Jump to content
  • Welcome to the TransPulse Forums!

    We offer a safe, inclusive community for transgender and gender non-conforming folks, as well as their loved ones, to find support and information.  Join today!

My New Approach To Fundamentalists


Guest Leigh

Recommended Posts

Guest Leigh

so, as those of you who know me know, i am not a religious person. i am however highly spiritual and (i hope) very open minded.

basically, i take what i think is good and true from any religious, philosophical, etc.. teaching.

recently i have been very angry toward people who i will call fundamentalist "christians" (the quotation marks are there cuz i don't think that they are real Christians, since they're clearly oblivious to the teachings of Christ).

but i have felt inspired to try and educate these people as much as i can. for example, if someone condemns me in the name of Jesus, instead of telling them off, i will quote Bible verses to them (some of my favorites are "judge not lest ye be judged" from Mathew chapter 7, "let him who is without sin cast the first stone" from John chapter 8, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" also in Mathew chapt. 7 as well as Luke chapt. 6, and "love thy neighbor as thyself" which is one of the ten commandments, and as Jesus says in Mathew 22 it is one of the two most important).

i have yet to see it have any real affect, but all i can do is keep trying and hope that they will open their minds to love.

i encourage all of you, not just the Christians here to do the same. after all, if we stand silent, who will fight for us?

peace&love

Leigh

Link to comment

Excellent Leigh,

Way to turn the other check!

I like this idea and it is the way all Christians should act.

Love ya,

Sally

Link to comment
Guest Leigh
Excellent Leigh,

Way to turn the other check!

I like this idea and it is the way all Christians should act.

Love ya,

Sally

thanks Sally...i was really wondering what had become of this topic...lol...and here it is with a nice little reply

peace&love

Leigh

Link to comment
Guest 1charlotte1

I have always felt these people are what is refered to as the fake Christians. The ones who lead others away from Christ. I practice Wicca. I am ,however, quite educated in other faiths. With maybe one exeption, all my christian friends act as I would expect Christ to. This is great! They r the best!!

Hugz, charlotte

Link to comment
Guest Leigh
I have always felt these people are what is refered to as the fake Christians. The ones who lead others away from Christ. I practice Wicca. I am ,however, quite educated in other faiths. With maybe one exeption, all my christian friends act as I would expect Christ to. This is great! They r the best!!

Hugz, charlotte

i would have to agree that these ppl aren't real Christians and just lead ppl away from christ (and any life of love). unfortunately i don't have many Christian friends (most of them are on this site..) but my mom is a Christian (we have our disagreements, but i think a lot of her ideas that i disagree with are culturaly/generational).

i have just recently begun to be very interested in Christianity again because i have noticed that there is a lot of discrepency in Biblical teachings and how (many of) those who call themselves Christian act.

i'm always fighting for truth and equality, so i have been wanting to correct these people, and while i'm at it spread love. ;)

i'm glad to know that there are true Christians still....if only they were the ones with all the money..lol..

peace&love

leigh

Link to comment
Guest April63
"love thy neighbor as thyself" which is one of the ten commandments, and as Jesus says in Mathew 22 it is one of the two most important).

Love thy neighbor as thyself is not one of the ten commandments. It is a commandment, but not one of the ten.

It's an interesting world out there. I don't think they lead people away from Christ, but instead, they focus on a minor part of the doctrine and use that as a selling point. True Christians sell (well, that's not really the right word) the major points. They still believe the minor points, but they don't stick them in your face all the time. Just time to time.

Link to comment
Guest Leigh
Love thy neighbor as thyself is not one of the ten commandments. It is a commandment, but not one of the ten.

It's an interesting world out there. I don't think they lead people away from Christ, but instead, they focus on a minor part of the doctrine and use that as a selling point. True Christians sell (well, that's not really the right word) the major points. They still believe the minor points, but they don't stick them in your face all the time. Just time to time.

oh, you're right, my mistake (like i said not religious...lol...)

but i think in a lot of ways those false christians who spread hate do lead ppl away from Christ. or push them away...

i mean, they teach hate instead of love. that isn't the teaching of Christ.

that was what led me to leave the church when i was in high school. i didn't want to belong to a body of hate. and i rejected all religion for several years afterward because of it. i believed that Christians were like those people who hated me, and i hated them because of it.

it wasn't until i realized that it was just some more messed up people that i could move on and take a second look at what the bible actually teaches.

so in that way, they definitely lead ppl away from Christ.

peace&love

leigh

Link to comment
Guest ~Brenda~

My Dearest Leigh,

Your growth has been so wonderful to witness. Rising above the hate and responding with love is not only mature of you, it is truely spiritual.

I am always in awe of your honest being.

Love

bernii

Link to comment
Guest Leigh
My Dearest Leigh,

Your growth has been so wonderful to witness. Rising above the hate and responding with love is not only mature of you, it is truely spiritual.

I am always in awe of your honest being.

Love

bernii

thank you darling,

all i can do is try to be a good person..i just hope that i can.

peace&love

leigh

Link to comment
Guest Marissa Anastasia
so, as those of you who know me know, i am not a religious person. i am however highly spiritual and (i hope) very open minded.

basically, i take what i think is good and true from any religious, philosophical, etc.. teaching.

recently i have been very angry toward people who i will call fundamentalist "christians" (the quotation marks are there cuz i don't think that they are real Christians, since they're clearly oblivious to the teachings of Christ).

but i have felt inspired to try and educate these people as much as i can. for example, if someone condemns me in the name of Jesus, instead of telling them off, i will quote Bible verses to them (some of my favorites are "judge not lest ye be judged" from Mathew chapter 7, "let him who is without sin cast the first stone" from John chapter 8, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" also in Mathew chapt. 7 as well as Luke chapt. 6, and "love thy neighbor as thyself" which is one of the ten commandments, and as Jesus says in Mathew 22 it is one of the two most important).

i have yet to see it have any real affect, but all i can do is keep trying and hope that they will open their minds to love.

i encourage all of you, not just the Christians here to do the same. after all, if we stand silent, who will fight for us?

peace&love

Leigh

Hi Leigh,

Being a former fundamentalist Preacher (20 years), I can relate to everything you've said. Some of the worst experiences I had during my life in this movement was at the hands of so-called Christ followers. The majority of fundamentalist preachers are in it for the money...they are businessmen. Most don't work a real job and live like royalty. For what it's worth, I didn't take a penny from my church. I worked a real job in the machine shop. I never met a Baptist preacher who didn't teach tithing is for today. It's not. I was somewhat of a renegade. I withstood a few of them to their face and excoriated them for their underhanded power tripping. Finally, I became so disgusted with the whole organized religion thing I bailed...haven't set foot in a church in 7 years.

Some folks are sincere, but sincerely wrong. They have cloistered themselves so much, they have no clue what the real world is like. Oh, I could tell you stories. Anyway, that's all behind me...I've gone 180 degrees...I no longer judge people...the truth has made me free. Just thought I'd share a little with you. I don't mean to offend anyone who disagrees with me...at the end of the day, our relationship with Christ (if we have one, and I don't), is personal and nobody's business. Good post Leigh. Take care,

Marissa

Link to comment
Some folks are sincere, but sincerely wrong. They have cloistered themselves so much, they have no clue what the real world is like. Oh, I could tell you stories. Anyway, that's all behind me...I've gone 180 degrees...I no longer judge people...the truth has made me free. Just thought I'd share a little with you. I don't mean to offend anyone who disagrees with me...at the end of the day, our relationship with Christ (if we have one, and I don't), is personal and nobody's business. Good post Leigh. Take care,

You are so right that the relationship with God is personal. Many times here I've seen people loose their faith from the bad acts of others who say they are Christians. Then they hate the religion denying themselves. In a sense they let those people destroy their beliefs and empower them to do so. No one has the power to affect your personal relationship unless you let them. Personal spirituality can be a comfort to many and you don't need a church or priest for that. Chist's basic message is awesome. Focus on that. Forget those who interpret it in distatsetful ways.

I'm not very religious myself but do have a personal relationship but I've seen what personal faith can do once you make peace with it. It makes sense that people transitioning in mind body and soul often question or reshape their faith in whatever they believe. Eventually they find a solution they are happy with.

Laura

Link to comment

I have always admired Laura and her way of hadeling difficult subjects with such ease and clarity.

I have always tried to live my life according to the teachings of Jesus and to be the best person that I can be, I fall short on occasions but not because I didn't try!

I used to go to church every Sunday but I feel no different in my relationship with God if I attend or not.

Church has become a Sunday routine for me like putting on my clothes before I leave the house - I was going to please my family and then my wife - they have fires the minister that I like so much and I have stopped going all together.

My therapist suggested a trans friendly church in my area that I might give a try - it could be a good source of support but my faith remains my faith no matter where I may attend.

Love ya,

Sally

Link to comment
Guest Leigh
Hi Leigh,

Being a former fundamentalist Preacher (20 years), I can relate to everything you've said. Some of the worst experiences I had during my life in this movement was at the hands of so-called Christ followers. The majority of fundamentalist preachers are in it for the money...they are businessmen. Most don't work a real job and live like royalty. For what it's worth, I didn't take a penny from my church. I worked a real job in the machine shop. I never met a Baptist preacher who didn't teach tithing is for today. It's not. I was somewhat of a renegade. I withstood a few of them to their face and excoriated them for their underhanded power tripping. Finally, I became so disgusted with the whole organized religion thing I bailed...haven't set foot in a church in 7 years.

Some folks are sincere, but sincerely wrong. They have cloistered themselves so much, they have no clue what the real world is like. Oh, I could tell you stories. Anyway, that's all behind me...I've gone 180 degrees...I no longer judge people...the truth has made me free. Just thought I'd share a little with you. I don't mean to offend anyone who disagrees with me...at the end of the day, our relationship with Christ (if we have one, and I don't), is personal and nobody's business. Good post Leigh. Take care,

Marissa

it is unfortunate that so many are in it for the money, but i draw comfort from the fact that if Jesus were around today, he would do the same to them that he did to the money lenders in the temple (Mathew chapt. 21)

the way i look at it is these people are the same as those who were the religious heads in Jesus' day. they're just there for the money and power (or most of them).

and Jesus would say the same to them that he did to the Pharisees countless times...

i know what you mean about the sincere but wrong people too (i think my mom falls into that category) and those who cloister themselves away (i was home-schooled for religious reasons...so that's the most personal part of organized "christianity" that i have a problem with).

i just hope that you have been able to heal enough that it doesn't hurt you.

peace&love

leigh

Link to comment

This site is a learning experience. It's like picking thousands of brains for similar experiences. There is a lot of wisdom in the stories told here and the solutions found.

With all of the mail I get a few are from hateful fundementalists not a lot but enough to be irritating. My intial reaction was anger and I'd fire off letters and bible quotes as good as I got. Did it do any good? No. I lost my faith and blamed it on religion. I let them take away my personal relationship. It took years to get it back once i put the blame where it lies. Now such letters don't phase me at all. I write polite fact based rebuttals. I treat them in a Christlike way which actually takes the wind out of their sails. I was in a Seminary myself for a couple of years so that helps my arguements.

Laura

Link to comment
Guest Marissa Anastasia
This site is a learning experience. It's like picking thousands of brains for similar experiences. There is a lot of wisdom in the stories told here and the solutions found.

With all of the mail I get a few are from hateful fundementalists not a lot but enough to be irritating. My intial reaction was anger and I'd fire off letters and bible quotes as good as I got. Did it do any good? No. I lost my faith and blamed it on religion. I let them take away my personal relationship. It took years to get it back once i put the blame where it lies. Now such letters don't phase me at all. I write polite fact based rebuttals. I treat them in a Christlike way which actually takes the wind out of their sails. I was in a Seminary myself for a couple of years so that helps my arguements.

Laura

Laura,

Your experiences mirror mine very closely. I lost my faith as well, but I blamed it on God/a god...I went through the furnace and he/she was nowhere to be found. My issue was prayer...when they weren't answered after a long protracted period of time I concluded God wasn't listening so He doesn't exist...when prayer goes on answered, a million 'reasons' are given as to why they weren't answered. To me, prayer in Scripture is presented in a very uncomplicated manner...it's not rocket science, and I'm of the opinion that you can attribute or not attribute just about anything to all the caveats and nuances of prayer...if you don't hold your mouth just right, your prayers won't be answered...I bought into that for a long time, even preached it myself...I've been looking for something, anything that cannot be attributed to human agency...in other words, something I can sink my teeth into...it just isn't happening...I don't mean to ramble about my own negative experiences...the death knell for me was the whole man made denominational scheme and the lack of honesty and integrity by my former preacher brethren...it got to the point where I felt revulsion over the shenanigans of men of God so-called, and the abundance of very mean spirited people who piously sit in their pews in their Sunday's best.

Link to comment
Guest Sarinah

Most of you would probably have called me a fundamentalist Christian a few years ago. I believed that homosexuality and transexuality came from lust. I was so blinded by what I had been taught that I couldnt even see myself. One of the things that I try to remember in dealing with other people is that we are all decieved by our experiences in life. We believe based on what we have been taught and what we have seen that our way is the right way. Although our way might be the right way for ourselves we cannot expect it to be the right way for anyone else. It doesnt matter if your conservative or liberal. If our differences create a conflict there is no call for blame or anger. We must say "this is who I am, I dont ask that you agree with me, but if this creates a conflict between us then we must take the time to understand and accept the differences between us." Of course there will always be some who will be abrasive or condeming or unwilling to even hear you, but if you make the effort to make amends and they deny you then it is on their heads.

Link to comment
Guest Leigh
Most of you would probably have called me a fundamentalist Christian a few years ago. I believed that homosexuality and transexuality came from lust. I was so blinded by what I had been taught that I couldnt even see myself. One of the things that I try to remember in dealing with other people is that we are all decieved by our experiences in life. We believe based on what we have been taught and what we have seen that our way is the right way. Although our way might be the right way for ourselves we cannot expect it to be the right way for anyone else. It doesnt matter if your conservative or liberal. If our differences create a conflict there is no call for blame or anger. We must say "this is who I am, I dont ask that you agree with me, but if this creates a conflict between us then we must take the time to understand and accept the differences between us." Of course there will always be some who will be abrasive or condeming or unwilling to even hear you, but if you make the effort to make amends and they deny you then it is on their heads.

very true, Sarinah.

all we can do is try, and be patient, and love.

if others live differently, and don't want to change, we can't do anything about it.

and if we all live in love, we can still disagree, but we can agree to do so.

peace&love

Leigh

Link to comment

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Who's Online   5 Members, 0 Anonymous, 189 Guests (See full list)

    • MaryEllen
    • MaybeRob
    • SamC
    • MaeBe
    • Ashley0616
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      80.7k
    • Total Posts
      768.4k
  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      12,025
    • Most Online
      8,356

    JamesyGreen
    Newest Member
    JamesyGreen
    Joined
  • Today's Birthdays

    1. Alscully
      Alscully
      (35 years old)
    2. floruisse
      floruisse
      (40 years old)
    3. Jasmine25
      Jasmine25
      (22 years old)
    4. Trev0rK
      Trev0rK
      (26 years old)
  • Posts

    • KymmieL
      Hey, everyone. my life is going down the tubes. at least I think. So, today. A customer called about his car, I told him that the oil change was done. The parts to fix the check engine light are ordered. He can come and get it. For the weekend if he wants. Customer says I didn't want an oil change. it was check the engine light and check for an oil leak. Checking the work order says oil change. The boss wrote the vehicle up. checking with the customer on services wanted.   Being that I wrote down the appointment in the book. and clearly states oil leak. She is complaining because she can't read my small ish writing. It seems she read oil and assumed it as an oil change. It seems like she is blaming me.  She wound up going home because she was too upset. She is stressing about an eye problem she has, she has to get eye surgery it seems she has a tear in her eye.    I feel that I am short for this job. because of the BS they are blaming me on. Plus I am still upset about the trust issue. If either one of the bosses start their Shite tomorrow. I am walking out.    
    • Davie
    • Abigail Genevieve
      "I love you so much,"  Lois said.  They met in the driveway. "I could not live without you." "Neither could I." "What are we going to do?" "Find another counselor?" "No. I think we need to solve this ourselves." "Do you think we can?" "I don't know.  But what I know is that I don't want to go through that again.  I think we have to hope we can find a solution." "Otherwise, despair." "Yeah.   Truce?" "Okay,  truce." And they hugged.   "When we know what we want we can figure out how to get there."   That began six years of angry battles, with Odie insisted he could dress as he pleased and Lois insisting it did not please her at all.  He told her she was not going to control him and she replied that she still had rights as a wife to a husband. Neither was willing to give in, neither was willing to quit, and their heated arguments ended in hugs and more.   They went to a Crossdressers' Club, where they hoped to meet other couples with the same problems, the same conflicts, and the same answers, if anyone had any.  It took them four tries before they settled on a group that they were both willing to participate in.  This was four couples their own age, each with a cross dressing husband and a wife who was dealing with it.  They met monthly.  It was led by a 'mediator' who wanted people to express how they felt about the situation.  Odie and Lois, as newcomers, got the floor, and the meeting was finally dismissed at 1:30 in the morning - it was supposed to be over at 10 - and everyone knew how they felt about the situation.   There was silence in the car on the way home.   "We aren't the only ones dealing with this." Odie finally said.   "Who would have thought that?  You are right."   "Somebody out there has a solution." "I hope you are right."   "I hope in hope, not in despair."   "That's my Odie."    
    • Abigail Genevieve
      The counseling session was heated, if you could call it a counseling session.  Sometimes Lois felt he was on Odie's side, and sometimes on hers.  When he was on her side, Odie got defensive. She found herself being defensive when it seemed they were ganging up on each other.   "This is not working," Lois said angrily, and walked out.  "Never again. I want my husband back. Dr. Smith you are complicit in this."   "What?" said Odie.   The counselor looked at him.  "You will have to learn some listening skills."   "That is it? Listening skills?  You just destroyed my marriage, and you told me I need to learn listening skills?"   Dr. Smith said calmly,"I think you both need to cool off."   Odie looked at him and walked out, saying "And you call yourself a counselor."   "Wait a minute."   "No."
    • Ashley0616
      Just a comfortable gray sweater dress and some sneakers. Nothing special today. 
    • VickySGV
      I do still carry a Swiss Army knife along with my car keys.  
    • Timi
      Jeans and a white sweater. And cute white sneakers. Delivering balloons to a bunch of restaurants supporting our LGBT Community Center fundraiser today!
    • April Marie
      Congratulations to you!!!This is so wonderful!!
    • missyjo
      I've no desire to present androgynous..nothing wrong with it but I am a girl n wish to present as a girl. shrugs, if androgynous works fir others good. always happy someone finds a solution or happiness    today black jeans  black wedges..purple camisole under white n black polka dot blouse half open   soft smile to all 
    • MaeBe
      I have read some of it, mostly in areas specifically targeted at the LGBTQ+ peoples.   You also have to take into account what and who is behind the words, not just the words themselves. Together that creates context, right? Let's take some examples, under the Department of Health & Human Services section:   "Radical actors inside and outside government are promoting harmful identity politics that replaces biological sex with subjective notions of “gender identity” and bases a person’s worth on his or her race, sex, or other identities. This destructive dogma, under the guise of “equity,” threatens American’s fundamental liberties as well as the health and well-being of children and adults alike."   or   "Families comprised of a married mother, father, and their children are the foundation of a well-ordered nation and healthy society. Unfortunately, family policies and programs under President Biden’s HHS are fraught with agenda items focusing on “LGBTQ+ equity,” subsidizing single-motherhood, disincentivizing work, and penalizing marriage. These policies should be repealed and replaced by policies that support the formation of stable, married, nuclear families."   From a wording perspective, who doesn't want to protect the health and well-being of Americans or think that families aren't good for America? But let's take a look at the author, Roger Severino. He's well-quoted to be against LGBTQ+ anything, has standard christian nationalist views, supports conversion therapy, etc.   So when he uses words like "threatens the health and well-being of children and adults alike" it's not about actual health, it's about enforcing cis-gendered ideology because he (and the rest of the Heritage Foundation) believe LGBTQ+ people and communities are harmful. Or when he invokes the family through the lens of, let's just say dog whistles including the "penalization of marriage" (how and where?!), he idealizes families involving marriage of a "biological male to a biological female" and associates LGBTQ+ family equity as something unhealthy.   Who are the radical actors? Who is telling people to be trans, gay, or queer in general? No one. The idea that there can be any sort of equity between LGBTQ+ people and "normal" cis people is abhorrent to the author, so the loaded language of radical/destructive/guise/threaten are used. Families that he believes are "good" are stable/well-ordered/healthy, specifically married/nuclear ones.   Start looking into intersectionality of oppression of non-privileged groups and how that affects the concept of the family and you will understand that these platitudes are thinly veiled wrappers for christian nationalist ideology.   What's wrong with equity for queer families, to allow them full rights as parents, who are bringing up smart and able children? Or single mothers who are working three jobs to get food on plates?
    • Ashley0616
      Well yesterday didn't work like I wanted to. I met a guy and started talking and he was wanting to be in a relationship. I asked my kids on how they thought of me dating a man and they said gross and said no. I guess it's time to look for women. I think that is going to be harder. Oh well I guess.  
    • Ashley0616
      I don't have anything in my dress pocket
    • Carolyn Marie
      This topic reminds me of the lyrics to the Beatles song, "A Little Help From My Friends."   "What do you see when you turn out the lights?"   "I can't tell you but I know it's mine."   Carolyn Marie
    • Abigail Genevieve
      @Ivy have you read the actual document?   Has anyone else out there read it?
    • Abigail Genevieve
      I am reading the Project 2025 document https://www.project2025.org/policy/   This will take some time.  I read the forward and I want to read it again later.   I read some criticism of it outside here and I will be looking for it in the light of what has been posted here and there.  Some of the criticism is bosh.   @MaeBe have you read the actual document?
  • Upcoming Events

Contact TransPulse

TransPulse can be contacted in the following ways:

Email: Click Here.

To report an error on this page.

Legal

Your use of this site is subject to the following rules and policies, whether you have read them or not.

Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
DMCA Policy
Community Rules

Hosting

Upstream hosting for TransPulse provided by QnEZ.

Sponsorship

Special consideration for TransPulse is kindly provided by The Breast Form Store.
×
×
  • Create New...