Original Christian v Born Again (Religion)

Name: lellagrace

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Product:	Religion
Date:	06.04.07 (145 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Don't ram my religion down others' throats

Disadvantages: Who is the best Christian?

When asked my religion I say Church of England and consider myself to be a Christian. This is mainly because I was brought up to say my prayers at night and believed that Jesus watched over me.

I also attended a Church of England School where we took part in religious events, such as Ascension Day, at the local church. For some years I also attended Sunday school, but the only times I ever went to church with my parents was to weddings. I suppose they thought it was not necessary to go to church to worship, praying can be done anywhere and that is how I feel now.

At harvest festival time I went to church with my grandad, who used to be a farmer, and I loved these visits. Even now when I hear the harvest hymns I remember those times.

I am one of three children and we were all brought up the same, but for some reason one of my sisters has now decided I am not a Christian. That is because she has become a Born Again Christian. We have constant discussions, almost arguments, about this. I consider myself to be a good Christian, I may not go to church regularly but I do try and lead a Christian lifestyle by helping others if I can and generally trying to do what is right.

In comparison the people my sister has become friends with since becoming born again, all seem to have major problems. I try to explain to her that in my opinion, people who feel they have to be "born again" have never known Jesus in their lives previously and have turned to religion when they needed something to help with their problems.

On the occasions I have met up with my sister and her friends, the conversation has invariably turned to religion, even if we were talking of something completely different. It has now become so bad that I refuse to be in their company any more.

For example, my sister asked me to a dinner with her church friends. This was fine until a guy got up to speak and give his testimony. As it happened I had come across this man previously and knew what he was saying was a complete pack of lies! But everyone else was enthralled at what he was saying and at the end of almost every sentence the woman sitting next to me would wail "Alleluia, praise the Lord." After listening to his lies and her wails for 20 minutes I had had enough and as soon as he finished his speech I told my sister I was leaving. As I was driving she had either to come with me or get a taxi. I said my farewells to the people we were sitting with and my sister said "Sorry about this, my sister is not a Christian." I was furious and my retort was "I am not a BORN AGAIN Christian, I am an ORIGINAL one".

The reason for writing this review is that my sister and I have recently had an argument and I am reluctant to make the first move to make up this time. We have often "had words" before and I am always the one who apologises but this time I don't feel like doing that.

We argued because recently I was in hospital after major surgery. My sister visited me in hospital once, but then didn't come to see me for three weeks after I came home. She lives within a mile of my house and although she doesn't drive she could have asked one of her friends for a lift or got a taxi (which I would have paid for). I was very hurt by her not coming to see me, but didn't say anything. I received Get Well cards from her friends from her church, some who I have never even met, and every time my sister rang she said they were praying for me.

However, last week my sister mentioned that she had been to visit a friend from church and added "she has just come out of hospital and I only went to see her once when she was in, so I thought I would go and see her now she is home and take her some flowers. " This was after the woman had been home less than a week, yet it had taken her over three weeks to visit me, her own sister!

Unfortunately I told my sister I couldn't understand why she put her church friends before me, telling her that I didn't think it was very Christian of her to not visit me for all those weeks. Of course, I then got the old spiel that it is me who is not Christian and we ended up arguing.

I have come to the conclusion that my sister wants me to do things for her all the time, but cannot give anything in return. She does not drive and since her husband died I have taken her out several times a week and if she has been feeling a bit down I have made an effort to help her through these bad patches, having gone through the same myself. Yet when I needed her she was not there for me. Oh she would deny this of course, but as long as she can sit at home and ring me or pray for me then she considers that is sufficient. Whereas I would put myself out to visit her if the situation was reversed.

The trouble is that my conscience is now troubling me, I do not want to fall out with my sister, especially not over religion, but I am fed up and feel I am being "used".

I still maintain that I am as good a Christian, if not better in some ways, than my sister and her church cronies. Therefore, is it up to me to make the first move and apologise? Maybe I should say a few prayers and wait for the answer. Or, if my sister is such a good Christian, maybe her conscience will prick her as it is Easter time, a time for new beginnings.

Sadly, this has left me questioning my own beliefs, so much so that I am considering becoming Buddhist, they seem such peaceful people so maybe I should explore Buddhism. I have considered this before and I did once mention this to my sister and I got a lecture on why I should not worship "false gods". We have also had frequent arguments about other religions and it is obvious that my sister is not very tolerant of any except her own. Is this a Christian attitude I ask?

Religion causes wars, family arguments and yes, it does lead to intolerance and violence. When it affects me personally I do question whether it is all worth it. But what is the answer - do any of us know?

Summary: Religion causes a lot of problems!