Yes I agree that christianity is a religion but why is it splattered all over the boards especially in the spiritual section as spirituality, psychism etc goes against everything the christian god preaches in the bible. I would just appreciate it if someone can enlighten me on this subject please.
So many christians feel a desperate need to shout their religion from the rooftops.

Blessed Be
Nightshade
xxx.

a bit of arrogance and a bit of angst. most xians posting are angsty teens

My guess... lack of a better place to place thier posts.

But then, they do have a direct order from their God to spread the word. Still, it's too bad they don't obey some of the other rules from Him as well as they obey that one.

It is very sad, but you learn to tune it out and just simply ignore it. After awhile of being annoyed out of my mind with people trying to save me and others, that otherwise hell would await, I've learned to just scroll past and skim a little, and if it gets ridiculous, just scroll past it all together. I want to give it all an equal chance, but getting it shoved down your throat or hearing ranting does not help the situation at all.

Well then the christian people are going against the bible. It says to not gloat about your religion and to pray in privacy or with people of your religion in a private place. Also, the reason christianity is all over the spirituality and skepticism because people will try to falsify christianity, bible codes, etc. And it's not like the threads started are titled "Why Christianity Is The True Religion". A lot of it is started by skeptics on it or by people wanting to know what skeptics think about it.

I do not have intentions of debating this... you guys can carry on with your discussion... but I do have to correct theomegacode on one thing....

The bible actually encourages Christians to go out and witness to others and to tell others about God and about being saved. In no where .. does the bible say to "pray in privacy".

I try not to push my religious beliefs on others.. but I do think everyone needs to hear about it as I don't mind hearing how others believe. I tell everyone how wonderful God is and what wonderful things he has done in my life. I am truly blessed.

People might call Christians ignorant and narrow minded, but I am not in the least bit ashamed of being a Christian... and want to share with everyone what I know and feel in my heart!

Take Care!
Nxt2Hvn

Witnessing is different from praying. When you witness to someone, you tell them why they should and tell them the good things that could happen. I went to a camp this year and I had an interest group about witnessing. The leader of it brought a book to it from a guy that would witness to people. Like the first couple of pages explain how they are different. I can't remember the name of the book, but if I find out, I'll post it.

I think guilt is the biggest motivator for Christians. Guilt for what they have done wrong and why they aren't trying to fix it for others. Well, that and fear, which is a sad thing to base ones life (and afterlife) on. Of course there is always the warm fuzzies of feeling there is a grand purpose to life, but that woudn't keep people so tenaciously dogmatic in their belief system.

Yup, guilt and fear.

Well said JennRose. And nice display picture. Wolves are great animals.

I don't make threads or bring up my faith unless it is called upon by those around me. Unless somebody questions something or brings up my faith, I keep it secluded.

We don't do anything that everyone else doesn't do. It's not a secret who's a christian, jew, athiest or pagan in this site. Why is that? Because everyone advertises it. You only really hear from me when someone tries to disprove my God doesn't exist. They're obviously looking for someone to debate the subject with them. I've only started a very few threads concerning my faith, more when I first came here, but now I mostly challenge others who start the threads.

Accually, being called dumb for my beliefs is enough to say something.

The christians can't seem to help but preach and I can't help picking on them. I just don't like the way a lot of christians want to bring on the end of the world. It is my world too. I should have some say on that.

[COLOR=green]


Unfortunately you or Christians like myself don't have any control over when and how the world will end... That is all up to God... and one day we will all see... I am ready... are you??

Can't come any sooner...

For me personally, I only post my christian beliefs in someone posts something questioning the, I feel obligated to speak my mind if there is a clear misconception at play, or if I feel the belief is be unessesarily attacked.

Psychic phenomena may go against some teachings of the Bible, but I don't think that means one os forbidden to learn about the forces at work. Embracing something and studying something is different.

I have to agree 110% with aquatus on this one. Infact, I agree so much I can't even fully describe it, and I am not being sarcastic.

My reply to this is in another post. Since so many enjoy adding their 2 cents to posts about beliefs they don't believe in which they then whinge about, I'm sure you'll find it along your travels.

How, exactly, are psychic phenomena against the Bible? It is and it isn't, it depends on what context you take it in. There's good and bad in EVERYTHING just about.

Next2, as I recall when Jesus was pointing out a Pharisee standing in public on a street corner praying loudly, he told his followers that that man was getting his "reward" on earth and not in heaven and that they should close themselves away in a closet for privacy when they prayed! So yes the bible does say to pray in private - Just wanted to clear up your misconception!

It warms the cockles of me heart to see all the Christians complaining about others of other religions posting on their threads and what is the first thing they do when a non-Christian thread starts up? Why they bring their comments into it! Oh, but Tupac, we are just returning the favor! Yeah, but didn't some old guy way back when once say, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you"?

All,

Everyone puts their belief(s) out there, and everyone in some way tries to persuade others. It's natural to human nature to try to persuade other people to what one believes is true. This doesn't just apply to overtly religious beliefs, but non-religious beliefs/world-views as well. The dynamic of a Christian sharing his/her faith is different only because there is a mandate to share the Christian gospel. However, many folks with various points of view discuss, debate, and persuade, and there's nothing intrinsically wrong with that.

I have seen on TV christians that give money to send jews to Palestine(Israel) to bring about the prophecy that when all jews return to Palestine that will be the beginning. of the end of the world. A lot of christians see the problems in the Middle East as beginning. of the end of the world so instead of working for solutions they would rather keep it going. So as my Dad use to say you keep hitting a hornets nest you are going to get stung.
I see a lot of christians with the attitude the end is coming soon so why work for solutions to pollution, hunger, genocide, space threats, and other things that threaten
our Mother Earth. One christian even told me why bother to recycle the end is coming soon. What kind of insanity is that. We don't have to end the world or the human race. Instead of working or looking for the end, work for a new beginning, a golden age and skip the end of the world.

Darkwind,

Valid crititque. Christian folks who harp on imminent end-of-the-world scenarios and who are even trying to make them come about (w/ supreme idiocy, I might add) are ridiculous.

Because Jesus did speak of the world's end at some point, I don't believe it's wrong to speak of it; it just depends on the context in which one does it. When Jesus spoke of the end, he did so mostly to tell religious hypocrites to clean up their acts and to encourage his disciples to Christ-like service.

That said, having the end of days (whenever that will be) in view, need not lead to a wanton disregard for pollution, injustice, and some of the other things you mentioned. In fact, many Christians believe in working for the sake of justice for the poor/oppressed, caring for the earth, and a host of other things because of the reality of the end of days. Because the end will come, they know that their time to care for people and to care for the earth is limited, so they are motivated to do more activism instead of less of it.

Also, the end of the world is about much more than folks actually preach about.

Just a quick note in regards to the first post -

One thing I do respect in the "openly religious" members here (Ashley, Insight, Norman, etc) is their persistance and their unshakable faith in their beliefs.

They never back down from a fight...they stick to their guns.

First of all, I'd like to point out the name of this topic index incase you missed it when you entered.

Spirituality & Skepticism
Discussions on spirituality, religion and skepticism

I think that should clear this up abit,

Secondly I'd like to point out that the act of praying or in biblical terms meditating is a very spiritual experience as you are connecting your soul with the devine entity that is our God!

I myself do not shout from the rooftops about my faith, I don't know many others that do either, is this some practice on your side of the world?

I didn't happen to see the part in which you stated psychism applys to this topic index?

I would have to dissagree with this statement, as I have always been facinated by this passage in Matthew 6:



I've never studied the bible closely, but when I stumbled upon that passage a few years ago it really changed my perception of certain religious practices.

So you admit that evolution is a religion?

I've always been a big fan of Guns. Infact, I back when I wanted to be a cop, I won the Markmenship award from our local police department. They asked me if I had ever shot before, and I replied that I hadn't. Every since then I was hooked.

Guns don't kill people: Dangerous minorites do! *laughs hard* Just a joke folks. I'm not racist. In fact, my adopted brother is black, and I love him to death.

Oh Insight, do be careful posting comments like that. You may not mean it in a negative way, but really it's best not to go there sometimes.

Guns int he hands of people who don't know how to use them scare me.

That joke scares me!!!

Yes, that's right, you should pray in private, it's not a competition on who can pray better. And you shouldn't just 'rattle off' prayers (like Hail Mary's, etc) if you don't mean them. Yes, you SHOULD pray these prayers (prayers go to 5th Heaven, read the quote from Baruch, ANOTHER excluded book - if it's in blue it's my writing to explain something)

but mean it when you say it. Not only that, but TALK TO GOD. Not just 'God can you help with this' or 'I want this' etc (especially if you NEVER thank God, if God helps you, you thank Him, wouldn't you do the same for anyone else?). If there is something really bothering you, explain the situation. You can talk to God about anything, just be respectful...
You don't have to be in a chruch to pray, God can hear you. God has employed the biggest 'big brother campaign' there is.

Darkwind,

You can't be talking about me on that one, I've already explained that you should still care about the world, etc on another post.

Really Insight???
Then why did you make so many posts to The Witches Thread by putting a poor child down??? That is cruel and it goes to show what this thread is all about , christians being religious fruitcakes. Or some of them .
They live by gods rules and make their own up along the way if they disagree with their god.....Is this supposed to be a strong faith, by disobeying the rules which they claim to be cast in stone???

Excuse my French, but where in Hell did I even mention evolution in my post? No, evolution by definition and practice is a scientific theory (please look up what a scientific theory, as opposed to a theory, really is) and based on existing evidence. Creationism is a religion in which psuedoscientists or religious fanatics skew evidence to fit their religious beliefs! Please stay on the subject, you win no friends and win no debates in the manner you are proceeding. But then what do you expect from kids!