Yellum Notnef

Please be aware that these polls are anonymous. Nobody is going to drag you outside and beat you senseless iif they disagree with your selection so please vote.

I`m very curious to see what the consensus is on this.

Thieving Magpie

This is always an interesting topic because there can, at times, be a huge gap in between what an organized Church believes, and what individual Christians believe.

I personally believe Christianity is intended to be a sort of 'top-down' religion, in the fact that God is supposedly dictating the rules to the people, rather than vice versa. So it would make sense that the more conservative a Christian is, the more Christian they are.

I understand conservative (some may even say fundamentalist) Christianity far more than liberal Christianity and I will support them far more than the latter as well. I do not agree with them necessarily, but they do not seem as hypocritical.

stretch

I'd vote ... but there's no category that I'd be able to choose above the other ...

I'd respect both types in that they are humans, and people (generally) deserve respect.

I'd probably disagree with both types. Well, actually, I'd definitely disagree with both types.

Believing that the Bible is the word of God is not the same that believing that it is all to be taken literally or that it is historically accurate. Which does not mean that (what I believe to be) the truths in it are changing over time.

Sabine Grant

I wish you had not projected in your second category your personal perception of what makes a christian a non conservative christian. It should be worded more objectively IMO. I am not a conservative or conventional christian and for for none of the reasons you have brought up.

I do not think that the authenticity of the claim to be a christian is based on their literacy of the Bible and legalistic application of it nor do I believe that a liberal christian is liberal because of the reasons you quoted. That claim IMO is supported by the personal testimony of the christian thru their attitudes and how they deal with the rest of mankind.
As a christian myself my favourite type is the type who focuses on modifying his own attitudes to contribute to mankind in a productive way. The non preachy but who inspires me because they set an example thru their life on how to treat decently other individuals.
So I replied here as you did not allow room for that type.

Yellum Notnef

This poll has nothing to do with respecting people as people. It`s about which Christian POSITION unbelievers find more respectable. It`s not meant as a personal attack on the people themselves.

I knew Christians would have a problem with the two choices I presented and not want to be lumped into either category,but thats tough peanuts. There really are only two types of Christians (liberal & conservative) and theres really isn`t any weasel room on this one.

pz

Well, that makes my answer easy: none of the above. I find all christian bogosities undeserving of any respect.

I'd also say the same of islamic, buddhist, pagan, etc. beliefs.

Sabine Grant

There may be two types but your definition is uncorrect. You cannot expect people to abide to your definition only. That you would have the honesty in your post to present that definition as your personal perception based on your experience is one thing. But that you pertain to define an entire group of individuals and know their motivation is IMO unreasonable. So like it or not, I added one more perception in my previous post.
That is my experience and personal preference. I find that type of christians more respectable than the restricted definitions you gave.

Luiseach

I hope this doesn't sound like a platitude, but a lot of my friends are one kind of a believer or another. Christians amongst them. I don't mind what people believe in (whether it's Jehovah or the Great Pumpkin), and I respect people instinctively, but what I find disturbing is that the reverse is not always true...that is, many (but not all) believers find a lack of belief an occasion to doubt the moral standards, quality of life, etc. of non-believers. In other words, many believers don't respect non-believers.

A good friend of mine - a devout Roman Catholic - didn't feel this way. We would have loads of conversations and discussions (and not a few debates) about religion, but our friendship was never in jeopardy because of the divergences in our world-views. Once when I asked him if he thought that I was going to Hell for being an atheist, he just smiled wryly, took a drag of his cigarette, leaned in and said: No...you'll change your mind at the right moment, you know, realise the truth and all that, God'll forgive you and everything'll be just fine and dandy.

(Okay, I'll admit, he's an eccentric devout Roman Catholic with a scathing sense of humour about himself and his approach to religion in particular)

My reply was to say well if that's how it's going to be, then I don't have to give up my atheism until the 'end'...

He agreed, and ordered another lager.

Go figure!

lol... :-D

P.S. I think a sense of humour is incredibly important ... for believers and non-believers alike. Makes for productive communication... :-)

Luiseach

By the way, I didn't vote either way, because I respect people inasmuch as they respect themselves, others and me - regardless of belief/non-belief.

Just to be clear. :-)

Sabine Grant

That is a fine friend you have Luiseach! I agree with your comments.