Can You Make Me See Red?

That whole episode was pivotal in my reconsideration of my personal religious thinking.

There is a persistent undercurrent here; that you feel your work here is to bring us unbelievers into the fold. Why did you first show up at A2K? Why is your participation overwhelmingly in the area of religion? You have repeatedly said that your own faith is unshakeable, that you are not re-examining it, that you are in no danger of changing your mind; what is your goal in putting so much time and energy into these discussions, then?

I ask these questions not because I personally am offended in any way, but because this undercurrent is a big part of the reaction you garner here, and if you'd like to outright deny it, here is your chance.

[...] But, is my intent to bring unbelievers into the fold? I am really ashamed to say this, but no. I know I should be trying to do that and yes, I'd be thrilled if someone did believe but I can't convert anyone.

Hi Everyone!

How has God blessed me today? He sent me some real angels! Some know me from A2K, some don't. It's getting rough on that forum. The non-believers are really rebelling against God's word. I think those of you that post on A2K realize that.

I am asking if any of you do go to A2K and post in the Spirituality & Religion Forums, please DO NOT post in the threads that the atheists start that clearly are to mock the Lord! If we stay out of those threads, they will die from their own evil.

And those of you that do not post on Able2know.com, I encourage you to do so. We are in a spiritual war today. We need as many Christians as we can possibly get to stand united against the father of lies.

I want to see this site grow to be something so glorifying to God! We can all do that by finding others to come here. But, please, please, do not PM or directly ask anyone on A2K to join SpiritWarriors. That's against the TOS. I am in contact with a lot of the Christians there and I am telling them about this site to get them to come here.

We have to put forth our best Christlike armor we can my brothers and sisters in Christ. The Beast knows that his time is short and he grows angry. [..]

Love in Christ,

Momma Angel

We are in a spiritual war today. We need as many Christians as we can possibly get to stand united against the father of lies.

I want to see this site grow to be something so glorifying to God! [..] We have to put forth our best Christlike armor we can my brothers and sisters in Christ. The Beast knows that his time is short and he grows angry. [..]

I am telling everyone about this site and trying to help get more to register. We can be a mighty army for the Lord.

Lash, can you find the email she sent to the God Squad about my pending 'discussion' with Heph?

My bulk email:

Some of you know that I post on the Spirituality & Religion forum on Able2know.com as do some of you.

Recently, a new poster, Hephzibah has joined us. She is a very strong Christian in the Lord. She is issuing a challenge right now to another poster (a non-believer) who says there are many contradictions in the Bible. She is ready to do battle for the Lord in this. I am asking that everyone please say a prayer for her. Pray that God gives her the wisdom and understanding she will need in this endeavor.

I know that everyone will understand my asking for this prayer, as you all know I am a Christian and God is the biggest part of my life. I thank all of you for your support!

Momma Angel

ehBeth wrote:

That whole episode was pivotal in my reconsideration of my personal religious thinking.

Momma Angel was an authority for you on what religion is all about? Enough so that she changed your personal religious thinking? I'm speechless, and that's saying something.

I won't call myself a Christian again. I have too much repect for it's namesake.

Excellent question squinney - about why all the vitriol toward Arella. If she was the kind of unrepentant, in your face bible thumping evangelist I'd think she was if I never had any personal exchanges with her (by personal I just mean back and forth within these discussions), I might have problems with her, as well. I don't like things jammed down my throat. But she hasn't ever seemed to me as deserving of the kind of jumping up and down that some seem to heap on her. She says things that some find misinformed and just plain wrong (as do we all), but rather than just state where they disagree, they seem to ascribe a kind of sinister ulterior to her that I just ain't seein.

Now...
The one here who is pushing this whole "make her be accountable" thing the hardest is the one I feel least qualified to be pushing anything of the sort.

My qualification is that I hate what she did.

This person, while having a certifiable fit because of some inappropriate personal things I said to her, has never apologized or taken responsibility for some of the most nasty things ever said to me on this forum.
I take full responsibility for everything I said. I was not, nor am I sorry, that I responded in kind after you said weird, personal stuff about my health. If I said I was sorry, I'd be lying. Had I insulted you out of the blue, with no reason, I'm sure I would have apologized, because I have never in my life made such a comment to anyone. I can't imagine any scenario that would compel me to do it again. Of course, I never thought anyone would make fun of an illness that ruined a portion of my life, and that was related to my husband's fatal illness. I went for what I knew. Maybe you learned a lesson about kitchens and heat...

I posted months ago some really bad statements about Lash's physical health. I also called her a drunk. When I really got with myself and considered what I'd said, I had to apologize for what I'd said. It was wrong, and I haven't said anything that bad before, or since.
It's always admirable to apologize, especially when the person apologizing makes a committment to themselves not to repeat what they're apologizing for.
On the other hand, during that same period of time, Lash called me a "miserable dry drunk" who "probably would be improved by a drink". She said this knowing full well that I have celebrated 14 years as a recovering alcoholic.
No, that wasn't on the "other hand." That was the same hand. My comment came directly after and because of your rude comment about my personal health. You must know once you open a door, anything and everything that comes through is what you let out. Frankly, I'm amazed that you are whining about it. You've been here long enough to know if you get very prsonal with someone, the odds are they will respond in kind. Just because you're ultra sensitive about alcoholism doesn't mean it's more insulting to you than your comment about my health was to me. You don't seem to get that.

She also took my chosen career path - professional counseling - and trashed it - saying things about how I'd be a joke of a counselor, and why. these things were equally ugly and nasty.
I remember one comment, and while it was negative, it doesn't fit your hyperbolic description. Show my comment or retract your statement.

These things hurt, and were intended to hurt.
Yes. This happens when you attack other people. I suppose your low remarks about me were meant to be edifying. You're incredibly egocentric for an adult.

Lash never apologized - never took any responsibility. It is this picture of Lash I have in my mind when she comes off like the high prosecutor against someone else.
I do take responsibility. Certainly, had I lied to you, I'd need to admit it, or suffer all manner of indignities. However, I didn't.
On two separate occasions, Lash has dug and dug through, and reposted past posts of mine - trying desperately hard to show two individuals how I have insulted and offended them.
On one occasion, he asked someone to explain what they meant about snood being sarcastic. I happened to know what that poster meant, and was happy to find the posts. I did not have to dig. They were very easy to find. On the other occasion, if I'm correct, snood challenged someone to show him where he sneered on the thread. I obliged him. He seemed not to really want someone to find it..

On both occasions, both individuals read all that she could find, and calmly explained that they hadn't taken offense. The imagined "offenses" hadn't even happened to her, but she was the only one out there leading a one woman show, trying to stir up a shyt storm about them.
I responded to snood's requests for assistance in finding posts. He never even thanked me.
I'm not sure exactly what Lash's impetus is for the things she does, and I really don't care. But I can't take her endless indignation at an endless list of things seriously. And in my mind she deserves the least respect of anyone on this forum - and that's exactly what she gets from me.
Coming from you, that means ...nothing.

I'm not chucking my whole belief system, but I won't call myself a Christian again. I have too much repect for it's namesake.

And for the record you are a bald faced liar in suggesting you were just trying to "help" by finding the posts you thought to smear me with.
Snood. <sigh> I think you may be the only one here who didn't pick up on what I meant. Yes, I wanted you to have to face what you had said both times. It was like the Gary Hart challenge. "I dare you to find me having an affair"... and when they do... "Hey, that's my private life!!" Don't issue the challenge if you can't accept the result. You acted as though you hadn't sneered--or you couldn't comprehend why someone would say you're sarcastic. I very simply brought the posts you were asking other people to bring. I can't smear you by showing your own posts, snood.

Call it what it was. Your motive was just to continue to hurt me - as long, and in as many ways as you can. Why can't you just own that?

My motive was to show you what you asked to see. It's not as complicated as y9ou make it seem. And, actually, I can see why you'd rather think it's some big long-term conspiracy. That removes you from all responsibility. Why didn't you just say-- Well damn. I did sneer. I would have respected that a bit, and it would have ended there. Why don't you just admit it, snood? All I did was meet your challenges.

You are wrong about me in a lot of ways, but I expect that you have no interest in knowing that. For some reason, it is easier for you to maintain the level of (insert word here equalling a pungent mixture of disgust, and dismissal) that characterizes every exchange we have.
I respond to your posts.
I'll spend an afternoon sometime digging up all the nasty insulting invective you've heaped on several people - which by the way you probably are sanguine in the knowledge that they all deserve.
You will never catch me being anything but a bit humilated by the calibre of comments that I've made. I've gone back several times over the years, and reread. I certainly do regret many of my comments. I usually apologize in private if I think I should. I am not under any delusions about who I am, what I do, and what many people may think about it. I am thankful beyond measure that since my husband died, I have felt a increase in my self-control, and I am becoming, bit by bit, less horrified with my manner of interaction.
But, hey, knock yourself out.

...and I've tried to explain that I understand the vitriol, now that it's been explained to me.