Ba-a-a-a-a-hhhh!!!
Honest question here…what’s up with this “sheep” thing? I thought the Christians were the sheep (of Jesus’ “flock”). Am I wrong - are the non-Christians sheep - and whose “flock” do they belong to? Are we all sheep, Christians and non-Christians alike? Just curious as to what the intent is behind the designation.
If someone could explain, I’d appreciate it!
Yes and no. And I want to be clear on this: I think that to a person who is not up to (or not interested in) the, um, challenging atmosphere here, it may very easily appear as if the Board is intolerant of Christians. Heck, I think to an outsider reviewing just the Pit, it must seem like we eat our dead over here – and sometime after killing them ourselves, and sometimes before they’re all the way dead.
This can be a rigorous place to hang out. Yeah, MPSIMS and the Cafe can be fun, but if you can’t run with the big dogs in the Pit (and to a lesser extent, Great Debates), you’d be wise to stay on the porch.
Beliefs are challenged here, and unfortunately sometimes not very respectfully. It is not enough to hold a position – not even through faith – you will be expected to defend it and, in so doing, prove you’ve thought about it and know what the hell you’re talking about. Some people find it exhilerating and even addicting; some people find it intimidating and even meanspirited.
When people challenge what you believe (and sometimes are not terribly respectful doing so), it can sure feel like an attack. If that is the perception of some, well, I think it’s a defensible one. I don’t think it’s actually true, and I think those who know the Board know it isn’t true, but it can sure look like it from the outside.
The Christians are the sheep. The idea is, that even in such a Godless and wicked place as the SDMB, there may yet be a handful of people who are (without getting into the whole predestination thing) destined to be saved.
The rest of us are “goats”.
See, for example, John, chapter 10 and Matthew 25:31-46.
Aaah, gotcha - thanks. I thought that was it, but Darwin Finch’s post had a quote that talked about “sheep on your way to one helluva barbecue” and I just got all confuzzled…
Bart Simpson, on Hell:
{b]Minty -** -
Does this mean we’re not “best friends” anymore?
sob…sob…
I think the source of that quote was the confuzzled one.
There’s a certain type of Christian that get very excited about the prospect of The Other suffering forever. A bit…too excited. “Fundie porn” is a good general term for it.
I can only imagine that type must really get on Poly’s last nerve. They certainly don’t do his religion any favors.
Well, Poly,
I splained it to 'em.
If ya wants ta save heathens, well, you have to go out where the heathens is a doin their heathenin. Don’t make no sense spendin yer time savin the righteous.
God loves you, Dopers. He loves each and every one of you. He doesn’t want you to go to hell. He told me to tell you that. Really.
Tris
“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength; loving someone deeply gives you courage.” ~ Lao-Tzu ~
[ul]Can you tell the rest of us how to get on that email list? :)[/ul]
I would recommend making of your heart a dwelling place for the Lord. Give your entire being over to the task of loving each and every soul you meet as if that person was the Lord God, Himself.
The journey itself is the destination, my brother, and you will find Him traveling along with us, if you come along. I fear we will get lost, now and then, and we will need to help each other on the way. But that too, is part of the journey.
With your heart set to find love, and opened to Him, read the Gospels, and seek Him in your own heart. If you really want me to speak more of this with you, we should make that a more personal matter than is appropriate for a public forum. Or, find those whom you know who live their own lives as you think the Lord might live. Speak with them of your desire to hear from God.
Tris.
" It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching." ~ Saint Francis Of Assisi ~
Good things about hell.
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None of that annoying check-in procedure like with St. Peter.
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Due to recent health code changes, vats of boiling brimstone
now use low-fat canola oil. (Allthough you can still get olive oil if you know the right demons). -
Your “Do you smell something burning?” slays 'em, year after year.
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Plenty of legal help available for filing “wrongful death” lawsuit.
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Satan’s confused attempts to torture masochists can be highly
entertaining. -
Prizes awarded for best crank phone calls to God.
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Everywhere you look, there’s a smoking section!
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Your little “blue flame” trick now produces spectacular results.
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Free Microsoft software for everyone (as per agreement made back in early 80’s).
If Pastors and Priests and Ministers are de-emphasizing or re-interpreting hell, I’d say it makes sense. Hell sets up a fundamental theological dilemma (an all-loving God who has concocted a very elaborate system of torture) – one that discredits Christianity for us non-Christians, and drives the faithful away from their churches.
Fear of punishment has never been a good deterrant.
The other comment that struck me was the “church as a moral compass.” I find this a very strange idea, because I find that individuals, acting as individuals, are better able to make moral decisions than institutions and organizations. I have trouble imagining any organization – which can easily diffuse responsibility – acting as a moral compass.
The best Christian writers whose works I’ve read are the “Christian humanists” of the Renaissance and the Middle Ages, and they were criticizing their Churches, their popes, and their priests. They saw no problem with the individual Christian acting as a “moral compass” for the Church.
Well, naturally. And yes, at times it IS somewhat aggravating to hear.
I guess my point is, people should stick around and pay attention-because I DON’T see this board, by and large, as being anti-Christian. We challenge everyone. To me, if someone can’t stand to see their beliefs challenged-if it’s actually something they think of as the most awful thing that can happen-then it shows that they are close-minded. And exactly what the SDMB is fighting against.
And yes, it is defensive. But I mean, people who stick around, and pay attention-and STILL think we bash Christianity.
I just think that dismissing it out of hand.
As for Hell-my take on that-if you’re only doing good and believing in God and following the Bible just to avoid Hell-and not because it’s the right thing to do-then that’s not the right reason. People shouldn’t need a fear of Hell, or even a promise of Heaven to do what is right.
Also, we DON’T eat our dead around here? DAMN!!!
BTW, is yourgoingtohell.com REAL? Because it’s too funny!
[sub]I’m not dead yet…
I’m feeling much better, really…[/sub]
not sure if yourgoingtohell.com is real or not, but the muzak version of “Rebel Yell” just about had me on the floor.
They do eat Young Earth Creationists over in Great Debates; I’ve seen it. I don’t think they even kill them first. It’s not pretty. Snap, snap, snarl, and then you see the poor fool tripping on his own assumptions, and fall down. After that, there’s no chance for them.
Martyrs always have it tough, though. It comes with the territory.
Tris
“Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” ~ Will Rogers ~
Yes, but YEC’s are NOT our children (I don’t know whose children they are, and don’t WANT to know).
And, after that “doofus” remark, I’ve got a carving set with Minty’s name on it ::evil smiley::
Polycarp-- just a couple of neutral questions about that board. Is it non-denominational or specifically evangelical Christian or what? Does the board have a particular platform or is it an undifferentiated collection of Christians in general? Sort of in the greater Protestant line? (I ask because I note some sort of vaguely (not anti- but definitely) non-Mormon threads, but also a thread which is critical of a writer’s overstatements about Gnosticism. . . some are not too keen on Catholicism or Calvinism, either. . . I’m confused)
The last three times I did that, I didn’t get any contact information at all. All three were non-believers.
Wow, people who are decent and good, yet don’t believe in a higher power. What is the world coming to?