I guess that is why I left Christianity MANY moons ago. The thought that someone would stand in the pulpit and tell me to LOVE MY ENEMIES was galling to me. Turn the other cheek... Forgive everyone etc.... It struck me that my religion was NOT Christianity, but Afrikan Libertion and Pan Afrikan Unity! I bet the DEMON that continues to oppress our people world wide just loves the idea of "Loving your enemy":uhoh:SMH Afrikan spirituality has been around for God only knows how many thousands of years. Yet we scoff at anything that is not gift wrapped in a collection plate or a bunch of FABLES! Until we discard the myths that tend to keep us docile and sedated, we can never go about the FAMILY business of World wide NATION BUILDING!:toasts:

So was Martin Luther King a mindless coward for hanging on to faith and standing with the non-violent movement? There are many others of different faiths that are pacifists, not just Christians. How about Ghandi? He turned the other cheek, but he stood up to his enemies.

Pacifism is not cowardice, pacifism is not weakness, it is strength. It is resistance of the status-quo without having to resort to the irrationality, and hatred that is violence.

I do however understand why some people lose their faith, I have many times questioned my faith. But over the years I am proud to say I cling to my faith, I try my best to pray for my enemies, and I try very hard maintain peace.

I am going to stay out of a debate about it, but I can tell you from personal experience, I have had people that hated me without any provocation and reason. I have had a few terrible experiences in my life, and it is almost as if God allowed for me to see the vengeance that was his...

As an example and this is a very mild example, because I have faced worse hardships than that... I had a boyfriend that used me, lied to me, he went behind my back with terrible rumors, and he was my first love, we started medical school together. As it turns out his lies were exposed, and well he left me for another girl...To make a long story short...
He graduated ahead of me, I was a laughing stock and I had to transfer because he even involved my professors said I was cheating on exams, and I wasn't. Well I ran into him, the summer before last...I mean we were not even from the same state, had nothing to say or do with each other. You know what? He lost his residency program that same week. Hadn't seen him in 3 years and I was like whoa...and it could be coincidence, but I dont think so at all. I believe the Lord wanted me to see, that despite all the lies he talked on me to other students, and the dirt that he did me when he walked by me with his new spanish lady and laughed in my face. He and his new lady, both at the same residency program lost it together.

I guess that is why I left Christianity MANY moons ago. The thought that someone would stand in the pulpit and tell me to LOVE MY ENEMIES was galling to me. Turn the other cheek... Forgive everyone etc.... It struck me that my religion was NOT Christianity, but Afrikan Libertion and Pan Afrikan Unity! I bet the DEMON that continues to oppress our people world wide just loves the idea of "Loving your enemy":uhoh:SMH Afrikan spirituality has been around for God only knows how many thousands of years. Yet we scoff at anything that is not gift wrapped in a collection plate or a bunch of FABLES! Until we discard the myths that tend to keep us docile and sedated, we can never go about the FAMILY business of World wide NATION BUILDING!:toasts:

I bet the DEMON that continues to oppress our people world wide just loves the idea of "Loving your enemy":uhoh:SMH

The enemy may love the typical human idea of 'Love thy enemy' But do you really think anything in the universe wants God to label, he, she, or it their enemy?

So was Martin Luther King a mindless coward for hanging on to faith and standing with the non-violent movement? There are many others of different faiths that are pacifists, not just Christians. How about Ghandi? He turned the other cheek, but he stood up to his enemies.

This isn't a fair representation of Martin or Ghandi. They were far from pacifists.

The true pacifists were the ones you most likely wont hear about. They are the ppl on the side line wishing that Martin or Ghandi would just stop fighting their enemies and cave in like them the true pacifists were doing.

Pacifism is not cowardice, pacifism is not weakness, it is strength. It is resistance of the status-quo without having to resort to the irrationality, and hatred that is violence.

No, pacifism in this sense of ''turning the other cheek" is cowardice, weakness and not strength

I do however understand why some people lose their faith,

Hopefully it gets replaced with '' UNDERSTANDING "

I have many times questioned my faith. :rolleyes: But over the years I am proud to say I cling to my faith, :11300:I try my best to pray for my enemies, and I try very hard maintain peace.

If something is truly your enemy then you would have a obligation to what ever god you choose to believe in to fight it.
It is why it is your enemy in the first place.
The warrior 'Bruce Leroy would not have realized his higher self 'Last Dragon" or what ppl would believe their God, if he hadn't met the baddest Mo Fo in town

Sho Nuff

It wasn't coincidence that his greatest enemy just so happened to be in the SAME neighborhood.


I am going to stay out of a debate about it, but I can tell you from personal experience, I have had people that hated me without any provocation and reason.
There is always a reason. We just don't always see it.

I have had a few terrible experiences in my life, and it is almost as if God allowed for me to see the vengeance that was his...

It allowed you to experience the stress from your so called enemies, It was more than likely in your corner like a boxers' coach in a boxing ring. I hope you didn't tell it you was going to go the pacifist route?:bawling:

As an example and this is a very mild example, because I have faced worse hardships than that... I had a boyfriend that used me, lied to me, he went behind my back with terrible rumors, and he was my first love, we started medical school together. As it turns out his lies were exposed, and well he left me for another girl...To make a long story short...
He graduated ahead of me, I was a laughing stock and I had to transfer because he even involved my professors said I was cheating on exams, and I wasn't. Well I ran into him, the summer before last...I mean we were not even from the same state, had nothing to say or do with each other. You know what? He lost his residency program that same week. Hadn't seen him in 3 years and I was like whoa...and it could be coincidence, but I dont think so at all. I believe the Lord wanted me to see, that despite all the lies he talked on me to other students, and the dirt that he did me when he walked by me with his new spanish lady and laughed in my face. He and his new lady, both at the same residency program lost it together.

The purpose of your enemy is to help raise your consciousness (thus the true meaning of love your enemy)or in the language in some religious faiths bring you closer to your God:angel:
I hope you didn't go thru all that stress without learning something. What ever you did gain tho I hope you are a better person from it:o

I for one appreciated your reply here. It actually helped me, and for that I thank you

It was right.
'OnTyme'
:grouphug:
Peace

The Gandhi reference :eeek: Africans would have to disagree with his 'peace keeping' methods ;)

I agree with you Ionly, religions are designed to keep people docile and oppressed, which allows their leaders to commit atrocities 'In the Name of God' and not be questioned by the masses.

I guess that is why I left Christianity MANY moons ago. The thought that someone would stand in the pulpit and tell me to LOVE MY ENEMIES was galling to me. Turn the other cheek... Forgive everyone etc.... It struck me that my religion was NOT Christianity, but Afrikan Libertion and Pan Afrikan Unity! I bet the DEMON that continues to oppress our people world wide just loves the idea of "Loving your enemy":uhoh:SMH Afrikan spirituality has been around for God only knows how many thousands of years. Yet we scoff at anything that is not gift wrapped in a collection plate or a bunch of FABLES! Until we discard the myths that tend to keep us docile and sedated, we can never go about the FAMILY business of World wide NATION BUILDING!:toasts:

Most religions have an exoteric aspect suited more for the general populous as well as an esoteric aspect to them. But are we are willing to look deeper into the path we have chosen to follow? If we did we would see that all religions stem from our ancient Ancestors many many thousands of years ago.

Most religions are merely stepping stones to our spiritual evolution. Many of us sadly choose to stay on the exoteric aspect of our chosen path which not only weakens us but allows for the many atrocities to be committed because we are taught to believe rather than question what is presented to us.

Due to our enslavement and the lack of knowledge from my parents I had chosen to take the exoteric path of Islam many years ago, yet where I believed Islam was not elevating me, it did bring me further along my journey onto the esoteric path of Sufism which spiritually benefited me greatly. This then brought me onto the path of Afrikan Spirituality where I am now able to recognise the origins of all religions.

If we were'nt lost, we would not have the desire to want to find ourselves. We each get what we need at the time we need it. As it is said, 'when the student is ready the teacher will appear'.

Love, Peace!

Pacifism is not cowardice, pacifism is not weakness, it is strength. It is resistance of the status-quo without having to resort to the irrationality, and hatred that is violence.

Is protecting one's family, one's children, one's people, one's country etc from any kind of attack or oppression, considered violence? If all the Afrikan nations were to turn the other cheek when European or other invaders and violators came, then would our people not be extinct?... Just a thought.

Love, Peace!

[COLOR="blue"]The purpose of your enemy is to help raise your consciousness (thus the true meaning of love your enemy)or in the language in some religious faiths bring you closer to your God:angel:


Hmmm...so would you say we "raised the consciousness" of our oppressors, despite the fact that they were, and are our enemies?

KWABENA

Hmmm...so would you say we "raised the consciousness" of our oppressors, despite the fact that they were, and are our enemies?

KWABENA

Good question

Does your oppressor see you as it's enemy? Or someone it is just indiscriminately picking on? Are you standing in the way of what your oppressor feels is it's destination/destiny? It's like the bully in school. Just picking on folks because of it's own inner demons not because you in particular is his or her enemy.
But if you fight that enemy back and it gets hurt, yea, you raised it's consciousness at least to know it can't eff with you without repercussions

Peace