(December 15, 2014 at 11:57 am)watchamadoodle Wrote:

(December 15, 2014 at 9:49 am)Drich Wrote: Then maybe you should help her become a stronger more enlighten Christian.. That maybe less traumatic.

That is an idea. There is one belief in particular that causes her unnecessary worry, and I might be able to soften that belief. I would need to find some Christian books that argue against that belief.

What belief worries her so much?

(December 15, 2014 at 10:11 pm)Drich Wrote:

(December 15, 2014 at 11:57 am)watchamadoodle Wrote: That is an idea. There is one belief in particular that causes her unnecessary worry, and I might be able to soften that belief. I would need to find some Christian books that argue against that belief.

What belief worries her so much?

Well what I was thinking about is this idea that the devil is an angry lion lurking in Hinduism, Unitarianism, etc.

Like me, she had a psychotic break once. I can sympathize with how she feels, because I have had the same feelings myself. I think I am getting over those feelings finally, and it would be nice if I could help her.

Unfortunately, I'm not sure how to accomplish this. Christianity tends to create fear and superstition in people. There are people like Biship Spong who are trying to exorcise the superstition and stupidity from Christianity, but I'm not sure what will be left in the end - atheism?

(December 16, 2014 at 10:47 am)watchamadoodle Wrote: There are people like Biship Spong who are trying to exorcise the superstition and stupidity from Christianity, but I'm not sure what will be left in the end - atheism?

There are lots of people who entertain a much gentler Christianity without all the brimstone.

(December 16, 2014 at 11:07 am)thesummerqueen Wrote:

(December 16, 2014 at 10:47 am)watchamadoodle Wrote: There are people like Biship Spong who are trying to exorcise the superstition and stupidity from Christianity, but I'm not sure what will be left in the end - atheism?

There are lots of people who entertain a much gentler Christianity without all the brimstone.

i approve of that Christianity over the doom and gloom one.

(December 16, 2014 at 11:07 am)thesummerqueen Wrote:

(December 16, 2014 at 10:47 am)watchamadoodle Wrote: There are people like Biship Spong who are trying to exorcise the superstition and stupidity from Christianity, but I'm not sure what will be left in the end - atheism?

There are lots of people who entertain a much gentler Christianity without all the brimstone.

That's true. When I was a child, I assumed that practically everybody would go to heaven regardless of religion. The big thing in our Episcopal church was participating in communion and remembering the sacrifice of Jesus symbolized in body and blood, etc. There was no concept of being "saved", "born again", "filled with the Holy Spirit", etc.

The gentler forms of Christianity are better, but the basic Christian brainwashing still happens IMO. That brainwashing makes it easy for people to transition to the crazier forms of Christianity.

(December 16, 2014 at 10:19 pm)watchamadoodle Wrote:

(December 16, 2014 at 11:07 am)thesummerqueen Wrote: There are lots of people who entertain a much gentler Christianity without all the brimstone.

That's true. When I was a child, I assumed that practically everybody would go to heaven regardless of religion. The big thing in our Episcopal church was participating in communion and remembering the sacrifice of Jesus symbolized in body and blood, etc. There was no concept of being "saved", "born again", "filled with the Holy Spirit", etc.

The gentler forms of Christianity are better, but the basic Christian brainwashing still happens IMO. That brainwashing makes it easy for people to transition to the crazier forms of Christianity.

I would still have been a christian for the fact if i was in the gentler christian faiths but considering i was in a baptist church yeah... no way.
but i would still kind of say even in a gentler Christianity i would still have my doubts but i wouldn't need to worry about it.

- i would like to be a theist again but its just not going to happen.

I have known some gentle Christians.

Were they flawed and following a bad doctrine? Yes. Were they kind, and endlessly striving to be so, and generous, and loving? More than many atheists I know.

You have to reach a comfort level with your mother.

(December 16, 2014 at 11:15 pm)dyresand Wrote:

(December 16, 2014 at 10:19 pm)watchamadoodle Wrote: That's true. When I was a child, I assumed that practically everybody would go to heaven regardless of religion. The big thing in our Episcopal church was participating in communion and remembering the sacrifice of Jesus symbolized in body and blood, etc. There was no concept of being "saved", "born again", "filled with the Holy Spirit", etc.

The gentler forms of Christianity are better, but the basic Christian brainwashing still happens IMO. That brainwashing makes it easy for people to transition to the crazier forms of Christianity.

I would still have been a christian for the fact if i was in the gentler christian faiths but considering i was in a baptist church yeah... no way.
but i would still kind of say even in a gentler Christianity i would still have my doubts but i wouldn't need to worry about it.

- i would like to be a theist again but its just not going to happen.

In a weird way, it seems like the people in fundamentalist-leaning denominations are taught that religion is about facts instead of warm fuzzies. Those people easily transition to atheism when the facts are studied.

(December 16, 2014 at 11:44 am)dyresand Wrote:

(December 16, 2014 at 11:07 am)thesummerqueen Wrote: There are lots of people who entertain a much gentler Christianity without all the brimstone.

i approve of that Christianity over the doom and gloom one.

Apostasy, heresy and blasphemy is a cruddy foundation upon which to build a church.

(December 16, 2014 at 10:47 am)watchamadoodle Wrote:

(December 15, 2014 at 10:11 pm)Drich Wrote: What belief worries her so much?

Well what I was thinking about is this idea that the devil is an angry lion lurking in Hinduism, Unitarianism, etc.

Like me, she had a psychotic break once. I can sympathize with how she feels, because I have had the same feelings myself. I think I am getting over those feelings finally, and it would be nice if I could help her.

Unfortunately, I'm not sure how to accomplish this. Christianity tends to create fear and superstition in people. There are people like Biship Spong who are trying to exorcise the superstition and stupidity from Christianity, but I'm not sure what will be left in the end - atheism?

:/

You can start by telling her she must decide which God she is wanting to worship. The God of the bible or the God of bishop whatever.
Then draw a contrast. Bishop whatever says the devil is like angry lion which someone how translates into Hinduism, and then say lets see what the bible says concerning lions and the devil:

Have her read 1peter 5:
6 So be humble under God’s powerful hand. Then he will lift you up when the right time comes. 7 Give all your worries to him, because he cares for you. 8 Control yourselves and be careful! The devil is your enemy, and he goes around like a roaring lion looking for someone to attack and eat. 9 Refuse to follow the devil. Stand strong in your faith. You know that your brothers and sisters all over the world are having the same sufferings that you have.

10 Yes, you will suffer for a short time. But after that, God will make everything right. He will make you strong. He will support you and keep you from falling. He is the God who gives all grace. He chose you to share in his glory in Christ. That glory will continue forever. 11 All power is his forever. Amen.

Then point out the fact that the bible does not say label other religions as the devil. It says to be humble, submit yourself to God, allow Him to lift you up, give your worries over to Him, he will keep you strong. Control yourself, know the devil is real and dangerous, but ultimatly the devil is His problem and not ours. Ours is to be faithful to what we have been given.

If she wanders off into bishop whatever's version of God gently remind her she is no longer worshiping the God of the bible.

If however she is content worshiping bishop whatevers God then, that is her choice, and the paranoia is apart of that sort of worship.