Why do Christians get ridiculed so much?

[Stopper]

My South African pal, relocated to Scotland, was reading this topic and he wants to say some something.

'Come to Scotland and see what it's like between Protestants and Catholics and never mind the rest of the religions that are fighting each other in Britain. Where is God now? I've been reborn three times. I wonder.'

Does he live in Glasgow?

EDIT: If I were Christian and living in Glasgow, I'd ask where God is now, lol

[MeDeFe]

he's in Dublin.

[kclborat]

it seems like this is winding down, but this is a topic which i feel rather strongly about. i feel that Christianity is too often hypocritical and not much more than a large, worldwide buisness. For example, everyone knows that one is supposed to tithe, and to me that's ok. If you want to support your church, fine by me. But it crosses the line when "Clergy" and "Religous Worker" make it onto the "50 Best Jobs in America" list. Also, on a more personal note, a large church near me just put in an obscenely large screen that dominates a massive area for the congregation and they continue to create additions to the building. These things are not needed for people to reach God. It would be understandable if they needed the space to fit more churchgoers, but I can again say from experience from my sporadic visitations that they do not need any more space for their congregation. I believe that Christians today have twisted the basic ideals of Jesus Christ, that of love, compassion and opennness. How can one be a Christian if you don't follow these basic ideas?

[Backglass]

i feel that Christianity is too often hypocritical and not much more than a large, worldwide buisness.

Amen Sister....Preach on!

Example: The Morman Church is owner of a large CHAIN OF RADIO STATIONS. Not religious radio stations mind you...but standard rock, country & top-40 in major cities like San Francisco, Chicago & (surprise) Salt Lake City.

And they reap the benefits.

Tax'em all I say...

[strike wolf]

it seems like this is winding down, but this is a topic which i feel rather strongly about. i feel that Christianity is too often hypocritical and not much more than a large, worldwide buisness. For example, everyone knows that one is supposed to tithe, and to me that's ok. If you want to support your church, fine by me. But it crosses the line when "Clergy" and "Religous Worker" make it onto the "50 Best Jobs in America" list. Also, on a more personal note, a large church near me just put in an obscenely large screen that dominates a massive area for the congregation and they continue to create additions to the building. These things are not needed for people to reach God. It would be understandable if they needed the space to fit more churchgoers, but I can again say from experience from my sporadic visitations that they do not need any more space for their congregation. I believe that Christians today have twisted the basic ideals of Jesus Christ, that of love, compassion and opennness. How can one be a Christian if you don't follow these basic ideas?

This is why I have problems with the church now of days. If they were just collecting money to keep the church afloat and from falling apart while giving the rest to charities, I'd probably give them a lot more money.

Note: A lot of the churches down here actually do practice this but I believe it's a Baptist church up north which just keeps using the money to improve their own church.

[salvadevinemasse]

it seems like this is winding down, but this is a topic which i feel rather strongly about. i feel that Christianity is too often hypocritical and not much more than a large, worldwide buisness. For example, everyone knows that one is supposed to tithe, and to me that's ok. If you want to support your church, fine by me. But it crosses the line when "Clergy" and "Religous Worker" make it onto the "50 Best Jobs in America" list. Also, on a more personal note, a large church near me just put in an obscenely large screen that dominates a massive area for the congregation and they continue to create additions to the building. These things are not needed for people to reach God. It would be understandable if they needed the space to fit more churchgoers, but I can again say from experience from my sporadic visitations that they do not need any more space for their congregation. I believe that Christians today have twisted the basic ideals of Jesus Christ, that of love, compassion and opennness. How can one be a Christian if you don't follow these basic ideas?

The parts I have bold and underlined I agree with you heavily point wise!
Just letting you know it!

Salva- [/u]

[Mirak]

Somebody once said:
"The fastest way to get rich is by founding a new religion"

Of course all religions have always, and will always, be businesses...and like most businesses depend on their customers lack of discernment to grow

[vtmarik]

Somebody once said:
"The fastest way to get rich is by founding a new religion"

Of course all religions have always, and will always, be businesses...and like most businesses depend on their customers lack of discernment to grow

I believe it was L. Ron Hubbard that said it.

[areon]

Why, if religions are based on peace and understanding, are the majority of wars, based on religion?

Take a look at the vast majority of conflicts in the world. For the most part, they are religiously based. If you look at what is going on in the middle east right now you'll see clearly that this is true.
Heck, look at Northern Ireland, a country with virtually no Blacks or Jews, and the violence there is based on misinterpretations of the SAME bible! Protestants and Catholics are ALL christians!
So why do they say that they promote peace, understanding and forgiveness when the opposite is true?
Personally I cannot imagine belonging to such a hypocritical group.
I'm ever so thankfull that I had the intelligence enough to become an Atheist.

This was an article from: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index ... 746AAseSd3

Actually you will find that religion isn't the cause, it's the scapegoat or pretext brought out to hide the main reasons. If you want to go specific in any other areas seeing conflict I'll try to share what I know.

As far as Ireland is concerned they have the reprisal cycle going. People can still remember when their relatives were murdered and sometimes know who did it. The nationalism is also there but if you look at the history of the Irish resistance movements, they were very self destructive. There never was a real peaceful alternative offered by them or the Northern Irish. I found the story of Michael Collins to be really interesting and trajic. A lot of these problems are...well lets use the word temporal and have no association with religion.

[Mirak]

Jay , love your current avatar

"God does not believe in atheists"

So something that does not exist does not believe in people who do exist...and if it did exist would presumably be responsible for the existence of something that he does not believe exists..............and you accuse us of being in denial

[Backglass]

Somebody once said:
"The fastest way to get rich is by founding a new religion"

Of course all religions have always, and will always, be businesses...and like most businesses depend on their customers lack of discernment to grow

I believe it was L. Ron Hubbard that said it.

"I’d like to start a religion. That’s where the money is."

- L. Ron Hubbard to Lloyd Eshbach, in 1949; quoted by Eshbach in OVER MY SHOULDER: REFLECTIONS ON A SCIENCE FICTION ERA, Donald M. Grant Publisher. 1983

He was right.

[kclborat]

Note: A lot of the churches down here actually do practice this but I believe it's a Baptist church up north which just keeps using the money to improve their own church.

How did you know??!!!?

[kclborat]

wait, can someone help me quote correctly?

[MeDeFe]

It's pretty easy, if I wanted to quote your post I would write this:


[quote="kclborat"]wait, can someone help me quote correctly?[/quote]




It also works with other names, You can write just about anything between the "" thingies.

[kclborat]

Jay, I'm just curious what sort of experiences proved to you that God exists. I'm not sure if you still are reading this thread, but it seems to me that these experiences have defined for you your religous beliefs. Could you share?

[Backglass]

Jay, I'm just curious what sort of experiences proved to you that God exists.

Jay believes that a god, via a Television preacher/healer, cured him of a disease.

In his mind there is no other possible explanation, thus, a miracle.

[MeDeFe]

Like that guy who bends spoons and gets old watches to run again at regular intervals?

[heavycola]

Like that guy who bends spoons and gets old watches to run again at regular intervals?

There is no spoon.

[cowshrptrn]

Like that guy who bends spoons and gets old watches to run again at regular intervals?

There is no spoon.

Then how do you eat soup?!?!?!?!?!

[MeDeFe]

You don't, you drink it.

[vtmarik]

You don't, you drink it.

Amen!

[kclborat]

im sure everyone noticed this, but the options for the poll are hilarious. deep down im sure its true. thats definitely where my vote is going to go *heavy dripping sarcasm*

[s.xkitten]

its a christian, what do you expect...they think everything is about them, against them, offending them...despite the fact that they go on rampage every once in a while and kill people too....

[salvadevinemasse]

You don't, you drink it.

LMAO! That was brilliant.. I love this whole conversation you guys are doing!
Love Salva-