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 Some Christian denominations have officially welcomed gays and lesbians in recent years.
October 25th, 2011
12:09 PM ET
My Take: Why Christians are embracing their LGBT neighborsEditor’s note: Ross Murray is director of religion, faith and values at GLAAD, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. By Ross Murray, Special to CNN America is embracing its lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens. Don’t believe me? Just look at the progress being made in faith communities. The Christian church was once considered the final holdout for those who oppose equality for LGBT people. Staunch believers could gather in worship with people who thought just like them to hear sermons affirming the anti-LGBT beliefs they held in common. For those of us who identify as LGBT, church was a place of fear and secrets. We had to figure out how to hide ourselves or how to find a more welcoming community. But that is changing. Although there is still a variety of scriptural interpretations, an increasing number of Christians are reading scripture and understanding that God’s design for the world includes LGBT people. It follows, good Christians believe, that if God made them, then I am called to love and support them. Whole Christian denominations have accepted and embraced the reality of LGBT believers within their ranks and in their leadership. Lutherans, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, the United Church of Christ and Unitarians have formally accepted LGBT people within their denominations. Even within denominations and faith groups whose policies don’t fully welcome LGBT people, there are growing numbers of people who have learned to love and accept their lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender brothers and sisters. The Public Religion Research Institute found this year that as many as 71% of Catholics in America support lesbian and gay people, even up to the point of civil marriage, despite the Roman Catholic hierarchy telling them otherwise. Of course, there still are Christian groups who work actively against equal protections for LGBT people and their families. Indeed, as more Americans get to know and love their LGBT neighbors, the messages and vocal misinformation of anti-gay activists become even more shrill. And yet more and more Christians are now living out the message of 1 John 4:18, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” How did this happen? More Christians now know someone who is LGBT. They probably even know someone from their church. There are countless faithful Christians who identify as LGBT. These are folks who have found their faith in God to be stronger than the opposition of vocal anti-gay activists. These LGBT Christians have shared their lives and their stories that build up love and break down fear, leading to tangible progress, especially with young people. According to the Public Religion Research Institute, there is at least a 20-point gap between those ages 18 to 29 and those ages 65 and older on every public policy measure in the survey concerning equality for gay and lesbian people, with younger Americans gravitating toward equality. Even Christian-identified young people increasingly support protections for lesbian and gay people, the same survey found. Those who oppose equality can call it what they like, but the reality is that we are living in a society that has learned how to value LGBT people as they would others. That attitude doesn’t rely on fear or lies, but on caring relationships and trust. It lives out the apostle Paul’s wish for the Corinthians that someday we will know fully, even as we are fully known. It is a biblically informed reality that is helping to make the world a better place. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Ross Murray. soundoff (2,403 Responses)« Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Next »
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Not that I’m against the Christians being more LGBT-friendly, but I have to wonder. How can you be a Christian that’s LGBT-friendly, which I fully support, when the, “good”, book you abide by, if not wave around all the time, orders you to brutally murder people, in any number of creative ways, for a myriad of galactically lame “reasons”? O.o
I’m not a Christian scholar by any means, but I am familiar with some of the nastier mass murder expectations purportedly espoused by the big guy himself, who claims to love everybody. Is that just in the Old Testament or does the New Testament have all of this, “kill anybody and everybody that’s different from us”, too? O.O
The cross tells us two things:
We are worse off than we want to admit (we all deserve to die),
but we are much more loved than we ever dared to hope (He was willing to die in my place).
@Russ
Welll, I don't know if you deserve to die, but you do deserve a little enema for being so full of sh-it!
that is just Old Testament, were under grace which means we follow the New Testament, in which no where does it say to murder any one for any reason, it does in fact say if someone strikes you to offer the other cheek as well. It also does not condone gay marriage. Why am I being made out to be a hater because I follow the New Testament? I don't hate anyone. I love everyone equally and want people to be happy but I will follow God's word first, even if that offends men/women who are gay. I make no apologies for that.
@Krista: I didn't make you or anybody else out as a hater 😉 I was more careful than that I think. Re-read my second sentence; does the "good" book that you abide by order you to murder? O.o Thanks for the info about the New Testament and if that's true and that's your book, then you've effectively disqualified yourself as someone abiding by a book that tells you to murder people 😉
Krista,
So doesn't the Old Testament talk about the same God who commanded his people to kill others and only changed the rules when Christ convinced God he was wrong?
i love everyone equally
What is your take on enemas? Some folks in here are prejucided against enemas.
I LOVE EM!
its my party gag gift for the first timers... gets um every time!
What a relief. I was starting to feel under-appreciated!
Um..no, you're weird. Only weirdos worship satan.
I'm a religious person and have always been 100% for gay marriage. As far as I'm concerned the people who are against it are simply using religion to hide their own personal feelings of hate. The last time I checked the where the bible says "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." there wasn't a list of exceptions.
the list is only found in the new large print versions of the bible, the ones with really big pictures.
what does disagreeing with someone's lifestyle choice have to do with hate? Why can't Christians hold up biblical ideals without being called haters? I don't hate alcoholics, but I'm still going to tell them that their choices aren't helping their lives. This isn't because I'm afraid of them. It's because I believe what the Bible says.
Since when did loving your neighbor include accepting any and every behavior? Love means telling people what they don't want to hear – read the Bible – Jesus told people what they didn;t want to hear all the time. I.E Divorce is wrong except in adultery yet Christianss get divorces all the time where adultery doesn;t exist.
being gay is not a choice. it has been proven by science. and the verdict is still out on if god exists, why, because there is no proof, only a lack of – which scienctificaly speaking means there is no god for a lack of evidence of existence is evidence against the existence of something...simple deduction.
Better yet, read the Koran and at least twelve other non-Christian religious texts of your choice.
See if maybe one of the other hundreds of faiths that have come and gone are better than the one your parents forced on you.
@Evan and TC
You both have an interesting way of comparing apples and oranges. How can you compare someone's se x ual orientation to being an alcoholic. You are both full of sh-it and should take your cleansings like a man or whatever you are. I am here to HELP you.
Is the nation getting more hateful towards Christians?
It's possible.
But more likely we're just tired of all the hate and hypocrisy they spew.
Absolutely – the agendas out there attack the values of any relgion as bigotry and hatred and convince the mediocre followers how religion is flawed and wrong and we just need ot accept everything as good and OK.
Not really – the agendas out there attack the values of any bigotry and hatred and convince people with common sense how religion is flawed and wrong and we just need to accept it.
No, just less accepting of some Christians' intolerance and bigotry. Old fashioned "love they neighbour" Christians are great, its these hateful ones that try to tell others how to live their lives that some of us have less patience with.
It is simply the natural progress of things. There was a Christian resurgence over the last twenty years. Like any good Hegelian Dialectic, the backlash comes and some reasonable compromise will occur.
I think that we are simply more aware of our diversity now that we have all these communication devices that let us write articles while protesting on Wall Street. We know more about who we are and find solidarity in common ground we could not establish three decades ago.
No, TC...
Actually we use phrases and words from your own holy book to prove how your hatred is against the teachings of your prophet.
Slight difference.
Never once said you have to like gay folks...
But Jesus said to love thy neighbor as you yourself – many times. And never once said it was okay to hate, harass or oppress people.
Most of the hate comes from atheist and LGBT agendas
Simply, we've had enough of right-wing Fundies attempts to make everyone else live by their weird little rules. If they stopped trying to force us to act the way THEY believe we should act people would stop bashing them. Until they back off though they are fair game.
TC,
So you are surprised that the people you wish most to oppress do not welcome your opinions?
Pretty funny to complain about people that you wish to oppress saying bad things about you. Are you really that stupid?
I agree – Chrsitians should not oppress or hate – against the teachings but Christians telling LGBs to not committ h-m- acts is not hate
I'm not oppressing anyone and yes, the atheist agendas attack my beleifs erroneously by saying I am a bigot. This is incorrect Are you that stupid?
hey there TC... don't have any kind of humpy relations with anyone – that is what this world needs, less you! thats not hate is it?
"I'm not oppressing anyone "
Then allow gays to get married, vote it into law.
If the shoe fits, wear it.
Just because your religion requires you to be bigoted against certain people does not excuse you from being civil. If you do not work against other people's civil rights then I personally have no problem with you. Some of my best friends are Christians. Just not fundie jerks.
You can't have it both ways. Either god created everything and everyone (including gays) or he didn't. Jesus talked about love and tolerance, NO WHERE in the bible did he say it was OK to HATE ANYONE. All these so called Christians spewing hate are nothing more than hypocritical jerks, who most likely are sinning way more than most of the people they are railing against. The love of money has replaced the worship of God in this country, if you don't think so, then look at how far we have fallen since the 40's when we were a nation of citizens, concerned only with helping our fellow man.....
@RJ
Nicely put. No enema for you.
All believers acknowledge that all have fallen short of the glory of God and need forgiveness for their sins.
A Christian is called to embrace every human being, but a Christian cannot embrace a lifestyle that is scripturally wrong.
@Ross
Nor can a Christian embrace reality. You are full of sh-it. Here's your enema.
Of course Christians are loving their neighbors, and every other person alive. Jesus loves them too, and asked us all to do the same, even with our enemies. People are so judgmental, and self promoting that it is only now, at this late hour, that his message is being understood by the majority. Haters beware. The change that is sweeping over the church, and the world, is the Holy Spirit. Just like the crazy weather and earthquakes, its all part of the prophecy.
@eric
Since everyone else considered your post too stupid to even post a reply, I will throw you a bone. You are an idiot. Here is your enema.
Hey, quick question for all of you fundies.
If you knew a embryo was going to grow to be gay, would abortion be ok?
No.
Just so I've got this straight.
You want it to live so you can then condemn it to the eternal hell of burning damnation?
Of course not derp.. that would lose them of a nice target to focus their hate on..
This is most dangerous generation ever. Not only this generation calls evil good but they also encourage others to practice it too. Remember, you cannot fool the Creator.
have you tried... its very easy! afterall the thing is totally blind to anything not concerning itself – thats everything!
Love thy neighbor, hypocrite.
Yes when the fundies stop teaching their evil ways as representing good, then we can progress as a nation.
no but he can fool you into believing in him.
Sorry to rain on that parade, but someone has said the same thing about every generation all the way back.
To all of the Jesus freaks – google " Horus" – the Egyptian god....then get back to us.
WOW!!! I've been a Christian for years and NO ONE has ever pointed that out!!!! Thanks for revealing the truth to me so that I could immediately repent of my foolishness and join the ranks of intellectual athiests who troll religious forums.
While I appreciate the reference to the anecdotal arguments of the mythology of Christ and the Egyptian mythology of the son of Orisis, Horus, there are two problems with your comment. First, it has absolutely nothing to do with the debate at hand. Second, from secular Egyptologists (e.g. Budge) to theologians of many religions, the parallels are off point and while give context to Coptic Christians, have little to do with the development of the Christ mythology. Further, as a Christian, I concede the use of the word "myth" is appropriate, but not in its more recognized (and generally misplaced) form of being fiction.
Finally, if you wish to engage in a meaningful debate, I welcome it. However, your tone and verbiage choices seem to indicate, you want nothing of the kind. I wish you peace and wellness.
Done. Now what?
I HAVE to agree with the article or all the LBGT (had no idea there was such a thing) people will HATE on me. Accept me and my believes they say, but man if you don't agree then, they become nasty, hateful, call you names and some even try to hurt you, throw things at you. If I don't agree, then I will get sued and persicuted by the wonderful accepting people. I know I have been a victim of many people because of my beliefs. I am a women and a christian. I either stop having an option or man they will make me suffer for it.
Look above, all the christian haters and haters of anyone who does not agree with you. Thank God there are no thought police yet or they would be after me for that too. Hated as a women by Islam, Dicriminated against by MOST religions. Hated by Athesits and LBGT's for being Christian...so now, I believe in nothing, say nothing, go about my business hoping to live a peaceful life. Not a nice world to live in. Do I care what you think of me....nope.... no more then you give a crap what I think of you. Dog eat dog world now. All about yourself and survival. I don't hate anyone..you want to get married go ahead, but now you just want to hate and humiliate anyone who doesnt agree with you.
Oh you poor persecuted xian.
Peggy: I am an atheist, but I don't hate you. I don't even know you. I do find anyone claiming to know what "god" thinks to be fooling themselves
What on earth are you talking about?
"Dicriminated against by MOST religions."
Including your own.
Dumbas s.
This is the most abhorrent and absurd article ever written.
When you say I "hate Christians," you lie. I'm always amazed at how easily falsehoods drip from your so-Christian lips. Pretty obviously you are filled with rage and hatred; religion has taught you nothing and done nothing for you. Meanwhile I love my life and my wife and child, and we're going to drive up into the mountains this weekend and enjoy the beauty of the leaves. What are you going to do, picket a soldier's funeral?
No one is asking you to embrace people you do not know. We just ask that you not try to control their lives. If Christians would stop trying to force their beliefs onto others they would find the non-christian world much more hospitable.
"What are you going to do, picket a soldier's funeral?'
Hey, don't mock the funeral picketers. They are spreading the word of christ's eternal love.
I think that this is a bias site. most of my comments are being blocked by the moderator. Unfair discussion. CNN is helping the LGBT makes their way to hell by blocking opposite views that could save them from hell.
There is no hell....just as there is no invisible man in the sky...
No. Chances are your comments contain words that the automatic filter blocks.
They don't employ an army of staffers to police comment boards.
Here's a hint – stop being a hateful bigot using Christ as your excuse to harass, hate, belittle and oppress people and maybe you'll have more luck.
It's called not being a d-bag.
wimanf, hold on to your hat because you will get multiple handles by the same person posting that you are kicking off a computerized blocking system when said handles of the same person is the person overseeing this site and throwing out Christian responses that don't go along with CNN's gay agenda.
Amen.
Could someone post the 'bad letter combo' list for this persecuted fool?
Wait...on second thought, don't help him, he might post again.
Yeah, listen to Heavensent, because that makes much better sense. LOL
It probably isn;t your views that are being blocked. There is an automated system in place that will block posts that contain certain words or phrases. Try rephrasing or including an asterix within a questionable word.
"the person overseeing this site and throwing out Christian responses that don't go along with CNN's gay agenda."
HS just because you are not smart enough to get around the word filters doesn't mean they are throwing out the response. You've even been given the list that get caught in the filters. Now lying is a sin.
Wow, HeavenSent sure loves playing the "poor me" card.
You're right, its impossible that an obvious bigot couldn't be setting off a filter. It must be some more of that persecution of you poor Christians.
Do something useful – go get your "all loving" God to feed some of the dying kids in Africa or cure some of the poor kids dying of cancer.
Man, when you believe in invisible forces you really go all out.
Also, Heavensent has been posting here long enough to know that the "report abuse" link is another automated system that CAN get rid of posts based on the message. If enough people select "report abuse" the message is automatically erased. No moderator, just a simplistic algorithm.
Conversation at the pearly gates.....
Xtian: Hello........god, can I come in?
God: Are you kidding me, you are on the down escalator?
Xtian: Huh, what's the problem?
God: You have spent the last fifty years condemning and discriminating against ho mos exuals.
Xtian: How is that bad?
God: You were supposed to love thy neighbor.
Xtian: But the book says that I should hate g ays.
God: What book?
Xtain: The bible
God: What in my green earth would make you think I wrote that book, the koran, or the torah for that matter.
Xtian: Well, I was told you did.
God: By who? it certainly was not me who told you that.
Xtian: Our leader told me.
God: I thought I was your leader?
Xtian: Yeah, that's true.
God: What in the world would make you think that I would write a bunch of books that people would use to hate each other?
Xtain: Don't know, it sounded pretty believable at the time.
God: Don't you think that tricking people into believing that it is acceptable to hate, condemn, discriminate against, and even kill one another would be the work of Satan?
Xtian: Well when you put it that way.
God: Umm Hmm
Xtian: But the book says....
God: I did not write that book!! The duma ss Muslims fell for the same shtick. Some crazy pe do phile tells them to follow his rules and BAM, 700 years of misery for women.
Xtian: But I thought I was doing the right thing.
God: Sorry, you got tricked by Satan. I hope you like warm beer.
But hate is okay as long as you hate in the name of God and use him as an excuse.
derp
Well said!
Awesome.
derp (cough Reality, Colin, Tommie, Tom etc) try to get a life instead of the nauseating spin doctor that you are.
Amen.
"nauseating spin doctor"
Nah, that award goes to the literalist evangelicals.
ok, that was pretty funny.
But I wish the moderator would stop blocking the guy who says he is getting blocked – those rants might be pretty funny too (although perhaps not intentionally so).
@Joe
I had to edit that post several times before it would post. There is no moderator on this message board. There is a filter that catches certain words. If you use that word it blacks the post. If enough people "report" a post, it goes to moderation (disappears permanently). Notice that words like g ays or hom ose xuals must e broken up or intentionally misspelled or your post will not show up.
"derp (cough Reality, Colin, Tommie, Tom etc) try to get a life instead of the nauseating spin doctor that you are."
Sorry HeaveSucks, just because I have accurately pointed out the absurdity of your faithful folly, does not make it spin.
I wish we would die on the same day, so that if there actually is a god, I could stand there sharing a Guinness with him watching you descend into an eternity of warm Natty Light.
Jon O, that's why all these hypocritical so-called "Christian" people who think they're saved and going to Heaven, are going to in effect get a HOT Surprise at the time of their judgment! It ain't going to be Heaven where they stay!
@Derp
One fatal flaw in your conversation. If you're going to accept that God exists and is potentially going to put you on a down escalator, then you would have to believe that God would attempt to communicate with humans and let them know what the rules are for getting on the up vs down escalator.
Which he has done.
Maybe 1% of Christians actually follow the words of Christ.
And you call yourself a statistician.
It's not that Christianity was tried and found to be too difficult, it's that it was found to be too difficult and never tried.
Try finding a religion that doesn't condemn your lifestyle.
Try finding a religion that isn't full of hypocrites who break the laws of their faith when its convenient for them but expects anyone not like them to fall in line.
Well, good for those religions. And they will continue to be less relevant as people rise out of the pit that gave rise to those religions in the first place
Try putting God at the top of your hierarchy, and not yourself.
Aradia and it would condemn your lifestyle as well since you sin just as much as anyone else hypocrite.
These comments about a rleigion with no hypocites shows how much people have no concpt of human nature. Regardless of who you are and what you believe – you belong to a group of flawed people that no maater how hard they try they are going to mess up – i.e. all groups and individuals are hypocirties! The key is do the poeple apologize and try to do better.
Besides the several that were listed in the article?
Any that have the ability to adapt and survive. As history has shown us, only they survive. Look at the LDS. Where would they be if they had not moved away from racism?
Some dudes like dudes. Get over it already.
Gay Christians confuse me. It's like African-American KKK members.
Wow, that was an ignorant statement.
Using your logic, any sinner couldn't be a Christian.
NOw that is the funniest thing I have read today even though it is only half accurate.
Christians are nothing like Christ. Next to Muslims they are the most hateful, bigoted, ignorant, hypocritical people on the planet.
But YOU love them, just the same? Apparently not.
That is simply not true. I know of Christians that are kindhearted, giving and, trustworthy people. Just becausde you have one or a few bad exeriences does not mean they all are that way. Love on any issue goes both ways.
@Weinber
Oh gee, I wonder where I heard that argument.. Oh thats right.. in the context of Muslims.. and oh, I do remember all these good Christians chastising the author about how wrong they were to not think all muslims are the same..
You lying stinking Hypocrite..
wow nothing like a blanket statement ... encouraging to see such open minded rhetoric!
I am ok with the LGB, but I will never be ok with the T. Can't change DNA, can't change chromosomes.
If you knew anything about DNA, you would realize what an ignorant statement you just made.
Guess hermaphrodites are screwed, huh?
"Guess hermaphrodites are screwed, huh?"
Yup straight to hell with them. We should not even let them out of the womb.
Oh wait, that would be abortion, and we can't have that.
@derp
It's cool, let them out of the womb, them put them on trial and dole out a death penalty. That way you're square with the whole abortion thing and you can still do the very christian thing of killing anyone who's different than you.
Yeah, a castrated man who's had surgery and taken hormones is still not a woman. Without a uterus and menstrual cycles it has to be a totally different experience. If they could clone a female body and transplant the brain it might work, but that's the only way. Same with female to male; no prostate gland.
Maybe the author should take a look at what Jesus would think (not conformist opinions of people)
Romans 1:26-27
For this cause [worshiping the created more than the creator] God gave them up to vile affections. Even their women changed what was natural into what was unnatural. Like them, men left the natural use of the woman, and burned in their lust toward each other; Men with men committing what was wrong and of error.
Actually, Paul wrote that...
Maybe you should read one of the numerous times Jesus told us to "love thy neighbor."
Christian fail – cherry picking biblical passages to support a hate agenda. Well done!
I offer my condolences to you and send love to you.
Matthew 22:39, Leviticus 19:18, Luke 10:27, Romans 13:9, Galatians 5:14, and James 2:8
All of the verses below are from the King James Version of the bible.
Matthew 22:39 ...And the second [is] like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Leviticus 19:18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I [am] the LORD
Luke 10:27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
Romans 13:9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if [there be] any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Galatians 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, [even] in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
I love it when people make an idol out of the bible.
That's not what Jesus said. That is what some writers, many decades after Jesus' death, wanted to convey as spoken by him.
Jesus didn't say to love thy neighbor? Why do you think he didn't?
It's pretty widely acknowledged that Paul, uh, took a wide stance, as they say. Know what I mean? And it seems sort of odd that the synoptic Gospels never mention that particular rant, which the would have if it were important. Neither do any of the numerous apocypha or other related writings. And, of course, you've also managed to grossly misquote the original. Enjoy your hate.
1 John 3:15
Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
1 John 4:20
If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
@Phaedrus: Exactly, a disciple and follower of Jesus.
@Jon O: Cherry picking? As you do the very thing you’ve accused me of (please quote in context). But, nevertheless, you’re right. Jesus said love thy neighbor. And he first said love God. He said if you love God (the Son, and person of God [John 1:1]) he said you’d keep his sayings and follow him. How do you know his sayings to follow? Through his disciples who wrote on his behalf.
@Patrick and Sixdegrees: Jesus commissioned his followers to spread the gospel. Paul, like Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, and James did just that. Obviously, none of the words of the bible where hand scribed by Jesus. They were through his messengers. We Christians believe the messengers of God and hold the historically unchanged scriptures (I'm not here to debate authenticity) as authoritative text.
Paul also said you shouldn't touch women. No boobs for you.
Paul is a fine example of what repression can do to a person. His writings display a whole rainbow of mental disorders, and a self-loathing that he projects onto the entire human race. It's all but certain that God used Paul as an example of how NOT seek enlightenment.
"We Christians believe the messengers of God and hold the historically unchanged scriptures (I'm not here to debate authenticity) as authoritative text."
Historically unchanged?
I guess you must own a 1800 year old original greek and aramaic version of the scriptures. Otherwise, "unchanged" is pretty far fetched.
MOST people who claim to be christians are not christians, no matter how good of a person they may seem to be. Most talk about God and quote scriptures making themselves and others feel good, but not truly following Christ to their full potential. Even people who don't believe in God can be good people. Anybody can read a book and give a motivating speech about it (Didn't Hitler give motivating speeches?). They are not blinded by the bible, they are blinded by their own opinions, beliefs, philosophies, etc. and try to tie it in with the bible, but doing it out of context. Jesus sacrificed everyday of his life helping others. Are the 'christians' you know sacrificing their lives to help others? Or are they too busy working and trying to take care of themselves, trying to give themselves fulfillment in life (maybe going to church 1-3 times a week) instead of being like Jesus (who sacrificed for God everyday not 1-3 times a week and was broke and homeless) I'm not saying to be broke and homeless, but if your will overlaps God's will (which is not to be rich, but to spread his love no matter what situation you are in) then you are not a Christian.
You seem to think you have all of the answers. "Judge not, lest ye be judged." A tough rule to follow–and I may have just broken it myself.
You are absolutely correct. Alot of times I can decieve myelf and think I know the answers, just as many of us do in different situations. Correct me if in the bible Jesus isn't sacrificing everyday of his life for God and he isn't calling people out when they live out their own desires and fit God in whenever they like because it's easier.
Sorry, Christians aren't perfect and we'll gladly admit it. However, I don't see how you can judge Christians as I'm presuming you're not one. The Christian may have a speck of sawdust in his eye but at least he's trying to follow God's ideal. You, however, have a plank in your eye and are not trying to follow God's ideal.
"You, however, have a plank in your eye and are not trying to follow God's ideal."
No, I actually follow gods ideal. You, on the other hand follow a false ideal set forth by man and perpetuated as a device of human control for hundreds of years. You have been deceived by Satan. I have not.
If someone is messing up, whether in school, at work, or where ever, I believe I should correct them in helping them do better. If I don't correct them I'm just letting them slip. That doesn't mean I don't ever make mistakes or that I'm above making them. That same person can correct me if I mess up. I hope someone corrects me when I do wrong especially when it comes to God. We're all guilty of judging people, we do it every single day. Go ahead and point the finger at me for being judgemental, you couldn't be more right.
Blah,blah,blah. I believe I have gleaned as much as I can about the psyche of the Militant Atheist from this blog. I have never known an MA in real life and this has been a real gold mine! If John Dewey can use that term, MA, so will I. rimsland, hippy, colin/reality have provided useful character studies and I thank them. You have been a blessing to me and I pray that my sky god blesses you. See you on the dark side of the moon.
i am no MA i just get upset when so called loving people say that others are dam ned to hell because they are alive and living the way they were born to. But thank you for the mention.
Well I should say, you are no different, my friend. The theists that want to prop up their god and smother others with their "blessings" and teachings of "Follow me or BURN in hell" should be called Militant Theists or MT's (or Emptys..) See, english language also supports how empty their heads are.
Bet you see yourself as a smart-a$$ to make your remarks about your biased character study of atheist.. but did you forget that the theists themselves are as aggressive and far more derogatory towards people of other faiths than atheists.. You want to see a hypocrit? look no further than your own mirror
I don't really see the point of militancy except in cases where you guys are passing a law to make us all carry Bibles or close everything on Sunday, but I also don't see why God would make you hate everything and everyone so much! You are so hateful that you are insisting that we should wear your hate name of "MA" so you can pretend we all match some ridiculous picture of "atheists" in your mind. Thank Cthulhu I'm not as mean as you are! Why are you even alive?