DianneGardner's Journal, 03 September 2015

Wishing you good luck on your life journey  

I can relate to what you are saying having grown up in a heavily religious family. I wish those people who judged did not give everyone else a bad rep, but unfortunately they do. I too witnessed people even of my own childhood religion do and say things that were against the very philosophy of what we were taught using Scripture as their justification only forgetting they were completely taking a passage out of context. I used to be an avid Christian but after dealing with this for years, I honestly don't associate myself with any group. I do have the mentality "to each their own" and have learned to respect that as part of the ever-growing diversity among people on our planet. As a result, I've noticed I'm much more aware of my own bias towards people that is usually based on an arbitrary experience that led to rash conclusions and have tried to not let that affect how I think and what I do. Everyone has bias whether they realize it or not but the key is to not let that control one's life. I hope for a better humanity as well and over the years I've come to the conclusion that this hope starts with each one of us because at the end of the day, I am the only one who can control my thoughts, feelings, and actions. Thanks for sharing your post, and hopefully someone will take heed to your message to stop judging and discriminating people just because they are different. Hope you have a great day! 

Thank you..my best friend of 31 years is a strong Christian..there is no space between us on anything ..she respects my beliefs..I respect hers...she never tells you about her faith..she demonstrates it daily in her actions...a loving, kind, non judging woman...she says the Higher Power just wants us to "act right"..and love one another..she demonstrates the "Christ Within" every day of her life...thanks again for your kind comment.  

Thank you Dianne, I think the issue on FS is that people are allowed to journal what is important to them (within reason) and that we ALL have the freedom to pass by the journals with which we disagree. I do it daily - pass by journals and I do not concern myself with them. Reporting "abuse" to FS, I beeline is about people selling products, using foul language and images, or being mean to a specific target. I agree with you on many fronts - but still believe have a right to journal what they feel - and we have the right to avoid those journals without judgment. 

I agree. Why I decided to post my thoughts to clarify. AND..I support absolutely the First Amendment. But really I welcome opposing thoughts on my journal posts. As long as they are "right thinking" atheists. Kidding!! 

This is Fat Secret and we are all free to express how we feel. That said, respect for each other is paramount. I disagree with a number of folks but will cheer their efforts on their weight loss journey.  

Ok. Back to weight loss and too much skin..saw plastic surgeon yesterday to get Botox and talk about facelift..this would be my 2nd.... had one in 1990...best 8K I ever spent..had not seen him for 5 years and probably have lost 10 lbs since then..common now to use your own fat to add volume to skinny faces..so last time he said ok...only fat you have is on stomach..but it's enough..checked stomach again yesterday.....this time he said Dianne...no fat Dianne....that is just skin now. My best friend offered me a fat donation. Any else contemplating a 2nd facelift?..I have questions about getting a 2nd brow lift. Any comments welcomed. Recommendations on surgeons too near Daytona.  

I have not belonged to an organized religion since 1962 when people turned around, saw who my family walked in with, stood up and walked out. We came in with a family, friends, who just happened to be black. I consider myself very spiritual. I also believe everyone has a right to practice their beliefs, even atheism. There is no ONE way. Some of my dearest friends are gay, lesbian, transgender, Jewish, Wiccan, atheist and Christian, among others. I love them all equally. I believe in what Jesus taught (not what Paul and Augustine taught . . . woman haters), but I lean towards Buddhism. I think the clerk in Kentucky, who has been married multiple times, by the way, should be fired. Good luck with the loose skin. Between age and weight loss, I look like I'm melting. I have masses of skin sagging EVERYWHERE! LOL!!! 

Oh, and I forgot to mention my Dr, who I adore, is Muslim. She is a wonderful, wonderful woman I've known for 17 years. She was so excited last year because she got to celebrate her first 4th of July as an American citizen. 

Wonder where that hate comes from.  

Jesus hung out with prostitutes and tax collectors, the scum of his day. It is too bad when modern Christianity reverts to the Pharisee ideals of purity and misses the message he was giving. It wasn't about exclusion, it was about inclusion. That said, our reactions and feeling often say more about us than them. That is a bitter pill for me to swallow all the time. :)  

Has anyone noticed that the things we dislike the most in others is what we dislike the most about ourselves?  

I don't think it is religion per se that is the problem, but "organized religion" can be very intolerant. You can believe without being a part of an "organized religion" that practices intolerance and hate. 

Amen! 

Amen, I agree for GOD IS LOVE 

My turn. There is a difference between religion and relationship. Religion is man's attempt to get to God. The whole purpose of the bible is to reveal how God restored the relationship between Himself and man, that was lost in the garden, by the sacrificial atonement of His Son Jesus Christ on the cross. He loves even those that don't love Him, but the bible says that He will hold those accountable for rejecting His Son's sacrifice. Christians that demonstrate hate to any person, regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation, or whether they are a Democrat or Republican, are behaving contrary to God's nature.  

I agree with DairyKing.  

You need to be reported to F/S Your touting something that has absolute nothing to do with losing weight!!! This site is to support those needing and wanting to lose weight. Go preach somewhere else!!!!  

I also agree with DairyKing and you are also right Marlene1952.....there are plenty of street corners to preach on!!! 

I have never understood why so many people get so worked up about something they do NOT believe in . . . and then feel the need to preach about it on a website completely unrelated to religion. Next, Dianne, why not tell us how you feel about the Tom Brady decision today..?