(May 17, 2012 at 1:51 pm)Godschild Wrote:
gringo Wrote:I know it's sort of off-topic but here are a few examples of problems I have with religions and people of faith, in general:
- Institutions such as the Vatican, who are so rich it's disgusting. There is no need for any religious institution to own such riches.
Well I'm not Catholic, so I do not know how much money they have, why should a religious institution be any different than corporations that have billions and refuses to pay their employs fair wages or give them good health insurance. I'm well aware of what has happened with priest and young boys, that is completely unacceptable. I also know that the Catholic church does a lot of good works throughout the world that these super rich corporations would not consider doing. If you want to throw stones at the Church fine, just do what's right and throw stones all the others that fit into your definition.
gringo Wrote:The fact that many people of faith have told me I am evil; devoid of morality; surrounded by darkness (More evil); and a number of other things - not because of my deeds - but because of a lack of belief.
So, you find it OK to condemn all Christians because of a few who offend you. Maybe it would be good to adopt a Christian belief that many Christians hold to, forgive those who offend you. Atheist call me deluded, crazy, full of____, stupid, ass____, and so many other choice phrases. Why, because of what I do, no, simply because I believe in Christ, sound familiar. I forgive them, they will not have any control or effect on my christian faith.
gringo Wrote:Religious people who excuse the wrong actions of their brothers and sisters - often going as far as to cover them up.
That bothers me also, know what else bothers me, this very thing happens in all walks of life, in every social group, again I find forgiveness
the best thing for my life.
gringo Wrote:Religions that preach that God has a plan for countries/people who suffer the most; which in turn, enables many people of faith to sleep with a clear conscience, while continuing to do nothing to help.
Religions that help ensure that homosexuals do not receive the same legal rights as heterosexuals, based on the instructions of their holy texts.
Homosexuals have all the rights of everyone else in this country except for marriage, marriage as defined is between a man and a woman and that does not fit homosexual relationships. What would you have us do, compromise on what we believe, how fair is that to Christians. What would you compromise in your beliefs to allow prayer in school.
gringo Wrote:So if I appear unhappy or angry while debating with you, the above reasons are unusually playing a part in my attitude. When I am not debating these matters I am perfectly placid. The attitude I display here is not because I am bitter from the absence of God, it is the presence of people, who (despite their claims to the contrary) think they are better than me morally; intellectually; ethically or otherwise, based on the fact that they believe in a God or Gods.
Your attitude is a part of you and stating what part of your life is like and to me it says you're not always happy and placid. I know I'm not always happy, but I do always have the peace of Christ and if one doesn't have that one doesn't know what that does in one's life. Anyone who believes those things you stated in the bold may not have experienced the grace of God or their ignoring the commandments of Christ. You need to remember Christians are not sinless, they are to sin less, but we are forgiven by God and because of that we should remember not to treat others badly.
God loves those who believe and those who do not and the same goes for me, you have no choice in this matter. That puts the matter of total free will to rest.