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RE: Has anyone met a Christian?
January 5, 2018 at 2:59 pm
(January 5, 2018 at 2:43 pm)Mermaid Wrote: I have a serious problem with religious people telling me what I should think and believe, and how I should lead my life. On the other side of the coin, I find it hypocritical and not useful at all when atheists tell Christians about what they believe in.
You made some good points, but what about those Christians-- like the ones who do leg work for the Republicans and motivate the evangelical vote, justifying their actions because THEY follow a truly healthy lifestyle. Aren't we within our rights to say that Christianity is largely NOT about following the NT? Aren't we right to point out that, in many ways, Christianity seems to be "Jesus Club" and not a commitment to a way of life?
I agree with you insofar as we cannot criticize a Christian for his/her personal beliefs. But religion is a cultural phenomenon. Isn't it permissible for us to make judgments about its authenticity?
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RE: Has anyone met a Christian?
January 5, 2018 at 3:01 pm
(January 5, 2018 at 2:59 pm)vulcanlogician Wrote: I agree with you insofar as we cannot criticize a Christian for his/her personal beliefs.
OFC we can, their beliefs are silly. What we can't do is prevent him from holding them. 
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
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RE: Has anyone met a Christian?
January 5, 2018 at 3:08 pm
(January 5, 2018 at 2:43 pm)Mermaid Wrote: (January 5, 2018 at 2:20 pm)vulcanlogician Wrote: I could see theists viewing the OP's question as unfair. If anyone really were a devout Christian, we'd have no way of knowing because you aren't supposed to go around advertising it.
However, using the same criterion we can establish that there are many, many so-called Christians who do not fit the bill.
I have a problem with this. It's not a rigid definition. Religion and spirituality are on a continuum and there is nothing wrong with that. Everyone's different. Defining whether someone is a "true Christian" is not the slightest bit helpful. The Bible is clearly a book of interpretation that not all groups agree on. What others believe is not my business. I have a serious problem with religious people telling me what I should think and believe, and how I should lead my life. On the other side of the coin, I find it hypocritical and not useful at all when atheists tell Christians about what they believe in.
Thank you for this.
"Of course, everyone will claim they respect someone who tries to speak the truth, but in reality, this is a rare quality. Most respect those who speak truths they agree with, and their respect for the speaking only extends as far as their realm of personal agreement. It is less common, almost to the point of becoming a saintly virtue, that someone truly respects and loves the truth seeker, even when their conclusions differ wildly."
-walsh
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RE: Has anyone met a Christian?
January 5, 2018 at 3:26 pm
(January 5, 2018 at 2:59 pm)vulcanlogician Wrote: (January 5, 2018 at 2:43 pm)Mermaid Wrote: I have a serious problem with religious people telling me what I should think and believe, and how I should lead my life. On the other side of the coin, I find it hypocritical and not useful at all when atheists tell Christians about what they believe in.
You made some good points, but what about those Christians-- like the ones who do leg work for the Republicans and motivate the evangelical vote, justifying their actions because THEY follow a truly healthy lifestyle. Aren't we within our rights to say that Christianity is largely NOT about following the NT? Aren't we right to point out that, in many ways, Christianity seems to be "Jesus Club" and not a commitment to a way of life?
I agree with you insofar as we cannot criticize a Christian for his/her personal beliefs. But religion is a cultural phenomenon. Isn't it permissible for us to make judgments about its authenticity? Absolutely.
If The Flintstones have taught us anything, it's that pelicans can be used to mix cement.
-Homer Simpson
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RE: Has anyone met a Christian?
January 5, 2018 at 5:34 pm
(January 5, 2018 at 2:43 pm)Mermaid Wrote: (January 5, 2018 at 2:20 pm)vulcanlogician Wrote: I could see theists viewing the OP's question as unfair. If anyone really were a devout Christian, we'd have no way of knowing because you aren't supposed to go around advertising it.
However, using the same criterion we can establish that there are many, many so-called Christians who do not fit the bill.
I have a problem with this. It's not a rigid definition. Religion and spirituality are on a continuum and there is nothing wrong with that. Everyone's different. Defining whether someone is a "true Christian" is not the slightest bit helpful. The Bible is clearly a book of interpretation that not all groups agree on. What others believe is not my business. I have a serious problem with religious people telling me what I should think and believe, and how I should lead my life. On the other side of the coin, I find it hypocritical and not useful at all when atheists tell Christians about what they believe in. But not so when theists tell us what we "really believe"?
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RE: Has anyone met a Christian?
January 5, 2018 at 5:37 pm
(This post was last modified: January 5, 2018 at 5:39 pm by The Grand Nudger.)
I cant imagine what would be hypocritical in sharing some nugget about a persons faith that the person in question didn;t know. I do agree that it's not all that helpful. Doesn't do shit for me or anyone else, it could only help the faithful and they're less than enthusiastic when it comes to learning about their beliefs.
If someones mutterring on and on about the "catholic position" on some matter x..and butchering the catholic position on some matter x...that should probably be an item brought to their attention.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
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RE: Has anyone met a Christian?
January 5, 2018 at 5:57 pm
(January 5, 2018 at 5:34 pm)Gawdzilla Sama Wrote: (January 5, 2018 at 2:43 pm)Mermaid Wrote: I have a problem with this. It's not a rigid definition. Religion and spirituality are on a continuum and there is nothing wrong with that. Everyone's different. Defining whether someone is a "true Christian" is not the slightest bit helpful. The Bible is clearly a book of interpretation that not all groups agree on. What others believe is not my business. I have a serious problem with religious people telling me what I should think and believe, and how I should lead my life. On the other side of the coin, I find it hypocritical and not useful at all when atheists tell Christians about what they believe in. But not so when theists tell us what we "really believe"?
No, absolutely no. I think I said that in this very post.
If The Flintstones have taught us anything, it's that pelicans can be used to mix cement.
-Homer Simpson
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RE: Has anyone met a Christian?
January 5, 2018 at 6:03 pm
(January 5, 2018 at 5:57 pm)Mermaid Wrote: (January 5, 2018 at 5:34 pm)Gawdzilla Sama Wrote: But not so when theists tell us what we "really believe"?
No, absolutely no. I think I said that in this very post.
I tell it like I see it. CL tells it like she wants it. Minimalist tells it so he can yell at it. Khem just yells at it.
Any and/or all of those are null concepts.
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RE: Has anyone met a Christian?
January 5, 2018 at 6:09 pm
Haha ok buddy
"Of course, everyone will claim they respect someone who tries to speak the truth, but in reality, this is a rare quality. Most respect those who speak truths they agree with, and their respect for the speaking only extends as far as their realm of personal agreement. It is less common, almost to the point of becoming a saintly virtue, that someone truly respects and loves the truth seeker, even when their conclusions differ wildly."
-walsh
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RE: Has anyone met a Christian?
January 5, 2018 at 6:12 pm
Wewt.
You're absolutely right though, that's what I do. Just skipping the foreplay.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
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