Question for the Christians

[hiddenhome]

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 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.

[seeker]

" But I hate/resent people saying "Christ!" or "Jesus Christ!" cos it's like they're posturing idiots trying to sound cool by turning Jesus's name into a dirty word. It's like people smoking to look cool, it's not big, not clever"

It isn't you know. People don't even think about the words as being Jesus's name. Thy are just collections of letters - so far rmoved from religion that they no longr have any connection with it.

[suzikettles]

No. Christians should probably try not to blaspheme (and I will admit to being a bad Christian in that respect, although I do try), but I don't really see why non Christians should take too much trouble over it.

And actually, we (culturally) do lots of things that other faiths/cultures wouldn't do but tend not to get our knickers in too much of a twist about it.

I have never seen an example of someone being disadvantaged because they were a Christian. We're a minority group these days but we are massively advantaged because the culture of this country is broadly Christian.

[DioneTheDiabolist]

The pilgrims who settled America did not do so in search of religious freedom. They did so to escape from religious freedom and establish a more puritanical society. America has a history of right wing Christianity, it is nothing new.

[Starwisher]

I don't understand some people attitude on here.

If you know someone finds something offensive then don't do it. There was lots of support a few months back when someone used the word "shyster" and people pulled the op up on it.

Have the same maturity and courtesy.

[VegimalStyle]

My list of words last night all have their etymology in the words god and Jesus. They're seen as tame inoffensive words and have been used over the last 100 years to replace swear words in the media at times when it was banned or inappropriate.

Have you ever watched Scooby Doo? Were you offended by the continued and flagrant use of the words "jinkies" and "jeepers"?

Both of those words are derived alternatives to Jesus.

So, shall we stop using them? They were invented so that you didn't have to hear blasphemy on tv or in music, but are themselves blasphemous due to that.

Opinion please.

Btw I apologise for the sarcasm yesterday, I'd had a bad day and am in a lot of pain and tired.

[VegimalStyle]

I suppose they never fail to come up with the goods. They're nothing if not reliable in that respect

hiddenhome don't demean yourself or your beliefs by using sweeping generalisations about non believers. I assume that's the "they" you're referring to? I'm sure you don't like it when people make sweeping generalisations about Christians.

[VegimalStyle]

ethelb don't call yourself names or try to play the sympathy card by making me out to be the big bad wolf. I didn't call anyone a "god botherer" or say that you're "seeing things that aren't there" or call you a "religious nutter".

Please try not to demean yourself or your views by being so childish. Sorry no, that's offensive to children, so I won't tell you to grow up.

And finally, there's nothing trendy about my views. I simply believe what I believe. It's a matter of faith. Surely you understand that?

[CheerfulYank]

Dione yes, but our founding fathers (who were not overly Puritanical) specifically spelled out that our congress was to make no laws establishing any sort of religion, and God and religion are not mentioned in our tax-funded scools at all.

I am a Christian, yet believe fully in the seperation of church and state. I will talk to my son about my beliefs at home.

As for thr original question, it doesn't bother me overmuch. I don't use Jesus Christ as a swear word, but do say jeepers so p'raps I'm just as bad. :o

Please excuse the possibly horrible spelling; I'm tapping this out on my phone.

Oh and Veg I hope you feel better soon.

[VegimalStyle]

thanks cheerful

[MrsMcCave]

there's a lot in what you say, vegimal.. are 'gosh' and others just as bad as the real thing? 'Touch wood' is another, which apparently is a reference to the cross. 'blimey' and 'crikey' are others.. my dear mother would be deeply shocked to hear any of these.

She's the person behind that well-known campaign to put plain packaging on Beano comics.

[VegimalStyle]

www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=gosh

Here's the etymology of gosh for you mrsmccave

Use the search bar to find the others too!

[MrsMcCave]

Thanks.. its a bit early in the morning for me to attempt to spell 'etymological'

[VegimalStyle]

Predictive text is a wonderful thing!

[MrsMcCave]

Rumbled!

[CheerfulYank]

I also occasionally say "Sweet St Joseph in a side car." I have no idea why, it just flows off the tongue so well! :)

[headinhands]

But Hidden, I love my husband because I can see him and speak to him and he treats me well and when we are together it generally releases oxytocin and other good chemicals that strengthen the bond, same as with our children. The science of love is very well researched and explained scientifically so I really don't see how you can regard love as something woo and inscrutable. If you asked me why I love my children it's because in evolutionary terms the parents whose brains released oxytocin when interacting with their children were naturally more likely to rear their offspring to childbearing age and in turn those offspring were more likely to again release an amount that made successful long term child rearing viable seeing as there was a genetic link.

[headinhands]

Hi jkm. But how do explain someone of a completely different faith maintaining the exact same strength of feeling for their god ?

[seeker]

I love my dp and my children and they love me back. I have never seen anything which persuades me that, if God exists, he loves anybody.

[headinhands]

But Jesus said no one comes
to the father but through him. Am I taking that verse out of context?

[LineRunner]

The prophets understood the concept of the messiah very well. They also knew that their god was a vengeful god.

[headinhands]

When you say he'd be inclined to hear them it sounds like he doesn't always hear them or is sometimes less keen than others. Why would that be. And if he hears everyone who calls out to him and guides people of all faiths how do you reconcile the hatred between the faiths. Why doesn't he 'guide' them to love each other. And even within the same faith there are big differences of doctrine. How does one explain that in light of your belief system?

[LineRunner]

I studied the Old Testament prophets and one thing that came across quite quickly was a powerful sense of god's punishment schedule.