Today's blog post is going to delve into the world of Christians and an aspect of the way many practice their faith.  I realize that the audience here may not be all that interested.  However, the community "fencerow" that I dwell and work in is populated on both sides by Christians.  As a matter of fact, until the turning of the 21st century (give or take a couple of years), I walked the same path.  So, it is just natural that my musings and experiences are still influenced. 

Recently I had the wondrous experience of being "damned to hell for all eternity" because I shared a post on my Facebook page about recognizing the Feminine Divine.  The post basically pointed out that while many Bible believers will say that God doesn't have a gender, they will get offended if you refer to God in any feminine term.  That set off a locally known person. He went on a rant on his own page babbling about calling God female is "blasphemy of the Holy Spirit" and that anyone even hinting at that is going to hell for eternity.  I considered the source and instead of being angry, I just put up a little picture of one of those weird monkey toys that clashes cymbals.  I had previously responded to this same person with the same scripture source that he likes to use in his judgmental attacks, the Bible.   He makes a mistake when trying to use Biblical references in debate because even though I am not a Biblical Scholar, I used to teach Bible at church and did so longer than he has even been alive.  Anyway, I digress...

I referenced 1 Corinthians 13:1-5 (especially verse 1) "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful"

In response to his post that damned us that recognize the Feminine Divine, I didn't even have to quote the verse. I just posted the monkey as my profile photo.  I guess the young man got the point because he promptly blocked me. 

When walking the fence row one needs to maintain a level of groundedness.  I do not personally feel compelled to drive out into the Christian fields to do battle.  It has been my experience that little is accomplished for either side in that fashion.  I have friends and family of various Christian faiths and most are respectful of others beliefs even if they do not agree.   I have on dear friend who is Jehovah Witness and she will occasionally hand me a leaflet or a casual mention then let it drop.  We have had a couple of deep talks about her path and mine and where they are similar and where they vastly part.  It's all cool though.  I just smile when she does her 'duty' and tell her to be blessed as well.

By being grounded and peaceful in my own path walk, I find that only those who really want to have a deep talk about spiritual matters will approach me directly.  The rest just go about their business and probably talk about me behind my back.  However, that also gives me the ability to deflect and debate those who choose to bring the battle to me.   Being peaceful does not equal being weak by any means.  "Choose your battles wisely," is one of my mantras.  Those combative Christians that do not seek any sort of true understanding but only to force others to think their way are out there and only rarely are deserving of any real time or energy.