People's response to threads on Christianity never fails to amaze me!

ALZYMER · 09-12-2005, 19:40

It never fails to amaze me that we can waffle on 24/7 about Budhism,Hinduism,Islam,Wicca..... (which I believe started in 1957 under the Wicca Arches right here in Sheffield!), but as soon as anyone mentions Christianity, all Hell lets loose (pun intended) I know this may be the only lonely thread but I had to get it off my chest.

JoeP · 09-12-2005, 19:58

There have been numerous threads about Christianity on here.

I've been open about my beliefs for as long as Ive been on here, and have engaged in quite a few discussions on Christianity and spirituality in general.

What I don't like to do is get involved in the 'My religion is better than your religion' debates that many discussions degenerate in to.

I'm happy with my spirituality and faith. I'm happy to talk about it but have never felt the need to defend it or proselytise.

Joe

ALZYMER · 09-12-2005, 20:12

JoeP, I wasn't having a dig about the site mate, just the furore that a certain topic generates.

evildrneil · 09-12-2005, 22:34

Just out of interest, what furore would that be? I seem to have missed it...

Yodameister · 09-12-2005, 22:37

What would you like to discuss about Christianity?

Fire away.

I am interested in religion and would be happy to have a discussion.

muddycoffee · 09-12-2005, 22:45

Well judging by recent polls, I imagine the average current active forum poster probably has more knowledge of Christianity and churches, than any other religion. It's hardly surprising that people are more likely to have an interesting gossip about it, rather than for instance "Wicca" which most people would probably have never come across and have no interest in. And a fringe religion/lifestyle like that would struggle to attract more than the occasional debater.

Whereas, go down any street and you will find people living there who were brought up as strict christians during their childhood and now have nothing much to do with it, as they find that kind of oppression? discipline? timewasting? annoying and have now gone the other way.

bulldog D · 10-12-2005, 02:51

Ahh ! this is where my christian upbringing has spiralled into an abyss of futile decline! I've failed to notice the oppression, futile time wasting and discipline that has been subjected upon me. So what the Hell! I went the other way anyhow, found out that the grass isn't greener on the other side and rerturned.
Long live forgiveness!
That's one of the main themes throughout all religions though
isn't it!

Going back to ALZYMERS original thread the only point I can make is that it takes a damn site more effort to live it than just talk about it, and even more effort to understand why in the first place.

muddycoffee · 10-12-2005, 08:02

Quote:

Originally posted by bulldog D
Ahh ! this is where my christian upbringing has spiralled into an abyss of futile decline! I've failed to notice the oppression, futile time wasting and discipline that has been subjected upon me. So what the Hell! I went the other way anyhow, found out that the grass isn't greener on the other side and rerturned.
Long live forgiveness!
That's one of the main themes throughout all religions though
isn't it!

Well nearly. . .

In my late teens and 20s I was privately quite mocking about church-goers but respectful of muslims, jews, sikhs etc.. But in the last few years I have ceased to be so embarrased about my own christian upbringing and at last am happy to admit and talk about it in public.
The problems I still have with it however is the poorly researched propoganda they sometimes tried to sell us as children, amid {very worthy} the being a good neighbour moral themes.
The things I am thankful for is the grounding and bible study, {scripture exams etc.} which give me tools that explain many things about our own history, the ceremony and singing which gave me a memory of lots of religious songs, and the sense of belonging to a community which kept me so busy as a child.

I finally realised the value of my christian upbringing when some of my friends ask me about it with reference to their own children and the fact that when I explain aspects of it, they really feel that there are afew important things their children are missing out on. To be brought up as a christian child has for the last 1000 years a very traditional route for most British people. And with the decline of churches very soon this option will be lost.

JoeP · 10-12-2005, 09:20

Quote:

Originally posted by ALZYMER
JoeP, I wasn't having a dig about the site mate, just the furore that a certain topic generates.

I didn't regard it as a dig at the site.

Like my faith, this site is big enough to look after itself....mostly.

I guess for me it's just that it's sort of second nature that I try and find a bit of time each day to engage with God, although I'm not a churchgoer.

Discussing it for me is a little like discussing the fact I breathe or eat.

I'm not a very religious person - I guess I'm more spiritual - and I don't make a big fuss of it. It's something that's part of me and that's that.

It think it's great that people can discuss different faiths and belief systems on here - for many people it'll be the first time that they come across some ideas in their lives. It's also useful to find yourself in a place where your beliefs can be intelligently questioned.

A major 'think piece' for me at the moment is the secularisation of Narnia. Having read quite a bit of CS Lewis's Christian essays it is rather disturbing that various people are falling over themselves to remove the Christian allegory from 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe'. It's things like this where my faith encounters my day to day life, as well as in my attempts to apply what are loosely described as 'Christian' ethics and morality to my daily life.

Joe

Ousetunes · 10-12-2005, 09:50

Christianity is a beautiful religion; so is Hinduism and I went from one to the other. Obviously, I have been looking for that something in my life for quite a while now (maybe ever since I arrived).

What I do notice is that on this forum, it's very often those who do not believe in god (or God) that shout loudest and actually make a bigger noise. Those who do believe - I'm one that does - very often keep it to themselves.

Those who blame religion for all the wars of the world do a great disservice to the billions of people throughout the world who go about their lives deep in their own faiths in a peaceful and loving way.

If we banned sport, football for example, do you think the mindless idiots attached to the game would simply change their ways and stop fighting? Certainly not; they'd find another banner to fight under.

Very often when Christianity has been attacked on this forum I've considered airing my opinions. I've then thought why bother?, these people appear to have made up their minds.

Things is though, I actually feel a lot of people haven't made up their minds and in due course, somewhere later in their lives, they may actually find it to be one thing that has been missing from their lives all along.

Moon Maiden · 10-12-2005, 12:15

There have been a number of decent discussion on christianity on the site.

I remember Halevan in particular starting a discussion on Easter and whether or not people even know why its celebrated.

Also...many folk on here talk about witchcraft....not necesserily wicca which as you say was created by Gerald Gardner in the early 20th century. The two really should not be confused

With Christianity being the main religion of this country and whether the people on this forum are regular church goers or not....it is going to bring about a fair amount of chatter both in favor of it and against it.
Same with any faith discussion. I think i have seen more heated debates over Islam to behonest.

However if you are a follower of a religion you are going to get uptight about some comments that someone else of another religion may not.

Moon

Yodameister · 10-12-2005, 12:32

I think because most people on here grew up in a "culturally" Christian environment, even if not raised as Christians, more people are going to have a relatively informed opinion of Christianity.

Whereas for someone in this country to know as much about, for example, Islam, as they do about Christianity then they will probably have to have studied it in some depth.

To be honest, I'm not exactly sure which threads the original poster was referring to. I'm not sure if the objection is to the Christian faith being treated in an objective manner, or just objecting to offensive remarks.

Offensive remarks obviously shouldn't be tolerated, but if someone is convinced of the truth of Christianity, its possible they will find someone questioning whether Christianity is the truth offensive.

Jake01 · 10-12-2005, 13:50

Quote:

Originally posted by ALZYMER
It never fails to amaze me that we can waffle on 24/7 about Budhism,Hinduism,Islam,Wicca..... (which I believe started in 1957 under the Wicca Arches right here in Sheffield!), but as soon as anyone mentions Christianity, all Hell lets loose (pun intended) I know this may be the only lonely thread but I had to get it off my chest.

ALZYMER...... if you are from the USA....... why do you refer to the quote:

Quote:

(which I believe started in 1957 under the Wicca Arches right here in Sheffield!),

Are you really in Sheffield? you see I would normally join in a debate about religion but not when I suspect that someone is using the subject for their own aims.

We shall see.

robbie · 10-12-2005, 13:51

does all hell break loose? I thought that happened on threads about Islam?

Anyhow, we have almost all beein indoctrinated agaisnt our will thorugh amily and the education system in Christianity. Hense we all have a basic knowledge of the religion.

It is easier to have a go at Christianity because we know a lot more about it thn other religions.

People have their own beliefs whatever they are. What sometimes gets my goat is when they try and inflict it on others or argue a serious discussion point only using spurious biblical evidence.

Don;t get me wrong, I'm happy to have discussions with people who use biblical evidence as long as they have other evidence to support it. I hate trying to discuss an issue with someone who will only say that "it is in the bible so it is true"

Rich · 10-12-2005, 14:01

Does anyone else laugh at people who put "Jedi" as their religion on census forms?!

Moon Maiden · 10-12-2005, 14:22

Quote:

Originally posted by Rich
Does anyone else laugh at people who put "Jedi" as their religion on census forms?!

I sort of laughed at the idea that so many people put Jedi on their census return. It sort of sums up the thougts on religion in this Country...

Plain Talker · 10-12-2005, 16:32

Quote:

Originally posted by Rich
Does anyone else laugh at people who put "Jedi" as their religion on census forms?!

Ooh Rich, now you're being "jed-ist"! lol (sorry, I couldn't resist that one!)

I'm a "live and let live-er" if you want to follow belief system X, Y, or Z, or even "no-beleif-system at all", then that's entirely up to you; your own choice.

PT

muddycoffee · 10-12-2005, 17:23

Quote:

Originally posted by Rich
Does anyone else laugh at people who put "Jedi" as their religion on census forms?!

that's good that you laugh at us, we only do if for comedy value.