The Contract

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

Tacky, to me,you seem to be a compassionate man who is also a Christian. However, in my lifetime,I've yet to see evidence to support the broad use of the term 'compassionate Christian', whether referring to individuals, congregations or entire churches.

OK,to be fair, the Anglicans (Episcopalians) seem to have their moments. Probably because most of 'em are agnostic or atheist (well, at least the clergy)

[tackattack]

Fair enough, I can seperate the 2. I'm compassionate, and a Christian. I feel they're related, but not necessarily so. I only commented though to suggest a course of action that might help for the OPer and not to talk about myself. If talking to the pastor won't help, I'd book as soon as I could find a place.

[Godscreated]

Min you should have more compassion for this child than you have shown he may be striking out at the people he loves the most because he did not get something he desired, we don't know and to down his parents may do (no will do) more harm than good, if you have nothing good to say then go back to your sandbox please.

Fuck off and take your barbaric religion with you.

The kid is being mentally raped by his own parents who think their fairy tales are more important than his life.
Even a dickhead like you is hard pressed to make excuses for them.

You must be lacking in your mental capacity Min, I have not defended the parents and said so in my post. The comment I made in the post was we, I did not know both sides of the story and could not make a judgement either way. Now that DT has shed more light on the problem it seems that the parents have gone overboard and are being unreasonable. If you had cared to read what I posted about the contract you would see that I totally disagree with that approach. Forcing one to God only makes matters worse and I do not think that is what God wants either. As I have stated many times God desires unconditional love, love that comes from the heart not a twisted arm. I'm sure that his parents are not very well read in scriptures or they would see that what they are trying to do is wrong in God's eyes. They may think if they allow him to quit going to church that they will suffer in the next life. Here's the reason I say this, Jesus told His disciples that if anyone withheld a child from Him that it would be better for them to put a millstone around their neck and jump into the river. If this is what they believe then they are wrong, they have given him the opportunity to search out God and he has rejected God so the burden is on him not them. I still say until someone besides Red finds out what the parents have to say then anything we say is speculation, everyone deserves the right to be heard, this is a basic right in America and should be through out the world. I agree with Tack, he should take the contract to the pastor of the church so the two parties involved can have a peaceful talk about this, but without knowing the parents side this could get him canned to the street.

[Doubting Thomas]

Forcing one to God only makes matters worse and I do not think that is what God wants either. As I have stated many times God desires unconditional love, love that comes from the heart not a twisted arm.

Too bad Christians didn't think this way when they were conducting the crusades or inquisitions. And from having read many, many quotes from fundies on the internet, most of them seem to have no problem with our military being used to proselytize by M16 or forcing religion upon Americans with a national day of prayer or wanting teacher-led prayer back in school.

[downbeatplumb]

teacher-led prayer back in school.

Teacher led prayer in school did not deter me from being an atheist.

I had to sing a hymn yesterday at a funeral and the old yawn reflex kicked right in.

[Doubting Thomas]

Well you're just going to hell, then. But we need prayer back in school to save all those poor, innocent, helpless children with heathen parents!

[reverendjeremiah]

rev I'm not sure how you came to your decision about what I posted, I guess you must have read between the lines and put your own words in.

Fine, if you are THAT dense, allow me to give you an example:

As you have stated yourself I'm a Pagan and I disagree with what Rome is doing. We on the other hand do not know what Rome's real reason might be because we have only heard one side of this story. You should have more compassion for the Romans than you have shown the Christians may be striking out at the people they love the most because they did not get something they desired, we don't know and to down the Romans may do (no will do) more harm than good, if you have nothing good to say about the Romans then go back to your sandbox please.

Forcing Christians to renounce Jesus like this is meaningless and you should not let it bother you Godschild, you need to confront the real problem you are having with the Pagans and come to a peaceful solution. If that becomes impossible, then when you can, move away from your home and try and re-establish a good relationship with them, Pagans are far more important to your life than you might know at this time.

Something tells me this will STILL go over your head..as long as his parents are forcing YOUR Jesus onto the boy, and the boy really prefers to be an atheist, then you will judge in the forceful parents direction. If they made him sign a contract forcing him to be an atheist, when he REALLY wanted to worship Christ Jesus..methinks you would be singing a completely different tune to the one you are singing right now. But, as I said before, I dont expect you to get it or acknowledge it.

Tacky, to me,you seem to be a compassionate man who is also a Christian. However, in my lifetime,I've yet to see evidence to support the broad use of the term 'compassionate Christian', whether referring to individuals, congregations or entire churches.

OK,to be fair, the Anglicans (Episcopalians) seem to have their moments. Probably because most of 'em are agnostic or atheist (well, at least the clergy)

Yeah, I hate to admit it, but I tend to feel the same way. Even my mother, who is probably the most liberal Christian I know of (she flat out refuses to believe in Hell) has her moments of being a bit closed minded and intolerant. For the most part she is wonderful to be around.

Why does it have to be a "compassionate christian" anyways? Why not just say you are compassionate? Why does being religious or not add or subtract or whatever to the original statement makes a point for?

You must be lacking in your mental capacity Min, I have not defended the parents and said so in my post. The comment I made in the post was we, I did not know both sides of the story and could not make a judgement either way. Now that DT has shed more light on the problem it seems that the parents have gone overboard and are being unreasonable. If you had cared to read what I posted about the contract you would see that I totally disagree with that approach. Forcing one to God only makes matters worse and I do not think that is what God wants either. As I have stated many times God desires unconditional love, love that comes from the heart not a twisted arm. I'm sure that his parents are not very well read in scriptures or they would see that what they are trying to do is wrong in God's eyes. They may think if they allow him to quit going to church that they will suffer in the next life. Here's the reason I say this, Jesus told His disciples that if anyone withheld a child from Him that it would be better for them to put a millstone around their neck and jump into the river. If this is what they believe then they are wrong, they have given him the opportunity to search out God and he has rejected God so the burden is on him not them. I still say until someone besides Red finds out what the parents have to say then anything we say is speculation, everyone deserves the right to be heard, this is a basic right in America and should be through out the world. I agree with Tack, he should take the contract to the pastor of the church so the two parties involved can have a peaceful talk about this, but without knowing the parents side this could get him canned to the street.

And you prove, yet again, that you agree with the parents by backing them up again.

Dogschild..the exit is a text hyperlink called "log out" at the top of the site. Feel free to scroll up, click it, and walk away with what little bit of honor and dignity you may have left. I realize that a few members will hate to see you leave, like a cat hates to lose its toy mouse in the cracks of the walls. Others, such as myself, ill tolerate your presence.

You will feel better on Yahoo Buzz Dogschild... not here..go join those who share your personality over on the Buzz.. you will be happier there.

Why does he have to take the contract to the Pastor? How come he cant take it to a fellow atheist? Why not take it and his family to the American Atheists state director? He would have just as much of a valid opinion on said FUCKED UP document as the pastor would. Yet again the Christians get special preference where none is deserved.

[Doubting Thomas]

If they made him sign a contract forcing him to be an atheist, when he REALLY wanted to worship Christ Jesus..methinks you would be singing a completely different tune to the one you are singing right now.

And the thing is that if this were the case, this story would be all over the news media (especially Fox News) and everyone would talk about how horrible the atheist parents are by forcing their kid to not go to church. But as it is, nobody gives a shit when Christian parents force their kids to go to church against their will.

[reverendjeremiah]

If they made him sign a contract forcing him to be an atheist, when he REALLY wanted to worship Christ Jesus..methinks you would be singing a completely different tune to the one you are singing right now.

And the thing is that if this were the case, this story would be all over the news media (especially Fox News) and everyone would talk about how horrible the atheist parents are by forcing their kid to not go to church. But as it is, nobody gives a shit when Christian parents force their kids to go to church against their will.

Yes, it would be all over the place. The parents would be getting death threats, lose their jobs, all atheists would be lumped into this incident, have family disown them, etc..etc..

..and I would be oppsed to ANY atheist doing such a thing to their child.

So who is more open minded in this situation? People like me and Thomas who disaprove of it happening on either front, or the fundies on this board who are making excuses for the parents?

The closest thing to an excuse I gave to the parents is at first I thought they were doing it to give their son a push out of the door, so that he would not be so comfortable. Didnt mean I agreed with it. Then it turns out that after viewing more info on the situation I dropped that alltogether in favor that they are, indeed, trying to control their sons life from the proof of them going to his workplace to enforce it.

[Rwandrall]

Remember that legally your parents HAVE to take care of you until you are 18, and even then they have responsibilities on you for a long while after that.

Also freedom of religion is a constitutional right, and taking it away from you is illegal and a grave offense.

I'm not saying you should sue your parents, but if they are as conservative as they seem they won't like their actions breaking the Constitution