I am a Christian

[pennylane]

Thanks for speaking up. I don't agree with everything you said, but I'm glad you spoke up for what seems like the minority viewpoint here.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: Sukhoi
WTF is with all the Christian stuff the last couple months? Hell even my mom is getting into it and she hasn't gone to church in a decade!

maybe you should try it....

 

[BudAshes]

Christians are insane. There is no way around it. Accepting Christianity is accepting insanity into your life. But then again not all insanity is a bad thing. If your insanity helps you stop worrying about things so much, lets you be less resentful and lets you get on with your life you might need that insanity to save you from an even greater one. I mean if you waste your whole life questioning you don't have a whole lot left for living, so maybe that is the ultimate draw to religion.

 

[IEC]

Originally posted by: Mani
Nice post. Christianity would have more respect nationwide if people like you were its representatives rather than the guys you mentioned.

Many are like HotChic, it's just that the "bad" ones get so much more publicity

And once people see hypocrisy, they assume everyone else is (which is true at least to some extent for everyone - no one is perfect).

 

[NaOH]

Do you like Christian bands like Relient K?

 

[IEC]

Originally posted by: BudAshes
Christians are insane. There is no way around it. Accepting Christianity is accepting insanity into your life. But then again not all insanity is a bad thing. If your insanity helps you stop worrying about things so much, lets you be less resentful and lets you get on with your life you might need that insanity to save you from an even greater one. I mean if you waste your whole life questioning you don't have a whole lot left for living, so maybe that is the ultimate draw to religion.

I'll use your level of logic and say that being atheist is accepting chaos. Discuss.

 

[IEC]

Originally posted by: NaOH
Do you like Christian bands like Relient K?

I don't know if the OP does, but one of my favorite bands is Kutless. I like the odd Relient K song, but most of their songs don't really have much of a message. Then again there are the "Christian" bands which aren't very Christ-centered in message... and certainly don't seem very kind/loving/joyful/etc. Maybe some people like them, but I just can't stand angry metal bands like Demon Hunter. Then again music is generally a preference which isn't really affected by religious belief in my experience...

 

[HeroOfPellinor]

Originally posted by: AbAbber2k

Originally posted by: HeroOfPellinor

Originally posted by: AbAbber2k

Jean-Paul Sartre
God is the solitude of men. There was only me: I alone decided to commit Evil; alone, I invented Good. I am the one who cheated, I am the one who performed miracles, I am the one accusing myself today, I alone can absolve myself; me, the man.

One of my favorite quotes. Not in response to a particular point in this thread. It simply reflects, to some extent, my views on the worship of god.

Sure goes along with the "if it feels good do it" philosphy of life. I'm sure feeling that way is very empowering for a while.

Troll much?

Let me clear up your confusion with my take on the quote. It's about believing that god is a construct of man, and as such, going before god to absolve sin is pointless because of that fact. It's about taking responsibility for your actions. It has nothing to do with living a vicarious life of "if it feels good do it".

LOL. Well, then you don't even understand of of your "favorite" quotes. :thumbsup:

 

[HeroOfPellinor]

Originally posted by: BudAshes
Christians are insane. There is no way around it. Accepting Christianity is accepting insanity into your life. But then again not all insanity is a bad thing. If your insanity helps you stop worrying about things so much, lets you be less resentful and lets you get on with your life you might need that insanity to save you from an even greater one. I mean if you waste your whole life questioning you don't have a whole lot left for living, so maybe that is the ultimate draw to religion.

The message of the Bibe brings order and meaning to things. The immutable state of the human condition. The human heart. And countless other things.

If you don't acknolwedge that there are underlying and invisible truths within the patterns of our existence, then you're subscribing to chaos and in the midst of no order or understanding there is only.......dare I say.....insanity.

 

[compuwiz1]

Originally posted by: PaulNEPats

Originally posted by: compuwiz1
Sorry HC, I just stopped by to pass gas.

That said, yes, I'm a Christian, but I don't go to church. I got tired of people who told me to do one thing on Sunday, then watched them do another thing on Monday.

Too much hipocrisy for me, to go to church.

I despise organized religion. My belief, is that one's relationship with the God of his / her understanding, is a personal relationship. I'm not going further than that.

Kind've goes against the Christian views a weeeee bit don't ya think? I don't go to church on Sunday, but that's because I'm a sinner (or I'm working). I don't blame it on the parishoners or the Priests. Although, I do see what you describe in terms of two-faced people acting one way at church, and an entirely different way outside of it. You said it yourself - it's a personal relationship between yourself and God. Go out of thankfulness of God bringing you to life.

you do not have to go to church to be a Christian. I pray, and I have moments where God directs me, then I have moments, when God does not direct me. In looking back, I probably mess up most, in those times, when God does not direct me, but free will is what we were given.

 

[BudAshes]

Originally posted by: HeroOfPellinor

Originally posted by: BudAshes
Christians are insane. There is no way around it. Accepting Christianity is accepting insanity into your life. But then again not all insanity is a bad thing. If your insanity helps you stop worrying about things so much, lets you be less resentful and lets you get on with your life you might need that insanity to save you from an even greater one. I mean if you waste your whole life questioning you don't have a whole lot left for living, so maybe that is the ultimate draw to religion.

The message of the Bibe brings order and meaning to things. The immutable state of the human condition. The human heart. And countless other things.

If you don't acknolwedge that there are underlying and invisible truths within the patterns of our existence, then you're subscribing to chaos and in the midst of no order or understanding there is only.......dare I say.....insanity.

Thats exactly my point, you accept a smaller insanity to avoid a larger one. We all know Christianity makes no sense, but neither does most of the stuff we do. Just take something like the NFL for instance. It's pointless, a waste of resources and talent, yet America is obsessed with it. And it works for us even if it isn't perfect. From an outside perspective its ridiculous, but as a human being and an American it just works. So we all pretend it isn't stupid and enjoy it. Christianity is just a greater degree of this accepted insanity.

 

[dennilfloss]

I share many of your sentiments, HotChic, though mine are tainted also by the everpresent Catholic guilt.

 

[jhbball]

Good post.

Except: "I don't believe in evolution and I don't think that makes me a moron." Err, yeah.

 

[Kadarin]

link

You have goofy parents It is, however, obvious that they love each other, and I dig that.

We disagree almost completely on spiritual matters, but I respect you and think your husband is a lucky guy to have you.

 

[iamaelephant]

Originally posted by: HotChic
I don't believe in evolution and I don't think that makes me a moron.[/L]

Well it does.

 

[Luthien]

Originally posted by: HotChic

Originally posted by: Luthien
Here is more than a hint for you hotchic since it isn't obvious to you for obvious reasons and is your very first sentence to boot and the one you missed in your list, lol, once again proving my point that you don't see the obvious.

"I believe in God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. I honestly believe the only way to heaven is repentance and a true belief in Jesus Christ."

South Park dramatization of the point: Kenny Going To Hell

Everyone before you through out all history and prehistory before Christianity existed is going to hell unless they believed your very first statement and all the generations to come. I know you don't think that is offensive which is as I said.

Just the fact that I believe something you don't is not (or rather, should not) inherently be offensive to you. Many people in the world believe differently from me, and I'm not offended. You obviously think very poorly of me based on your view of the world, and I'm not offended. Nor should you be by my thoughts.

Are you kidding? That is no different than spitting in my face and saying I should not be offended because it is your belief. Of course the many people in the world that don't believe what you believe don't affend you because right now your on your spiritual high horse and believe they are going to rot in hell forever so what they think doesnt matter anyhow. Gotta love peaceful religions founded in threats.

 

[skace]

Curious, has anyone done an athiest version of this.

Edit: Link me if so.

 

[msi1337]

good post HotChic

I am there with ya...on most of those statement anyways

 

[Luthien]

You know why christians "hate" atheists and any other belief so much? Because they threaten christianity's very nature. While in the midst of belief a christian cannot reconcile the self inflicted threat of hell and loss of a magical heaven. Failure to believe in a believers mind means they must give up heaven and suffer hell. The enduring threats they got suckered into believing has traped them. It will continue to trap them until they stop believing in heaven and hell but that means they are going to hell... I think you get the irony of this mind trap that religions love to use because it is so powerful; on top of that they will lose the social bonds that were created within the church and amongst fellow believers so moving on is a very scary thing. It is all no different than any cult. Christianity is a macrocosmic cult just like every other major world religion. The very threat that converted them traps them.

 

[40sTheme]

Originally posted by: Luthien

Originally posted by: HotChic

Originally posted by: Luthien
Here is more than a hint for you hotchic since it isn't obvious to you for obvious reasons and is your very first sentence to boot and the one you missed in your list, lol, once again proving my point that you don't see the obvious.

"I believe in God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. I honestly believe the only way to heaven is repentance and a true belief in Jesus Christ."

South Park dramatization of the point: Kenny Going To Hell

Everyone before you through out all history and prehistory before Christianity existed is going to hell unless they believed your very first statement and all the generations to come. I know you don't think that is offensive which is as I said.

Just the fact that I believe something you don't is not (or rather, should not) inherently be offensive to you. Many people in the world believe differently from me, and I'm not offended. You obviously think very poorly of me based on your view of the world, and I'm not offended. Nor should you be by my thoughts.

Are you kidding? That is no different than spitting in my face and saying I should not be offended because it is your belief. Of course the many people in the world that don't believe what you believe don't affend you because right now your on your spiritual high horse and believe they are going to rot in hell forever so what they think doesnt matter anyhow. Gotta love peaceful religions founded in threats.

You obviously did not understand the purpose of the thread. It was not to say 'LOOK I'M A CHRISTIAN!', it was to clear up common misconceptions about Christians.
EDIT: And I do not hate atheists.

 

[40sTheme]

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: Ilikepiedoyou
so what is the point here? You call yourself a christian but follow the faith half assed? This isn't dispelling any stereotypes but instead showing that your not good at following your religion. Maybe the fallacy of you being a christian is just another in a lone line of which also includes the use of your user name to describe you?

What do you mean "follow it half-assed"? Most of the "prohibitions" she breaks are purely cultural impositions.

Yes; exactly. Would you rather her be one of the hating, ruthless Christians that give Christianity a bad name? I'm glad she isn't.

 

[40sTheme]

Originally posted by: Nocturnal

Originally posted by: 40sTheme
That article presents a very interesting point of view, Luthien. One of the reasons I used to put down Christianity was because there are no prophecies of what man would proceed to create. Then I realized that God never intended for man to understand everything that exists or would ever be created because what happens is God's will for man, and no man can understand God. It saddens me to see that Mr. Harris has been put down for not believing, because I think he is totally entitled to believe that. That's one thing I do not prefer about many other Christians. Christians that are put down other people's beliefs do not love one another and are blatant hypocrites.

Have you ever read the book of Job? He questions God just like everyone else who are skeptical of him. My interpretation of it is that God is just too complex for anyone to understand, even Mr. Stephen Hawking.

As far as his essay it hasn't persuaded me any or even changed my view point.

I believe in God. I don't attend church. I think huge churches that have those big screen TVs and all have this little cliques within the church are bogus and don't truly serve to God's will. I believe that I don't have to go to attend one of those churches in order to be accepted to Heaven. I prey, ask for forgiveness and do my best to live my life the way God wants me to do it.

I guess there are two things in life that are certain, one is you eventually die and the second is that there's no way to prove or disprove that God does not exist.

Oh he didn't CHANGE my point of view. It's just interesting to hear people's different sides and why they believe/don't believe. Also, I am like you, I do not attend church. Nearly everyone at church are the Christians I cannot stand to be around. And church isn't required; it is simply to help you along; although I don't know how it can do anything but make you blind. I like that last statement. And yes I've read the book of Job. Who hasn't, though? Even people who have never studied the bible seem to know the book of Job. It's weird.

 

[alm99]

Way to stand up for yourself and your beliefs on this board, nobody has all the answers except of course anandtech in all its wisdom and truth

 

[Luthien]

Originally posted by: 40sTheme

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: Ilikepiedoyou
so what is the point here? You call yourself a christian but follow the faith half assed? This isn't dispelling any stereotypes but instead showing that your not good at following your religion. Maybe the fallacy of you being a christian is just another in a lone line of which also includes the use of your user name to describe you?

What do you mean "follow it half-assed"? Most of the "prohibitions" she breaks are purely cultural impositions.

Yes; exactly. Would you rather her be one of the hating, ruthless Christians that give Christianity a bad name? I'm glad she isn't.

Sure, better than nothing, lol... Out of 10 on the fundamentanometer she is probably in the median which is still scary.

 

[dug777]

Yeah, evolution is really one of those theories that come and go, it doesn't have any staying power, there isn't vast amounts of proof of it, and above all, there are lots of theories that are likely to displace it AND make far more sense...

Hmmm, wait a second, i seem to have got that all ass-backwards