[Image Description: "GOD IS LOVE" in center-aligned white letters on a black letter board with beige wooden bordering while standing on a white bureau with a flowered table cloth on it with a bright pink wall in the background.]
CONTENT WARNING: The religious/spiritual opinions on this blog post are mine based on my own experiences and do not reflect the opinions and experiences of everyone. Commentaries published on my First Former Buddy Club President influencer page represent diverse viewpoints. If you would like to submit a commentary, please contact me for more information. All perspectives and experiences are welcome here.
In my first trimester at Bryn Athyn College, I was required to take a religion course along with eventually some other religion courses since it is a religious school. Bryn Athyn practices the New Church religion of Swedenborg so the required religion course that I took this trimester was Intro to the New Church Doctrines. For the class, one of the required assignments was to write daily journals based on readings from "You Can Believe!: An Introduction to the New Christianity" written by Grant Schnarr (The author was actually my professor for the class! He is a minister in the church!) and we students had to apply what we read to our lives. So, since some of the content mentioned in this short essay that I wrote is related to the content that I post on my disability advocacy influencer page, I have decided to upload it is a blog post. Here is Journal #3.
TRIGGER WARNING: In addition, if you are affected by religious/spiritual trauma, this blog post may be triggering. If you need support right now, please seek help from a therapist, other mental health professional, or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or text "HOME" to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 if you live in the USA or text "CONNECT" to the Crisis Text Line at 686868 if you live in Canada.
Prompt: "Read Chapter 1 of You Can Believe!. Journal Entry in response to readings - Who is God? Show me you read, thought deeply about what you read, and apply it to your life."
There are many different beliefs and perspectives about religion, especially God. My interpretation of Christian behavior is love and acceptance of everyone. However, certain differences and actions are considered to be a sin in one Christian religion that I have been exposed to. This makes what Christian behavior is truly supposed to be confusing and contradictory for me.
God is about forgiveness, but then, there is the additional belief that "He is aloof, angry, judgmental, inconsistent, impersonal, neglectful, or inept" and sends people to Hell for doing bad things (pg. 3, Schnarr 2006). From my perspective, it is okay for God and anyone to express feelings, but if God is about forgiveness, then why do people think that He sends them to Hell as a punishment? It is also often stated that God is supposed to be our friend and true friends forgive each other. Along with forgiveness, reflections should be encouraged for improvement. When people do wrong things, they should genuinely take responsibility for their actions and show change in behaviors. In addition, everyone involved in the situation should move forward meaning that they do not let what happened control their lives completely. I say "move forward" instead of "move on" because people typically do not move on because what happened will always stay with them. God would also want us to move forward as often stated biblically. It is stated in You Can Believe! written by Grant Schnarr that "Much of what is taught about God is myth, nonsensical, and manipulative" (pg. 3, Schnarr 2006). These beliefs about God are just people's perspectives and not everyone has to have the same perspective. In addition, God would not force any beliefs or lifestyles on anyone because he accepts people of all backgrounds.
Everyone is entitled to have their own perspectives about anything as long as they are shared in a civil manner. God treats everyone as worthy no matter who they are or what they are known for and that is why he gives them the opportunity to exist. God loves all equally.
If you are affected by religious trauma, remember that you are not alone and there is hope. If you or someone you know needs support right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or text "HOME" to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 if you live in the USA or text "CONNECT" to the Crisis Text Line at 686868 if you live in Canada.
Did you enjoy and find this post helpful? If you want to see more content like this and my other content about teaching and advocating for the disability community, please follow me on Instagram and like my Facebook page if you have not already by clicking on the hyperlinks below:
Give feedback! Questions? Compliments? Suggestions? Let me know in the comments section below and/or email me at ehoffbuddyclub@gmail.com !
If you repost to your own page or story, please tag me in the caption and the post and keep my logo visible. Thank you💕
Citations
1. Schnarr, Grant. You Can Believe!: An Introduction to the New Christianity. 2006.
Comments
Post a Comment