In Reply to: Re: How I'm feeling today about it all, today and what' to come posted by Acheick on March 17, 2006 at 01:13:44:
[Zither:]Just so I am coming across clearly here, I am absolutely sincere about discussing with people regardless of background but I also don't want verses thrown in my face and to be told what I must do post cult. I didn't get that from you and I think you are reacting to my posts regarding what some others have said and my response to them.
[Acheick:]"I thought you were an objective person, but this posts changes my mind. Now I think I've been played for a fool. You never were interested in what I had to say or having a conversation with me. I feel like you just wanted to trap me into something you could find that was worthy of using to claim some sort of error from me."
[Zither:]What did I write in particular that made you feel that way? I have absolutely no intention of playing anyone for a fool. I do not in any way shape or form want to "trap" you. I haven't even referred to you in particular in my post.
[Acheick:]"No one ever said that Islamists weren't welcome here -what a bunch of crap. In fact, I said just the opposite. You obviously think very little of Christianity and say so with lights blazing away, but if someone challenges the belief system of whatever is not Christianity, then it's all hell breaks loose and the intolerance card gets played to the hilt."
[Zither:]Well, I never meant to take that subject and run but I did feel it was offensive to dismiss Islam as a politic and not a legitimate religion. So we don't agree on that? Does that mean I am putting you down for your belief? I have not done that at all. At least I don't believe I have, but if you paste some stuff I have said and tell me how it came across to you that I said to you personally I will be more than willing to look at it and try to clarify how I meant it or see where you have a concern.
[Achieck:]"I don't care if someone wants to paint themselves pink and call it god - I may think it bogus, but, as long as they are not hurting anyone and are tolerant of others and want to live in the free world as I do, then I welcome them in to my circle."
[Zither:]Then I guess I am welcome?
[Acheick:] "So your claim is silly, IMO."
[Zither:] Do you think it would be possible to disagree without saying the way I see things is "silly"? I don't think it is silly after getting out of a cult to try something altogether different. I don't think it is silly either for a person to believe in Christianity. I am talking about communication. I believe I apologized to you when I thought about how a subject title sounded? AND I referred to the body of my post to clarify the content was not rude or insincere.
[Acheick:] "Either that, or you are just trying to incite sometihng for the effect or because you have a bone to pick, or are just a real bitter person that loves to put people down. I'm not sure which, but, however, would love to be proven wrong."
[Zither:]Instead of accusing me of possibly trying to incite something here for an effect because you suspect I have some bone to pick, maybe you could just say you feel like I might be doing that and ASK ME. You didn't ask me but I will tell you. I know that it takes time to build up trust but I have every GOOD intention of wanting to be a supportive person here when it comes to WHATEVER helps anyone to feel better post cult, including Christianity. But I want to hear something supportive of where I am and what I believe and so I ask for that.
I have NO BONE TO PICK with you or OT2 or anyone else.
What have I said to make you feel that I am a real bitter person that wants to put people down? I must be missing something here. I haven't tried to put anyone down but I have said how I have felt when someone felt pushy to me regarding my personal beliefs. People asked me to say more about what I believed and when I do I read things that put me down for it. So I asked that anyone who believes in something other would talk with me because I know many people leave the cult and don't embrace Christianity. It would be wrong of me to call you "silly" or say your thinking was "stupidity" "lower than a fool" or whatever other things some have said.
This being said, you can have me in your circle or out, but I assure you I am not a "bitter" person who wants to screw with anyone's head here. I have had more than enough of that in my entire life as I know we all had having been in the cult.
So I would just ask one thing of you and I will try and do the same. Can you ask me instead of read my beads? I want to see people from different beliefs be able to talk in support of each other which does not mean I think we should all think the same. I believe it is possible and I hope after reading this you might try and trust me a bit more.
Thank you for your time to read and consider this.