Why berate Christians?

[Sks]

I don't really care to be honest, believe what ever you want and leave me alone. I get ticked when others start to push their views onto me.

[D-Lish]

Do you tell the gospel whenever you get chance? yes, that Lord asked us to do so

 

 

That's a huge part of the problem in my opinion... Having some stranger tell you that you need to be "saved" will be percieved as super insulting.

[disgracian]

That's a huge part of the problem in my opinion... Having some stranger tell you that you need to be "saved" will be percieved as super insulting.

If Christians could only be made to understand that the rest of the world finds this behaviour more offensive than us slagging them off on an internet forum somewhere.

 

How many people here notice an almost total absence of berating Buddhists and Hindus, for example. Consider that neither of these religions actively try to convert others. Think, pray or medidate on that and draw your own conclusions.

 

Cheers,

D.

[MaxManwell]

I have a question, not to start a huge dispute or anything, but how come when God is brought up in a thread here, all these people that obviously know nothing about God or the Christian faith have to pop in with their disdainful and discourteous remarks concerning a person's faith in the Lord? Yes, I agree there are some people who claim to be Christians that do not behave like Christians. But that doesn't mean all Christians are like that. Also, no one is perfect. Most Christians have faith in God to help them make it through this life and into the next (in Heaven). Having faith in something that someone else doesn't believe in is not a horrible thing. It's called Free-will. God gave that to you whether you believe in Him or not. Not believing in Him is also free-will. So why do Christians have to be berated constantly for believing in something that really and truely does not affect anyone but themselves? And go ahead, say it. Because some like to shove it in your face. Ok. So atheists and agnostics don't shove it in a Christian's face when they find out their faith is in the Lord? Or try to ridicule their beliefs? I cannot count on my two hands and two feet the number of times I have been put down and/or poked fun at because I believe in a higher power that you can't see, can't feel (literally), and can't touch. That's why it's called MY belief and YOUR belief.

 

Because people are idiots.

[Woggle]

Because of the rise of the religious in America. I can't speak on what it is like in other countries but for the past 35 years the religious has hijacked politics and used religion as a club to beat anybody they consider to be outside of their narrow view of what the mainstream. They have used the bible as a tool to demonize gay people and against abortion and many people are just sick of it. I don't think that all christians should be put in this group though because the civil rights and abolitionist movements were started in the churches and many religious organizations do plenty of good. Without the religious right there would not be the backlash against religion that we have today.

[sb129]

I think this is exactly how the Christians on this forum feel. Threads are started for the purpose of berating Christians. "Boy dies because of his religous beliefs", "Will these people go to hell", and the like.

 

Christians didn't start these threads.

.

 

Thats because to my knowledge, no children of aetheists have died from illnesses or conditions that can be cured by modern medicine due to a lack of faith in said modern medicine.

 

. Just because a scientist says its fact doesn't mean it is. I mean, how many times have these genuis scientists backtracked on what they originally thought was fact only to find it not?

 

Science is all ABOUT backtracking- thats the whole point of scientific research. Which is why scientists are pretty confident when they continue to reach the same conclusions (ie "facts") after analysing so much research. Scientists are OK with being wrong- as long as there is evidence to prove that they are.

Unfortunately, the same can't be said for religion.

 

You may not have directly berated anyone but the title of those threads isn't an invitation for a polite discussion.

 

Neither is "Proof that God exists for agnostics/atheists"

That thread had no proof whatsoever and was started by a naieve teenager who very quickly gets in over his head whenever he tries to "prove" that a god exists.

Those kind of posters do the religion cause no good at all- loss of credibility anyone?

[quankanne]

not sure if it's loss of credibility, but it does make it that much harder to be serious about a topic when someone posts faith in that light!

 

If you're trying to imply that Christians are some kind of persecuted minority then I have just lost a lot of respect for you.

 

nah, just pointing out that Christianity s one of the few "safe" things to poke fun at. I don't feel persecuted at this point, just annoyed when it drags on and on.

 

Thanks for the swipe about "spiritual ignorance" too.

 

you're welcome! actually, in my very poor way, I was trying to point out that the better dialogues on religion/spirituality/belief systems come about when people are open to the idea that the other person is entitled to his/her own beliefs. Because that's where understanding and growth come from. It's frustrating trying to define and defend your point when someone limits the conversation to a very narrow thought pattern. Like the "yer gonna rot in hell because you're not Christian, Bible tells me so" or "all men are evil because I got burned once and I have no intention of getting over it," you know?

[electric_sheep]

I know it grates on folks who need visible proof, a scientific or mathematical equation to "validate" faith and spirituality, but sometimes embracing the unknown is enough; it's the whole point of the exercise!

 

Well, I'd actually make the argument that agnostics are the ONLY ONES who truly embrace the unknown. That they are the only group who is actually OK with the unknown, ok with the mystery, and okay with letting it stay a mystery. Other groups find it too discomforting, so they start trying to describe the unknown, and hence we have the plethora of "descriptions" we have today.

[quankanne]

hmm. I figure that people in a counter position to mine feel that I'm accepting an unknown agent (God) without verifying sources, and that I don't feel a need to offer proof of his existence. Therefore rendering my decision to "embrace the unknown."

[Haloandhorns85]

That's where you're wrong, your religious beliefs do effect us. They effect everyone because I would imagine they strongly influence the way you live your life. That in turn affects the way you interact and treat others, the way you vote, whether it be war, marriage, etc.

 

I think this place is somewhat of a safe haven for agnostics like myself (or atheists) to express their views openly. As with any group the more you have the better chance you will get some people who are somewhat extreme in their beliefs (or in this case, extreme non-belief).

 

I can vouch for the others on here when I say that where I live (the Deep South) Christianity is a large majority and there are few people like myself with secular views of the world. Doesn't make relationships easier either considering most of the women here will not pursue any type of long term relationship with me just because of my lack of religion. Like the others have said in the United States we are a majority Christian society, and we non-believers need a place where there are like minded individuals. This forum is one of our "churches", so to speak.

 

 

1. Just as your lack of religious belief affects us. At football games, in a community where no one has an objection to saying a prayer before the game, we are now not allowed to do so by law. Also, it is now politically incorrect to tell a fellow Christian in public Merry Christmas...now the "right" thing to say is "Season's Greetings". In a country where majority is suppose to rule (um, isn't that how voting and democracy works?), it seems the minority has taken over. Careful not to offend the minority! Oh No! It's just so horrible! But its perfectly ok for the minority to offend the majority?

 

2. I do believe I have lived in the South my entire life. There are plenty anti-Christian sects. Besides, don't like where you live within the "Bible-belt?" Move! That's what I'd be told if I was living in a secular community that did not tolorate religious persons.

 

3. So start threads for you that think alike. Stop berating Christians' beliefs in threads that are meant for the Christians mind and Christian point of view.

 

Sorry if I'm a lil on the harsh side but I just read another thread in here being unnecessarily disrespectful to the Christian faith that really p*ssed me off. So its my turn to say what's exactly on my mind and share my views.

[Haloandhorns85]

Because of the rise of the religious in America. I can't speak on what it is like in other countries but for the past 35 years the religious has hijacked politics and used religion as a club to beat anybody they consider to be outside of their narrow view of what the mainstream. They have used the bible as a tool to demonize gay people and against abortion and many people are just sick of it. I don't think that all christians should be put in this group though because the civil rights and abolitionist movements were started in the churches and many religious organizations do plenty of good. Without the religious right there would not be the backlash against religion that we have today.

 

Are you serious? The rise of religion in the past 35 years? If anything, religion has been yanked from public view unless it has to do with an opinion of a new anchor. If you will recall, prayer used to be allowed in schools. The Bible used to be a part of the curriculum in schools. The Ten Commandments used to be allowed to be displayed on public buildings. Teachers used to be allowed to celebrate Christmas and Easter in their classrooms. Now, because of the minority, those things do not exist anymore. And as I recall, gay marriages were just legalized in California. How can you say the rise of religion is the problem? Public displays of religion (at least the Christianity religion) are declining, except from churches and rightly so.

[electric_sheep]

hmm. I figure that people in a counter position to mine feel that I'm accepting an unknown agent (God) without verifying sources, and that I don't feel a need to offer proof of his existence. Therefore rendering my decision to "embrace the unknown."

 

I was just playing around with words a bit.

 

Yours is sort of an existential argument, and I pretty much agree with it. We are all architects of our own universe on one level. There is no need to "prove" the validity or worth of our construction, because ultimately the idea of validity and worth is meaningless... or inherently and intrinsically meaningful. Pick which ever one you want.

[sb129]

I can't help but notice that even your username suggests a conflict of interests OP.

[Sks]

As a agnostic/atheist I hope Christianity starts to dominate America again or else the Muslims will be taking over.

[quankanne]

Yours is sort of an existential argument, and I pretty much agree with it. We are all architects of our own universe on one level. There is no need to "prove" the validity or worth of our construction, because ultimately the idea of validity and worth is meaningless... or inherently and intrinsically meaningful. Pick which ever one you want.

 

ooh! That sounds kinda intellectuo-sexy. Five dollars if you repeat that in a low whisper near my ear

 

As a agnostic/atheist I hope Christianity starts to dominate America again or else the Muslims will be taking over.

 

my husband would agree about the Muslim part. My thought is that the serious practitioners of that faith just want to be left alone to worship in peace, but the die-hard jihaddists (suicide bombers) are ruining it for everyone.

 

if we treat every Muslim like a terrorist based on the actions of that small, news-attracting faction, then we must also treat all Christians like backwoods, hood-wearing members of the KKK, which is a hardcore terrorist group of Jesus-lovers.

[Woggle]

I meant to say the religious right. People like Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson and James Dobson have rubbed many people the wrong way.

[Sks]

Yours is sort of an existential argument, and I pretty much agree with it. We are all architects of our own universe on one level. There is no need to "prove" the validity or worth of our construction, because ultimately the idea of validity and worth is meaningless... or inherently and intrinsically meaningful. Pick which ever one you want.

 

ooh! That sounds kinda intellectuo-sexy. Five dollars if you repeat that in a low whisper near my ear

 

As a agnostic/atheist I hope Christianity starts to dominate America again or else the Muslims will be taking over.

 

my husband would agree about the Muslim part. My thought is that the serious practitioners of that faith just want to be left alone to worship in peace, but the die-hard jihaddists (suicide bombers) are ruining it for everyone.

 

if we treat every Muslim like a terrorist based on the actions of that small, news-attracting faction, then we must also treat all Christians like backwoods, hood-wearing members of the KKK, which is a hardcore terrorist group of Jesus-lovers.

 

Muslims are somewhat terrorist based, their religion is about 800 years behind Christianity.

 

In England they have large groups of Muslims running around planning to over throw the government and turn it into a "Muslim" country.

 

You can't compare Christianity to Islam at this point in time.

[fral945]

1. Just as your lack of religious belief affects us. At football games, in a community where no one has an objection to saying a prayer before the game, we are now not allowed to do so by law. Also, it is now politically incorrect to tell a fellow Christian in public Merry Christmas...now the "right" thing to say is "Season's Greetings". In a country where majority is suppose to rule (um, isn't that how voting and democracy works?), it seems the minority has taken over. Careful not to offend the minority! Oh No! It's just so horrible! But its perfectly ok for the minority to offend the majority?

 

2. I do believe I have lived in the South my entire life. There are plenty anti-Christian sects. Besides, don't like where you live within the "Bible-belt?" Move! That's what I'd be told if I was living in a secular community that did not tolerate religious persons.

 

3. So start threads for you that think alike. Stop berating Christians' beliefs in threads that are meant for the Christians mind and Christian point of view.

 

Sorry if I'm a lil on the harsh side but I just read another thread in here being unnecessarily disrespectful to the Christian faith that really p*ssed me off. So its my turn to say what's exactly on my mind and share my views.

 

I honestly didn't expect such an angry, hate filled response. I can't speak for your fellow Christians on here, but if they respond in such an inflammatory way as you responded to me, I can understand why people on here are getting under your skin. You're not exactly a good representative of the Christian faith.

 

In response to your questions:

 

1) I never said my viewpoints didn't affect us. You just asked for an answer and I gave you one. I am pretty indifferent towards religion. I'm agnostic and could care less about prayer in school, I consider the people who are against that unreasonable. I agree with you about the Merry Christmas and prayer. They don't mean anything to me, so as long as I'm not forced to say it, I could care less. FWIW, I consider strong atheists as bad as strong Christians. They are both very extreme in the viewpoints.

 

2) I like other things about the south, and the religion thing hasn't bothered me enough yet to move, but I might one day. BTW, I'm not aware of "plenty" of anti-Christian sects. I'd love to know where they are. Wouldn't really be interested, though. I'm not anti-religious, just indifferent as long as it's not forced on me. I would say I am anti-fundamentalist.

 

3) I can't really answer this one, since I don't read these threads that often. Based on your above response, you sound like the type of person that holds very strong views. Most people who have strong views are going to have their views questioned by those on the other side with equally strong views (in your case, atheists). Therefore, you can expect a negative reaction. This is the internet after all. There are quite a variety of people on here who are probably very different in their views than what you are accustomed to. Plus, people feel freer to respond more frankly and straightforward in an anonymous forum.

[I Luv the Chariot OH]

Muslims are somewhat terrorist based, their religion is about 800 years behind Christianity.

 

In England they have large groups of Muslims running around planning to over throw the government and turn it into a "Muslim" country.

 

You can't compare Christianity to Islam at this point in time.

I'm really, really hoping that was some weird attempt at irony. Or else you really need to go educate yourself. Like, desperately.

 

Start here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam

This is a page about the Islam religion, which will help you realize that Islam is not based in terrorism whatsoever.

 

And then go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_christianity

This is a page about the history of Christianity, where you will read about how Christianity generally succeeded in taking over several governmental systems. You will also find that Christians are, historically, the most bloodthirsty/violent/destructive/murderous religion that has ever existed.

 

The More You Know! ©

[Sks]

Who is the one suicide bombing people? Its not Christians.

 

The Muslim religion is 800 years behind Christianity, look at the culture that endorses it.

 

As much as people go on about equality, Christianity is superior Islam any day of the week, at least at this point in time.

[Sks]

It isn't religions that do all the damage, it is the people who use religion as an excuse to hurt others who don't agree with them. The term religion is just a word, the hands and feet are the people. Yes, they use whatever sect, belief, deity to do horrible acts against humanity, but it is again the people. And for ever fanatic that is off the deep end, there are those who are peaceful and follow their doctrines.

 

Plenty of religions endorse killing, its hardly that all religions are great and the people just justify the actions that they take through religion.

[D-Lish]

Muslims are somewhat terrorist based, their religion is about 800 years behind Christianity.

 

 

Wow... that's a really harsh statement, and quite untrue.... Have you read the Koran? Most religions have a history permeated with violence, subjugation and discrimination. Some horrible things have been done in the name of science as well.

 

All these groups have extremists, sects that take the benevolent nature of what was orginally intended and take it to the extreme. Most of the basic tenents have a "do no harm to others" rule. Even the Hippocratic oath has been marred by scientists who have caused human and animal suffering in the name of advancement and understanding.

 

By your logic- Catholics have a background in terrorism- remember the Crusades?

 

One can NEVER logically argue if there is or isn't such a thing as a higher power. I don't personally believe it and never have... but it's just as much a feeling as it is a belief based on my own research and thought process.

 

"Live and let live" is how I choose to live. I really don't think I need to defend that I am an Atheist- and I truly don't think someone has to explain to me why they believe what they believe.

 

Honestly- it's a dead end arguement to try and prove/disprove "god". Faith isn't something you can put on a chart, and feelings aren't something you can put your finger on.

 

Yeah, I am pretty happy simply having curiousity without explanation. I love studying everything- and life will go on for me if I don't have all the answers to life's biggest questions.

 

Somewhere along the line human beings have lost the thought that it's pretty cool to be a good person for the sake of simply being a good person.

[Dark-N-Romantic]

Jesus Christ got talked about, chased off, whipped, spat on, kicked, punch, belittled, and ultimately slain on a cross for our sins. Many follows suffer similar torments. We have it A LOT easier today. We just have to deal with those who wish to live a Godless life and berate someone who decides not to. I personally enjoy their ignorance for it helps me to pray for my enemies and show them that though they my treat me bad, I am above that. And funny, where God talks about our enemies being our footstool, there has been many of people who did me wrong and turned around and I was there for them. While yeah, it is hard and sometimes we may loose our cool, it is necessary and a natural outcome for being in a world based on fleshy desires and gratification vice spiritual ones.

 

 

DNR

[Dark-N-Romantic]

Plenty of religions endorse killing, its hardly that all religions are great and the people just justify the actions that they take through religion.

 

I agree, the children of Israel had massacred entire villages and cities by the saying of God. Were they wrong, of course they were if you were the unfortunate targets. But, they did what their God told them. So, one can't really blame them. And this is the issue we have to deal with, especially with religious fanatics or people we deem religious fanatics. They could very much be right for doing what they doing, in their faith. And that it is why it is called faith and this is why I or any Christian for that matter can say that someone is wrong and they must change. All we can do and are suppose to do is inform and let Jesus do the rest. If someone wishes to travel the path, great, if not, oh well.

 

 

DNR

[Sks]

Wow... that's a really harsh statement, and quite untrue.... Have you read the Koran? Most religions have a history permeated with violence, subjugation and discrimination. Some horrible things have been done in the name of science as well.

 

All these groups have extremists, sects that take the benevolent nature of what was orginally intended and take it to the extreme. Most of the basic tenents have a "do no harm to others" rule. Even the Hippocratic oath has been marred by scientists who have caused human and animal suffering in the name of advancement and understanding.

 

By your logic- Catholics have a background in terrorism- remember the Crusades?

 

One can NEVER logically argue if there is or isn't such a thing as a higher power. I don't personally believe it and never have... but it's just as much a feeling as it is a belief based on my own research and thought process.

 

"Live and let live" is how I choose to live. I really don't think I need to defend that I am an Atheist- and I truly don't think someone has to explain to me why they believe what they believe.

 

Honestly- it's a dead end arguement to try and prove/disprove "god". Faith isn't something you can put on a chart, and feelings aren't something you can put your finger on.

 

Yeah, I am pretty happy simply having curiousity without explanation. I love studying everything- and life will go on for me if I don't have all the answers to life's biggest questions.

 

Somewhere along the line human beings have lost the thought that it's pretty cool to be a good person for the sake of simply being a good person.

 

I never said anything about the Koran, I said Muslims. Look at the Middle East.

 

I don't have a belief in god but if I have to be stuck in a city thats either todays Christian or todays Muslim, I will choose Christian.

 

Allot less likely chance of me being suicide bombed or stabbed.