# To Dishonest "Christians" **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 8, 2018, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-dishonest-christians/812019 "2018-04-08T09:52:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![MoodIndigo1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e8c25b/32.png) [@MoodIndigo1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoodIndigo1)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-dishonest-christians/812019/81 "2018-04-13T00:56:19Z")
People believe whatever helps them make it through the night. Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Shinto, Sikhism, atheistic humanism, whatever, it’s a private choice. The only specific problem I have with many American Christians now is their insistence that Trump was chosen by God to lead them into a brighter future, and their desire to bear witness to their small-fingered quasi-Messiah with every other breath they take. Liar, dishonest, violent, adulterous, greedy, it all spells Christlike to them. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-dishonest-christians/812019/82 "2018-04-13T04:37:08Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > He says he’s a Christian, therefore he’s forgiven of his sins, just like they are. Besides, he’s gonna nominate judges who will save the babies and the guns. Simple, really. Check out this billboard that’s gone up around North Carolina. In short, it says that the Second Commandment supersedes the 2nd Amendment. [http://www.newsobserver.com/living/religion/article208471664.html](http://www.newsobserver.com/living/religion/article208471664.html) Dumpster’s fan base is not because he claims to be Christian, but because he claims to be Republican. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-dishonest-christians/812019/83 "2018-04-13T16:58:18Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Check out this billboard that’s gone up around North Carolina. In short, it says that the Second Commandment supersedes the 2nd Amendment. > > [http://www.newsobserver.com/living/religion/article208471664.html](http://www.newsobserver.com/living/religion/article208471664.html) > > Dumpster’s fan base is not because he claims to be Christian, but because he claims to be Republican. :dubious: … and the billboard sparks **outrage**. Irony. Uh huh. This is a Christian country founded on Christian principles and the ten commandments, following Gawd’s law and a literal reading of the King James Bible (yeah, in English (I mean Amurrican) after many editorial changes and various inaccurate translations) … **EXCEPT when it doesn’t fucking suit us.** Got it! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-dishonest-christians/812019/84 "2018-04-13T17:01:14Z")
If there’s one thing we’ve learned as a society over the last few years, it’s that there’s no more effective way to change things for the better than to get up and loudly start ranting about how your opponents are fucking morons because of their beliefs. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-dishonest-christians/812019/85 "2018-04-13T17:06:29Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > If there’s one thing we’ve learned as a society over the last few years, it’s that there’s no more effective way to change things for the better than to get up and loudly start ranting about how your opponents are fucking morons because of their beliefs. I don’t think the current crop are morons. That I might forgive. I think these bastards know exactly what they are doing. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-dishonest-christians/812019/86 "2018-04-13T17:18:29Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > If there’s one thing we’ve learned as a society over the last few years, it’s that there’s no more effective way to change things for the better than to get up and loudly start ranting about how your opponents are fucking morons because of their beliefs. So let us know when the Right gets that clue. Telling the left to stop insulting the right while the right just keep spewing hate, ignorance and openly encouraging violence against the left is kinda one sided and stupid, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![SaneBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@SaneBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaneBill)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-dishonest-christians/812019/87 "2018-04-13T17:25:57Z")
That’s turning the other cheek. ( And we still have two more after that ) ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-dishonest-christians/812019/88 "2018-04-13T17:27:37Z")
> [@SaneBill](#): > > That’s turning the other cheek. > > ( And we still have two more after that ) I prefer, from the Book of Stone Cold … Austin 3:16 ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-dishonest-christians/812019/89 "2018-04-13T17:43:21Z")
> [@SaneBill](#): > > That’s turning the other cheek. > > ( And we still have two more after that ) What I’m refusing to accept is the claim that the left is as bad as the right and should turn that cheek and be silent in the face of lies, slander and the incitement of violence. Then you wonder why Republicans think you’re a bunch of pussies. :rolleyes: No, that doesn’t mean that we do the same, lying, slandering, inciting violence. If they can’t take the name calling, then Republicans are a bunch of pansy-assed snowflake pussies who can’t take what they dish out. Boo freakin’ hoo. ---
**Author:** ![SaneBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@SaneBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaneBill)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-dishonest-christians/812019/90 "2018-04-13T17:49:54Z")
Yes, fire away with all you have and then some. I was just pointing out that it’s not the “Christians” but rather the Liberals and Atheists who are doing as Jesus told to do. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-dishonest-christians/812019/91 "2018-04-13T17:56:09Z")
> [@SaneBill](#): > > Yes, fire away with all you have and then some. > I was just pointing out that it’s not the “Christians” but rather the Liberals and Atheists who are doing as Jesus told to do. Yes, not just that, but desiring to feed the poor (welfare, food stamps), heal the sick (Obamacare) and treat everyone as equal. How dare we do what Jesus commands them to do, when they don’t want to do it? ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-dishonest-christians/812019/92 "2018-04-13T18:05:33Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > If there’s one thing we’ve learned as a society over the last few years, it’s that there’s no more effective way to change things for the better than to get up and loudly start ranting about how your opponents are fucking morons because of their beliefs. You expect them to come to that conclusion on their own? How are they going to do that? They’re fucking morons. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-dishonest-christians/812019/93 "2018-04-13T18:08:40Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > If there’s one thing we’ve learned as a society over the last few years, it’s that there’s no more effective way to change things for the better than to get up and loudly start ranting about how your opponents are fucking morons because of their beliefs. Does that work both ways? ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-dishonest-christians/812019/94 "2018-04-13T21:44:06Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Does that work both ways? No. ---
**Author:** ![Arcite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/67e7ee/32.png) [@Arcite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arcite)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-dishonest-christians/812019/95 "2018-04-13T22:16:55Z")
> [@SaneBill](#): > > Yes, fire away with all you have and then some. > I was just pointing out that it’s not the “Christians” but rather the Liberals and Atheists who are doing as Jesus told to do. Really? Do atheists [love the Lord their God with all their heart and with all their soul and with all their mind](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+22%3A34-40&version=ESV)? Do atheists [pray “our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name,”](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A9-13&version=ESV) etc., etc.? Do atheists [baptize people in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+28%3A16-20&version=ESV)? Do atheists believe that [it’s a sin to get remarried after divorce](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+16%3A18&version=ESV)? Do atheists [do and observe whatever the scribes and Pharisees tell them](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+23%3A1-3&version=ESV)? Do they [do and teach others to do the commandments of the Old Testament Law, in the hopes of being called great in the kingdom of heaven](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A17-20&version=ESV)? Those atheists, so selective in their application of Jesus’ teachings. What a bunch of hypocrites! ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-dishonest-christians/812019/96 "2018-04-13T22:26:32Z")
> [@Arcite](#): > > Really? > > Do atheists [love the Lord their God with all their heart and with all their soul and with all their mind](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+22%3A34-40&version=ESV)? > Do atheists [pray “our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name,”](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A9-13&version=ESV) etc., etc.? > Do atheists [baptize people in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+28%3A16-20&version=ESV)? > Do atheists believe that [it’s a sin to get remarried after divorce](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+16%3A18&version=ESV)? > Do atheists [do and observe whatever the scribes and Pharisees tell them](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+23%3A1-3&version=ESV)? Do they [do and teach others to do the commandments of the Old Testament Law, in the hopes of being called great in the kingdom of heaven](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A17-20&version=ESV)? > > Those atheists, so selective in their application of Jesus’ teachings. What a bunch of hypocrites! I’m not 100% certain what **SaneBill** ’s point was, but I’m pretty sure you missed it. (My working theory is that he thinks that Jesus’s true message was to be good people, and that secular humanistic atheists are better at that than many christians. Personally I think that Jesus’s message was that everybody was going to be dead by 60bce, which very few modern atheists agree with, but whatevs.) Also, and the real point of this post, is that I think it’s hilarious that some of the things you called out atheists for, many christians don’t believe either! So on the subject of selectivity and hypocrites… ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-dishonest-christians/812019/97 "2018-04-13T23:57:33Z")
I had always thought that the Lord’s Prayer was a wonderful example of people missing the point of the lesson. “Don’t just repeat prayers loudly like the Pharisees do. If you’re going to pray, try something quiet and sincere, like this:” Which lead to that particular prayer being run through quickly and repeatedly enough to add the term “patter” to the language. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-dishonest-christians/812019/98 "2018-04-14T00:03:03Z")
> [@Arcite](#): > > Really? > > Do atheists [love the Lord their God with all their heart and with all their soul and with all their mind](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+22%3A34-40&version=ESV)? > Do atheists [pray “our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name,”](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A9-13&version=ESV) etc., etc.? > Do atheists [baptize people in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+28%3A16-20&version=ESV)? > Do atheists believe that [it’s a sin to get remarried after divorce](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+16%3A18&version=ESV)? > Do atheists [do and observe whatever the scribes and Pharisees tell them](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+23%3A1-3&version=ESV)? Do they [do and teach others to do the commandments of the Old Testament Law, in the hopes of being called great in the kingdom of heaven](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A17-20&version=ESV)? > > Those atheists, so selective in their application of Jesus’ teachings. What a bunch of hypocrites! Did Jesus tell us to love our neighbors? Secularists may or may not follow the greatest of Jesus’s commands, but only the religious use religion as an excuse when they don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-dishonest-christians/812019/99 "2018-04-14T00:07:58Z")
> [@DavidwithanR](#): > > I don’t mean those who cheat or steal. > > I do mean the ones who claim to “believe” shit that no sane person - barely even any _in_sane people - could honestly believe. Why are you not angry at “Christians” who cheat or steal? How are they excluded from your anger? > [@JRDelirious](#): > > Y’know, touchscreens will be the death of us all when someone accidentally summons Cthulhu. I hope he hurries up. We could use a good cleansing. The remnants of humanity will bond together as we re-build society. Sounds good, right about now. How many key combinations do you reckon we need to hit? > [@begbert2](#): > > I’m not 100% certain what **SaneBill** ’s point was, but I’m pretty sure you missed it. (My working theory is that he thinks that Jesus’s true message was to be good people, and that secular humanistic atheists are better at that than many christians. Personally I think that Jesus’s message was that everybody was going to be dead by 60bce, which very few modern atheists agree with, but whatevs.) I agree. I think the argument was that a core tenet of Christianity is care for others, and being a decent person (Do unto others, judge not, and all that good stuff), and it often seems that members of many religions (not just Christians) fall into rigid thinking about the rules, rather than the spirit of the teachings. What’s the current bet on whether **Ravid** returns? ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-dishonest-christians/812019/100 "2018-04-14T04:21:26Z")
> [@begbert2](#): > > I’m not 100% certain what **SaneBill** ’s point was, but I’m pretty sure you missed it. (My working theory is that he thinks that Jesus’s true message was to be good people, and that secular humanistic atheists are better at that than many christians. Personally I think that Jesus’s message was that everybody was going to be dead by 60bce, which very few modern atheists agree with, but whatevs.) > > Also, and the real point of this post, is that I think it’s hilarious that some of the things you called out atheists for, many christians don’t believe either! So on the subject of selectivity and hypocrites… Didn’t you mean “by 60CE?” (or A.D. if one is so inclined?) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-dishonest-christians/812019.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-dishonest-christians/812019.md?page=6)