Think for myself

I read this Ghandi quote over the weekend, and it truly puts into a few sentences what I think of Christianity.

I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.
Mohandas Gandhi
Mohandas Gandhi Quotes

Ignore lists are for those that are wrong, know they are wrong, and prefer to keep being wrong without the nuisance of being told they are wrong.

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metheron

I consider myself a Christian TFM, and from the majority of experiences that I have had......I agree.

Oftencold

I know. If find it terrible watching those Christians cut firewood for people here in Yakutat, or run their silly food bank.

It is so vulgar watching them volunteer to help with childcare, healthcare, and petcare.

Nationally those disgusting militant Christian organizations like the Salvation Army, invade poor neighborhoods and damage the cultural and aesthetic heritage found there by removing colorful, fragment drunkards from the streets and putting them in Eurocentric clean beds.

When I see nuns interfering with nature by caring for the destitute in India I am outraged.

Some years ago, in my original hometown, Tampa, Florida, I used to watch with revulsion as the uncaring, hypocritical Christians gathered in the charming and quaint homeless camp and handed out food and haircuts. They actually touched the downtrodden, clearly violating their personal space.

How much better the world might be without Christians!

Certainly, Christians would be better off without the rest of you lot.

Think for myself

Here's a list of people who also claim to be Christians.

Bush and God
CNN.com - Rudolph�reveals motives - Apr 15, 2005
The Westborough Baptist Church asks for the address of Heath Ledger’s funeral service The Frame Problem


All acted in the name of dear lord baby jesus.

Ignore lists are for those that are wrong, know they are wrong, and prefer to keep being wrong without the nuisance of being told they are wrong.

Oftencold

And so did leading Nazis.

But would an examination of their other actions and writings lead one to believe that they were practicing mainstream Christians, or frauds?

As for the Westborough crowd, I know of no one but themselves and persons hostile to traditional Christianity that would claim that they are Christians.

As for Bush I can say with poise, that I assume that he is. Since I do not see him as particularly corrupt, I have no problem there. There are many Christians whose politics I disagree with. I do not make that a cause for considering them heretics, other than in certain extreme cases.

Since we are commanded to love sinners, and to refrain from murder, Eric Rudolph, again, can hardly be considered as a mainstream Christian.

Do you consider for instance, that anyone claiming to represent, say your party, is a legitimate, spokesman? If I hired a serial killer in prison, to announce that he is a member of your faction, and a perfectly acceptable example of it, would you consider that legitimate?

Anyone can claim to be anything. Use your good mind to apply some analysis to people's claims, and I believe that the world will become a clearer place for you.

Think for myself

You are comparing the most evil of evil people with modern day Christians. Let's drop the serial killer and Nazi analogies as they are not particularly parallel to the crowd that calls itself Christina in the US these days.

You point out good acts that a few do. I do not dispute this. Locally we have these guys, and the do fantastic work.

St. Anthony Foundation | St. Anthony Farm

The point of my OP was as follows. You have Christian leaders and political leaders that claim to be Christian behaving in a fashion that is counter to their claimed doctrine.

When Bush says that he found redemption through Jesus and then bombs the living hell out of a country based on some very shaky evidence, that does not seem very Christian to me.

When you have a Christian leader like Hagee making disparaging comments about homosexuals, something I find difficult to believe that Jesus would have done, that seems to run counter to Christian doctrine.

Ignore lists are for those that are wrong, know they are wrong, and prefer to keep being wrong without the nuisance of being told they are wrong.

Oftencold

While not agreeing with all of your points and references, I thank you for a meaningful exchange of opinions.

Goldwater

Oftencold pointed out the good points about some Churches.

If you ask me, because France is the land on 365 kinds of cheese and one religion, and the US is the land of one kind of cheese and 365 different religions, you obviously get good and bad.

A religion should grow based on attraction to the message. If a religion needs a high pressure sales approach threatening fire and brimstone or knocking on your front door, it's probably not a happy or fun religion.

In my religion, it is considered wrong to interpret and convert what you think God's word is and make other humans go by it. People who pray for guidance every day and don't pray for personal gain or things amaze me with how often you recieve that guidance, anyway...

I really think it's systemic, a human condition. A mixture of absolute power corrupting absolutely and judgemental people who abuse a wrong and right reality they apply to all others then get off on, or profit by policing those who don't adhere to it.

Republicans did the same in the following example. Nobel Prizes were coveted by anyone in the world during the 70's, 80's, and 90's. Now that Al Gore and Jimmy Carter won them. Conservatives say it's bad award and like babies say "I didn't want one anyway!" Sorry, I find myself off topic.

So, Some Christians are nice...and others not so much.

I was recently interviewed by a Fox News reporter who was writing a story based on information he was given by "informed sources. He told me that he knew his sources were at best misinformed, or, at worst, lying. In response to my asking him why he would write a story based on lies, and why he wants my comments he said "I need your comments because they give the story balance"...

Bowerbird

I remember at age about 11 thinking almost the same thing - could not stand and still cannot stand the "holier than thou" Sunday Christians who are all "praise the Lord" in church and basic bullies belittling everyone who was not "one of us" outside. The duplicity roiled my stomach.

I briefly worked in a Catholic hospital which still had Nuns - and again I found that there were two types - those who had been overseas and worked to actually do some good in the world and those who had stayed at home praying and congratulating themselves that they were better than everyone else.

For me, the true measure of my worth in the eyes of God (and I have a very Buddhist view of God) is what I can physically do for my fellow man. Can I make their day brighter and happier - even for a little, can I go that extra step to give some comfort? Can I show I care? Can I add happiness in a world in which happiness is always in short supply?

This sad little lizard told me that he was a brontosaurus on his mother’s side. I did not laugh; people who boast of ancestry often have little else to sustain them. Humouring them costs nothing and adds to happiness in a world in which happiness is always in short supply.

R. A. Heinlein

At present, the internet allows one to claim anything, relationship to royalty, physical attributes and expertise they do not have...........

conservative

"All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God"

Christians are no different than others in the sense that we are fallen creations. Jesus called his followers to deny themselves and to serve him. And yet he knew we would fail...that is why he died for us. Paul talks in Romans about the desire of the spiritual waring against the carnal nature of man. It's worth checking out.

BLB: nkjv

"You ain't seen nothin yet!"