So Margalit got me thinking...(dangerous, I know)
I started reading her blog after seeing her insightful comments on "Lost" on Ellen's blog. I may not always agree with Margalit but I like it that she offers intelligent and thoughtful views on a variety of subjects. When she sees something that bothers her, she expresses herself about it. And I both appreciate and respect that. Plus, her posts often get me thinking about things.
Her recent post about Christian bloggers (see link above) was one of those posts. Christians really piss people off. And I get it. Because a lot of Christians have pissed me off with their "holier-than-thou" exclusionary attitudes. And regular readers of my blog already know that I have recently started "coming out" about my own faith. I don't want to feel as if I have to hide the fact that I am Christian anymore for fear of offending someone or being subjected to ridicule. I have to be who I am. And I started this blog in order to share my life with people. Because you never know when something you have to say might mean something to someone else. At the same time, I don't want to offend or exclude anyone. Part of me is a cultural relativist. I think that goes hand in hand with being an anthropologist. I don't expect everyone to think the same way I do. And I don't criticize them for not agreeing with me. But I don't want to be censored. Or made to feel as if I have to censor myself.
I know that not everyone wants to read posts about my Christian journey all the time so I created a separate blog for that with my pal Gary. I'm not here to proselytize. Just to share. And I hope that people understand that.
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
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4 comments:
I agree. Your real friends will be those who accept all of you. Exploring this part of our lives together has held tremendous meaning for me.
Sincerely,
A real friend
You're a real mensch. You show empathy for people, you understand even if you don't agree, and you THOUGHT about it, which is all one can ever ask of a reader. Thank you!
I can appreciate where both you and Margalit are coming from. I do not like to be preached to and tend to avoid blogs or websites that SCREAM out about people's faiths. I like your reference to those kinds of people: "'holier-than-thou' exclusionary attitudes." That says it all. At the same time, reading about a person's journey down whatever spiritual path they are on can be quite inspiring. It reveals a lot about a person. I know several bloggers who are very upfront about their faith and it is a big focus on their blogs--I'm perfectly fine with that because I know they are sharing a part of themselves with me and not trying to sell me something like those earlier mentioned folk.
I'm with you, Malady. You shouldn't feel the need to hide the fact that you are Christian. I tend to believe that a person's faith is a very personal journey and not everyone will go down the same path. I respect that there are differences and admit that I am sometimes drawn to stories about people's experiences regarding their faith and religion, regardless of my own beliefs and leanings. It can be really fascinating!
I hope I am making sense. I'm very much in need of sleep. Great topic, Malady!
Margalit--Thank you. That is high praise from a blogger I respect and admire.
Litty Kitty--(that's how I like to think of you!) Thank you for your insightful comments. As always, you are articulate and thoughtful.
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