Faith and Agnosticism

Comment by Dal Maxwell on July 31, 2012 at 6:55pm

Claire - The primary problem I have with that, and people of 'deep' faith is that you are once again relinquishing your power over to someone/thing else on the FAITH that it will turn out alright.  I have a terrific sense of faith; I'm Jewish and to date that has been a wonderful experience during and after my struggles with transition. 

HOWEVER.......I'm not praying for anything to happen in my life (except for the occasional plea for the winning lottery number, or for Pat's Pizza to start delivering) to enhance it, bypass obstacles, or make my path easier to travel.  *I* object to people giving up their free will and control over their own destinies as a matter of FAITH.  FAITH can do a lot of things for you; in my many hospitailaztions over the past 10 years, that sustained me mightily.  But I wasn't expecting anything of it; it was merely comforting and did keep my spirits up during some otherwise pretty bleak times.

Frankly, it's difficult to separate advocating a closer look at one's faith in christianity from the amount of negativity that is directed at us BY the Christian faiths.  I often wonder how someone can be a devout Christian while the denomination is determined to minimize someone right out of existence just for being who they truly are.

Finally, and totally seriously Claire, do you not think you might have offended anyone by opening this post with So, everyday I take a moment to browse various pictures on facebook for either comedic value........  Really?  Is your life that rock solid that you can be insensitive to the  people who don't have the looks, or are at a physical, emotional or intellectual disadvantage?  Perhaps my sister would send you into hyperventilation; she was born with multiple problems and for what she has gone through in her life she looks okay to me.  Beauty queen?  Hardly!  Human being?  Absolutely! 

What's your excuse?

Comment by Claire Bargo on July 31, 2012 at 8:03pm

Daralyn, let me first respond in order.

The concept of relenquishing ones free will and personal cognition to somehting they have faith in, is at heart a personal choice. in fact thats the very essence of the difference between belief and faith, the faithful do not require reasons or explanations. They offer their will up to something they have faith is higher then them.

If people want to pray for various objectives, that is their perogitive, it is not mine or anyone elses place to say that they should or should not pray for something.

I affirm that it is very hard for me, and many other minorities that are subject to the discrimination and abuse of a church. I myself used to hate christians on the premise that "They're christian they hate me, so I'll hate them." This was not a very acceptable stance for me. in stead I believe we minorities should bolster ourselves and try to commune on a human level for peace. Sometimes, this wont work on such a core and honed belief of both paries, (in this case transexualism and christianity) there are bound to be people you just cant get along with. However, it is much more sensible to just cut ties with the person and be on your way, than it is to try and force one belief over the other.

As for the pciture thing I'm afraid I didn't elucidate enough and that is my fault. when i refer to comedic value I'm not talking about a specific individuals pciture being humorous. but most of the time people post funny quips and comics that humor me. I would never insult, berate, degrade or humiliate someone based on appearance, I'm a transwoman I am the last person to have the right to judge anothers appearence.

I hope I have sufficiently cleared up any confusion.

Comment by Dal Maxwell on July 31, 2012 at 11:24pm

I'm pretty sure I wasn't confused

Comment by Claire Bargo on July 31, 2012 at 11:43pm

If that was the case, then do elucidate on why you presume that I "can be insensitive to the  people who don't have the looks, or are at a physical, emotional or intellectual disadvantage? "

Comment by Dal Maxwell on August 1, 2012 at 12:28am

You kinda cleared that up with your explanation about the remark regarding comic value, etc. 

Comment by Claire Bargo on August 1, 2012 at 1:15am

Ah! alright then.

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