My first real challenge

[fr0d0]

I'm not 'going with my team' demon. I'm giving you an honest opinion. I am a theist, yes. I rip into theists far more strongly I can assure you.

So the mother instigated an attack on you? And you instigated the attack about them forcing (although I fail to see how that's really possible for your country and it's laws) their 18yr old daughter to go to church with them? (plus you also challenged her parents right to dictate (if that isn't too strong) to their daughter the social contact she has).

I can understand your intention (and I believe you when you say you tried not to offend) although in this thread there has been a tinge of triumphalism about it. You were just stating what to you is 'normal' although it was obviously far off the mark with these people.

So given my scenario, don't you agree that people can screw up even with the best intention?

[Demonaura]

I did not intend to seem like I was celebrating, we did the opposite as we considered it a failure when the mother got upset and started swearing at us. For posting it here, I mostly just wanted to tell the story and hear what others thought. Though I did not expect Anto to lash out as he did and throw assumptions out. But, I won't get into that anymore, the ignorance of his statments is either obvious or invisible and I don't want to have that debate.

The only reason it is possible for a mother to force a child to go somewhere is because she owns the house. Should Sarah disagree with her parents in a way they notice she risks being homeless with no cash, food or shelter. Worst case scenario of course but, very possible. At her age theres also no laws protecting her from that as legal child abuse ends at that age.

Basically they are saying you are going to believe as we do and be friends with the people we tell you to be friends with (some groups take this further and say 'marry who we tell you to marry') and if you disagree then we will take your house keys (car keys, cell phone) and lock the doors if you decide to go see your non-christian friends. That's more where my personal problem lies with them.

I also think that given any situation anyone can make a mistake even with the best intention, that is pretty much my point when I say I hope my friends have the balls to tell me when they think I'm wrong. Nobody is perfect but, some of us choose to better ourselves and listen to critisisim, not declare those who speak it evil people that are the cause of all your families problems.

As a side note that I find cute, these parents are so literal (in the biblical sense) that DICE are evil to them, tiny squares of plastic with numbers painted on the side are the tools of satan. We play a game that uses dice and thus are worshipping Satan when we play.

Btw, thankyou Fr0d0 for an actual level-headed response.

[Anto Kennedy]

the ignorance of his statments is either obvious or invisible

Where did I put those bloody things, I hate it when my ignorant statements turn invisible.

[fr0d0]

Churches discourage gambling and only condone mortgage lending for any sort of debt. I can agree with that moral stance. I've known Christians who won't play cards etc.. Taking things too far IMO.

I've also known Christians who 'bought' their sons' decision to see a girl of their choice over another they thought unsuitable. Definitely NOT a Christian act.

[Demonaura]

Honestly I agree with discouraging gambling, it's a very dangerous habit and theres a lot of tricks and people trying to manipulate things to win it all. It has nothing to do with Satan however and I won't throw holy water at a person for wishing to enjoy their hobby because I feel they are posessed.

Quite different I think to discourage gambling because of actual risk and declaring all dice the tools of Satan used exclusevely to trap young minds who play Dungeons & Dragons into the pits of hell.

I think we rather agree on that point though, what do you mean by 'bought' their sons' decision?

[fr0d0]

They offered to buy him an expensive present (£1k's worth) if he stopped seeing this girl.

[Demonaura]

Owch, yea I think I agree with you there that's not very cool at all.

[Dotard]

They offered to buy him an expensive present (£1k's worth) if he stopped seeing this girl.

Damn. Some guys have all the luck.