Judgment.

I don't think that it is O.K. to critisize other person's religions/beliefs. Why can't people just accept one another for each other. You know....agree to disagree.

John 15:18, "When the world hates you, remember it hated me before it hated you."



If you think being persecuted for being a Christian is bad, try being a Moonie. Even though we *ARE* Christians, we receive most of our persecution from other Chrisitians. I'm sorry to say, but Christians can be the most bigoted, judgemental, narrow minded and legalistic people on the planet. Come on brothers and sisters, you know this is true. And a lot of that bigotry and judgement is directed at our own Christian bretheren, just because of denominational or doctrinal differences. Only the devil rejoices when he sees this.



Whatever happened to John 15:12, "I command you to love each other in the same way that I love you"? Our love for one another should make headlines, good headlines that demonstrate that we are branches of the same True Vine and that He lives in us.

One of the issues with any public forum is that anything you put out about yourself, from hair color to taste in music to religion, is open to criticism. Being mocked or insulted is not equitable to being persecuted; persecution requires the systemic discrediting of a religion, and I don't see any evidence of that in America. Quite the opposite really.

Anything you make known about yourself will become a beacon of friendship to some and a target for tomatoes to others. That isn't being Christian, that's being alive. It's not even close to just Christians: how open-minded are most people toward Goths, for example?



People will disagree with you, here and elsewhere. That isn't a consequence of innate cruelty, ignorance or even malice, that's a consequence of your having expressed a view. Being judged is part of being in a social atmosphere: know what to let go and what to keep, and you're far better off than if you had simply told everyone to shut up.

Criticism is good: it allows you to make conscious choices.

I don't persecute or isolate anyone because of their way of life, and I've never been persecuted or isolated by anyone (for my way of life, anyway).



I think Christians (myself being one) get so much crap aimed at them because the majority of Christians that people come in contact with are the psycho ones who have to incorporate their religion into every single aspect of their lives and then use it to tell everyone just WHY they're going to hell and why their religion is WRONG. I'm personally of the opinion that there's no way we can possibly know which religion is "right" or "wrong", because there IS no right and wrong. Usually when people find out I'm a Christian, they're very surprised, and their view of Christianity in general is boosted.



You can't take it personally. What the people are attacking is what the world shows them of the people they're attacking. Insulting them back is the perfect way to ensure that you'll be attacked personally. You have to be what you want people to see in you.

who here would condemn based on the sins of the father?



would a person of german decent gain the ire of the masses?



learn of the person before making any judgements



one must also consider the "celebrity" factor multiplied by the too many apples factor--- Christians are, to date, the largest relious group out there, it is much easier for some that call themselves christians, but aren't to gain the lime light and be stupid, with the whole of christianity left to blame...

I've noticed that the atheists are quick to respond and very defensive. I don't recall having accused anyone here of treating me this way--though I appear to have found a sure-fire way of inciting something...

people judge everyone else to make themselves feel better, people judge themselves because we're told we're not "pretty enough, normal enough, thin enough" people make livings on judging other people- comedians, political pundants, anyone in the entertainment business...

people teach other people to judge others even in school... it's how you end up with popluar kids, or segregated lunchrooms and cliques

judging is part of our society and we can't really get rid of it until everyone learns to love themselves (which is really really really difficult)

If you want to believe some guy 2000 years ago did some great things, go for it. If you want to believe he is the son of a God, power to you.

If you want to believe the world was created 6000 years ago, by all means go ahead.

But what you will not do is point fingers at athiests for being disrespectful of your religion when we have to deal with Christians being disrespectful of people and other religions as well. I will admit, a lot of athiests are self-righteous jerks with a holier-than-thou attitude, but you better admit that a lot of Christians are intolerant jerks with baseless arguments about homosexuality and the laws of science. Small samples of both pools here will reveal that the underlying pH is the same. :/



I'm going to go ahead and believe that current state of the universe is a result of the inevitability of all possible states in an timeless, infinite universe. All things that are possible will happen eventually, regardless of probability, given a universe with only 3 dimensions.

I totally agree with Wolfen. I feel personally that what you're asking is a double edged sword. I accept that there is a God,but up to a level where it is shoved down the throats of others to emphasise the level of hypocrisy that you show towards atheists. Believe all you like,but in my opinion Christians are probably the most corrupt of people and also the most exclusive,so if you want to look through rose tinted glasses and block that out,go on ahead,but everyone has a right to an opinion,and not just you.

Maybe I missed the meaning of your topic but religious differences/persecution is not new or sudden. Cultures have driven several groups in hiding or subjugation for hundreds of years; Hebrew enslavement in Egypt, The Inquisition, The Crusades, and the Bosnia and Herzegovina Genocide/War.

For one thing, anonymous sites such as this one bring out the (for lack of a better word) Evil in people. Most would not have the guts to say the hateful things to a persons face to face so they use a forum where they will never be found out to spout their vitriol. Religion is not the sole recipient of such posts, and as long as we are able to post with out having to actually identify ourselves, it will continue.



But Religion especially is prone to this type of nastiness since one cannot bear the thought of someone having a personal viewpoint this is different than ours. My sister is at best an agnostic, and probably an atheist and although she has absolutely no clue as to what a Christian really is, she does not hesitate to spout her hateful opinions about them... I am a Christian, and of course her diatribes are always aimed at someone else, but she is really talking to me.... LOL... she things that a dumb Christian wouldn't actually know when somebody is "dissing" them....



As a Christian, I basically just ignore these types of things and have always wondered why people who are not "Religious" or "anti Religious" spend so much time trying to bury God and Christ... if they don't believe in them (HIM) then why not just ignore and go on their merry way.



And of course, you have heard of TROLLS haven't you... probably plenty of them on these sites..

Thanks for that.

Wow. That was really something...

Knowing just how you feel: I believe in the easter bunny and santa claus too. I get mocked all the time but disbelievers need to open their eyes! Every December the stores are full of signs of christmas, santa icons are everywhere. Can't they see the truth revealed? It's right in front of them.



It happens in the spring too. Bunnies everywhere and still a lot of people don't believe! It angers me something fierce. Where do they think all those colored eggs come from? It's the bunny you nitwits!

I don't isolate religions, I just don't abide by them. I accept and get along with many religious people as long as they don't try to shove it down my throat. (*ahemmisionariesahem*) If someone wants to start me on my hobby horse of why not, they should be prepared for an intense point-counter-point match. However, that's not saying all religions are bad, but I look at them from afar with the stance that *SOME principles* of behavior are good for those who experience it, but I never had need to learn them through religion.



My stance isn't hostile, but defensive. If that appears to isolate you because I know more about Christianity than Mormon faith, I'm sorry. I debate using what I know rather than rumors.



Just my $0.02. I'm sorry if more aggressive people are banging your door down. You can rest assured I won't, cause I hate it when one of any religion tries to do that to me.

I got an e-mail from Experience Project saying there was a comment for me on this subject, "Judgment". If so, I could not find it. Naturally, I deplore any and all judgmentalism. Judgment is just fear of the unknown. When someone gets to know the other, judgment will go away. We are all the same, yet different. It's cool, if you ask me. Thanks, Callalilly

Whoa, Darlin! I don't know who got to you, but they got you mad. I believe a way but will not go into now. However, I was a Christian most of my life. Some things happened to me that soured me on Christianity. However, I would never laugh, jest, or be mean to you in any way for your beliefs. I hold some truly strange beliefs, and you will notice I don't put them out here. I am afraid of dirision. Once burned twice shy. I know how it hurts to be attacked. Some things in my youth still leave me hurting and aching. So, I would never hurt you. I believe differently, but never wish to belittle you or anyone. Take care, Callalilly

I respect your opinion on that. "To each his (or her) own." I'm not going to try to shove my religion down anyone else's throat--that's not my job. :)

Faith. And substance...

No I don't take the rhyme as gospel.



The point I'm trying to make with the nursery rhyme is this. Why would you only except the bible as truth and not the rhyme. When there is an equal amount of evidence to support both?

olegnad: Good for you that you've found something that works for you. How wonderful that you've discovered that knowledge is so important to you...



Personally, I value my beliefs over all else. And to answer your question (which may or may not have been rhetorical, but certainly SHOULD have been)--no, I don't take "Jack be nimble, Jack be quick, Jack jump over the candlestick" as Gospel. Do you?

Believing is nothing and knowing is everything. I either know or I don't. I do not believe. There is nothing that definitively proves there is a god. Or that there is not a god. It's people that jump to conclusions that are the problem. Be it from either side. Anyway there are questions that are easier to definitively answer. Like, "Is there intelligent life on other planets". That question itself is yet to be answered. As far as religion goes. The only thing that supports them are the religious texts themselves. Do you take, "Jack be nimble, Jack be quick, Jack jump over the candlestick", as gospel?

Yeah, pretty much sasxiv...

i guess the previous post is an example of the 'mock' you speak of...

The dislike, or hatred if you wish is a result of the insistence of Christianity to impose itself on everyone else. You are free to believe anything you want, in private. But once you feel it necessary to impose your beliefs on others, for their own good of course, then you step over the line.



If you want to believe in a personal invisible god and angels or demons fine, just do not think that others should share your beliefs.



Please stop trying to protect me from those things that you are afraid of. I can fend for myself, thank you.

I am so with you Girl4God. I know that Christ told us we'd be mocked for our faith, but it's still difficult when it's happening. Worst is when I see it happening to another believer, one who's not as strong in their faith as I am. There are times when the comments and criticisms are just so hurtful and black.



But then I realize that the person making those comments is probably doing so because they were hurt at some point, or maybe because they're afraid of faith/religion/God/whatever. At any rate, to attack someone for their faith, I would think you'd have to be coming from a pretty dark and angry place, so I try to pray for the people who do so. I know they probably wouldn't appreciate such a thing, so I don't even mention it to them most of the time, but I just offer up a silent prayer that God would open their eyes to see the amazing LOVE that He has for them. To see that whatever it was that hurt them, scared them or made them angry, was NOT Him. In the end, I think that's the best we Christians can do in such a situation.

I don't let it get to me anymore.

I simply feel sorry for those who don't know God.

I don't take offense, I simply show the love. : )

Girl4God,



I saw this topic when I was signing on, and could not find it once I logged in, but found it again. It struck me, and I was lead to learn more.



Christian Persecution... Yes, it happens. It has for two thousand years. More, really, when the followers of God were called Jewish. Does that make it right, NO, far from.



I am new to EP. I have met many wonderful, wonderful people. I have never been bashed, or felt poorly because I am a child of God. Jesus IS my Savior. And I try to show him thru my words and actions. I have not seen this poor behavior on EP other than some angry and confused people who start blogs about their religious anger. There are people who also say they hate their mother in law. Again, short sighted and angry people.



He is out here, and on EP. It is through His good works that this board came to be, so people may learn about Him, question him, and eventually accept Him thru the words and actions of those who do love Him. Remember, He loved the least loved. In Christs day, this was the leppers, ******, tax collectors. Today, we have computers, and our titles have changed. And we are not just in a village, but a planet without roads.



I have those days where I mourn the lack of Christian values, but I have to remember, He died for my sins, and the sins of others. I am grateful I live here, today in 2008, and not in the days Christ walked this earth.



Forgive them, for they know not what they do. Take that as a learning opportunity. Spread his unconditional love, and reap what you sow.

I totally agree, and it really can come from any direction, to and from people of any interest, situation, lifestyle, religion/lack thereof, etc. I'm not a Christian but I don't see the need to force everyone around me to be agnostic just because I am, or ridicule anyone for being different. I think I'd hate life if there was no variety. However, I do have a problem, for instance, with people who call themselves Christians but show no signs of actually being one--the ones that just quote scripture and obviously don't live by a word of it, or misconstrue it greatly.

Hypocrisy.