surprise

i have discovered i work with people of various faiths. we have a fairly open dialogue. none of us are convinced the associated institutions, attached to our respective religions, do them justice. so we muddle through by engaging in open frank discussions, hearing each others points of view, joys, frustrations and experiences of hypocrisy. none of which are terribly different. we are lacking however, in the mix, people of the literal fundamental persuasion. i have been wondering how this might affect the dynamic of this tolerant, inquisitive group.

if it aint broke, don't fix it!

i'm not suggesting i want to find out but i am curious how it is the major faiths are represented in our group and the closest i have come to an uncomfortable negative discussion was because of an outside person pushing christianity down the throat of our executive director. add one more negative experience to his list. kinda sux for those of us who spent our lives feeling like outsiders on the inside, only to realise that the very same people that did it to us there have made us outsiders on the outside by the very same actions tarnishing us. i find it hard to call myself a Christian when so many others who do the same do so without integrity or more importantly respect and care.

jesus freak was a term used in the 80's that simply makes me realise how far we have fallen from christs simple message.
love god
love your neighbour

i am finding less difficulty loving my neighbour down the road in the temple, than my next door neighbour in the cathedral.

sucks to be me

i wonder how i can love my next door neighbour when our label is the same and our approach polar opposite
i wonder if the neighbour down the road in a mosque has the same dilemma
i wonder what it is i call myself...
catholic (little 'c')
Christian (big 'C')
Jesus freak (lost at C)

i wonder if looking in people's eyes is a dying art
and
if it will lead to our extinction