Are Christians Insane

It's funny, Seapeople disappears, and this guy comes in with the same insulting, sweeping generalizations about Christians!

Are Christians insane? No. Christians are no more insane than anyone of any religion. Are you to say that anyone who follows any type of faith is insane? Buddhists, Mormons, Muslims, Catholics...all insane? I believe in God. I believe in the Story of Jesus Christ. Does this make me insane? Now I will admit that there are still things I have to work out about the bible, and a few things that I don't know about the bible, but isn't the same true with most aspects of life? I use the bible to back up things that I believe, is that wrong? Stop being prejudiced. If you're a Christian, then ok. Move on. But don't take it out on us.

This truely is the village of the dammned, but I'm not suprised

Lady V I'm disapointed in most of all but let me say that just because she's the token pagan on this thread doesn't make her opinion any more valid.

I have not mocked Christians in any shape or form in any of my posts...again...you haven't been reading and if you claim you have I would seriously your question your English Skills.

Mocking me and turning my words into some kind of comedic rant is making you all look extremely silly to outsiders...I've showed these posts to know less then 11 British individuals of various faiths and persuasions(Including 2 Professors) and they all agree that what I have said is totally valid and that many people on here are twisting my words and not answering questions I asked.

I know how it works...anyone with ideas that doesn't fit in with your beliefs you will mock into submission but it will not wash with me.

Nothing I have written hasn't been deliberate, from the shock tactic title ( What better way to get people talking then an off the wall header such as that!?) right through to this post.

After 4 years studying Religion and History at Warwick University I am now in the second year of my Doctorate and as part of paper I wanted to expose the problems when dealing with modern Christians, especally on religious websites and chatrooms.

I have written threads and posts on others and the outcome is nearly always the same....You all see what you want to see and very rarely actually read the words....It's a combination of blind faith and the group mentality...even people with opposing opinions will huddle together when a new person or outsider appears on their forum and hits them with a few home truths beacuse they have to deal with each other day in day out..

You have demonstrated exactly why Chritianity is in decline all over the globe due to it's unwillingness to adapt and it's need to cling on to archaic and outdated ideas that intelligent people in the modern world will no longer accept as fact....and I'm sorry to make a sweeping generalisation but it is usually our American Brothers and sisters who are to blame for such wanton ignorance and why that is the case will be the next chapter of my study.


It's all very interesting stuff but I said earlier...if Christianity wants to continue as a global ideal ( in my opinion) then it has to change dramatically and become more of a philosophy and less of a religon becuase the holes and ignorance are becoming more and more apparent everyday.

[edit on 31-3-2005 by BobDylan]

Your problem is that you take your experiences with some unkind christians, and base an entire rant off of that.
What you need to learn is that in the christian world (just like in the real world) there are kind people and unkind people.

Besides this, you really did not understand much of the bible verses you are trying to tackle. I will be the first to admit that the bible can be a confusing book, and I don't fully get it myself. But you just seem to be looking for flaws where it's obvious that the verse could be understood in multiple ways.

I am a christian myself, and I get pissed off by the predictable, onoriginal christianity-bashing I have seen on ATS too much now.
You may wonder why I am a christian?
Not because of anything that's in the bible, but because I have simply seen God do stuff in front of my eyes.

If you really really want to be focussing on what is bad about someone else's religion (not a kind way to waste your time) you should at least first try to understand something before you criticize it.

Well said Jakko .

Dylan,
Yes, the things that you've said are insulting to Christians, and understandably so. From reading your posts, I assume that you're from Britain. Am I correct to assume this? Assuming that my assumption is correct (hehe), I'll give you an example of why this thread would be insulting to Christians. What if I were to make a thread called "Are British people insane?", and then fill that thread with various aspects of the British civilization that I feel are screwed up. Wouldn't you agree that that would be insulting to British people? You seem to think that this forum is filled with pro-christianity ravings. I suggest you read down the list of threads in this religious section of the forum. Very few, perhapse even over 50% (Depending on where you look) are bashing or trying to disprove Christiantiy in general as their main purpose. We've answered your questions, why have you not answered mine?

Originally posted by Jakko
Your problem is that you take your experiences with some unkind christians, and base an entire rant off of that.
What you need to learn is that in the christian world (just like in the real world) there are kind people and unkind people.

Wrong again...you haven't been reading Jakko..as I said earlier I have had no bad experiences with Christians and I'm fully aware that their are nice Christians and their are bad ones..same as everywhere else...I don't disagree with the Philosophy of Christianity...only the religion

[Besides this, you really did not understand much of the bible verses you are trying to tackle. I will be the first to admit that the bible can be a confusing book, and I don't fully get it myself. But you just seem to be looking for flaws where it's obvious that the verse could be understood in multiple ways.

Once again Jakko you haven't been reading merley seeing what you want to see...I have already stated that the idea of a Chrsitian quoting the bible to reinforce their arguemet is a ridiculous exercise and Lady V agreed with me..the bible was written by Christians therfore it is a bias document.

[I am a christian myself, and I get pissed off by the predictable, onoriginal christianity-bashing I have seen on ATS too much now.

Yet again...I haven't been Christian bashing..your are reading to much into things and failing to understand basic sarcasm.

[If you really really want to be focusing on what is bad about someone else's religion (not a kind way to waste your time) you should at least first try to understand something before you criticize it.

Again and again and again...I'm not criticizing...I'm simply voicing an opinion that you disagree with (as is your right) and as I've already stated i grew up in the christian faith and no much about it but I don't have to quote bible passages and parables in order to reinforce my point because it's a pointless exercise. Everyone interprets the Bible differently and nobody can say for sure what the true meaning is...and as I said above it's a bias document....and if ANYONE on here can say with a straight face that the bible isn't a bias document then as far as I'm concerened your credibilty is this then zero becuase that should be obvious even to the most hardened Christian.



[edit on 31-3-2005 by BobDylan]

Originally posted by BobDylan
I have already stated that the idea of a Chrsitian quoting the bible to reinforce their arguemet is a ridiculous exercise and Lady V agreed with me..the bible was written by Christians therfore it is a bias document.

Well then that’s the problem. As a Christian I believe the Bible is the true and accurate record of the life and teachings of a man that I believe to be the son of God. For you to tell Christians they shouldn’t use or quote this book because YOU question its accuracy is simply ridiculous.

*A nasty old Moderator had to edit my childish post because I can’t discuss issues without flaming*




[edit on 3-4-2005 by kinglizard]

Bob, you can't say the bible is fictional, just because it isn't proven that everything in it happened for real.
The bible is partly just telling history, especially the historical interaction between humans and God, now who are you to be yelling around that this is not true?

I agree with Jakko!

[edit on 1-4-2005 by Jakko]

Originally posted by Jakko
Bob, you can't say the bible is fictional, just because it isn't proven that everything in it happened for real.
The bible is partly just telling history, especially the historical interaction between humans and God, now who are you to be yelling around that this is not true?

Yet again Jakko...I am not saying the Bible is a complete work of fiction but some of it is....and once you expose a section of a document as being false then it throws the rest of it into considerable doubt...that's common sense.

The bible is telling a story from the point of view of Christians...it was written by Christians so therefore it stands to reason their main sympathys would lie with....you guessed it...Christians.

It's bias...and denial of that shows a lack of education and understanding.

Here is a lengthy read on the inspired words of God......


Quote/////All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. (II Tim 3:16)

What Scriptures did St. Paul have in mind when he wrote the above to St. Timothy? Was he referring to the 66 books making up the Bible Evangelicals read today? What exactly did Paul mean by "all?"

Quote////I was personally confident of the Protestant canon of the Old Testament, until I examined the evidence behind it.......continued////

www.orthodoxinfo.com...

Glory be to God......

Your Quoting Christians talking about Christianity again Helen....bias!

You really beleive that St Paul said it that makes it a fact and not open to discussion.

You have absolutley no idea who St Paul was as a man or his motivation behind the things he said and preached...whose to say St Paul wasn't an opportunist liar...and being he was one of the first "Born Again" Christians according to the bible we know that before his conversion he was a " bit of a bad lad" as my Granny would say and who knows he didn't remain so despite his religious leanings.

It's a poor show, it really is.

Bobdylan....you have gone and critisized straight away what i wrote without you even bothering to look at the site!

On what authourity do you speak of someone who is regarded as a Saint of the Church""which is the ground and pillar of truth''........did you know Paul.......
Jesus Christ came for all........He came for all as in sinful or not....it was the sinners that accepted Him as the Prophesised Messiah from the Old Testament and not His own people.....

So in honest truth ........what have you to lose by reading up on what the Old Testament and the Prophets of the Old have to say?

You go on accusing people of whom you know nothing about!
Is it fair for me to talk about something I do not know anything about?
No.....
I can only speak of myself .........
Glory be to God...........and His Saints!
helen

Originally posted by BobDylan

Originally posted by Jakko
Bob, you can't say the bible is fictional, just because it isn't proven that everything in it happened for real.
The bible is partly just telling history, especially the historical interaction between humans and God, now who are you to be yelling around that this is not true?

Yet again Jakko...I am not saying the Bible is a complete work of fiction but some of it is....and once you expose a section of a document as being false then it throws the rest of it into considerable doubt...that's common sense.

The bible is telling a story from the point of view of Christians...it was written by Christians so therefore it stands to reason their main sympathys would lie with....you guessed it...Christians.

It's bias...and denial of that shows a lack of education and understanding.

ok chritians nor anyone else can prove the bible is compleate fact. you mention that some of the bible is fiction and because of that it throws the rest into doubt. what was proven false? and how was it proved? (unless you happen to have a time machine. if you do can i borrow it? there are some facts i would like to check about the norse).

BobDylan,

I have went through and read this thread many times, and for the life of me I am not certain I am following the logic behind your arguments.

Tell me if this is correct? Ok?

Quote One

Originally posted by BobDylan
I have not mocked Christians in any shape or form in any of my posts ...

Quote two (said prior to quote one in this thread)

Originally posted by BobDylan
I was mocking Christians use of Quotations and doing exactly what they do which is bend the meaning to their own beliefs ...

Because both quote one and quote two cannot be true, the following would apply:

Quote Three

Originally posted by BobDylan
and once you expose a section of a document as being false then it throws the rest of it into considerable doubt...that's common sense.

So, common sense puts everything you have said in considerable doubt?

Thus, because you exclude the bible as having meaning because of this logical argument, you should also exclude everything you've said?

Let me know? Ok?

Maybe Mocking was the wrong word Raph...I was merely demonstrating how Christians use bible quotations to reinforce their argument.

Don't read too much into it.

As for Biblical things that have been proved wrong....if you Faith and are truely convinced that the Bible is the word of God and the absolute gospel then none of it is wrong....BUT...common sense would suggest otherwise...and wether you choose to use your common sense or beleive in the stories portrayed in a bias document is entirely up to you

Raphael_UO,
Very good post. I can find nothing in it that could be improved. But, it is always tragic to see someone done in by their own words. As for the reply, fair enough, I don't read much into these critical rants anyway. I find the question ludicrous, and would rather ask, are those who claim to know what is best for others to believe insane? I am not Christian, but I cannot say they are not doing and believing exactly what they should be. If it is not right for me, that does not mean it is not right for all. I also believe things that common sense would balk at. Becuz I have seen them up close, I cannot help but believe, whether common sense suggests they are impossible or not.
I feel I have no right to criticize any faith, since I cannot see the world from anyone else's perspective, who am I to judge that they are wrong?
why can't we all be right?

Originally posted by BobDylan

As for Biblical things that have been proved wrong....if you Faith and are truely convinced that the Bible is the word of God and the absolute gospel then none of it is wrong....BUT...common sense would suggest otherwise...and wether you choose to use your common sense or beleive in the stories portrayed in a bias document is entirely up to you

i am haveing trubble following your logic

if i am convinced that the word of god is truth then none of it is wrong BUT common sense would suggest otherwise? what common sense? what is wrong with it? please i think you need to give examples of what is wrong with it so i can try to understand what you are talking about.

Originally posted by BobDylan
Maybe Mocking was the wrong word Raph...I was merely demonstrating how Christians use bible quotations to reinforce their argument.

Don't read too much into it.

As for Biblical things that have been proved wrong....if you Faith and are truely convinced that the Bible is the word of God and the absolute gospel then none of it is wrong....BUT...common sense would suggest otherwise...and wether you choose to use your common sense or beleive in the stories portrayed in a bias document is entirely up to you

Actually, very little of what you have written concerns how Christians use bible quotations to reinforce their argument. From what I could tell, it was mostly just rants that the bible is biased.

Your words, or the bible-- just because the whole is biased and a portion defies common sense does not mean there is not wisdom to be found within.

This is where I quote the bible "to reinforce my point". Feel free to look them up and read them in context; ask questions concerning what they mean; look up all the meanings of the Greek and Hebrew; seek to understand what is written. Or, you could simply disregard them completely.

1Th 5:21
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

Psa 32:9
Be ye not as the horse, [or] as the mule, [which] have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.

Take care.

[edit on 3-4-2005 by Raphael_UO]

Originally posted by BobDylan
.

if you Faith and are truely convinced that the Bible is the word of God and the absolute gospel then none of it is wrong....

This actually a good way to phrase the christian life. God gets ahold of us and creates a distinction. He says look around at the world and see what's going on. Then when you read the Bible you are called to view the invisible things of God. We are shown the temporary world that now "is" and we are also made aware of the invisible world that will one day appear. We must wait for this new universe with faith and belief and trust.