What Do YOU Think?

[Puckstop31]

^^^ I found those last bible quotes pretty offensive, actually. I don't think that any woman should "submit" to any man. Men and women are equal, and I will love my husband... but will never submit to a man. We have come so far for equal rights, and women are not posessions.

It is not uncommon for people to miss the KEY part of that passage... Indeed it requires that a wife submit to her husband. But the most challenging requirement is laid upon the husband...

Ephesians 5:25-27 (please read it carefully...)

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

Jesus Christ DIED for us. What greater love can you imagine? Is there love greater than the love that means you will DIE for your spouse?

Look at these passages without your blinders of selfishness attached.

 

[Solace]

And Jessie I can appreciate that is how some people choose to live
I know religion plays a big part in some people's lives.

But for those it doesn't... how is our quality of life and existence so much less? Why are we the negative ones that have lives full of unfulfilling negative things?

 

[Solace]

It is not uncommon for people to miss the KEY part of that passage... Indeed it requires that a wife submit to her husband. But the most challenging requirement is laid upon the husband...

Ephesians 5:25-27 (please read it carefully...)

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

Jesus Christ DIED for us. What greater love can you imagine? Is there love greater than the love that means you will DIE for your spouse?

Look at these passages without your blinders of selfishness attached.

I am neither blind nor selfish. In fact, my vision is quite good

I choose not to live my life like that.

 

[Puckstop31]

Sorry... I don't base my life around what someone else wrote in a book...

Interesting... What do you base you life on?

 

[~Jessie~]

Just loving my husband is easier than giving up my rights and dignity as a human being who is equal to my husband.

 

[sparks19]

Those quotes are only offensive if you read in the context you are reading it. It does not mean submit and do everything he says but at times in a marriage you must back down from a fight. The term "pick your battles" comes to mind. You don't have to fight EVERYTHING. My husband treats me WONDERFULLY and NEVER expects me to be at his beck and call. but I WILL always be there because I love him and I KNOW he would do the same for me. You are viewing the whole "submit" thing in a very selfish manner.

While Bible quotes may not matter to you they do matter VERY much to others. ME for example. he DOES love me like Christ loved the church. That may mean nothing to you but it means the WORLD to me. He loves me UNCONDITIONALLY. I have made some BIG mistakes in the past but he has NEVER held that against me or made me feel like less of a person because of them.

heck I will be the FIRST to admit I have flaws. I am HUMAN. I am emotional and sometimes respond with emotion. Things may not come out like they should and may be misinterpreted but I AM HUMAN. You are human. We are all human. No one is better than anyone else. If you can't respect me for believing what I do then I can't respect you for your beliefs. Give a little to get a little. don't get huffy because we quote the bible and then expect us to just accept your beliefs. the bible MATTERS to us. if it means nothing to you then that is your perogative. but to some it means a GREAT deal. don't diminish our faith because you don't feel the same way.

it is only offensive if you choose to view it that way.

but just a side note. Tell your loved ones that you love them EVERY DAY. You never know when it will be the last time. I do not want to lose a loved one and wonder if they knew how I really felt and what I really thought. so I will ALWAYS be honest and I will ALWAYS express my love. I will ALWAYS say please and thank you and let them know I appreciate them. No matter if you are married or not. Let them know you LOVE them. ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS. Life is short and you never know when it will end. don't get caught up in the petty stuff. ALWAYS say what you feel even at the risk of embarrassment. it is a small price to pay when you could lose someone you love without telling them how you feel. If you take anything from this thread Take THAT. It is important. Call your mom, your dad, your bf/gf, husband/wife, best friend. Tell them how much you care. It is never too soon but it can always be too late.

 

[Puckstop31]

The bible isn't truth to everyone. Religion is one of those things that everyone disagrees on. You can believe in it, but to say it is true for everyone... is not true.

Ok, why do you not believe it?

 

[Puckstop31]

Hmmkay, why I resent them. Here, I'll be a hypocrite.

"Judge not lest ye be judged."

Who are you to sit around and say that crap about someone else?

Please show me where I judged you... God has given every person a free will and I am certainly not the one to deny you that. I am in now way judging you, but you thinking that I am...speaks volumes.

 

[~Jessie~]

^^^So because I am a woman, I need to be the one who backs out of fights and blindly supports my husband?

Like I said before, I think men and women are equal. Selfishness does not mean wanting to be treated equally.

When you push your faith on others and say it is the truth, you are diminishing "my" faith... we all have a right to believe in what we want to believe, and you can't say that what you believe in is the "truth."

 

[Solace]

I base my life on what I see, and do.
I travel, I see the world. I read, all sort of books. Historical books, I have studied religion in many different places. Many different "Gods".

I base my life around the people I meet and the things I do when interacting with them. My life is based around science. I believe in what I can see with a telescope or a microscope, and I have looked at many things that way.

I'm not sheltered. I choose not to shelter myself. I want to see as much of this planet (and beyond! I do love my telescopes) as possible.

I refuse to be pidgeonholed into believing one thing, one set way.

That said, I do understand how religion is important to people. Just please, don't think you're the only "right" people on the planet.

 

[Puckstop31]

Not all believe in God and His word..let's keep that in mind and respect that, please.

This idea works both ways. I have infinite courage of my convictions. Do those who disagree with me have the same?

Again I submit... "The TRUTH has nothing to hide."

 

[~Jessie~]

Ok, why do you not believe it?

Because I believe in evolution... I believe in science, and cannot believe in something so intangible.

 

[sparks19]

And Jessie I can appreciate that is how some people choose to live
I know religion plays a big part in some people's lives.

But for those it doesn't... how is our quality of life and existence so much less? Why are we the negative ones that have lives full of unfulfilling negative things?

No one has said otherwise. No one has said you are less of a person or that your life sucks because of it. But if you are unwilling to let love in and give love out then I DO believe you life is empty. God or not.... LOVE is important. it is a TRULY unselfish act that you bestow upon another. there is no feeling like true and honest love. If you don't believe in God that is your perogative but don't shut out love. Love is such a wonderful thing and can bring joy that you could never imagine possible. It did to me. I was in a terribly verbally abusive relationship that I thought was totally normal. I worked to support him while he sat at home and spent my money. he burnt my yearbooks and all my photos from the past. he snooped in my purse and I had no idea this was abnormal. Then I finally got wise and got the courage to leave and I found my husband and he was an unbelieveable rock for me when I thought I had no one to turn to and nothing left for me in this world.

 

[Puckstop31]

But for those it doesn't... how is our quality of life and existence so much less? Why are we the negative ones that have lives full of unfulfilling negative things?

Do you read what you say? If so, how can you ask this question?

 

[Solace]

I never said I was without love I'm quite a happy person.

And for about the 4th time I'll say I know that religion is important in many people's lives. But I've seen so far on this thread people who don't believe in god called selfish, and worse.

 

[Buddy'sParents]

you can't say that what you believe in is the "truth."

I'm sorry, why not? It's preached to me as such and I will believe it as such- the truth.

This idea works both ways. I have infinite courage of my convictions. Do those who disagree with me have the same?

Again I submit... "The TRUTH has nothing to hide."

I'm not arguing with you, I would hope that both sides would be equally respectful. It appears not, but does not mean that I, nor anyone else, should belittle anyone's beliefs.

So, I ask that all respect each other's beliefs-it's not hard.

 

[~Jessie~]

I have infinite courage of my convictions as well

 

[Puckstop31]

^^^So because I am a woman, I need to be the one who backs out of fights and blindly supports my husband?

Certainly not... Because if your husband TRUELY loves you, you will never be put in that situation.

Like I said before, I think men and women are equal. Selfishness does not mean wanting to be treated equally.

If you are with a man who makes you feel this way, you need to find a better man.

When you push your faith on others and say it is the truth, you are diminishing "my" faith... we all have a right to believe in what we want to believe, and you can't say that what you believe in is the "truth."

I disagree... If you feel that way, it seems to me you have little "faith" in your faith. Indeed we all have a right to believe whatever we want to, but if you have true faith, you would fight for it in a better way than simply saying "I have a 'right' to believe......" I KNOW that. I have fought for that right, others have DIED for that right. Do not denegrate it by not telling us WHY you feel that way. Simply claiming your right, without backing it up is weak. If you have such faith in your ideals, fight for them.

 

[~Jessie~]

I respect everyone for their beliefs. I really do not care what anyone believes in. I will not push my beliefs on others, and I hope that they will respect me enough to do the same.

 

[sparks19]

I never said I was without love I'm quite a happy person.

And for about the 4th time I'll say I know that religion is important in many people's lives. But I've seen so far on this thread people who don't believe in god called selfish, and worse.

Not called selfish because they don't believe in God but because they are unwilling to give unconditional love to another.

Jessie, No one is saying you have to be the only one to submit. Did you NOT read the MAN part of the quotes? They are required to be willing to DIE for us. I think that is a far greater sacrifice than submitting.

but be sure my husband does NOT ever expect me to submit to his every whim. He is VERY accomodating to me. I can be a very difficult and stubborn woman at times and he NEVER fights me. Especially when I have PMS. he ALWAYS understands what I am going through. The point is you don't have to ARGUE everything. We almost NEVER argue because it is just not worth it. If he is willing to die for me and I for him then what is a petty disagreement.... it is nothing. I am not always right even though I would like to think so LOL. I know when I am wrong and I am willing to admit when I am wrong. both sides should be willing to comprimise and "submit".

That is what makes it selfish. if you are more willing to FIGHT than to admit that you might be in the wrong then it is not the love the bible describes. I know the bible doesn't mean anything to you but it does to me and it helps me realize that constantly fighting over who is right and who is wrong is not love it is a competition. people say marriage isn't easy but I really believe it is. Even though we have been through VERY tough times it has always been easy to love him. I never ever thought I made a mistake in marrying him. THAT is the point.

Do not confuse this with "pushing" my beliefs on anyone. I am simply stating what I believe and why jsut as you are doing.