Sentinalese kill ‘missionary’

[drdel]

The problem is the inference that believers are good people and non-believers are bad people. Some atrocious acts are/have been committed in the name of religion.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

The problem is the inference that believers are good people and non-believers are bad people. Some atrocious acts are/have been committed in the name of religion.

In my experience I have never met a Christian who believes than non-believers are bad people. I do think that we could all do with a bit of spiritual faith - religious or otherwise - but I would never try and foist it on anyone or think negatively of any who reject it.

That some atrocious acts have been committed in the name of religion is a fact. However I think that many of such acts have been done under the influence of 'leaders' or 'influencers' who are masters at exploiting the weaknesses and fears of others with 'answers' to these fears - but simply to their own selfish ideological ends.

 

[ger147]

In my experience I have never met a Christian who believes than non-believers are bad people. I do think that we could all do with a bit of spiritual faith - religious or otherwise - but I would never try and foist it on anyone or think negatively of any who reject it.

That some atrocious acts have been committed in the name of religion is a fact. However I think that many of such acts have been done under the influence of 'leaders' or 'influencers' who are masters at exploiting the weaknesses and fears of others with 'answers' to these fears - but simply to their own selfish ideological ends.

I am surrounded by Christians who believe other denominations of Christians are the devil's spawn, never mind what they think about people who are of a different faith altogether. Given you are from the same place as me I find it absolutely incredulous that you have seen fit to put what you said above into print...

 

[bobmac]

In my experience I have never met a Christian who believes than non-believers are bad people. I do think that we could all do with a bit of spiritual faith - religious or otherwise - but I would never try and foist it on anyone or think negatively of any who reject it.

That some atrocious acts have been committed in the name of religion is a fact. However I think that many of such acts have been done under the influence of 'leaders' or 'influencers' who are masters at exploiting the weaknesses and fears of others with 'answers' to these fears - but simply to their own selfish ideological ends.

And when's the best time to get them?

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I am surrounded by Christians who believe other denominations of Christians are the devil's spawn, never mind what they think about people who are of a different faith altogether. Given you are from the same place as me I find it absolutely incredulous that you have seen fit to put what you said above into print...

Of other denominations in certain parts of the country - yes I get absolutely why you say that and to be that is abhorrent - and is an aspect of NI society that many just don;t understand. I was thinking more of those of a faith view of those without any.

 

[Robster59]

And when's the best time to get them?

I remember hearing on a radio debate talking about who can be elected as President of the USA and they said that if you put yourself as a non-believer, or even non-Christian (we all remember the press about Obama) then you would have virtually no chance in getting in as President, such is the power of the religious influence now in the USA.
Personally I think a secular government is the way to go, as Ataturk did with Turkey, although sadly I think the current government is trying to undo all his good work.

 

[ger147]

Of other denominations in certain parts of the country - yes I get absolutely why you say that and to be that is abhorrent - and is an aspect of NI society that many just don;t understand. I was thinking more of those of a faith view of those without any.

What does NI have to do with it? Both of us are from Glasgow so for you to say you have never met a Christian who thinks bad of non-believers is at best an amazing memory lapse, at worst a down right lie.

 

[bobmac]

The amazing thing is, despite mountains of evidence, over 40% of Americans still think the Earth is less than 10,000 years old and Man walked with dinosaurs.

It's incredible what religion will make people do and say.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I remember hearing on a radio debate talking about who can be elected as President of the USA and they said that if you put yourself as a non-believer, or even non-Christian (we all remember the press about Obama) then you would have virtually no chance in getting in as President, such is the power of the religious influence now in the USA.
Personally I think a secular government is the way to go, as Ataturk did with Turkey, although sadly I think the current government is trying to undo all his good work.

And I struggle to understand (well frankly I don't understand) how the evangelical right in the USA can justify their attitude to Trump and his words and actions. But for every evangelic right congregation in the USA that eulogise Trump, I think we'd find a charismatic preacher/pastor/minister leading the way (with many lining their own hypocritical pockets)

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

What does NI have to do with it? Both of us are from Glasgow so for you to say you have never met a Christian who thinks bad of non-believers is at best an amazing memory lapse, at worst a down right lie.

Just that the issues we have in Glasgow are spawned from NI. Every Saturday when a lad I'd watch the coaches heading into the city from Stranraer - Union jacks and Irish Tricolours flying. As all Glaswegians and most across Scotland - we both know exactly how grim the religious divide could be in Glasgow - so we were not surprised at what went on in NI and what is still there.

And that is why my parents tried to keep me out of that anger and spite by getting me to support St Johnstone.

And maybe it is just the part of Glasgow that I came from - but though I would hear many anti-catholic and some anti-jewish sentiments - I honestly can't recall individual members of my church expressing very negative feelings about those who do not have any faith. Even my minister was not a hellfire and brimstone Calvanist...

 

[ger147]

Just that the issues we have in Glasgow are spawned from NI. Every Saturday when a lad I'd watch the coaches heading into the city from Stranraer - Union jacks and Irish Tricolours flying.

And that is why my parents tried to keep me out of that anger and spote by getting me to support St Johnstone.

And maybe it is just the part of Glasgow that I came from - but though I would hear many anti-catholic and some anti-jewish sentiments - I honestly can't recall individual members of my church expressing very negative feelings about those who do not have any faith. Even my minister was not a hellfire and brimstone Calvanist...

I sense you're trying to move away from the initial statement you made which I replied to, for fear of giving a simple straightforward answer no doubt.

Are you saying the only Christians you've ever met in your life are the congregation of your own church? I would strongly suspect not...

You didn't attend school in Glasgow for example? Schools that were full of Christians of various creeds? And you didn't play golf in Glasgow on various courses, with members of various Christian denominations?

Given your background, your initial statement re. never meeting a Christian who thinks bad of people with no faith is nonsense and we both know it.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I sense you're trying to move away from the initial statement you made which I replied to, for fear of giving a simple straightforward answer no doubt.

Are you saying the only Christians you've ever met in your life are the congregation of your own church? I would strongly suspect not...

You didn't attend school in Glasgow for example? Schools that were full of Christians of various creeds? And you didn't play golf in Glasgow on various courses, with members of various Christian denominations?

Given your background, your initial statement re. never meeting a Christian who thinks bad of people with no faith is nonsense and we both know it.

No - I have obviously met many Christians through my life but I can honestly say that I cannot recall a conversation in which another person said negative things about others of no faith. We might wish others had some faith but not that they were damned for not having one. Though it is true that some most definitely had a touch of the 'Holy Wullie's' but that I think is more a feeling of superiority rather than a negative view of others.

And at school? Well there were hardly any catholics in my primary and secondary school - but there were plenty of Jews. I was rather envious of the additional holidays they got...and that sometimes they'd be able to miss a class as the Rabbi was in and taking a service in the school hall.

Golf? When a member of a golf club I tended to play midweek and most often by myself. Otherwise, inc my weekend golf, I played with two or three close mates. And we didn't discuss religion. Of course I knew that a certain local golf club was supposed to be anti-Semitic and that there was a Jewish Club just up the road.

So no. As sheltered a life I might have led, I just cannot recall - and still do not experience - people of faith speaking ill of those of no faith.

 

[ger147]

No - I have obviously met many Christians through my life but I can honestly say that I cannot recall a conversation in which another person said negative things about others of no faith. We might wish others had some faith but not that they were damned for not having one. Though it is true that some most definitely had a touch of the 'Holy Wullie's' but that I think is more a feeling of superiority rather than a negative view of others.

And at school? Well there were hardly any catholics in my primary and secondary school - but there were plenty of Jews. I was rather envious of the additional holidays they got...and that sometimes they'd be able to miss a class as the Rabbi was in and taking a service in the school hall.

Golf? When a member of a golf club I tended to play midweek and most often by myself. Otherwise, inc my weekend golf, I played with two or three close mates. And we didn't discuss religion. Of course I knew that a certain local golf club was supposed to be anti-Semitic and that there was a Jewish Club just up the road.

So no. As sheltered a life I might have led, I just cannot recall - and still do not experience - people of faith speaking ill of those of no faith.

Hand on heart, I don't believe you so will have to agree to disagree and leave it at that.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Hand on heart, I don't believe you so will have to agree to disagree and leave it at that.

I fully accept that there will be some - maybe many - who look at those not having any faith and criticise or think worse of them for that. But I don't and I haven't (certainly in the last 7 yrs) heard anyone openly say such a thing either to me or in my vicinity - at least not that I can recall - and I think I would because frankly I think it would be un-Christian to take such a view. You don't attract by criticising and attacking.

And as far as this American lad who was killed. I wouldn't criticise him for having his belief and faith. I would however ask serious questions about what he did - presumably after seeking the guidance of his God - whether it was the right thing to do as opposed to the thing that his own will wanted him to do. I rather think it was the latter - because he would have known in his spiritual heart of hearts that he shouldn't - that what he was doing was actually wrong - and against God's will.

And therein, I accept, lies the problem with some of religious faith. They believe they are doing God's will - usually I suggest encouraged by others - when in fact they are doing the opposite.

 

[Slime]

The amazing thing is, despite mountains of evidence, over 40% of Americans still think the Earth is less than 10,000 years old and Man walked with dinosaurs.

It's incredible what religion will make people do and say.

....................... and Jurassic Park!
Perhaps Americans thought it was a documentary.