Preaching
Mood:  irritated
I do not believe in preaching or passing the plate around and that is why I am on the internet instead of in a building.  I also do not believe when someone preaches that they should talk down to someone and be above them on a platform.  I believe you should be on the same level so you can talk to them and if you have aisles walk down it while talking.

I do not believe making someone feel dumb while talking to them but being very simple in what I say to them.  The main reason I do not go to church anymore because of all the following above.  I do not believe pushing my beliefs on anyone unless they want to hear it but again I am not pushy or try to evaluate you or tell you any short comings because you do not believe a certain way.

You may be wondering what brought this on.  I have to tell you that I try to add someone on MySpace as a friend and instead of just ignoring me and not adding me they deciede to evaulate and preach at me as their explanation on why not to add me.  So I will copy and paste what they wrote and my response to it.  Please if I offend anyone it is not my intention.  I was raised Baptist and first wife was Catholic so our daughter went to Catholic school from kindergarten to eighth grade.  When I separated and divorce my wife I went into studying buddhism and found it more relaxing and enlightening.  So that explains my background in religion and beliefs.

Here what was sent to me and Subj: Friend Request

You obviously believe that "all truth is relative", but that itself is an absolute statement, and therefore completely self-contradictory.

We Orthodox Christians believe in Absolute Truth: our Lord Jesus Christ, the One-and-Only Begotton Son, Who is eternally glorified with the Father and Holy Spirit... Who became incarnate to lead us into the Fullness of Truth: Himself, manifest in His One Holy Apostolic Orthodox Church.

"All humanism is based in the belief that man is the highest value, the supreme value...man is the principle criterion, the ultimate criterion... man is the measure of everything.  At its core, every humanism is, in the final analysis, idolatrous and polytheistic in origin.  All humanism strives unceasingly, whether consciously or unconsciously, for one result: to replace the God-man, Christ, with a belief in man, to replace the Gospel of the God-man with a gospel according to man, to replace life according to the God-man with life according to man.  And what is this?  It is egotism and self-love embraced in all eternity, that is to say: hell.  For that is essentially what the humanist is--entirely within himself, by himself, for himself, always spitefully closed in opposition to God.  Here lies every humanism."

-St Justin Popovich

CHRIST'S Church of Universal Love

Here is my response:

I am wondering how that I believe that "all truth is relative".  You have never met me or talked to me but yet you make this assumption about me.  What if I said that there is no such thing as truth but statements to bring attention to one self, a form of truth in the absolute that certain individuals are so gulliable believing that the person talking is telling the truth.

The reason I am making this statement because I believe it is the absolute truth.  You did not have to send your statements of your truth because ones truth can be another's fiction.  I read what you sent me and see why people are turing away from God.  It is someone like yourself who sends their belief to someone that makes you above them and talk down to them and think you know it all.  I prefer to appease all people no matter what they believe, race or sexual preference.  I rather make people comfortable in their own skin than insulut them and make them feel uncomfortable with who they are.

I also do not appreciate you putting Christ in front of the name of my church because it is not Christ's Church of Universal Love it is "Everyone's" Church of Universal Love because all reliligions and worship, even athesist and agnostict are welcome.  I believe anyone who has love and peace will have love for Jesus and God, if that is there belief.  But by pushing your belief and ideology on others it is insulting, offensive and uncalled for.

Love & Peace,
Rev. Duane Williams

PS
Next time someone wants to add you as a friend and you do not want to add them, just do not do it.  I think they prefer not to know your ideology because to some it will be offensive.