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That's fine, and I would support their right to preach if a Dogma -pushing government tried to suppress it, after all atheists understand what it is to live under a regime that wants to silence us if not eradicate us.
Just so they do the preaching in places where people can choose to listen or not (1) . I do not appreciate them coming to my door.
(1) yes, even in a public place deemed appropriate, where people can move along if they want, such as the pedestrianized areaea today where some street -preacher was waving his Bible and ranting on.
..and of course, Christians have never persecuted others have they?
Allegedly
That post reflects Christians' mindset.
The moment I say "leave me alone. I'm not interested in your good news", Satan controls me.
The moment I response "I don't believe in your god. I don't appreciate you imposing your values on me without my consent", I persecute Christians.
The basic reason why true Christians are persecuted is that they are not part of the present wicked system of things.
....
You don't see that Christians have been and still are part of this 'wicked system of things'?
You don't think it's wicked to tell people they will burn in hell for all eternity if they don't take Jesus to be their lord and savior? Or that Satan is ruling them because they don't believe what you do?
You don't see that Christians have been and still are part of this 'wicked system of things'?
You don't think it's wicked to tell people they will burn in hell for all eternity if they don't take Jesus to be their lord and savior? Or that Satan is ruling them because they don't believe what you do?
For a start that judging.
There is No need for us to make personal judgements by imputing a bad or wrong motive to another, but God's judgement standards are recorded in Scripture for all the see. The judges of old were to use God's judgement standards as to judge what was right or wrong as found at Psalm 82.
I find the religious-myth teaching of a forever hell fire is Not a biblical teaching.
Jesus, and the old Hebrew Scriptures teach sleep (Not pain) in death - John 11:11-14; Psalms 115:!7; 146:4; Ecclesiastes 9:5. So, while dead Jesus was in hell (grave) Jesus was in a sleep-like state until his God resurrected him - Acts 2:27.
Jesus taught to tell others about the 'good news of God's kingdom' of Daniel 2:44 at Matthew 24:14.
Since Jesus is king ( ruler ) of God's kingdom government for a thousand years, ruling men ( and Satan of course ) are against that thought. Also, corrupted clergy ( often in bed with the political ) don't really want Jesus to come.
So, the spirit of the world ( political, commercial, and religious) influences people to be against Christians.
That is why at Matthew 10:22 it says Christ's true followers would be hated.
Jesus' true followers are the figurative ' wheat ' and the false followers are the ' weed/tares ' Christians.
Those fake/counterfeit ones are those described at Matthew 7:21-23.
You don't see that Christians have been and still are part of this 'wicked system of things'?
You don't think it's wicked to tell people they will burn in hell for all eternity if they don't take Jesus to be their lord and savior? Or that Satan is ruling them because they don't believe what you do?
For a start that judging.
I don't despise Christians for worshiping Yahweh. I despise Christians for asking me to love this deity when I state the reason why I cannot based on my humanistic and cultural values.
Basically, Christians imply that I don't have a right to say to them "I don't love your Father". When they cannot convince me, there is the threat of hell.
These people cannot even function as civilized people. It's all about superiority complex. They cannot accept the fact that people of different belief systems and lack thereof have fulfilled lives.
Basically, Christians imply that I don't have a right to say to them "I don't love your Father". When they cannot convince me, there is the threat of hell.
Precisely. How am I to respect your position when you threaten me if I don't do what you say?
Oh but of course "You must accept my religion (and in the Interpretation that HE believes of course - not one of the corrupt denyminations) or be tortured eternally" is a helpful warning reflecting Christian love - not coercive blackmail using hellthreat.
I think many people are religious today, simply because they are scared of the consequences. They preach suffering in eternal hell, gnashing and grinding teeth due to so much pain, etc, so alot of people just give in to avoid the punishment.
Its kind of the same thing that holds our society together, most people obey laws because they do not want to suffer the consequences (going to prison, loosing freedom, etc), in their hearts, they may really want to go rob that bank, but the possible consequences stops most from actually doing it, so for a civilized society to exist, there needs to be some fear of punishment or consequences.
I think many people are religious today, simply because they are scared of the consequences. They preach suffering in eternal hell, gnashing and grinding teeth due to so much pain, etc, so alot of people just give in to avoid the punishment.
Its kind of the same thing that holds our society together, most people obey laws because they do not want to suffer the consequences (going to prison, loosing freedom, etc), in their hearts, they may really want to go rob that bank, but the possible consequences stops most from actually doing it, so for a civilized society to exist, there needs to be some fear of punishment or consequences.
And, if I may add, how much glee people take in seeing others suffering in the cycle of crime and punishment. Just look at the sub-forum of Politics & Other Controversies...so many LOVE others being punished.
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