Request from a Christian.

[Catholic_Lady]

I think you are focusing on the wrong thing though. Regardless of what words he uses (and I understand certain words are "triggers" for atheists, like sin and hell), all he meant by that comment was that he doesn't see himself as better or superior to any of you. I think he's trying hard to be kind and humble to everyone just not understanding that certain words sets ppl off.

I get that, which is why I'm being gentle. But that's the thing: it's not about triggers... not even a little bit. If someone who doesn't believe in sin or hell told me I was a sinner who was going to hell, it wouldn't trigger anything. It's not about words; it's about concepts. Christians are people who believe we are all sinners. Fine: you're not superior to me... except that you think you know more about what I deserve or what will happen to me than I do.

And it's extremely condescending to dumb it down to "triggers" when you know perfectly well there are people, and you might be one- I can't remember, who honestly think atheists are deserving of hell. My dad said it to me all the time, and you can bet your bippy it wasn't the words that hurt; it was the fact that he thought I deserved eternal torture.

Did he say you guys were going to hell though? All I saw was a comment in passing where he said "pastors are sinners, no different from you or I." And then he went on to say he's not better than anyone here.

For my own self, i didn't mean to be "condescending" to you guys when I referred to the words sin and hell being triggers. I just know they are upsetting to some ppl here, and that's all I meant by that. It seems like many things we say are taken as condecending insults, when they are not meant to be that way at all.

(And to clarify, I am not in the group you speak of.)