Janimal, you need to read this thread:
http://www.wineintro.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Board=13&Number=320048

thanks for the link. can't say i fel any more illuminated. i agree with argyll in that if you folow a rligious framework - ie follow/worship a god, then you are religious. i also share your confusion as to why the term seems to be offensive to some.

this is semantics. is emily questioning the accuracy of every english dictionary? seems that way to me.

the only explanation i can think of is that by being described as rligious these people do not feel special and distinct enough. the tem implies that they are the same as the followers of other faiths - and of course they don't like it because they have a 'personal relationship' with the one true god, rather athan any of the other 'mere' religions which are of course quite deluded.

sorry emily, but until they rewrite the dictionaries i will continue to call you religious.

Call me whatever you want. Just please spell my name correct. It is EMILIE, not Emily.

Thank you.

Blessings,

Emilie

Yes, I'm sorry but I really cannot understand how someone who 'lives their faith' wouldn't be termed 'religious'. This just seems contradictory to me.

it is. thats what we have dictionaries for - so we can agree on the meanings of words. or maybe the bible has its own glossary attached that unbelievers can't see?

No, even that glossary doesn't agree with itself! That's why there are thousands of Christian denominations - they can't figure out what they are supposed to do.

but they know exactly what to do. believe and know they are right.thats why each and every one of the 20,000 or so of the christian denominations are the one true church. hehehehehe...

But you can be a surfer dude without a surf board, right? And then there are the "honorary" blondes. And then we have "ethnic" vs "practicing" religious folks.

The faith that I practice has a reward. I believe that treating others with kindness and giving them the benefit of the doubt until proved wrong will help me to feel better about myself. And it does. And that is reward enough.

I laugh with those that laugh, cry with those who cry, pray with those who pray or would like to be prayed for/with. I'm not too good at turning the other cheek, though, and pretty sure I'll not be - unless I get a chance in a later life.

Do those who don't turn to God in adversity do as well as those who do? How can we know objectively?

In adversity and in happier times, I feel less "alone" (you know how you can feel alone even when in a crowd, or in the various family and friend and mate relationships) because of my sense that God cares for me. I'm not convinced on many of the factoids that other Christians or religious people hold true, but I "feel" good in the commitment I've made to loving self and others and loving God (as much as I am able). And I believe that God is committed to loving me and others, whatever their beliefs.

True church? True God? True human? Maybe each one does the best he/she can.

hey carl long time no see. how are ya?

hmmm... surfer dude without a board? i'm the wrong guy to ask because i pride myself on not looking like a surfer - i don't buy the lables, my van has signage not billabong stickers, and i shun the surf scene, because its a big pile of tosh. infact there are thousands of people with boards out there i have trouble seeing as surfers as i understand the term. to me its not about the scene, but being alone with your own bit of ocean. when people ask if i'm a surfer i usually reply 'well, i do surf...' if you get my drift.

the best is all any of us can do - you're quite right there. the trick is not to worry about the lables other people put on you. if peole wanna call me a surf dude thats cool, so they didn't ought to worry about me calling them religious. its only a word, after all, and you can split hairs endlessly.

beyond that, if it aint broke you don't fix it, and if it works you keep doing it. and if it feels good, you definetelt keep doing it.

Blushing a bit, I say, "Sorry, friend." You are quite right. I meant it as a camaraderie kind of thing. And failed miserably. Marge and I are transitioning into "retirement" pretty poorly and there's been no "sharing" - I think you know what I mean.