The Thaw of Christianity - OH MY GOD NO NO NO PLEASE NO

[IkeTheGeneric]

teaching children that they must follow your beliefs or be tortured in hell for all eternity starting at their birth fits this description pretty well
don't you think?

My parents raised me on their convictions and beliefs. There was no brainwashing that occurred, and I have never argued with my parents about religion. This is how most christian parents raise their children, as far as I've seen and been told. Even though I am Atheist, I can get along well with other religious folk.

Yes, there are a lot of things wrong with that website and video. That doesn't mean most normal Christians should get a bad rap for it. They are people like you and me, they just don't share the same belief as you.

[Ad Bot]

[Racerboy]

I'm Catholic but I don't go proclaiming it to people all over, I keep it to myself.

Considering what's going on in third-world countries right now it seems like the only logical thing to do.

[Zalot]

Is this the video with a bunch of kids (probably told what to say) whining about bullstuff like "people call me names because I think gays should have less rights" and  stuff that's not even true like "not being allowed to pray in school" and "christians are persecuted against" ?

well i dont know it would actually require you to CLICK THE LINK IN THE OP
that might take a long time!

[Crispy_]

hey guys how's it goi- nope, goodbye.

[Planr]

Quoting this article from a Christian website I frequent called www.gotquestions.org.

Question: "Why do Christians try to impose their values on others?"

Answer: Christians are frequently accused of trying to impose their values or their beliefs on others. The oft-heard accusation is that Christians are trying to “shove their religion down our throats.” In addressing this question, we must also address the implied accusation that Christians are an authoritarian group that seeks to impinge on the rights of others. Of course, there have been tyrants who were professed Christians, but true followers of Jesus Christ do not seek to infringe on anyone’s basic human rights. The same God who granted volition to the believer also granted volition to the unbeliever.

God extends His general blessings to everyone (Matthew 5:45); therefore, freedom for all is a Christian value. Man is a special creation of God (Genesis 1:27); therefore, human dignity and respect for the individual are Christian values. The application of these values in Western society has benefitted everyone. After all, who enjoys more freedom: the atheist in America, or the Christian in Communist China?

Some say that it is wrong to try to “legislate morality.” We say that it is impossible not to. Every law “imposes” someone’s moral “values” on someone else. A law that prohibits murder, for example, imposes a belief that murder is wrong and upholds the Christian tenet that human life has intrinsic worth. Doubtless, society is better off with such a law in place.

Almost everyone agrees that murder, adultery, stealing, lying, and greed are wrong. Most people agree that respecting one’s parents is right. This sense of right and wrong, woven into the fabric of our society, reflects six of the Bible’s Ten Commandments. Those who object to the “imposition” of Judeo-Christian values should perhaps work to repeal the laws against murder, perjury, and theft.

Christians don’t want to impose their values, but they do recognize that, in every society, someone’s values must reign supreme. The question is whose values will predominate? There is no such thing as a neutral value system. Therefore, Christians work to advance their values in the sincere belief that, in a world of competing convictions, Christian values best promote the general welfare and preserve the domestic tranquility.

Christians don’t want to impose their values, but they do see the importance of having an authority higher than ourselves. Societies which attempt to produce a moral code based solely on human rationale can be manipulated by whoever has the most votes or the most weapons. Whether it’s the case of a humanistic despot such as Joseph Stalin or a collective tyranny such as the French Revolution, the exclusion of Christian principles leads to less freedom, not more.

Christians don’t want to impose their values, but they do want to live peaceably in whatever society they dwell (Romans 12:18; 1 Timothy 2:2). Christians are obligated to do good to all (1 Corinthians 6:10) and to pray for everyone (1 Timothy 2:1). Christ taught His followers to return blessing for cursing (Matthew 5:44), a teaching which He modeled perfectly (1 Peter 2:23).

There are some who wish for a purely “secular” society where religion is relegated to its cloister and all Christian opinion is silenced. To those individuals, we offer these reminders:

1) Christians in a representative democracy have as much right to be involved in the political process as anyone else. This means they may vote, rally, lobby, caucus, and hold office just like any other American—all the while promoting laws that reflect their own values. Christians do not seek to subvert the political process; they engage it, as it is the right of every American.

2) Christians in a pluralistic society have as much right to voice their opinions as anyone else. This means they may broadcast, write, speak, publish, and create art as they will—all the while voicing their own view of morality. Christians are sometimes accused of censorship, on the basis that they have criticized a certain book or have objected to their tax dollars funding anti-Christian speech, but they are not burning books. The reality is that freedom of expression is a Christian value.

3) Christians in a religiously free society have as much right to live out their beliefs as anyone else. This means they may preach and teach the gospel and live according to the Bible and their conscience. When a Christian says, “You must be born again” (John 3:7), he is not trying to impose his values; he is speaking the truth, which anyone is free to accept or reject.

There is no doubt that when Christians share the joy that comes from faith in Christ, some see that as an attempt to impose Christianity on others. But the truth is that as Christians, we know that we have the antidote for human misery in this life and an eternity in hell in the next. To not share that cure with others, as we are commanded by Christ to do (Matthew 28:18-20), would be like knowing the cure for cancer and refusing to share it with the rest of the world. We can’t force our beliefs on anyone; all we can do is offer them the cure and pray they will accept it. If some see that effort as “imposing” our beliefs on them, that is a matter of their perception, not a reflection of reality.

Read more: http://www.gotquestions.org/Christians-impose-values.html

I'm not quoting this with intent to argue but to show why true Christians share their religion with others. You're more than welcome to disagree and say this is stupid, but this is the Christian's perspective of the issue.

[Acerblock]

I praise God that these people stand up for Christ and proclaim Him to everyone, everywhere. Amen!

Why the fudge are you here. I still haven't forgotten about the SkullCandy incident.

[Mister Cheese]

Hey zealot

Just a quick question here

Can you not go a week without making people mad

Besides Christianity does get persecuted. Certainly not as much as other religions but still an amount.
I don't even mention my faith at school and this one girl (senior athiest) always makes fun of me for being a pastors kid.

[Zalot]

Christians should get a bad rap for it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQMK3zLlgmQ

Why the fudge are you here. I still haven't forgotten about the SkullCandy incident.

what was the skullcandy incident
link me

Can you not go a week without making people mad

if this thread offends you you have a serious problem

[Bisjac]

god (christian) says that the apocalypse begins once every man woman and child has had the opportunity to hear about Jesus.

Christians apparently just want to rush the end of the world for everyone.
those starfishs

[Wispfire]

Christians apparently just want to rush the end of the world for everyone.
those starfishs

Isn't that every religion?

[IkeTheGeneric]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQMK3zLlgmQ

I don't understand

[Headcrab Zombie]

...true followers of Jesus Christ do not...

I often like reading pro-religion arguments just to see how long the argument goes without resorting to a logical fallacy. Congratulations, you whoever wrote this couldn't make it past the first paragraph

1) Christians in a representative democracy have as much right to be involved in the political process as anyone else. This means they may vote, rally, lobby, caucus, and hold office just like any other American—all the while promoting laws that reflect their own values. Christians do not seek to subvert the political process; they engage it, as it is the right of every American.

While they may have the legal right to vote based off their religious views, I do not believe voting based solely off a religious view that affects other outside of your religion is ethical.
If they don't believe same-love couples should get married, then they simply don't marry someone of the same love.
If they don't believe babies should be aborted, then they simply don't abort their babies.

Some say that it is wrong to try to “legislate morality.” We say that it is impossible not to.

The problem here is that the concept of "morality" is extremely subjective.
The example used here is that it is wrong to kill someone, but even that is subjective: is killing someone for self defense wrong? Some people say yes, some people say no. Is killing someone through capital punishment wrong? Again some people say yes, some people say no.



A lot of pro-religion arguments seem like they're more oriented towards reassuring believers that they're doing the right thing, than to actually pose an argument towards a non-believer

[Zalot]

I don't understand

you said that christians shouldn't get a bad "rap"
so i linked a christian rap video

[Acerblock]

Planr, again I would not listen to your religious arguments or statements after this.

http://forum.blockland.us/index.php?topic=214618.0

[IkeTheGeneric]

you said that christians shouldn't get a bad "rap"
so i linked a christian rap video

Oh gosh lol