Hey, Castinshadows, and welcome to the forum! 

I can identify with many of your experiences and feelings.  I had a bad experience with fundamentalism myself, and I've also had problems with depression.  I understand that you've been hurt and want to run away from everything, but have you considered looking for a mainstream church in your area?  It may take a little shopping, but I guarantee you that you can find one where you'll feel comfortable and the people are kind and balanced!

Also, I don't mean to be nosy but I noticed some of the music that you listen to--I used to listen to some of the same stuff.  It was the source of most of my depression.  Listening to that doom & gloom all the time made me feel doomed & gloomy all the time!  It's no wonder I was moping around everywhere I went!  God may seem like an enigma to you right now because you have distanced yourself from Him.  That's what happened to me.  Get closer to Him and He will reveal Himself to you.  That's what He's anxious to do if you'll let Him!

Keep on the sunny side,
Supertzar

(Message edited by Supertzar On 01/07/2009 22:45:53)

--------------------------------------------------------------
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. --1 Timothy 6:12, NIV

So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised. --Hebrews 10:35-36, NIV.

Reply to Supertzar (01/07/2009 21:36:23)

Hey, Castinshadows, and welcome to the forum! 

I can identify with many of your experiences and feelings.  I had a bad experience with fundamentalism myself, and I've also had problems with depression.  I understand that you've been hurt and want to run away from everything, but have you considered looking for a mainstream church in your area?  It may take a little shopping, but I guarantee you that you can find one where you'll feel comfortable and the people are kind and balanced!

Also, I don't mean to be nosy but I noticed some of the music that you listen to--I used to listen to some of the same stuff.  It was the source of most of my depression.  Listening to that doom & gloom all the time made me feel doomed & gloomy all the time!  It's no wonder I was moping around everywhere I went!  God may seem like an enigma to you right now because you have distanced yourself from Him.  That's what happened to me.  Get closer to Him and He will reveal Himself to you.  That's what He's anxious to do if you'll let Him!

Keep on the sunny side,
Supertzar

So....Super

In this post you seem to be doing some pretty strong EVANGELISLING or would that be called WITNESSING for your 'maker'....

That's pretty crap Super...but that's typical of any 'christian' message around the net.


Couple of things Super....
Music...?
What kind of knucklehead believes that heavy metal is responsible for depression. There are plenty of young people who listen to it and enjoy life fully.
The thing is not to take it so seriously....be so fixated on it (or anything...including happyclappy xian music)..

Mainstream Church?
what's that?
So do you still believe in 'satan' ...fear hell.......or consider that you maybe wrong.?

I don't believe in the idea / theory ..that 'fundamentalism' can be defined..or that any church so defined is going to be 'good' or healthy/of benefit...to people, especially ones who have been 'hurt' by some kind of church.

....also..as a endnote...
quite often so called EX fundies will join another church which they think is lower down the scale of 'fundamentalism'...evangelical or bornagain....(insert your own term or definition)
yet their own individual mindset or belief system...or personal peculiarity...personality....
remains unchanged
resulting in contamination of the so called 'mainstream' church.

Okay...here's that word - 'mainstream'...
The Seven Day Adventists..and the Mormons are both consider "MAINSTREAM'....yet most people know that they are 'FUNDAMENTALIST' in its approach.

I think even the term 'liberal' is problematic these days....especially in some environments such as America. There is no way that a 'liberal' church is free from fundamentalist energy.


(Message edited by snakechic On 01/13/2009 21:32:57)

--------------------------------------------------------------
In exchange for obedience, Christianity promises salvation in an afterlife; but in order to elicit obedience through this promise, Christianity must convince people that they need salvation, that there is something to be saved from. Christianity has nothing to offer a happy person living in a natural, intelligible universe. If Christianity is to gain a motivational foothold, it must declare war on earthly pleasure and happiness, and this, historically, has been its precise course of action. In the eyes of Christianity, woman(man) is sinful and helpless in the face of God, and is potential fuel for the flames of hell. Just as Christianity must destroy reason before it can introduce faith, so it must destroy happiness before it can introduce salvation.

-- George H Smith, Atheism: The Case Against God

Reply to snakechic (01/13/2009 21:04:23)


Hello Snakey!

I feel obligated to evANGELise for my Maker--you see, it's my duty--I had a special revelation that most people don't get:  Jesus Christ showed up in my living room one night.

Heavy metal and that whole lifestyle has a way of catching up with you.  I know--I lived it.  Alcohol and drugs...  It's a downward spiral.  Depression?  They don't call it "heavy" metal for nothin'.



Maybe you didn't read Castinshadows' original post, Snakey.  She was not comfortable in the church she was in.  I don't remember the denomination, but it was something that I had never heard of before and it was not a mainstream church.  I simply suggested that she find somewhere that she feels comfortable--that was my point.  Fundamentalism should be defined by the individual.

Yes, I believe in satan; I had an encounter with him too.  That's why I KNOW that I'm not wrong.  If I had any doubt,  I would not be here doing this--as a matter of fact, I wouldn't be here at all.  Don't forget that I was an unbeliever for 7-1/2 years.  I have been at Walk Away from the beginning.  Don't you think that something really big would have to happen to me before I could/would do this?  I wouldn't be here wasting your time and mine if it weren't so.  Please think about it...  Like I said, I had a very special revelation that most people don't get.

--Supertzar

Reply to Supertzar (01/07/2009 21:36:23)

Hey, Castinshadows, and welcome to the forum! 

I can identify with many of your experiences and feelings.  I had a bad experience with fundamentalism myself, and I've also had problems with depression.  I understand that you've been hurt and want to run away from everything, but have you considered looking for a mainstream church in your area?  It may take a little shopping, but I guarantee you that you can find one where you'll feel comfortable and the people are kind and balanced!

Also, I don't mean to be nosy but I noticed some of the music that you listen to--I used to listen to some of the same stuff.  It was the source of most of my depression.  Listening to that doom & gloom all the time made me feel doomed & gloomy all the time!  It's no wonder I was moping around everywhere I went!  God may seem like an enigma to you right now because you have distanced yourself from Him.  That's what happened to me.  Get closer to Him and He will reveal Himself to you.  That's what He's anxious to do if you'll let Him!

Keep on the sunny side,
Supertzar

So....Super

In this post you seem to be doing some pretty strong EVANGELISLING or would that be called WITNESSING for your 'maker'....

That's pretty crap Super...but that's typical of any 'christian' message around the net.


Couple of things Super....
Music...?
What kind of knucklehead believes that heavy metal is responsible for depression. There are plenty of young people who listen to it and enjoy life fully.
The thing is not to take it so seriously....be so fixated on it (or anything...including happyclappy xian music)..

Mainstream Church?
what's that?
So do you still believe in 'satan' ...fear hell.......or consider that you maybe wrong.?

I don't believe in the idea / theory ..that 'fundamentalism' can be defined..or that any church so defined is going to be 'good' or healthy/of benefit...to people, especially ones who have been 'hurt' by some kind of church.

....also..as a endnote...
quite often so called EX fundies will join another church which they think is lower down the scale of 'fundamentalism'...evangelical or bornagain....(insert your own term or definition)
yet their own individual mindset or belief system...or personal peculiarity...personality....
remains unchanged
resulting in contamination of the so called 'mainstream' church.

Okay...here's that word - 'mainstream'...
The Seven Day Adventists..and the Mormons are both consider "MAINSTREAM'....yet most people know that they are 'FUNDAMENTALIST' in its approach.

I think even the term 'liberal' is problematic these days....especially in some environments such as America. There is no way that a 'liberal' church is free from fundamentalist energy.

(Message edited by Supertzar On 01/16/2009 02:40:04)

--------------------------------------------------------------
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. --1 Timothy 6:12, NIV

So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised. --Hebrews 10:35-36, NIV.

Reply to Supertzar (01/16/2009 02:03:50)

I feel obligated to evANGELise for my Maker--you see, it's my duty--I had a special revelation that most people don't get:  Jesus Christ showed up in my living room one night.

Heavy metal and that whole lifestyle has a way of catching up with you.  I know--I lived it.  Alcohol and drugs...  It's a downward spiral.  Depression?  They don't call it "heavy" metal for nothin'.

Yes, I believe in satan; I had an encounter with him too.  That's why I KNOW that I'm not wrong.  If I had any doubt,  I would not be here doing this--as a matter of fact, I wouldn't be here at all.  Don't forget that I was an unbeliever for 7-1/2 years.  I have been at Walk Away from the beginning.  Don't you think that something really big would have to happen to me before I could/would do this?  I wouldn't be here wasting your time and mine if it weren't so.  Please think about it...  Like I said, I had a very special revelation that most people don't get.

--Supertzar

So you believe you are 'special' now...? specially chosen? an angel?

Seems you believe your own eyes but considering the amount of chemicals and mania in the system I think there are alternative explanations. I certainly don't believe that there was anything to see but I acknowledge that you have made up your mind about it right now.

I don't think its all that surprising for someone to return to the 'fold' in view of such a short time (7odd yrs) and in view of your circumstances - being in ill health - addicted and perhaps lonely and in crisis = vulnerable. There's a lot of pressure from the environment  in the community/family to conform.  To me...it seemed your time online was pretty much spent skirting around the issues and as an onlooker....rather than discussing the problems (but that's okay too).
People do return to the safety of church for a reason.

But anyway....back to the music.

How come there are so many 'christian' metal bands around .? Seems your experiences were personal and not really indicative of the 'christian' music scene in general but that's okay.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Christian_metal_bands

Given the info however, I'd stop evangelising about that thou'...*chuckles*

I think you give more power to music than it deserves...but then again its about obsession and taking it all  too seriously and being easily influenced by external stimulus. Goes along with drug use very well.  btw...I don't like heavy metal.

Its pretty matteroffact that giving up alcohol is going to mean a little less gloom (not always) . Its a depressive after all.



New age, bornagain, evangelical  christian churches of one kind or the other .... are full of various kinds of addicts, all verbalising and living the same script .............going from one addiction to another.

American society is living off the addict. Its big business - building bigger and better prisons, making money from all kinds of things..from inspirational music to religious material/advertising - mega churches and individuals who clog the air with the same monotonous drone.
Crazy!

--------------------------------------------------------------
In exchange for obedience, Christianity promises salvation in an afterlife; but in order to elicit obedience through this promise, Christianity must convince people that they need salvation, that there is something to be saved from. Christianity has nothing to offer a happy person living in a natural, intelligible universe. If Christianity is to gain a motivational foothold, it must declare war on earthly pleasure and happiness, and this, historically, has been its precise course of action. In the eyes of Christianity, woman(man) is sinful and helpless in the face of God, and is potential fuel for the flames of hell. Just as Christianity must destroy reason before it can introduce faith, so it must destroy happiness before it can introduce salvation.

-- George H Smith, Atheism: The Case Against God