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Archiver > NORWAY > 2002-12 > 1038783668


From: "Anne Hildrum" <>
Subject: Religion, christ etc
Date: Mon, 2 Dec 2002 00:01:08 +0100
References: <4.3.2.7.0.20020224163548.00a91ac0@mail.tdn.com> <4.3.2.7.0.20020225154459.00ab99f0@mail.tdn.com>


Religion is a topic that often creates unpleasantness
on different list.

Now why is that, people who don't believe get annoyed, and those who do
are just spreading the word,. neither seem to understand the other parts
point.

May be if we understood each other better on both sides of the pond, we
would
understand those who would have no mentioning of God and Christ on the list
and
those who doesn't would better understand those who often would mention
them.

From my Experience Americans are a whole lot more vocal of their religious
belief compared to us Norwegian to which it is in a way a much more
private thing. I believe there was some saying "don't use God's name in
vain.".
The problem being that for Norwegians mention God and Christ, bless and pray
a lot, is sort of doing that whereas to Americans it is not.

From my interaction with Americans on other list there is often comments
like
please pray for us, thank God , something you would rarely hear from a
Norwegian, and yes
it may even bother religious Norwegians to read it on lists.

I did cringe myself in the beginning reading all the bless and pray stuff,
but I do know
where my delete button is, and I realize it is much more a way of life in
the USA
than it is here(of course I know there are Americans who would rather not
see it too),
but does it really take that much to bear with other peoples culture and
feelings, does
it really hurt us that much.

And to those who does use it, understand that it is odd for most Norwegians
to see it,
their comments is not to belittle your faith or being unpleasant, it just
bothers them because
it is totally foreign to them.

We may all have Norwegian ancestry, but the way we practice or not practice
our
beliefs or non beliefs are vastly different.

Anne





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