Comments on: Ashamed Christians

By: Steve

Steve — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 05:22:01 +0000

I'm not saying that JW is not Christian… I'm just saying that the bible is a collage of many faiths and many beliefs. I'm not saying that JW's are wrong, I just think it shows that the bible may not be as totally original as Christians claim it to be.

By: LeaT

LeaT — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:39:53 +0000

One can argue that Catholicism is polytheistic.

By: Steve

Steve — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:25:32 +0000

Damn… I read a little about that watchtower shit in some books on Enochian magic. Apparently that stuff predates Christianity; it goes back to ancient Egypt and necromancers and the belief of many gods. Funny that any branch of Christianity would condone that sort of shit, considering they were all about eliminating any form of thinking that was alternate to their own. Hmm… makes you think though hey?
Maybe the bible isn't so 'original' after all…

By: LeaT

LeaT — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:47:53 +0000

As a non-American I do find the Constitution a big failure, so you didn't really counter anything with that argument. Also, it's LeaT, no h, or even better, just stick with Lea like everyone else is doing. Also, the part about political documents is to word them as clearly as possible so NO ONE can interpret them differently. This is not the sake with a religious document. If people disagree over a political document and its meanings, it should and must be rewritten so the meaning will become more clear.

Well, I sorely disagree over your choice of learning your son to pray, because I believe that your son should have his own right to decide whether he wants to believe in god or not and whether he believes in praying or not, which you didn't give him. Also, my point wasn't at all to point out that raising a child according to religious doctirne is immoral, I will disagree with it, but I said that you can very well do so without instilling beliefs that are outright hurtful to society.

I also disagree with your part about that any parent can raise their child how they want. We talk about human beings with lives here, do you want to be responsible for your son to become a criminal because of you being a bad parent? I think it's one of those things which is easy to say when you're not the one with a bad childhood.

By: Chad

Chad — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 01:56:15 +0000

Leaht – I agree just about everything you’ve said above…except for this…

“If the words of the Bible were so clear-cut, how come Christians still today from various denominations disagree over its meanings…?”

This same line of reasoning can be applied to a number of things outside of religion.

Many Americans have differing views when it comes to interpreting the Constitution. Does that mean its a failed document? Does that mean the interpretation of one should hinder or limit the credibility of another? Of course not. That’s just how one chooses to view it.

So far as parenting goes. How a parent chooses to raise a child is their decision, and, like all decisions, it will either produce rewards or it will produce consequences. The world will always have racists, rednecks, and homophobes. None of which requires religion in order to exist.

I’m a proud father of an awesome 8 year old boy. Have I taught my son to pray? Yes, and so far its worked out well. On the same token I would never teach him to hate anyone based on their skin color, religious beliefs (or lack thereof), or sexual orientation..(hell if anything I’ve tried to teach him to be a lesbian LOL). Religion does play a role in how I raise him but its not the only factor. No one ever said that moral, or immoral values must be guided by religious beliefs.

Regardless of our personal beliefs, our job as parents is to love our children unconditionally. All I want for my son is for him to be responsible, well rounded, and most of all..happy… I will love him & be proud of him regardless of the path he chooses.

By: LeaT

LeaT — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:47:38 +0000

What if I consider it right to hate homosexuals or black people? What if I consider it wrong for these people to exist, and that their existence morally depraves society? Do I sitll have the right to instill these values into my children? What if I forced my children to watch a local mob torturting a black man to death (happened during the KKK era), and then later profess of how proud I am over them when they do not turn away? What if I refuse to teach that there are other religions with other values and ideas other than those found in the Bible? What if I cherrypick parts of the Bible that fit into my worldview, such as women should not speak in church? A child is very easy to impress and a child will and copy the parents' behavior, and might continue displaying such behavior even after the parents' death. I have no issues teaching a child about religion, but it should be done openly and it should not deny other forms of doctrines or any other kind of interpretations than those that you yourself ascribe to. If the words of the Bible were so clear-cut, how come Christians still today from various denominations disagree over its meanings…?

By: LeaT

LeaT — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:47:38 +0000

By: LeaT

LeaT — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:40:35 +0000

It's like saying that people who call themselves Hare Krishna are not Hindus. Point is that they still follow a major part of the Christian doctrine, they do not for example worship Mohammed or Allah. There are plenty of Christian groups who by your definition are not considered Chirstian; I disagree, there is a difference talking about Christianity the religion (as in being a follower of Christ) and religions who are considered part of the subgroup Chrisitanity. Jehovah's Witnesses never claimed to be Christian, they follow Jehovah. They do however belong to Christianity as a subbranch, because their religion emerged from Christianity, not for example Islam.

By: orangespandexmd

orangespandexmd — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:51:32 +0000

Part 2: I do not have children, but if I ever do I understand that I will not be able to force my children to believe the way I do. That being said, I will take them to church and teach them about what the Bible says, but there comes a point when I know that I have no more control. They will have to choose for themselves whether or not they believe. Parents who try to force their kids to accept Jesus are doing what the Crusaders did when they forced people to convert. Faith is not faith unless it is one’s own personal decision. Those who profess to be Christians need to demonstrate the love of Jesus, even when people do not accept what they believe. This includes parents who have children who do not accept their faith.

By: orangespandexmd

orangespandexmd — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:50:53 +0000

As far as parents teaching their kids to believe what they believe, I think parents have the right and duty to train their kids. Parents have the responsibility to teach their kids right from wrong, to help them in school, and to be supportive as they live out life. Some parents will teach their children religious principles and even take them to church, but this is not evil or a form of child abuse. Granted some parents will seek to force a child to believe a certain way. This, however, does not work and it is in direct contradiction to the meaning of faith itself. I am a Christian, but I do not believe that I can force anyone else to believe what I believe.