Yana Usdi

True enough, but those in Congress now aren't the ones that did all of that stuff through history. And the way this nation looks at religion now isn't the way it was all through our history, in spite of the lies they tell us today. We're looking at the way things are at isolated points and assuming that's the way it's always been while ignoring the parts that don't agree with that.

Yes, they were looking for religious freedom. In 1620. Then they became persecutors themselves. As they spread through the colonies they branched into one isolated encampment of sorts after another each with their own rules, laws, and methods of persecution, and it stayed like that for some time.

We didn't become a nation until 1776, some 156 years and lots of history later. Rhode Island was founded by former Puritan leader Roger Williams when he was expelled from Massachusetts, Quakers were sometimes hung if they were too persistant or in the wrong places, there were a lot of abuses of the same sorts that they had run from. And as a response to that there was also places like Rhode Island which was founded on principles including "God requireth not an uniformity of Religion to be enacted and enforced in any civil state". Jews settled in New York and established services, Quakers and others found refuge in Rhode Island, Pennsylvania was settled by Germans with their own probably Lutheran beliefs given where they were from and they were joined by Mennonites and possibly some Dutch Quakers.

History of religion in the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I'm pretty well aware of the history and I mentioned above that the pilgrims practiced persecutions of their own, and that it lead to the same problems that it had in other places, that's why the nation was set up the way it was. Between the fact that the various colonies had by then been settled by people of so many various beliefs and the fact that trying to impose any of them was a recipe for certain collapse of the nation what they settled on was NO national religion or involvement of religion in the nation. It took quite a few years to convince us that we were "a Christian nation". First they had to get us to forget our actual history and fill us with some fairy tales and out of context stories. Religion did play a role, yes, but not the role we seem to think it did.

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joshpackr

I don't feel like any of it needs to be defended. So, there you go. I think a lot of you folks just want to try to irritate people with your childish antics and I won't participate.

I wonder what would happen around here if I posted something like this about Islam. I bet i'd get flamed.

Now it's your right to dislike Christians or anyone else but I think a lot of these threads are nothing but trolling. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.

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"Imagination disposes of everything; it creates beauty, justice, and happiness, which are everything in this world."
-Blaise Pascal

saulpotter420

This is my own personal beef with Christianity. It frustrates me that a religion that preaches love and acceptance of the world can be so judgemental and hateful. It's like, love thy neighbor, unless he's gay or Harry Potter or something.

Parents raised me Christian, but it's just not for me. I liked this list, but must agree that it had a certain undertones of "Christians are uneducated" which is something I try to stay away from, because I wouldn't like anyone to insinuate that about me and my beliefs.

That bitter way of thinking sheds a bad light on the person conveying it. I do believe that the religion has a high tendency for hypocrisy, but, should we choose to combat that in an intelligent conversation, respect is key. In my humblest of opinions.

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MemphisBBQ

Pluralistic Ignorance, I think i may be repeating this a bit. None of these points should even be defended, anytime I'm ever presented with childish arguments I feel like addressing the REAL problem rather than what you think the problem is.

BUT, this one tickles my fancy.

You complain about christians pressing their beliefs on others, however you express your beliefs with that same freedom of speech, atheists press their beliefs on others too, don't pretend like atheism is the "good guy" here, such a black and white perspective on things doesn't work too well these days.

Persecution of Christians - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It's clear you have a very biased opinion, after all, why would you find evidence that contradicts your arguments if you aren't looking for it. You simply want to see the worst in Christianity, maybe to stay within the comfort zone of your beliefs i don't know, but seeing the nature of this thread it looks like you're simply wanting to vent some kind of deep rooted frustration you have with Christianity.

A2hempchild

I would like to bring up that a lot of people rag on christians for forcing their message upon other people. This is not always the case. More and more these days you will find churches and religions that don't care what you believe. I'm that type of christian. If you are an atheist that is cool with me, and I'm not going to tell you that you will burn like a sinner. I more believe everyone should live under the message of religious texts - ie love thy neighbor or love everyone and such. Not argue over religious subtitles.

That being said many people here have brought up evidence from things like the crusades for anti-religion. Anyone who has done any actual historical reading from this time period will see how blatantly corrupt the catholic church was at that time. Catholics today will more often than not say that the church was far from the teachings of christ during the middle ages.

Any extremist group will destroy an image. This is true for religion as much as it is true for pot users. Christians that force their views on others and believe science is wrong, hurt the christians who take a more modern approach. Same thing with muslims. Those islamic extremists that commit acts of terrorism hurt the image of muslims. 99.9999% of people that practice islam are caring and wonderful people. But of course america sees them as terrorists. This is true with pot as well. Ask a non-pot user what they think about stoners and you will get the - burnout, lazy, hippie, no good to society - answer. Only a few smokers are like that, but it ruins the good one's image.

To all those that bag on mission work. I have done mission work all across America and the world. When I go on mission work I don't throw a bible at these people and say "believe in jesus and your problems will be solved" I go and try and help them live a more peaceful life. I rarely even bring up the word Jesus or God, unless they do. I believe that the message is more important than the specifics.

Sorry that was so long, but not all of us christians are conservative, anti-science, anti-other religion, anti-anything not written exactly in the bible. Hope this may help some of you understand a little better.

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If I listen I have the advantage; if I speak, the others have it.

intangible child

I agree with you on this "churches and religions that don't care what you believe."

It's all about this!



I believe in God, but not as one thing, not as an old man in the sky. I believe that what people call God is something in all of us. I believe that what Jesus and Mohammed and Buddha and all the rest said was right. It's just that the translations have gone wrong. ---John Lennon

TheQuestionMark

Because atheism is the for self proclaimed 'more intelligent' people.

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"I love you Mary Jane"
-Spiderman

Equilibrium

fanatical Christians and fanatical atheists are both equally fucked.

This thread proves it.

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I got hip-hop taste buds
I wanna hear that base when i make love
wanna hear some lyrics when i wake up
write rhymes to get me through a break up

jasonsmith

I am not sure why I am going to put my 2 cents in on this. But its just past midnight and i have had a great day of smoking and working on my thesis.

I am a born again Christian. I grew up non-denominational and pretty much would be classified as Evangelical. Am I that today, some 20 years after I first started going to an Evangelical? Well, I don't think e-vans would think so. After all I am devoted evolutionist. I don't belong to the Christian right politically. I am actually a registered libertarian (you know the political kewl kids ) and don't think federal government should have say in private lives of people. I like listening to Joel Osteen. Why? Well its a positive message and not full of judgement. And his voice is funny sounding and feminit Texan talk. A real joy when you been smok'en!

I guess I see people bag on organize religion and I get it. Christians are dumb because of blah blah blah.I am critical of "religion" to. The consolidation of power is a dangerous thing. However, for me my faith is not about church as much as it is about prayer and thought. I never have forced anyone into being a Christian. I have never converted anyone or "saved" as the e-vans say anyone for that matter. I just sort of do my thing and enjoy life. That includes a little praying now and then. I try to do right by everyone regardless of who they are or whatever. I try to Look at the heart versus the outside. Nobody's perfect but I do my best. That's what I was taught in church. Not to judge people but to love them. I had two different churches growing up. Both pastors at the church made anouncements that he never wanted to hear about a gay church member not feeling welcomed. "We are all Gods children and all are welcomed" kind of idea. Pretty good stuff looking back at it. That was 1993 before it was "cool" to be out of the closet. America was not gay friendly but my church was. But its been over 15 years since i have been to church as a regular church goer. I sorta miss it. I like the mega churchs. Some real production value. I mean for my 10% tithe i wanna see some damn show here! I also like church girls...something making a good girl go bad just makes me all warm and fuzzy inside! lol All joking though I am not much into church these days but my faith is pretty damn strong.

For all the atheist, agnostic, and over all anti-e-van I just want to say...I get it. I get why you don't like what you and maybe hear. But hey its ok. We all have room for our idea's and differences. Remember the people in the congregation aren't all mind-wash gay hating snobs. There are some of us who really believe differently and practice it in our lives. Its the old WWJD

Night

JS

And thats it for me...i am gone

troublemaker_42

I have a hard time believing or putting any faith into something that has to be copy and pasted, which eliminates at least 95% of intangibe childs posts. I am beginning to wonder if the Op has ever had an Original thought, or if he/she plans on making his or her entire career here at mj.com one consisting of posting other people's thoughts and ideas rather than their own?

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Ted Nugent: "To my mind it is wholly irresponsible to go into the world incapable of preventing violence, injury, crime, and death. How feeble is the mindset to accept defenselessness. How unnatural. How cheap. How cowardly. How pathetic."


If total government control equals safety, why are prisons so dangerous?