I find it interesting that many Christians write off “sorcery” or “witchcraft” type stuff as absolutely impossible. Have they read the Bible? It’s full of weird magic stuff. Like marching around a city blowing trumpets until the whole thing collapses and coming back from the dead after visiting the underworld (hell).
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The earlier books of the Bible, seem to indicate that other gods do / did exist, but the Yahweh was the most powerful.
The story of Moses and Ramses acknowledge this. Ramses priests used other gods to turn their staffs into snakes, but Yahweh turned Moses’ staff into a more powerful snake that ate Ramses’ priests staff snakes. Several things that seem to acknowledge other gods existence in the early books.
There is a name for this type of religion, but I can’t remember it. Most people view Christianity as a monotheistic religion (acknowledging only one god), but following the Bible, it is a religion that worships one god, but acknowledges the existence of others.
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This brings me to my ultimate question. These ‘people’ we speak of, are they adhering to accepted judeochristian doctrine? Or are they picking and choosing portions of the scripture to adhere to in order to fit a toxic narrative
With that being said, I haven’t met many rude Christians. I have met plenty who were intolerant and judgemental, but seldom have I met aggressive, hate fuelled Christians in the manner that I have for Islamic individuals.
Even then re the Islamic scene, it doesn’t encompass a majority.
In the US there is a lot of cherry picking.
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I used to live in North Carolina, right in the middle of the bible belt. The people there would be all shitty all week until sunday, then be forgiven to go on and do it all over again.
Ironically, the most sincere and decent believers were the pastors/priests (not religious, idk the difference between the two). I had one who helped me and my wife out when our car wouldn’t start, he gave us a jump, made sure we were all set to make it home okay, then said if we were interested - that [this] is the church he preached at.
The bible belt is weird… Its’ a sin on saturday, forgiven on sunday type of place.
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Elvis had a hit song along those same lines
“Clean up your own backyard” 
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In all subjects, not just scripture
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That’s ironic?
Because they’re the ones who literally preach and ‘spread the word’ as their job, yet they are the least obtuse about doing so. Yet their minions would ram that shit down your throat and use holy water for lube.
Its’ ironic, but it shouldn’t be.
It’s almost as if they understand compassion and respect….
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They understand it far better than their flock for sure. Obvbiously, this does not apply to all bible thumpers - just the ones that try to ram religion down your throat.
Funny story: I was trick-or-treating with my daughter in NC at the local mall and one lady camped out and was quickly/discretely stuffing mini bibles into kids’ candy bags (with no candy!). I pulled the book out, bit it so hard it tore off a corner, and threw it down at her tower of bibles. I then told her “This taste’s like shit”.
I’m not anti religion, or pro religion - I just don’t like anyone shoving their religion upon my child or anyone else’s. Wouldn’t have minded if she’d asked, but it was a deliberate attempt at her trying to convert other people’s children to believe what she believes.
So I guess if I ever find myself at the pearly gates - I’ll have to explain to Peter why I bit a bible…
How many looks like this did you have to deal with on your way out of there that night?
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it went more like this
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My wife and I are purposely leaving our kids out of church until they are older for this very reason. To easy to brainwash kids. I want them to read and decide things on their own even if it doesn’t match what I believe.
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You ‘brainwash’ kids regardless of whether you take them to church or not. Children are incredibly susceptible to indoctrination because children are weak and thus they need to conform or risk being put in harms way.
Parents should guide their kids, though they don’t have to align ALL of their values within said child. Then again… I’m not a parent, I’m just stating I believe in “nudging a child” in the right direction as opposed to just ‘being there’.
I understand what you’ve said here, but I don’t necessarily agree. You don’t have to raise your child religious, but taking your child to church isn’t the same as signing your 6y/old up for bible camp.
Taking a child to church/synogauge/whatever puts them within an environment where for 1-3 hours a week they have to think about something beyond themselves. I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing even if I myself am not a fan of organised religion.
“I’m so metal”
“Hold my beer”
https://worldnewsdailyreport.com/death-row-inmate-eats-an-entire-bible-as-his-last-meal/
(This has been proven false btw… it is funny though)
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Interesting
do you keep your kids from school also…i.e. home schooling?
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No. I am more concerned with the negative attitudes towards certain people groups promoted by some churches. My kids do not need to learn intolerance - they do need to learn how to read.
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Quote function doesn’t appear to be working…
Re: “nudging children in the right direction”
Yeah, parents have the responsibility to teach kids morals - definitely agree. I like to give my kids agency to think and then correct and discuss topics if necessary.
Is it wrong for someone to send their kids to Sunday school? Definitely not, but in my personal experience I have had to unlearn many things I was taught growing up in Sunday school and going to a private school until 8th grade.
But there’s a difference between
“Sending kids to Sunday school”
And
“I’m going to take my kid to church WITH me so they can spend an hour a week thinking about something that is beyond themselves”.
I went to Hebrew school and synogague. I didn’t particularly enjoy going to either. Both Hebrew school and synogague taught me how to deal with being bored, synogague in particular encompassed me within this refined sense of community. Whatever happened, it was as if I could always find a place at home over there.
Do you need religion for this? Not in the slightest, however it’s difficult to replicate that sense of moderate/large scale community outside of a set of shared beliefs provided a group of individuals don’t live right on top of one another.
Not all church/synogague goers share the same set of beliefs, but they share the same religion. Religon provides that set of “shared beliefs”. That alone appears to be enough to bring masses together… it’s also apparently enough to have justified numerous atrocities throughout history.
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I believe this is called affinity bias. Humans tend to do whatever it takes to stay in the same group, even if terrible.