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Thomas Oliver



Last Updated: 12/25/2009

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Status: Single
City: Phoenix
State: Arizona
Country: US
Signup Date: 8/14/2007

Who Gives Kudos:

Peter Mandic (2)
Debra Mathis (2)
Karen (2)
Johnny Ni.. (2)
JOHNNY LOVE (1)
Friday, May 16, 2008 

Category: Friends
I recently sent this letter to a gospel singer who requested my friendship on MySpace. Soon after I noticed I got deleted from her friends list.

Dear [Christian],

I attended Bethany Nazarene College one semester--long, long ago. I transferred back to Northwest Nazarene College and then dropped out. I decided religion was a branch of show business, so I quit school and moved to Hollywood.

Although I was raised a Christian I now consider Christianity as only part of my expanded belief system. I reject some basic dogma such as Original Sin. Although I now understand the need for hypocrisy, especially in politics, I like to keep it to a minimum in my own personal life. So I have been deeply disappointed in Christians in general due to their failure to take a stronger stand against both the immoral Iraq war and the terrible corruption of our nation's ethics.

I know friendship can seem a kind of glib thing on MySpace, so you may think I'm taking things too seriously, but I prefer to "keep it real" as much as possible. So this is just to let you know that, if it seems like I'm not on your side, it's because I refuse to be limited to "One Way." But in truth I respect your choice of path and I intend only good and positive things for you and people of every faith--according to the free will and for the good of all.

Gently,

Thomas Oliver
7:45 AM
 
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Peter Mandic

 
Right on Oliver!
 
Posted by Peter Mandic on Sunday, May 18, 2008 - 4:58 PM
[Reply to this] 
Debra Mathis

 
I agree.... and kudos to you for speaking your truth!
Peace,
Debra
 
Posted by Debra Mathis on Monday, May 19, 2008 - 3:12 AM
[Reply to this] 
DOUG BAtES

 
IT IS ABOUT HIM, NOT YOU!!! THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY!!!
 
Posted by DOUG BAtES on Wednesday, June 04, 2008 - 4:15 PM
[Reply to this] 
Thomas Oliver

 
I think your "one way" attitude violates the golden rule. I don't believe such intolerance, and the hatred it engenders, impresses God very well. Just my humble opinion. Judge for yourself.

By the way, using all capitals and three exclamation points looks like violent shouting. Personally, I prefer the manners of the Prince Of Peace.
 
Posted by Thomas Oliver on Wednesday, June 04, 2008 - 6:45 PM
[Reply to this] 
Karen
Karen Green

 
This is what I believe also.
 
Posted by Karen on Sunday, June 08, 2008 - 8:57 PM
[Reply to this] 
David and Saowanee

 
a men. no pun intended.
 
Posted by David and Saowanee on Saturday, January 03, 2009 - 12:47 AM
[Reply to this] 
Sylvia
Sylvia LaFrance

 
Ghandi And ChristianityPosted by Eric Canaday on June 27, 2008 at 10:00am
View Eric Canaday's blog
Mahatma Gandhi is one of the most respected leaders of modern history. A Hindu, Ghandi nevertheless admired Jesus and often quoted from the Sermon on the Mount. Once when the missionary E. Stanley Jones met with Ghandi he asked him, "Mr.
Ghandi, though you quote the words of Christ often, why is that you appear to so adamantly reject becoming his follower?"

Ghandi replied, "Oh, I don't reject your Christ. I love your Christ. It's just that so many of you Christians are so unlike your Christ.
"

Apparently Ghandi's rejection of Christianity grew out of an incident that happened when he was a young man practising law in South Africa. He had become attracted to the Christian faith, had studied the Bible and the teachings of Jesus, and was seriously exploring becoming a Christian. And so he decided to attend a church service. As he came up the steps of the large church where he intended to go, a white South African elder of the church barred his way at the door. "Where do you think you're going, kaffir?" the man asked Ghandi in a belligerent tone of voice.


Ghandi replied, "I'd like to attend worship here.
"

The church elder snarled at him, "There's no room for kaffirs in this church. Get out of here or I'll have my assistants throw you down the steps.
"

From that moment, Ghandi said, he decided to adopt what good he found in Christianity, but would never again consider becoming a Christian if it meant being part of the church.


How we treat those others tells e people MORE about what we believe, and what following Jesus means to us than all tracts we pass out, or all the fine semons we deliver.


posted from and copyright by John Mark Ministries

I am a Christian and tend to think at the end of all this today stuff... in the end there will be love.

Sylvia
 
Posted by Sylvia on Tuesday, March 03, 2009 - 12:02 AM
[Reply to this] 
Thomas Oliver

 
Thank you, Sylvia.
I find that a reassuring thought! Lots of love to you! -- Thomas
 
Posted by Thomas Oliver on Tuesday, March 03, 2009 - 2:13 AM
[Reply to this]