genuine question from atheist - view on Christanity and personal responsibility

[kentishgirl]

Hi - promise this isn't just Christian-baiting.

I've come to the conclusion that Christianity is a substitute for having a personal conscience or taking personal responsibility. Being a Christian is like having a 'get out of jail free card' in that you are taught God will forgive you anything. So you can do anything, as bad as you like, go and pray for forgiveness and move on, slate wiped clean, feeling great about yourself. So it doesn't matter if you do wrong. As an atheist, if I do something wrong, it's always with me, it's always on my conscience, so that makes me always try to do the right thing.
I didn't always think this way. It's the only way I can make any sense of something that happened to me at the hands of a couple of serious, committed Christians. One of them even works full time for a church. They did something terrible to me but have shown no remorse, no guilt, and made no attempt to make things right with me. I'm positive they prayed for guidance at the time and then forgiveness afterwards, and now all's good in their world, while I'm still dealing with the fall-out.
Am I really wrong in interpreting Christianity in this way? Isn't it true that it enables horrible behaviour by teaching you that if you do wrong, all you've got to do is pray for forgiveness afterwards, and you are ok, never mind the effect of what you did? Basically if God is your only judge, and forgiveness is guaranteed, it gives you permission to act like a right bastard as long as you say sorry to God afterwards? there's no personal responsibility for what you have done.

things that people who want to call themselves Christian can pick and choose all those that reinforce their inherent bigotries and feel the smug satisfaction of being a good Christian, without having to change a single thing about themselves.

That has not been my experience. Some things I have found personally very challenging. I have changed since being more committed to my Faith.

Flicktheswitch Why?

Do you not believe an atheist can behave more 'morally', in some areas, than a Christian?

Is it the fact I say this as a Christian?

Is it because 'morally' is in inverted commas? - I did this because people do not agree on what behaving morally is.

Good people doing evil things does not take religion, only ignorance.

Don't get it.

cap I thought that was awfully patronising too.

An athiest might manage to be more moral than a christian, if the christian hasn't quite perfected themselves in that specific area yet?

Er, no. An athiest might easily manage to be more moral than a christian at all times and in all areas, whether or not that christian thinks they have attained perfection. Atheists are exactly as likely to be moral as christians are.

Believing in christ does not make you moral. All it proves is you that believe in christ. You might or might not be moral; so might I.

Beast

Being a Christian is a lifetimes work though. We are not perfected until the afterlife.

What being a Christian does or does not do for a person is a matter of belief. I am speaking about my beliefs as a Christian.

BigDorrit You seem to have circumvented all ideas of God's Grace changing us from the inside out. Although this is a matter of Christian belief again.

But I do know what I believe. I don't need you to tell me.

I never said good selfless or kind behaviour was the sole preserve of Christians, quite the opposite in fact.

You lot seem to be assigning a tone to my posts which does not exist. Projection?

Have you thought about exposing them kentishgirl?

No matter what the text says (and it is translated and can be interpreted in many ways, particularly since any prior to a certain point among many others were destroyed), it is and has been used the way you describe. People who dismiss that this happens or call those people not real Christians are only supporting these people and not bringing about any real change in any of the Christian movements. Historically and currently this is used as a way to covert people particularly in colonial and neoimperial situations.

My father is an abusive man in multiple ways who manipulates women to pay his debts, allowed his children to starve when we lived in his home, a drunk and a drug addict who threatened us that if we left the faith he would be morally obligated to kidnap "his grandchildren". His family's opinion is that we should forgive him and have a relationship with him because if God can forgive him then so can we (even though that threat still stands and is a knows carried out threat within multiple Christian groups across multiple countries). And these are not laypeople - my father's father is a high ranking minister, as is my father's brother, his BIL, and the entire family are important members of their religious community (it's sadly where he tends to find the women he targets). And that community has protected him from his actions with that line. He has had to take no personal responsibility because his family and their religion will protect him. And anyone who would say that he or they are not Christians ignores that it is Christianity that gives them and him the power to be safe from things that others would not be. The power comes from Christianity and it is only from within that problem can be corrected (as the rest of us will be ignored even when we are raised and studied it personally and academically for many years).

Have you thought about exposing them kentishgirl? Oh yes I thought about it, fantasised about it even, but no, vengeance isn't my thing. I'm not dropping down to their level.

If you are not felling vengeful, it wouldn't be vengence.

It is about justice. And you will be doing the church and the people concerned a favour.

Flick I have stated several times that I do not think all Christians are automatically more moral than anyone else.

Even if you read some ambiguity into what I was saying (I honestly do not see it) I have clarified my view several times and tbh it is frustrating.

Flick I could not have clarified more clearly than in my last post!

How many times do I have to write it out? Is it like doing lines?

Pot...kettle....