Why does it seem the SL population hates Christians?

And you're being intolerant of my intolerance.

I think the matter is, communication and language is based around convincing others. That's the nature of a debate. Is every debate an act of intolerance? No, though it can be sometimes. What makes the difference between intolerance and debate is when people stop using "I think..." and start using "You're wrong".

Opinion:

Without reading beyond this post (I'm behind on reading the forums), I would say I think this is terrible.

On the forums, I think non- or anti-Christians are simply louder than Christians, who for the most part tend not to want to debate their religion with others, or, should I say, come under any browbeating.

I had no idea this sort of thing went on in the game as well. There should be tolerance for all religions, and for those with no religion and/or atheists.

coco

To the OP: no matter what you put in your profile, its generally going to be the people that disagree with you, or are childish enough to view it as a weak point, that will make comments about it. You could put "Born and raised in Alabama and proud of it!" and you'd probably only get comments from people that buy into the stupid Southerner stereotype. Given that its about your religious preference, well...religion has always been one of those instantly flammable subjects throughout history. Couple that with the anonymity of the Internet and boom, you have instant rudeness.

The unholy triumvirate of pleasent conversation is sex, religion and politics. To varying degrees, having a profile that focused exclusively on your belief on any one of those topics would probably raise the ire of at least a few people you came across to the point that they IM you about it.

Despite all that, it still isn't right for people to harass you about it - AR them if it gets obnoxious. But don't take the actions of a few rude people as indicative of the SL community as a whole. Religion is something that most people feel passionately about, and chances are you're only going to hear from the people that disagree passionately with you - or who just enjoy finding a perceived weakness in someone and railing them for it.


Enabran: that was a kickass story. Reminded me of The Onion's coverage of God's press conference after September 11, 2001.

Oh, I'm decidedly *not* Roman Catholic. I have yet to find a religion that fits my beliefs. And if I did find one, the fact that it was an organized religion would defeat the whole purpose. I forget who said it but: "I refuse to join a club that would have me as a member."

But I don't consider myself an agnostic, aethist, or anything really. I have my beliefs, and they are *my* beliefs. Accepting God in my heart, I feel, is the greatest worship I can give Him/Her/It.

But then again, maybe I'm just strange. I do, for one, see proof of God in Science, and feel that Science and Spirituality are *not* mutually exclusive. Science can only tell us *how* God did something. And the 'hows' I've seen are just incredible to behold. I look upon just the complexity that is the brain and see proof of God. That's just one example. But we still need Spirituality to help us understand the *why.*

Bah, I'm Soapboxing... I should stop.

I do not normally talk about my belief in Jesus Christ and that through him am saved. I am not a perfect person in any way you can think of it. I fall very short of being a non sinner.

I dont like seeing my religion attacked or anyone who believes like I do attacked. I do not attack any other religion. I pay respect to the other religions even though they are mistaken

Why are you all so upset because a religion (you dont believe in) says you are going to hell? The mulsums say almost the same thing just in a different way but that does not upset you. Outrage on you part is a sign that you really believe but have rejected the message and messengers. Otherwise it would not bother you.

I dont wish for anyone to go to hades but it is not my call. In the end it is every person decision wither to accept or reject. Just because you reject does not give you a license to be abusive on me!

What debate? The OP comes and complains about abusive IM's and subsequently gets a whole thread full of people posting about how bad and silly Christians are.

Intolerance shouldn't be tolerated. This is not an oxymoron, it's my deeply held belief.

I'm a Pagan, myself.

I wouldn't find it offensive at all to see it in your profile. What would bother me is if you suggested it needed to be in mine, too.

I think what you're getting is the persecution that many Christians give other faiths IRL. Since your particular religion doesn't hold majority swing here, you're just on the other side of it.

I'd say for many that's proper comeuppance, but unfortunately good people get hurt by people being judgmental asshats, on both sides.

That is not an atheistic point of view. "Atheist" only means no belief in a god or gods. Slavery itself isn't concerned with theism.

It is, however, a view that suggests a belief that there is an intended order to the world. "The strong triumphing over the weak" isn't a matter of order, but rather a result of conditions.

The resistance to the idea of slavery comes from the conditions of not wanting to be enslaved, resisting the social disorder slavery tends to bring, and resisting the known economic disadvantages slavery brings. It's wraped in a shawl of morality as humans tend to act emotionally rather than rationally.

In other words, it's another valance in the overall chaos.

Gargles for rough "authentic" voice and cues string guitar...

If God had a name what would it be?
And would you call it to his face?
If you were faced with Him in all His glory
What would you ask if you had just one question?

And yeah, yeah, God is great
Yeah, yeah, God is good
yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah

What if God was Enabran?
Just a slob like Enabran?
Just a face on the forums
Tryin' to make his name known?




By this definition, Ananda Sandgrain's point is good. While I don't care for the behavior and the arrogant claims of many Christians, I don't see much difference among the proponents of other world religions, and I don't want to match their behavior by throwing it back in their collective faces.

Actually from what I saw pretty much everyone said what happened to the OP was terrible but unfortunately likely to happen. A lot of the subsequent posts were based off of Lewis Nerd's dogmatic response which said if we didn't believe in God then were just fearful of the name of Christ (or something to that line) which would fit best in that intolerance line of thought.

And thus:

"Intolerance shouldn't be tolerated. This is not an oxymoron, it's my deeply held belief."

So that's why people are debating about this, because they think the same thing.

I didn't see anything worth reporting except someone stating an opinion.



Pretty sure a terrorist feels rather confident as he's offing himself in the name of faith... But take the word terrorist out of the arguement altogether. How can you possibly judge whether someone is any more or less secure in their beliefs than you are .... simply because they aren't the same beliefs you have?



Nope, that arguement only works if your bible is something I believe in. It's a pointless circular arguement.

Yes, but most atheistic philosophers (e.g. Nietzsche, Mackie, etc.) would argue that with a rejection of any kind of theism goes the rejection of the system of metaphysics built on it. Epistemic honesty requires this, not the kind of lazy hanging onto moral metanarratives that passes for atheism today

AZATHOTH.




I don't think the blind idiot god has a face.



gibbering madness is the usual outcome



Are the stars right again, my lord?

Okay. My buttons tend to be tweaked when any group gangs up on an individual or smaller group, rather than by a single individual saying something senseless like that. Maybe because I wasn't raised in an intolerant society or religion to begin with, I tend to focus on the yelling happening in the here and now, rather than on centuries-old threats.

I can understand people speaking out against religion when it's in some kind of context. I can't imagine IM'ing someone out of the blue to take issue with an expression of faith in their profile. That's just rude. In the context of a forum discussion about religion or when it comes up in conversation, sure, but this seems pretty over the top to me. The non-religious are pretty sensitive about Christianity these days in the US for rather obvious reasons but that's no excuse to be rude. Having said all that, if it's not something you want as a topic of discussion then advertising it in your profile might not be the best idea. If you define yourself by your faith you run the risk of other people doing the same, and they might have an unfavorable view of it.

I have no problem with Christians. The ones that actually know what they believe in, and not what they're told, at least.

That said, evangelizing over the internet is not only saying that you don't have a life, but that you're determined to make sure noone else does, either.

Stop preaching and start being.

I'm beginning to think that the OP was just posting this to open up an "OMG I'M PERSECUTED" evangefest, and even if not, that's what Lewis did with it.

For me, God is Love (which is biblical), and Love would not set its own children on fire for all eternity out of jealousy (Love does not envy, also biblical). So for me, there is no hell.

You're free to believe otherwise, just don't ask me to, or I'll make you look like an idiot.

I don't hate christians, I just dislike the christian religon intensely.

In fact, I feel sorry for the christian believers for needed that sort of mental and emotional crutch to keep the boogey men of the unknown away.

When I see things like this, I find it important to point out that Christianity and the teachings of Christ are nearly polar opposites.

That's not an acceptable remark to make in public.

Faith and religion are very positive and special things to many people. While it is true that in the name of religion, people have done and still do many deplorable things, religion also inspires them to great works. From acts of generosity and compassion to tremendous examples of artistic and architectural endeavor, religion has inspired many to do good.

In its basic form, religion is value-neutral. Metallurgy and progress therein contributed to boundless advances in our ability to kill people. Yet metallurgy also gives the ability to create strong, lasting, reliable tools with which to repair the injured via surgery. Religion is the same way -- it can only be made positive or negative in the hands of individuals.

While I do not personally subscribe to any particular organized religion, I do not condemn those who do. Their faith is to be celebrated and respected until that faith is used as a cudgel on others. The same applies to those who use their lack of faith for the same purpose.

Everyone is entitled to have their faith unmolested* (even if that faith is in nothing). No one is entitled to foist their faith on others.


(*Unless that faith is in Scientology. Come on now. I can only be so tolerant of a science fiction money-making machine that preys on the lonely. Maybe I'm a hypocrite, but that's that.)

The OP also asked, " Why does it seem the SL population hates Christians?" The answer is, for the most part they don't. However, for some reason many Christians think any criticism is hate.