I can do nothing but agree.  That's why I distance myself from fanatical beliefs...because they often end up a big mountain of crazy hypocrisy and for the life of me I can't stand it.  When a religion teaches love, compassion, and goodwill how in the hell can you stand in front of someone and condemn them like you're God's personal messenger?  Never have I been able to grasp the mindset of a person like that.  Are they so confident and arrogant to assume that they are able to pass judgement on other people when according to the very book they hold so dear that that particular thing is reserved for God?

I could write pages and pages about all the issues I have with religion and Christianity in particular.  I focus on being a good person....if someone around me needs help, I'll give it...within reason of course.  That's the baseline of Christianity is it not?  Be good to your fellow man?  I thought so...but apparently there's a footnote where you can be a dick to people who are not Christians.  Not my cup of tea.  So by the actions of others I'm a bad Christian.  I don't go to church to feel better about myself for all the evil I do, I don't condemn people as "heathen" on a day to day basis, I don't clutch the Bible and think that every last word is stone cold fact, I don't spread hateful messages about people that are different, I don't inject God into every conversation, and I'm far from naive and blind following.  That's what makes me a bad Christian if you compare to a vast majority that I've seen these days.  By the way...the whole blind faith thing...that's a whole rant in itself.

Well, I've got class...so I'd better go.

Good article, Maso.  Has the potential for some good discussion...or at least letting me rant for awhile.

~Zoo

Nobody likes your idea of what a Christian is. Not showing love for all is bad. Jesus said to love your enemies, not to exclude them. Of course you don't want to be a Christian if what you say here is what being a Christian means. You have figured out that there should be more to life than that, but instead of going deeper into what Christianity really means you turn away and try to find it elsewhere. I can't really blame you.

But, just to be fair, people like how you say are not the 'fanatical' Christians. They're the 'Sunday' people. A fanatical Christian will put God into every conversation, sure, but they will do it out of love for you. Sunday Christians put God into every conversation to A) show you how great they are for believing and make you feel guilty and bad for not believing.

The natural response when confronted with the perfection of God is to feel guilty and worthless, but there is no condemnation in Christ and God places value on you. You are valuable, and Christ does love you. I'm sorry that nobody has bothered to really show you that. I know any essay I write about it will not show you that, either.

So far 2 excellent responses.  To a great article. Many who claim faith, do so blindly never questioning what they are told.  I was taught long ago that true faith must be questioned so that the believer's faith is thus strengthened.

I think you are doing that.  Faith is not religion, although they are often mistaken for it.  And strong faith is often scary to those who have never questioned their own - as they have no answers to the questions that are raised.

Dont fear them.  Only fear that you will stop growing and questioning and accept what others say blindly.

Zoo,

Are they so confident and arrogant to assume that they are able to pass judgement on other people when according to the very book they hold so dear that that particular thing is reserved for God?

What annoys me more is that even as an ex-Christian, I have more understanding of what Jesus, for instance, wanted of his followers. He didn't want a judgemental army of sycophants, he wanted compassionate, thinking individuals. It kind of makes me sad some can't see this, to be honest.

Good article, Maso. Has the potential for some good discussion...or at least letting me rant for awhile

Glad you liked it, mate. I am hoping more will get involved in this discussion. Lets wait and see.

Yeah, I hear ya.

~Zoo

Jythier,

Nobody likes your idea of what a Christian is.

Just to reiterate: I am not pointing at all Christians, Muslims or whatever. Most people are comfortable and happy with their personal beliefs and are secure enough in them that they don't need to foist their beliefs on others. It is like talking to someone who has no interest in what you are saying and even occasionally smacks you upside the head for daring to profess your beliefs. I have no time whatsoever for this behaviour.

But, just to be fair, people like how you say are not the 'fanatical' Christians. They're the 'Sunday' people. A fanatical Christian will put God into every conversation, sure, but they will do it out of love for you. Sunday Christians put God into every conversation to A) show you how great they are for believing and make you feel guilty and bad for not believing.

To take your point, I'm actually referring to both 'types'. Both have the amazing capacity to be completely hypocritical and absolutely blind at the same time. The fanatics are annoying and frustrating because normal conversation is beyond them. They can't go five minutes without injecting some sort of religious analogy or quote. To me, this kind of behaviour is akin to trying to study medicine, for instance, while relying on a single text book that only covers the cardiovascular system.

The Sunday church people are a hypocritical joke, because they spend the rest of the week doing what they like knowing it will all be forgiven next Sunday and then they have the nerve to cast judgements on those of us who don't.

You are valuable, and Christ does love you. I'm sorry that nobody has bothered to really show you that. I

There is a little saying here in Australia when confronted with statements such as this; "Excuse me, but I think you might have mistaken me for someone who gives a shit." I'm not trying to insult you but what I'm saying is I am completely aware of my value as an individual and as one of humankind. I don't need this validated by belief in a figure who might or might not have died 2000 years ago. Validation comes to me every single day through the love of my family and friends, the strength I get from being positive and having faith in the world and the value I feel I add to society.

Thanks for your input.

Surely you and I were cast from similar molds. I couldn't put it any better than this if I tried.

~Zoo

Doc,

I was taught long ago that true faith must be questioned so that the believer's faith is thus strengthened.

This is exactly what I'm saying and what I believe. It is not the answers you receive but the questions you ask. I never stop questioning any aspect of my life. I find this particularly invigorating and creatively stimulating too. I think it is really easy to become comfortable and even bogged down in what you think you know. It is only once you start questioning what you think you know that you find out just how little you do.

Dont fear them. Only fear that you will stop growing and questioning and accept what others say blindly.

My sentiments exactly.

I think that's why I like science so much. I've never been one to just sit around and accept something that other people tell me. I prefer to go out and see exactly what it is, how it is done, and all that fun stuff. To follow words from a book without any question whatsoever, I feel, is madness. There's a lot of books out there...and to pick one and think it's the absolute truth is...well, it's just not feasible...not without asking a few things along the way. Questions help you grow, and there's never a problem with asking a question. If someone becomes angry and outraged...well, then that's their deep rooted fear and insecurity and you're poking around a place inside themselves that they're way too afraid to confront...and that's kind sad when you look at it. To confront one's insecurities is to become stronger...make it through that and your faith will become fortified in steel. Hide from yourself, however, and it's doubtful you'll be able to face God(or the equivalent of) in good standing. Personal growth, in my opinion, is one of the main goals of life...not praising an invisible overseer in hopes of getting in good graces, but by growing and earning it.

Whew...time for a break.

~Zoo

Zoo,

Well, if your mold includes dodgy knees, male patent balding and short-sightedness, as well as an innate talent to remember every word to songs you haven't heard in years, then yes, we are of the same mold

All jokes aside, I already thought we were, mate. Thanks for the reiteration, though.

Personal growth, in my opinion, is one of the main goals of life...not praising an invisible overseer in hopes of getting in good graces, but by growing and earning it.

Exactly... I think some use their religion as a blanket or, even worse, as a shield. Using it as a blanket, they can cover themselves in it and kind of forget about the greater world beyond. It is almost as though what they can't or don't see won't affect them. Those who use it as a shield won't even let themselves open up new ideas or philosphies, instead using the shield of their religious convictions push away anything that might challenge these.

You're a true seeker, mate.

Eh...one of my knees does act up from time to time and I am short-sighted...hence my glasses. I can remember lyrics pretty well, too. Luckily my hair seems to be holding out for the time being...and at 19 I'm thankful for that.

~Zoo

Heh, heh...I try. Never satisfied 'til I see something with my own eyes or feel it in my very being.

~Zoo

Phew, I feel somewhat better. My knees didn't start playing up until a few years ago, I still have most of my hair (compared to my younger brothers, I'm a veritible hippy) and my eyes didn't start playing up until after I turned 40. You've got some catching up to do so we'll wait and compare notes then LOL



Know what you mean...

"Excuse me, but I think you might have mistaken me for someone who gives a shit."

We have that saying here too.