Hello, I am a Christian

[MikeTheInfidel]

...
I would like to put a question to the Atheists here. I am a Christian, so does that make me stupid or intelligent? You are an Atheist, so does that make you stupid or intelligent?

I know stupid and smart believers and nonbelievers. My family is all believers and still full of bright people. I think that I, personally, am smarter than I was than when I was a believer, but not because I'm an atheist. I think I got smarter and learned more and just couldn't believe what I believed anymore.

[Aractus]

Hello,

I am a Christian, and I think I could benefit from discussing matters of spirituality, religion, and theology with Atheists. I am 27 years old, married, have two children, I am an Iraq veteran, currently in the Army Reserve, I go to school full-time, and I attend church regularly. Just to clarify my Christian identity, I am not a Catholic or a Protestant, I am an Apostolic Christian. Wikipedia has a great article on "Oneness Pentecostalism," which is another term one could use for the type of Christianity I identify with.

In brief, Apostolic Christianity is the "first Church," even before the Catholics, we believe in One God and not a Trinity, we believe that the salvation plan includes repentance, baptism in the name of Jesus Christ, and being filled with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. This puts us at great odds with the rest of the Christian world.

Yep, because what you've been taught is wrong. Your church is the "first Church" - so is the Orthodoxy, oh and so is Catholocisim.

Can you reconcile this:

• Who has performed and done this,
  calling the generations from the beginning?
  I, the LORD, the first,
  and with the last; I am he. (Isaiah 41:4)
  
• Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel
  and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts:
  “I am the first and I am the last;
  besides me there is no god. (Isaiah 44:6)
  
• “Listen to me, O Jacob,
  and Israel, whom I called!
  I am he; I am the first,
  and I am the last. (Isaiah 48:12)
  
• “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8)
  
• And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. (Revelation 21:5-7)
  
• “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” (Revelation 22:12-13)
  
• When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. (Revelation 1:17-18)
  
• “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life. (Revelation 2:8)
  

I would like to put a question to the Atheists here. I am a Christian, so does that make me stupid or intelligent? You are an Atheist, so does that make you stupid or intelligent?

[pocaracas]

In case you didn't notice, Daniel.... you're late!

[littleendian]

Being a christian makes you stupid.

Hope that helps.

I guess it wouldn't help because this kind of insult only makes people defensive and/or retort the same way.

I think it's best to focus not on the person but on their believes, challenge them on the absurdities they've been raised with and it's much more likely they'll "see the light", to borrow a phrase

[Aractus]

In case you didn't notice, Daniel.... you're late!

Somebody else already pointed out the contradiction with his anti-trinitarian faith?

[pocaracas]

In case you didn't notice, Daniel.... you're late!

Somebody else already pointed out the contradiction with his anti-trinitarian faith?

Yes, but in his other thread...
However, I was saying you're late because this ship has sailed away. He's gone and not coming back.

[Aractus]

Makes me wonder why I make the time to read people's introductions if they're just going to leave!

Ah well.