Help with Free Thinking

[NeutronStar]

Neither do you honestly. Neither does the OP.
He 'thinks' that the girl's church is 'adding stuff'. Does he know? Or assuming? How much does he know about her beliefs? Or Christianity in general? Pls don't assume anything in a relationship. That's what leads to communication failure and the slow death of many relationships.

Either way, starting from the position that she is in a cult is a huge assumption to make and trying to 'help' her from that as a starting point is probably not a good idea.

My advice? Go seek out a real professional. Counsellor, pastor, whatever. Stop looking for professional advice in a gaming forum where you do not know the background, character, or qualifications of the people handing out 'advice'.

This is probably the best advice here actually.

[flameninja]

This is probably the best advice here actually.

I'll listen to it

[katz]

i HAVE read, and re-read the posts. i really think you're off base.

The word cult pejoratively refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre.[1] The word originally denoted a system of ritual practices. The narrower, derogatory sense of the word is a product of the 20th century, especially since the 1980s, and is considered subjective. It is also a result of the anti-cult movement which uses the word in reference to groups seen as authoritarian, exploitative and that are believed to use dangerous rituals or mind control.

i don't see anything much worse than i was raised with, and i wasn't raised in a cult. my parents were VERY strict. i would have been in trouble if i had decided to not go to church, or go to a different church than my parents.

[sebastianosmith]

I didnt like it when the bible guys started saying stuff according to their beliefs... I have to be fair.

One must ask why does it make you uncomfortable. One must also ponder why they feel the need to apostatize.

Could it be that your beliefs and theirs do not coincide? Could they truly feel concern for the fate of what they understand to be your immortal soul?

Belief, in this case, is attempting to explain what is not currently known. Abandoning belief and accepting the unknown is the only path to knowledge. But that thought is really frightening to most people.

[Spoonwelder]

You guys missed the part where the OP said if she went to a different church, she would be in serious trouble.

No doubt she would also be punished by her mother if she found out her daughter was reading the New Testament with someone else and coming up with different interpretations.

Come on guys, read the OP's posts and really try to see what's going on here.

The girl's in a religious cult. Really.

Oh I got the point. If her church tells her she can't read the bible herself then she is in a cult. But I hazard that that isn't really the case and my thinking was that as actual action she can take, reading the bible is one of the few she could do without raising the ire of her mother. That she is doing it while thinking critically doesn't have to be apparent to anyone.

[NeutronStar]

i HAVE read, and re-read the posts. i really think you're off base.

That's your opinion. Fine.

I have my opinion.

[flameninja]

One must ask why does it make you uncomfortable. One must also ponder why they feel the need to apostatize.

Could it be that your beliefs and theirs do not coincide? Could they truly feel concern for the fate of what they understand to be your immortal soul?

Belief, in this case, is attempting to explain what is not currently known. Abandoning belief and accepting the unknown is the only path to knowledge. But that thought is really frightening to most people.

I have left all of what you are calling "Belief" behind me, and I am trying to find out ,for myself, just what is going on.

I was only saying that when the other people started talking about their beliefs, I did not "let" them, and I have to do the same with you just to be fair.

[NeutronStar]

Oh I got the point. If her church tells her she can't read the bible herself then she is in a cult. But I hazard that that isn't really the case and my thinking was that as actual action she can take, reading the bible is one of the few she could do without raising the ire of her mother. That she is doing it while thinking critically doesn't have to be apparent to anyone.

If she were to read it by herself, I'm pretty sure she wouldn't be in trouble. If she were to read it with someone from outside her church (i.e. boyfriend...the OP), that's where things would go poorly for her.

[dunklezhan]

Haven't read past the first page, not gonna

If she is a commited Christian, then you - a stated non-Christian - are hardly likely to be able to help her. Either she - or both of you if she feels comfortable - need to go speak to a reasonably moderate cleric of the appropriate denomination. Her mother is not the ultimate source of the morale guidance regarding the faith in question, the New Testament is. And like all religious texts it can be a bit tricksy, especially once you get past the Gospels. A pastor/vicar/priest is really who she needs to be speaking to about her faith, not you, and not her mother.

You could say almost the same thing about any belief system, doctrine or indeed scientific theory - at least when it comes to decisions about morality and how to live your life. I do not consider this post to be about religion, but about psychological wellbeing.

I hope this helps.

[Spoonwelder]

If she were to read it by herself, I'm pretty sure she wouldn't be in trouble. If she were to read it with someone from outside her church (i.e. boyfriend...the OP), that's where things would go poorly for her.

"would" is presumptuous - could go wrong yes. But there is also a distinct possibility that it will be perfectly fine.

Also I never said read it with someone else. My suggestion was merely to get her to take a first step in releasing herself from the described 'fears'. If she really has a problem she has to take a lead role in fixing it. Having someone else preach to her is no solution and thus I didn't propose that.

[flameninja]

"would" is presumptuous - could go wrong yes. But there is also a distinct possibility that it will be perfectly fine.

Also I never said read it with someone else. My suggestion was merely to get her to take a first step in releasing herself from the described 'fears'. If she really has a problem she has to take a lead role in fixing it. Having someone else preach to her is no solution and thus I didn't propose that.

Would and could are both words that leave chance for pain.

[Cordovan]

Please leave politics and religion off of our forums, thanks.