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Myself, I am an agnostic or maybe a deist. Most of my family are Christians. One of them is constantly listening to Christian talk radio and tv. Now, as much as this annoys me, I do overhear alotn of what they are saying. The past couple years, it seems as though the talk has turned from the scripture, to constantly trying to explain themselves and show people the truth { their truth anyway } Trying to show examples of why this religion is real and so forth. So, for them it seems they are focusing less on talking to fellow christians and focusing more on trying get people to become christians.
Why do you think this is??? Now, I know the answer most atheists would give so this question is directed more twords the faithful themselves
Well, I am not a Christian, but I used to be one (so I think I can give you a Christian like answer). Here goes...
We believe it is our duty to ourselves and our God to spread his love, his mercy, and his word. He gave us his only begotten son and allowed him to shed his blood for us. We only owe to him in return our love and our faith, and we will meet our father in Heaven. This much is God's promise to us. We are taught that the non believers are lost sheep and they are. We must not let anyone be left behind when the final judgement comes. He will return on a cloud, a cloud that every eye shall see. Only those that know him and love him with their minds, body, soul, and lips can be saved.
With that said, I no longer believe any of the above (and haven't since I was 12 years old). However, I have noticed that Christianity is in more of a survival mode now than say 20 years ago. IMO, it has to do with the fact that the World is evolving into a higher level of consciousness. People today no longer feel the need to be as racist as before, as homophobic as before, as cruel to animals as before, etc etc. Naturally, as we progress into our higher consciousness, primitive religious worship is a mentality that will die out too. It will take time, but it will happen. Even folks that consider themselves to be Christian don't take the bible literally (which means they are NOT true Christians). In time, these folks will let go of all of their faith (but it takes time to give up that "safety net" of hell). It amazes me when I hear a Christian say to me "why take that chance, just believe and you'll be saved". My question to them is doesn't your all knowing "God" knows that your faith is just a front so you can stay off of Satan's BBQ pit?
Anyways, I'll give Christianity 20 years tops, then its done (and I seriously don't think it'll even be that long).
Well, I am not a Christian, but I used to be one (so I think I can give you a Christian like answer). Here goes...
We believe it is our duty to ourselves and our God to spread his love, his mercy, and his word. He gave us his only begotten son and allowed him to shed his blood for us. We only owe to him in return our love and our faith, and we will meet our father in Heaven. This much is God's promise to us. We are taught that the non believers are lost sheep and they are. We must not let anyone be left behind when the final judgement comes. He will return on a cloud, a cloud that every eye shall see. Only those that know him and love him with their minds, body, soul, and lips can be saved.
With that said, I no longer believe any of the above (and haven't since I was 12 years old). However, I have noticed that Christianity is in more of a survival mode now than say 20 years ago. IMO, it has to do with the fact that the World is evolving into a higher level of consciousness. People today no longer feel the need to be as racist as before, as homophobic as before, as cruel to animals as before, etc etc. Naturally, as we progress into our higher consciousness, primitive religious worship is a mentality that will die out too. It will take time, but it will happen. Even folks that consider themselves to be Christian don't take the bible literally (which means they are NOT true Christians). In time, these folks will let go of all of their faith (but it takes time to give up that "safety net" of hell). It amazes me when I hear a Christian say to me "why take that chance, just believe and you'll be saved". My question to them is doesn't your all knowing "God" knows that your faith is just a front so you can stay off of Satan's BBQ pit?
Anyways, I'll give Christianity 20 years tops, then its done (and I seriously don't think it'll even be that long).
I will retain my opinion of whether it's a good thing or a bad thing...but I think your assessment of the future of Christianity is waaaaaaay off base.
Myself, I am an agnostic or maybe a deist. Most of my family are Christians. One of them is constantly listening to Christian talk radio and tv. Now, as much as this annoys me, I do overhear alotn of what they are saying. The past couple years, it seems as though the talk has turned from the scripture, to constantly trying to explain themselves and show people the truth { their truth anyway } Trying to show examples of why this religion is real and so forth. So, for them it seems they are focusing less on talking to fellow Christians and focusing more on trying get people to become Christians.
Why do you think this is??? Now, I know the answer most atheists would give so this question is directed more tweeds the faithful themselves
Alot of people in todays world simply do not have anything explained to them.
ATM machines, phone answering baloney, heres the instructions figure it out, everything is contracted out, even the dentist. And then when you get close to zeroing in on a little compensation....sorry thats our policy.
So I think that people generally associate explanation with feeling good about themselves. The sound of explanation is positive because people like to understand that they are worth explaining things to.
Everything is turn key for profit.
There are other things going on as well . I haven't heard any of this , just going on what your saying.
Organizationally, what is wrong with wanting to keep members? Do not atheists want to grow their ranks? Republicans and Democraps? Commies and Green? All other organizations?
These things are communication systems, all social systems are; states, cultures, groups, etc. To stay an organization requires boundary maintenance. This is a philosophy thread and the idea should be brought into it, after all.
The boundary defines the social group, it draws a distinction between itself and all others. If the boundary collapses and the organization attempts to stay intact without a boundary, it begins to not be able to distinguish itself from its own environment (all other systems).
Each system reproduces itself through its own processes. Christianity has to do this through its own structures (ideas, theology, doctrine, preaching and such). How in the hell could it reproduce itself it it sounded like atheists or economic theory?
Theologically, christianity would be better as a smaller organization. It's love affair with getting large and all inclusive is a glut that dilutes internal reproduction by morons who want to dissolve the boundary that keeps this movement distinct, and muddy it with a bunch of ideas that belong to other systems. Systems are healthy when they operate within their functions, maintain strong boundaries, and keep out crummy interpenetrations from other different systems that inhibit internal operations.
All organizations have entrance and exit requirements. Well except for christianity; any half wit can get in. Christianity is like the feminist, as I was told by one who always dated feminists because they would give oral sex on the first date to prove their sexual liberation, because it too is so eager to prove that it is liberated from itself, and ready to mindlessly embrace all other things, it will now do all things-even deny itself; thereby, eventually going insane (that is what happens when one can not draw a distinction between itself and its environment), or for this system characterized by social anomie.
Christianity will always exist as it is the religious embodiment of the completed rational syllogism. Some where there will be adherents who wish to reproduce the system through its own operations rather than be prostituted to a host of others. But for now it would be best if the majority of it collapsed and all the hanger-ons went somewhere else.
So i Take it that u r not a christain....The best gift in life u can recieve is JESUS CHRIST as your personal savior...But u have a choice to choose whom u want to serve rather GOOD or Evil...only God is good..Jesus says if u reject me than I will reject....
Quote:
Originally Posted by Doug S. 123
Myself, I am an agnostic or maybe a deist. Most of my family are Christians. One of them is constantly listening to Christian talk radio and tv. Now, as much as this annoys me, I do overhear alotn of what they are saying. The past couple years, it seems as though the talk has turned from the scripture, to constantly trying to explain themselves and show people the truth { their truth anyway } Trying to show examples of why this religion is real and so forth. So, for them it seems they are focusing less on talking to fellow christians and focusing more on trying get people to become christians.
Why do you think this is??? Now, I know the answer most atheists would give so this question is directed more twords the faithful themselves
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