[Peachie]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

I think I understand the premise of your post, Senior.



I think the answer to why people respond in that manner when they don't pray is because they care, and that answer is a traditional one.


I know a lot of people who are not religious who are in every way ethical, kind and fair, caring, good and honest.


In this country we are allowed to believe or not to believe in God.

So...on this forum the same is true as well.


I personally dislike attacks on others who are doing no harm. There are many of the readers on this forum who are facing some pretty scary things right now. Let's just hope and wish and think and care that they will get through it alright. And let's not fight about religion. If faith in God helps them, then may they be blessed with it. I think you agree, Senior.


Last night we were watching NCIS and at the end there was a sweet interchange when the characters admonished one of the group to be kind, nice, love, give, have faith and a lot of other nice things. I liked that. A lot.

I understood what you were saying, Gracie, and knew it wasn't any type of personal attack. I'm sorry it was misunderstood. I think people of Christian faith have evolved through the years and there is not the tight-minded hysteria about crossing the thresholds of other denominations.

This may be a club that those who are struggling with atheism, belief and Chrisitianity might want to establish in The Villages. I think face to face discussion would be far superior for this conversation.

[Peachie]

Originally Posted by Golfingnut

Thank you and yes of course I have received love and kindness from Christians. Are the people that wear a cross around their neck yet openly insult and berate their fellow man going to heaven while an atheist that practices only kindness toward his fellow man going to hell.

Golfingnut, have you met an atheist who only practices kindness toward his fellowman? You must introduce me, Christ must be walking amongst us.

Seriously now, I know there are very good and kind atheist on earth. I know they also have their weaknesses. If these atheists are living a Christ-like life I doubt that God will turn his back on them, they are honoring Christ. If the atheists are disparaging their fellowman's faith in God, they are not filled with the goodness and kindness of which you speak. I'm not God, I cannot provide you the exact answer you are seeking.

[Golfingnut]

Originally Posted by Peachie

Golfingnut, have you met an atheist who only practices kindness toward his fellowman? You must introduce me, Christ must be walking amongst us.

Seriously now, I know there are very good and kind atheist on earth. I know they also have their weaknesses. If these atheists are living a Christ-like life I doubt that God will turn his back on them, they are honoring Christ. If the atheists are disparaging their fellowman's faith in God, they are not filled with the goodness and kindness of which you speak. I'm not God, I cannot provide you the exact answer you are seeking.

I am most liking of this part of your post.
If these atheists are living a Christ-like life I doubt that God will turn his back on them, they are honoring Christ

I am going to see where that takes me. I would love to have a relationship with a higher power I could respect. Not all but to often, organized churches pervert that search for me. I speak of child molestation some weird practices by snake handling and so many cults that claim the living GOD as their guidance. I just can't find godliness in houses of organized religion.

[billethkid]

I am amazed at how some seem to know all about the "other" persons faith and how they practice and their intents.
Followed closely by the measuring of what constitutes "practicing" one's faith (or not).

Life really, truly must be much simpler and enjoyable for those who do not have a set of pre-determined yard sticks or pigeon holes to measure friends and aquaintences manner or methods of practicing politics, religion, or whatever.

It seems to me to be very presumtuous for some folks to think they know how others "practice" their faith or anything else that personal.

Personal opinions are not authentications.

btk

[Golfingnut]

Originally Posted by billethkid

I am amazed at how some seem to know all about the "other" persons faith and how they practice and their intents.
Followed closely by the measuring of what constitutes "practicing" one's faith (or not).

Life really, truly must be much simpler and enjoyable for those who do not have a set of pre-determined yard sticks or pigeon holes to measure friends and aquaintences manner or methods of practicing politics, religion, or whatever.

It seems to me to be very presumtuous for some folks to think they know how others "practice" their faith or anything else
that personal.
Personal opinions are not authentications.

btk

No comment

[billethkid]

Originally Posted by Golfingnut

I am referring to those that take the lords name in vain. Is that practicing Christianity?
Is adultery practicing Christianity?
Is berating individuals practicing Christianity?

It seems to me to be presumptuous for some folks to think they know what is in the mind of others or anything else that personal.

My post was generated having not read the last one of yours hence nothing in my commentary could have possibly been applicable from my intents.
Just so happens that mine was posted after.....it must have been in process.

And even if I had read it my posts intentions were as usual for more general consumption and application to previous posts in a given thread.

btk

[Golfingnut]

This thread has great possibilities if not turned into a personal rant. I am looking for answers I have found some already in this thread. If I have offended anyone with my questions and concerns, I apologize.

[rubicon]

A despicable atheist was M O'Hair and exuded such hate that one of her son's would have nothing to do with her. As a general statement I found more atheist I encountered to be less engaging than people of faith.

But that is my interpretation and it could be simply a confirmation bias on my part.

I guess with this topic we perhaps should say no more than a Christian believes that Jesus was the son of god, etc and that atheist are people who deny the existence of God because the number in each reaches thousands and thousands and we cannot justify reducing their behavior to certain sets.

[Golfingnut]

Originally Posted by rubicon

A despicable atheist was M O'Hair and exuded such hate that one of her son's would have nothing to do with her. As a general statement I found more atheist I encountered to be less engaging than people of faith.

But that is my interpretation and it could be simply a confirmation bias on my part.

I guess with this topic we perhaps should say no more than a Christian believes that Jesus was the son of god, etc and that atheist are people who deny the existence of God because the number in each reaches thousands and thousands and we cannot justify reducing their behavior to certain sets.

Good idea.

I guess I am looking for the perfect minister preaching the perfect religion and that may not exist. I should look for a small group of like minds that meet to have fellowship without the problems that comes with large organized religious organizations.

[zcaveman]

Why do you have to be labeled a "Christian" to be a kind and living person and do good deed for your fellow person?

Is it your opinion that if you are not a Christian, you are a Hun or a savage or something like that?

I don't think that it takes a Christian belief to be a good person. I think it is in the heart and the upbringing.

Z

[OBXNana]

Golfingnut, it's within you to find. Don't let anyone that argues their beliefs on any subject deter you from finding what lies within. Discussion and dialog is educational when personal attacks are left to other forums.

[Golfingnut]

OBXNana and Zcaveman, you both are what I am looking for in theory. I bring this up a lot that I really love Sermon on the Mount, even better than the Ten Commandments (for me). Wonderful teaching, but I also dislike so much of the other confusing mumbo jumbo in the bible. Get outta her with the Old Testament rambling.

[kittygilchrist]

Originally Posted by Golfingnut

Another Yea. I get misunderstood more than understood. I am going to love this thread as I am looking for answers that are just not available from people I meet that profess to being Christians. Kindness and understanding should be OWNED by people of faith. How can I not question the sincerity of those that should be showing sinners like me the path to salvation when they seem to be hateful toward their fellow man.

Totally in agreement, GN--as my Pastor says (paraphrase) most Christians do not humbly seek out every day what God might want them to do as agents of his love. and moreover, he expressed dismay that this is the state of much of the church. lukewarm, self-centered, in this world's values and..no different from anyone else...
but there are true people who are as you express. you are entirely right in your judgment, but there are exceptions, right here in River City.

anybody can listen to a sermon "from a cow pasture" near Brownwood! http:www.gracetab.org.

[Golfingnut]

Originally Posted by kittygilchrist

Totally in agreement, GN--as my Pastor says (paraphrase) most Christians do not humbly seek out every day what God might want them to do as agents of his love. and moreover, he expressed dismay that this is the state of much of the church. lukewarm, self-centered, in this world's values and..no different from anyone else...
but there are true people who are as you express. you are entirely right in your judgment, but there are exceptions, right here in River City.

As I keep trying to say with no success is: People who talk the talk but do not walk the walk are the cause of so many fleeing from the church with no direction of where to go next.

[rubicon]

Originally Posted by zcaveman

Why do you have to be labeled a "Christian" to be a kind and living person and do good deed for your fellow person?

Is it your opinion that if you are not a Christian, you are a Hun or a savage or something like that?

I don't think that it takes a Christian belief to be a good person. I think it is in the heart and the upbringing.

Z

As I stated above your post a Christian is a person who believes that Jesus was the son og God....Period Anything beyond that description is the interpretation of a holy man because it evolves from dogma to politics...meaning she says he says. I ain't going down that road too personal