What can we do to reduce the prejudices around religious labels?

[Jumbo10]

Originally Posted by BaptistFundie

why are labels a bad thing? I'm a man. I'm white. I drive a pickup truck. I work in an office. Those are all labels and none of them are bad. So why resist a label that describes the belief I have?

I'm a Christian. A Bible believing Christian. A Baptist. Some would call me "Fundamentalist". Nothing wrong with embracing that.

Well most people won't be thinking: "This guy must be cool, he's a white male, works in an office, and drives a pickup!"

But if I want to be prejudice and ignorant, I'm thinking:

---------------
Oh you're a Baptist? So like Westboro Baptist Church, the church that promotes nothing but fear and hate at soldier funerals.

Oh you're also a fundamentalist? Oh and you found Christ in college (as I somehow assumed in the other thread)? This guy must have drank the kool-aid by someone similar to the fundamentalist extremist who "preaches" nothing but fear and hate the college campus that I work at.

------------

I never would have thought that "preacher" was successful - students mostly just argue and laugh at him. But he does draw a crowd and has been doing it for years. Considering college is a major transition time where kids can be most vulnerable and suffering, I'm now more concerned that his message of hate and fear actually resonates with some.


If there is a God, God will be for love and tolerance, not hate and fear.

[OwlKaMyst]

I probably should have broken up my post. Only the first part was a question directed towards you.
And, and but since you responded to more than that, help me out... For some reason, there are times when I think I am being clear in my communication, but then someone replies and I think, 'what just happened?'.

Originally Posted by BaptistFundie

OK? Do you lecture others for going to church? There are people that come to this board for sport every day to trash religious people in general, specifically conservative Christians.

Did what I say somehow imply that I lecture others? Or even a hint that I came to trash others? I have no issues whatsoever with what anyone chooses to follow, that is all for them. What I do have (slight) issue with is when people scold me for doing what I do when it has no impact on their lifestyle. As for trashing others for sport... I do not bite... but if bitten, all is fair in love and war. But even then I usually just smile and wave.

I realize that. And I'm happy to get along best I can. But simply disagreeing with someone is not the same as hate.

Hate in my book is a very strong word. I hate no one, I love everyone... but with loving, does not mean I have to like them. If I do not like someone its for a very good and valid reason, but I still do not hate.
I'm not sure how this thought got slipped in here, did something I say suggest it?

Honestly? Pretending that we're all identical won't help. We have differences. Embrace them. Maybe even discuss and learn from them.

I'm so confused by your replies...again, it's probably me. I am not seeing how I suggest we pretend anything. I was basically saying the same thing as you, "We have differences. Embrace them. Maybe even discuss and learn from them."

[TroutDude]

Reduce the prejudices within the various and sundry denominations/religions/belief systems and PRESTO! the prejudice surrounding the various and sundry religious labels will follow suit.

You're welcome.

[MysticPhD]

Originally Posted by TroutDude

Reduce the prejudices within the various and sundry denominations/religions/belief systems and PRESTO! the prejudice surrounding the various and sundry religious labels will follow suit.

You're welcome.

[nateswift]

Originally Posted by MysticPhD

I know, right? Leave it to da Dude!

lessee now.....how do we do THAT?