Thread: am i intolerant for having anti-christian tendencies?

well i definitely don't think religious people and religion are inherently bad.

Originally Posted by cygnus

well i definitely don't think religious people and religion are inherently bad.

My humble opinion: "Christians" per-say aren't what your being "intolerant" towards. It stems from the fact that it's the faith of the majority and as such has a disproportionate amount of idiots and "crazies" (at least in the west). The type of people who follow everything on "blind faith" are likely to be entrenched in this majority (i.e. never had to/wanted to question their beliefs.) If any other religion (or philosophy) was the clear majority the problem would be the same, just with different place settings.

In the immortal words of South Park:

"Look, maybe us Mormons do believe in crazy stories that make absolutely no sense, and maybe Joseph Smith did make it all up, but I have a great life. and a great family, and I have the Book of Mormon to thank for that. The truth is, I don't care if Joseph Smith made it all up, because what the church teaches now is loving your family, being nice and helping people. And even though people in this town might think that's stupid, I still choose to believe in it. All I ever did was try to be your friend, Stan, but you're so high and mighty you couldn't look past my religion and just be my friend back. You've got a lot of growing up to do, buddy. Suck my balls."

I look down on Christians also.
If they keep it private I can look past it.
If they are open-minded but just happen to admire Jesus Christ for his myth that is cool. Hey, I even admire Jesus.
But people who try to shape the world according to what a book says and who think that they are saved and everyone who doesn't believe what they do is damned, I have no respect for that.
I have no respect for people who try to make one feel guilty.
I also have anger towards what Christianity has done to the world and other people like you do. I have anger towards anyone who can take a message for loving everyone unconditionally and turning into an excuse for genocide, torture, etc.

Are we intolerant? Yes, we are, but maybe not enough.
But, really, we should try to look past it in individuals and just see them as another human like ourselves, no matter how misguided. But for Christianity as a whole, we should be intolerant to it, as well as any organized religion. Organized religion is the root of evil in my opinion. Unorganized Pagan Spirituality and mysticism is cool by me.

Originally Posted by Dannon Oneironaut

I look down on Christians also.
If they keep it private I can look past it.
If they are open-minded but just happen to admire Jesus Christ for his myth that is cool. Hey, I even admire Jesus.
But people who try to shape the world according to what a book says and who think that they are saved and everyone who doesn't believe what they do is damned, I have no respect for that.
I have no respect for people who try to make one feel guilty.
I also have anger towards what Christianity has done to the world and other people like you do. I have anger towards anyone who can take a message for loving everyone unconditionally and turning into an excuse for genocide, torture, etc.

Something to keep in mind with the whole "Christians ruining the world" thing is that people were ruining the world before Christianity, and will continue to if it disappeared tomorrow. People are dicks, true story.

Originally Posted by TheUnknownKadath

Something to keep in mind with the whole "Christians ruining the world" thing is that people were ruining the world before Christianity, and will continue to if it disappeared tomorrow. People are dicks, true story.

True, true...

i just got caught on a pet peeve of mine.
Jesus was truly not a dick. he was a cool amazing dude.
I try to look for the good in all people. But on forums I often get caught up in rants of pet peeves like Organized Religion and shitty doctrines.

I am a Christian and I am not ashamed to say that I am a Christian. I know there are Christians out there who will judge others and make others feel guilty for not believing. Personally, I don't do that. If not believing in any type of religion makes you a bette person that great, have at it. If following Buddha makes you a better person great. It doesn't matter to me what you believe. that is the beauty of America. I look at you for who you are. I don't believe in judging people, that isn't my job. I have friends who are athiests and who follow other religions and I have never forced any of my beliefs upon them.
I know that you are probably speaking in general and I'm not taking this thread personally but there are a lot of Christians out there that are very good people and there are a lot of Christians out there that are whackos. Just like with athiests or any other religion.
So, like me or don't like me based on my religious beliefs, it really doesn't matter to me. Nothing anyone says can or will change who i am or what i believe in.
And besides, this thread is about as bad as someone speaking against a race of people.

Originally Posted by TheUnknownKadath

My humble opinion: "Christians" per-say aren't what your being "intolerant" towards. It stems from the fact that it's the faith of the majority and as such has a disproportionate amount of idiots and "crazies" (at least in the west). The type of people who follow everything on "blind faith" are likely to be entrenched in this majority (i.e. never had to/wanted to question their beliefs.) If any other religion (or philosophy) was the clear majority the problem would be the same, just with different place settings.

what i am intolerant of is an amalgamation, which complicates the whole thing ('very critical of' would be a better way to put it). the collective effects of the creation of a christian monoculture, as you mentioned, is part of this.

but i sort of disagree with you about the 'other religion being the majority' thing. if christianity didn't have a history of forced conversion and marginalization of other belief systems, you would probably see a diversification of religion. why? manifest destiny! if the christian god's intention wasn't for his followers to spread westward through america converting heathens, there might still be hundreds of american indian tribes. american indians had a huge array of beliefs - there was no unifying religion, although there were shared themes - especially respect for nature. christians sure as fuck don't think that nature is sacred. despite what they might say, their actions are to the contrary.

Originally Posted by Dannon Oneironaut

I look down on Christians also.
If they keep it private I can look past it.
If they are open-minded but just happen to admire Jesus Christ for his myth that is cool. Hey, I even admire Jesus.
But people who try to shape the world according to what a book says and who think that they are saved and everyone who doesn't believe what they do is damned, I have no respect for that.
I have no respect for people who try to make one feel guilty.
I also have anger towards what Christianity has done to the world and other people like you do. I have anger towards anyone who can take a message for loving everyone unconditionally and turning into an excuse for genocide, torture, etc.

Are we intolerant? Yes, we are, but maybe not enough.
But, really, we should try to look past it in individuals and just see them as another human like ourselves, no matter how misguided. But for Christianity as a whole, we should be intolerant to it, as well as any organized religion. Organized religion is the root of evil in my opinion. Unorganized Pagan Spirituality and mysticism is cool by me.

wow, dannon. yes. absolutely.

Originally Posted by TheUnknownKadath

Something to keep in mind with the whole "Christians ruining the world" thing is that people were ruining the world before Christianity, and will continue to if it disappeared tomorrow. People are dicks, true story.

i don't think so.
if by 'ruining the world' you mean destroying nature, that came along once christian beliefs were in place. christianity in the context of modernity legitimizes environmental degradation and utilitarianism.

christians place this huge emphasis on the duality of good and evil and will tell you what is acceptable and what is a sin in a social context, yet when it comes to nature it's fine for them to turn the other cheek as their 'born again' leaders remove measures that check industrial practices and pollution levels so that their corporate buddies can regulate themselves!!


(EDIT): i'm sorry if it sounds like i'm attacking all christians.

I don't look down on them because I was one myself for a long time, devoted and what not. You just have to realize people have been raised believing in this, their religion is apart of who they are, and they won't give it up easily. Saying this like "You should pray" is a gesture of goodwill from them, you take it for what it is and not get all flustered thinking "What is some old delusional ritualitic prayer going to do for me? There is no god to pray to! Thanks a lot dumbass!".

It's a way of life for these people, and they think they are doing something right by believing in Jesus and following his example.

Originally Posted by cygnus

christians place this huge emphasis on the duality of good and evil and will tell you what is acceptable and what is a sin in a social context, yet when it comes to nature it's fine for them to turn the other cheek as their 'born again' leaders remove measures that check industrial practices and pollution levels so that their corporate buddies can regulate themselves!!

What you seem to have a problem with is the hypocrisy of leadership. I assure you, that is not solely in Christianity.

The leaders of china's republic (who's government discourages religion) have sold out the health of there country (and the world) for money while claiming it's for the public good. (While the US is still a higher polluter (purely from the amount of industrialization that's taken place), the amount from china is much, much worse. (Less industry overall but more pollution in relation to it's industry.) How is that different then the preacher who claims to do "God's work" while selling out to serve his own ends?










Hypocrisy isn't anything new either.

well, look. dannon's response below was basically the type of advice i was hoping for.

i said i was looking for advice from like-minded people. why would i want to hear from christians that i am insulting them and my intolerance knows no limits?

really, why would you post here about that unless you only read the title of the thread and not its contents? do so many people skip the body of the original post just so they can drop by and confuse things, distorting the intent of the OP?

if you would actually read my posts you would see that i posted the original topic to figure out how i can reconcile my mostly verified criticism of certain aspects of christianity with my desire to not get carried away with wantonly demonizing people.

maybe some day we'll have a more constructive way to discuss this kind of thing.

this has steered off course since the response below. unless you have something constructive to post, just ignore this thread.

Originally Posted by Dannon Oneironaut

I look down on Christians also.
If they keep it private I can look past it.
If they are open-minded but just happen to admire Jesus Christ for his myth that is cool. Hey, I even admire Jesus.
But people who try to shape the world according to what a book says and who think that they are saved and everyone who doesn't believe what they do is damned, I have no respect for that.
I have no respect for people who try to make one feel guilty.
I also have anger towards what Christianity has done to the world and other people like you do. I have anger towards anyone who can take a message for loving everyone unconditionally and turning into an excuse for genocide, torture, etc.

Are we intolerant? Yes, we are, but maybe not enough.
But, really, we should try to look past it in individuals and just see them as another human like ourselves, no matter how misguided. But for Christianity as a whole, we should be intolerant to it, as well as any organized religion. Organized religion is the root of evil in my opinion. Unorganized Pagan Spirituality and mysticism is cool by me.

When I first saw this thread, it kind of fustrated me. Now that i have come back to it, I can say, as a Christian, there are other Christians that I am intolerant of. Those that are out just for money, Those that use their position (as a priest etc) to pray on kids and others, those that do nothing but judge others etc...So yes, I guess I am intolerant of some that call themselves Chrisitans as well. Christians shouldn't be generalized.

Honestly, I tend to be disgusted by Christianity. I lose whatever pseudo-respect I might have for a person when it comes to their idiocy.

Originally Posted by ClouD

Honestly, I tend to be disgusted by Christianity. I lose whatever pseudo-respect I might have for a person when it comes to their idiocy.

Why's that? Do you think all Christians are alike?

Originally Posted by ClouD

Honestly, I tend to be disgusted by Christianity. I lose whatever pseudo-respect I might have for a person when it comes to their idiocy.

I find life a lot more interesting greeting others as equals and seeing through their eyes as well as my own.

just thought i'd point out

Originally Posted by cygnus

well, look. dannon's response below was basically the type of advice i was hoping for.

i said i was looking for advice from like-minded people. why would i want to hear from christians that i am insulting them and my intolerance knows no limits?

really, why would you post here about that unless you only read the title of the thread and not its contents? do so many people skip the body of the original post just so they can drop by and confuse things, distorting the intent of the OP?

if you would actually read my posts you would see that i posted the original topic to figure out how i can reconcile my mostly verified criticism of certain aspects of christianity with my desire to not get carried away with wantonly demonizing people.

maybe some day we'll have a more constructive way to discuss this kind of thing.

this has steered off course since the response below. unless you have something constructive to post, just ignore this thread.

Originally Posted by Dannon Oneironaut

I look down on Christians also.
If they keep it private I can look past it.
If they are open-minded but just happen to admire Jesus Christ for his myth that is cool. Hey, I even admire Jesus.
But people who try to shape the world according to what a book says and who think that they are saved and everyone who doesn't believe what they do is damned, I have no respect for that.
I have no respect for people who try to make one feel guilty.
I also have anger towards what Christianity has done to the world and other people like you do. I have anger towards anyone who can take a message for loving everyone unconditionally and turning into an excuse for genocide, torture, etc.

Are we intolerant? Yes, we are, but maybe not enough.
But, really, we should try to look past it in individuals and just see them as another human like ourselves, no matter how misguided. But for Christianity as a whole, we should be intolerant to it, as well as any organized religion. Organized religion is the root of evil in my opinion. Unorganized Pagan Spirituality and mysticism is cool by me.

THIS!

there are enough threads about how lame christianity is.