So, here it is.

I am a Christian, and though it seems as if only everyone else's shortcomings are noticable to me, it is quite the contrary.

In my Christian walk, I notice painfully obvious transgressions and mindsets that I am not only not proud of, but am seeking to abolish from my life.

I, like everyone else, take my life's experiences and package them all into a neat little box...and call it "Me".

Except there are a lot of things that I would rather NOT have affecting "me"...

One of the things I would like to have affecting "me" MORE is God.

I will never be the Christian I want to be, since being perfect in Christ's manner is unachievable totally, but I am going to get as close to it as I possibly can, so that I can best serve Him with my life.

So, I started asking myself about 6 months ago what I could do to accomplish that.

I prayed...and I prayed...and I prayed...and I prayed.

I cried, and I wailed, and I begged, and I fell prostrate to the ground in humility of my God...that He would change me to be a vessel for Him.

Anyway, it is so amazing, looking back, at the series of events that has brought me to the place spiritually that I am at today.

In the faith of Christianity, it is believed that we all have "gifts". I don't mean personality traits that make us more or less desirable by our human counterparts, but rather spiritual gifts that God will be able to use to minister to other people.

Mine, long before I became a Christian, was the gift of discernment.

I know when something is wrong...not just with my faith, but with people.

For instance, a man walked passed me one day while I was waiting for the bus. He didn't look at me, or even acknowledge my presence, but when he passed me, I got a shiver...and that wasn't all. I am not going to explain the rest, but suffice it to say that my every molecule reared back in horror of this man.

While that sounds crazy and bizarre, I have to tell you how awed and shocked I was to see his face plastered all over the news two months later...he had kidnapped, raped, and killed a little girl. She was only 7.

So, that is just an example of the "discernment" I have. It helped me greatly in my quest to become a medium, prior to my conversion to Christianity.

Ok, to the point.

This discernment has led me in the direction of ministry...going out into the field (the world), and taking what I know of God to people who would not have otherwise heard it.

But I had to accept the fact that I don't know as much about God, and the Bible, as I ought to.

The Decision: My husband and I are moving to Portland, Oregon, to attend Multnomah Bible College and Biblical Seminary.

I have been so pulled and prodded by the Spirit to do this, that I can hardly contain myself.

In a Christian's life-walk (so to speak), they experience Valley's and Mountains. During the Valley times, we feel downtrodden and abandoned by our God. It is a time of learning, and great healing.

But the times that we are on our spiritual "Mountain", we hear the voice of God within us, and we can do nothing but heed the call.

I spent the past 7 years of my life in a spiritual Valley, folks. It was all self-induced, and did nothing to wane my faith, but I must tell you that it was a long time to be out of fellowship with my God.

I am now on a spiritual Mountain, and for once in my life I feel as though I am truly open for God to use me. It is an awesome feeling.

But, to my point (and my debate opener)...

I will be going to a school for Christianity. Yes, I will obtain a regular degree in Fine Arts (I am going to study music), but I am also going to be learning Greek, Hebrew, the Bible, and various other aspects of my faith.

Is there something comparable, in your opinion, to YOUR beliefs ?

I know there are Mormon and Catholic colleges, but...what about Buddhism ? Agnosticism, Atheism ?

If there are, or if they were available to you, would you consider going, just to achieve a better understanding of your beliefs ?

If not, why not ?

Why would I need to go to some school to be a weak atheist at least?

All that happens is someone makes fantastic claims about supernatural beings and people coming back to life and I as a weak atheist just say that not enough evidence has been provided and I don't believe those claims.

I will answer your questions as best I can. One, good job on finding a purpose. I hope you help alot of people not only to believe in your God but to become better and happier people. After all, that is what alot of think religion is for anyways. Two, while there are scools for Buddhism and Hinduism, they are not what one would expect. They are no longer missionary-based (can't think of the word I need here), so they are mroe one-on-one tutorships, but they are indeed comparable. Other more practical things are learned. Three, there is nothing for us of the atheist/agnbostic persuasion, but that is ok. We don't really desire one. close personal talk is just as good to us as a school, which is why we flock to Totse and other sites like Meta-Religion that give us the chance to read and discuss. Know that even though your posts ahve put alot of people off, they have enjoyed them whether they know it or not. This is our college and we love every minute of it. Lastly, we probably, or at least I, wouldn't go to a college based on faith unless it is group discussion-oriented. Any other way and you only see one person's interpretation of their faith, and that is really useless in the personal field of faith.

Here's the mistake christianity makes: It thinks the Bible is The Word of God. But it isn't. The Bible is about The Word of God. To think the former is idolatry. You need to find out what The Word of God is.

You won't find out because of some school. They mostly keep people from finding out.

[This message has been edited by bkc (edited 04-08-2005).]

quote:I know there are Mormon and Catholic colleges, but...what about Buddhism ? Agnosticism, Atheism ?

Buddhism-Monasteries

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Agnosts-I can't imagine anything for them existing

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Atheism-Liberal Arts College http://www.totse.com/bbs/biggrin.gif (http://www.totse.com/bbs/biggrin.gif)

[This message has been edited by napoleon_complex (edited 04-08-2005).]

I'm glad you are going to this school. I have a few friends who went and they are great people now. They have a great way of talking about their faith without being assholes (see other thread), and I think you could use that! I'm not being a dick, either.

Anyway, Atheists and Agnostics are usually more independent study or scientists, so the schools they use are libraries and universities (for science).

For example, I have been independently studying religions since I was about 16, and over the years have become tolerant of all beliefs. I do not worship any gods, but if it strikes me one day to do so, I will do it. I am not atheist or agnostic, though, and I use a different word for myself: nescient. I just believe that you can always learn more, and should try to do so. Not only about your faith, but everyone's.

Anyway, good luck with your schooling, you ought to become a better person because of it.

in a way, i'd sort of like to go to a christian university, but I plan on going to a public university and majoring in philosophy this fall. I'm gonna take the oportunity of being in an academic environment away from all the crap i'm used to to try to grow. Really think myself through..They don't really have any classes that a christian college would have, but I'm going to take some language classes, like greek or latin or hebrew..I want to do my own study.

Portlands a great town.

Hit me up with any questions on the city.

Where to eat. Where to spend time with the family. Entertainment. Things to see. Whatever. I love this city.

quote:Originally posted by bkc:

Here's the mistake christianity makes: It thinks the Bible is The Word of God. But it isn't. The Bible is about The Word of God. To think the former is idolatry. You need to find out what The Word of God is.

You won't find out because of some school. They mostly keep people from finding out.



I wasn't asking your opinion of MY going to school.

Whether or not you think it is blasphemous to believe that God is telling the truth when He says that the word is WITH Him, and He IS the word of God, is irrelevant to this discussion.

Thanks.

[This message has been edited by Digital_Savior (edited 04-10-2005).]

So, based on your input, do you guys think that Christians can't learn more about themselves and their faith in a secular environment ?

It sounds as if you all think alike in the aspect of "atheists" being able to learn independently...somehow insinuating that Christians need to clump together and surround themselves with their dogma in order to become learned Christians.

If that was not was intended, then please disregard.

My main reason for wanting to go to this college is not to brainwash myself. I have already made a decision to live for Christ, but I feel that there is an abundant ignorance running rampant throughout the Christian community.

Not only do I want to add to that pool, but I would truly like to know the deepest facets of my faith.

I am also not going to just be studying the Bible. I will be studying music, which is my passion. I will have a legitimate Fine Arts degree when I graduate, so for all intensive purposes, I only stand to gain from this experience.

TRIBE

Do you live in Portland, or do you live close enough to frequent there ?

quote:Originally posted by Zman:

in a way, i'd sort of like to go to a christian university, but I plan on going to a public university and majoring in philosophy this fall.

Perhaps you can do both...you have many years to live in your life. No sense limiting yourself to just one thing.

Why philosophy ? Just curious.

*LOL* @ NAPOLEON

Yeah Digi.

I split my time between Portland and a suburb about 20 minutes away called Tigard.

quote:Originally posted by Digital_Savior:

So, based on your input, do you guys think that Christians can't learn more about themselves and their faith in a secular environment ?

I think the exact opposite. It's the "commoner-church" views that corrupt people as it is. If you learned of Christ on your own, you'd be far better off.

quote:It sounds as if you all think alike in the aspect of "atheists" being able to learn independently...somehow insinuating that Christians need to clump together and surround themselves with their dogma in order to become learned Christians.

No, it's the clumping of Christians before they go to Christian Unis that causes them to be the way they are in the first place. I don't know a single Christian who is a loner/learned about it all alone.

The problem with this is that any old nutcase can give you his interpretation, and as long as he is convincing, people will believe him. He could be talking entirely out of his ass, no one would know. So when you go to Unis they kind of teach you that. They'll teach a more scholarly approach to faith (rather than your current "YOU'RE WRONG I'M RIGHT!" method).

quote:My main reason for wanting to go to this college is not to brainwash myself. I have already made a decision to live for Christ, but I feel that there is an abundant ignorance running rampant throughout the Christian community.

Trust me, you are part of that ignorance. I'm not being an asshole: you have commoner-faith at the moment. I mean that it's hasty and judgemental and not really along the lines of what Christ taught. Don't worry, you'll be better when you come out.

[This message has been edited by malaria (edited 04-10-2005).]

quote:Originally posted by Digital_Savior:

Perhaps you can do both...you have many years to live in your life. No sense limiting yourself to just one thing.

Why philosophy ? Just curious.

Well, I was planning to major in political science...I still might..but I've always kind of been a philosophical person, so I thought if I'm going to try to grow as a person, and get what they call the broad undergrad education, I think learning how to think philosophically and learn what some of the great philosphers thought would be the best way to go. And i can still go to law school afterwards if I want...

Why limit myself....I don't know, I worry too much.

marilyn Manson kicks ass guys/girls...

i was never baptised, grew up in white australia a good man http://www.totse.com/bbs/smile.gif (http://www.totse.com/bbs/smile.gif)

I have to admit though, i live in a society that ties in christianity with our law.

not being baptised/christened has given me the freedom to view the world independent of a path. I create my own....

But yeah i think christians should crush islam

with everything they have, please http://www.totse.com/bbs/smile.gif (http://www.totse.com/bbs/smile.gif)

-KevinK