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learn about me. Name: Sarah. Age: 22. Location: UK.  I'm in a long term relationship.  Human Rights  Animal Rights  Intactivist  Hammers Fan  Gay Rights  Feminist  Theist (Christian)  BNF Collector  Liberal I'm the proud mummy of 3 Degu boys, Dougal, Jack and Teddy. (RIP Dylan and Henry my beautiful boys) ♥ About
What I write about This is more a random blog or my um..random thought's and ramblings. I also have 2 other blogs on blogger/blogspot which are more specific (they are linked below) Please note that these are my opinions, and things in my culture/life. If you are unhappy at any point you can leave. Comments which are abusive to anyone will be deleted. Thanks for your cooperation! ♥ Wishlist
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♥ Art: ProMarkers by Letraset
Saturday, 3 August 2013 @ 18:31 ProMarkers are Alcohol based permanent markers. Unlike other felt tips they do not feather up the paper. You can layer them to create shading, and can blend and overlay the colours. They offer a lot of artistic freedom. ProMarkers are good to use for cartoons, comics, drawing characters, people, animals, lots of uses. You can make clear crisp lines with them, they give a smooth look unlike other felt tip pens or pencils. The pens have a fine tip and a larger tip, you can also get fine tip pens to draw out lines, and a blender pen. 
Left to right - Ruby showing small tip, Petrol Blue showing large tip, Blender pen & Fine tip pen. Blending There are a few ways you can blend two colours together, alternately you can blend your shading of just one colour together. The easiest way I find to use the blending pen is to lay the lightest colour you want to blend down first, then colour over it with the blending pen. 
Layer the second darker colour over the top in the places you want it and use the blending pen again over the top.  Overlaying If you wish to you can over lay colours. Depending on the colour under it the colours will be slightly different which is good if you want to mix colours. Try to test the colours on a separate sheet before putting it on your work - this way you will know what colour it will turn and how much layering you have to do.  In this second image I layered the colours showing next to it which colour I use - this will give you an idea of what to look out for when you layer colours yourself.  Shading One of the things I really love about these pens is the ability to shade with them. You can build up several layers of shading. Bellow is an image with block colour (Using the colour "Blossom")  The next image uses one layer of shading.  Two layers of shading - leave a bit of time for drying between each layer - leave more time if you want the layers to look more defined, leave less time if you want the layers to blend. (It's a good idea to test on a separate bit of paper how much time is needed)  Three layers of shading - you can build up several more layers.  I hope if you are really into art you consider trying ProMarkers, they are a fantastic tool, are easy to use and don't take long to get used to! If you want to buy some get onto Letraset's website :) 0 Comments 
 ♥ Albinism in Horses
Thursday, 18 October 2012 @ 10:50 Albinism occurs in a lot of animals; mammals, reptile,
birds, it even affects humans. As of yet, though, there have been no reported
cases of albinism in horses. Many people think and even speak with confidence about
owning or seeing an albino horse – but albinism has never been reported by any
stud farm, there are NO true albinos! This article sets out to explore why
that may be and exactly what these people are mistaking for albinos.
The definition of albino is:
A person or animal having a congenital absence of
pigment in the skin and hair (which are white) and the eyes (typically pink).
Baring this in mind, I will explain why there are no true
albino horses.
Basic horse genetics
A good place to start is with the basic colour genetics of
horses. Understanding the foundations of coat colour genetics is important for
understanding the coat colours people mistake for albinos.
The very basic colour genetics start with base colours;
these are the colours black and chestnut. Dilution genes are added to create new
colours. The most common dilution gene in horses in the Agouti gene which
causes the bay colouring on a horse with a black base colour.
Bay - Caused
by the Agouti gene, which restricts the black pigment to the legs, mane and
tail.
Brown – Caused by a form of the Agouti gene which restricts the black pigment to soft areas of the body (sometimes called seal brown or tan)
Grey
Most commonly seen “white” horses are usually greys. They
differ from real white horses in many ways.
Grey horses are born any ordinary colour (bay, black,
chestnut etc.) Gradually over time they will “grey out” which is where more and
more grey hairs appear in the coat, some grey horses get to a point where they
look almost brilliant white, others will form dapples, or stay a steel grey
colour for the majority of its life, and some older horses can form flicks of
colour called “flea bitten grey”. The occurrence of “greying out” varies from
horse to horse, some horses start to grey out at a young age of around 3 or 4
months old and some will show no signs of grey until several years later.
Grey horses which look brilliant white can be told apart
from white horses by their skin colour. Because grey horses are born a darker
colour they have darker skin (usually black or dark grey skin), these are noticeable
around areas where the coat is thin, such as around the eyes, in the ears and the
muzzle. Grey horses usually have brown eyes.
Extreme
or Maximum Sabino
|
Base colour
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One cream dilute
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Double dilute
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Chestnut
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Palomino
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Cremello
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Black
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Smokey Black
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Smokey Cream
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Bay
(Agouti dilute)
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Buck skin
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Perlino
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(Double dilute information: http://www.doubledilute.com/color-chart.htm)
White
Finally, we are onto the white horse. The true white horse
is caused by its own “white” gene.
In the existence of the dominant white gene (Ww) a horse
will be born white. The skin will be pink; the eyes are usually brown (but can
sometimes be blue). A true albino cannot produce any pigment therefore making
the eyes red or pink. Since the eyes in a white horse are actually brown, therefore
not lacking pigment, it would be incorrect to call a white horse albino. They
are not truly albino! Horses with ww (non-dominant white) will not be white.
Lethal
White
The white gene is truly dangerous in horses – this may
offer an explanation as to why there are no albino horses alive today!
There are two types of lethal white: Embryonic Lethal White
and Overo Lethal White.
Embryonic Lethal
White
Some theories suggest that in the presence of the homozygous
dominant white gene (2 dominant white genes, WW), the foetus will be naturally absorbed
by the mare in early pregnancy. Since no horse has ever survived past early
foetal stages with this gene, we are not sure whether it would be the albino
gene or not, although it is likely this is the case. It is not clear what
causes this to happen.
Overo Lethal White
In the presence of the homozygous dominant Overo gene,
outwardly healthy foals die within the first few days of life. This is due to
the defective Overo gene (frame Overo) which is passed on by both parents.
Hopefully this has explained
why there are no albino horses, while also explaining why what you may have thought
was albino is not!
0 Comments
♥ Intactivism: Where your religious rights stop
Thursday, 4 October 2012 @ 16:07
A lot of people excuse circumcision, and reject the ban because of religious freedom. Where do your religious rights end? Why are religious rights of an adult more important than the bodily rights of a child?
Everyone has rights, from the minute they are born they have a set of basic human rights. Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of persons. In fact, it is seen as a basic human right that everyone should be allowed to be whole. Religious rights refer to yourself and your own religion, but they should NOT infringe someone else's basic human rights. Where your religion may be harming the rights of someone else, that is where they stop.
So let us look at circumcision, then. Is it required by religion? Yes that has been seen. Does it harm another human being? Yes it harms the young boy who is having it done. Is the one being harmed the one choosing it? Nope.
Your religious practices which are seen as damaging to other people, you do not have the right to practise under the human rights law, because it infringes the rights of another human being. And in this case permanently!
For example, we do not allow people to stone each other now, yet it is almost certainly required in the bible. For adultery, blasphemy, for a women who is not a virgin!
"And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him." Leviticus 24:16
If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her; Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city. Deuteronomy 22:23-24
"If any man take a wife, and go in unto her, and hate her ... and say, I took this woman, and when I came to her, I found her not a maid: Then shall the father of the damsel, and her mother, take and bring forth the tokens of the damsel's virginity unto the elders of the city in the gate: And the damsel's father shall say ... these are the tokens of my daughter's virginity. And they shall spread the cloth before the elders of the city. ... But if this thing be true, and the tokens of virginity be not found for the damsel: Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die." Deuteronomy 22:13-21
If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her; Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city. Deuteronomy 22:23-24
"If any man take a wife, and go in unto her, and hate her ... and say, I took this woman, and when I came to her, I found her not a maid: Then shall the father of the damsel, and her mother, take and bring forth the tokens of the damsel's virginity unto the elders of the city in the gate: And the damsel's father shall say ... these are the tokens of my daughter's virginity. And they shall spread the cloth before the elders of the city. ... But if this thing be true, and the tokens of virginity be not found for the damsel: Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die." Deuteronomy 22:13-21
Do we allow this to happen? Why on earth not? Perhaps it is because stoning someone is against their human rights? But is also against your religious rights? Is it not?
There are things in the bible which are no longer done because they harm people, but they are still laws which are written. In today's society it is important to protect people from harm, especially if they are unable to speak for themselves. Which rights are more important? An adults religious expression on which they perform a harmful act on someone else? Or a child's right to be free from harm, and to be allowed to decided if they want to have body modifications done when they are able to understand. Many religious people are now jumping on the intactivist band wagon, and giving their children their very own religious freedom! Isn't that fantastic?
It is very important to note that, a body modification like this is permanent. It has affects on the child later in life as well as right now in his life. He may never choose to be Jewish or Muslim, but if he does he can have a circumcision as an adult. If you leave them intact they can make an informed choice for themselves! :)
In conclusion: You can swing your arm around as much as you like, but your fist stops where another person's nose starts!
There are things in the bible which are no longer done because they harm people, but they are still laws which are written. In today's society it is important to protect people from harm, especially if they are unable to speak for themselves. Which rights are more important? An adults religious expression on which they perform a harmful act on someone else? Or a child's right to be free from harm, and to be allowed to decided if they want to have body modifications done when they are able to understand. Many religious people are now jumping on the intactivist band wagon, and giving their children their very own religious freedom! Isn't that fantastic?
It is very important to note that, a body modification like this is permanent. It has affects on the child later in life as well as right now in his life. He may never choose to be Jewish or Muslim, but if he does he can have a circumcision as an adult. If you leave them intact they can make an informed choice for themselves! :)
In conclusion: You can swing your arm around as much as you like, but your fist stops where another person's nose starts!
0 Comments
♥ Art: Are you using the correct medium?
Saturday, 29 September 2012 @ 15:50
Art is expressive and free, so you can pretty much do what you like, it doesn't always have to appeal to a wider audience. If you are going to be selling art, or want to better your work, the medium is a good place to start.
Each piece of art medium is best for particular type or style of artwork. Although art allows the artist freedom, there are definitely preferences for media used. In this blog post I'm going to talk about a very small amount of art mediums, mainly because they are misused or not used enough.
Watercolours
Watercolours are best used on watercolour paper, normal paper will curl (can be used on canvas). They are usually used on scenes landscape. They blend well and give interesting effects if used correctly, they run into each other and you can use different methods to get diffident effects. A lot of people use them to do sketches. They work well with coloured pencils and water pencils.
It is quite important to use the correct type of brushes, and a range of different types in any one picture, it is also important not to add too much water or not enough - although this can help to make expressionate pieces. It can be hard to get a define line, which is why they are not usually used for drawing characters, animals or people.
Acrylic Paints
Acrylic paints can be used for most things, the can be thinned with water or used thick. It is far easier to get clear define lines with acrylic paints, and they are often easier to use than oil paints. They are very versatile and fun to use.
They can be used on paper and canvas, for scenes, landscapes, people, animals and many other pieces of artwork.
Pro markers
Pro markers should be used on special paper, as they soak through the page. They can be used on anything you like but they are amazing for drawing people and cartoons. Unlike felt tips they are easy to shade with and don't leave behind lines, they are smooth.
They are best for drawing defined lines as you have more control over the lines made than with any type of paint, making them amazing for drawing characters. You can go over the top of them when dry to create shading.
Art is fun and so you should be experimental with all types of medium. The medium you use will depend on the effects you are going for or the thing which you would like to capture.
Each piece of art medium is best for particular type or style of artwork. Although art allows the artist freedom, there are definitely preferences for media used. In this blog post I'm going to talk about a very small amount of art mediums, mainly because they are misused or not used enough.
Watercolours
Watercolours are best used on watercolour paper, normal paper will curl (can be used on canvas). They are usually used on scenes landscape. They blend well and give interesting effects if used correctly, they run into each other and you can use different methods to get diffident effects. A lot of people use them to do sketches. They work well with coloured pencils and water pencils.
It is quite important to use the correct type of brushes, and a range of different types in any one picture, it is also important not to add too much water or not enough - although this can help to make expressionate pieces. It can be hard to get a define line, which is why they are not usually used for drawing characters, animals or people.
Acrylic Paints
Acrylic paints can be used for most things, the can be thinned with water or used thick. It is far easier to get clear define lines with acrylic paints, and they are often easier to use than oil paints. They are very versatile and fun to use.
They can be used on paper and canvas, for scenes, landscapes, people, animals and many other pieces of artwork.
Pro markers
Pro markers should be used on special paper, as they soak through the page. They can be used on anything you like but they are amazing for drawing people and cartoons. Unlike felt tips they are easy to shade with and don't leave behind lines, they are smooth.
They are best for drawing defined lines as you have more control over the lines made than with any type of paint, making them amazing for drawing characters. You can go over the top of them when dry to create shading.
Art is fun and so you should be experimental with all types of medium. The medium you use will depend on the effects you are going for or the thing which you would like to capture.
0 Comments
♥ Heart = Love?
Wednesday, 26 September 2012 @ 08:22
This is a repost of an article I wrote for my website. I thought I would share it here, too!
Where does this idea come from? The idea that love should be associated with the heart - to the human eye they have no common traits. The hearts main function being to pump blood around the body - how does this become a body part associated with emotions, particularly love?
The symbol of the heart isn't a recent thing, it’s been used for centuries, resembling that of the human heart - the left ventricle in particular gives the lumpy effect, and the point, although much more rounded, is also depicted. Modelled on a heart but exaggerated, or at least made symmetric.
History on the origins of the heart being associated with love is still unclear, but seems to trace back as far as the 7th century BC, in greece. A heart shaped seed of the plant Silphium, associated with the Greek god of intimate love, Eros, is said to have been used as a birth control in Egypt.
There are other theories as to how this symbol came about, this time referring to Egyptian hieroglyphics. The Egyptians believed the soul was made up of five parts, Ren (Name), Ba (Soul), Ka (Spirit), sheut (Shadow) and Ib (heart). The Ib, or Jb in hieroglyphics, referring to the human heart is said to be an important part of the Egyptian soul. It was thought that the heart was the seat of all emotions, intentions, thought and free will, rather than the brain. The heart was an important part of the body for the Egyptians; it was incorporated in their language to express happiness, and other emotions. The heart symbol in Egypt was much more abstract than the one we use today, for example, the hearts in a pack of playing cards.
Was it really so strange for the Egyptians to see the heart as such an important thing? It is a very vital organ, and in some ways central in our body. A lot of cultures associated the heart with the soul, and the soul with emotions, our strongest and most valued emotion being "love". Love is such a confusing, but wonderful concept, it is hard for anyone to explain - its a feeling so real, and seeked out by many people, some would say we all seek to be loved by someone, who ever that may be. Love is a very strong feeling, recognised by many cultures and religions as a foundation, its deep connections with our heart. Our heart is still seen by many as the key to our soul. Although now we know that our thoughts and emotions are widely processed in the brain, often referred to as the “central nervous system”. Having said this, it is not the only place we store memories.
In more recent years scientists have found a strong connection between our hearts and memories. Cells in our body tissue, which makes up our organs can store memories, this is called cellular memory. It has been observed in many organ transplants people may have memories that the donor had made, which had been stored in the tissue of that organ, particularly the heart. Maybe the ancient Egyptians were more ahead of their time than we think!
It’s not so strange associating love with our hearts, after all most of us have felt pangs in our heart, especially in the concept of love and relationships. Feelings associated with the heart could be simply the physical sensations we get from being in love, with the one. People report their heart skipping a beat, or beating faster, or even just a flatter – but these are strong feelings that affect our thoughts aswell as our physical being.
It seems that for centuries the heart has been connected with feelings, be they physical or mental, with the soul, and even in recent years, storing a vast collection of memories.
What ever the heart means to you it is used in a poetic way to describe our love for one another, and even more so our partners.
Where does this idea come from? The idea that love should be associated with the heart - to the human eye they have no common traits. The hearts main function being to pump blood around the body - how does this become a body part associated with emotions, particularly love?
The symbol of the heart isn't a recent thing, it’s been used for centuries, resembling that of the human heart - the left ventricle in particular gives the lumpy effect, and the point, although much more rounded, is also depicted. Modelled on a heart but exaggerated, or at least made symmetric.
History on the origins of the heart being associated with love is still unclear, but seems to trace back as far as the 7th century BC, in greece. A heart shaped seed of the plant Silphium, associated with the Greek god of intimate love, Eros, is said to have been used as a birth control in Egypt.
There are other theories as to how this symbol came about, this time referring to Egyptian hieroglyphics. The Egyptians believed the soul was made up of five parts, Ren (Name), Ba (Soul), Ka (Spirit), sheut (Shadow) and Ib (heart). The Ib, or Jb in hieroglyphics, referring to the human heart is said to be an important part of the Egyptian soul. It was thought that the heart was the seat of all emotions, intentions, thought and free will, rather than the brain. The heart was an important part of the body for the Egyptians; it was incorporated in their language to express happiness, and other emotions. The heart symbol in Egypt was much more abstract than the one we use today, for example, the hearts in a pack of playing cards.
Was it really so strange for the Egyptians to see the heart as such an important thing? It is a very vital organ, and in some ways central in our body. A lot of cultures associated the heart with the soul, and the soul with emotions, our strongest and most valued emotion being "love". Love is such a confusing, but wonderful concept, it is hard for anyone to explain - its a feeling so real, and seeked out by many people, some would say we all seek to be loved by someone, who ever that may be. Love is a very strong feeling, recognised by many cultures and religions as a foundation, its deep connections with our heart. Our heart is still seen by many as the key to our soul. Although now we know that our thoughts and emotions are widely processed in the brain, often referred to as the “central nervous system”. Having said this, it is not the only place we store memories.
In more recent years scientists have found a strong connection between our hearts and memories. Cells in our body tissue, which makes up our organs can store memories, this is called cellular memory. It has been observed in many organ transplants people may have memories that the donor had made, which had been stored in the tissue of that organ, particularly the heart. Maybe the ancient Egyptians were more ahead of their time than we think!
It’s not so strange associating love with our hearts, after all most of us have felt pangs in our heart, especially in the concept of love and relationships. Feelings associated with the heart could be simply the physical sensations we get from being in love, with the one. People report their heart skipping a beat, or beating faster, or even just a flatter – but these are strong feelings that affect our thoughts aswell as our physical being.
It seems that for centuries the heart has been connected with feelings, be they physical or mental, with the soul, and even in recent years, storing a vast collection of memories.
What ever the heart means to you it is used in a poetic way to describe our love for one another, and even more so our partners.
0 Comments
♥ Intactivism: I'm not the one with the fetish
Saturday, 22 September 2012 @ 20:08
I prefer intact men, I admit it. It's not why I'm an intactivist, but it is a fact about me regardless. Often pro-circ people will refer to this as having a "foreskin fetish", Personally I think those who prefer cut men have a "genital mutilation fetish", to each their own...
I grew up in the UK, born and raised. In the UK most men are intact (about 85%), so the majority of penises I saw were intact.
When I first saw a circumcised penis I was a little taken aback by it. An intact penis can look similar to a circumcised one when the foreskin is retracted, but it's still different. The first thing I noticed was the colour, it was dull and off colour, a kind of grey tint, it looked unhealthy and odd to me. The next thing I noticed was that the glans were dry and rough, and then my eyes were drawn to the scar, in the same place the foreskin would be rolled back to in an intact man. I didn't think it was better looking at all.
I like intact penises. I like the way they feel and look, they feel smooth and moist, it feels nice to touch. They look a healthy pink colour. I like the feel in every way, in my hand, in my mouth, it felt nice and smooth to have in your mouth. I hated having the circumcised one in my mouth, it was rough and dry, it felt horrible on my tongue, I didn't enjoy the experience.
The idea that liking intact penises and natural sex is a fetish baffles me. I'm not obsessed with foreskin, I just prefer my men with all the penis they were born with, I don't like the idea that someone has been mutilated, with the exception of when they choose to do it. When I see a circumcised penis I see a penis will a missing part, I've never seen one and thought "that looks so much better". Genital mutilation doesn't turn me on, mutilated genitals don't turn me on, the idea that someone has a missing part doesn't turn me on, the scars, rough and dry glans don't turn me on - if it did that would be a fetish.
What does turn me on is whole men, with fully functional penises, just like nature intended. Nature intended me to enjoy natural sex. There is no "fetish" in this, it's natural, it's what is intended.
When someone tells me they prefer circumcised guys, I don't tell them they obviously just have a fetish, I respect that they are different to me, but I don't appreciate people telling me that just because I enjoy natural sex and like natural penises, I have a "foreskin fetish" that's uncalled for, and like I said, who is the one with the fetish here?
In short; I like them natural, people who like circumcised penises like them with a missing part, which one sounds more like a fetish to you? I know which it is for me!
I grew up in the UK, born and raised. In the UK most men are intact (about 85%), so the majority of penises I saw were intact.
When I first saw a circumcised penis I was a little taken aback by it. An intact penis can look similar to a circumcised one when the foreskin is retracted, but it's still different. The first thing I noticed was the colour, it was dull and off colour, a kind of grey tint, it looked unhealthy and odd to me. The next thing I noticed was that the glans were dry and rough, and then my eyes were drawn to the scar, in the same place the foreskin would be rolled back to in an intact man. I didn't think it was better looking at all.
I like intact penises. I like the way they feel and look, they feel smooth and moist, it feels nice to touch. They look a healthy pink colour. I like the feel in every way, in my hand, in my mouth, it felt nice and smooth to have in your mouth. I hated having the circumcised one in my mouth, it was rough and dry, it felt horrible on my tongue, I didn't enjoy the experience.
The idea that liking intact penises and natural sex is a fetish baffles me. I'm not obsessed with foreskin, I just prefer my men with all the penis they were born with, I don't like the idea that someone has been mutilated, with the exception of when they choose to do it. When I see a circumcised penis I see a penis will a missing part, I've never seen one and thought "that looks so much better". Genital mutilation doesn't turn me on, mutilated genitals don't turn me on, the idea that someone has a missing part doesn't turn me on, the scars, rough and dry glans don't turn me on - if it did that would be a fetish.
What does turn me on is whole men, with fully functional penises, just like nature intended. Nature intended me to enjoy natural sex. There is no "fetish" in this, it's natural, it's what is intended.
When someone tells me they prefer circumcised guys, I don't tell them they obviously just have a fetish, I respect that they are different to me, but I don't appreciate people telling me that just because I enjoy natural sex and like natural penises, I have a "foreskin fetish" that's uncalled for, and like I said, who is the one with the fetish here?
In short; I like them natural, people who like circumcised penises like them with a missing part, which one sounds more like a fetish to you? I know which it is for me!
0 Comments
♥ Why I don't identify myself as "Christian"
Wednesday, 19 September 2012 @ 17:21
I'd like to start by saying; I have no issue with anyone who does identify themselves as a Christian, and that I realise that not all Christians fit the stereotypes I mention in this post - but unfortunately a fair amount do (not only this but they usually have the loudest voices.)
I have been raised a "Christian" and brought up in a Christian family. Both sides are. My mum also grew up in a Christian family, my dad, on the other hand, grew up in a non-Christian family, who later became Christians (a long time before my dad met my mum). I'd like to note that this didn't actually make me a Christian, just because I grew up in a Christian family. I researched and read up on stuff before I made my choice - but I'm not going to go into that process in this blog post. When talking to people, it is unusual for me to call myself a Christian, and when I do it's usually just to make my life easier than having to explain why I don't like to use the term. With that said, here are my reasons (filled with my own personal opinions and experiences!)
Its meaning
It has always been my understanding that Christian means "Christ like". It came from "little Christ" which was what people used to call Jesus' followers. I feel it would be very misleading to call myself a "little Christ" or to suggest I'm in anyway "Christ like", I realise that this isn't what people are saying when they say they are Christian (or at least most of them), I know they use it to mean they want to be like him and they follow him. But I can't get it out of my head - I can't help but feel calling myself Christ like is wrong. I don't feel this way when other people say it, but I guess it's because I do so many unchristian things!
Denominations of church
I've never been sure what denomination of church I'm from. It annoys me that there are so many denominations and groups, all who squabble amongst each other. "Well we're better than you because we don't do this" "You should do it this way!" "Your beliefs are wrong, mine are right"
When you look at all the arguments that go on between church groups and denominations of Christianity - you kind of think to yourself, how can they make the world a better place or "save" anyone, when they are so busy telling each other they are wrong. They are all brothers and sisters in Christ and they can't even accept each other, let alone people of other religions and atheists.
When you look at how Protestants and Catholics fight like cat and dog, it's not much of a surprise that no one wants to get involved. I've always felt like I don't want to be either, I don't want to be part of a denominations - and it shouldn't matter, people should accept me either way.
I don't like the way we have to pick teams, I always thought the church was "one universal church" not "lots of little church's that argue all the time"
Christians who judge
A lot of the time, my hardest battles were with other Christians. They are supposed to be a group of accepting people, like Christ and make you feel welcomed, like Christ. What an unfortunate amount of them actually do is discriminate against you for being different or stepping a toe out of line, only follow the parts of the bible they like the sound of, but are the first to tell you that you shouldn't do the same, judge every move you make. Too many of them start their sentences with "I'm a Christian and..." Which, unless its actually necessary for you to make your point, is mostly just annoying.
The majority of the judgements me and my close family have gotten for our choices, have been from other Christians. My mother had to get a divorce from her previous husband (prior to my father) because he was basically beating her up as well as cheating on her. Yet people in her church group judged her, even knowing her story. Sorry but what did they want her to do? Stay in the relationship and allow him to hurt her? Or even her children? My brother and sister's worst memories are from my mum's marriage NOT the divorce. My brother and sister remember being much happier once they lived with my mother with just the 3 of them. My brother remembers clearly my mother being beaten (he was 3 at the time).
There are good Christians, who understand why she had to leave and do not condemn her. But too many of them did condemn her.
I don't consider myself religious. I would say I have faith. While I believe many of the same things as Christians, I like to keep a safe distance and choose my groups wisely. Luckily, at the moment I am associated with a group of Christians who are very kind, do not Judge you and always give you a warm welcome.
I have been raised a "Christian" and brought up in a Christian family. Both sides are. My mum also grew up in a Christian family, my dad, on the other hand, grew up in a non-Christian family, who later became Christians (a long time before my dad met my mum). I'd like to note that this didn't actually make me a Christian, just because I grew up in a Christian family. I researched and read up on stuff before I made my choice - but I'm not going to go into that process in this blog post. When talking to people, it is unusual for me to call myself a Christian, and when I do it's usually just to make my life easier than having to explain why I don't like to use the term. With that said, here are my reasons (filled with my own personal opinions and experiences!)
Its meaning
It has always been my understanding that Christian means "Christ like". It came from "little Christ" which was what people used to call Jesus' followers. I feel it would be very misleading to call myself a "little Christ" or to suggest I'm in anyway "Christ like", I realise that this isn't what people are saying when they say they are Christian (or at least most of them), I know they use it to mean they want to be like him and they follow him. But I can't get it out of my head - I can't help but feel calling myself Christ like is wrong. I don't feel this way when other people say it, but I guess it's because I do so many unchristian things!
Denominations of church
I've never been sure what denomination of church I'm from. It annoys me that there are so many denominations and groups, all who squabble amongst each other. "Well we're better than you because we don't do this" "You should do it this way!" "Your beliefs are wrong, mine are right"
When you look at all the arguments that go on between church groups and denominations of Christianity - you kind of think to yourself, how can they make the world a better place or "save" anyone, when they are so busy telling each other they are wrong. They are all brothers and sisters in Christ and they can't even accept each other, let alone people of other religions and atheists.
When you look at how Protestants and Catholics fight like cat and dog, it's not much of a surprise that no one wants to get involved. I've always felt like I don't want to be either, I don't want to be part of a denominations - and it shouldn't matter, people should accept me either way.
I don't like the way we have to pick teams, I always thought the church was "one universal church" not "lots of little church's that argue all the time"
Christians who judge
A lot of the time, my hardest battles were with other Christians. They are supposed to be a group of accepting people, like Christ and make you feel welcomed, like Christ. What an unfortunate amount of them actually do is discriminate against you for being different or stepping a toe out of line, only follow the parts of the bible they like the sound of, but are the first to tell you that you shouldn't do the same, judge every move you make. Too many of them start their sentences with "I'm a Christian and..." Which, unless its actually necessary for you to make your point, is mostly just annoying.
The majority of the judgements me and my close family have gotten for our choices, have been from other Christians. My mother had to get a divorce from her previous husband (prior to my father) because he was basically beating her up as well as cheating on her. Yet people in her church group judged her, even knowing her story. Sorry but what did they want her to do? Stay in the relationship and allow him to hurt her? Or even her children? My brother and sister's worst memories are from my mum's marriage NOT the divorce. My brother and sister remember being much happier once they lived with my mother with just the 3 of them. My brother remembers clearly my mother being beaten (he was 3 at the time).
There are good Christians, who understand why she had to leave and do not condemn her. But too many of them did condemn her.
I don't consider myself religious. I would say I have faith. While I believe many of the same things as Christians, I like to keep a safe distance and choose my groups wisely. Luckily, at the moment I am associated with a group of Christians who are very kind, do not Judge you and always give you a warm welcome.
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