Relocated Christianity Topic
 

It's OK, no need to go back and read every post. The overall theme of this discussion was not just what was being said in this thread, but what wad being said all over the board.

Like I said I'm glad you don't get offended easily. I'm actually pretty easy to get along with too. I do get upset when I feel like others are being mistreated though.

Really, there's Christian bashing going on? I did not know. I may not want to venture into the chit chat section then because I really don't want to have to start quoting scriptures' right now...

The Christian religion was not being bashed. That poster expressed many anti Gay sentiments with biblical scriptures and it ticked off the community as it should.

OH OK..I get it.Thanks for clarifying what was going on. I really don't want to argue with anyone anyway, because I really don't like arguing but I will if I think the issue is important enough. :nod:

For your information, I wasn't even talking about one
particular thread. Neither did I name names. It's more
an anti-Christian sentiment that's allowed to go on here.
And it's not just in the Chit Chat section.

But honestly that's expected. Even the most clever of
them might not see it going on.

Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with
their ears,

Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn...

There's a hip hop song I like from 2006 that says, "if you're a scared mofo go to church." I like the song and I'm a Christian but I am not offended. I never preach to people because that is not my job. I am not clergy. If I were you I might forget the sermons to the Ledgies and just try to figure out the best way to plow the farm fields and while doing that try and perfect my sense of humor so as not to malign anyone.

I've actually heard that song and it's pretty catchy ..:lol:

You're a Christian, but it's not your job to preach?

Mark 16:15 says differently,

And He said unto them, "Go into all the world and
preach the gospel to every creature.

And continues in verse 16,
He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he
who does not will be condemned.

I enjoy the band Stryper and they send out a good message in their songs.

I'm sure my neighbor's cat will benefit from my words.

Mark 16:15 was written pre-Internet era. Totally different context. I think it's safe to assume that at this point most of the citizens of the western world are familiar with the basics of Christianity, how to get more information, and can make an informed decision about their own beliefs. No need to carry on about it to your neighbours and their fish at this point.

I have never encountered a post here that would be considered anti-Christian in sentiment. I'm not saying you're incorrect, iamnotafraid. I just might like an example.

Again you say you're a Christian, and yet you mock the Word of God.

You've made it abundantly clear you don't like me through your many
post and even a private message wanting me to leave. Even Carrie called
you on that. Yet you persist.

I have not attacked you and don't plan on doing so. I just wish for your
soul's sake you'd reconsider God's Holy Words.

Dex,
We all have a role to play in God's great commission. And
there is a need to "carry on" about it to our neighbors, for
their soul's sake. Like the poster before you, I'd be careful
with what looks like mocking God's Word. I'm sure you're
of the intelligence that you understood what that scripture
meant.

As for an example, there are so many. Religion and political
threads usually end up that way. Though the persecutions
are spread throughout the Ledge.

It's not unexpected though. I just hope and pray that all of
us shall be ready to meet the Lord Jesus. From the signs of
the times, his return looks to be soon.

I like to think I'm intelligent enough to understand the ol' good book, yes. And I do understand what that passage is supposed to mean. But seriously. The word is spread. At some point it's time to say "message received". It is possible to cross a line and become an annoyance to people and alienate them from your beliefs, which is something I think many Christians have ended up doing lately, and is actually in conflict with the initial intention of proselytizing. It may also be the cause for much of what you perceive to be Christian bashing that goes on in the modern secular world.

I'm not into who thinks they are more christian than someone else. Actions trump words, or no praying in public which we are warned against doing. 'By their works' etc. :nod:

I haven't noticed any unreasonable anti-christian atmosphere here over the years. Using anything as an excuse to 'cast the first stone' of intolerance is going to have the expected result or irritating the target.

I don't know what you are referring to with the Carrie reference. Didn't she get banned 2 years ago?

I agree with becca,


I have not noticed anything anti-Christianity on the ledge.

Not to kiss butt, but I've noticed that most posters here are pretty polite even if they have viewpoints that differ from mine.

I was raised as a Christian. I am a spiritual person that subscribes to a higher power. There are many beautiful ideas surrounding the Christian religion. What I'm growing weary of is BIBLICAL LITERALISM and continually witnessing Christian fundamentalists curling up in a ball and constantly complaining that they are being picked on and shunned by society at large. If anything, I have watched countless Christians throughout history who systematically pick on and ostracize those who do not fit a certain mold.

Recently, at my place of employment, after a staff development meeting a former pastor put out a call to end the meeting with a staff prayer asking Jesus to bless our workplace. Many of the Christians in the room broke down in tears because their hero was bold enough to bring Jesus into the workplace where they feel "picked on" for being Christians. The boss proclaimed that we could pray, and those not wishing to participate could be dismissed. Hmmm.....I wonder who was taking notes on the staff members choosing to be "dismissed". Although our staff is predominately Christian, we do have members that subscribe to other religions or none at all.
So, I joined in to pray.....not really a problem for me. But, is this really the right place?

It's an INSULT to God and Christians that the preaching stenographer was called "a mental case" by others!: http://twitchy.com/2013/10/16/praise...ff-house-floor

This thread is not a good place for me to be but I wanted to jump in here and admit that I, personally, have engaged in discussions here that were not exactly flattering to Christianity. I think it's important to put them into persepctive, though. I believe faith is *personal*, and I believe Jesus did as well. Religion does not belong in politics or government, and this is one of the guiding policies our Founders built this nation on.

When I have said things that could be construed as 'bashing' Christianity, it was from the perspective of bashing their involvement in government issues and politics, for hypocrisy, and for pushing their noses into the personal lives of people who do not wish for the Church's moral guidance. It would not matter if it were Christianity, Judeaism, Islam, Confucianism or the Hindi faith. Faith is personal, and doesn't belong in government. On the other hand, government is for *all* of us, regardless of our faith, and must be unbiased. The only way to acomplish this is to maintain a distict and firm line between elected, representative government and religion.

I have a tremendous amount of respect for the faith and spirituality of others - I am a very spiritual person myself, with beliefs of my own that would surely be mocked if shared with the wrong people. I keep my personal faith personal, and often wish others would do the same. That said, I do take great offense in the mocking and disrespect of another's faith, because I would not want the same to be done to me - it comes down to a simple rule of thumb that so many people who claim to be devoted followers of Christ forget all too often - do unto others... But I will always, always stand up for the principle that no religion, no faith, no church, no scripture from any source belongs in 0ur laws or in the interpretation of those laws by our courts or elected representatives.

And I sincerely hope that my words can be taken at face value, because I have no ulterior motives and I'm not secretly or covertly trying to offend anyone.

To be fair, she kind of...rambled nonsense.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/...fter-floor-ra/

“The greatest deception here is this is not one nation under God. It never was. Had it been, it would not have been. No. It would not have been. The Constitution would not have been written by Free Masons. They go against God. You cannot serve two masters. You cannot serve two masters. Praise be to God, the Lord Jesus Christ. Praise forever.”

Agreed.

Just because you're a Christian doesn't necessarily mean you aren't insane, too. ;)

Her doing what she did does NOT necessarily make her insane, you know!

No, it just makes her a massive disruption. And people were concerned. That's why she went for assessment. No diagnosis was made solely on the basis of what she did.

She went for a mental health assessment because they pre-judged her to be mentally ill!

Because they thought there was a possibility that she was mentally ill. Due to what they saw as a radical and disruptive change in her behaviour. Not because she was Christian.

Who in the heck are you two talking about?

The article linked there, viv. :) IMO it's a bit of a non-event, news-wise, unless you're trying to make it about something it clearly wasn't.

The girl probably upset and got tired of all the shenanigans going on there and she out burst .


Hearing all the BS on the floor for almost 3 weeks from the officials would make anybody go nuts.

I think they over reacted with sending her out.

I will admit that I'm usually a little prejudiced against religious people. I'm not religious at all, and if they push it on me, well, that's a turn off, man!:lol:

How does a religious debate get started on a Fleetwood Mac forum? :confused::confused::confused:

It gets started in the Chit Chat forum when someone comes up with an observation or a question, types out his thoughts, and hits the submit reply button.

Queen Stevie= rose gypsy

It's been weird seeing a lot of the mixing of religion and u.s. politics during the recent shutdown/default 'thing. There was a lot from both sides (though usually I dislike the both sides are to blame quip), and I find such moments jarring, maybe as they are still predicated on some ideal of everyone being christian. Meanwhile there were some comments invoking Islam like it was a put down that went mostly unchallenged, and that was from some who do the most praying in public as 'good' christians. I can't imagine as a christian not saying something about a confederate flag being around (even had a relative who fought in the u.s. civil war), never mind in relation to the first black president. A christian we are taught does not throw the first stone (except under delusion of being without sin), and certainly not such nasty underhanded stones. The problem is not that people are christians, but that they aren't christian enough in my opinion. President (not just Mr.) Obama is in fact a christian and has provably donated personally to charity without showing off about it for many years while a former opponent for the job donated to only one church that used the money to deny rights to gay people in various states, pretty much to the limit only of what would get him a tax write-off, and even then we never had a single full year's information about that, but he used it in his campaign as a fact showing his christian charity.

Basic truth... hate = no future, that applies to everyone.

I'm curious to why you would capitalize Islam
but not Christian or Christians?

As far as hate goes, it's really according to what you mean?
Calling a sin, a sin is not hate. The ones who say it's okay
or placate sin are not "loving" the sinner. They are actually
doing more harm by leading them further into darkness.

You mentioned tithing, and as Christians we are supposed to
bring in our tithes and offerings. The Holy Bible is very clear
on this. The Lord says to "test Him" in this. You will be blessed.

I don't care to argue with you about politics. But during the
elections I saw figures that differed from yours, or the idea of
"your's" on tithing from some of our leaders.

Of course I'm hoping that most of you know that tithing has
nothing to do with your salvation. It has to do with whether
or not you have accepted Christ as your Savior. There is no
hope unless you are covered by His Blood.

This would be because I'm in on the conspiracy to elevate one and minimize the other. Oh yes, and also to destroy christmas which is gearing up to be the next big Tea Party righteous revolution battle flag from the sounds of things. Guess one can't possibly be a real christian unless they capitalize it though... but I would have gotten away with it if it weren't for those snoopy kids and their dog!

It's ironic to see Stevie Nicks fans who are aggressive in their capital C Christianity considering how angry her song Rhiannon made so many of them. It was banned from some playlists when it came out I remember, and it was cited as proof the entire group was devil worshippers along with the Eagles and Abba among a long list by a pastor at the Chrsitian school I attended for two years.

:shrug:

The real meaning of Christmas is lost because of commercialism.
The greedy companies love this time of the year.

Many people even get offended by the Nativity scene.
Offended by the birth of the Savior.

____________________________________

Becca,
I only asked you why you didn't capitalize Christian(s).
Nowhere in my post did I say that you weren't a Christian.

Those words aren't quite gramatically comparable. One refers to an entire religion and a unique entity, while the other refers to any given adherent. Generally, I might capitalize Christianity and Islam but might not capitalize christian or muslim. However, I have since looked it up and in fact I'm incorrect, and capitalizing Christian appropriate, even when it's used as an adjective. The mistake is mine/becca's. But your deliberate drawing of such attention to it does sort of come off as though you're implying something beyond mere a grammatical error, iamnotafriad. Just so you're aware. I kinda dug her response.

Have you ever talked to anyone who is actually "offended" by a nativity scene? If so, what did they say? I think a lot of conservative Christians confuse "offense" with "alienation", which is a rather different thing. Personally, when I see a big display of a Biblical scene in public somewhere, I make assumptions about whoever put it up. I assume whoever did it is a possibly conservative Christian, which is a group I've historically had difficult dealings with in the past on a personal level. I would never request that any display be removed from a private business (public/government-owned areas are another matter entirely) but honestly? I do find it a little alienating, even only subconsciously, and I might be inclined to take my business elsewhere. I know I'm generalizing Christians and that's probably something I need to work on. But I know many members of cultural/religious minorities feel similarly, and can certainly see how private business owners might pick up on that kind of consumer response and be inclined to appear religiously neutral when possible. It's a much more nuanced/internalized phenomenon than many news reports would portray it as, and is much more driven by sheer capitalism than political correctness or some desire for religious oppression.

Dex,
Thank you for your questions and comments.

Since I don't know Becca, I didn't just assume that they were
"grammatical" errors. If the ratio hadn't been so high (8:1), again
I might have thought differently. I thought she might be saying
something, or implying something by not capitalizing the word Christian.

For grammar or grammatical errors only - I would not correct or comment.
My own post would stop me from that.

I live in the South, and it seems there are more Christians (Conservative
Christians) percentage wise in our area of the U.S., but we still have to
deal with people complaining about public displays such as the Nativity
Scene. "One" local atheist raised a big complaint about this very thing last
year. The same type thing goes on at our local high school football games and
graduations - no prayer.

Years ago my first job (other than our farm) was at a retail store. On the back
wall of our store was painted these words "Ye Shall Know The Truth, And The
Truth Shall Make You Free". We had to paint over those words because the
chain store I worked for decided it might offend someone (there might have
been a complaint, that I don't remember). The store put $$$ before God.
Some of us complained to management, but they didn't listen. But I can guarantee
you that I wasn't the one who painted over those words.

So yes in many ways I've had to deal with persecution because of my belief in
Christ. But it is expected. I'll have to find the verse, but Jesus told us we will
be persecuted. But in know way am I implying that I've been persecuted as
some of His followers have.

I rarely talk "serious" on this board. Most of my post are silly jokes or observations.
But this is the most serious topic we can talk about. And I witness to you that Jesus
is The Christ. Only through Him is our salvation. And now is the day of salvation.

no

It's hard to take someone seriously who is always joking.