This is what is so hard to debate about religious beliefs. Where good, reasonable, honorable people hold 'the faith', they can't understand why their religion could be blamed. When someone says, "You don't believe Jesus boy?" and proceeds to beat you to a pulp, who is to blame? Of course this is an individual acting, but he's doing so on what he believes to be God's orders. I have come to understand that the actions of the individual should not be placed on the group, but 'the group' has in the past not given a damn about what happens to non-believers. Religious texts condemn people who don't believe. They call us evil, foolish, unwise, reprobate, lacking morals, and on and on and on and on and on and on. Where is the line between what peoples' religious texts tell them, and the individual begins?
It is nigh on impossible to convince good people that folks have in the past, are currently, and will in the future act in horrible ways in the name of their God.
Are you aware that in Middle Eastern and Asian countries, and many other countries all over the world, Christians are the ones being beaten, tortured, and thrown in jail, just for owning a bible or having underground churches? There's a book called Jesus Freaks containing hundreds of stories of true events that are happening and have happened all over the world, just because people are Christians. I don't know if you're saying its Christians who do this kind of stuff or not, but if you are, you should read about what's happening to Christians all over the world too.
The bible says "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son; that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life". There have definately been times in the OT when God destroyed evil nations and killed evil people, but that doesn't mean everyone is "evil". I will without hesitation say that there are atheists, agnostics, etc. who are good people. But everyone, including me, has sinned. The point I'm trying to make is God doesn't want to condemn people, and he definately doesn't want Christians to cause damage. If someone is to blame, its the person, not the religion.
In your opinion those doing horrid acts in the name of religion are 'fools'. Are you aware that it is acceptable in these forums to quote Bible verses that claim atheists are fools? It is perfectly acceptable for someone to place in their signature that anyone who does not believe in God is a fool. This is accepted because God said so. Its accepted because its in someone's religious text. But call someone who believes in a God a retard ( a common, colloquial term meaning lacking common sense), and the condemnation is swift and sure.
I appreciate your take on the OP, but it does not address cases where folks have legitimate concerns about the accuracy of God claims. Let the record state that you disavow acts of barbarity done in God's name. But let the record also show these things occurred, and will occur again if we lose vigil. Religion will always claim those who disagree have not thought enough, tried enough, cared enough, given enough, prayed enough, tithed enough. It will always claim those who do not see God are somehow flawed. And all along it will dismiss anything that does not conform to its perception, facts be danged.
I do think those people are fools. And I think its foolish for a Christian to condemn someone for saying they're a retard. I also think its not very kind of the person saying they're a retard to say that.
Everyone is flawed. Its part of the human nature. Christians are flawed. The only difference between Christians and Atheists is that Christians believe that Jesus died for them, and Atheists don't believe in a God at all.
Nah, I've been able to see that all are human, all are capable of good and bad. What I see is claims for a god that are imperfect, fallible, and in many cases outright false.
I'm glad you don't have exceedingly high expectations of perfection for Christians.
