WARNING......LENGTHY
Christine,
I got ta hand it to ya, you really ask some doozies when it comes to questions. Now I
may or may not answer your questions to your satisfaction, but I will answer them as best
I know how.
Christianity, for all practical purposes, is an EVOLVING religion which is basically 2000
years old unless you want to get technical. Christians cannot deny that their past is littered
with the debris of the well meaning and self-righteous; however one could argue that they
were not really christians, but instead believers of the faith. A far cry from those who did
and do today emulate the very life of Christ in so far as it is possible. But lets also not
forget that those who we look back upon and shake our collective heads at were human
beings just like you and I. We can only guess what really motivated their actions as they
are not with us to querry, obviously. Even within the time frame of our own age we can
see some of the horrors of those we assume were christians.
Yes, the nazis killed millions, but are we so sure that the whole of the German population
was in on the secret? If so, then why does our own government still believe that a massive
amount of documents should remain classified and therefore unavailable to the general
public (documents relating to wars or actions the US has had a big or small role in).
Because they don't want us to know certain things. The idea is not exactly a new one to
keep ones citizens in the dark. The German people did hear rumors. So how should we
judge the woman who hid I believe Ann Frank from whose diary was written "The Hiding
Place"? Point: Not all of the German people were comfortable with the idea of removing
a supposed 'problem'. And what about the movie "Schindler's List"? Yet another example
of how one human being realized the worth of another human being without regard to
religious differences. To sum up, it is unfair to presume that all of those who believe in
God as defined from a christian viewpoint can all be lumped together and therefore held
responsible for every unthinkable act where christianity seems to have had a defining role.
And by the way, when it comes to choosing whose life is more important if one had to
choose, I wonder how you would react if someone held a gun to your head essentially and
said, "Choose". That is pretty much how I presume it was when it came to the nazis
agenda verses the catholic church or any other christian organization.
Christine: Why do you think I am wrong about Christianity? Can you give some
examples?
Examples of what? Why I think you're wrong or examples of where you have puposely
tried to exclude those who believe in God with a Christ centered point of view from being
on the same playing field with others on the thread who do not believe as you do? Even if
I could, would it be to my advantage to do so? I am not so sure it would if your question
implies the latter definition. Neither am I going to ask questions to the tune of, well you
said such and such in the past so tell me how that jives with what you have recently said
about another subject. You might very well wonder what my motivation for doing so
was. If you percieve it to be negative, then I would be the loser in the long run. I don't
want to be divided from the whole and/or given a wary look in communication in the
future.
Christine: I have no problems with Christians, unless they are really judgemental and
bigoted, qualities I don't believe reflect Christ's teachings.
You know, several things come to mind as I ponder this statement:
a) What do you know about Christ's teachings? I think you're holding out on us, or I am
just not familiar with your background as you've probably said something elsewhere
pertaining to what you know about Christ. Did you go to a church in your younger years?
Did you learn about Christ from somebody? How exactly is it that you have come to
know about the life of Christ?
b) He or She who has never done one thing to which something akin to guilt can be
attributed, let them malign. I believe that when one has calumniated (yes, I found the
word in the dictionary) another, it is the responsibility of the calumniater to ask
forgiveness of the one calumniated. I believe this to be one sign of a true christian verses
a 'I go to church every sunday and believe in God' christian. One is, one isn't, yet the faith
teaches that it is not sinful man which has the right to decide who is who.
c) Christians are not the only ones which are judgemental and bigoted. These terms could
apply to many without regard to religious differences or lack of religious beliefs. Are they
not included when one defines a judgemental and/or bigoted personality or does it only
apply to christians which is the focus of the conversation of the month?
Btw, lets look up the definition of the word 'bigot':
From "THE NEW MERRIAM-WEBSTER POCKET DICTIONARY, big-ot: - noun-
one intolerantly devoted to his own church, party, or OPINION. syn: fanatic, enthusiast,
zealot.
I guess the key words would be 'intolerantly devoted'. Lets see if we can look at a variety
of postings and determine who amongst us is a bigot, or lets just not worry about who is
who and what is what. I vote the latter.
Christine: Why is it that if Christianity is THE WAY, usually only people who already live
in Christian societies realize that?
Gee, I don't know, because they believe in God from a christian point of view. (Sorry, but
this is starting to make my brain hurt). I know what you're asking, but I just don't have an
answer. However, wouldn't the same apply to societies not deamed christian? Or, are you
by asking, to use your phrase christian society, again lumping all those living in said
society as christians. You've stated you are pagan. You live in this society, so therefore
I'm assuming you are not refering to the U. S. of A.
Christine: It seems to me like parents are simply teaching their children a certain belief
system. One of the things I find really interesting is that most Christians are absolutely
convinced that indoctrinating their children into their religion is a very positive thing.
However, most of the atheists and pagans I know expose their children to the huge variety
of belief systems that people all over the world have, and then let their children choose.
Can you argue that the way the Christians do it is more ethical?
Well let see, a) I don't consider myself a christian, b) I don't have children, c) I don't like to
argue. No I can't, but I reserve the right to ask you just such a question in the future.
Christine: Is it moral for missionaries to judge that "primitive" peoples, with their nature-
based religions, need to learn Christianity? Only if the parents of said "primitives" want to
expose their children to, and I quote, "the huge variety of belief systems that people all
over the world have, and then let their children choose." end quote. How are their
children going to know if the missionaries don't go to them? (Yes, I am being fecie, fesee,
. . .flipant.) Christ gave His deciples a mission, go into all the world and tell them of the
good news, hence, missionaries. If Christ is indeed THE WAY (which I believe He is)
does it not stand to reason that missionaries go to all places where people are?
BTW, missionaries are not only in "primitive" places. They are running the soup kitchens,
tending to the needs of the homeless (the Kitchen located in Springfield, MO, and the
Salvation Army are two which immediately come to mind. Funny, but I don't remember
them giving a damn what one believes), they are working in countries where people are
having children which they themselves cannot even take care of properly. These children
live in the squalor of what their own more influential countrymen cast off (Ever heard of
the CCF, Christian Children's Fund). Missionaries are going to places giving aid, giving
education so that others may better take care of themselves, and sharing the word of God
with those whose life, by our standards, seems desparate and hopeless. God loves ALL
and wants nothing but good for all his children.
Christine: (End of paragraph) I don't think Jesus would believe that it is.
I'm not gonna say what immediately comes to mind because it would be judgemental and I
would hate to be percieved as a christian.
Christine: How do you know something is the Truth, just because you were taught that
way in early childhood?
Christine . . .honostly, I hated church. It was boring for the most part mostly because I
hadn't experienced Jesus. Not to mention the fact that I was in classes with a bunch of
other kids that didn't want to be there either. It wasn't until about 5 or 6 years later that I
came to a point in my life where I came to wonder, what is it about life that is worth
phuking living. I mean think about it, if there is no here-after why stick around? What
does one have to fear about death? NOTHING. Death is the finale that makes everything
in life meaningless, so why do it at all. That is the Great Lie. If you ever experience Jesus
Christ, I assure you, you will know WHY. Unfortunately, if you then come to know this
and turn away as I have/did you will be most sorry indeed.
I wonder, Christine, are you satisfied that you can take your beliefs to your grave assured
that they are the Truth? I hope you're right, because then I think we both win. If not, we
both lose. I don't want you to lose, Christine, you are way too special even as everyone
else is also.
I look forward to speaking of things not so serious. Did you ever see "To Gilian On Her
37th Birthday? If so, what did you think of it?
I hope I wasn't too flagrant. |
