(May 3, 2016 at 4:59 pm)PETE_ROSE Wrote:(May 3, 2016 at 3:47 pm)Cthulhu Dreaming Wrote: That doesn't exactly answer the question, does it? I'm fully aware that we have a Christian section to the forum.I cannot speak to the motivations of other Christians, moreover I might question their sanity for thinking they could match wits with this bunch! There are more than a few here that would shred most professing Christians I know.
Let me phrase it a little more directly. Why do you suppose that Christians come here to talk to us? Why did you?
I am here for a few reasons. Foremost I am here to follow the command of Christ in taking the message to the world. I want to converse with intellectual people and be challenged with some of the more difficult questions we all have regarding Christianity; thus hopefully giving me a better understanding and strengthening my faith. I have friends and family that are nontheists. I have had a positive rapport with them and we have discussions that don’t involve yelling, bickering, and a lot of the animosity that is prevalent in many conversations on religion. Many people judge Christianity by the poor, unbiblical and hypocritical examples of it in the world. I hope to do better.
I see a lot of intelligent people in the forum –one person stands out in particular- that are obviously educated, well spoken, articulate and above all good people; I have studied the bible and some science, believe Christ to be who he proclaims to be, believe what the bible says to be true, and considering the eternal ramifications I want to do something to assist people in making an informed choice. At one time I shared almost every single objection or complaint with religion, the bible, God, Christians, that I have heard so far; so I feel that I can relate to some here.
Plus the absence of spell check in the forum coupled with the propensity around here for the grammar police to call someone out, I hope to improve on my writing skills.
Taking the message of Christ into the world. Well, most of us are well aware of the message, since the majority of us were raised Christian.
Most of my friends are Christian. The one that I respect the most simply lives his faith. He will tell you what he believes only when pressed, and then in the gentlest way possible. He often ends with "but I don't expect you to follow this, it is my path". The vast majority of Christians who show up here have only one goal in mind (no matter what they claim) to change our minds. I run into one of those, and yes, I do heap scorn upon them.
Some of our theists here are like my friend. I hope that you will join their ranks. I will step back and watch.
"The family that prays together...is brainwashing their children."- Albert Einstein