A sincere inquiry..

[SHOOTALL]

Quote from Shu:
"You can't judge all Christians by the actions of a few either. No person is perfect."


But why do so many on this board judge Muslims by the action of a few? Considering the number of Muslims in the world it is a very small percent that are radical and cause most of the problems that are blamed on all Muslims.
GuzziJohn

Could it be that when the few do harm around the world many of them celebrate and those who nither celebrate nor do harm fail to condem the actions of the others ? Christians are often each others biggest critic . Then also the Bible does not tell us to kill those who don't wish to be christian or enslave them .

[mannyrock]

 
   I am a Christian (Protestant), but I keep to myself.  I keep my mouth shut, my eyes looking straight forward and try to live the best life I can.
 
   The vast majority of very openly devout Christians I have met in my life are obnoxious, narrow minded, holier-than-thou types, who do indeed spend most of their time telling other people that everything they think is totally wrong and that they are going to hell.  All the while, they are hypocritical two faced individuals, who think nothing of lying, cheating or stealing when it suits their immediate needs or convenience, even if its just cheating on their income taxes.
 
  But, that's not my biggest complaint against organized Christianity.  My biggest complaint is that about 90% or more of all of the money that is collected at Church every week is used to pay for the heat, light, air, and all of the totally BS activities at the Church, instead of feeding or clothing the poor, and about another 5% is sent in the mail to the beaurocracy above it.   I refuse to give money to my Church.  Instead, I take what I would ordinarily have given, and buy food and deliver it straight to the local food bank.  I also spend the Christmas Season handing out $50 bills to poor people I see on the streets.   In the middle of the summer, I go to the thrift stores, and buy all of the childrens winter coats that are still on the racks (for next to nothing.)   I carry these in my car, and if I am driving down town in the fall or early winter and see a mother with a shivering kid, I stop the car and tell her to take her pick of the coats.
 
   It's called practical Christianity.  All of the rest is an obscene waste of money and is EXACTLY what Jesus was totally against.
 

[ironglow]

I believe if you read this thread you will certainly come to understand why a person would become agitated about a discussion of religion.


The core of Christianity is to do good things and cause no harm or ill will. IMHO anyway. In spreading the word though, much of that takes a back seat to actually practicing what is being preached. The, it's for there own good, argument is futile. Less preaching (not, none) and more good examples. Realizing not everyone will be saved, and accepting that.
 
   


Then again, it could be argued that the crusades certainly did change the ratio of believers to nonbelievers.

To a Christian missionary Gandhi once said, “To live the gospel is the most effective way most effective in the beginning, in the middle and in the end. …Not just preach but live the life according to the light.... If, therefore, you go on serving people and ask them also to serve, they would understand. But you quote instead John 3:16 and ask them to believe it and that has no appeal to me, and I am sure people will not understand it...the Gospel will be more powerful when practiced and preached.”  .

“A rose does not need to preach. It simply spreads its fragrance. The fragrance is its own sermon…the fragrance of religious and spiritual life is much finer and subtler than that of the rose.”

Gandhi speaks with alot of wisdom for a non-Christian. To discount the ideas of Non-Christians is not only a mistake- it's the height of arrogance and another reason Down my throat feeling is felt.

0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
 
  Kimber;
  I am not discounting the wisdom of Ghandi but it was not only my originating post but also your first poas in this thread which set the parameters..Here's what you wrote in reply #13:
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
  " My answer- just go back and read some of the past comments by the " chosen Christians" here . Here are just 2 examples-1.  claiming their religion is the only Christian religion, others are fakes. 2.  Telling people they are going to hell .  Now I'll sit back and let them prove my case"
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
 
  i am not discounting the wisdom of Ghandi since he was gifted with same..but it doesn't fit the parameters which you and i have already set.
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
 
   At one point I said;  " I would venture to guess that you have a very basic misunderstanding of Christianity."
 
    To which you replied; " Bingo- thanks for your example of what I was talking about". 
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
 
   With your above reply, you seem to think my statement about "misunderstanding basic Christianity" was somehow a hostile statement...not so !  I don't expect you to be very familiar with it, sinc you said yourself you have little time for it and do not pay heed to it, and a basic understanding takes some serious study.
   
   Test yourself, without resorting to a web search;
   
   Can you explain the difference between Dispensational  vs Covenental theology ? 
   
   Were the Apocryphal books written  A) before the OT  B) After the NT C) Intertestamental
 
   What was the name of Billy Sunday's most cited sermon ?
   
   Where are the "lost tribes" most likely be found today ?
 
  Without a search, did you know the answers to these basic questions ?
   

[KIMBER45]

I believe if you read this thread you will certainly come to understand why a person would become agitated about a discussion of religion.


The core of Christianity is to do good things and cause no harm or ill will. IMHO anyway. In spreading the word though, much of that takes a back seat to actually practicing what is being preached. The, it's for there own good, argument is futile. Less preaching (not, none) and more good examples. Realizing not everyone will be saved, and accepting that.
 
   


Then again, it could be argued that the crusades certainly did change the ratio of believers to nonbelievers.

To a Christian missionary Gandhi once said, “To live the gospel is the most effective way most effective in the beginning, in the middle and in the end. …Not just preach but live the life according to the light.... If, therefore, you go on serving people and ask them also to serve, they would understand. But you quote instead John 3:16 and ask them to believe it and that has no appeal to me, and I am sure people will not understand it...the Gospel will be more powerful when practiced and preached.”  .

“A rose does not need to preach. It simply spreads its fragrance. The fragrance is its own sermon…the fragrance of religious and spiritual life is much finer and subtler than that of the rose.”

Gandhi speaks with alot of wisdom for a non-Christian. To discount the ideas of Non-Christians is not only a mistake- it's the height of arrogance and another reason Down my throat feeling is felt.

0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
 
  Kimber;
  I am not discounting the wisdom of Ghandi but it was not only my originating post but also your first poas in this thread which set the parameters..Here's what you wrote in reply #13:
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
  " My answer- just go back and read some of the past comments by the " chosen Christians" here . Here are just 2 examples-1.  claiming their religion is the only Christian religion, others are fakes. 2.  Telling people they are going to hell .  Now I'll sit back and let them prove my case"
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
 
  i am not discounting the wisdom of Ghandi since he was gifted with same..but it doesn't fit the parameters which you and i have already set.
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
 
   At one point I said;  " I would venture to guess that you have a very basic misunderstanding of Christianity."
 
    To which you replied; " Bingo- thanks for your example of what I was talking about". 
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
 
   With your above reply, you seem to think my statement about "misunderstanding basic Christianity" was somehow a hostile statement...not so !  I don't expect you to be very familiar with it, sinc you said yourself you have little time for it  and do not pay heed to it, and a basic understanding takes some serious study.  BINGO
   
   Test yourself, without resorting to a web search;
   
   Can you explain the difference between Dispensational  vs Covenental theology ?  bingo
   
   Were the Apocryphal books written  A) before the OT  B) After the NT C) Intertestamental bingo
 
   What was the name of Billy Sunday's most cited sermon ? bingo
   
   Where are the "lost tribes" most likely be found today ? bingo

  Without a search, did you know the answers to these basic questions ? bingo

Any you wonder why? Really ??

[powderman]

my daughter and her friends were having a peaceful pro-life demonstration in front of a methodist church "they chose that spot for the shade trees" and a lady came out of the office and ran them off.  I wonder if that lady was actually a Christian?

 
BUGEYE. The lady may have thought that it might appear to the public that the Methodists were pro death instead of pro life. Most folks demonstrate in front of places they DISAGREE with. Think about it. POWDERMAN. 

[Shu]

Anyway this discussion is headed down hill. Many of us have said walk the walk not just talk the talk. Kimber45 elequently quoted Ghandi saying the same thing. That is where the rubber really meets the road.
 
I can't controll other people and answer as to why they bash other groups or beliefs. I don't want to control them anyway, that would make me responsible for them and I have enough trouble with myself.
 
I don't really care if you take a shot at me or my beliefs. I know I have a long way to go.
 
I don't know who the "chosen Christians" on this board are and it really doesn't matter. I think we each ought to be respectful of each other and whether we are the chosen or not we ought to always have a good word for each other.  Regardless of which church you attend, faith you call your own etc. We are only here for a short while and ought to make the best of it.
 
In the words of those 2 great philosophers Bill and Ted "be excellent to each other and party on"!

[ironglow]

I believe if you read this thread you will certainly come to understand why a person would become agitated about a discussion of religion.


The core of Christianity is to do good things and cause no harm or ill will. IMHO anyway. In spreading the word though, much of that takes a back seat to actually practicing what is being preached. The, it's for there own good, argument is futile. Less preaching (not, none) and more good examples. Realizing not everyone will be saved, and accepting that.
 
   


Then again, it could be argued that the crusades certainly did change the ratio of believers to nonbelievers.

To a Christian missionary Gandhi once said, “To live the gospel is the most effective way most effective in the beginning, in the middle and in the end. …Not just preach but live the life according to the light.... If, therefore, you go on serving people and ask them also to serve, they would understand. But you quote instead John 3:16 and ask them to believe it and that has no appeal to me, and I am sure people will not understand it...the Gospel will be more powerful when practiced and preached.”  .

“A rose does not need to preach. It simply spreads its fragrance. The fragrance is its own sermon…the fragrance of religious and spiritual life is much finer and subtler than that of the rose.”

Gandhi speaks with alot of wisdom for a non-Christian. To discount the ideas of Non-Christians is not only a mistake- it's the height of arrogance and another reason Down my throat feeling is felt.

0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
 
  Kimber;
  I am not discounting the wisdom of Ghandi but it was not only my originating post but also your first poas in this thread which set the parameters..Here's what you wrote in reply #13:
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
  " My answer- just go back and read some of the past comments by the " chosen Christians" here . Here are just 2 examples-1.  claiming their religion is the only Christian religion, others are fakes. 2.  Telling people they are going to hell .  Now I'll sit back and let them prove my case"
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
 
  i am not discounting the wisdom of Ghandi since he was gifted with same..but it doesn't fit the parameters which you and i have already set.
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
 
   At one point I said;  " I would venture to guess that you have a very basic misunderstanding of Christianity."
 
    To which you replied; " Bingo- thanks for your example of what I was talking about". 
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
 
   With your above reply, you seem to think my statement about "misunderstanding basic Christianity" was somehow a hostile statement...not so !  I don't expect you to be very familiar with it, sinc you said yourself you have little time for it  and do not pay heed to it, and a basic understanding takes some serious study.  BINGO
 
   Test yourself, without resorting to a web search;
   
   Can you explain the difference between Dispensational  vs Covenental theology ?  bingo
 
   Were the Apocryphal books written  A) before the OT  B) After the NT C) Intertestamental bingo

   What was the name of Billy Sunday's most cited sermon ? bingo
 
   Where are the "lost tribes" most likely be found today ? bingo

  Without a search, did you know the answers to these basic questions ? bingo

Any you wonder why? Really ??

)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
 
  Kimber..I've tried to clarify but you still interpret it as hostility, sorry....

[ironglow]

I asked a sincere question and recieved some very godd answers and explanations.  I think the bulk of them were 2 primary concerns;  A) Not all 'walk the walk"  B) Some are outright frauds, using the term as a cover to gain advantage
    Thanks guys..