| Jul 18 @ 2:56 PM |
Do you think Christians should water down Christianity?
|
|
bevrice
Posts: 11,144
|
Do you think Christians should water down Christianity to make it pallitable to unbelievers and lure them in?
|
|
  |
|
| Jul 18 @ 3:05 PM |
Do you think Christians should water down Christianity? |
|
LanceVarden7
Posts: 835
|
I think there is a big difference between "watering down" and presenting in a non-offensive matter. I don't think you ever really grasped that difference.
|
| |
|
| Jul 18 @ 3:15 PM |
Do you think Christians should water down Christianity?
|
|
Thor1960303
Posts: 1,887
|
Do you think Christians should water down Christianity to make it pallitable to unbelievers and lure them in?
No, I think you should continue to be an unreasonable as you presently are. That way, as society progresses and you fail to move on with the rest of the world, you will finally be seen by thinking people everywhere as what you truly are: Mentally ill people following a dogma of death.
Kind of like how Hank Hill described body piercing, "You might think it strange, but I think body piercing is a good thing. That way you can tell folks ain't right just by looking at them. "
|
|
| |
|
| Jul 18 @ 3:20 PM |
Do you think Christians should water down Christianity? |
|
Loreli
Posts: 20,319
|
I believe there are places and people to "preach", and it's understandable.
MD is not it.
I believe ALL people should live a loving,benevolent life.
I believe as said in another thread
No harm to self
No harm to others
No harm to planet
Cramming any religion down people's throats does not lure them in-it keeps them away,
|
| |
|
| Jul 18 @ 3:31 PM |
Do you think Christians should water down Christianity?
|
|
sail_dancer
Posts: 8,601
|
Bev,
Do you think Christians should water down Christianity to make it pallitable to unbelievers and lure them in? No, I don/t think that christianity should water down anything. They have been doing this for years already to boost their converts. Every time a new denomination or new non-denominational church is started, something is being watered down.
I think that it is about time that christians are made to substantiate their dogma to the rest of the world. Not the BS you continue to throw around the R&S forum, but solid proof that what you peddal is true. Christians can't even agree with each other about christian dogma. Look at all the different denominations that exist.
Christians themselves have done more to destroy christianity than anyone or anything else. If christians cannot agree with each other about the meaning of scripture, then how can they attack non-christian interpretations of the bible?
Peace
|
|
| |
|
| Jul 18 @ 3:47 PM |
Do you think Christians should water down Christianity? |
|
bevrice
Posts: 11,144
|
Sail, I woul never attend a church that watered down Christianity. I grew up in one of those, one, like I am sure, that Lance attends. To make Christianity 'presentable' is to lure people into a lukewarm useless faith that is simply a millstone around your neck.
To be a Christian, truly, is the hardest thing anyone can ever do, anyone who tells you differently is lying to you. When you first become a Christian, if anything can go wrong in your life, it usually does, the devil doesn't give up easily what is his.
I am not going to tell anyone that it is easy. I am not going to lure someone in and then let them be zapped by how hard it is to be a Christian. Jesus said the road is narrow to the kingdom, but the road to hell is wide.
Lance that presentable road is the wide one. I grew up in a church that just sugar coated everything, a powerless church that didn't operate in the Holy Spirit, a church that I have heard the minister say, well, the Bible says this, but that isn't true. One that made people think that everything was honey and roses, but had nothing more to offer. Something worth having is worth working for, worth working toward. Paul didn't sugar coat it, nor did he make it 'presentable'. He fussed at the people for having milk faiths and not being led by the Holy Spirit, not having that baptism. He simply presented the truth, the facts. The word is what it is.
|
| |
|
| Jul 18 @ 3:49 PM |
Do you think Christians should water down Christianity?
|
|
16knots
Posts: 3,627
|
Love you Loreli. 
|
|
| |
|
| Jul 18 @ 3:50 PM |
Do you think Christians should water down Christianity? |
|
Loreli
Posts: 20,319
|
 Love you too, Knotty!
|
| |
|
| Jul 18 @ 3:53 PM |
Do you think Christians should water down Christianity?
|
|
bevrice
Posts: 11,144
|
Lore this is a Religion and Spirituality thread, and just as MD is not a political site, there is a political forum, there is a cooking forum, but MD is not a cooking site. You don't have to participate if you don't like it. I don't go into the political one because I am not political at all and care nothing about politics. I do go into the cooking one because I love to cook.
|
|
| |
|
| Jul 18 @ 3:57 PM |
Do you think Christians should water down Christianity? |
|
bevrice
Posts: 11,144
|
Thor, for you, like knots, I am going to pray for the Lord to move through your life in a might way, in whatever way He thinks is right. Now, if you don't believe, that shouldn't bother you a tiny bit.
|
| |
|
| Jul 18 @ 4:03 PM |
Do you think Christians should water down Christianity?
|
|
bevrice
Posts: 11,144
|
Lance, I could throw up that smokescreen, just like you do, but they would soon find out that it was nothing but smoke, no fire. That is why so many doubt today and have turned away from Christianity, they had all the smoke, but none of the fire and things didn't happen the way that they believed for, so they left it behind them. If I put up something, you can be sure it is fire, and they will know that they are walking into the fire, but they also know, that fire produces results, answers.
|
|
| |
|
| Jul 18 @ 4:05 PM |
Do you think Christians should water down Christianity? |
|
hammertime
Posts: 14,071
|
Do you think Christians should water down Christianity to make it pallitable to unbelievers and lure them in? Christians do whatever they could to lure non-Christians in. They use sales techniques, fear mongering, superstitions, lies, stories, and any marketing strategy available. I have no idea what watering down means. All of Christianity exists as it does because they were always able to force it upon others and murder their enemies. When working within a more civilized society as the USA is supposed to be, they use persuasive tactics on TV and mass media much like circus tent freak show Elmer Gantry revival meetings. Nothing is watered down during these performances but ramped up to put on a good show. Just as Wall St and Madison avenue knows, religion also knows that a sucker is born every minute. Without that sad flaw in people, religion wouldn't have its power to delude the masses. Education is the best sort of defense against superstition and that is why Christianity seeks to destroy the unformed minds of our children before they can learn anything real.
[Edited on 7/18/2008 4:07 PM]
|
| |
|
| Jul 18 @ 4:06 PM |
Do you think Christians should water down Christianity?
|
|
16knots
Posts: 3,627
|
Bevrice:
Thor, for you, like knots, I am going to pray for the Lord to move through your life in a might way, in whatever way He thinks is right. Now, if you don't believe, that shouldn't bother you a tiny bit.
Dont waste your energy! The only thing I would do for you is have you commited and let the little men in green coats take you away because of the stupid, ignorant statements you make!
I find you very offensive.
|
|
| |
|
| Jul 18 @ 4:13 PM |
Do you think Christians should water down Christianity? |
|
Thor1960303
Posts: 1,887
|
Thor, for you, like knots, I am going to pray for the Lord to move through your life in a might way, in whatever way He thinks is right.
Actually, Bev, I appreciate your intent. Seeing as how I grew up around your type, I know your intentions are honest, even if misled by mental illness, superstition and ancient mythical beliefs. You're in my thoughts too, Bev, maybe some day they'll come up with the right meds for you.
|
| |
|
| Jul 18 @ 4:17 PM |
Do you think Christians should water down Christianity?
|
|
bevrice
Posts: 11,144
|
Too late, it is already done. You will see. My prayers shouldn't bother you a bit, you or Thor either one, since neither of you believe, that makes them worthless to you and him, of no consequence, having no power.
|
|
| |
|
| Jul 18 @ 4:20 PM |
Do you think Christians should water down Christianity? |
|
Loreli
Posts: 20,319
|
Bev-
let me clarify.
If people go to church, they expect "preaching."
This is really best spent on "discussion" without going to preaching.
Water it down? No
But don't cram either.
We all have something to teach here! And we can do it by standing by what we say, providing supporting documents, letting others have a chance...everyone will interpret EVERYTHING a little differently. 
|
| |
|
| Jul 18 @ 4:24 PM |
Do you think Christians should water down Christianity?
|
|
hammertime
Posts: 14,071
|
Thor
We don't really know too much about Bev's background. We know a little and enough to speculate that she's been badly abused mentally, emotional, etc and given that Jesus plays that role, she identifies with that. While Buddhism seeks to eliminate suffering, Bev's distorted view of religion glorifies suffering. Hell, even Mother Theresa did that and that is why she allowed the dying to suffer as they did without doing much to ease their pain. With Bev however, its masochist and so she enjoys being the target of what she perceives as mockery. This actually is not uncommon in many fanatical Christian folk. Its like telling someone they're crazy and pissing them off, but with Christians are taught to expect being told they're crazy and using that as a measure of their faith. You see how convoluted and blind this kind of ideology is. Another analogy would be someone who dropped out of high school being told to expect others to say they're stupid and glorifying their own stupidity.
|
|
| |
|
| Jul 18 @ 4:34 PM |
Do you think Christians should water down Christianity? |
|
Thor1960303
Posts: 1,887
|
since neither of you believe, that makes them worthless to you and him, of no consequence, having no power.
Well if the outcome of prayer is contingent upon belief, you're right, they will effect me none in the least. However, meds and therapy are not contingent upon belief. This week I have been suffering from a sinus infection. I was prescribed an antibiotic and recommended an OTC decongestant. It didn't matter whether or not anyone believed their efficacy or not. Science gave a probability factor of it working, I'm putting it to the test and it IS working, my infection has subsided enough for me to go back to work. The "faith" factor is based on years or empirical research and tons of medical documentation as well as peer reviewed, trade journal endorsement. You can look up and find articles on the diagnosis and treatment of sinus infection in the New England Journal of Medicine. That's what my faith in science is based on.
What can religion of any kind claim except psychological comfort? More importantly, what scientific constants can they claim? Historically, what has religion really got to show for man's progress?
|
| |
|
| Jul 18 @ 4:40 PM |
Do you think Christians should water down Christianity?
|
|
bevrice
Posts: 11,144
|
Lol, hammer, NO Christian wants to suffer, where did you come up with that one? Christians are not masochistic. As for Mother or Sister Theresa, I am sure she did what she could, I am not a Catholic, so I don't know much about that. I do seem to remember her getting the Nobel Peace Prize. She must have done something worthwhile. Now, what are YOU doing to alleviate the suffering of others?
By the way, it seems like one of the main buddhist premises is that life means suffering.
|
|
| |
|
| Jul 18 @ 4:46 PM |
Do you think Christians should water down Christianity? |
|
Thor1960303
Posts: 1,887
|
its masochist and so she enjoys being the target of what she perceives as mockery. This actually is not uncommon in many fanatical Christian folk. Its like telling someone they're crazy and pissing them off, but with Christians are taught to expect being told they're crazy and using that as a measure of their faith.
Absolutely Hammer!  The Christian faith thrives on massochism. Week after week, growing up in the Baptist church, I saw the same people walk the isle during invitation. The success of a Baptist preacher's sermon is often gauged by how many deluded "sinners" walk the isle. The reality is, these people probably suffered some type of disorder that caused a particular behavior. Yet because they sat through an emotionally draining, mind raping experience being told how "sinful" they were, they sought the emotinal release of "repentance". Often this added to the show, the repented would get up and give a "testimony" about how God delivered them from (insert compulsive behavior here) adding a certain "credibilty" factor to the show, not unlike how Hollywood uses technical advisors to show how certain things would look to make fiction more believable or how a snake oil salesman used a testimonial from the audience, usually in the form of someone who was paid to act it out.
It's all about the emotional roller coaster ride. People like Bev, Hunt. et al are very sad to me. I have no animosity toward them, only pity. The religiously deluded, in my opinion, are no different from people who take fictional characters on TV seriously, some of them attacking actors on the streets of LA, for their fictional actions they played on a film or TV show when they played a villain.
|
| |
|
|
|
|