In Reply to: Non family belief question posted by Greg on March 03, 2005 at 15:53:34:
Greg, it sounds like you are continuing to ask the right questions in your examination of Christianity. I would urge you caution, as it can be a very slippery slope, depending on who you associate yourself with. Those who identify as Christians tend to answer such questions with certainty and dogma. Such answers end all serious inquiry because they are certain they have the answers for all humanity. That just isn't so. Keep an open mind and keep asking hard questions.
I just read the following post over at movingon.org and pass it along for your consideration. The poster refers to Nietzsche because there was a recent announcement of a new Foundation being formed called the Will To Life foundation, after one of his concepts. The Foundation's mandate is to advocate for and support people who were born and raised in high demand groups/new religious movements/cults, who often suffer abuse in various forms, including spiritually. However,spiritual abuse is not confined to such groups, but is rampant in most religions.
http://www.movingon.org/article.asp?sID=3&Cat=25&ID=2759
In TF, we were not allowed to read Nietzsche. He was "Evil".
Now, the true reasons have been revealed.
Disclaimer: Sorry if any misquotes. :)
Frederich Nietzsche
1. A casual stroll through the lunatic asylum shows that faith does not prove anything.
2. After coming into contact with a religious man I always feel I must wash my hands.
3. All credibility, all good conscience, all evidence of truth come only from the senses.
4. Faith: not wanting to know what is true.
5. I cannot believe in a God who wants to be praised all the time.
6. In Christianity neither morality nor religion come into contact with reality at any point.
7. In heaven, all the interesting people are missing.
8. Is man one of God's blunders? Or is God one of man's blunders?
9. The Christian resolution to find the world ugly and bad has made the world ugly and bad.
10. The word "Christianity" is already a misunderstanding - in reality there has been only one Christian, and he died on the Cross.
11. There cannot be a God because if there were one, I could not believe that I was not He.
12. Two great European narcotics, alcohol and Christianity.