Twilightprincess wrote:
ColHamilton wrote:
He is a Baptist of some sort, and apparently his church practices 'lay preaching', which he has participated in. He also reads a lot of books on apologetics that he is trying to get me to read. I feel like an idiot typing this, but when it's just the two of us getting lunch or whatever, he can really make it sounds very convincing. As I say though, Christianity really screwed me up in the past.
I have a Baptist church near me that’s like that. Nutty!
I’d firmly say that you aren’t interested and no longer wish to discuss it. If he asks why, you can say that you don’t wish to discuss that either. If he persists, I’d report it.
Definitely, don’t let yourself get sucked back into it.
Apologetics are filled with faulty logic and reasoning. I occasionally engage when I feel like a laugh, but for your personal situation, I’d stay far away. If there happens to be a loving God, he would understand your personal needs and wouldn’t penalize you for taking care of yourself.
I like Dawkins, too. Have you read The God Delusion?
I can relate. I grew up in a Southern-Fried Baptist type church. With the exception of 3 uncles, I was soundly told I was going to eternal damnation because of the music I was listening to (and still listen to), namely, J. S. Bach, Beethoven and Brahms. I was told flat out if it wasn’t either Lowell Mason or Fanny Crosby Hymnody, I was doomed. Yes, they could make a case against Beethoven, as well as Brahms, but Bach? Bach’s credo was the same as Martin Luther, namely Soli Deo Gratia. Unfortunately, this congregation, like many evangelical (read fundamentalist) denominations considered Lutherans and Episcopalians to be the same as Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians: they’re all destined for eternal damnation.
Oddly enough, my first professional gig after I got my BA in Music was with a congregation affiliated with what is now the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (which, by the way, is no longer evangelical, nor Lutheran, in my not so humble opinion.) Despite what my father thought of me leaving the church I grew up in, this particular ELCA treated me well until about 2015, when the now senior pastor of that congregation trumped up charges against the then music director, and had him fired. When that happened, I left, as I was becoming more disenchanted with the direction the ELCA was taking, with the ordination of openly gay and lesbian clergy, as well as the sanctification of same sex marriages. I left them for the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, who at least, in my not so humble opinion, have their heads screwed on straight. At least they still treat me well.
24 Jun 2020, 11:24 am
