Ronin

Very good, then...oftentimes, I find myself far too short on friends.

You will find that, though you may be able to, many atheists cannot logically separate someone that claims membership in the Christian country club from the intolerant doctrine it espouses.

Forgive us...we rely on the rational.

Muffinstuffer

Yeah, but then we're back at square one! I'm a good human but a 'Cherry-picking' Christian, and will no doubt draw derision and ridicule for that....and the cycle goes on and on. *L*

I am joking somewhat, but seriously though. If it came down to brass tacks, I'd have to do my best to support the beliefs/doctrine I hold, if I claim to be a Christian, but then I'll get derision and ridicule for that too. :banghead:

Muffinstuffer

I could never imagine why.

Well, aside from giving up my beliefs or completely and totally denying them, I can't do much about that, but oh well.

Ronin

Often, only when you neglect to examine the doctrine/beliefs you hold...in the face of sensible refutation.

Don't automatically perceive derision and ridicule...though you will find it, I admit.

Then again, you're supporting a story that has, as the universal cause ~ a omnipotent Deity that birthed himself through a virginal human, so that he could sacrifice Himself to Himself in order to appease His own anger at His own innocent and perfect creation who ate of the tree of knowledge that He planted next to them...out of all the planets in the vast galaxy.

Sorry, sometimes that Mysterious Plan (tm) is just too goofy for words.

Ronin

I'm absolutely convinced of it.

Yes, you can...and it has been done by many on this very board.

Rhea

I have many friends who are good in spite of their religion. They disobey it.

I have some friends who are good due to the parts they pick out of their religion. But they cannot accept the bible as inerrant. There are simply parts of it that they cannot stomach or explain. So they ignore those parts (or are kept ignorant)

But I don't know a single person who follows the bible as inerrant and seeks to embrace it fully and practice it completely who is Good. Maybe someday I'll meet one, but I don't think the bible allows it. It is against the rules. Plain and simple.


You are told that we are WICKED. Willfully wicked. You are told to get out of here if we don't accept your gospel (for we may rip it to shreds). You are further told that of course we will persecute you.

If you give us the benefit of the doubt, allow us to be considered "good" and stay here and talk to us, then you are being "unchristian"

(shrug) Your call, I suppose. Whether you want to be tolerant or Christian.

TomboyMom

You need to understand that from my point of view, Christianity is not a good thing, it is a BAD THING. From my point of view, it is wrong, oppressive, misguided (at best), destructive, dangerous and something that I do not want anywhere near me. Nevertheless, you don't see me picketing churches or otherwise bothering Christians--I leave them alone and all I ask of them is that they leave me alone, which they do not do. So when they approach me with their intellectual virus, I strongly ask them to get away.

Maybe an analogy that would work for you would be if someone approached you and asked you if you would like to learn about Satan today--how would you feel/respond? How about if a lot of people did that to you on a regular basis? If Satanists were in the majority? If Satanic symbols appeared in public spaces? If Satanists claimed that Christians were evil and should not hold office or teach children? How would you respond next time a Satanist offered to witness to you?

I was born a Jew and live as an atheist. Historically, what a christian is to me is "someone who wants to kill or oppress me." That is in fact the historical record. So when someone approaches me to offer to infect me with that disease, it frightens and offends me. Possibly this particular Christian does not intend to behead/incarcerate/banish/burn me if I do not accept his witness--and maybe he does. I would prefer not to have to find out.

Finally, it is the height of arrogance and rudeness to assume without invitation that you have some superior information to share with others. Good manners require waiting to be asked before inflicting your opinions on others. It makes no difference if you believe that your intent is to "help". It's obnoxious. Please stop. Thank you.

Rene, who prefers to be left in peace

Muffinstuffer

Well, that's them. Not me.

Rhea

Chuckle. It wasn't them, either. Until it was.

Muffinstuffer

Excuse me. I don't recall bothering you, unless my very presence here bothers you. If this is the case, then you can put me on your ignore list, if that feature is supported here.

I'd tell them - just like I told my friend Mike who IS a Satanist - that I am a Christian, and I prefer not to hear about it.

Well, to be honest, I don't know, but I can tell you one thing. I went around to 3 different people today, all of whom are atheists, and I asked them all when the last time was that they were witnessed to. Two said they couldn't remember, and the third said "A few months ago." I believe I could handle that just fine. Heck, as it is, I get witnessed to about that much.

It wouldn't bother me one bit because symbols by themselves don't bother me too much. My buddy has one on his arm and I see it every day and I deal with it just fine.

Where is it a requirement (other than private schools and institutioins) that you HAVE to be a Christian to hold office or teach?

I sincerely hope you are not implying that by virtue of the fact that I'm a Christian, one of my possible intentions is to behead/incarcerate/banish/burn Jews. Unbelievable.

Sigh. I can not count the number of times that on this VERY SITE I have said that I almost ALWAYS WAIT for someone to ASK ME FIRST before I tell them what I believe.

I don't remember trying to 'help' you or anyone else on this board. If my very PRESENCE here is noxious to everyone around, then the least they could do is tell me to my face that they wish I would just leave and go away. If that DOES happen, I will most CERTAINLY leave.

Again, I suggest the ignore list, since my presence is so revolting.