Sad
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Isn't it tragic.

Isn't it tragic that the most strident voices here on SW in respect of "belief" are the "One Wayers" (what on earth can you call such people, when they themselves only prefer the title "True Christian"?) Yes, just One Way.

One Way - but not that of Grace. Not that of Mercy. Not even that of any God that has come to be known and revealed throughout our world's Faith Traditions.

No. Their "One Way" is THEIR way. Having been indoctrinated into a time conditioned way of understanding the texts of a particular book, they presume such understanding is the "One Way". Christianity - and all other Faiths - in it's full width, breadth and depth they know nothing of, all who [i]do[/i] dismissed as "apostates" and "heretics" - this all as foretold in obscure bits of the New Testament that they in fact have no true understanding of.

There is no dialogue with such peop!e.

No doubt they will address this post with cut and paste verses from the New Testament. They are simply blind to how circular such a defence of their position is. "Look, this is the Word! It says so here! And I alone understand its full meaning! The spirit guides the true believer! I can't possibly be wrong!"

How sad. No one is questioning their "salvation" - however envisaged- yet the way they slam the door in the faces of all who question their own insular creed is a disgrace to the Christian Faith and in fact shows a contempt for the actual [i]Living Word[/i] that [i]blows where it will. [/i] Setting parameters to the Grace of the Divine, parameters determined by our own particular creed and understanding, comes very close to blasphemy.
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In all fairness, the more radical branches of most religions stringently indoctrinate their followers to be just those things you decry.

It results in an us versus them strategy. We are right, they are wrong.

This has the beneficial effect of isolating them from those who think otherwise. Not only are they infidels, but we'll likely have to go to war to defend ourselves.

ANYBODY who discourages questioning or interaction with non-believers is dangerous, whether it's a cult (i.e., a different approach) or the local congregation.

I have difficulty mustering anger at those who behave abominably in the name of God. Most have been trained from little up and the brain paths are carved in stone.
SW-User
@Mamapolo2016 Yes, there are what could be called "fundamentalists" (or the doctrinaire) in all Faiths and - let's face it - those with no faith in [i]anything[/i] specific at all can nevertheless be extremely prejudiced and opinionated. I think we must always keep watch on our own mind/hearts.