Godless Dave

That really bothers me too. I wrote a post about it last week in the big "liberal xians are as bad as fundies" thread in this forum. IMHO it displays an oversimplified understanding of Christianity. I agree that for many of the people who hold that view, it is because they came from a fundy background, and Christian fundamentalism is itself a gross oversimplification of Christianity.

I think it's possible to be a Christian without being a racist or bigot, because it's possible to be a Christian without taking the Bible as the literal word of God. But the fact is throughout the history of Christianity most Christians have been racists and bigots, and they have strong scriptural support for it. Christians like you, Wildernesse, may have been the norm in the US 30 or 40 years ago, but they are now the exception.

edited to qualify that I was talking about American Christians.

wildernesse

Biff, I'm talking about Americans here--we don't do no stinking history. I know that while history does inform great chunks of my perception of people, I don't necessarily see how it's taught me to be hateful towards people who are different from myself in religious belief or otherwise. Maybe because it hasn't?

And Rhea, I don't mean that you are setting up straw men, but that the threads that I meet up with the jerky atheists aren't likely to interest you because the straw men they're beating aren't dressed up like your position, but they are dressed up like my position. In other words, the straw men are dressed up like Christians, not atheists, so you probably aren't attracted to those threads. I see how there's confusion, but I can't think of a good way to sort it out! aaaah! I need lunch. Thanks for the kind words, they are much appreciated!

--tibac

fatherphil

Biff the unclean

Wildernesse although I am of Ireland I am (and proudly so) an American citizen. I became such while serving two tours of duty in 'Nam. I am well aware of American Christian habits of divorcing themselves from anything they don't like about their religions history.
If you belong to a church that doesn't spout hatred towards Atheists then it is truly a unique congregation and I'd like to known who they are so that I can send them a letter of appreciation.

fatherphil

biff, if you are serious about the letter thing, i'll pm you some addresses.

Biff the unclean

No, I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered as patriots. This is one nation under God.
-- George Bush Sr., to a reporter in 1988, while serving as vice-president and running for President

Biff the unclean

biff, if you are serious about the letter thing, i'll pm you some addresses
No fatherphil I was not serious about the letter thing. It was pure sarcasm.
:banghead:

fatherphil

ah, are you being sarcastic now?

Rhea

hee hee. I thought you were being serious, too!

GeoTheo

Are you implying that he speaks for all Christians?