Paranoia in christians

[Jacob(smooth)]

Wait.


You're saying there is another kind?

Yeah, most Christians. You know the type you would meet if you socialized with people. Not the type of Christians you are picturing in your head, you know the ones who act exactly like you do.

It is sadly true that empty vessels make the most noise. One of the things I've been surprised at from my time in this forum is just what an uphill struggle atheists have in the US (where I'm assuming Minimalist is from). If I lived in the US I'd probably be a good deal less sympathetic to christianity.

[Tonus]

I think that Min also worked as a union rep, which means he dealt with corporate lawyers a lot. And if there's a group that would make religious nuts look attractive, it's lawyers. And if there's a group that would make lawyers look good, it's corporate lawyers.

[Mister Agenda]

It's not just christians. Paranoia is a tool that a lot of religions use, which makes a lot of sense, given that they tend to phrase reality as a huge Us and Them confrontation in which Them is a supernaturally empowered evil force influencing every human who believes something other than what Us believes.

Case in point, we've had more than one muslim here who was convinced that mainstream science was an enormous conspiracy founded to keep down islamic truths in favor of evolution. How do you argue against a position like that?

Not just religious positions. All the political parties I hear from foment alarmism to raise donations.

[Mr Greene]

Or looking at it from another angle, those indigenous people who did not adopt the bible, such as American natives, never made the progress that other groups, such as the negro slaves, made by working with, rather than against, the bible. Blacks in America are nearly totally emancipated; their native American brothers and sisters still effectively live under Apartheid in the 21st century; 2nd class citizens in their own land.

European and American history in the 17th to 19th century turned around the newly available English language bible. We can't look at those centuries through secular spectacles; that is such an anachronism.

And yet it's perfectly adapted for looking at Asian history for that period... East India Co. vessels during the early part of that period were uniformly 499 tons as a vessel of 500 tons or more was required to have a minister. When that was relaxed Indiamen grew into 800 ton vessels with China ships making 1200 tons. 'Divine Service' was supposed to be performed by the captain every Sunday, though there would usually be some reason or other found as to why it didn't happen. The East India Co. recognised that the group most likely to interrupt trade and inflame natives was missionaries so these were banned in all territories owned by the Company.

[Goosebump]

Or looking at it from another angle, those indigenous people who did not adopt the bible, such as American natives, never made the progress that other groups, such as the negro slaves, made by working with, rather than against, the bible. Blacks in America are nearly totally emancipated; their native American brothers and sisters still effectively live under Apartheid in the 21st century; 2nd class citizens in their own land.

European and American history in the 17th to 19th century turned around the newly available English language bible. We can't look at those centuries through secular spectacles; that is such an anachronism.

And yet it's perfectly adapted for looking at Asian history for that period... East India Co. vessels during the early part of that period were uniformly 499 tons as a vessel of 500 tons or more was required to have a minister. When that was relaxed Indiamen grew into 800 ton vessels with China ships making 1200 tons. 'Divine Service' was supposed to be performed by the captain every Sunday, though there would usually be some reason or other found as to why it didn't happen. The East India Co. recognised that the group most likely to interrupt trade and inflame natives was missionaries so these were banned in all territories owned by the Company.

Neither the original argument or the proceeding seem to be strong or weigh in on the overall OP's original intent.

To the first of this quote: If you honestly think "slaves" made out well by adopting Christianity then you are blind to modern circumstance.

To the responder(sic I belive?) of the first quote (aka: Mr. Greene): Are you equating the cleverness of 17-18th century business practices to slavery? And if so that the EITCo made better choices then the slaves? Is this the substance of the argument? Am I alone in my bewilderment that this could even be debated?

[Mr Greene]

The claim that you can't look at European or American history except through a christian lens is what I have issue with. It's just plain wrong and lazy on the part of Michael not to see that christianity was never the only show in town and there have always been alternative views.

[paulpablo]

Disclaimer:
When I say christians, I am refering to the hardcore "I'm right your wrong" christians.
All the other christians, you rock!
Forcing religion on people is when a religion becomes intolerable.
End disclaimer
I still attend church, because I still need the help and support of my family. I also attend Bible study.
All in all, I go to church about three-four times a week.
One trend I've started noticing is that christians seem to largely be more Paranoid than other groups.
All the bible study I attend ever talks about is how the government is out to get christians, and how the whole world is conspiring against them.
My father, who is a pastor, often comments along these lines in daily conversation.
Two bible studies ago, an old man in the church leans over and wispers,
"Why has nobody tried to assassinate Obama yet?"
That's definitely the love of god, eh?
Anyway, I want to know if anyone else here has scene the Paranoia I mentioned among this particular group.

I've noticed a paranoia amongst Muslims that the entire world is against them. A lot of them believe that 9-11 was a conspiracy that wasn't done by Muslims.
I was speaking to a Muslim in work about it who was saying he believed all the live news footage of the attacks was done by CGI and there were no planes, which I said I didn't find plausible, but then he just moved the convo onto why there's no true Muslims playing Muslim parts in English TV shows.
Most of the politically correct people in the UK bend over backwards to avoid offending Muslims which is what happened with the Muslim pedophile gangs and why they got away with it for so long without social services or the police getting involved, there's actually a conspiracy FOR them rather than against them.