# Are you a Christian? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 15, 2003, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-christian/175498 "2003-05-15T18:35:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jackie\_lee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@jackie\_lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackie_lee)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-christian/175498/1 "2003-05-15T18:35:30Z")
After denial for many years I have finally figured this out. I am not who I thought I was. I was fooling myself. I thought I was A Christian but came to the final conclusion today. I am no christian! I have no evidence of being a christian. I don’t go to Church that is one of the smallest of my sins. My patience is slim to none. I was so impatient today I had a panic attack. Christians are supposed to have love for their fellow man, I don’t think I have that. I rant and cuss at times, knowing it is not right but do it just the same. I am married but still lust at times I have no control. I love my dogs more than I love people. Don’t beat me up I been doing this for years. I am what is called a hipocrit. I have been pretending to be a christian when all it is is my morals, I do still have morals. I am so glad I finally realize I am just a sinner and nothing more. I write this with the hope that others don’t fool themselves like I have fooled myself and others too. I don’t know If I will ever be a christian. I am a believer but I have no fruits to offer.:smack: Give yourself a reality check I hope you find that you are a christian. I am not!:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-christian/175498/2 "2003-05-15T18:44:43Z")
**Jackie** - Do you want to be a Christian? I mean what is wrong with living a truthful life, being honest to people you meet and most importantly being honest with yourself? You sound like you were raised to fear sin…Is that true? If so why? I have much love for my fellow man, however I am not a christian. You seem like you are beating yourself up for nothing… By the way, the whole thing about being married and having lust…Are you not human. It’s acting on the thoughts that makes one dishonest, but having the thoughts just makes you human. I feel silly for even posting to this thread, as the format you put your OP in is kind of the Acme template for not being a christian… ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-christian/175498/3 "2003-05-15T19:01:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\*Are you a Christian? \*\* No. Any other questions? ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-christian/175498/4 "2003-05-15T19:08:17Z")
what about the “just forgiven” clause? ---
**Author:** ![jackie\_lee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@jackie\_lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackie_lee)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-christian/175498/5 "2003-05-15T19:09:37Z")
Hi Phlosphr, I am the one that should feel silly. I have believed for years I was a christian and realized I am not one. I don’t know if I am afraid of sin but I was under the impression Christians should have higher standards. I am just going to be me from now on. ---
**Author:** ![5-HT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/f19dbf/32.png) [@5-HT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5-HT)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-christian/175498/6 "2003-05-15T19:11:53Z")
And the debate here would be…? ---
**Author:** ![UnwrittenNocturne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/6de8d8/32.png) [@UnwrittenNocturne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UnwrittenNocturne)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-christian/175498/7 "2003-05-15T19:12:45Z")
Hi **jackie lee** OK, I am not a christian. You may well be. I do not believe there is any requirement for you to give up your essential humanity to be one. ---
**Author:** ![Super\_Gnat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Super\_Gnat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Super_Gnat)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-christian/175498/8 "2003-05-15T19:12:57Z")
No one is perfect. That’s why we need forgiveness from Jesus. If Christians were supposed to be perfect, then we’d all be doomed. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-christian/175498/9 "2003-05-15T19:15:30Z")
I think your resolution to _just be you_ is the correct one. > [@](#): > > I don’t know if I am afraid of sin but I was under the impression Christians should have higher standards. Higher standards huh? Higher standards than whom? Those of us who are not Christians, say a buddhist monk, or anyone of dharmic beliefs? I am slightly kidding, but be careful of whatv you write on these boards, we have our fair share of Die Hard Fundamentalist Christians, and fundy agnostics, atheists etc…etc… I personally believe everyone should have high standards when speaking of another human being, regardless of religion, race, or creed… ---
**Author:** ![UnwrittenNocturne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/6de8d8/32.png) [@UnwrittenNocturne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UnwrittenNocturne)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-christian/175498/10 "2003-05-15T19:21:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Phlosphr \* > \*\*I think your resolution to _just be you_ is the correct one. > > I personally believe everyone should have high standards when speaking of another human being, regardless of religion, race, or creed… \*\* **Phlospher** … well said!! Some of us atheists have pretty high standards ya know…as do most theistically inclined people ---
**Author:** ![Mars\_Horizon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mars_horizon/32/2804_2.png) [@Mars\_Horizon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mars_Horizon)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-christian/175498/11 "2003-05-15T19:26:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Super Gnat \* > **No one is perfect. That’s why we need forgiveness from Jesus.** Sin is a primitive concept, and salvation is religion’s offer to solve a problem of its own creation. Love does quite well on its own. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-christian/175498/12 "2003-05-15T19:43:42Z")
**Mars** - I seem to have heard that before…even if I didn’t -\>Well said! thanks **unwritten** ---
**Author:** ![badchad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b77776/32.png) [@badchad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badchad)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-christian/175498/13 "2003-05-15T19:48:37Z")
Your like most of the Christians I know.😃 ---
**Author:** ![UnwrittenNocturne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/6de8d8/32.png) [@UnwrittenNocturne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UnwrittenNocturne)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-christian/175498/14 "2003-05-15T19:53:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mars Horizon \* > \*\*Sin is a primitive concept, and salvation is religion’s offer to solve a problem of its own creation. > > Love does quite well on its own. \*\* Damn…can I use this? Fabulous ---
**Author:** ![braces\_for\_impact](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/439d5e/32.png) [@braces\_for\_impact](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/braces_for_impact)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-christian/175498/15 "2003-05-15T19:53:07Z")
I agree with a few of the posters on this thread. Be yourself, empthize with people, and above all, do no harm. The assertion of most religions that one is essentially worthless is a powerful driving force against them in this day and age. One does not have to be religious to have a solid moral foundation and an acceptable code of ethics and conduct. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-christian/175498/16 "2003-05-15T19:54:10Z")
Of course I’m a Christian- I’m just not very good at it. ---
**Author:** ![jackie\_lee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@jackie\_lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackie_lee)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-christian/175498/17 "2003-05-15T19:57:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by badchad \* > \*\*Your like most of the Christians I know.😃 \*\* Actually I would think Christians should have higher standards. I have shot that in the foot. As far as you that are atheist don’t be offended. I am coming to the conclusion that we are just who we are believers or non believers. I fooled myself thinking I was a Christian, maybe you can fool yourself in thinking your an atheist.😃 Just be yourself whoever you are. ---
**Author:** ![UnwrittenNocturne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/6de8d8/32.png) [@UnwrittenNocturne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UnwrittenNocturne)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-christian/175498/18 "2003-05-15T20:05:43Z")
**jackie lee** , with all due respect, could you explain _why_ you think that a christian would have higher standards than say an atheist or a buddhist or a muslim? ---
**Author:** ![Mars\_Horizon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mars_horizon/32/2804_2.png) [@Mars\_Horizon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mars_Horizon)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-christian/175498/19 "2003-05-15T20:29:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Phlosphr \* > **Mars - I seem to have heard that before…even if I didn’t -\>Well said!** \*\* Thanks! 🙂 I can’t take credit for it though. You actually prompted me to search for its source, and it turns out it was my paraphrase of something **Dan Barker** said, to wit: “sin is a primitive idea, and salvation is religion’s offer to solve a problem of its own making”. I agree with his statement, but I added the line about love myself, because I feel that his statement is incomplete on its own. ---
**Author:** ![jackie\_lee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@jackie\_lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackie_lee)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-christian/175498/20 "2003-05-15T21:04:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by UnwrittenNocturne \* > \*\ ***jackie lee** , with all due respect, could you explain _why_ you think that a christian would have higher standards than say an atheist or a buddhist or a muslim? \*\* Well I honestly can’t do that. I have thought people get saved from their sin and then they are good and sin very little if at all. I just had this weird concept if you are not a christian then you must be a sinner. Like I said I got a dose of reality today. You know what I feel better now too. I no longer have to be a hipocrit. I still believe in God but I am not considering myself a Christian anymore.🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-christian/175498.md?page=2)