My life has been mostly in the Christian community since I have become a Christian. I guess I've just been a bit shocked. God bless!!
2007-07-20 08:27:49 · 23 answers · asked by BERT 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'm not catagorizing every opposing thoughts from mine as "evil". I'm referring to blatant hostility and blasphemy of Christ.Before I was a Christian I never dreamed of saying some of the things I've heard on here. I have atheists in my family and none have the kind of hostility toward religion that is on here. You can insult my intelligence all you want (my skin is thick enough to take it) but there seems to be a move of extreme anti Christianity to me, that I've not seen in my lifetime.
2007-07-20 09:35:31 · update #1
I sure hope this doesn't represent the real world.
2007-07-20 10:47:13 · update #2
Welcome and congratulations, the shell shock should wear off soon.
Every Christian should come visit this board. It exposes us to different ideas and helps us develop both a thick skin and s sense of humor. And I have found that since I started bandying words with atheists and others that my faith has become stronger and more well educated.
Let me offer you some advice:
1. Take it all with the amount of salt of your choice (perhaps another reason Jesus called on Christians to be the salt of the world?)
2. Develop a thick hide. There are many people here who are out to deliberately flame. You don't have to rise to the bait
3. Again, develop a sense of humor. Jesus told jokes, you can too.
4. Don't argue with a pig, you get dirty and the pig likes it
5. Keep an open mind, but not so open your brains fall out.
And finally
Have some fun
2007-07-20 08:43:33 · answer #1 · answered by LX V 6 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Maybe spending your life mostly in a christian community has somewhat detached you from reality. One of the biggest flaws with religion is to categorize any opposing thought as evil. By doing so, you are manipulated into strictly following the doctrine presented to you, not allowing you the freedom to think for yourself. In essence, you become one of the braindead followers.
Some of the most impressive christians I've talked with will politely disagree with other views, but at least they respect the rights of others to believe that way. I suggest seeking out such tolerant christians to be your role models.
edit - there are plenty of trolls running around too, don't let them convince you that such is the way of the world. It's strictly an online thing. A bastard child of anonymity and boredom. :)
2007-07-20 15:45:10 · answer #2 · answered by Armless Joe, Bipedal Foe 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Accusation like this are usually an indication of insufficient intellectual ammunition. Your community should support you and nurture you, but you can't stay in the nest forever. Christianity is capable of defending itself in the marketplace of ideas, but it will do a poor job if it can't communicate because it doesn't understand the other languages.
Your "adversaries" are not insane. Their worldview makes practical sense to them. If you can't understand it, they'll never understand you. And understanding is a two-way street. You must reveal yourself to them as well, not by preaching, explaining and defending, but by the way you treat them, even the way you think about them. Jesus comanded Christians: "Love your enemies. Do good to those who would hurt you." Not "what is good FOR them", just "good". Those who seek enemies will find them. Those who treat strangers as friends and allies will find them as well.
There is a risk and a fear in this. The more you understand an alien point of view, the more likely you are to appreciate it and adopt it. The weak fear they will be turned away from their faith. The strong see commonalities to build on and differences to respectfully reject. When Paul went to the areopagus in Athens, he didn't condemn the Greek pantheon, he pointed out an obscure shrine marked, "to an unknown god". He found a tiny commonality to build on. He respected the Greeks' sincere search for truth.
Separate the beliefs from the believer and see a fellow human being. Discuss beliefs objectively, agreeing when possible, disagreeing when necessary, not with an "I'm right, you're wrong," attitude. Otherwise, no communication will occur.
Of course, you will have to beef up your own faith through test and exercise. Probe the truths you believe. Don't take them for granted. Ask "why" of each one. If the answers can't convince an unbeliever, why is it good enough for you? More risk, yes, but a puny argument will get clobbered in that marketplace of ideas. Seek help if you need it, then test the help, just to be sure. You may find new, deeper aspects of your faith that will help it become more real even for you.
And I mentioned exercise too. Look at your life. Are you living your faith? I don't mean the evangelizing, that just looks like "opinion" to outsiders. I mean the way you live. Does your life witness to the effectiveness of the Gospel? Does it bring relief to the weary and the suffering? Does it challenge the rich and influential to do the same? Does it humbly, consistently serve the needs of the least members of society? If not, how can you prove it matters at all?
Life in the Christian community can be very comfortable, but it should also be used to prepare mind, heart and spirit for the rigors of the outside world. "Foxes have holes and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." Why should YOU get a better deal?
2007-07-20 16:06:20 · answer #3 · answered by skepsis 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Evil is everywhere,to varying degrees. I reject your literalist metaphor of "the voice of the serpent' but yes there can be very cruel and unjust behavior on R&S. But you find that anywhere in life. If you are disparaging atheists,I will concede that many of their postings are mere crude and disrespectful attacks,nothing more. But many atheists are also intelligent people and they are members of a society in which religion plays a very important role in culture,so they have an interest in matters pertaining to that role and are welcome to participate. I think your terminology is quite melodramatic,and anyway stating that evil things can occur here - well,just last night some vile entity posted a clone of an atheist's avatar which has him offering his late son for sex. Try that for evil. But this was an atheist being victimized. Yes,I thought it was evil - and promptly posted a corrective message in question format,which hopefully alerted most of us as to what was taking place. It was horrible. So when you talk voice-of-the-serpent I hope you are not referring to the non-religious or putting yourself on a mountain. This man was cruely victimized and the malefactor was obviously someone who purports to be a Christian. I'm a Catholic; personally I believe all humans are equal in the eyes of God. We certainly saw some evil last night,and I don't think it was coming from an athiest.
2007-07-20 15:40:59 · answer #4 · answered by Galahad 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
The serpent is often represented as a keeper of secrets and lore, knowledge in most cultures, so what you probably heard was just some intelligent person speaking..course you could only rightfully see what they've typed.. but nevertheless maybe you've never heard someone speaking intelligently, as you said you've been in mostly a Christian community its not that surprising.
2007-07-20 15:34:23 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 3⤋
The serpent says and does more than we give him credit for. He really can be quite active. Dont be shocked, this is spiritual warfare. Hes fighting, even if we're not.
2007-07-20 15:52:56 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Shoot, I'm an atheist and I have to agree. And I'm not only talking about the non-christians.
2007-07-20 16:03:00 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
That what happens when you lead a sheltered life... Welcome to the real world, sis.
Best study, know why you believe what you do.... for it will be tested.
Peace.
2007-07-20 15:35:57 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Why are you demonizing those you do not understand? Such a charming Christian tactic. You deserve our pity. Truly you do.
2007-07-20 15:34:51 · answer #9 · answered by Shawn B 7 · 6⤊ 3⤋
Where's that snake!? I'll cut that fool up!
2007-07-20 15:30:45 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋