Does Religion make you nice?

[leo-rcc]

Don't be so nasty Watson.

[Watson]

Of course, I'm such an asshole. I'll try to be nicer next time.

[Bull Poopie]

At least he admits he is an asshole or that his ass has a leaky hole. Heh :-P

[Bull Poopie]

And by the way I was kidding :-P Heh.



Poopieee.

[Minimalist]

After careful consideration of this and other ongoing threads I have decided that religion makes people assholes.

[Bull Poopie]

I don't care what anyone says but there has to be a ratio of influence of religion within a person life time. There has to be a potential influence of change there is what I am saying.

[fr0d0]

Yeah but how do you measure it and make any sort of conclusions bullshit? If religion is presented positively you'd think it'd have positive effect, and if negative then a negative effect. Given people have a tendency to do bad stuff to each other you might conclude a net negative influence from anything.

I think community is very important. Anti selfishness and anti greed too. It's not only religion that promotes community. I think the overall trend in the west is away from community which is destructive.

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

I don't care what anyone says ---

A pithy way to declare a closed mind,a brave and foolish thing to do here..

[Bull Poopie]

Because of the experiences I have had. There has been christians that have made the outcome of being rude and incondierate. I guess it is just a myth at religion is suppose to make you nicer than you but as I have mentioned before it is your character that is in main control but then again religion has that possiable influence upon persons.

[Godscreated]

@Godschild if a shepherd lost a sheep would he just let it go without wondering what happened to it or at least try to recover it? I think that it was at least the pastors duty to try and find out why I had left the church and or at least try to convince me to come back. That should have been in my opinion his primary concern, also I don't think that our religious beliefs or lack thereof should stand in the way of friendships as long as there is mutual respect for each others beliefs or lack thereof when you are in each others presence.

4What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?5And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.6And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.7I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. Luke 15:4-7

This parable was the response that Jesus gave the Pharisees and the Scribes when they were bitching about him eating with sinners.

Yes I agree with you the pastor should have come to you. This would have been the humble response that would have marked his love for a fellow christian it's to bad he did not respond in that way he will never know what might have been that is until he goes before Christ and it's reveal to him. Please understand I'm not judging him, that's for Christ, I'm just saying what I believe he should have done. Yes Jesus was trying to teach them about love for one's fellow man and to lay off their condemnation of people who love others enough to sit with them no matter who they are.
Again I ask why did you want the pastor or any of your christian friends to come to you and what kind of meeting do you think it would have been.
As for the friendship you mentioned I agree and would say that it should be taken a step further, respect should be given to a friend even if one is not in the presence of that friend.

---

I don't care what anyone says but there has to be a ratio of influence of religion within a person life time. There has to be a potential influence of change there is what I am saying.

BP I believe I responded to this, your statement above in post #20.
No it's not a sin to marry a nonbeliever it's not a wise thing to do but it's not sinful. You should not have believed everything your priest told you, if what he told you felt wrong then you should have searched it out in scripture. My pastor encourages us to search out things when we think he may be wrong and I have, priest and pastors are only human after all and will make mistakes just like the rest of us.