Faith isn't just about belief, it's about doing and action as well. So I suppose the real question I'm asking here is this:
Why are Christians (or any other religious groups for that matter) hated by so many simply for a belief in someone higher?
I've got a lot more I want to say here but I'll save it for my opinion.
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NoThe "Bible bashing" is a response to the imposition much of Christianity puts on many harmless people who are happy with their lives, as well as other unfair things. I am a Christian. A very happy Christian that is eternally grateful for the things God has done for me. Yet I find myself "Bible bashing" to disprove supposed "Christian" beliefs time and time again, because my beloved faith is being used to frighten and exclude.42% Voted for by Weydon, cppman, bob2314.
You don't see people going around "Hindu bashing" very often--unless they're Christians who are insisting they're wrong and trying to convert them. Or, more to the point, why is it always "CHRISTIAN bashing" and never "Judaism bashing" at times when only the Old Testament quotes are being referenced? The completely logical 10 Commandments that you feel connected to are from Jewish law that Christianity inherited. Christians twist around the quotes of the Old Testament to denounce gays and those of other faiths. So those people respond with topics and points against CHRISTIANITY. But never Judaism, which created the Old Testament. Because Jewish people do not go on campaigns against everyone that is different but harmless and good.
"- If I don't follow God, and he does exist, then I face punishment, I face an eternity of punishment for my sins - not good."
That's another problem. How exclusive. How cruel! You lead a good life--the life of logical rules of respect and compassion and trying to better others when you can--but you didn't believe in the correct faith so you face an eternity of punishment?! Do you have any idea how hard it is for someone to give up their faith for another? You can show them logical rules (from Judaism) and they can show you other logical rules from Hinduism, Buddhism, JUDAISM, and--LOGIC. This and a "Hey, if you don't believe my god will punish you FOREVER" are NOT inspirations to faith! They are threats. They are scare tactics.
I follow Christianity and not just Judaism because of Christ as well. Who taught me a lot about mercy and compassion. Yet vocal Christians go around telling people tom convert OR ELSE. Gay people they need to change or they'll suffer someday. Jews and Hindus and atheists and OTHER denominations of Christianity that they need to convert or they'll suffer someday. Then they'll justify this with some sort of ramble about how Christ is trying to lead them from sin and how sin is bad (duh). What they don't ever, and COULD NEVER, explain is WHY being gay is a sin. Why following another faith that promotes good will in the world is a sin. "Because." That's what it boils down to. They don't have a reason and they don't need one. They're in the "winning" religion, they're already straight--too bad for you, you better convert. How utterly selfish. Is this what my faith has come to in the world? Join me or suffer?
Christ forgives. Christ loves. Christ understands.
I love too many people in this world that are of other faiths and orientations. I could not have the "strength" to move on not only WITHOUT them--but with the knowledge that they're suffering FOREVER. Forever tortured because they had a different faith. Because they had a gentle loving life partner. How could I be in an afterlife of eternal happiness like this? Knowing that not only the people that I LOVE are going through this, but countless good people I never knew are doing the same.
THIS is why people go around bashing Christianity. Because people who live in fear use it as a weapon against those that are different in order to make themselves feel secure. I cannot believe the religion which has fulfilled me so much, which has guided me through some of the worst times of my life, could be as ruthless as most vocal Christians make it out to be. -
My thoughts....I think the reason people choose not to believe in Christianity (at least one of them), is because they believe in a stereotype. Many people's idea of Christianity is what would be called "fundamentalism and legalism" which truthfully isn't a good representation of Christianity. Alot of things they do are un-Biblical and often times they take the Bible out of context to fit there agenda.Voted for by Lowercase Prelude.
I am a Christian myself and I don't believe as a fundamental or legalist would.
So I think if people dropped the social stereotype or what their parents told them, as well as not holding grudges from past "bad church" experiences, maybe we'd see some more people believing in Christ. -
Making Life worth itOne of the real things that made me confirm my faith as a Christian is that I personally agreed with what the Bible had to say and what we are called to do.Voted for by tfry.
I'm not talking about Creationism, faith in a higher being thing here either. I'm talking about all the bits that tell us how we should live our lives.
Take the Commandments for example:
I am the Lord your God
You shall have no other gods before me
You shall not make for yourself an idols
You shall not make wrongful use of the name of your God
Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy
Honor your father and mother
You shall not murder
You shall not commit adultery
You shall not steal
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor
You shall not covet your neighbor's house
You shall not covet your neighbor's wife
Look at the first 5 = it's all "God Stuff"
But look at all the others left = they seem pretty reasonable.
They have laws protecting them in just about every country. To me that's not a 'Christian' thing. It's a statement which I feel is morally right, deep within my gut or core. There was no thinking there, I just KNOW that it's wrong to steal or to cheat on someone. A huge part of my faith is just agreeing with what is given to me in the Bible, though scripture such as above.
The second problem is this: people talking the talk but not walking the walk. Belief isn't enough, if you don't incorporate what you do everyday with what you believe then you may as well be bashed and deserve to be ridiculed.
I know people like this (I was one myself in a really big way - I'm slightly better now), people who call themselves Christian and then don't act on it. They feel that believing in a God is enough. You can't just agree: you DO. A lot of the time, I'd prefer to be with people who are atheist and still try to make a difference in the world, then be with those who believe but don't act.
Here's a quote for you:
Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words. - St Francis of Assisi
Summary: ACTION over persuasion or talking.
Last main point: LOGICALLY, faith is the best bet.
- I live my life following God, if my faith is true and God does exist, then I gain eternal life.
- If he doesn't, then I've spent my life trying to make myself a better person and make the world a better place.
- If I don't follow God, and he doesn't exist, then I've lived my life all for myself, a selfish being.
- If I don't follow God, and he does exist, then I face punishment, I face an eternity of punishment for my sins - not good.
So what am I trying to say?
I guess I'm really wondering why I should be treated any differently:
Just because I believe we were created not 'just happened'?
Just because I choose to follow in something I already agree with?
Just because I know it's right to make a difference and not think of myself all the time?
Shall I go on? I'm sorry about the long, winded speech and all the scrolling you had to do to read this. It's just I get silenced if I try to talk.
"Belief is a wise wager. Granted that faith cannot be proved, what harm will come to you if you gamble on its truth and it proves false? If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing. Wager, then, without hesitation, that He exists. - Blaise Pascal, a mathematician, logical thinker and believer."
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"christian" bashingwell it is about time you tasted your own medicine!Voted for by Kazrith.
but seriously weydon is correct. it is a natural human reaction to denounce things that denounce themselves.
Honestly, why should i respect a religion whose followers tell me that I'm just fine as long as i don't act upon my "lustful" urges to date someone of my own gender, or if i can't stop my "lustful" urges, i should castrate myself to lower my "lustful" urges. For this i will fight back. why shouldnt I? besides, whatever happened to respect thy neighbour?
I prefer the declaration of independance saying "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." why can't i be happy? -
God Moral? Not hardlyMorality? God? Give me a break!Voted for by ChristSmith.
Morality?
According to the bible, God doesn't seem to care the least about morals. He drowns most ALL life in a a torturous murderous flood, to include babies, and the child which is yet out of the womb (abortion).
The Christian God promises to torture billions, to include children, with fire, day after day of pain for eternity. This is NOT moral. This is NOT love.
God himself stated he created the "wicked for the evil day" , "the waster to destroy" and that he created evil itself.
“…shall there be evil [Heb: ra—‘bad, evil’] in a city, and the Lord has not done it? (Amos 3:6)
“I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil” (Isa. 45:7).
“And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow… the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Gen. 2:9).
“It is an experience of evil God has given to the sons of humanity to humble them by it” (Ecc. 1:13, Concordant Literal Old Testament).
“I will raise up evil against you out of your own house…” (II Sam. 12:11).
“…I will bring evil from the north, and a great destruction” (Jer. 4:6).
“…Hear, O earth; behold, I will bring evil upon this people…” (Jer. 6:19).
“…Thus says the Lord; Behold, I frame evil against you…” (Jer. 18:11).
“…so shall the Lord bring upon you all evil things, until He have destroyed you from off this good land…” (Josh. 23:15)
“What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God and shall we not receive evil?” (Job 2:10).
Wow, if a child is molested, it is from God. I do not call that moral or good...it is very evil and sick.
Remember, God himself claims "ALL is of God" and "EVERYTHING is OF HIM".
Christian worship the being and praise his name and yet he has done and claims to cause all things. Evil and Good. God created hitler and he guided hitlers path. "god operates all in all" operates means to control the function. He controlled the functions of Hitler. That is from scriptural fact.
"God is operating ALL in all" (I Cor. 12:6)
"Yet ALL is of God" (II Cor. 5:18)
Hitler and the child molesters of the world didn't do their evil on their own.
“O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself. It is not in man that walks to direct his steps” (Jer. 10:23).
It is all according to God's will, God's Plan and this is from scripture:
“…Who works [‘operates’] ALL THINGS after the counsel of His own will” (Eph. 1:11).
“For OF Him, and THROUGH Him, and TO Him, are ALL THINGS…” (Rom. 11:36).
“And ALL THINGS are of God…” (II Cor. 5:;18).
So, the bible is not hardly a place to find morals or a being to worship as moral.
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August 3
Nice
I completely agree.Weydon
August 4
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August 4
"Christ Forgives, Christ Loves, Christ Understands"
Christ Loves and Forgives as he promises to torture a child in a lake of fire for the "crime" of not believing in God. Guess what, he will be tortured just like Hitler and Hitler mass murdered millions of innocent people. What a loving God you follow.As a matter of Fact, if Hitler decided to give his life to Jesus just before he died, he would go to heaven and be forgiven as the child that just didn't believe (for good reason) will be tortured, day after day. Not just a child, but billions of humans will be tortured with fire out of your version of God's love and forgiveness.
However, we know for a FACT that according to the bible, God drowned, murdered, babies and the unborn child (abortion) in his torturous flood because he understood those babies were so bad and evil? Give me a break. That is NOT love. Drowning babies and aborting babies is NOT love or Forgiveness.
So you see, you have a God that murdered most all life to include babies and little bunny rabbits and a God that promises to torture billions, to include children. You call that love? Wow!
Now, if we are to believe the word of this God, we know for a FACT that if a child is harmed, molested or whatever happens that is evil to anyone, it is "of him". God planned everything, and that includes the molesting of a child. Scripture stated he planned it all, and he controls it all, operates all in all and that included evil and the steps of men. Clearly, if anything happens, according to the bible it is of God.
Let us look at a few scripture as a witness to what I have stated:
Did god plan everything? yes, according to the bible he did:
[1] "To every thing there is a season [appointed time],and a time to every purpose [matter or event] under the heaven" (Ecc. 3:1).
AND:
[2] "I know that, whatsoever God does...NOTHING can be put to it, nor ANYTHING taken from it: and GOD does it" (Ecc. 3:14).
"...for He has appointed a time for every matter, and for every work..." (The New Revised Standard Version).
"For He has set a season for every event and for every deed..." (The Concordant Literal Old Testament).
Wow, seems like even my typing on this blog was planned by God. Of course Christian will deny these words of their God. But good thing this God provided many examples:
“…Who works [‘operates’] ALL THINGS after the counsel of His own will” (Eph. 1:11).
yes, God works it all according to his will. NOT the will of man.
Jesus gave a great example to his disciples when he has stated we can do "NOTHING" but for the father. Nothing is a strong word. So, Jesus used the disciples in an example. The disciples stated that they would NOT deny Jesus. Jesus told them they would. Again, they repeated will will NOT deny you Lord. Jesus stated, Yes you will. What happened? Not the will of the disciples. NO! The will of God happened in that story, just as Jesus stated.
Do we have more witness from the bible? yes, we do!
“For OF Him, and THROUGH Him, and TO Him, are ALL THINGS…” (Rom. 11:36).
“And ALL THINGS are of God…” (II Cor. 5:;18).
“Declaring the END from the BEGINNING…” (Isa. 46:10).
“For in Him we LIVE, and MOVE, and have our BEING [Gk: ‘we ARE’—we exist]…” (Acts 17:28).
So many Christian will deny the words of this God and state it is their will and not the will of God. Even when Jesus himself stated he could do NOTHING but for the father. Even after reading the many scriptures like the following:
“O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself. It is not in man that walks to direct his steps” (Jer. 10:23).
"God is operating ALL in all" (I Cor. 12:6)
"Yet ALL is of God" (II Cor. 5:18)
Notice the word "operating". Look it up...it means "to CONTROL the functions".
I guess if God states he controls the functions, all in all and that the steps of men are not of themselves and that ALL is of him. Then it must be true if God is real and we must believe it to be true. Guess what? Christian don't believe the word of God. They believe their interpretation of the word of God (over 300 denominations of the Christian religion alone).
So, if God planned everything, and we can do NOTHING of ourselves and we are not in control of our own steps, then does that mean God is the reason wicked people to evil things? Is god the reason children are molested? Not to mention the catholic church has done much of this molesting.
yes, it is ALL of God. God stated "yet all is of God".
Let us get another witness to the evil side of this god.
“…shall there be evil [Heb: ra—‘bad, evil’] in a city, and the Lord has not done it? (Amos 3:6)
“It is an experience of evil God has given to the sons of humanity to humble them by it” (Ecc. 1:13, Concordant Literal Old Testament).
“I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil” (Isa. 45:7).
“I will raise up evil against you out of your own house…” (II Sam. 12:11).
“…I will bring evil from the north, and a great destruction” (Jer. 4:6).
“…Hear, O earth; behold, I will bring evil upon this people…” (Jer. 6:19).
Yes, there are many more scriptures. God claims he will do evil, he controls all.
God even stated he created the "wicked for the evil day" and "the waster to destroy".
Just wanted to illustrate a few of the ideas taught by Christians do not align with the actual word of God.
Also, read the book of revelations and see that it is not a Literal Book but is all based on symbols. Chapter one, verse one the angel made it clear that it was "signified".....put into symbols.
read verse after verse and notice the symbols, like the candle sticks. notice how Christian will accept it as symbolic until, they reach the verse for hell fire and second death. then they claim it is suddenly literal. yes, there little fear that works on so many. Bush used fear to get all our old people to follow his lies for war. Fear works.
hope this helps those that have some fear of this God. For god stated all men will be saved. and then he verified it by saying if you confess you will be saved and then we read, "every tongue will confess jesus christ is lord". So you see, according to God, everyone tongue will confess and therefore be saved as the rest of scriptures state.
so boys and girls, don't fear torture by fire, it is not going to happen. if the bible were true, the fire is used to cleans everyone/purify everyone. Nothing to do with torture by a god of love, mercy and compassion. torture is never a part of love, mercy or compassion. everyone knows this, except christians.
Seems George Bush our lead Christian believes torture is just fine. Him and his party of Christian and family values have no problem with lies to go to war and kill your enemies (thou shall not kill and love your enemies). Seems the party for Christian and Family values is everything but based on values or moral.
everyone should learn to love and stop killing, and torturing and hating. Come together.
Weydon
August 4
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