I appreciate you trying to get through to the intolerant, ‘main stream media’ types(those who regurgitate what the press dictates) on this thread, but actually Jesus told us over and over that their minds are darkened and they refuse to see the truth. Conviction will only come from Him, and that is where free will comes into play. These individuals are choosing to believe the lie, and we know the author of all lies, don’t we?!
]]>My first experience in this was at a church, where the preacher spoke of one of parables. It was the story of the farmer sowing seeds in 4 different kinds of terrain. For those of you who don’t know it, only one kind of terrain can support the seeds. The seed can grow and be fruitful. Christians are the latter. The preacher used this metaphor to say to the congregation about how they were all better than homosexuals and people who believe in the “so-called theory of evolution.” You would think he would have taken it in a different direction, maybe called for people to open their hearts and help other find god.
Next comes my experience as a counselor and the christian mantra of “No Sex Before Marriage.” We’ve all heard it many, many times. In theory its a good thing–less teenage pregnancies, right? Abstinence only sex ed is taught in schools and was given millions of dollars of funding by the Bush administration. Doesn’t work. No way around it. People are having sex younger and youger now, and I got to see, and hear about, plenty of pregnant girls. Not women, girls. This is because they decided to have sex, but had no clue about contraceptives. Would more kids have sex if they knew all about contraceptives? Probably, but I feel there would be less pregnancies.
This leads me to the correlation between sex crimes and sexually repressed populations. In my counseling experience, I have encountered more stories of boyfriends, fathers, stepfathers, and brothers raping young girls. You can argue about whatever other factors go into it, but this is the sexually repressed christian south. The catholic church also fits into this, with all the stories we heard about with the preists. I recently read that it’s worse than we thought (the number of cases): http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/8572875.stm
Then you get to the topic of AIDS that was brought up. If the catholic church said “you know what, go ahead and use condoms” how would this effect the rate of new AIDS cases?
In my own opinion, I feel much of christianity flies in the face of common sense. We need to stick to things that are practical now, not things that may have been practical 2,000ish years ago. Also, our government is a democracy, not a theocracy. Politics should have no place for religion. Then again, so much of politics flies in the face of common sense as well.
I think I really could go on for a while, so I should probably end my essay with this: There are a lot of good things about christianity–it encourages people to love and help others, etc.–but it needs a healthy dose of practicality thrown in.
Most non-Christians and many mainstream Christians see only the small side of what is called “Fundamentalists”. When you see people on the news screaming at people on the streets because of their lifestyles and hate groups using the Bible to give reason for their rage, these people are a small minority.
I am a fundamentalist. I try to live within the guidelines provided by the Word of God daily, even though I fail daily; because there is none righteous. Fundamental means basic, meaning we take the Bible for what it says and don’t mix other doctrines that aren’t found in the Book. I would never push my beliefs on you or anyone else. I believe in building a solid testimony to show people the right way to live by example. Yes, the Old Testament had laws like stoning adulterers and sorts of other stuff that people point to to say we are hateful, but that was the covenant with Jewish of that time. But when Christ came we recieved a new coventant for everyone, Love Everyone. Not just your friends and family, but even your enemies.
The reason I feel compelled to even comment on this is because it seems many people including this columnist misunderstand christianity. I feel in all areas of my life this society is becoming less tolerant every day of people that want to pick up their cross daily. Ask yourself this; Why is there an article written about saving Christianity from fundamentals, when the author makes it clear she isn’t a christian and doesn’t care for the religion at all? You people want tolerance, but only tolerance of the beliefs you have. I don’t care if this whole society wants to destroy itself, but soon it will come to the point where people will want to pull my kids away from me for reading the Bible to them. Articles like this only make this more likely.
I have been on the opposite side of the spectrum before. Not too long ago I would have agreed totally with you. Some things in my life led me to the understanding I have now. No, I wasn’t brainwashed or forced to believe in any way. But since I turned my life over to Christ the world looks a lot different.
I just wanted to give a different perspective on this matter. Hope there is no hard feelings.
]]>“If you say this country wasn’t founded on Biblical principles you most certainly have no credibility to stand on and I suggest you read some history and quotes from our Founders especially George Washington.”
I would suggest the same from you; our country was founded on religious freedom principles, not Christianity and not found in any one holy book. So I’m afraid your credibility is lost. My apologies.
“I find it hilarious that you pick random tidbits from the Old Testament when you have very little understanding of scripture.”
Who does, pray tell? It’s hard to be an expert in something no one has any real understanding of, yourself included.
]]>I was just trying to give some perspective. And you seemed to miss the whole point. I was trying to say that most people want a free society, just as long as somebody elses Ideas aren’t included. I never said I would support stopping the transmission of anyones ideas; just don’t assume i want to be subject to them and then those same people want to stop the transmission of my beliefs. Labeling people “the american taliban” is just a strategy to shut down a discussion you feel inadequate to hold on to a position.
By the way, most of those men on that list have extremely different belief systems from which they stem. The only true value they all hold in common is that the media labels them “conservative.” I suggest you go over to the middle east for a few days and try debating a taliban member. Then come home and try to debate a true and faithful Christian. After that you will have a valid argument.
]]>http://adultthought.ucsd.edu/Culture_War/The_American_Taliban.html
]]>Turner,
I find it hilarious that you pick random tidbits from the Old Testament when you have very little understanding of scripture. Rules that we don’t understand are part of the Law. God gave the Law to Moses, knowing it could never be followed, to show us our sin. If you continue through the New Testament you will see that since we realize we can never be perfect we can never go to Heaven. This is where Jesus comes in, to pay for our sins. I bet can pick apart just about anyones religion by taking small parts of a complete doctrine out of context.
As for saving Christianity…I believe it is the Fundamentalists who are the pillar of our society. Its a disease of our generation to want to water down and compromise our beliefs so that we don’t have to ever face any tough questions or worry about offending anyone. If you say this country wasn’t founded on Biblical principles you most certainly have no credibility to stand on and I suggest you read some history and quotes from our Founders especially George Washington.
Many say it is wrong to expose children to Creation as a credible way the world began. But non stop people want to flaunt the homosexual, materialistic, corporate, athiestic, and anti-nationalistic agendas in my children’s faces all day long. But to write an article about the failing of any of those philosophies would require a backbone.
Yes, there are a few(highly publicized) people who hate in the name of Christianity. As with any culture, there are bad apples. It seems that Christians are easier to pick on than any other. Maybe you should ask yourself why that is.
Interesting that this was written by someone who is a “certified Nutrition Educator and holds a MA in Holistic Health Education.” Where was your degree in Sociology? Psychology? Theology?
“And, by the way, I’m not a Christian, Fundamentalist or otherwise, if you have yet to guess.”- Then don’t be offended when people think your going to hell.(Its not because we hate you.)
Bilbo
]]>JR:
Interesting… I don’t remember categorically denying that hypothesis. I should point out I’m not an atheist; there’s a difference between that and rejecting established religions. I understand your points your points just fine; they just lack any foundation.
“Your example of Lot is an example of taking things out of context. The Bible doesn’t present that story as a example to live your lives by.”
Unfortunately for the world, fundamentalists have a funny way of deciding what examples in the Bible they should live by. An education Christian (almost an oxymoron) has a hard enough time keeping his or her faith based on the contradictions in these “stories”. If they were simply stories of some modern author, say, then there would be no problem… but when people take these texts to be “sacred”, to be the “literal word of God”, then it becomes rather difficult for them to pick and choose which guidelines they want to follow, and which ones society has deemed they cannot follow, at least openly (should we stone unbelievers? Deuteronomy 13:7)
There’s no hostility on my part; I’m writing this argument perfectly at ease and only pointing out flaws for which the devout apparently have a gap in their reasoning. I accept that good people do good things; the fact that they may happen to be Christian is completely incidental. I’m sorry if you can’t see that as truth.
“I’m saying that without their relationship with God, many of those people wouldn’t have given a rip about people in another country who will never intersect with their lives.”
I’m afraid that’s completely false as well. If we look at history, most western influences on “virgin” cultures were missionaries seeking to convert the heathens. How considerate. Nowadays, Christians could just as easily ignore other countries without any violations of faith; the fact that some of them are good enough to give their time, energy, and money to strangers is again, incidental. I suppose your corollary to this would be that atheists are more likely to not “give a rip about people in another country”?
“That’s not to say they don’t have the capability to do so, its just that naturally humans are selfish. I don’t buy your Darwinian argument. If that’s true, then why are so many children selfish?”
You’re using children as an argument for adult behavior? That’s hilarious. I’m not a supporter of “the naturalist fallacy”: that humans, if left to their own devices, would be at people with one another in nature. Hardly. We can certainly be vicious, downright evil creatures if left unchecked. But look at it on a smaller scale; imagine a group of 20 or so people outside the controls society has placed on the rest of us. Do you think the men would instinctively rape the women, kill all rivals, and commit no good deeds whatsoever? On the contrary, people would keep each other in check, good behavior would be seen as a desirable trait (fulfilling promises, paying debts, etc), and bad behavior would just as likely be punished as it would in society as a whole.
By the way, do you support indoctrinating children? Or letting them make up their own minds?
Nah, comments are fine; someone else might be following.
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