So far I have been really impressed with the way most people on here are able to respectfully disagree. I appreciate that. One of the reasons I joined was my concern that perhaps Christians were cast too often as closed minded. I am not a super thinker (I have my husband for that), but I have come a long way in my Christianity and am sickened by the way “we” are so misrepresented in the media. (I say we because you really can’t lump all Christians together, even those from the same denomination, but we’ll talk about that later) Unfortunately it is usually the extremists who get noticed mainly because they make the most noise. That being said, I really hope that I can play the part of an open minded Christian who doesn’t really fit the stereotypes you have in mind. It is a big task to take on, and I’m scared to death, but I have to try.
Back when I had way too much time on my hands I subscribed to several email newsletters relating to different facets of my Christianity. I don’t have time to read each and every article anymore, but every once in awhile there is one that is really worth reading.
Today I was impressed with a particular blog (linked below) that pointed out the fallacy in making big blanket statements about what a Christian can and can not believe. In my experience, people aren’t as cookie cutter as they may seem on Sunday morning. My husband and I like to joke about the closet drinkers and dancers in our particular denomination because it has a tradition of being anti any kind of alcoholic drink and anti dancing. Even though you might still find this tradition in the churches, you won’t find it in everybody’s every day life!
The specific topic the writer opens with is one I will have to research further, but I think her point is well made. Even among Christians, no ESPECIALLY among Christians we must be careful about generalizing and forcing our beliefs on one another.