Why does it seem the SL population hates Christians?

I reported this as well. This is a place for discussion, not hatred.

I can understand that she might have some very deep feelings on this subject, but that isn't the way to express them here. It's not constructive or helpful. And it certainly isn't going to change anyone's mind.

oh but *evil* is soooo much fun, just ask Flipper about my tendencies towards evil. I find new and exciting ways to be cute and evil every single day. seriously I do.

This thread seems to have wound down to personal disputes and flaming. I'm going to lock it for Linden Review.

Alright--several hours later, hope things have cooled down. For the length of this thread, it was doing pretty well, given similar threads in the past. Clearly a diversity of views; we can be respectful even if we don't agree. And if we don't, there's always "Don't reply and use Ignore!"

I've reopened it, but please: no more personal disputes or violations of the Guidelines or it will be closed for good, with disciplinary actions served up by "He Who Walks Behind the Rows" accordingly.

The Watermelon Spirit who sleeps in dumpsters wishes to smile upon you all. =^_^=

Wow. I'm glad that you felt the thread deserved a second chance.

I wonder if there will be any new threads that are titled "Lindens do a great job on a thread today!"

Probably not..but it would be true! Maybe thats why it wont happen

How about 'another stellar example of resmod work' anyone?


Anywho. Lewis, yes the bible says believe in christ or go to hell. But the LOTR series says you can go to the grey lands with the elves if you do well.

Both ar ebooks of myth and fantasy. Neither has any real evidence of their happening ever really occuring.

Both are equally believable.

Very good advice. My lovely wife, Jennyfur, is a recovering Catholic, and when people evangilize at her, the woman I fell in love with disappears, her eyes turn red, and she breathes fire. That a religion could cause such personal pain to an individual is enough reason to avoid the brainwash.

That said, we just had a conversation in our kitchen. Non-brainwashed Christians, we agreed, are some of the best friends we have, as Torrid's post in the other thread shows. Considerate, compassionate, NON-JUDGEMENTAL, and willing to discuss issues of morality by their own moral compass - not by something written in a book written by men.

Regards,

-Flip

/108/6b/102617/1.html

"I reject your reality and substitute my own!" - Adam Savage

But, you do raise a good point; this is a thread where I've really learned a lot. Cindy C, Allana, and even Lewis have taught me a lot, in addition to the regular crowd who's intellect I admire. Situations where contraversial discussions such as these are allowed to continue are a testament to LL's testicular fortitude.

Regards,

-Flip

Rowan Atkinsons devil performance:


Christians line up here. Yes, I'm sorry, the Jews were right.

Would this face lie?

Nice work Flip!

This is rather interesting in that you are seeming to profess your particular understanding of Christianity is very clearly supported by the bible.

However over the years Christains have disagreed on this very statement you have just made.

The Calvinists beleived very differently that salvation was open to all - in fact they beleived in Predistination. In that no one knew wherther they were amoung the saved until they died.

Wheras the Catholic competing idea was one of good works, In that accepting Christ was only part of the "Get into Heaven" requirement. (i am uncertain not being catholic if this is current dogma) They also beleived that the pope has direct influence over who can go to heaven due to inheriting this power from St Peter who was given the responsibility of the church by Jesus.

There are those who believe amoung the early sects of Christains that there simply is no "going to heaven" until judgement day, as was revealed. The dead are simply "dead" until such a time.

I do find it is interesting that a sort of Evangelical / "Modern" Christain belief that there is but one interpretation of the bible. Which is remarkable in that translators are TO THIS DAY still trying to get more accurate language of what was actually said in those old texts.

So to be blunt - It seems you claim to know more of the bible than many men and women - leraned and fervent Christains all.

I think its that attitude that turns people off of "Christains" which is the original Posters lament.

I was raised Roman Catholic, I came from a family with ties to organized crime and my role mobels were some of the most hypocritical people to ever cross my path in my life. I spent more than half my life sharing the same opinions as many of you. I believed religion was nothing more than a tall tale, a big stretch of the truth to say the least.

Unlike most stories, I did not find god when I was at my lowest. I was never a drug addict, living on the streets or searching for any answers in life. I was on the path to a successfull business career. I cant really explain what exactly pulled me into the Christian faith. I just kind of woke up one day and starting attending a Christian Chruch.

It just felt like the truth to me. All I know, is when I walk out of a service in my church, I leave feeling so enlightend. I feel as if I can face anything life has to throw at me. My new form of Christianity is more lively than Roman Catholic. We sing, share our prayers, and are gifted to have such a wise and forward thinking minister who understands todays society.

I lived a wealthy, all american life before I newed my faith. I now find myself living a happy, wealthy all american life. I give more, and it makes me happier. I am more open minded and forgiving, and it makes me happier. I am much more in control of my feelings, and it makes me happier.

Thats all the message of the bible really is. What ever crap life has to throw at you, as long as you live by the desires of Jesus, you will be ok. As long as you dont give in to temptations or being offended, you will be ok. You dont have to be perfect, even Peter, the most loyal Christian ever, realized you cant avoid sin.

I believe god wants you to have a relationship with him. Trying to take control of things yourself is actually weakness. That often leads to being an addict, unlawful and most importantly ungodly.

My god is one of love and forgiveness.So even if you dont believe in the Christian religion, why would you hate someone who lives by such a code?

Sorry to double post. I just wanted to say this is the most interesting thread I've ever read on any message board. I am about half way through. I am not amazed because I started it. I am amazed because I see people who proclaim to be Christians, not acting like Christians. Athiest sounding spiritual and of course some true Christians.

I love reading everyones opinions and its helping me realize why some are so critical of some Christians.

This has been an interesting thread.

I dont think will really know the truth until death. It is always my hope that everone can live a happy and productive life and when our time comes like it must go onward. I do not condemn anyone to hades or punishment as it is not my place to do so.

I have had bad things done to me in my life but do not hold it against them. If he deserves punishment it will be given. I do not have to worry. I think that is the best part of my belief is to lay my burden of revenge down and allow an other to be his judge.

It is my hope that we can all get along with each other and respect each other beliefs

I second this and am SO glad that the Lindens let this one go again. TONS of interesting points of view. I have posted to many boards with similar topics to this one, and none have every been even close to being as good as this one.

Controled conflict! If only the folks in the Middle East could get on here and work a few things out...

Use of the word worship is a misconception. I would be happy to discuss this with you in-world.

Salvation through Christ? You mean salvation from Christ. Christ is the one who has chosen to send people to hell, to torture them hideously for all eternity. Christians talk about salvation all the time, as if there is a sort of universal law that everyone goes to hell and Jesus steps in and saves poor sinners from their fate. But that isn't the case. If Jesus is God, then he created Hell. He sends people to Hell. And, if you worship him, he'll spare you from Hell. That's why I'm not a Christian.

I do not think that religious thought is hardwired into the human brain. I think awe is.

I have moments of sheer awe while looking at my child's toes.

I do not, however, have moments of religious thought.

I've tried. I failed. I do not believe in Pascal's Wager - and I find it hard to believe that a deity would want me to fake belief in order to please my contemporaries.

If a deity did - well, that's not one I'd care to curtsy to.

Just throwing something in that I don't recall seeing mentioned (and I could easily be wrong... loooooong thread)...

Several posters have commented on the difficulty of interpreting the bible, due to its being distanced, by lingual drift and multiple traslations, from the original source(s). I'm not a religious scholar, but there are some fundamentalist splinters (including, apparently, most of the ones active in my area), who believe that the King James translation was divinely inspired, and that it, and not the older texts it was translated from, is the literal word of God. I know that many 'Christians' are exceedingly lazy about their religion, and content to let the man standing at the front of the congregation dictate their beliefs, but 'we don't need to try to understand the root of our faith, since God rebooted it a few centuries ago' just leaves me shaking my head.

As far as my opinion of Christianity... and pretty much any organized religion overall... I sort of tend to agree to disagree with folks. If someone is talking to me, and expressing a hard-core fundamentalist belief system, I try to just shut the conversation down, because I know that nothing good will come of it. Closed-mindedness is a hallmark of fundamentalism... and I'm not trying to be insulting, I really think I'm stating the obvious. A fundamentalist (not just Christian, by the by... Muslim extremists would most certainly qualify, and I'm fairly certain that any religion you'd care to name has similar followers as well) does not, cannot, have an open mind when any aspect of his faith is called into question.

Really, the inerrancy of faith is one of the chief reasons I have no faith... well, no religious/supernatural belief system type faith. Faith leaves no room for error, proclaims itself to be absolute and unalterable... and if there's anything I've learned over the course of my life, it's to distrust any person or institution that believes itself incapable of being wrong.

(emphasis mine)

If you have to ask for it to receive it, then it's conditional. Just something to bear in mind....

Part of the problem in this thread is that I don't think I'm getting my point across very clearly..

The way we are hard-wired psychologically causes us to have religious thought (according to the book I've mentioned). It means that we naturally organize, categorize and perceive things in ways that we describe as religious.

It's just a theory, so you dont have to believe it, but I think that most who disagree dont actually understand what I am trying to say (that's my fault).

I suggest that you read the reviews on Amazon.com to get an idea of what I am talking about. It's far more complicated, but intriguing to think about.

Well said Elspeth. Good post.

Champie, I got what you were trying to say anyway. I happen to think it's correct.

I don't believe in freewill at all. We are programmed by genetics and environment to do what we do. BUT I don't what that to become a topic of discussion on this thread, so I didn't say anything. I would hate to side track this thread. SOOO, if anyone feels the need to protest what I said, please start another thread.

gotcha Vares

I'm programmed to believe that I have free will.