefs Religious General

I, too am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I think our faith is one of the hardest to live. That is, if you are an active LDS, and follow and live all of the gospel doctrines. To dress modestly, to be selective in the movies, t.v. programs, music and books that we read.

Here I am, 51 years old, and I do not go to see R-rated and up movies. I don't read anything that is about maiming, destroying, possessing children, or that is sexually explicate.

It is pretty difficult to find a public place to meet with non-member friends. My town has only two restaurants that are not also bars. It doesn't bother them that I don't drink coffee, tea or alcohol. But they don't understand when I won't go into the taverns or bars to socialize with them, even though soda pop, juices and water are available there. It is the atmosphere in these places. Not just the cigarette smoke, but the rough language, and rough attitudes. These friends want to meet outside of their homes to visit, and I would much prefer to meet them in their homes.

I am divorced, and it is very difficult for a non-member date to understand that I will never be intimate with him, nor will there be necking, petting, etc. unless we are married. Men, even those in my age group, are not looking for marriage, they are looking for the benefits of marriage with-out the commitment.

The guidelines of my faith in regards to dating are the same for the youth (16 and up) as it is for the divorced/widowed members. Just because we were once married, doesn't mean that the "rules" are different.

Prospective dates were 'turned off' when I wouldn't date them before I was legally divorced. According to my faith, I was still married. Had I dated before the divorce was legal it would have been adultery.

For 30 years I was in-active. Compared to the 5 years I have been back and active, I am so very much happier. It may be a hard religion to live, but the blessings I have recieved in being faithful have been awesome!! I am a much calmer, happier person too.

Page 2 religion of others Pressure

That sounds more like a cult to me or anything BUT Christian. I stepped away from Christianity. Just because most of the people I see, hear, whatever, are total hypocrites. They judge people who are different, either colorwise, culturally, sexually, you name it. The more I really look hard at religion the more I see the people in it creating problems. This does not mean that I dont believe in God. It means that I am starting to not believe in the Christian populus. Now I am more of a spiritual person who believes in God but not in any faith of religion. I also feel that I do not need the "community" of any church to bring me closer to God. Has anyone else felt this way?

religion of others Pressure

Viking said:

Which part sounds un-Christian? Keeping our minds and bodies clean and free from sin? I don't understand how that sounds un-Christian. Could you elaborate on that? What specifically sounds "cult-ish"?

That's just one of the pressures that LDS members deal with on a regular basis... "Isn't your church really a cult?" It's just ridiculous. They don't actually investigate it any further than what someone told them, or something they overheard but didn't really understand.

Roz

Pressure by others because of your religion?

I was replying to slmshdy about the church congregation harassing her by all the phone calls and the minister asking for money...not what youre talking about.
Asking someone to come back to the "flock" is one thing but berating them to do it is totally another. One reason I cannot stand the JVs are because they tell me if I dont join their religion I will be going to hell.

Pressure others of religion - Page 2

Oh! Thank you for clarifying.

Offtopic but, It would be helpful if you would quote from the message you are replying to. Please check the FAQs or the Help section to learn how.

Roz

Pressure others of religion General Religious Beliefs - Page 2

People who don't follow a particular religion tend to be very critical of others who have a faith or religion that they follow, I know this isn't true of everybody, but it does happen a lot.

It's almost like they sit and wait for the other person to make a mistake or 'trip up', just so they can pounce on them and put them down in their beliefs.

I just find it incredible how many people don't have a faith of their own, but can't wait to criticize someone elses.

I know of a couple, the wife is a Christian, and the Husband is not, and they have been married for about 40 years.They seem to have lost the 'spark' in their marriage, and the Husband is quite mean to the wife financially.
It was commented to me several times by a friend of the couples, what a sham their marriage was, and what a fake it is that the wife carries on as though nothing is wrong, and how the Christian wife is always covering up for her Husband.
I told the other person that it was nobody's business except the couples and God, and secondly, had they considered that as a Christian, the woman was probably working extra hard to make the marriage work, as she wouldn't believe in just divorcing the Husband.

It saddens me how people who are supposed to be friends quickly jumps on the attack, just to make a point of religion against another person.