AboutCarl Fuglein Expertise I can answer questions from teens & young adults concerning their faith walk and on social issues which affect their lives. I can answer questions on sex & homosexuality, and drugs. After 20 years in youth ministry, nothing shocks me, and I promise to give straight answers to any and all questions. I can also answer questions from youth workers on problems they`re having with programming or with their groups.
Experience I have been involved in youth and young adult ministries as a volunteer for 25 years. I am currently a volunteer youth minister in a small country UM church - our youth group has about 30 members.
Organizations United Methodist Church, Chrysalis, Walk to Emmaus
Awards and Honors Certified lay speaker for UM Church
Expert: Carl Fuglein Date: 7/26/2007 Subject: i need answers
Question hello, i am a 14 non-christian.
in my past i have been bashed and unjustly tormented by those of your faith, and now, i have converted many to my beliefs and i am actually accepted in my school
I am a Wiccan and a praticeing witch, your religion would call me evil, they would call me a worshipper of the devil because i am a witch, both of which i find hallarious because i do nothing but try to help people and I DONT EVEN BELIEVE IN AN ULTIMATE SOURCE OF EVIL! i am a religious rights, gay rights and womans rights activist, and yet i manage to keep a few christian friends so im not here to complain about all christians just a majority of them, EXPECTUALLY BORN AGAIN CHRISTIANS they seem to forget that they must of had to screw it up the first time to have to be born again, and that they arnt perfect.
i get hate mail almost everyday, ive turned more then one of the idiodic displays of brain washing and down right passing judgement into jokes and i post them on my myspace blog and my websites.
if what you say is right my mother, an agnostic dieing woman, will go to hell when she passes on.
my question is WHAT GIVES YOU AND YOUR CULTS THE RIGHT TO JUDGE EVERYONE ELSE, EVEN THOU YOUR BOOK SAYS YOUR NOT SUPPOSE TO?
Answer Dear Me-
WHY ARE YOU SHOUTING AT ME? There's no need to shout.
Your question was what gives us the right to judge everyone else? Nothing. That judgement is up to God. I, and others, believe what we believe and we're not judging anyone when we say that we believe that they are going to hell. It is God who judges them and will have that ultimate decision as to where their soul will reside in eternity. Do I personally believe that your agnostic mom will go to hell? Yes, I do, but I could be very wrong. I believe in the Bible, and the Bible says that we must repent of our sins and believe that Jesus took our sin away. Your mom may be a wonderful person, and I would suggest to her that she read the Bible and seek out spiritual help and make the decision for herself. It has nothing to do with me judging her or anybody else.
I'm sorry that you get hate mail. But could it be that you get hate mail because you take that hate mail and turn it into a joke? I will respect your right to believe how you want, but if you take my words and turn them into a joke or make fun of them, I would not be happy.
I'm sorry that you have been bashed and tormented by Christians. I know that many Christians would welcome you to attend their church to hear about God and would show you nothing but love. I have a couple kids in my youth group that are atheists. One of my best adult friends is an atheist, too. I love all of them the same as my Christian friends. It's because I DO love them that I tell them about Jesus, and how a belief in Jesus will set them free from their sin. There's no place for us to bash you, and I'm sorry that it's happening to you. But you have to realize that it goes both ways - when you start talking about Christians in the same manner, then that lack of respect unfortunately encourages a lack of respect towards yourself.
I'm not going to bash you. I'm not going to torment you. I cannot prove to you that God exists. All I can do is tell you that I am firmly convinced that God is real, that Jesus walked on Earth, and that He died for my sins. He died for your sins, too - all you have to do is accept Him.
BTW, we're not a cult - a cult is an organization that drives it's members to a certain set of beliefs. Mainstream Christianity is definitely not a cult as we allow folks to choose to come and go as they please, and to believe whatever they want. I'm not forcing you to convert - you have to make that decision yourself. And many people consider Wicca a cult, too.
I would be delighted to continue our conversation, so if you have more questions or a rebuttal, please feel free to write again. Only, please don't SHOUT. It's rude.
