I'm impressed. A controlled discussion about religion. Good work Spacedinvadr. However, whatever points I had were already made here, or expressed in the other thread.
I just got my feathers singed in a near flamewar between myself, and the tagteam of Spacedinvadr and KingOfHerpies. Thought I fought as well as I could, and even surprised myself with a few good points, it was too much. I knew that no matter how convincing I could be, or no matter how good my points were, I would not be believed nor supported.
I had to bow out before my temper and my pride got me zotted. It is a hard thing to do for me, but do I must. I will stand down, and no longer participate in the religious argument threads. For that, i'd need four years in a Bible College so that I can run circles around these atheists and agnostics, but I lack that education and the funds to do so. And work more college just so that I can argue back effectively? Is it worthwhile for the sake of my pride?
My religion teaches us that pride is a sin. It can be very dangerous. Look at my example, and that's all the proof you need, more than enough to solidify the fact that pride is a sin! That's more than you'll get from trying to prove that an omnipotent being exists.
So despite wanting satisfaction, I hold back and let them debate.
But it still leaves me with disatisfaction. I'm still peeved that people target me as an extremist, or as some religious nut, or as some scared, simpering lackwit who need religion as a crutch in order to figure out everything that went wrong. This has happened before. All I had to do was say 'I'm a Christian'. I didn't even try to convert anyone, just told them where I stand. And what do I get? I get attacked, personally, being blamed for every little fault Christianity has caused.
Fact is, religion is faulty. It has a bad reputation because of all the horrors that happened in the past. But I ask myself, 'Why do I have to pay for this reputation for things that I personally condemn and also go against said religious beliefs (we have our fair share of hypocrites)?'
Have people forgotten the good things that religion has brought? The preachings of peace? Love? What about acts that brings out the best of these religions? I know for a fact that without Christianity, there would be no St. John's Ambulance, no YMCA, no Red Cross and no Salvation Army. When they argue about witch burnings, and the dark ages, do they so easily forget these acts of compassion done on a grand scale?
As the saying goes, it takes thirty acts of kindness to make up for one bad deed.
I swear, its like every time I stand up for my beliefs, I'm buffeted down, accused of things that aren't my fault, called things I know i'm not, and painted with a big bullseye. I'm a Christian. Because of that, i'm a target. Especially on SG, where liberal thinking seems to have no room for Christianity.
Sad part is, I cannot really be part of a Christian church. I'm too liberal for that! I'm torn between worlds!
Sometimes I wonder why I bother... and know exactly why my faith is not as strong as it used to be. I just can't take these accusations further. I feel like I have to, I want to, fight back. But I don't have the weapons to do it! And if I did, it would give though doubters exactly what they want... and excuse to peck me to pieces.
(Go here)
I'm going to Saskatchewan for awhile, starting Saturday afternoon. Be back on Wednesday. Don't call me. Whatever it is, I can't do it.
I just got my feathers singed in a near flamewar between myself, and the tagteam of Spacedinvadr and KingOfHerpies. Thought I fought as well as I could, and even surprised myself with a few good points, it was too much. I knew that no matter how convincing I could be, or no matter how good my points were, I would not be believed nor supported.
I had to bow out before my temper and my pride got me zotted. It is a hard thing to do for me, but do I must. I will stand down, and no longer participate in the religious argument threads. For that, i'd need four years in a Bible College so that I can run circles around these atheists and agnostics, but I lack that education and the funds to do so. And work more college just so that I can argue back effectively? Is it worthwhile for the sake of my pride?
My religion teaches us that pride is a sin. It can be very dangerous. Look at my example, and that's all the proof you need, more than enough to solidify the fact that pride is a sin! That's more than you'll get from trying to prove that an omnipotent being exists.
So despite wanting satisfaction, I hold back and let them debate.
But it still leaves me with disatisfaction. I'm still peeved that people target me as an extremist, or as some religious nut, or as some scared, simpering lackwit who need religion as a crutch in order to figure out everything that went wrong. This has happened before. All I had to do was say 'I'm a Christian'. I didn't even try to convert anyone, just told them where I stand. And what do I get? I get attacked, personally, being blamed for every little fault Christianity has caused.
Fact is, religion is faulty. It has a bad reputation because of all the horrors that happened in the past. But I ask myself, 'Why do I have to pay for this reputation for things that I personally condemn and also go against said religious beliefs (we have our fair share of hypocrites)?'
Have people forgotten the good things that religion has brought? The preachings of peace? Love? What about acts that brings out the best of these religions? I know for a fact that without Christianity, there would be no St. John's Ambulance, no YMCA, no Red Cross and no Salvation Army. When they argue about witch burnings, and the dark ages, do they so easily forget these acts of compassion done on a grand scale?
As the saying goes, it takes thirty acts of kindness to make up for one bad deed.
I swear, its like every time I stand up for my beliefs, I'm buffeted down, accused of things that aren't my fault, called things I know i'm not, and painted with a big bullseye. I'm a Christian. Because of that, i'm a target. Especially on SG, where liberal thinking seems to have no room for Christianity.
Sad part is, I cannot really be part of a Christian church. I'm too liberal for that! I'm torn between worlds!
Sometimes I wonder why I bother... and know exactly why my faith is not as strong as it used to be. I just can't take these accusations further. I feel like I have to, I want to, fight back. But I don't have the weapons to do it! And if I did, it would give though doubters exactly what they want... and excuse to peck me to pieces.
(Go here)
I'm going to Saskatchewan for awhile, starting Saturday afternoon. Be back on Wednesday. Don't call me. Whatever it is, I can't do it.
VIEW 4 of 4 COMMENTS
and as to not being able to be part of a Christian church, im sure if you looked around youd find one, even if its members dont subscribe to you beliefs exactly you should be able to find an open community that is willing to accept you as you are, there may be a load of hideous bible bashing politico Christians out there, but there are some good ones too, just like in any other group.
i go along to a church sometimes, and they are always up for a discussion, religion related or otherwise. they know i'm not a christian, but that's ok.
*blink*