*I can stand when people blaspheme and say Ch*** as if its a swear word*

[Serendipity30]

I can stand when people blaspheme and say Ch* as if its a swear word do people think its cool?? People say they are tolerant of peoples faith but situations like that make me wonder I literally wince when people say it. I refuse to believe I ABU

Dione - no, I think the ANSWER was woolly! I don't understand why I can't get a clear answer to this question, but may as well ask for the THIRD time:

I am an atheist, you are a Christian, don't you believe I will go to hell when I die? If not, why not?

Scarlett - I don't believe you'll go to hell. I think you'll go to Narnia. But then I'm not religious.

Or Chupa?

"Oh Chupa Chups makes for quite good swearz"

I know you weren't asking me, Scarlett, so hope you don't mind me attempting to answer your question :) There are various types of Christian as I'm sure you know. The most fundamentalist will probably tell you that yes, you're going to hell, a real place. Some woolly liberals may say there's no such place as hell but it exists as long-term separation from God and what he intended for us. There are of course many theological debates about these topics and yes, Christians with open minds will debate and disagree and - gasp - even change their minds sometimes. You won't find just one "clear answer to the question" unless you ask a fundamentalist

"don't you believe I will go to hell when I die? If not, why not?"

Can I got to Narnia too? I promise to be a really good atheist.

shiva on skis, Dione, yes that is fab that Pope Benedict expressed his unhappiness etc, etc but how much of the vast wealth of the Catholic church has been paid out to victims of sexual abuse? How many of the priests who knew about and covered up the abuse have been punished?

I am a committed atheist so my plan is to work for this company:

Eternal Earthbound Pets

Would prefer Narnia though.

Well Woden in Wellingtons, forgive me for being a little bit peeved but I had hoped that Christians could provide a clear answer to what is surely one of the fundamental issues of their faith - i.e. if you don't believe in God, are you going to hell when you die.

As far as I am concerned this is the basic problem with Christianity and all other religions as far as I can see. Even if you are a decent person, who does good deeds, if you don't do them in the name of the right deity, that diety will deny you access to paradise on your death.

What do Christians think happens to Muslims when they die? As far as I know Muslims think all unbelievers will automatically be damned.

just watched the fenton film on you tube and lmao. YABU i would much rather that tham cunt or fuck. i could do with going to narnia and i have always had an odd crush on those half men half horse thingys

Eternal Earthbound Pets!! Hahahahahahahah

How do you ensure your representatives won't be Raptured?
A: Actually, we don't ensure it, they do. Each of our representatives has stated to us in writing that they are atheists, do not believe in God / Jesus, and that they have blasphemed in accordance with
Mark 3:29, negating any chance of salvation.

So Christians, is that bit above wrong then? eh?

Well, I think we can all agree that Helen is going to hell

Thanks for your reply, Popcorn. . Forgive me for still sensing a certain amount of wool from your answer, though. I'd be interested to know what YOU, personally, believe is going to happen to me after I die - any thoughts?

Don't laugh at my sensible business plan!

scarlett

i dont know about you, but after I die;

www.lifegem-uk.com/

Yeah, I love it, bejeezus. I've never wanted a diamond because of the corrupt murderous trade that's generally involved, but one made out of DP, on the other hand ...

Do you want to know what's at the back of my wardrobe?
Nar-nia business!!!

"I'd be interested to know what YOU, personally, believe is going to happen to me after I die"

To be quite honest, I don't know. I hope it's something you're happy with when it happens though. I don't claim to have all the answers, as a fundamentalist would. There are a few different possibilities, but whatever happens I believe it will be in line with the loving God I believe in.

Jesus was described as a shepherd and we as sheep, so not completely unbiblical for Christians to be woolly :o

I'm a blasphemer and say it all the time.

Ok Spero, so your "basic problem" with religions regards the exclusivity of afterlife. Given that you do not believe in any afterlife and no one is forcing you to do so: why does it even bother you?

I have no Christian feelings whatsoever, but if someone asked me not to say "Jesus" as a swearword in their company, I would try not to.

It's a bit different to people saying "Mohammed" as a swearword, since most non-Muslims would be using it to be wilfully offensive. Jesus and Christ and holy God just slip out of my mouth seemingly unbidden.

To be fair, Muslims are forever saying "Allah" when something bad happens. I asked a Saudi guy I know if when he said it he was thinking holy thoughts and he said he was basically think "oh fuck".

I don't think it's that offensive to say Jesus or whatever. I mean, if I don't believe in God, so it means nothing to me.

No Dione my angel, my basic problem is that it appears that Christians cannot even agree something so fundamental to their religion. I don't give a flying buggery tap dancing shit - if God does exist, he is a mean nasty bastard and I'll be happy to tell him so as he boots me out from the Pearly Gates.

And you wonder why I roll my eyes at you lot and pat you metaphorically on the head?

Up your game Christian mates. Make it logical, make it simple. Win over a few of us pagan types.

My perspective (not that anyone asked, or that anyone ought to care- ha!) is that, as a practising christian, my faith is nobody's business. it should not form the basis for legislation, be deferred to out of historical whatever or otherwise be in anyone's face

there is just no need. this goes for all faiths. i do not want faith to occupy a special central role because history blah blah - it should be a matter of individual conscience. It should not be in schools beyond a RS sort of 'here is what these folk believe' type of way

nobody should be extra respectful to my beliefs. they will strike some people as odd, or even bad. Worse, risible . That's ok too. People should be repectful towards other people, and the law should intervene only where people are being harassed, intimidated or otherwise fearful of their safety. People saying i believe in a sky pixie does not meet this criteria.

again, i am a practicing christian, for whatever that's worth

But what do you care about Christians and their belief in the afterlife? You are not a Christian, so I don't understand why you would even give it headspace.

As for your last comment: are you seeking conversion Spero?

I have explained clearly why I am on this thread.

I am 'working from home' today and am in desparate need of distraction.

Christians have asked why I don't respect them. I have explained. You can't even be clear on your central beliefs. I definitely don't respect that.

The continual demands from the religious that we 'respect' them are of great interest to me, all procrastination aside because that I do find quite offensive and dangerous. As I have repeatedly said, stop being such bigots (generally) and I might offer you more respect.

Yeah, bring it. Convert me. Go on, I dare you.

"You can't even be clear on your central beliefs. I definitely don't respect that."

So you'd more likely have respect for inflexible fundamentalists who take all aspects of the Bible literally and quote small parts of it out of context? If open-mindedness, and a willingness to admit we don't know it all, makes us unclear then I'm happy to be described as such.

The centrality of our faith isn't "what happens when you die?" it is whether we decide to follow Jesus. His prime commands were to love God and to love one another as ourselves.