Jester: Hello
SwankiVY2: hi.
Jester: I would like to ask you a few questions Please
Jester: Would you mind?
SwankiVY2: Sure, if you want.
Jester: Alright Thank you!
Jester: ohh yeah I'm a SLow typer
SwankiVY2: What kinda stuff do you want to ask me?
SwankiVY2: It's okay, I'm used to that.
Jester: SO hang on Please
Jester: ALrighty
Jester: Ok I'm a Chrsitian and I witness to People and I was wondering what you meant by you don;t get into religion things or something like that
Jester: and i wanted to know why
SwankiVY2: I don't believe in organized religion, 'cause I don't think it's cool for people to tell me what I need to believe.
SwankiVY2: I'm just as right as anyone else who thinks they "know" they're right, so I'd rather not be a sheep. :)
Jester: ok
Jester: But
Jester: Ok wait
Jester: Man you are Quick on the Keys aren';t you
SwankiVY2: Yupper. :)
Jester: haha
SwankiVY2: I have to be. I'm a writer, and a chat host.
Jester: OHhh how old
Jester: i'm 15\m
SwankiVY2: I'm twenty.
Jester: you are a big girl huh
SwankiVY2: Big girl? Well, maybe by some standards.
Jester: but one thing to tell you before I stop bothering you
SwankiVY2: You're not bothering me.
Jester: Ok
Jester: Ohh Great
Jester: ANways
Jester: Have you ever read the Bible by any chance have you
SwankiVY2: Yup.
Jester: Great
Jester: HAve you read the Part about Non- Believers will go to " Hell" right
SwankiVY2: It was a nice story, and it had its wisdom . . . almost any book has some wisdom, that includes the Bible. But I certainly don't base my life on its teachings.
SwankiVY2: You see . . . according to the Bible, I'll go to Hell. But according to, say, the Hare Krishna bible, if I don't meditate and worship Krishna, I will be reincarnated as a pig.

[Note: I haven't read much of the Bhagavad-Gita (the Hare Krishna "bible"). I don't know what the rules are for reincarnation in that religion, but this was just to illustrate a point fairly simply.]

Jester: ANd Since you are Such a SWEET person I figure why you dont believe in it??
SwankiVY2: Hmm . . . you've got to understand at this point that "Christian" is not the only way to be a good person.
Jester: Ohh I'm well aware of that
Jester: But I WISH you wouldn;t go to Hell though If My Religion is Correct
SwankiVY2: Great! See, maybe the Bible says I'm going to Hell, but there are SO many ways to believe that there's no reason why I should only believe your religion.
Jester: I know
SwankiVY2: See . . . I don't think I'm going to Hell, because I believe the Bible was originally issued as a form of social control.

[Another note: That was probably over Jester's head, but I want to clarify that I think the Bible was spread with such vigor *partly* because some leaders of the day wanted to control people with the church's law. I don't think the stories and parables in the Bible were originally created just to whip people into shape. It just came out weird in conversation.]

Jester: and Since you are REEAAAALLY smart this is Going to be harder on me to convince you
SwankiVY2: It's a way to scare you into behaving.
Jester: not really
SwankiVY2: But . . . I behave anyway, I don't need the threat of Hell to be a good person.
Jester: TRUE
Jester: but
Jester: God is out there I can Feel Him
Jester: It's like a 6th Sense
Jester: It's ' really NEAT
SwankiVY2: You believe that's what you feel. I feel universal love too. But I don't think that signifies that it's the Christian version of god.
Jester: It makes you feel good about yourself
SwankiVY2: I do feel good about myself.
Jester: MAn you are " S!!!!M!!!A!!!!R!!!!!!!!T!!!!!!!!!!!
SwankiVY2: *grin* Well, yeah . . . sorta. . . .
Jester: Come on you are REALLY samrt
Jester: Smart
Jester: Sorry
SwankiVY2: Well, thank you . . . do you understand why I feel as secure as you do in my choices about belief?
Jester: You are SUCh A GGRREEAATT person I would feel bad of you were to go to HEll
Jester: Because I had My chance to Witness to you and Failed
SwankiVY2: Well, yeah, so would I, but according to my beliefs, I'm not going there, and they're based on foundations just as solid as yours.
Jester: SO your Blood is on my Hands
SwankiVY2: I think there's more than one way to get to Heaven. Understand? If there's a Heaven, I think it's more than enough to just be a good person.

[Note: I don't actually believe in Heaven. But I figured suggesting there isn't a Heaven might just be too much for Jester here to deal with.]

Jester: Yeah you have to Believe in GOd
SwankiVY2: According to your religion, yeah. But see, I don't believe in your religion. That doesn't mean I'm wrong, it means we're different.
Jester: you are BRINGIng up REAAALLYY good points
SwankiVY2: Yup. *grin* Of COURSE your Bible is going to tell you it's right and everyone else is wrong . . . they want you to believe that. But you can believe whatever you want.
SwankiVY2: I think organized religion is just a package deal . . . hand you a book, say "believe that," and they don't have to worry about you.
Jester: No you have it Wrong
Jester: for ONCE!! { GRIN }
SwankiVY2: You think I have it wrong. But you have no proof that you are right.
Jester: It's not like that
Jester:I'm not saying that
Jester: PLease do not get angry with ok
SwankiVY2: I'm far from angry! :)
Jester: I'm trying to do my job, Thanks for your PAtience
Jester: You are a NEAT person
SwankiVY2: Your job? So changing my beliefs is your job?
SwankiVY2: Thanks for thinking I'm neat. :)
Jester: I wish I had Adult Friends like you
SwankiVY2: I've got lotsa friends hehe
Jester: To bring the " Lost " to God for Eternal Heaven
Jester: and Life I mean
SwankiVY2: Yup. But I don't consider myself lost. I know exactly where my life is going, thanks.
Jester: AHHAH
Jester: Sorry
Jester: I should have used a Differnt term
SwankiVY2: Hmm . . . if you must know . . . and please don't take offense to this, but I find Christians to be the lost ones.

[I should probably point out here that that's not a sweeping statement for all Christians; I just think anyone who approaches me the way Jester did has probably never stepped outside of the box he came in. I don't think there IS only "one way," so anyone who truly thinks there's but one right way and it's necessarily between these two leather covers is probably a bit lost.]

Jester: I dont'
Jester: Dont worry
SwankiVY2: That's evident.
Jester: But WHy
Jester: Are we Lost!??
SwankiVY2: You seem lost to me because you can't see any other way to live besides your own.
Jester: I can ** feel** God out there
Jester: I can
SwankiVY2: But . . . have you ever read anyone else's interpretation of God?
Jester: Entirely
Jester: Yes
SwankiVY2: Any other religion's "bible" so to speak?
Jester: I'm not Ignorant
SwankiVY2: I don't think you are, but if you are Christian, you believe no one else can be right.

[I'm referring to the specific Christian belief that that religion has claims of exclusivity, it's "the only true religion" so to speak. Some Christians believe in Christ but they don't think their religion is necessarily the only way; they're exempt from this statement.]

Jester: Noo I believe you have GOODD points
SwankiVY2: You still think I'm wrong, though, why?
Jester: But I FEEL guilty that in my Religion you will Die and Reamain in Eternal Torment and Pain
Jester: Noo not Wrong
SwankiVY2: You think I'm misguided. What do you base your belief that you're right on? The Bible?
Jester: I think you are A GGRREEAATTT person
SwankiVY2: You keep saying that, I understand that.
Jester: No but you are you can keep to your points quite well!!
SwankiVY2: They're pretty consistent points. :)
Jester: Sooryy didn't erase it all
Jester: Yes they are
Jester: Quite
SwankiVY2: So why do you believe Christianity is the way?
Jester: Because I can Feel God in me and it is a Neat and Great FEeling of Security
Jester: I trust in Him because I can Feel him
Jester: In me
SwankiVY2: How does that show that Christianity is the right way? You say that's God. But there are MANY ways to believe in God without the concept of Christ.
Jester: Will you be my Friend at Least, though we have Differnt thoughts
Jester: Great Point again
Jester: !!!
Jester: Well at least you are Preparing me for how hard it is to witness, THANK you !!
Jester: for that
SwankiVY2: I'm friends with lots of Christians, actually . . . none of 'em have managed to convert me yet *grin* They realize that whatever it is I believe, I'm pretty stuck to it.
Jester: Good
Jester: And if you were to Convert you could Help us because of how Strong you are in your Beliefes
SwankiVY2: It's really hard to convince people that what they believe is wrong. Remember when you talk to people that it shoudl be a discussion, not you trying to teach them.
Jester: True
SwankiVY2: If you are trying to convert them, you're not really talking to them, you're ranting. You have to make sure you keep your ears open when they open their mouths too.
Jester: you are right
Jester: in a way
SwankiVY2: Yup. If you expect them to listen to you and understand you and really consider what you're saying, you have to extend the same courtesy to them.
Jester: but do you think we could be friends??
SwankiVY2: Life is a learning experience, so if you go around thinking you already know all you need to know at 15, you'll never grow.
Jester: at Least
Jester: I don;t
SwankiVY2: Of course we could be friends. I don't mind. As long as you promise our entire friendship won't consist of just trying to get me to convert. :)
Jester: I won't but I feel GUILTY of it though
Jester: but we are friends now
SwankiVY2: Don't. I feel a universal love too; whatever God is, if he exists, he's blessed me.
Jester: i feel better
SwankiVY2: i sure hope so. I'm not Christian, but I think the universe loves me.
Jester: Thanks but this 15 year old needs to go to Bed and MAy Fate Treat you WEll and MAy God Bless you Throughly
Jester: Bye for now
Jester: I hope you are faring well bye now
SwankiVY2: It's all good. I have to go too, got a long distance phone call.

Oh, by the way . . . to clear up any confusion, this IM was a long time ago, I'm not twenty anymore as I told this kid I was. :)