A Christian just typed this in an answer to another question. "We all sin, but the only difference, is that when we sin, we are supposed to take responsibility for our actions and apologize to those we've hurt. "
So...um, what do we nonbelievers DO after we've hurt someone? I've always taken responsibility for my actions and apologized, but apparently that's what sets Christians apart from others.
So what do you do? I really missed the boat on this one!
2007-06-12 05:08:33 · 54 answers · asked by Laptop Jesus 3.9 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yes, it was Joseph's question and he gets respect for coming on to answer mine and not be snarky about it.
*applause!*
2007-06-12 05:26:02 · update #1
Christians make a mistake and repent.... they look to the sky and say "my bad".
When non-christians make a mistake, they step up and take responsibility for it.
2007-06-12 05:12:30 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 9⤊ 2⤋
Oddly enough, I take responsibility for my actions and apologize to those I've hurt. And I learn from the situation and try not to do it again. Then again, my religious beliefs include the idea of not hurting anyone in the first place.
And I accept that my actions will have repercussions that I need to face and deal with. What I send out, for good or for ill, will come back to me.
I don't have someone to go to and say "I'm really really really reeeeeeeeeaaaaaaallllllllly sorry!" and they say "It's okay, you're forgiven, all better now." *ping!*
I have to live with the consequences of my actions. There is no "get out of punishment free" card.
2007-06-12 05:23:07 · answer #2 · answered by Nandina (Bunny Slipper Goddess) 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Decency does not belong to any one particular belief system. I don't necessarily consider hurting someone as having done a wrong as long as it wasn't intentional, rather I call it a mistake. I go out of my way to create and nurture good relationships with all who will allow it. When I do hurt someone, it's usually due to a misunderstanding or a wrong assumption. In that case, I muster up the courage and set it straight with them by apologizing, making restitution, whatever is appropriate, and prepare myself for any reaction they might give. Since I operate from a bring peace and knowledge to the world orientation it makes for many great relationships with people from diverse walks of life. Being proactive about being a true friend to others and all that implies prevents problems and builds cooperation, unity, and community. I recommend it highly. It's energizing.
2007-06-12 05:21:39 · answer #3 · answered by jaicee 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not really. If we do wrong, we try to correct what we have done, appologize and not do it again. The beliefs of a Wicca is "HARM NONE" That means that you should not set about deliberately harming another through word or action. If we do harm someone, we do take responsibility for what we have done and try to correct that wrong. So, in a way, many of our beliefs are the same as christians. We also believe that our god/ess is many facited (like the trinity in christian religions). We are all trying to reunite with the creator, just in a different manner. We don't read our religion, we live it!
2007-06-12 05:20:11 · answer #4 · answered by Rev. Kaldea 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Um the same thing. Take responsibility for our actions. only difference between non believers is if we involve another person during the process then we apologize to them and ask forgiveness fromt hem. we dont need a sky fairy's forgiveness. we are perfectly happy and capable of seeking forgiveness from ourselves and a real person.
in fact i would say non believes have more responsibility to our actions than those of the christian beliefs for the obvious reasons. when things go wrong we rely on ourselves and realize that we put ourselves into that position. in a sense we are mentally stronger because we arent "asking help" from something that doesnt exist in reality.
2007-06-12 05:13:44 · answer #5 · answered by Sheriff of R&S 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
He gave a poor answer. I have no doubt in my mind that after an atheist hurts someone that they too will take responsibility for their actions and apologize, however they need to repent as well, and they do not do this. Also hurting someone is not the only sin, so you may feel sorry if you hurt someone's feeling but don't care if you say "GD" or something, you don't repent and that offends God.
2007-06-12 05:15:29 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Gee, I guess that I ........"take responsibility for our actions and apologize to those we've hurt". If I have hurt someone I evaluate what I did so that I will try and avoid it in the future and thell the person I hurt that I am sorry. That is as long as it wasn't a hurt cause by self defence.
2007-06-12 05:19:27 · answer #7 · answered by Matt - 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You want to know what the only difference is in sinning when it comes to us???? We sin... but the only difference is that when we sin we are forgiven... Rather than when YOU sin you don't ask for forgiveness... to the one person you've Hurt... and that's God... You don't ask for forgiveness to God... so you go on.. .carrying all these burdens and all these sins... you can apologize to whom ever you please but if you don't apologize to God.. nothing else matters.... that's the difference. I am sorry but before i became a christian.. I did not apologize to no one... so you might think you are better than us but in reality we are all the same... even us Christians....
**Oh and to the girl Pinhead_Hey... I dont think I'm better than you... why would you think that??? I'm just as filthy and horrible just as you are... Why would you think Christians believe themselves to be better...???? Get that Striaght people...***
2007-06-12 07:03:47 · answer #8 · answered by leenystar2003 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I also apologize to the person I have wronged. No religion owns the marketplace on such actions, regardless of what people may think. I will make mistakes. There is no way to avoid that completely. All we can do is to try to treat others as best we know how and learn from our mistakes.
2007-06-12 05:23:49 · answer #9 · answered by seattlefan74 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They pray! Oh, wait, that's what Christians do.....
What do I do?
Well, I usually apologize if it's a small thing. If I missed a group activity with friends and they call asking where I am, I apologize and offer to take them out for pizza or burgers or something.
If I've yelled at someone and later see that it was unduly harsh, I explain that I feel I was out of line and apologize.
If I've backed into someone's car (which I have), I pay for the repair. If I lose something I've borrowed, I replace it. If I say something unintentionally hurtful and find out that someone has been offended, I apologize.
2007-06-12 05:11:29 · answer #10 · answered by ZER0 C00L ••AM••VT•• 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Thanks for pointing that out. I believe that was my response. I was going somewhere with it, but got distracted for a moment, and forgot to finish the thought.
After taking responsibility for our actions and apologizing to those we've hurt, as Christians, we are told that we are to learn from our mistakes and strive never to make them again.
For example: If I yelled, "S**T!" in front of a child, I am to apologize to the kid and tell him that I'll never say that again, then try to use it as a lesson on what he's not supposed to do. "That's a bad word, and we don't use bad words." Then I'm to use that lesson and try to never do it again.
I don't know about you, but I'm not perfect, I just strive to be. I fail every day, and I learn from my failures.
The spiritual component is that I have not only failed myself, but I've failed to live up the example of Christ, who never cursed, never turned away a person in need, and never lifted a hand against the innocent.
2007-06-12 05:20:04 · answer #11 · answered by josephwiess 3 · 5⤊ 0⤋