Lea,
Just looking through some older posts and felt I had to reply. I so agree with your response to the suggestion that belief in Christ is the only solution to our problems. To do so is to exclude non-believers (and followers of other faiths come to that) from any hope of ending their pain €“ the last thing we need on a site like this!
It€™s something I feel very strongly about as, like you, I carry baggage. I was brought up in a strict Christian (Protestant) household and spent much of my childhood in church. I was taught €˜to love my neighbour,€™ to forgive, €˜to do unto others etc.,€™ yet as I grew older I saw little evidence of this being practiced, rather the opposite, the so-called Christians being some of the most judgemental, intolerant and unforgiving people I€™ve ever met. So too, alas, a lot of the ones I€™ve met since, including a couple of friends who, independantly, found God (after a heavy spell with drugs) and overnight became holier than thou.
I once asked a friend€™s father, a clergyman, why so many so-called Christians behave in such an uncharitable way. He thought for a moment and said,
€œBeing a Christian means only that you believe in Christ. Being a humanitarian means you follow his teachings.€
I€™ve never forgotten his words. Humanity and compassion are indeed what€™s important, regardless of beliefs. Glad to see many of you feel the same way.
Henna