LoL, Nick, what did she say back? Man, my conscience would be killing me if I did that. LoL.
Dude, that was immature. Maybe you don’t believe in her faith, but why get ugly? It’s not like she said something to hurt you. I’m sure just by her statement that she only had good intentions and did not mean any harm. Yet, that was your reaction? Pick up a paper and flip to the international section. There you’ll find true examples of religious harrasment. People being killed for their faith or nonfaith. Not some, lady merely saying “jesus loves you.” I too cannot stand someone who say someone else is going to hell, but I’m also mature enough not to take offense because someone with good intentions makes a POSITIVE statement that I might not believe in. Again, it’s not like she said jesus hates you your going to hell sinner.
Listen, I acknowledge the difference between cults and organized religion. (I believe I differentiated between Christians and Christian loonies in original post) But I am frustrated with the Christian calling of spreading the Word of God when millions of people on the face of the Earth don’t even acknowledge the God of traditional Christian theism. I question why Christians that believe in missionary work choose to neglect the rest of the world’s beliefs. The attitude is outdated and abusive toward other people’s religious endearments. Two words, one number: The year 2002. It is mystifying to me how the world’s people, their technology, communication, even thought and morality, can change and evolved, but after thousands of years, the Lord stills says I can’t whack off. Huh?
To Mustang: actually she didn’t answer anything just turned red and walked away.
To MooCow: I talk to women like that all the time anyway. In your opinion thats immature but as Patrick Swayze in road house put it ‘opinions vary’. In this case I was intentionally a little rude because I believed I had a reason. But generally its normal for me to say to a woman that I want to fuck the shit out of her or, depending on the situation, that I want to take her home and make passionate love, wihtin five minutes after we meet. Why not, I just say what I think as a matter of fact, don’t pretend or lie. Don’t worry about your conscience Mustang, try it and be surprised with the results…
My response is usually to try to convert them over to my faith using the same “faith” based arguements “they” do. The way I look at it if I’m going to put my faith in something it better be fun. Hence my strongly held belief in the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus. If you truly believe, they will come visit you bearing gifts, candy canes and chocolate eggs.
Erik the question is, why is it so important that christians have to agree that whacking off isn’t a sin? Why do you feel they have to conform to you? Seems like you’re guilty of what you accuse them of. If you don’t like their beliefs, don’t join. Vice versa. They don’t ‘have’ to get with 2002. Whatever that means, by the way. I get the idea that some people mistakenly believe they are having religon forced upon them by a guy with pamphlets or something. Or even some guy with an offensive jacket. That is not force. Learn some social skills. Walk away.
To have ones free will taken is a crime, to hand it over is a far worse crime. We all have the free will to think what we want, so don’t even think about telling me or anyone else we are wrong because a lot of us chose not to follow your myths. When someone tries to hand me some propoganda, I aways tell them to stick it where they have their heads so firmly buried. Take a look around and see how many of the conflicts happening now have religious roots. Muslims killing Jews and Christians. Jews killing Muslims. Catholics killing Protestants. All this because one group is trying to impose their beliefs on another. You want respect for your beliefs? Then how about showing some respect for mine (Athiest). Chrsitian tolerance is aptly summed up in Steves post to Sak. The only voice of reason is one that he agrees with. What a laugh. The moment one hands their mind over to some God is the moment they abandon reason. Faith doesn’t create, reason does.
Just remember, yesterday’s cult is today’s mainstream religion.
“But I am frustrated with the Christian calling of spreading the Word of God when millions of people on the face of the Earth don’t even acknowledge the God of traditional Christian theism. I question why Christians that believe in missionary work choose to neglect the rest of the world’s beliefs. The attitude is outdated and abusive toward other people’s religious endearments.” How is it abusive. Are they using force? Or is it words were talking about? If it’s merely words, where’s the abuse? Since if it’s merely words anyone can refuse to become a christian. This apply your thinking to everything in life. Hey, have to think real hard so as not to offend anyone. We don’t neglect everyone else’s beliefs. I’m not picking up a gun and forcing conversion on anyone. If I did pass out pamphlets you could say “no thanks” and go about your day. That’s not abuse. Abuse is being killed or beaten for your beliefs. Sometimes I think we Westerners forget what real intolerance is. We act like because somebody SAYS something we disagree with, we’re being abused or neglected. If I bring up my faith to someone else and they don’t like it, too bad. I have that right and so do they. I for example don’t feel abused when a jewish man wishes me a happy Hannukah (sp? sorry). While I’m not Jewish his intentions, where good. And so is passing a pamphlet that anyone can refuse. As far as your fustration with our calling to witness…sorry, but that’s the way it is and will always be. Made you just need to get out more and realized that you live in an arena of ideas. That not everyone agrees with you and will voice their opinion, and it’s not a big deal. Oh yeah, here’s Irony for you, you pretty much did the same thing you accused them of. You voiced your opinion knowing it could offend some. Oh boy!
Dude you’re a hypocrite. You’re post comes off sounding like what you attack christians for. If atheists are the bastions to reason. Any thinking person knows that religion in itself is not cause for wars. That’s why the VAST MAJORITY of religious people aren’t killing people for their faith or lack of! I guess theren’t aren’t any violent or fanatical atheists? PLEASE!!! Many, Many, brilliant people are religious! Moreso than you obviously. So how unreasonable are you being now? Land, Politics, resources are the leading causes of war. It’s laughable how you only manage to see the negative. How about that fanatical Lincoln and Martin L. King? Them fucking assholes they mentioned they were christians in public. What pricks. They voiced their beliefs and quoted scripture! And name one time were a christian or jew, etc. attempted to FORCE their beliefs on you. Did someone hold a gun to you? Threaten you with a knife while telling you to “love jesus?”
Geez, SD you come off with the worst anti-religious garbage I’ve ever heard. You’re no better than the guy with the jacket in Erik’s post. You pin violence on religion, when it’s obvious that the offenders aren’t even following their own religion. It’s like taking a perfectly benign gun and shooting an innocent. A gun can be used in the right and good ways or, as in the above instance, it might be used in a dark way. It does not make the gun twisted and dispicable (or the religion) but instead the individual user. I will speak merely for Christianity on this part. Christ did not teach violence against nonbelievers or those of another faith. Nor did his apostles. Please be REASONABLE and do not blame an entire faith on twisted INDIVIDUALS. After all, it does show lack of reasoning skills. Would you say atheism is the cause of wars and mass violence because of the acts of various atheistic (examples russia, china) people? Probably not, since it would hinder your arguement. But, if you were REASONABLE you would see that being of faith or nonfaith does not make a man reasonable. Oh, I’m sure I believe many things you don’t aren’t wrong. But, so far on this board you’ve been the one spewing you hatred of the religious lifestyle than the religious of yours. Go figure.
They do worse that holding a gun to our heads, they say we are going to burn in hell fire for all of eternity if we don’t love Jesus.
Wait until Michelle gets in on this thread. I can hardly wait.
Again, I don’t know where you’re hanging out, but I lived in many states, cities, and briefly overseas. Yet, on very, very few occasions met a Christian that went around telling people that they were going to hell. The vast majority of christians I have EVER met would correct such a person’s presumption that he/she is the judge of souls destination. Is this something you’ve experienced alot? Christians just saying “hey, you in the purple shirt, you’re going to hell?” Last time I saw something of that nature was about three years, ago. The guy was homeless and obviously not all there. Remember that for every one of those “christians” there are vastly more that you are never ‘harrassed’ by. In fact, you may be on friendly terms with Christians who have not damned your soul to eternal torment. I know scarey, they could be anyone. Mwahahahaha!
There are numerous documents stating that we are a Christian nation. The supreme court even noted this in one of their rulings. Our great thinkers and leaders were christians. Ben Franklin for example. Just because George Washington might not have been does not mean a thing. He was selected as the first President because he was a general and in that time they needed a leader and military personell were the best candidates. The reason people came to settle colonies is because of religious persecution in Britain. The king was forcing them to attend one church. At the time there were more than one religion, as there is now.
I am glad that you at least respect peoples choices, unlike some people in here. The thing about people preying on the weak. I don’t know. I have never seen it. I do realize that there are people that can be misleading and “crazy” sometimes. They just believe so strongly that they want to spread the word. Sometimes they do it in a manner that can be disheartining.
I don’t know exactly. I am young. Not only in age(21) but in faith also. I am a leader to many. I conduct myself I think in a manner that is respectable and admirable. I stated in my post earlier that I am not perfect and I just try to be the best I can be. I don’t force anything on people. If they ask my beliefs, I will tell them. I still commit sins, but the Christian faith teaches forgiveness. I just try to be a better person.
Has anyone ever heard of David Koresh?The Waco incident? I would compare him to Osama Bin Laden. No, Koresh did not want blow up millions of people, but they used their faith against people. Koresh took what the bible said and used it to mislead people. It is very easy, especially to people that don’t know. Bin Laden did the same with Islam. Jesus even tells about people trying to do this. He says to test people. He warns of false prophets(Koresh) and things of that nature. Did you know that the Koran, the book of the Islams, speaks of Christ. You know that pretty much all the religions in the world recognize Christ? People talk about myths and legends surrounding Christ. He actually existed. People find it hard to believe in God because he did not walk in the flesh, or did he? That is what Jesus was. yet everyone will dismiss his existence. The fact that you can’t see him is where the faith comes in. And about Jesus living. Why is it easy for us to acknowledge Some one like Plato, Socrates, Caesers, Napolean. People of the past, but not Jesus. Strange. And if we do acknowledge that he existed, then you believe in Christ. That is part of being a Chritian. I wish that more people could go to the Church That I go to. The pastorwill tell you up front that people may interperet the bible a little different and that is o.k. We welcome all people, non believers and believers. We won’t attack you,persecute you, or ridicule you. We do fun things that gets everyone involved. Like next week we are going to host a car show. It is going to be sweet. We will have all kinds of cars and events.
I have a question for everyone. Do you beleive that there is a devil? If so, you know what that means?
“Where do bad folks go when they die, don’t go to heaven where the angels fly. Go to a lake of fire and fry see 'em again till the fourth of July.”