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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to ask why Christians seem to make everyone so angry?

222 replies

Bardette · 30/03/2014 18:50

Any post involving Christians or the church seem to attract an extra level of venom from some and I wonder why?

OP posts:
SuburbanRhonda · 31/03/2014 17:17

Thanks, allergic, I know what secularism is!

It's not the school that insists on Christian Worship - it's the Department of Education. And I said "they may as well be secular" not they are secular.

What I meant is that there is no "Christian" feel to the schools. They're just lovely, inclusive, creative places where the children feel safe and valued (and that's what I think, not something plucked out of the Ofsted reports!).

WynkenBlynkenandNod · 31/03/2014 17:48

My DS is 10 and goes to a Church school . He's really pissed off that they get told 'Hindus believe X' but that 'God says this'. I end up saying 'Yes but it is a Church School and I'm afraid you will get told this.' His response is he doesn't want to go to a Church school which is a very fair response. However we didn't chose it, we were allocated a space there a it is our Catchment school and the other school I put down first is hugely over subscribed so there is no alternative.

Allergictoironing · 31/03/2014 17:58

That's sort of my point Rhonda - you're talking about the most secular a school can be in the UK yet they STILL have to use Christian worship.

SuburbanRhonda · 31/03/2014 19:34

Ok, sorry, allergic, I misunderstood your post Blush

BankWadger · 31/03/2014 20:21

Nope I dislike all organised religion, not just christianity.

I do not however dislike all christians, all muslims, all jews etc Just those who use their religion to fuck over others. or those who try force their religion on me personally. Most people just have a quiet day to day belief that makes them happy. No problems with those people at all.

Allergictoironing · 31/03/2014 21:11

I have had many an otherwise pleasant social evening ruined by Christians who have been earnestly trying to convert me "because they love me & don't want me to burn in the fires of Hell for all time" (I don't actually believe in Hell). They then tell me that if I believe in any other God (or Gods, or Goddesses), I'm "really worshipping Satan" (who I also don't believe in), whether I'm a good or bad person. I then get told that their Christian God is a kind and forgiving God - while at the same time trying to insist that missionaries are necessary to save people from their ignorance of "the one true God" because if they haven't even heard of him they too are condemned to burn in the fires of Hell etc etc etc.

So though I can get a bit pissed off at them ruining a nice evening, I don't hate them. I just find it sad that the moment religion comes into it their brains seem to vanish.

AbraStone · 01/04/2014 09:43

The one huge contradictory thing I can never get over - among many - and that no Christian I've ever spoken to has ever managed to waffle their way out of is this:

Heaven is supposed to be the nicest place ever, where we all live eternally in god's ever loving arms etc etc.

If I become a fully paid up, happy clappy born again tomorrow, I go to heaven. Where I'll be blissfully happy forever, right?

Only I'm the only born again in my family. The rest - my DH and my kids, and all my friends are NOT religious in any way. So there I am, toodling around heaven, knowing that the people I love are burning in eternal agony.

But I'm going to be able to get over that am I?? Hmm

Doubtful. So there I am in heaven forever, tormented by the idea that I'll never see anyone I love again and not only that - they're suffering.

Yeah heaven sounds lovely Hmm

BackOnlyBriefly · 01/04/2014 10:36

Abrastone, it is hard to get them to spell it out, but I understand from other threads that you will be altered so you don't mind that they are all burning. You will only be able to think about god and how wonderful he is.

This was apparently supposed to be comforting.

No wonder Christians are not actually in a hurry to get there.

ErrolTheDragon · 01/04/2014 10:48

Abra - well, the church I grew up in didn't do the hellfire bit - the view was sort of that nonbelievers would either be in a state of 'separation from god' or oblivion rather than eternal torment. However, one of my friends who was of a rather more fundamentalist bent than the rest of us lost her 'unsaved' father and it caused her a lot of pain in addition to the normal grief. Sad

slug · 01/04/2014 12:28
AbraStone · 01/04/2014 13:48

Ah. So the bible is lying when it mentions fire and brimstone and that?

So if I don't become a Christian, when I die I'll live without god.

Much like now then? That's not too bad Grin

BackOnlyBriefly · 01/04/2014 14:33

Slug, that is great. It gives me such a warm feeling about Christianity. You have to wonder why some people object to that being taught to small children in school.

Even the ones that have dumped the bits about hell still have the problem that the saved ones are not with the unsaved.

I wouldn't be happy in heaven without my family so it would be a punishment to be sent there and not a reward. There isn't a way around that without saying "but you will be programmed not to mind"

ErrolTheDragon · 01/04/2014 14:37

Ah. So the bible is lying when it mentions fire and brimstone and that?

Exaggerating? Grin Speaking metaphorically? The most-cited 'fire and brimstone' reference is in Revelations which is barmy not taken literally by non-fundies.

AbraStone · 01/04/2014 14:42

Exactly BOB.

I dare ANYONE to try to tell me that I could ever not mind about my children being in hell if I'm in heaven.

Seeing them stub their toes causes me distress. I am NEVER going to be "hey ho" about them suffering an eternal toasting.

I read a few articles on the subject since posting here and a particular favourite was one that basically said that I'd come to understand gods POV and that I'd end up agreeing 100% that my loved ones didn't belong in heaven and that it was their refusal to accept god that had led to their downfall. FFS Angry

YouTheCat · 01/04/2014 14:49

I'd rather be warm than 'saved' and destined to be some kind of automaton, eternally adoring some alleged creator.

Guineapig99 · 01/04/2014 14:53

they don't make me angry in general, just the mouthy bigotted ones who try to infringe on other people's human and civil rights with their crazy made up ideas. That goes for all religions by the way, not just christians. Mostly, they seem fine to me. Each to their own.

BackOnlyBriefly · 01/04/2014 15:21

I tried to look up who believes in a literal hell. I was hoping for a percentage or a list of denominations but couldn't get anything definite. I know the Pope has denied it and the Mormons, but there seem to be a lot of otherwise normal people who do believe in a hell where you burn.

And of course the bible did prophecy that Christians would start saying it was all metaphorical for their convenience :)

2 Timothy 4
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

JugglingFromHereToThere · 01/04/2014 15:25

That video link is mighty alarming I agree slug

And someone actually made that to explain how things are to children?

Enjoying some of the great logic on this thread regarding the proposed existence of two places, or one place and one non-place, that people might go to when they die.

My DNephew recently passed away and one thing I was sure of as I said goodbye to him in ICU (he wasn't conscious) .... wherever he was going (into the beyondness of things?) we'll all be going there too.

The idea of two places, of sheep and goats, is madness to me. As Abra says would we not miss those in the other place?
If there were a God that created us would he/she not love us all enough to have us near him/her ?

ErrolTheDragon · 01/04/2014 15:40

And someone actually made that to explain how things are to children?

I assumed it was a parody - maybe a Landover Baptists production or suchlike .... ah, yes, spot on. Grin

slug · 01/04/2014 15:45

Juggling, it's part of a series made by a fairly over the top fundie http://www.youtube.com/user/mrswhitford They are worth watching for pure amusement sake. I particularly recommend 'Vegetarians: Rebellion Against God' and Feminism: Another Scourge From Satan'

But for sheer lunancy her blog is unbeatable.

ErrolTheDragon · 01/04/2014 15:46

The Christmas one lower down in that link will need to come out on this year's inevitable 'put the Christ back into xmas' thread!

slug · 01/04/2014 15:47

Whoops, forgot to link

ErrolTheDragon · 01/04/2014 15:51

it's part of a series made by a fairly over the top fundie

er, slug, she's part of the Landover 'church' - its a parody. Unfortunately the reality of Westboro types means that it's liable to be mistaken as real!

BackOnlyBriefly · 01/04/2014 15:56

I assumed it was a spoof, but I have had that position put to me by real Christians so it doesn't really matter.

ClockWatchingLady · 01/04/2014 15:59

This might have been covered already (not read whole thread), but does anyone else feel a bit miffed about religious friends who don't try to convert you? I mean, if they really think you're facing eternal damnation while they live on in paradise, surely they should put a bit of effort in to get you there too?

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