I may be leaving.

[Shadowprophet]

Look Guys,

I can't take it, I try my best to be the best person I can be, I've been good to people, I respect peoples beliefs. But there is a thread developing, That's devolved from a debate with some nut job, To outright attacks on Christianity.

I am only human, And people can think what they want to think about God. But when I'm doing my best to show respect for everyone and people are shitting all over God, Who I outspokenly believe in and worship.

Yeah, It makes this place a place I don't really want to be. I haven't asked for unreasonable things, I'm not an unreasonable person. But people don't realize when you slap at the idea of God hard enough, It's not God that feels it, People who believe in him feel it, They feel it from people who they have respected and defended and called friends.

I don't care what people think, Or what they express. But I have to be in an environment where it's okay to be who I am. Where what I believe in, Is acceptable.

Religion is complicated, It's something people are taught to put a priority on above all other things. I can't help that some people see it a different way, I don't even care that they see it a different way.

When someone attacks the idea of something I have been raised my entire life to love above all else.
It's hurtful. especially when I'm not the one doing the prophesying. Look, You guys know who you are, I'm not here to call people out, I've given you friendship and respect. I've treated you as friends and communed with you. All I ask is the basic human decency to not savagely dump all over something that is this important to me. If My friendship and presence here at these forums have any worth, If my contributions have any impact. All I ask is please, God is not an imaginary concept to some people. Some people wake up every day And pray to God because that's where they believe their Daughters are.

You don't have to believe in God, You don't have to respect God, You don't have to convert, Respect the idea that God is something unimaginably important to many people.

If after I have said these things, People can't rationalize, Hey, Shadow has been a pretty decent person, Maybe we shouldn't shit publicly all over his most solemn belief. It's logic, After everything, If I haven't earned that kind of respect, From everyone, From the Top administration. To the guy that just came in to read an article. Then Nothing I am, Nothing I've done, Nothing I can do, Will ever change that.

It's okay to believe whatever you want to believe. But when you speak to me and tell me how I'm your friend, And you didn't mean me, Then you Attack my personal belief system.

How Am I supposed to feel? I've never been anything but up front with my feelings and intentions.
I've been respectful to everyone about their beliefs.

But if people can't at least chill out to the point of being decent human beings I will leave, And I won't return. Respect is not something I should have to beg for.

Not kidding on any level SP.

 

[Shadowprophet]

People who don't believe, won't understand, People who do believe won't understand why I try so hard.

All I'm asking is before you say that Hurtful sentence about how you don't believe in God and God allows this bad thing or that bad thing. Maybe stop and think about all the people who have been good to you, Who you may be hurting with such statements.

It's a sacred beliefe, In my heart, it's no different from a violation. Hey SP, Sorry You came in and caught me noodling your wife and Daughter while sacrificing a goat to Satan, but you know we are friends, right?

Stop, Think about what you are saying and how it affects others. Then, If you still need to say it, Say it. But words are powerful. And they are hard to take back once spoken.

Freedom of speech is not freedom of consequence. Anyone can say anything they want. But that doesn't prevent the consequences of saying it. Having a right to say something, Doesn't make it the right thing to say.

I don't know why I even try.

 

[The shadow]

SP don't leave please don't let him get to you.
read my post
send me privates if you want.
I'm asking you not as a staff member..
I'm asking you as a friend
don't leave.

 

[CasualBystander]

People who don't believe, won't understand, People who do believe won't understand why I try so hard.

All I'm asking is before you say that Hurtful sentence about how you don't believe in God and God allows this bad thing or that bad thing. Maybe stop and think about all the people who have been good to you, Who you may be hurting with such statements.

It's a sacred beliefe, In my heart, it's no different from a violation. Hey SP, Sorry You came in and caught me noodling your wife and Daughter while sacrificing a goat to Satan, but you know we are friends, right?

Stop, Think about what you are saying and how it affects others. Then, If you still need to say it, Say it. But words are powerful. And they are hard to take back once spoken.

Freedom of speech is not freedom of consequence. Anyone can say anything they want. But that doesn't prevent the consequences of saying it. Having a right to say something, Doesn't make it the right thing to say.

I don't know why I even try.

Please reference a post you find problematic for my information (post the permalink).

I'm not sure what is going on.

 

[Shadowprophet]

SP don't leave please don't let him get to you.
read my post
send me privates if you want.
I'm asking you not as a staff member..
I'm asking you as a friend
don't leave.

Don't worry, I'm working on sorting my head out, This will pass, I promise I will be fine.

It's just difficult. The people here are nice, And they understand me. I just wish if anything else, They could respect that the idea of God is deeper than just one person's opinion.

I know I am prone to breakdowns, This one too will pass, I just don't know how to get through to people, God even if it's just an idea, is bigger than one false prophet...

I promise everything will be fine, I just needed to vent that, And As soon as I sort my head out, I will be fine, Like I always am. I'm just in the midst of one of those episodes. I promise This will all be an okay brother.

 

[Shadowprophet]

Please reference a post you find problematic for my information (post the permalink).

I'm not sure what is going on.

If I reference the posts, Then I have to call out names, I don't want to do that, I can say, It wasn't you though brother.

I guess, It just kind of hurts that, I try so hard to show people that A Christian can be Smart, That they can defy stereotypes, And I know the things that were said weren't even directed at me, I mean, everyone here knows me, And I know everyone, And we all know no one would have directly hurt me. It's a complicated kind of, I have to stand for what I believe in thing. I almost never flip out anymore, And I'm getting even better at not doing that.

It's just Difficult sometimes.

If I hadn't said anything, I would have felt even worse.

 

[The shadow]

Please reference a post you find problematic for my information (post the permalink).

I'm not sure what is going on.

check out the bible prophecy topic.

 

[Shadowprophet]

I mean, I don't agree with John, And ultimately, Maybe I am too sensitive on the issue.

I know this will pass. But people are just getting mean about God in there, to the point that it's offensive, And I don't have the right to call anyone out, This is all free speech.

But for real, It's painful to see some of the things said in there.

 

[nivek]

When there's a diverse membership there will be things said on an open forum occasionally that another may not care for...Wisdom doesn't take it personal but understands everyone has a right to their own opinions and beliefs, then agrees to disagree..How would I be any different than Q or Gene Steinberg if I were to stymie one view over another and delete posts because I don't agree or someone else doesn't agree with it?...

That's all I'll say in this thread...

...

 

[Ron67]

Please reference a post you find problematic for my information (post the permalink).

I'm not sure what is going on.

I think it’s about what I posted in the End times thread.Ive apologised to Shadowprophet in a private messsge and I too hope he stays.

 

[CasualBystander]

I think it’s about what I posted in the End times thread.Ive apologised to Shadowprophet in a private messsge and I too hope he stays.

Don't believe you were the problem from what I read of the thread.

Generally people who weren't the problem do the most apologizing.

In a thread about religious topics about all you can do is clarify the other person's position since you aren't really going to convert anyone.

 

[Wade]

Here, Here, I haven't had a lot of contact with Ron67 here or elsewhere as of late but I would miss him terribly if he felt the need to not stay in touch due what may be a misunderstanding. Not that he feels that way , I'm just putting it out there.

 

[Ron67]

Hi Wade,I’m not going anywhere I was a bit too mocking of the religious on a thread so apologised to ShadowP who’s a good guy.

 

[Wade]

I would like to say this though, whatever your feelings about God or anything else. I'm really not so sure it's necessary or productive or helpful to announce it here multiple times or be overbearing about it. I have my feelings about many things and I <think> I do a fairly good job at keeping to myself except if a post might get things rolling.

But I guess my take home message is where there are many people there are many different opinions & you're always going to come across someone who had different feelings, and one who takes umbrage at that should best look elsewhere. I remember over in The Paracast Randell would talk about mixing it up with skeptics at the skeptics forum and I wondered "why go there?"

 

[Ron67]

I would like to say this though, whatever your feelings about God or anything else. I'm really not so sure it's necessary or productive or helpful to announce it here multiple times or be overbearing about it. I have my feelings about many things and I <think> I do a fairly good job at keeping to myself except if a post might get things rolling.

But I guess my take home message is where there are many people there are many different opinions & you're always going to come across someone who had different feelings, and one who takes umbrage at that should best look elsewhere. I remember over in The Paracast Randell would talk about mixing it up with skeptics at the skeptics forum and I wondered "why go there?"

Yeah I’m going to keep my opinions to myself on religion as it’s a very emotive subject.

 

[Double Nought Spy]

The most distressing thing I've seen in this thread is Randall presuming to do battle with skeptics, whatever that means. They are already sure we are a pack of nitwits. Now they have their "proof".

 

[The shadow]

The Topic in question for me started with debunking then as it went on I begain to argue with the person starting the topic. finally I saw I was arguing with a guy who had clearly little grasp of reality. I walked into the trap I'm a level headed guy I normally don't engage in the manner I did. but it got me in a way that even discussions about Gene never did.
I truly apologize to all for any poor conduct. SP you are a valued member of the group..
As for me the topic is toxic and my involvement is going to be limited or focused. I'm also thinking about leaving the discussion with him.
rather I will concentrate on other issues..
again if apologizes are needed I offer you them. I should have known better.

 

[michael59]

Use the scroll wheel and stop taking it personal, Shadowprofit. Seriously, it's that easy.

Respectfully,

Michael.

 

[CasualBystander]

Use the scroll wheel and stop taking it personal, Shadowprofit. Seriously, it's that easy.

Respectfully,

Michael.

It is a good general rule to do factual responses that address the ideas presented and not spend a lot of time disparaging the messenger or the message.

I think most of the people on the forum would make good drinking buddies and I try to treat them with the same courtesy I would a drinking buddy.

Bar fights and forum fights are pretty pointless.

 

[Shadowprophet]

It's complicated. This whole topic has always been difficult for me, I get that Religion is a very volatile topic.

This isn't so much about just religion, It's about, personal relationships.
If this were a bunch of strangers a bunch of nobodies, it wouldn't matter.
At the prospect of losing everything I've established, I absolutely need for people to understand, To me, God and Christ are an important topic. Those aren't just words. It's about respect, Something I give by the truckloads to people.

All I need out of this mess is for people to understand, My reputation, My science, My math, My I,Q. None of that means anything to me compared to that I've spent a long time showing people I respect them, and even care about them.

In turn, if people respected me or cared about me, They would consider that the deep-seated spiritual beliefe they fight against so bitterly with insults like God Raped Mary. Things like that don't just hurt they cut to the bone. The reason why is simple, No one here can come up with one time I've been disrespectful. And I won't be, There is no point in it.

I've given endless respect to others, I'm not asking for people to be silenced, What I'm really asking is, Really? after all this time knowing me? how can one Judge God and Christianity in the harsh light they do?


Whoever can answer that last question please do, Because I Do believe in God, I worship him and pray to him, How is it that I have been a bad representative? Or a bad person, Or any kind of person who deserves to be told God is a rapist?

Do I personally deserve that?

I am not angry, This isn't anger, This is pain. Somebody, please explain this to me.