Any other Chritians here?

[Christopher2012]

I fear you really have missed the point. Was Jesus "target market" the rich. The woman at the well certainly wasn't wealthy. Mary Magdalene certainly was not the upper echelon of society. The poor, the blind the lame the downtrodden, those were Jesus' peeps. Remember anything of the beatitudes? "The meek shall inherit the earth...." Sound familiar? "It would be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven....."

No, please fear that YOU have missed the point. I am a Christian and I believe what the Bible says. However, I am solely speaking of the church and its followers. I'm also taking how the brain works and applying it to why people are so drawn to the church. Why can we not stick to the point being made instead of referencing a Bible which has zero to do with what I said?

Do you disagree with me that the church and organized religion is corrupt? Do you see why people like me fear to step foot in a church because we will judged by an entire assembly of people as we step foot through the door? Do you understand why children like me sat alone in church groups because out of the many many other Christians there, no one person left their clique to even consider talking to me?

The church is what keeps me from even attempting anymore. It's not God. It's not Jesus. It's the church. It's the followers. So my thought process was, "What keeps these people coming back?" Well, to be frank, church is like a living soap opera. Emotions run high, people get sudden bursts of dopamine when they are shown affection and attention, and then they all say it's God. They say it's God giving them love and affection when they have their friends all sitting right next to them.

No matter what you believe, the church is not representative of God nor will it ever be. Even churches are disassociating with one another. This church is Baptist, this church is Pentecostal, and of course, we have the Non-Denominational Church. They take no sides, right? Wrong. I was told I was going to hell because I had the Baptist belief that once-saved, always-saved mentality. Well gee.... I guess being born and taught that makes me a bad, terrible person then huh? I wonder which denomination is going to heaven? I hope I chose correctly.

Scientific Theory is no more FACT than an observation of the world through a Christian's eyes is accepted as FACT. It is still an observation based on a hypothesis. Even Darwin, with his limited resources and scientific methods said, "iF IT COULD BE DEMONSTRATED THAT ANY COMPLEX ORGAN EXISTED, WHICH COULD NOT POSSIBLY HAVE BEEN FORMED BY NUMEROUS, SUCCESSIVE, SLIGHT MODIFICATIONS, MY THEORY WOULD ABSOLUTELY BREAK DOWN." We choose to extoll the virtues of science and its infallibility. Yet, physical science cannot wholly PROVE evolution nor creation. It can only attempt to EXPLAIN in a manner that people find convenient.

Basically what I think is that it's understandable to be an atheist. It makes the most sense. I'm not even talking about evolution. It doesn't matter. I don't care to argue this point because I'm not atheist.

 

[Solitaryman54]

No question that evolution is true. But no science can explain how life and its mysteries still unfolding, started. Something this complicated from nothing? Explain how opposing forces caused life to suddenly explode to the variation we have now. Something from nothing? Discuss.

As humans we think we know just about everything and can explain away things because of physics, science, etc. In fact, we are a small dot in the cosmos and only know what we know of the here and now... possibilities tend to be ignored or laughed at.

In one or two hundred years if we, as a species, are still around, it will be said how ignorant and stupid humans were back in 2015

 

[Christopher2012]

Yes, because we believe Issac Newton was a complete idiot back in the 1600's-1700s when he made his insignificant BS discoveries.

 

[ConflictedOne]

No question that evolution is true. But no science can explain how life and its mysteries still unfolding, started. Something this complicated from nothing? Explain how opposing forces caused life to suddenly explode to the variation we have now. Something from nothing? Discuss.

There are PLENTY of questions that evolution is true...

If it is true, why are there still monkeys?

If it is true, why have we never found the missing link?

PLENTY of holes in the THEORY (not the science) of evolution....

 

[Solitaryman54]

Yes, because we believe Issac Newton was a complete idiot back in the 1600's-1700s when he made his insignificant BS discoveries.

... and no doubt the absolute truth was that the world was flat and everything revolved around the earth.

 

[Christopher2012]

... and no doubt the absolute truth was that the world was flat and everything revolved around the earth.

Oh yeah you mean 3,000 years ago? lol

 

[Solitaryman54]

Oh yeah you mean 3,000 years ago? lol

You have your timeline a bit off +/- 2500 years, but I understand what you are trying to say.

Its still a fact that we are constantly learning, proving things right and proving things wrong. The moment we say not possible, we stop learning and become ignorant.

 

[b4uris]

Then why am I being told to do research on factual evidence for claims made out of "things not seen"?

You weren't. You were being asked to do research on the psychology of people. The original point was about how bullies act and it was explicitly stated that he/she wasn't just talking about atheist bullies.

Was it appropriate to say "do some research?" I'll leave that to you, as I respect your point on it. But, the research being requested was secular.

 

[Solitaryman54]

By the way, yes I am a Christian with strong religious beliefs

 

[meop79]

Then why am I being told to do research on factual evidence for claims made out of "things not seen"?

I was referring to behavioral research, not religion. Go back and read my comment again. It was very clear that I was referring to the behaviors being displayed and the personality issues associated.

 

[MisterDark]

There have been some very valid points made here. Unfortunately, I have not figured out how to quote multiple comments in one reply, so I will attempt to address several of those, and if I do miss something specific, please forgive me.

I would tend to agree that some of organized religion and most specifically televangelists have lost their way and begun a continual pursuit of the almighty dollar. I also believe, as I stated much earlier, that many Christians have become more caught up in "CHURCHIANITY" rather than living the lift Christ commissioned us to live. Too many would rather use bits and pieces of scripture to condemn another (or remove the splinter from their brother's eye) than removing the "moat from their own eye". That does not make Christianity wrong, it simply means that those people have lost their way. They're human - it happens. Look at academia, if I miss the point of one of Shakespeare's sonnets, would not an English literature major correct me and condemn me as a fool? Why then would one think that organized religion is less susceptible to the same type of pompous bigotry?

Where has our faith gone afoul? I believe you need look no further than entertainment television and the media. I've even seen it in a church Sunday school room (for adults) when an elder in the church I attended claimed you could no longer use the Bible because it was a 2000 year old document. Seriously? I really wanted to ask him if he would rather use the J.C. Penney Wish Book. As a nation, we spend time attempting to disprove what is written in the Bible, or spend time attempting to use the Bible to condemn. That is not our mission. We spend time championing pop science (things that are popular hypothesis that in fact have miniscule evidence). We force feed what we want or need society to believe into our children in schools and via both drama and comedic television. Look at the way Christianity is portrayed on television. Whether is be the drunken pedophile priest or the ever popular cultist Christian minister - the portrayal is rarely accurate or positive.

I too have experienced times when I have lost faith and questioned God. I have in fact, been the one down or at the bottom and most needed a benevolent and loving Father in Heaven. It is my belief that it is HE that has brought me through, and thus, when things have gotten better, it is HE that I have praised and given the glory and credit to (thus sharing the credit for success or good fortune in my life with a deity).

I will agree that the church and its many factions have become splintered. My son, a minister, was recently told to stop courting the young lady with whom he has been involved for 3 years. Why was he told this? He had not been improper. Indeed, he asked permission before he began courting her, he asked permission before he held her hand for the first time, and the two of them had determined that their first kiss would be when the minister said, "you may now kiss the bride." So why was he told not to court the girl any longer. The girl's father had determined that they would not be compatible because my son is a minister in the Church of Christ and they are Baptists. Because of that, my son would not be going to heaven. MAN made that judgement. Not God, not Christ. Christ welcomed the thief on the cross into paradise (think there might have been an issue with compatibility there?).

A crisis of faith is not a reason to give up on Christ. If anything, it's a stronger reason to rely more on Him. Hypocrisy exists in all walk of life, not just the church. In fact, it is all the more reason to become reliant upon the written word. If possible, research the older texts (my son has learned Latin, Hebrew and Aramaic so that he can see what the original words were before it was translated to English).

If you have continued through all of this, I wish each and every one of you well and pray you find the answers you seek or the peace each of you deserves, whatever your beliefs.

 

[Christopher2012]

Ugh.... I'm going back to the heathens and fornicators.

 

[ConflictedOne]

There have been some very valid points made here. Unfortunately, I have not figured out how to quote multiple comments in one reply, so I will attempt to address several of those, and if I do miss something specific, please forgive me.

I would tend to agree that some of organized religion and most specifically televangelists have lost their way and begun a continual pursuit of the almighty dollar. I also believe, as I stated much earlier, that many Christians have become more caught up in "CHURCHIANITY" rather than living the lift Christ commissioned us to live. Too many would rather use bits and pieces of scripture to condemn another (or remove the splinter from their brother's eye) than removing the "moat from their own eye". That does not make Christianity wrong, it simply means that those people have lost their way. They're human - it happens. Look at academia, if I miss the point of one of Shakespeare's sonnets, would not an English literature major correct me and condemn me as a fool? Why then would one think that organized religion is less susceptible to the same type of pompous bigotry?

Where has our faith gone afoul? I believe you need look no further than entertainment television and the media. I've even seen it in a church Sunday school room (for adults) when an elder in the church I attended claimed you could no longer use the Bible because it was a 2000 year old document. Seriously? I really wanted to ask him if he would rather use the J.C. Penney Wish Book. As a nation, we spend time attempting to disprove what is written in the Bible, or spend time attempting to use the Bible to condemn. That is not our mission. We spend time championing pop science (things that are popular hypothesis that in fact have miniscule evidence). We force feed what we want or need society to believe into our children in schools and via both drama and comedic television. Look at the way Christianity is portrayed on television. Whether is be the drunken pedophile priest or the ever popular cultist Christian minister - the portrayal is rarely accurate or positive.

I too have experienced times when I have lost faith and questioned God. I have in fact, been the one down or at the bottom and most needed a benevolent and loving Father in Heaven. It is my belief that it is HE that has brought me through, and thus, when things have gotten better, it is HE that I have praised and given the glory and credit to (thus sharing the credit for success or good fortune in my life with a deity).

I will agree that the church and its many factions have become splintered. My son, a minister, was recently told to stop courting the young lady with whom he has been involved for 3 years. Why was he told this? He had not been improper. Indeed, he asked permission before he began courting her, he asked permission before he held her hand for the first time, and the two of them had determined that their first kiss would be when the minister said, "you may now kiss the bride." So why was he told not to court the girl any longer. The girl's father had determined that they would not be compatible because my son is a minister in the Church of Christ and they are Baptists. Because of that, my son would not be going to heaven. MAN made that judgement. Not God, not Christ. Christ welcomed the thief on the cross into paradise (think there might have been an issue with compatibility there?).

A crisis of faith is not a reason to give up on Christ. If anything, it's a stronger reason to rely more on Him. Hypocrisy exists in all walk of life, not just the church. In fact, it is all the more reason to become reliant upon the written word. If possible, research the older texts (my son has learned Latin, Hebrew and Aramaic so that he can see what the original words were before it was translated to English).

If you have continued through all of this, I wish each and every one of you well and pray you find the answers you seek or the peace each of you deserves, whatever your beliefs.

AMEN (to what is bolded)...

 

[Solitaryman54]

AMEN (to what is bolded)...

Ditto

 

[MisterDark]

AMEN (to what is bolded)...

Thank you both.

 

[meop79]

Theory is all well and good, but Jesus didn't start with theory, he left that for the deeper parables. He started with treat other people the way you want to be treated. Forgive, love, give, share.... people have enough trouble with that, but he said that if you couldn't approach that like a little child you might as well not bother...

We so often act like this:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u8I3vTPTNKQ/UXDL5ciAZVI/AAAAAAAABaM/QH1_gXOfPlE/s1600/Kids-Not-Sharing.jpg

When it's really all about this:

http://lessonpix.com/images/iceCreamKids2.jpg

 

[TheUmp]

And I thought this thread was going to be about Christians that like to fuck!

 

[Christopher2012]

And I thought this thread was going to be about Christians that like to fuck!

When you get a group of self-righteous Christians together, it's like a plague. Ironic, huh? I swear, out of my 8+ years of being on this site, I have never legitimately heard "Amen" nor did I think I would ever hear it.

Waits for follow up response to this: "Well God works in mysterious ways, doesn't he?"

Excuse me while I go marathon The Amazing Atheist to shake the religious off me.

 

[RiverKnight]

Follow up response....amen lol...

I am a devout atheist and feel those that "believe" are bumbling fools looking for answers they cannot comprehend. Religion is the ultimate rationalization

 

[meop79]

I wonder why atheists are so fascinated by those that believe. I have my theories, but it is fascinating.

 

[ConflictedOne]

I wonder why atheists are so fascinated by those that believe. I have my theories, but it is fascinating.

Yeah, they spend MORE time talking about someone they don't believe in...

 

[DisreputableDan]

Yeah, they spend MORE time talking about someone they don't believe in...

No we don't. You just believe we do. And you're wrong about that. And potentially wrong about other things you believe as well!

 

[happyplayer]

Christian

I am a Christian too. I think God designed sex for happiness. It is something wonderful to be enjoyed and explored as long as it does not offend anyone. In privacy, like here, it can only provide enjoyment in a world where there is so much pain and suffering.

 

[MisterDark]

Follow up response....amen lol...

I am a devout atheist and feel those that "believe" are bumbling fools looking for answers they cannot comprehend. Religion is the ultimate rationalization

I find it interesting that every atheist I've ever encountered must resort in calling me and others like me stupid, idiot, fool or any of the other synonyms. They then proudly tell me the story, Once upon a time, a long long time ago, there was absolutely nothing. Then suddenly, there was a BIG EXPLOSION and EVERYTHING existed. Yeah.....that's believable.....

I don't say you have to believe what I believe, but please, refrain from insulting me for my beliefs. When you think about it, for me to believe in a caring deity that created everything is not so much different that a big explosion that created everything. My beliefs just give me something to hold to while yours give you ????

 

[Christopher2012]

I find it interesting that every atheist I've ever encountered must resort in calling me and others like me stupid, idiot, fool or any of the other synonyms. They then proudly tell me the story, Once upon a time, a long long time ago, there was absolutely nothing. Then suddenly, there was a BIG EXPLOSION and EVERYTHING existed. Yeah.....that's believable.....

I don't say you have to believe what I believe, but please, refrain from insulting me for my beliefs. When you think about it, for me to believe in a caring deity that created everything is not so much different that a big explosion that created everything. My beliefs just give me something to hold to while yours give you ????

I find it interesting that you're visiting a site dedicated to sin and deciding to preach on it. Are you preaching and then going and looking at the AmPic threads? Are you sending PMs to girls trying to get sex? Or are you just here because you feel the need to preach to a site full of people who don't give a flying fuck about what you have to say?

It's not *just* the atheists that are calling you an idiot. I'm a Christian and I'm calling you an idiot. You are self-righteous. You are fully engaging in telling people how to live their life. You are disputing other people's beliefs. You have zero interest at all in thinking of anything but a black-and-white world where everything you believe is 100% correct and any slight deviation is absurd.

You know why people are coming on here calling you a fool? It's not because they're being convicted, and it's not because they feel threatened. It's because you're annoying as shit. Regardless of whether you're right or wrong, it's so fucking annoying listening to a self-righteous Christian talk.... PERIOD. It's so annoying having to hear you tell the world what the truth is. And what makes this 1,000,000 times worse is that you're doing it on an erotica site. I've been on this site 8+ years, like I said. And multiple times, I have told people that I am a Christian. I tell people that I grew up in church, that I believe in Jesus, that I believe I'm saved. But I don't sit here and spew BS to people and then tell the entire site that I'm correct in my beliefs.

It's people like you that make me just want to say "Uhh I'm a Christian but not THAT kind of Christian." You annoy the hell out of me, no pun intended.

So for the love of God (pun intended that time), can you PLEASE shut the fuck up and go flirt with some Lit women!? Or men, if that's your thing but I'm assuming it's not because if you were into men, you would be completely full of sin.

Jesus Christ.... I need a Xanax and some League of Legends. Back to thinking about 9-tailed foxgirls (Ahri) and video games.

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