ok i know you all wont like this

Christie,
 For your information I never threatened anyone in anyway shape or form. I am sorry if someone took it that way but it wasn't meant to be darougitory.
 I took some of the suggestions that was given by the people on the Indiana Board and the ones from my pastor, weighed the advice, then decided to do what the pastor suggested. So here I am! Trying to get some advice from the nice people on this board, about what to do because you and your so called friends that have now followed me here, have made me so depressed that all I get done is eat. You know a lessor person than I might committ suicide because of the way that you all have trashed my good name. I am going to seek legal representation to get this harrassment stopped! There is a free legal place in the town in which I now live and I am going to get an appointment asap. So if I were you I would stop this kind of posting and stop it now. I am no longer posting on the Indiana board per a few requests so stop following me. That definetly harrassing me. You and the others are not going to run me off of here.
 Have a nice day and have a great mothers day!  I hope you get whatever it is you are looking for too! Maybe if you find it you will be so happy you won't keep bothering me.

Aloha Jacki......I always shudder a little when I read a post like yours...but part of me so totally agrees and understands. We all come from a past where religion was either taught, ignored or disparaged. My upbringing included powerful religious indoctrination and a "our religion is right, and everyone else's is wrong." When I became an adult and began studying the religions of the world, and then going to college and becoming a psychologist my views became more of being interested in what made people who they are than sticking to something that was drummed into my head from childhood.

So, long story short....these days I tend to respect peoples' beliefs, and keep my own very private where I believe they belong. Constantly referring to one's beliefs makes me wary because it always feels like my childhood, so I skim over to be honest. The part that bothers me is finding myself being here less and less and that is partly because of this issue. So many lovely people and so much love to give here.

Not sure I'll hit "submit".....I guess we'll see.

Aloha nui loa, (which means a lot of love)

Maui Karen

I'm proud of us for tackling this issue! See- we can talk about it without getting angry and hurting each other. Of course we are all different in how we believe. And thank you Karen for hitting "submit".

I'm with Nannyre. I walk a faith led walk. For me my faith is such an important reflexive part of me that I often respond with feelings God has put in my heart. While I often don't understand how people who don't live a faith filled life get through life,I also know that they DO get through life and very well.
I have a great deal of respect for the wisdom and helpfullness of the original poster and lightswitch *****sponded. I enjoy and appreciate all of your posts.
I also,like many of you, know some so called Christians that I would cringe to be associated with,just like there are some non Christians I would cringe to be associated with.
I ussually stay WAAAAAY out of these threads cause I don't like confrontations and I won't participate.
I'm not even sure what I'm trying to say...LOL but I think I'm trying to say that there are some believers who are obnoxiously over insistent and vocal;often unkind in the name of their beliefs and really don't do their cause any good.
There are non believers who share these same traits. There are also nonbelievers and believers who are kind and quiet in their belief or non belief and try to live successfully and helpfully and not be obnoxious or overpowering.
I guess I want you all to know that not every Christian is as blatent as others.

Holly

Hi Jacki,
Stay, just skim over some posts.
I'm into Spirituality and embrace it full force. As we get older, spirituality becomes important to some of us. We don't judge, so don't you dare go away.

Diversity comes in all box's. Race, religion, who we are, our backgrounds. If we were all the same, it would get pretty boring. So thanks for speaking your mind, we welcome that.
If we didn't that wouldn't be "Christian" would it?
That's why I'm more into Spirituality instead of a certain religion (I'm a "recovering Catholic"), I go to a non-denominational Church and the pastor is one of my favorite ex-priest.

So even though you don't believe in God, everyone please remember it takes all of us to expose light on all different situations. God really does know all the answers and for those who don't know or believe in God, that's okay too. We just all need one another and to be kind to each other. Most of all to just love ourselves too.

thank you all for your kind and insightful responses to my post this
morning.

i think perhaps you are all right, that i must overlook things that rub
me the wrong way, and take away the good from this group, and
there is much of that for sure.

everyone please be safe and well,

jacki

Jacki,

I must comment on the way you have handled this. Your post was respectful, considerate and well thought out. You have taken a subject that usually sends me running for cover and made it (at least in MY eyes) curtious and civilized.

Sometimes it's hard to remember that we all come from so many different ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds because we have become so close and have the same WLS journies and struggles in common.

I'm glad you have made the decision to stay. You've shown us all that we can have fundemental differences without being ugly about it.


With respect,
Susan

I agree with Susan, you handled this very respectfully. I am a non-practicing Catholic, went to Catholic schools for 12 years. I got enough religion there for a lifetime (I'd like to think). Plus my late uncle was a priest. But I try to respect everyone's beliefs as to religion.

I really don't like someone shoving it in my face, but I understand it is a comfort for many people, and I respect that. I know it is for my mother. I just expect everyone to respect my beliefs just as I respect theirs. So when I don't like something, I just ignore it.
 
Not everything interests me, I know everyone isn't interested in everything I post (I realize not everyone's a White Sox fan or a baseball fan or cares a hoot about what goes on in the newspaper industry). We all have our corner of the world.

Please don't leave, just contribute what you can and ignore what you don't like. We need the diversity of opinions here. That's what makes this a great board.

Hi, Jacki,

I'm not particularly religious and I must say I don't find these boards overly Christian or religion-
oriented.  Perhaps you're being overly-sensitive. 

I find the usual posters to be wonderfully supportive and compassionate towards everyone,
including me, and I'm new to them.  Many of the 50+ group have been friends for years, yet
they are generous enough to extend a helping hand. to all.  I don't see religion taking over the
commenting. 

Those posts that are a bit too newsy, personal and lengthy - I just don't read - and go on to the next topic.

So, just pick and choose what you want to read, and move on. 

Katherine B

hi katherine

thats what im going to do, pick and choose some more.  yes everyone is supportive
here, no argument there.

thanks, jacki