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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.

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Original poster
hiddenhome · 04/04/2012 20:53

'Oxfam ("Oxford Committee for Famine Relief") originated with a Christian group called the Quakers in 1942 in Oxford, England. Now, the charity is secular.'

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LineRunner · 04/04/2012 20:53

Quakers are still Quakers.

OhdearNigel · 04/04/2012 20:54

Hiddenhome - I have a friend who is a Quaker. They are more generally known as the Society of Friends now but they are still a faith group and worship God. They also have very strong views on freedom of expression, liberty and state intervention in peoples lives.

OhdearNigel · 04/04/2012 20:54

and www.quaker.org.uk/

Original poster
hiddenhome · 04/04/2012 20:55

These organisations may be secular now, but the people who started them had a faith based mindset and probably a faith based motivation to help others. What they are or what they do now is up to them, I'm only referring to their origins.

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seeker · 04/04/2012 20:55

So are you saying that only Christians have humanitarian impulses?

Most people at the time these organisations were set up were at least cultural Christians. It is special pleading of the most extreme sort to call them Christian organisations!

LineRunner · 04/04/2012 20:55

Quakers are admirable.

seeker · 04/04/2012 20:56

I find it quite annoying, offensive and hypocritical as I often wonder how many posters would be so freely abusive to a Muslim poster"

Don't understand.

Original poster
hiddenhome · 04/04/2012 20:57

You don't have to believe in God to be a Quaker now. My music teacher is a Quaker, but we don't talk about it very much. I know she was learning New Testament Greek last year. I think she's a Christian.

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Original poster
hiddenhome · 04/04/2012 20:59

No, seeker I'm not saying that only Christians have humanitarian impulses, you're manipulating what it is I'm saying Hmm What I said was that many aid organisations have their origins or current practises in faith and that is what motivates them.

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seeker · 04/04/2012 21:00

And you have been proved wrong.

Original poster
hiddenhome · 04/04/2012 21:01

I am not calling Oxfam or The Red Cross Christian organisations. The people who began them were Christians. It is impossible to say what type of Christians they were, or whether they just went for the coffee, but those are the values they started with.

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Original poster
hiddenhome · 04/04/2012 21:02

proved wrong in what?

It really kills you people to think that Christians might actually be helping people out there. This is very sad.

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Original poster
hiddenhome · 04/04/2012 21:03

Quakers weren't 'cultural Christians' either Hmm

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seeker · 04/04/2012 21:04

You are implying that if they hadn't been Christians then they wouldn't have started thaws organisations. Which is illogical. In the extreme. To say the least.

seeker · 04/04/2012 21:06

It really kills you people to think that Christians might actually be helping "people out there. This is very sad."

No- I am delighted that people do good and help people. I am outraged by the suggestion that only Christians do this.

Original poster
hiddenhome · 04/04/2012 21:06

They were Quakers and they wouldn't have started their organisation if they had not been motivated by that faith. This is what the Quakers used to do and how they lived their lives - by helping others less fortunate. How is that illogical?

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Original poster
hiddenhome · 04/04/2012 21:07

Where have I written that only Christians help people? Medicine sans Frontiers aren't Christian Hmm

What I said is that many aid organisations are Christian or began as Christian and this is what motivates them.

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Original poster
hiddenhome · 04/04/2012 21:09

I think that you're believing what you want to believe and you're outraging yourself? What I find strange is why somebody would want to do that. Before I was a believer I wasn't outraged by people of faith. I just shrugged and left them to it. Why all the anger?

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Original poster
hiddenhome · 04/04/2012 21:13

Actually, what I can say is that all the people on these boards who are the most hostile and unpleasant happen to be atheist. Not all atheist, but the faith people are far more polite and certainly less nasty and hostile. It's like a personal affront to you that people do believe. I can't understand that. Didn't bother me in the slightest when I was without faith. It's infuriating that all these 'god botherers' are out there....still alive and still polluting the world with their ridiculous beliefs Hmm

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Original poster
hiddenhome · 04/04/2012 21:16

I really wish you could meet dh and his family. They're all Christian and they're the most lovely people you could wish to meet. Even the probate lawyer commented on it when they were sorting out FIL's will and probate stuff. No arguing, money grabbing, bitterness, nothing. Total mutual respect and co-operation. Nice people. Far nicer than me. If that's what Christianity is, then I can live with that Smile

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seeker · 04/04/2012 21:27

Christians are very often lovely people! But atheists are very often lovely people too.

You said that most aid organisations are faith based. I listed 3 major ones that aren't. Then we got locked into a tussle about what faith based means. You said that some of the people who were involved in the setting up of Oxfam and The Red Cross were Christians therefore they are faith based organisations. Which is patently wrong. Lord sainsbury is a Christian- Sainsbury's is not therefore a faith based supermarket.

And then you started talking about Christians being lovely and atheists being rude and things like that. Which is what Christians always say when atheists challenge them even slightly.

KalSkirata · 04/04/2012 21:41

'I find it quite annoying, offensive and hypocritical as I often wonder how many posters would be so freely abusive to a Muslim poster'

an equal number. Ive seen it happen many times on mumsnet.

dont think anyone is saying all christians are nasty. Of course there are nice ones. But right now the loud shouty ones are oppressing women's rights across the Atlantic (and here). Tends to stand out this week.

headinhands · 04/04/2012 21:49

Whoa whoa whoa I thought we were having a genuine hearty debate. Hope I haven't offended anyone personally. I guess its likely that counter argument might seem a bit abrasive at times but I've not seen a personal attack on here yet.

Original poster
hiddenhome · 04/04/2012 21:52

'And then you started talking about Christians being lovely and atheists being rude and things like that. Which is what Christians always say when atheists challenge them even slightly.'

I didn't say that all atheists are rude and unpleasant, only that the people who are rude and unpleasant are, more often than not, atheist. I have yet to see a Christian poster being similiarly rude and unpleasant.

You do twist things seeker. I don't think you're getting what it is I'm saying. Perhaps I'm not putting it across very well. You seem very defensive whilst attacking me, then getting all huffy when I try and answer. You can't have it all ways.

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