Blog

YourHub.com \\ Castle Rock \\ Susanne Sanstra 's Blogs

Blog Entry 20 of 20 Dying to Write

Someone told me that I should write a book about helping your sister handle her grief. As my profile states her husband was killed in an accident in January. We have been struggling to understand and to get through the days for the last six months. My blog is just about grief and family. Sounds pretty simple huh? I wish it was.

Blog Url: http://denver.yourhub.com/~familycomes1st

Evangelicals among us

e-mail to a friend | print this | link to this

Contributed by: Susanne Sanstra on 4/4/2008

I had an opportunity last night to sit with 10 other women and discuss religion. It was a phenomenal group and I was extremely pleased with the energy and overall tone of acceptance. We all came with different backgrounds and experience that led us to our beliefs and understandings of not only religions but also our faiths. I have been thinking about it all morning.

I really enjoy situations like last night, where intelligent people can discover each other's opinions and insights in an unthreatening manner. I was probably the most threatening person in the group, constantly asking for more information and prying into the personal beliefs of these women. No one seemed offended and no one told me to mind my own business, so I happily delved as far as possible.

The part I found most fascinating is they all held very strong beliefs. Even the women that don't have religious beliefs held strongly to their point of view. No one, not one single woman in the group, claimed to be "right". I thought this was incredible. I know that in our hearts we all believe ourselves to be right, why would we hold on to any idea that we were unsure about? But in this gathering of confident, articulate women, no one felt the need to force their ideas on anyone else.

Don't get me wrong, there was some preaching, some definite ideas of how things should be done, but through it all, it really felt like the women understood that this subject is very personal. I guess that's why so many people have a hard time talking about it.

We had a segue that specifically dealt with the idea of evangelizing to others. Some felt that it's just inappropriate to try and sway people toward your point of view. I argued that maybe it's not in the presentation of the information that is at fault, but on the receiving end. If you don't want to hear it, kindly say so.

The questions become, is it evangelizing when you are telling people what you believe and why? Or is it in the tone that it is offered? Are you trying to persuade me with your ideas or simply sharing more about yourself? Is it only okay when you are specifically asked?

I think that when voicing our opinions we are always trying to persuade. It doesn't mean that I should be offended. It doesn't mean that I will change my point of view. I simply appreciate the opportunity to hear others thoughts and feeling about important subjects. I enjoy knowing how they got to that understanding or belief. I thank these women for sharing with me. I am richer today because of them.

< Previous: 'Nightmare' | Next

[Report this as objectionable content.]

SUBMIT COMMENT

Rate the above blog

Current Rating

Based on 4 user ratings.

Talk Back : submit comments to the blog

*Note: you need to log-in to add a comment or rating.

Thank you! Your comment has been updated.

Showing 1-3 of 3 comments

Submitted By: Michael Kilman

posted on 4/8/2008 @ 3:11:17 PM

Rated Blog Entry

Culture in this world is so diverse and so complex. When talking about about belief structures we must remember that belief structures are one aspect of a culture. If you change one thing you change everything. I think this kind of sharing is wonderful it is a way of saying here is my world view what is yours. Let's just remember we need to do this with non-Christians as well.

[Report as objectionable]

Submitted By: Barbara Neff

posted on 4/7/2008 @ 6:23:16 PM

Rated Blog Entry

sounds like a wise, vibrant group of women. speaking generally, our planet is doomed if we cannot learn to practice tolerance. the entire "my way or death's highway to you" has to go if we expect our world to survive.

[Report as objectionable]

Submitted By: Gail Kirkegaard

posted on 4/5/2008 @ 10:52:54 AM

Rated Blog Entry

I like a good mixer too. Women of Faith Conferences have been a favorite for years! They're all Christians, but all "brands" of them!

[Report as objectionable]

Showing 1-3 of 3 comments

CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Susanne Sanstra

Larkspur , CO

Susanne Sanstra has posted 20 blog entries and 15 comments since joining on 8/4/2006. Susanne Sanstra 's average blog rating is 4.98.

view profile »

SAVE AND SHARE THIS BLOG ENTRY

digg	Google
del.icio.us	Yahoo!
reddit	Newsvine

What is this?

CONTENT RSS FEEDS

All blog entries

All blog entries in Castle Rock

All blog entries by Susanne Sanstra

BLOG LIST

WANT TO WRITE FOR YOURHUB.COM?

Want to see the stories you write and the photos you shoot featured in the YourHub.com Thursday print section available all over the Front Range and with home subscriptions of the Rocky Mountain News and The Denver Post? All you have to do is register, then post a story or column, start a blog or tell everyonewhat events are happening in town. We will print the best stories, columns, event listings, photos and blog entries in our print sections.

Loading Ad