okay...

[ashley]

I really didn't mean to cause such a stir. The bottom line is, you all have your own opinions, and that's fine. But I have mine too, and I think that we all need to respect eachothers views. I really don't have a high tolerance for ignorance. I am open and willing to listen to anyone's beliefs. Just listening comes with having respect. I didn't say anything about accepting. I will be honest: I don't know everything. I don't have all the answers, but give me some time and I will get back to you. All I really know is that my religion brings me happiness. The things that I beleive are completely unshakable. But come on guys, respect is a universal characteristic. And thanks for the information on your country, that was the actual question.

[V-G]

[b]I am glad you are back and so honest... saying that your religion just makes you happy... I have a lot to say about it... like there are a lot of mental deceases that make people happy, there are a lot of drugs that make people happy... and there are just normal people who do not need to use any of the above mentioned to be happy.

About the respect point... I can only respect or disrespect people that I know, I don't know you, so how do you expect me to respect you personally? Frankly I have nothing personal against you, I have no opinion about you etc. so relax and please find the answers to questions put by people in response to your question...
I hope to see them soon...

And lastly, if you want to know something about Ukraine, why don't you use http://www.google.com to search the web instead of making some miserable attempts to convert a few more people into religion (note I said religion in general!)

REspeCT

[ashley]

Beleive it or not, when I posted my first inquiry it really was not to try to convert people. That was not my idea at all. I really just wanted to know if anyone in Ukraine had heard of my religion. I will admit, talking with everyone on here has really made an impact on me. I am just a 19 year old girl living in Utah, a state where probably 90% of its residents share the same religion. I have never had to stick up for my religion before, because I have never had the opportunities for other people to question me. I think I am starting to realize just how naive and sheltered I am. But I intend to keep broadening my horizons. So even though I may have given you all the wrong idea about me, overall I am glad I logged on and started up these conversations. I promise I will try to find answers to all your questions as soon as I can. I have been talking with religious leaders about them all and I think some issues are starting to become clearer to me. I really don't want you all to think I came in here with some conversion plan, that was not my intent. To be completely honest, I am really quite hesitant about the things that I write now. To say it bluntly, many of you have kind of scared me. I don't think I can compete with your intelligence.

[V-G]

[b]You should not get scared of us here, this is not a personal issue, not a single one of us knows you, and discussion board is precisely here for the reason of an argument!
Something that will shock you... One of my really good friends lives in Utah, one of the best, he is a Mormon and that is how I met him (in Ukraine). Don't think that religion is something that makes clever people prejudiced to you, only dumb and unreasonable individuals are prejudiced.

Best of luck with finding answers to the questions raised here.
V-G

[ashley]

wait... now I am a bit confused. You have a best friend that is Mormon? Then why does it seem like you are coming off so hard about things that I have to say? Have you ever asked your friend all the questions that you have asked me?

[V-G]

RespecT


[Edited by V-G on 3rd March 2002 at 05:15]

[ashley]

Hmm... if these message boards are set up so that we can all argue with eachother, maybe I shouldn't post things on here anymore. I really don't like contention that much. It's great that it has broadened my horizons a bit, but perhaps I should just disappear from the site for awhile. I'm not very good at arguing.
One last thing though: It's funny to me how you kept telling me "don't take it personal". My religion is a huge part of my life, so in my mind, when someone is questioning or arguing about it, that IS personal. Very personal. I can't help but take it that way. Do you understand what I am trying to say? I know I don't have the right words to explain how I feel, but I hope you catch a small glimpse of where I am coming from.