Starboy

Sabine, I do not know you well enough to say that you hate anybody let alone Jews. I do however know you and many other Christians well enough to know that you and they have a desire, if not a stated goal, to make the entire world Christian. My point is that such a desire or goal is not tolerant. Accepting people as they are, atheist, Muslim, Jew or whatever with no desire to preach or proselytize is tolerant and that trying to impose your views by way of the government or open proselytizing door to door, or wherever is not tolerant and is not consistent with the “loving” point of view so espoused by many Christians. I have no idea what it means to be a humanist, but I am all for live and let live, and it has been my experience that Christians don’t know how to do that.

Starboy

Sabine Grant

I am interested in knowing more about this tribe which extends on such a vast territory.. do you have a web site which gives more info on that?

Magus55

You're right, Christianity is intolerant, because Jesus said it was the only way to God. There is no other way. It values other people, but since Jesus claimed that its the only way to God, other "faiths"/beliefs, won't restore the relationship with God. Religion is mans way of reaching God, Christianity is God's way of reaching man. Christian means in or of Christ, part of his body ( figuratively speaking).

Starboy

From what I remember the tribe itself is only in a small area, however since they are Africans it is possible if not likely that some of them may have been captured as slaves, and then made it to America as part of the slave population. If that did indeed happen then there would be African American Jewish people that could claim decent to the ancient Jews. The work was done by Bryan Sykes, an Oxford Geneticist. He didn't make any claims about African American Jews, that part was speculation on my part.

Lost tribes of Israel

How DNA Breakthroughs Are Revolutionizing Roots Research

You might also find this link interesting:

Daughters of Eve

Starboy

Starboy

Magus55, what you think about the claims of Jesus is your business and unless someone asks, keep it to yourself. Any other behavior is not tolerant and will only lead to trouble, the kind of trouble that litters the history of Christianity. When the world rids itself of such intolerant religions that will be the day we are one step closer to real peace and love on earth.

Starboy

Sabine Grant

hello again...I do not believe in imposing any faith or lack of on anyone. I have never " gone door to door " to spout scriptures etc.. I go door to door as a Home Health Aide as part of my job and I do separate my job from any incline to share my faith. I support separation of Church and State. If anyone in my social circle were to ask me the reasons for any of my actions that may be positive to them, then do I attribute them to my faith. We are not all raving and preaching maniacs Starboy. As my agnostic hubby says " not all christians are neurotic".
We cannot claim to " know" an entire group of people because by doing so we dismiss each person's particular individuality. Attitudes within a group a vary from one person to the other.
See I assumed that as an atheist you promote humanism. My error based on your reply.
So can we agree that generalizations such as the ones Opera Nut made and you yourself made by claiming that I in fact desire to impose my faith by the means you have stated are not constructive and do not necessarly represent each person's individuality? do not they also feed a negative image of people without giving each person an opportunity to present his or her thoughts?

I realize that some christians have taken upon themselves to convert by any means people of different faiths or no faith at all. It has never been my burden really. I take quite a bit of grief from some of my co christians for not being " agressive". I find it for myself more constructive to provide for needs and as a christian I believe that The Spirit of God is the one who draws human beings to Him. Of course because faith has been so beneficial to me I wish to be able to project that benefit on others. But in terms of rejecting and condemning anyone because they happen to be different from me, you are barking at the wrong tree.
I look at the dimension of goodness any human being I encounter is willing to dispense. I trust that God has greater awareness than I do as to the state of mind anyone has.

Sabine Grant

Thanks for the links. I am a bit concerned about how the research does promote a genetical test for $ 180 to identify the matriarchal gene. Outside of the commercial argument, considering how dispersed hebrews have been in various continents, it makes sense that hebrew genes could be found in many ethnic groups.
I will dare a biblical paralell (just for the fun of it) as Ishmael could never be the transmittor of the seed of Abraham. The mother had to be Sarai, a hebrew. Abraham's genetical profile alone was not sufficient. Of course it is my sole interpretation.

Starboy

Sabine, this is the understatement of the millenia. Christians impose their faith on others to the tune of 18 billion dollars per year! At an estimated cost of $359,000 per new baptism!

Status of Global Mission, 2003, in context of 20th and 21st centuries

How tolerant is that? There may be a few sane Christians just as there were a few sane Nazis, but it isn't the tolerant well adjusted Chrisitians that atheists have to worry about now is it?

Starboy

Sabine Grant

I am not sure comparing nazis to christians is such a good idea. Again I do not compare my faith to ideologies anchored in Mein Kampf or inspired by Nietzsche.
It is possible some christians worry about the same type of christians you happen to worry about as an atheist.
As for the $359,000 per new baptism, my fellow african christian who fled from Uganda and stowed away on a cargo ship to Naples, Italy, was baptized in the waters of the Med in Pinetamare, did not cost anyone a penny or a lira! Again watch for generalizations. I guess if you have roamed around the world, you will find more exceptions to any generalizations. It sort of smoothes sharp angles.
Now since you seem to uphold tolerance as a major value, Starboy how much tolerance do you demonstrate to christians? Share with me what you do in your life which demonstrates your attitudes with your christian friends. For example...do you have christian friends? if they invite you to a christian celebration would you go because you value them as people? do you believe that an atheist or agnostic can have a healthy marriage with a christian?
It is what we do with people and how we treat them which shows tolerance. Not so much any claims.

Starboy

I am not comparing Christians to Nazis. I am pointing out that a few tolerant Christians do not make Christianity a tolerant religion.

The $359,000 figure is an average cost, some cost nothing and some cost more. Besides, these are not atheist figures but are reported by a Christian organization.

Sabine, until you walk in atheist’s shoes you will not know what you are talking about. I challenge you to proclaim to all your Christian friends, family and acquaintances that you are an atheist and see for yourself just how tolerant Christians can be (or not be). I have been an atheist all my life and can tell stories about so called "loving" Christians. I have had Christian friends all throughout my life and all of them to a person have initially tried to convert me. None have been able to just accept me the way I am without a struggle, and in some cases a considerable struggle. Because of our society I must take religious people I meet at face value and tolerate their beliefs. All I ask is that the religious do the same and keep it to themselves. I can't help but think that there would be a lot more love and peace to go around in the world if Christians would do this one thing.

Starboy