Request from a Christian.

[Dragonspride1995]

I've had a motorcycle vandalized by Christians, I've had rocks thrown through my windows by Christians, I had to buy a house through a front because the owners instructed the estate agents not to sell to non-Protestants, and I was very nearly killed by a bomb planted by Christian militants.

On a smaller scale, I've had to put up with Christians who visit this board without - clearly - having read the rules first.

Boru

This is an atheist forum, but we welcome Christians. You belong here, so no worries about that.

If you want examples of negative experiences from Christians from me, then I can help. When I came out as transgender, my parents used whatever they could find in the bible to argue with me, and then ostracized me from the family as much as they could. They still contact me sometimes, but not without saying something hurtful. I try to distance myself from them because of this, but then they try to make me look bad to the rest of the family for doing so.

I'll note that this applies to a select few Christians and I don't blame others for it. I'm dating a Christian right now, so I'm fine with those who don't include hate in their religion. I prefer to be the live and let live type, but there's always those who don't agree with me.

OP could you please repost your testimony,here in the forum on this thread if indeed it isnt copy/pasted all over the internet?

I think it's worth writing a book on the discord that religion creates amongst family and interpersonal relations. For instance when I deconverted, I had a lot of misconceptions thrown my way by my family that I think could be remedied by simple understanding and education. I'd have family members throw in preconceived nktions in their sentences to me like, "I know you think it's a crazy idea, but I think God has a plan for everyone and everything".
Looking through their eyes, they must think that I've concluded that they are indèed crazy for praying to themselves and believing in apropos of nothing! To be quite honest, I don't. But it's a really tough subject to bring up! I've had to reach out to them in other ways, like when I saw them watching that show Ghost Adventures, I sat down and watched it with them. Of course they couldnt help saying stuff like "I know you don't believe in ghosts but the documekted evidence these guys get.." -- and I'd have to stop them and ask them why I necessarily don't believe in ghosts if I don't believe in god? I'd tell them I don't know if ghosts are real or not, and I think ghost hunting would be fun, but I can't say they aren't, just like I can't say god isn't real either. I'm still actively seeking proof for both, and until I do then the jury's still out. I'm not going to condemn someone for believing in god, though. And I'm not going to take the bible or any other religious text at anything but face value: edited versions of ancient texts written at least a generation after the fact. 
As a matter of fact, Ghost Adventures to this day and hour and minute, is a bonding experience for me and my family because it's fun to get lost in possibly believing in the super natural. 

More intolerant family members like my brother, mentioned that I shouldn't come crawling to him when I'm a puke slathered corpse on the side of the highway (apparently he thought I had a drinking problem that was now uncontrolled without god in my life). For the record, I'm allergic to most alcohol and fight hard just to finish all of the drink I paid for on the rare occassions I get out to restaurants! 
He also said that he couldn't stajd being in the same room as non believers, and that my non belief was reason for why he couldn't come visit me. He also cited my mother, who is a Christian ad lesbian, as another sin he could not bear to be aro7nd, even on her death bed in the hospital having had a heart attack! 
I had a couson recently ditch her girlfriend of 4 years for frivolous violations, in turn removing this very kind heart from the life of her son, who looked at the girlfriend as his only parental role model since he'd been raised by her. "Dundee" was his father figure for the entirety of his 5yr old life, and now has zero contact allowed by his mother. She's taken back her doctrine based life as a Catholic, and the family albeit split half on her side halfsaying it's not right--is already washing off the stain as nothing ever having happened. I think thats the worst, when it comes to religionis the purposeful closing of one's eyes, ears, and mouth in matters that leave them conflicted in their beliefs. At least when I was a Christian, I believed the OT was irrelevant and I didnt judge people on how they lived their lives but rather focused on judging myself! No, that didn't go over very well and I'm now recovering mentally from the anxiety disorders that that caused. Luckily O did give up the ghost beliefs, in the emd, because now I don't go around my home thinking I'm being watched--and am fine being in the same room with my step sister, whose a witch! Had a lovely Christmas, I did. After I got my mom past the fact that I do celebrate my favorite holiday still.

Ayways theres so much more, I'll try to think of it and come back here. Hopefully you too come back and share your testimony!

If you are speaking about the stuff in deuteronomy and a lot of the stuff from the old testament no. Again theological reasons that I won't get into unless specifically asked about in respect for the context of the thread. Basicly, The mosaic covenant. As for prayers, would you rather we not say anything at all and pray for you anyways?

I think I know the answer anyway but you are right that's off topic. As for prayer I don't care what anyone prays about, that's their business, but I don't appreciate it when they know I don't believe in that, that I think it's useless, and yet they still come up to me and tell me they will get their god to fix my body.
One; it may never work and I may never have children so even if I did believe and was naive enough that is just giving me false hope which isn't what I need. I need a friend to be supportive and realistic.
Two; 'you' sound conflicted when you say that because god is supposed to be all knowing and already has a plan. What good is a prayer then? Either he already made the decision to let me have kids or he already said no. Their pray shouldn't move anything in my favor. If I get enough of them does that tip the odds? Does he listen to just those prayers and not someone else's that can't have children also?
Three; It's rude, to me at least, to tell someone you are involving them in your religion. I know full well if I was someone that required sacrifice and chanting and I told my Christian coworker that I would sacrifice a fly in her name so she had better luck in whatever she was doing and I actually meant it she would go ballistic. Even if I said I would pray to Allah for her she would glare at me. I would love to see her reaction to me saying I was a Satanist and involving her name in my ceremonies.

Listen guys and gals. You keep asking me to justify my beliefs, or comment on the beliefs of others. That's not what I came here to do. I would like to hear of your negative experiences with Christians. I would also like if possible you clarify what denomination they come from.

The only thing I can think of aside from the usual online apologist's motivated insincerity and condescension is something that happened when I attended my father's Methodist church with him as a young adult, probably between 25 and 28.

I did it for him as I knew it was important to him even though I had no shred of belief in his god.  I went along with everything, making rationalizations to myself as to what it all meant to the people there and looking for ways to relate to those goals myself.  It all went well until some general back and forth started up about missionaries the church was supporting, probably intended to elicit still more giving.  Finding an opportunity to speak up, I asked if it was really necessary for the whole world to put on a tie and sit in a pew on Sundays.  I went on to say I thought it was fine for them to do it, but wouldn't the world be a poorer place if everyone set aside their own customs to do the same.

That didn't go over very well.  The pastor guy asked someone what he'd do if he had a snake in his midst.  He'd keep a watch on it, he answered.  So inspire of my best efforts to give my father what he wanted and be respectful to these people who mattered to him, I was still just a snake to them.  Something dangerous and probably of 'satan'.  This didn't feel too good because I was honestly trying to be respectful myself while offering criticism in a measured way.

Hope that helps.

These are the posts so far that I'm interested in using. If you guys would like to add a bit more it would be appreciated.