Maybe I don't want to be a Christian any more

[Katzpur]

And you, Fish-Hunter, contributed greatly to my decision.

 

[Smoke]

I wouldn't have expected such behavior within Lutheranism itself.

It almost certainly wouldn't have been a problem in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, which is the biggest Lutheran denomination in the U.S. The Missouri Synod is a smaller, very conservative denomination.

 

[Kathryn]

I agree with the concept that labels divide more than unify. However, I don't see how we can avoid them totally.

Christians aren't the only group who suffer from the negative ramifications of a label.

That being said, I will not give up that designation, even if it has been hijacked by people who don't carry themselves as the true meaning of "Christian" implies they should.

I am a follower of Jesus Christ's teachings, and a believer in the precepts of the early church that have been handed down through my faith. I think that qualifies me to be called, and to consider myself, a Christian.

I'm sincerely sorry if others are put off by that, but it's not my responsibility, or my ability, to change the world. All I can do is live my life as morally as possible, honor my husband and my parents, love my family, treat my neighbor as I want to be treated, submit my own desires to God, and accept His grace when I repent of falling short.

I will not - WILL NOT - apologize for being that sort of Christian, nor deny that designation.

 

[Katzpur]

I will not - WILL NOT - apologize for being that sort of Christian, nor deny that designation.

Kathryn, you should never have to apologize for being the kind of Christian you are. It's just too bad there aren't a lot more like you. :yes:

 

[Kathryn]

Katzpur, that was a very kind comment. Thank you so much. I find it especially kind considering some of the reactions I get around here!

I hope you have a marvelous weekend!

 

[McBell]

And you, Fish-Hunter, contributed greatly to my decision.

There seems to be real lax in the enforcement of the no preaching rule.
Hells bells, Christian Pilgrim even flat out admits to preaching....

 

[themadhair]

There seems to be real lax in the enforcement of the no preaching rule.
Hells bells, Christian Pilgrim even flat out admits to preaching....

Not sure such a rule is fair given that critiquing ideas is, in essence, the only equivalent to preaching the non-religious can do.

 

[Kathryn]

Oh lord, that's not true - I've heard the atheist, and gay, and anarchist and who knows what else equivalent to preaching about a thousand times in here!

Look at it as an opportunity to understand others' perspectives.

 

[McBell]

Oh lord, that's not true - I've heard the atheist, and gay, and anarchist and who knows what else equivalent to preaching about a thousand times in here!

I agree.
I am not talking about only theists, I am talking about all the preaching.
There used to be not near as much as there is now.

Look at it as an opportunity to understand others' perspectives.

I am gonna have to.
But I still would like to see it get back to the way it was before, when preachy posts were deleted.

 

[challupa]

I agree.
I am not talking about only theists, I am talking about all the preaching.
There used to be not near as much as there is now.


I am gonna have to.
But I still would like to see it get back to the way it was before, when preachy posts were deleted.

I haven't been on here long. What was considered to be preachy posts? I can see Pilgrams as one of course, but was it even more rigid meaning could it be even less obvious to get deleted?

 

[Kathryn]

I'd rather see more freedom of speech and have to put up with some preaching than see rampant censorship.

I'd like to think that this forum encouraged free speech and honest opinions, even if we have to put up with some ideas that are currently unpopular.

 

[McBell]

I'd rather see more freedom of speech and have to put up with some preaching than see rampant censorship.

I'd like to think that this forum encouraged free speech and honest opinions, even if we have to put up with some ideas that are currently unpopular.

I agree.

Until we get to the point that Christian Pilgrim/Fish-Hunter is at.
He is not even presenting verses that are relevant to the discussion.
THAT type of preaching should be deleted regardless of who it is.
At one time here on RF, it was.

 

[J Bryson]

Agreed with Mestemia. If an atheist were to come on and post long excerpts from Dawkins' works in a discussion where such passages were not relevant, and add nothing of his or her own to the discussion, then I would consider that to be preaching.

 

[Apex]

Agreed with Mestemia. If an atheist were to come on and post long excerpts from Dawkins' works in a discussion where such passages were not relevant, and add nothing of his or her own to the discussion, then I would consider that to be preaching.

Many atheists here already do participate in similar behavior to that of Fish Hunter. The only difference is Fish's posts are usually fairly lenghty while many atheists posts here are one liners. Yet they are both attempts at the same kind of behavior

 

[J Bryson]

Many atheists here already do participate in similar behavior to that of Fish Hunter. The only difference is Fish's posts are usually fairly lenghty while many atheists posts here are one liners. Yet they are both attempts at the same kind of behavior

I wouldn't consider the vast majority of the one-liners around here that I've seen on any side of any debate to be preaching so much as expressing an opinion without specifically trying to convert anyone in the process.

 

[Apex]

I wouldn't consider the vast majority of the one-liners around here that I've seen on any side of any debate to be preaching so much as expressing an opinion without specifically trying to convert anyone in the process.

Our experiences differ.

 

[Kathryn]

I consider posts that consist of simply a link to some other site's propaganda to be just as bad as preaching.

Both are very unoriginal and show an inability to think independently.

 

[J Bryson]

I consider posts that consist of simply a link to some other site's propaganda to be just as bad as preaching.

Both are very unoriginal and show an inability to think independently.

True, but what one person considers to be the providing of a source of factual information to back up an opinion, another person will consider to be perfidious propaganda.

 

[Fatihah]

The older -- and wiser -- I get, and the more I hang out on RF, the more convinced I am that I don't really care whether I'm known as a Christian or not. As a matter of fact, more and more all the time, I'm starting to want to distance myself from people who call themselves "Christians." I'm beginning to understand why non-Christians are so turned off by Christians and by the doctrines they profess. It has taken me a long time to admit this. No one who truly believes in Jesus Christ and worships Him as his Savior and Redeemer wants to be told that He isn't a Christian. That's why we Latter-day Saints get so defensive when we're accused of not being Christians. If we say, "You're wrong. We are Christians," we are forced to defend ourselves against slanderous remarks. If we say, "You're right. We're not Christians," it's as if we have denied everything we stand for.

But who are we really denying it to? I don't need to fall into a man-made category of some kind in order for Jesus Christ to recognize me as His follower. I am just about ready to simply back off and stop trying to be accepted into the club. I don't want to be thought of as a Christian when most of the people who call themselves Christians are so unpleasant and judgmental. I don't want to be associated with them in any way. I'm a Latter-day Saint. I'm a Mormon. I love my Savior with all my heart and believe that when I stand before Him, He will welcome me with open arms, along with my brothers and sisters of all religious (and non-religious) persuasions. Don't even bother referring to me as a Christian (real or fake) any more because I want nothing to do with the Christianity I see all around me.

Response: This may be shocking, coming from a muslim, but you should not let other christians or anybody for that matter make you change your belief. Now if you feel that the christian doctrine is not true, then that's a different story.

 

[Kathryn]

Also, Katzpur - don't let the opinions of the members of this forum unduly influence your opinion of Christianity. This place isn't the real world, and it's a known fact that people express themselves more RUTHLESSLY online in the anonymous world of the internet, than they do in "real life."

These sorts of forums can bring out the worst of human nature, and the most extreme views - many of which are not applied in the human realm.

And thank God for that.