Can I ask a simple question..............?

Question

First of all, an example.
Yesterday, I was playing Scrabble on-line. (Yes, my workday gets boring:) I logged in, and the first thing that came up in the chat was this. Direct quote:
"GAYS NEED TO BE SHOT IN THE BACK"
y?
"cuz God will destroy them all. it says so in the bible."
OK. Just so you know where I'm coming from, I am a Christian. I also believe that homosexuality is not the way we were intended to function. And now that we have an example, on to my question...
Why do Christians feel that they need to yell at the top of their lungs about how the entire world is going to hell? Does that accomplish anything? Do you think that someone's going to respond positively to that?? You need some sort of reason to back yourself up, other than text they don't believe.
And the same goes for others. I've noticed many atheists respond to Christian questions with statements such as
"its all lies"
"ur disillusioned"
Why can't we have honest yet open discussion between different sets of beliefs??

Note that I'm not saying people can't be gay. It's just my personal belief that it is improper. Don't get hung up on that...

Answer 1

I understand your thoughts, but question your premise. I see no reason to believe that the person who made that hateful comment is a Christian. In fact the word of God says "If a person cannot love His brother whom He has seen, how can He say he loves God whom he has not seen."
In regard to your question. I agree with you that reasonable dialogue is lacking and there is probably a number of reasons for that. I think fear probably tops the list.

Answer 2

I'm with you on this one. The main problem, I guess, is all the horrible things that have been done in the name of Christianity, everything from comments like the one you mentioned to massacres. Many of these people actually believe they are Christians! That is mind boggling. They obviously do not follow the teaching of Jesus Christ. Jesus taught us to respond with love and compassion. The only time we ever see Jesus angry in the Bible is when people were using God's temple as a marketplace instead of a place of worship. To every sinner and every person who was ill, we see only compassion and love from Jesus.

To answer your last question, religion (or having no religion) is a very personal issue and most people (religious, atheist, or whatever) have a very difficult time separating their emotions from the subject. That's what makes open discussion so difficult. It seems like every forum going can start out with the highest standards but within just a few posts it devolves into name calling and insults.

Answer 3

I agree, we need to be able to communicate with each other and not spread hate. I am a christian. I do not hate gays. I feel like I don't have the wisdom to decide who goes to hell and who doesn't. Each person stands before our creator and it is between that person and the creator. I spent most of my life as an atheist without actually using that word. For the last few years I am a devote christian because I had a religious experience. I have confessed my sins and I feel I have been forgiven. How can I judge someone else? I have no answers for what being gay is all about. I have had people who were gay come to my house because they were friends of my children and they got a hug just like everyone else. I have to wonder, " What would Jesus do?" I never remember reading about him stabbing someone in the back. He wants us to focus on our own life and let him deal with everyone else. Peace.

Answer 4

Well it does not say so in the bible that God will destroy the Gay it do say in the old testment the Jews should stone the men and put the women away that do it but in the New Testment it just say do not do it ,beside that I do not think Men and Men and Women and Women should have sex together it is a sin again nature but the fact is God never say he was going to put them in hell who know where the soul goes but God ,Jesus only give us a picture of hell dealing with a Rich man and a Poor man

Answer 5

Most religions also teach "the fear of God".... Can you really love something you fear? I hate the Dogma of religion, that's why I consider myself spiritual instead.

Sadly, a lot of people are misinformed and/or brainwashed to believe certain things. It was called "controlling the masses".

I believe my heart & soul .... which tells me that God is Love. I don't want/need anyone to tell me what's right or truth. I also don't judge others, because I think it's an individual, personal journey.

Personally, I believe there is nothing wrong with a healthy loving relationship between two people, no matter their sex.
I have a couple of friends that are in a monogamous & loving relationship. They are good parents, spiritual, giving humanitarians that contribute to society. They aren't any less important to the world or God, in my opinion. The meaning of gay is happy...and they truly are!

p.s. We can discuss beliefs anytime hun! : )

Prejudice=Fear=Hate

Answer 6

I think your right, I myself am a Christian. I disagree that people should be gay and believe that it's wrong, but I don't say that they need to be shot. I think if a Christian shows their faith through actions instead of automatically condemning the earth they'd have a better chance at getting through to someone, because that person would see something different in them. For example would you respond better to someone doing something for you, without wanting something out of it and then when they're done maybe saying God Bless or by someone yelling in your face like a marine drill sergeant?

Answer 7

I am, also, a Christian and I agree with you. This kind of hate is not representative of Christian beliefs or teachings. I don't know where these people come from, but I, too, wish that they would stop calling themselves Christians. We are to show others a better way of life through Christ, and hate isn't a better way of life.The bible says that we are to 'love the sinner yet hate the sin'. How can anyone hate and want to hurt someone they love?
We are not supposed to judge others, that is God's job, yet, we have these hate-filled fanatics screaming all these evil things at people. No, I don't believe anyone is going to respond positively to that. I am a Christian and I don't respond positively to that. No one likes to be hated and treated like dirt.
These hate-filled people seem to forget that we are all sinners! Christians are just forgiven! God is always there to cleanse us if we want Him to. If we repent of our sins and ask forgiveness, He does forgive. But these people, that hate, do not ask for forgiveness because they think they are right and they have no intention of changing.

Answer 8

well we all just live our own lives, each life is beautiful and each person to themself, but sometimes people just put themselves out there in the open to criticize others thinking they are not doing something wrong, maybe they are bored and have nothing to do so they latch out on others, or maybe they are so into their beliefs that anyone that is DIFFERENT makes them feel uncomfortable.

This world is filled with diversity, human man was made to adapt and survive. Its not worth fighting, thats a waste of time. The same arguements and comments about eachother in every category that happen everyday doesn't change anything....and nothing will so we just have to accept the world as it is and not take it for granted.

Answer 9

I just think we all need to believe what we want to believe in and leave others alone. I was a Bible "thumper" in high school and my old classmates still make fun of me for it. I think each person should believe in some higher power because a lot of times we need someone other than ourselves and our parents to whom to answer! I respect someone who lives making the world a better place in which to live by showing kindness, compassion, and responsiblity for self, others, and environment more than I respect someone "preaching" to me but not walking the walk! Let others know you are special by how you treat others rather than which god you believe in. If you are living that way, people will want you to tell them how/why you do it and then you have an opportunity to share your beliefs! Good luck~

Answer 10

"He who lives by the sword, dies by the sword". Some Christians can be very selective about the versus that they choose to follow. I just think that those of us who believe in Jesus' message of love need to be more vocal and let people know what the true message is, or at least, offer a serious counterpoint. Being Christians ourselves, we may be heard over what folks from other religions (or atheists) may be saying.

Answer 11

More people have been alienated from God by so-called Christians' hate. Why can't we just tolerate one another and not feel we must attack others who are different? A very good question. I think if a person feels truly secure in their beliefs they have no need to attack others.