A special outreach to (and a Hug for) the Christian Liberals DU Group ..

[Maat]

from Ma'at, of the Seekers on Unique Paths DU Group.

I, for one, am so totally disgusted with the Christian-bashing going on, and I'm not a Christian. I'm a Religious Scientist, and, like UU, construing oneself as a Christian is a choice that one can make within the Church. In my faith, we regard Christ as a 'consciousness' or as a 'Master Teacher,' as with Buddha. We started our group honoring the spirit of UU and CRS.

I'm the one that started the Seekers on Unique Paths Group, but I hope that progressives of faith can stand united, and I would not hesitate to post and ask Liberal Christian DUers for support, if I needed it, or to unite for some kind of progressive purpose. Of course, I would not hesitate to diaglogue with the Atheist/Agnostics, either.

You guys would laugh at this one thread I was involved with. I recommended this group to another poster, and was accused of being a Christian who wanted to hide behind 'a gate.' I told the guy that 'we all' would enjoy our DU Groups, and to 'Have a nice day!'

I think that networking is very important. Count on me for support in making DU a place in which we can discuss faith-related topics in a respectful manner. That's why I'd like to see us 'cross-post.'

I confess I really do enjoy posting in the DU Groups, in the two groups referenced about (SOUPS group and this one), because the talk seems to be more respectful within the DU Group format.

[Maat]

1. I also hope that ...

no one stops participating in DU just because of a few pushy, aggressive and/or nasty posters.

This is my favorite topic (exploring faith), and, I for one, have no trouble with doing it respectufully. And DU is my favorite forum.

As I said, though, I hope that I can post here, as well as you guys coming over to our group every once in awhile. I do prefer the DU Group format, because it has seemed to be a more comfortable, respectful phenomena.

[Frogtutor]

2. Of course you're welcome, and thank you

for your kind words and invitation. I used to spend more time in the Religion/Theology forum, but recently it's become a battleground, as well. I really enjoyed hearing about other religions, their beliefs and practices--I miss the diversity (not that I'm not VERY happy we have this group!)

Hopefully the mods will realize that religious persecution is taking place here at DU, it's not any prettier than any other kind of bashing, and stand up for our rights, as well.

Thanks again, and I'll have to come visit ya'll!

:hi:

[Maat]

5. Yes, I too used to spend quite a bit of time there, since ..

I liked the subject. It just seems comfortable in the DU Groups.

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. Thanks, Ma'at. I don't take the Christian bashing personally and

don't worry about it. I just post the link to my site and leave it up to the bashers to discover that there are some very enlightened followers of Christ. We aren't all Falwells and Robertsons, to be sure!

http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/

[Maat]

6. Well, it is just plain nuts, to me, to thing that, just because a

person is of a certain faith, that he or she has anything to do with Falwell or Robertson. I study them for my Church & State Minigroup that we have going at my Democracy for America, and actually have been doing research on the Religious Right Extremists for a couple of years now, and I think that Falwell and Robertson are about $ and power, really.

[Zuni]

14. Thank You

It hurts me when people judge all of us based on the actions of others.
Christianity is progressivisim, a religion for the weak and the tired and oppressed to uplift and love and forgive your fellow man.
I wish that others would realize that I am a progressive because of my Christianity, not in spite of it.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

4. Thanks, Maat

:hug:

[Maat]

7. Take care!

[RevCheesehead]

8. That's exactly why we felt we needed this group.

Maat, you are more than welcome here. We included "Progressive People of Faith" to open the door for any who wanted to come and be sheltered from the bashing.

As far as the general Christian-bashing across the board, it is getting out of hand. I usually steer clear of these threads. It's an occupational hazard, and quite frankly, I don't come here to defend Christianity. I am a Christian, who also happens to be a Democrat (and yes, for me, it is in that order).

Respect is the key. And sadly, I see very little respect out there in some of the other forums. It's gotten to be like the rest of the ugly world.

[pelagius]

11. Liberal because I'm Christian and "heathens" showed me the way

I am a Christian, who also happens to be a Democrat (and yes, for me, it is in that order)

Preach it, Rev! I'm there with you.

I should also say that, although I have dear brothers and sisters in Christ who are Republicans, my commitment to social justice (and the very imperfect institution of the Democratic Party) came as a direct result of my commitment to walk with Christ. But, since I was raised in a Pentecostal denomination concerned (at that time) primarily with personal salvation and piety and "set apart from the world," I had no models of faith in action. So Jews and Catholics (who weren't really considered "Christians" in my background) and -- gasp! -- non-believers or even ATHEISTS helped show me the way.

[Zuni]

13. That is my thing

although many of my brothers and sisters in Christ are Bush voters, my belief in Justice, equality and Peace, as well as fiscal responsibility makes me vote democrat.

My commitment to Christ includes doing what I can to increase peace and justice here on earth, and make sure the meek among us are looked after.

[supernova]

9. Thank you Maat

and welcome to the group. :hi:

I do think it's important for liberal religionists of all faiths to stick together.

[Maat]

10. Take care! Thanks for the comments!

Talk to you soon!

[Zuni]

12. God Bless you all

I am so thankful that there are many others on DU who are believers. I feel safe saying that I am a very religious Christian, and that I love the Lord and accept him into my heart

God bless you folks.

[Zuni]

15. Thank You Maat

and may God bless you

[DemBones DemBones]

16. Note to all: you don't have to be Catholic or Orthodox to visit our group!

Anyone interested in the issues that interest Catholics may post there. I felt that we needed a special group since Catholics come in for a lot of flaming here in all the regular forums. But we'd all be glad to talk to anyone who has a question about Catholicism, wants to discuss their beliefs vs. ours, etc. I've started posting little tidbits about saints on their feast days and hope we'll have more of that "Catholic culture" sort of thing, too,

Like others here, I enjoy discussing religion with people as long as they are respectful of my beliefs. I've studied a lot of different religions over the years and respect most of them (not crazy about authoritarian cults, but still realize they fill some people's needs.) I hope the Progressive People of Faith group continues to be a place for good discussions.