One thing that I personally can not stand is when the title of "Christian" is grouped into one general catagory. For example, as I was reading posts in this forum I noticed some comments that stated that "Christians" belive in those people on T.V. and on the streets who smack you on the forehead and say "BE HEALED!", not true. I personally belive in Creationism, because to me it makes more sense, but does that automatically mean that I molest little children and damn people to hell on a daily basis? No, it does not. Yes I belive in Creationism, but I am open minded, if some person presents a very logical idea that surpasses the logical basis of my current belife, then congratulations, you have just turned a person to another religion, or to no religion.

Unfortunately, it is in our collective nature to make generalizations.

Point taken, I guess that this post should be in the Bitch and Moan section of this site.

Exactally, i dont want to be grouped with the jewloving christians.

Stereotypes like that happen to everyone, people seem to think i'm an atheist because i had some sort of traumatic experience in my life. But yeah i would be pissed off if people grouped me with those faith healing idiots.

I agree with the thread starter, but i can tolerate generalizations more than i can tolerate intellectual hipocracy.

<generalization>Atheists turn down their nose on Christians for being close-minded and blind-followers</generalization>

I hate when so called "freethinkers" (atheists) laugh at people who believe in deities. It's not like anyone *knows* absolutely.

quote:Originally posted by theBishop:

I agree with the thread starter, but i can tolerate generalizations more than i can tolerate intellectual hipocracy.

<generalization>Atheists turn down their nose on Christians for being close-minded and blind-followers</generalization>

I hate when so called "freethinkers" (atheists) laugh at people who believe in deities. It's not like anyone *knows* absolutely.

Exactly.

quote:Originally posted by theBishop:

I hate when so called "freethinkers" (atheists) laugh at people who believe in deities. It's not like anyone *knows* absolutely.

Sorry, but from where I'm sitting it's pretty funny (well, sad) that you believe in fairy tales.

If I came across a grown adult that believed in the Easter Bunny (or that the Earth is flat, or that a poltergeist was always moving his glasses around so he couldn't find them) I'd laugh at him, despite the fact that I don't *know* absolutely that the Easter Bunny doesn't exist.

I mean, it's not atheists that go around telling people they're going to burn for eternity because they don't believe in one particular version of one particular god that has no more evidence for its existence than any other.

I partially agree with Craftian, and partially with Bishop.

Craftian, because I do find it funny when people believe in something without evidence...Bishop, because I know that I myself still believe in some things without solid evidence and get an ass made of myself because of it. I don't look down on the religous, but I find faith to be funny in many cases, despite my own occasional holdings in it.

Definitely, I'm fairly certain there are things I think are true that aren't.

The difference between me and your average theist as that I'm man enough to accept it when flaws in my beliefs are pointed out to me.

Touche.

the unavoidable generalisation, I'd say it applies to most people, regardless of religious or philosophical views

quote:Originally posted by Craftian:

Sorry, but from where I'm sitting it's pretty funny (well, sad) that you believe in fairy tales.

If I came across a grown adult that believed in the Easter Bunny (or that the Earth is flat, or that a poltergeist was always moving his glasses around so he couldn't find them) I'd laugh at him, despite the fact that I don't *know* absolutely that the Easter Bunny doesn't exist.

I mean, it's not atheists that go around telling people they're going to burn for eternity because they don't believe in one particular version of one particular god that has no more evidence for its existence than any other.

See, that's what I mean, not everyone that believes in a God damns people to hell. I for one do not, because it would be hypocritical for me to say that you have to be perfect and follow my God or you are going to hell. I am no more of a perfect person than anyone else, in fact, I do not see myself perfect in any sense. So all those people that damn you to hell are just hypocritical bastards, and most of the time you'll find that they are the ones doing the worst shit out of all of the ones that they are damning.

quote:Originally posted by LinkinParkSucks:

One thing that I personally can not stand is when the title of "Christian" is grouped into one general catagory. For example, as I was reading posts in this forum I noticed some comments that stated that "Christians" belive in those people on T.V. and on the streets who smack you on the forehead and say "BE HEALED!", not true. I personally belive in Creationism, because to me it makes more sense, but does that automatically mean that I molest little children and damn people to hell on a daily basis? No, it does not. Yes I belive in Creationism, but I am open minded, if some person presents a very logical idea that surpasses the logical basis of my current belife, then congratulations, you have just turned a person to another religion, or to no religion.

Are you saying you're Christian or not?

I haven't found that Christianity allows for flexibility of belief, it's more a set of terms that you must acknowledge and adhere to. (in my experience anyway, I was once catholic.)

If I chose to beleive certain aspects of Christianity and yet kept my mind open to other possibilities, I would not call myself Christian simply because it's usualy a case of "you're in or you're out". Which is the problem with all generalisations of groups of people. I admit alot of people's reasons for ridiculing Christianity are wrong or misinformed, but then again, if you submit yourself to a category, you're going to be categorised.

Craftian, you make good points as always. I would say that i am willing to accept when flaws in Christianity are pointed out to me. However, I've never found something that was so gaping that it made me not believe, which is something i am capable of.

I would definitly say that when a compelling argument against Christianity is posed, I try to figure out how it fits with the bible, or if it actually does contradit the bible. In every case so far, I've been able to resolve it in my head, maybe that's a flawed method of discourse, but i think it also leads to a purer, clearer understanding of my own faith.

I don't mind if people don't believe. In fact, if people aren't asking questions and being skeptical, those who believe don't learn anything about their faith. I am skeptical on certain parts of Christianity and i often ask other believers what they think. This is good, and the bible encourages it.

theBishop

quote:I hate when so called "freethinkers" (atheists) laugh at people who believe in deities. It's not like anyone *knows* absolutely.

I hold no more respect for an atheist than I do a theist. Hence why I remain agnostic.

Did you dumbasses know that religion is one of the hardest objects to argue on..

So lets leave it to the preists to argue about.. While we sip on our beer an watch the fireworks eh? http://www.totse.com/bbs/biggrin.gif (http://www.totse.com/bbs/biggrin.gif) http://www.totse.com/bbs/biggrin.gif (http://www.totse.com/bbs/biggrin.gif) http://www.totse.com/bbs/biggrin.gif (http://www.totse.com/bbs/biggrin.gif) http://www.totse.com/bbs/biggrin.gif (http://www.totse.com/bbs/biggrin.gif) http://www.totse.com/bbs/biggrin.gif (http://www.totse.com/bbs/biggrin.gif)

edit: Oh yeah by the way..

Lets not get the jews involved in the matter..

[This message has been edited by 2234 (edited 05-06-2004).]

I believe Craftian just pointed out the point of the original post. (Assuming I got it right myself.) I am Christian and don't go around telling people there religion is wrong, because that would be hippocritical. I won't bring up the topic of religion, or try to convert you. If there is a relivent meaning behind something I have to say, I will then mention Christianity. I won't tell you you're wrong for not believing or something you do, nor will I damn you to hell. I don't bother asking people to stop generalising about Christians, because as a society Christians don't agree on anything anyway. I'm not sure if you can even generalise on something as broad as christians, it's like saying someting specific about Westerners or Easterners when there are such broad cultural differences.

There is no single thing that Christians are going to agree about, other then Christ.

Kudos for an excellent post, Syko. It restores my faith in humanity (well, some of it) when I see religious folks talking sense.

Yeah, good job Syko, in general, I think it's the job of the people being stereotyped to rise above it. Many Christians care more about what other Christians say than what the bible say, which leads to a lot of dangerous shit. It's a fact. So unfortunately, Christians have to bear some of the burden of people who have a negative view of us.