‘Jesus must have been a real dick if some of his followers are any indication.’
I think not. You’ll get your chance to determine that one day for yourself.
Not all followers are as you have indicated. Whether you believe or not is your choice, but the Bible clearly states ‘every knee shall bow and every tongue confess’. So you will have your chance.
Every leader in history has had their ‘fanatical’ followers. It’s up to you to determine on whether or not you group all people in the same class just based on a few.
I am not a Christian, heck I am nearly an atheist.
I dont care if your topic qualifies it or not, but the title is ridiculous. But knowing the kind of posts that you usually …err… (I hate using the same word twice in a sentence) post, I think you just followed a whim. I hope you eventually see what I mean. For the majority of the world’s population, speaking of their God like this even in jest (or whatever) hurts them deeply.
I am not a follower of the bible, or of the religions that look to it. So I don’t necessarily believe that statement Ultress.
I find the tactics of these campus nuts to be offensive. The fact that they use them in the name of religion is even more repugnant to me.
As far as what is appropriate for the pit, I am suprised that you folks find this not appropriate. So it’s ok to bash other people, to let go on any other topic we feel like venting on, we just can’t vent on religions or use sacrosanct words in the topic? :rolleyes:
The thread itself is fine. I did not in any manner intend to bash Drain. I can understand how she feels to be accosted by these kind of people.
And, I try hard not to step on people’s toes when it comes to faith and religion. I don’t try to force my opinion on anyone. I just wanted to point out that the title did cut, maybe that’s more a personal issue, but hey, if you don’t let people know then they don’t know. It may not make a difference, but then again, maybe it will.
The thread would have been just as good, with a different title.
I personally would have chosen other words to illustrate my point. And it’s not the fact that I’m a Christian, either. I would never start a thread entitled “Mohammed must have been a real asshole…” or “The Dalai Lama is a real fruitcake…” either.
NOT because I don’t think that Jesus or Mohammed, et al, would be offended. As charismatic leaders they no doubt have a rocking sense of humor.
But a lot of their followers do NOT.
And to use such words, even in jest, is patently offensive to a lot of people. So I would avoid it in deference to universally accepted courtesies.
Of course, this IS the pit, and if you get deeply offended by such words, you should probably stick to MPSIMS.
Well no shit, eh? What part of the word “some” did you not understand? I think you’ve missed the point of the thread, which is “those obnoxious campus preacher types are making it seem that Jesus was obnoxius”… get it?
My question is this…Why do so many of the SDMB Christians and sympathizers bother to continue posting to threads like this? There is a wealth of them. And yes it does seem that over in Great Debates the subject of Christians as fools seems to be a favorite troll technique. Why bother? Haven’t any of you realized that no matter how well thought out or heartfelt your argument might be you will eventually be either attacked or ridiculed for your stance? Hasn’t it become aparent to you by now that here at the SDMB it is not only politically correct to stereotype Christians but to infer that they are not just stupid for their beliefs but responsible for all manner of social injustices? You are kicking a dead horse. You are being baited so that Bill Nye the Science guy can impress the teeming with his knowledge and reason. And when you argue that there are some things yet unexplained by science so you are simply going on faith (which would be true for any belief system) then they bring out the Invisible Pink Unicorns and call you blind fool. Ignore them for awhile and maybe we can begin to see some threads that are actually about something interesting. This is just tired.
Apparently you didn’t get it. Drain’s point (Drain, correct me if I’m wrong) is that these loudmouthed obnoxious people are giving Christianity a bad name. She never said that all Christians were like that, or that it seemed they were. Your “point” has nothing to do with this thread, as nowhere were “all” indicated PERIOD.
No actually I took her point to be that ALL Christians were giving it a bad name…point being the guy himself…Jesus must have been a real dick…Isn’t that the title after all.
My point is that these religon debates are pointless an oft times started by people who can’t find anything real to debate. Doesn’t Drain Bead have enough sense to realize that not all Christians accost students on campus or in front of Planned Parenthood clinics? I would hope she does. She was trolling when she wrote that title and started this thread and a big bunch of you bought into it again. Just like with the “Religons are right about this…” thread, and so many others. When will you all stop attempting to address these threads. It makes me sad to see so many sincere people trying desparately to make someone understand the basis of their sprituality. Only to be ridiculed and made fun of by a group of people that claim superior knowledge but don’t have the manners and decency to respect someone else’s desire for spirituality.
Don’t tell these people what you believe. It’s none of their business. They aren’t asking these questions out of a heartfelt desire to understand the nature of your beliefs. They are simply looking for an opportunity to ridicule you. This type of behavior is usually reserved for those who seriously lack confidence in themselves. They must constantly be one-upping someone or putting others down in order to make themselves feel big and superior. And it’s so damned easy to score across a person’s belief system because of the very nature of it. After all anything a person might simply believe that isn’t backed up by thus proven scientific fact can be disputed. It hasn’t been proved and most probably never will be. But then that is the true nature of spirituality isn’t it? It’s so intangible, it relies on faith alone.
Anyway, I had so say this again. I come back from the weekend and here again, the Pit this time. Another Christian bashing thread, silly really when I see so many Straight Dopers always talking about how smart posters on the SDMB are supposed to be. Maybe one day they will all be polite, considerate, self-confident, and smart enough to leave this subject alone.
The thread wasn’t a problem. The content wasn’t a problem. I stated my opinion that I thought the title was crude even for the pit. I really don’t care what people think about my beliefs.
I agree with you needs, which is why I rarely post to any religion threads.
Uh, hello, Needs2Know, could you please stop chucking those stones? You’re going to hurt someone. Do you really need me to point out Jenkinsfan’s “Scripture Verses” thread? That one wasn’t started by one of those science-lovin’ Dopers.
Ultress…you are wise in that my Southern sister. Hey, how ya been lately anyway? Had any good Hairy Navels on the deck lately? I’m out of peach schnaps but if you give me chance to run to the liquor store we’ll mix one up when I get back and watch the lightening bugs for awhile.
That’s exactly it. And frankly, those Christians who are offended should realize that people like this are drowning them out. I in no way meant that Jesus WAS a real dick. I meant that if these people are truly acting in Jesus’ name and according to his beliefs (which they are not, hence my calling them “Christians” instead of Christians), they make Jesus appear as if he was just as much of an asshole as they are. But he’s not, so there’s a contradiction there. And I don’t see why REAL Christians attack my words while ignoring the fact that there are people like Brother Jed and Fred Phelps who every day give their faith a bad name, and get a lot more attention doing so than my little thread title, which most people sorely misinterpreted to mean that I was saying that Jesus and everyone who follows him are a bunch of dicks.
I’ve met wonderful Christians, including a couple in Myrtle Beach who I worked for a few years ago who I am still looking for to this day (the restaurant closed down and I have no forwarding address…I know that the husband, Rocky Fretz, works for the Carolina Opry and runs a mission for homeless alcoholic and drug abusing men in Myrtle Beach). The thing is, they’re all drowned out by the actions of those I mention above. For each shining example of faith who lives his or her life quietly, it seems to me that there are a ton of people who make the good ones look bad simply by association.
In short, Christians, not everyone who is a non-Christian is automatically attacking your faith when they mention it. I have the utmost respect for real Christians, who try their best to live their lives as the Bible tells them to, who love their neighbors as themselves, who are not quick to judge or anger, and who do not retaliate with vengeance against those who wrong them (see the tackling men above for a good example of what NOT to do with that one). If you do your best to live like that, you’re well on your way to being a damn good person, and there’s not a thing wrong with that. It’s those who don’t, but then noisily claim that they’re in the right because they supposedly have Jesus on their side, who I take objection to.
And instead of taking objection to me, you should take objection to them too. It’s your faith they’re maligning, after all.
The annoying, assholic Christians that give the religion a bad name get more attention than the kind, caring, loving Christians who attend church, don’t swear, and follow the teachings of the church.
Really, Daniel. Isn’t this a little immature and stupid for these boards? I gave you more credit than this. Many people care what aenea thinks but that goes without saying. I am not defending aenea because she needs no defending. This little statement of yours is beneath even the most ridiculous of trolls. Please stick to either saying something useful or not saying anything at all. If you feel you must hurl childish phrases rather than post intelligent discussion, please start a new thread.
the problem is lack of independent thought process.
religion as such is little more than rules for each and every member of society to follow.
religion challenges the faith you have in your self.
religion is not enforcing definitions the catholic or any other church creates for the bible or other holy books.
religion is practicing it!
thus, you can not force other people than your self into practicing said definitions. because no matter how much you yell or protest, you can never make other people belive what you do.
said that, i give the finger to abortion protesters!