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Original poster

Question for the Christians

343 replies

hiddenhome · 31/03/2012 17:35

Just wonderin' 'n' musin' like. Do you ever get fed up or feel uncomfortable with the amount of blasphemy on the main boards? I've been noticing it more and more recently. I don't know why people think that this isn't offensive or unpleasant. I don't think they'd do it to other religions Sad Makes me wonder why people are so vehemently anti Christian, then keep making these references. Also, can't understand why people can't equate a religious person's love for God to an atheist's love for their family and children. They wouldn't like to be insulted over their love for their dcs, but quite happily take the pee and dish it out to the faith people. Sometimes they're even hostile and aggressive about it. I find the boards quite slack liberally minded, but don't know why they don't extend this liberalism to everyone. If you truly choose equality, doesn't it mean that the equality should extend to those you don't agree with and even actively dislike?

I know we're supposed to take it as part of being a Christian, but was just wondering how others felt really.

OP posts:
seeker · 06/04/2012 08:51

Absolutely. And when there are 25 unelected Atheists in the House of Lords as of right, and when there are an equal number of secular as faith schools we might have made a good start........

SillyBeardyDaddyman · 06/04/2012 09:04

You do realise you don't have to send your kids to faith schools? They tend to perform better so more people without faith send their kids there. This means that more get built and the standard of pupils can be lowered in state schools. This is more reflective of the problems in state schools than the problem of religious education.

SillyBeardyDaddyman · 06/04/2012 09:06

As for the politics point... Go get the census data showing percentage breakdowns of religion and then get me the information about which political figures are followers of religions, then we can discuss it.

Informed debate only please!

CheerfulYank · 06/04/2012 09:08

I totally agree. Of course I'm a now just slightly tipsy American and I have only a vague understanding of what the House of Lords really is.

I don't know as I like the sound of it, though. Same with faith schools. I would be utterly resplendent with rage if my taxes funded, for example, a school espousing the doctrine of the Westboro Baptist Church.

I'm quite devoutly Christian but I am also a staunch believer in freedom of speech and religio. I think that's the true way to peace.

CheerfulYank · 06/04/2012 09:09

agree with Seeker, I meant :)

SillyBeardyDaddyman · 06/04/2012 09:13

The majority of new faith schools are privately funded not state funded but are open to all and not fee paying.

I don't want my kids to go to a faith school, but I have other options in my area. Is not a problem.

SillyBeardyDaddyman · 06/04/2012 09:15

Hol is like the upper house in the American system. They don't introduce laws or bills but they can block them. However this can be bypassed by the govt in certain situations anyway.

CheerfulYank · 06/04/2012 09:21

Are they elected?

SillyBeardyDaddyman · 06/04/2012 09:38

Nope. Members get chosen by the party in power, but remain ad infinitum.

seeker · 06/04/2012 12:15

I'm not talking about elected politicians. I'm taking about the Bishops in the House of Lords. And most state schools are state funded. And all stateschools whether faith or not have compusory Christian worship. And the study of RE is compulsory in state schools til 16.

SillyBeardyDaddyman · 06/04/2012 15:22

State education wasn't really around until the C19th and prior to that was available from the church. The state based their version of schools around the existing church template.

I agree about the worship thing. Should be replaced with something all encompassing.
As for RE what's the problem? Learning about other religions helps us better understand other people and cultures.

SillyBeardyDaddyman · 06/04/2012 15:36

As for the house of lords thing... The church of England is still the biggest landowner in Britain. Should they not have a say over their interests?

Also, in the 2001 census, 42 million respondents listed themselves as Christians compared with 9 million who declared no religion. Does that sound like there should be an equal number of atheists to Christians in the HOL?

headinhands · 06/04/2012 15:46

So that would be 1 atheist for every four Christians. Another problem is that some people are likely to put down CofE when they are agnostic and do not practice or exercise a belief in their life. It's seen as a default position by some.

SillyBeardyDaddyman · 06/04/2012 15:50

That's very true. Many people admitted to ticking the Christian box because they were British!

seeker · 06/04/2012 16:24

Sbdm- I am assuming that you are playing devil's advocate here- you can't possibly actually believe what you are posting!

SillyBeardyDaddyman · 06/04/2012 16:31

Why not? I'm a well educated atheist with a fair sense of democracy and knowledge of history. Does that cover everything I've posted about?

SillyBeardyDaddyman · 06/04/2012 16:34

I believe in proportional representation as a fair means of govt. If that means a higher percentage of religious people were to be voted into govt, then so be it. They may not represent me, but may represent the majority. That is true democracy.

seeker · 06/04/2012 16:37

So you're happy for social and science policy to have an automatic Christian input? For many people to have no choice but a state funded faith school? For children to be allowed to drop history and all MFL but not RE?

seeker · 06/04/2012 16:39

But the bishops aren't voted in!

SillyBeardyDaddyman · 06/04/2012 16:46

Of course there should be an alternative. 16 million in the 2001 census were not Christian. But if someone ticks a faith box they should be happy to use a faith school. I know people who say they're Christians but refuse to send their kids to a faith school Hmm

I also know scientists who are Christian. They view science as a confirmation of God's wonder! Their contribution is no less than their atheist colleagues.

And when I was at school (state) you could drop RE once you got to yr10. I did! That was also the first chance I had to drop anything else too. Same for younger family members taking their options this year.

seeker · 06/04/2012 16:58

You are not answering my points. You can't have a proper discussion with somebody who has selective hearing.

SillyBeardyDaddyman · 06/04/2012 17:08

I've been busy on here today, let me know what I've missed and I will endeavour to answer.

Artesia · 06/04/2012 17:14

Might be a bit late to the party on this, but I am a bit bemused by people wanting "proof" of god/miracles/answered prayers on the basis that once they have proof, then they will believe.

Isn't the whole point of faith that you believe something without proof. There's nothing remarkable about believing things you know are fact, the amazing part is that so many people choose to have faith in something DESPITE the lack of hard evidence.

headinhands · 06/04/2012 17:26

artesia Jesus apparently thought it fitting to do miracles to back up his claims. Thing is, no proof remains of the miracles he supposedly did then. In the great commission Jesus sends out his followers to do miraculous things in his name. How come there is no evidence of this occurring since then either?

LineRunner · 06/04/2012 17:36

Doesn't the catholic church require proof of a miracle for the process of sainthood?