Weezer

Does your therapist know about your thoughts of how things would be without you? You may need to call a mental health, or suicide hot line and talk with someone. You may need more than outpatient therapy. Are you taking any medications?

If you aren't getting professional help, you need it ASAP.

Excelent way to summarize your de-conversion.

Hello! This certainly is a unique introduction.

That is basically what I was trying to say. The overall focus is on "We." Only during times when one's own existance is being threatened by others, do you focus on "me", and my survival. I think we basically have the same thing in mind.

SAD. Almost unthinkable!

True, and if we get 1 or 2 more right wingers in the Supreme court, things will swing the Christian way. I hope RUTH can hang on a while longer.

LOL, we don't go that far, but have come close to telling them they are stupid for some of their actions. I think the word used was uniformed-----which they are in some cases.

Although it helps, life is more than excitement and entertainment. We need to feel worthwhile. That takes each person doing something that helps them feel worthwhile. And being around people that contribute to the feeling. Others can help you in the process, but no One can give it to you. What do you have to offer to the world that would help you feel worthwhile? Helping people leave oppressive beliefs on this forum helps me feel worthwhile. Giving my kids and grandkids a good foundation to build their lives on helps with the feeling. But I can't give it to them. They have to complete the building themselves to feel a sense of accomplishment, and being worthwhile. And it takes more than just feeding your own wants. You do not leave yourself behind, but it takes getting outside of self and doing what you can to make this a better world to live in. What do I do for excitement and entertainment? Ride an Enduro motorcycle across country off road, or on back roads. Look "outside the box". Find something you are good at and enjoy. Even if others think it is crazy, like my wife and some relatives, GET OUTSIDE THE BOX OF YOUR PREVIOUS EXPERIENCES. Use good judgement, but take what others want you to do with a grain of salt. By the way, you may never consider it, but riding isnt just for men. I occasionally ride with 2 women who are in their 50s. I am telling you this because the your options are almost limitless. But you will have to open your mind and get off the couch to find them.

Flood your congressmen in Washington with letters or messages. Although my wife is a christian, she has gotten on the band wagon and can't understand why anyone would back Trump, and believes the Evangical movement has gone off the deep end. A few days ago she sent 3 emails to our congressmen. I may get on a black list for sending emails to congressmen and the white house, heavy on separation of church and state.

I have had the same thoughts. I just finished the book, and except for being too detailed in some places, it appears well researched. I highly recommend it. The latter part of it is about the Evangelicals in general, which I found very interesting. Some on the far right are really scary, believing the ends justify the means. It helped me understand why some professed Christians are so militaristic, and some back Trump. And how they so easily forgive their fallen leaders. One thing we can do is to push for teaching critical thinking in our education systems, a broad (liberal) education, and fight school vouchers. They are big on indoctrination of children. And part of their manifest destiny is to get rid of unbelievers.

I wrote the above last night and was getting sleepy. Forgot the question part. How to best counter this movement?? I thought about writing my congressmen, but think our conservative guys from Kansas probably back the movement. One of our ex-senators, Sam Brownback, one of Trumps men, appears to be one of them. So, what do you do with a situation like this?

I didn't know where else to put this to get the most attention. If you are interested in the separation of church and state, you need to be aware of this "movement". They are the ones who put on the NATIONAL PRAYER BREAKFAST each year, and are viewed by many, especially some Evangicals, to be God sent. They are very powerful and have the ears of some of the most powerful people in the world. In the name of Jesus, they are out to take the world for God. They are backing Trump and are determined to make the USA a christian nation under God. For an interesting overview of how they got started, the tactics they use, and just how powerful they are, watch the Netflix, 5 part series, THE FAMILY. There is also a book by the same name written by Jeff Sharlet. It is much more detailed than the Netflix series. They are a very shrewd, sly, group, and masters at flying under the radar. They are male, authoritarian oriented, and initation of young men is by invitation only, and remind me of initation into elite fraternities and the Marines. They believe they have been called by God, and are totally committed to their version of "Jesus." They have studied the leadership tactics of powerful people, including Hitler, and say God had used imperfect men through the ages to accomplish his goals. Trump comes to mind. They are to be feared!! Their tactics are very effective.

THIS IS A POWERFUL MOVEMENT THAT NEEDS TO BE WATCHED! (I originally said stopped, but they are too powerful to be stopped) I have watched the 5 parts of the Netflix series on "THE FAMILY", and have finished about half of the book. This is a very sly movement operating all over the world. They are out to take the world for God, through Jesus. But they have a very slanted view of what the story of Jesus was all about. They are being very effective at working with powerful people in the USA at tearing down the wall separating church and state. Some Evangicals have "swallowed their hook, line and sinker," and are using Trump to their advantage. In effect they are sucking money and power to the top in any way they can. They are out to take the world, and to many they appear to be saints from heaven. They are the ones who sponsor the National Prayer Breakfast. The book is interesting, but overly detailed for my liking. For a quick overview, watch the Netflix series.

As a behavioral and social scientist I have mulled over this concept for years. Here is where I am at this time in my life. The words attributed to Jesus, "love your neighbor as yourself", (a.k.a. the Golden Rule, predating him by centuries) is a valid "truth", or philosophy, recognized by ancient thinkers, that is the "salvation" of humanity. Salvation, meaning the maximizing of human wellbeing, not a home in an afterlife. It is found through a balance of concern for self and others. Loving (taking care of) self, and doing what we can to help others do the same. A concern about WE. Not just ME. When we lose that balance, we have problems. Yes, there are times when it comes down to survival of self, but we are social creatures and need each other. We need that balance. For me, that is a valid "spirituality" for today. Comments?