“If our concept of God is wrong, the more religious we get, the more dangerous we are to ourselves and others.”
—William Temple
I can no longer in good conscience call myself a Christian, the term having been thoroughly misappropriated by a legalistic, self-righteous, self-destructive, segregationist, pharisaic, oppressive and judgmental sect of religionists whom are nothing like Jesus.
“God Waits by the Window”, Nikon D800, ISO 640, f/5.6 at 1/640 sec., 180mm
Photographing people, places, pets and ponderings
throughout Central Florida.
I Shutter at the Thought! 
It’s so sad…because this seems to be true for most (if not all) ‘organized religions.’
Although I like this photo, I’m sorry if you had to have an ugly experience… 😦
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Thanks, Takami. I have not had a bad experience so much as having spent a lifetime observing irreconcilable hypocrisy among those that claim to be what they are not. Even Gandhi acknowledged he would consider becoming a Christian should he ever actually meet one. 😉
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Ah yes…sad to say I’ve observed similar things here too. It seems to be a vice of human nature, or perhaps that’s just an excuse – more likely, it’s because most folks are unwilling to make the effort to practice what they preach. I like Mr. Gandhi’s comment 🙂 😉
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I think you nailed it, Takami. I recently heard someone say they had concluded the teachings of Jesus were largely too difficult and had been left untried.
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Earl, it breaks my heart to read your comment, because I know how important the teachings of Christ are to you. The way I look at this world is: it doesn’t matter what other people call you; it doesn’t even matter what you call yourself; it only matters what God calls you. When the hateful pretenders to Christianity sorely oppress you, you can do something they can’t: ask Christ for strength.
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I have in no way abandoned my faith, Carl; to the contrary—I want to take it back! I only wish to distance myself from those you aptly describe as “hateful pretender”. If I must use a label, I shall call myself a follower of Jesus rather than a Christian.
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Your faith is strong no matter how you describe it, and it leads you to God wherever you go. 🙂 I look at this photograph and try to imagine the person who had a spray can of paint near a forgotten wall… and did NOT have gang signs or a teenage romance on their mind: they were thinking, “I must give glory to God!” How many months, years, decades went by before you saw it and took this photograph? Was it placed there just so you could find this image on that day, and photograph it, and inspire others with it? I was inspired by it.
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I had the same musings, Carl. 🙂
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