Mocking Christianity

[Ihatepcos]

I am so sick of people thinking it's okay to ridicule Catholicism and Christianity. This is especially apparent on Mumsnet. Every time there's a thread about religion I can't even read the replies because they're so awful.

The same doesn't seem to apply to the Muslim, Jewish, Hindu faiths etc.

If you don't believe in God that is your choice. But purposely mocking someone's faith and calling it a load of bullshit (and worse) is just not acceptable. So many people turn to faith to help them through extremely tough times in life and you are mocking the only thing that is keeping them going.

@Clarabell77 I'm going to put myself out there and say that I do care. We are told to spread the word. I wont put it in people's faces, but if they ask, I'll share it. I'm open to answering questions, if people are interested, but I don't start a conversation about it.

But Christ didn't say anything against any of these things. He cured the centurions servant...many Roman officers were gay and openly lived with their male servants. Jesus knew that.
He didn't talk about marriage or sex. He had female followers Mary Magdalene for example and women were a big part of the early church.

unfortunately, men especially "saint" Paul...who decided he knew what Christ wanted....read the 4 gospels...It's what I base my faith on

Grow up.

I think it is mostly true of Christians, Mormons, Catholics, JWs and probably other lesser known ones.
Muslims are too busy fighting amongst themselves.
Jewish people want you to decide it yourself and you have to study to convert.
Never met someone with multiple gods who try to convert you.
I'm sure there are exceptions to last 3 sentences, but generally speaking

@Elvis1956 I like the stories that talk about Jesus and women: the woman at the well (outcast), the woman who'd been bleeding for years and healed, when Mary Magdelene was mocked for spending too much money on perfumed oil and Jesus put them in their place.

ooh get you 🙄

@Elvis1956

So you just ignore the whole of the rest of the bible?

How do you know Mark was right but Paul wasn't?

Maybe you get to make up a name for the belief system you've derived based from Christainity. There are so many, so maybe someone has already made that one up. But if not, will you be Priestess?

The thing about Christianity - and specifically the Church of England - is the role it's played (and plays) in the life of the UK. The link between Church and State. The good things the Church has done and the bad things that's been done (of course some people may argue that it's not bad, but there you go)

Even now, our Monarch is also the Head of the Church of England. Anointed by God. Our anthem is God save the King. State schools are supposed to have an act of mainly Christian nature. All these things where Christianity has its links to the way our country is run.

The King (or the Monarch) may believe they have a God given right to rule this country.

For us Republicans and atheists, that is not a right I recognise

God may be working in science.
But God also takes many days off.
Or has given up on creation.

What is the point in God? If there is free will and people are free to do what they want, make their own choices, then God has no say in that.

If God does intervene, then they seem to forget a lot of the time and leave this world and people in some awful situations.

If we are to be judged by God in the afterlife, then who judges God?
And which God are we judging? The God of the Old Testament who killed millions of people or New Testament God?

@cakeorwine , it’s a long time since our monarchs have believed in a divine right to rule*, that they’re appointed by God.

Of course Charles the First believed in it, and look what happened to him.

*Not that they do much actual ruling nowadays, of course.

christianity.org.uk/article/queen-elizabeths-faith

"The most sacred moment at the heart of the ceremony is the anointing, when the symbols of royal status are removed. The Queen, sitting under a canopy to hide the sacred moment from the cameras, was dressed in a simple white dress with no jewels or crown. As the Archbishop anointed her with oil, the prayers said over her invited God’s Holy Spirit to set her apart as God’s servant. Christians believe that God’s anointing fills his people with his love and empowers them to follow him."

Anointed by the ArchBishop, with prayers inviting God's Holy Spirit to set her apart as God's Servant.

No different (in my opinion ) to this

"Strange women laying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government”

@cakeorwine I can't answer the question about free will at the moment, it is something I have read a lot about. I'm not sure I could explain it well enough though - apologies.

I belive that God in the old testament is the same God in the new testament. There are clues along the way in the old testament that Jesus would come to the earth in himan form. Jesus was one with God from the beginning of time (I'm going by the bible from this).

I believe that the Son of God judges us, and that no-one judges Him.

We believe that the God came to save us from our sins, but there was never a promise that life on earth would be easy. I see a lot of sorrow and suffering, but I also believe that one day, that will be gone.

Someone should judge God.

Though shalt not kill

A reading of the Old Testament shows that commandment was forgotten by God.

And the afterlife. Have people thought about what it would be like? And it goes on forever.

(I have been watching The Good Place)

@cakeorwine one thing I would say on a personal level about free will, is that I wouldn't like to be controlled. I like to do things because I have made that choice.
Sometimes that's a good thing, sometimes it isn't.

Let's hope you've made the right choices.

But if you are making them because you want to get into Heaven, are you making them for the right reason?

And will that influence where you go?

@cakeorwine I can't answer that, only that I believe God is God and he has the final say. That is what I belive though.

I think about eternal life a lot. I stop because I can't get my head around forever.

I understand that I havent answered your questions very clearly!

Maybe there is a God judging God?

I would recommend The Good Place on Netflix. It's not 'religious' but it does get you thinking about morality and why we do things. And the consequences of our actions.

@cakeorwine that's a very interesting question.

I'm going to be honest and say that I certainly don't want to be thrown out into the darkness.

I absolutely have not made all the right choices, but I try. If I think about my behaviour today, I've probably sinned hourly: got impatient, been annoyed with people.in thought etc etc.

I do believe that when Jesus says he is the way to God, that its true. So I absolutely believe in my.own salvation. But I stop there.

I dont go around thinking I can treat people like dirt or whatever, because I can simply ask for forgiveness. Because at what point does it become more and more that I am separating myself from God? This is something that I do think about.

@cakeorwine I'll take a look at that (before netflix ban password sharing and I cancel my subscription!)

I'm always open to other people's views and beliefs. I actually like reading about other religions.

I absolutely agree
I was reading a lovely thread yesterday about the painting of the last supper
Then MNs started making inappropriate remarks about what was going on in the painting

I know some may think they weren’t but if you are Catholic they were.
Its not OK
Wish I’d to called them out now.

I’m certainly happy to take a pop at Christianity rather than Islam or Hinduism.

It’s because I was brought up in the Christian church, so I know what I’m taking a pop at.

I leave criticism of other religions to those who can cite the references.

Maybe -although the Bible is pretty clear

“God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment:” Psalm 82.1

in fact in the many references in the Old Testament that indicate a Divine Council God pretty much is top dog.

Although the Old Testament is pretty shaky on who God is, is it The Elohim (feminine/masculine plural), Adonai (Lord) Yahweh(Jehovah/YHVH) Ehyeh…. Are they the same (as some parts say) or are they different? Is it a reflection of source material? The large time frame over which the books were written?

This Divine council appears to have been disbanded under the shake up which saw the New Covenant where nepotism was the new order of the day.

Christians obviously view this anachronistically and mainly view the Old Testament through eyes of validating Jesus as the son of God. But it’s interesting to look at some of the scholastic views of the Old Testament

Op, no one is duty bound to respect yours or any other religion, we’re simply asked to respect your right to hold those beliefs. I find all religion disrespectful of women, so no, I don’t respect any of them and will mock them from time to time. If that offends you, so be it, I’m offended by many religious beliefs - who cares? You don’t have a right to go through life never being offended. Turn the other cheek, right?

It IS ok. You need to get over yourself, no one is duty bound to believe what you believe or have any respect for those beliefs.