Hi, I'm looking for answers

[theophilus]

Being a xtian is an accident of birth. Had you been born in Afghanistan you'd be shrieking 'allah ahkbar' with the rest of the taliban.

If this is true then how do you explain the fact that there are a lot of Christians in Afghanistan and other Muslim countries where they face constant persecution?

You can find out more about them at this site:

http://www.opendoorsusa.org/

[Rhizomorph13]

Theo,

What was your link supposed to show us? Could you quote something from it so we know why you linked it for us?

Here is one I found:

http://www.afghanistans.com/information/...ligion.htm

The strongest tie among these various groups is their Islamic religion. The overwhelming majority of Afghans (about 99 percent) are Muslims. About 84 percent of Afghan Muslims are Sunnites and about 15 percent are Shiites (mostly the Hazaras and Tajiks). Small groups of Hindus, Sikhs, Parsis, and Jews are scattered in the towns. Since the 1960s many Afghan Jews have been able to migrate to Israel.

Christians aren't mentioned, but even if they are represented, they would be a small part of the 1% that are not Muslim. Who knows why some people are convinced by a religion totally different from those around them, maybe they are masochists? Maybe they have heard the argument that religion is regional so they purposely select a religion to make some point? Your guess is as good as mine or Min's. The fact that 99% are Muslim's is proof that religion is regional.

Rhizo

[Minimalist]

Rhiz is right. That site does nothing to bolster your claim. Are you sure you didn't mean Iraq?

P.S. Being born a xtian in a muslim shithole is much worse than an accident of birth....it is sheer bad luck.

Nonetheless, if their parents are xtian then they are raised xtian because parents, universally it seems, appear to think that they have a right to saddle their kids with superstition from birth.

[fr0d0]

It's regional where it's pretty much enforced yeah :S

[WingedFoe]

It's regional where it's pretty much enforced yeah :S

It's more cultural than anything. Sure, on the extreme end of the spectrum you've got countries like those in the middle east, where having a different religion can kill you, but in more moderate countries you can still see regional influences. Here in the US most people are Christian, in India most people are Hindu, and in Sweden most people are atheist (). In India, Christianity is in the public consciousness about as much as Hinduism is in that of the U.S. You really can't say where you're born doesn't matter.

[Edwardo Piet]

Welcome to the forums!

Do you believe in Jesus or Christianity at all still? Unsure about that overall or what?

My husband feels like god is playing the biggest mmo ever lol. That we are all just a game. I kind of agree with this.

Bit of an assumption to make isn't it? I prefer to make no assumptions and disbelieve.

EvF

[fr0d0]

You really can't say where you're born doesn't matter.

Neither can you say that the vast majority of people are actual followers of a religion in countries where there's no choice to be anything but.

[Rhizomorph13]

fr0d0,

You better say it, or you'll be shot!

Rhizo

[VoiceOfReason]

Hi Jocenel, I am new here too, but I'll try to answer your questions, and see if you find it helpful.

I want to she why all of you choose atheism? Why do you feel like there really is no god?

I didn't choose either. My parents tried raising me to be Christian, but it just didn't make sense to me. I stopped believing in God only a couple years after I stopped believing in the Tooth Fairy and Santa Claus. I was an atheist long before I knew there was a word for it! When I look at the world, it seems to me like there wasn't any thought or plan put into it.
-Why does our foodpipe cross our windpipe? Separating the two systems would have prevented choking.
-Why do we have an appendix?
-Why have 99% of the species that have lived on Earth gone extinct?
To me, this seems like a distinct lack of planning. Looking at these questions as if someone planned it all is downright worrying. Looking at it as evolution passing on the traits of the survivors, it makes sense.

If there isn't I know that sucks, but a lot of things in life do...

I understand facing the idea of a world without a guiding force is scary at first. You can't help but wonder what that means for the meaning of life, morality and life after death. I faced a lot of questions like that when I lost faith, but I came out of it feeling happy and free.
The meaning of life is whatever you choose it to be. I personally believe right and wrong is as simple as not doing things that harm other people. Taking the lord's name in vain and working on a sabbath? Victimless, harmless 'crimes'. In fact, can you imagine how many people would suffer if doctors couldn't work for a day? Lying, theft, telemarketing, and killing sprees however, are things I try to avoid.

How can people (like my mother) hold on to their faith so strongly? Is it because my mother has been taught that way? Is it because people can't stand the truth?

Personally, I think a lot of it has to do with the whole 'life after death' thing. Yes, death is as sad as it is inevitable. But would life be as invigorating if you had eternity to 'get around to it'? Some people can't stand the idea that the dead are gone. They like to imagine that everyone they have lost will be there waiting for them in a castle on a cloud. Some people can't face the idea that one day they will die, so they dream of better things instead. Some simply fear the idea of burning for eternity so much they won't risk even thinking something that could damn their soul to an imaginary torture chamber. Why would a loving God allow such a fate for even one soul, much less most people to ever live? I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

How can we believe that the bible is real or accurate?

Simple answer- we can't. It is a book that declares its own divinity. If some guy came to you door telling you he was the reincarnation of Jesus, "because I said so." would you take him seriously?