I'M SO RIGHT, YOU'RE SO WRONG

1. 84

   gmwilliamsposted 10 years ago

   
   Some Christians( the more extreme, conservative, and/or fundamentalistic kind) steadfastly contend that their belief is the only correct one.  They also maintain that those who are not Christians are in the wrong and need to be righted so to speak.  What makes some Christians believe that their way is the only way?   What makes them so condemning of ethical and philosophical systems that are different from theirs?  There is no one correct way in terms of ethical and belief systems.  One ethical/belief system is just as legitimate as the other.
   
   When will some Christians become more spiritual evolved and mature, realizing that NOT EVERYONE is a Christian and that is okay?  When will they know that each person on his/her own ethical, spiritual, and/or religious path and HE/SHE is where HE/SHE is supposed to be?  Also when will some Christians desist in personal attacks of those with differing beliefs, especially atheists and agnostics, in the forums?

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   1. 65

      aka-djposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      The answer to your question is a really easy one.
      
      The MAIN reason, and I suppose, the only reason, is that Jesus said He was the ONLY way to (God) the Father. NO MAN comes, but by (through) Him.
      In another place, he called Himself the "door", and that no other door exists!
      
      Your problem, if I can put it so bluntly, is, that no true Christian, (fundie or other) can claim to point the finger, out of self righteousness. I know I don't. I, for one recognise that I'm no better than the next person. I also know and recognise, that based on the standard of God's holiness, I FAIL MISERABLY, and need salvation.
      
      Now, having said that, you have only two options available to you.
      
      Reject the authority, or validity of Jesus' claim, or the trustworthiness of the Bible.
      
      I suppose you have a third option, and that is not to dispute authority and/or validity, but simply reject it anyway.

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      1. 60

         Disappearingheadposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Of course you have determined that Jesus is the only way because you chose to believe the bible or were brought up in a Christian environment. If you had been born in the Middle East you would be on this forum insisting that the only way to God would be to be obedient to the words of Muhammed. Similarly had you been born in Israel over 2000 years ago you would insist that the only way to come to God would be via the law of Moses. We could substitute any religion here and get a very similar claim.
         
         So insist all you want, but you have no way to validate your claim above that of say a Muslim.

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         1. 84

            gmwilliamsposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            He has no claim.  What he believes is only a societal construct.  Disappearinghead, you are succinctly correct in your premise.   If he was born in India,  he would believe that the only way to God was through Hinduism.  No Christianity is NOT the ONLY way but is ONE of many ways to the GODHEAD.

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         2. 65

            aka-djposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            I think you have that backwards.
            
            I believed the claim was true, and because of that I accepted it.
            
            Having done my research into religions, I could have gone for any one of them (technically speaking).
            However, Jesus makes claims no other person did.
            He's the only one attributed with sinlessness, dying for the sin of the world, and rising from the dead.
            All predicted hundreds of years before the event took place.
            
            Even the slightest bit of (honest, genuine) research, by anyone, will reveal the above to be true.
            
            It still comes down to a personal choice to believe, or reject that truth.
            
            So, we are both the same. I chose to believe, and accept Him as Saviour,
            you chose to reject, in the face of such overwhelming evidence.

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            1. 96

               wildernessposted 10 years agoin reply to this

               But the question is why do you believe it?
               
               "Even the slightest bit of (honest, genuine) research, by anyone, will reveal the above to be true."
               
               Can you point to a single source of original evidence, not connected to the bible, that mentions Jesus's crucifixion or resurrection? 
               
               Which is why I ask why do you believe it; there is exactly zero evidence that any of the supernatural events of the bible have any truth in them; why do you believe it anyway?

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2. 78

   Moon Daisyposted 10 years ago

   Yes, I was wondering the same thing while looking through the (sometimes unbelievable) replies to the Christian discussion below.  Disappearinghead, yes, that's a very logical argument which I have used since high school, and that some people are just too blinkered to acknowledge.
   
   At college I was frequently bothered by Christians calling me a heathen and trying to convert me when they found out I'm not Christian myself, so I'm not very sympathetic when people try to do this in any form, including online.  I strongly believe in "live and let live", anything else is just bullying.
   
   I suppose the thing that makes some Christians believe that their way is the only way is the same thing that makes them deny the possibility of evolution, and insist that the world is just a couple of thousand years old, despite all the evidence to the contrary.  (Maybe that's simplistic, I know that not all Christians believe all of these things, but quite a lot do).

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   1. 84

      gmwilliamsposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Oh God, YOU TOO.   It seems that some people are unaccepting of other's beliefs and simply refuse to live and let live.  Some people feel that THEIR belief system is the only legitimate ones and others are heretical by nature!

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      1. 78

         Moon Daisyposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Yes, and I know that it's not just Christians who do this.  I know that people from other religions will also say that it's their way or the high way, (whether or not they actually try to convert you).  People should be able to believe what they want, so long as it doesn't lead to anyone being hurt, but it's the imposing views on others, and the "certainty" that they're right and everybody else is wrong, that is wrong.  (If you get me!)
         
         So many people from different religions are equally "certain" that they are right.  Well, not everybody can be right.  These are just theories, nobody knows for sure anyway.  People need to be more realistic about their so-called "truth", more tolerant of others' beliefs and much less arrogant.

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3. 0

   Emile Rposted 10 years ago

   We've witnessed a plethora of threads where you appear to be ranting against christianity. Care to share the impetus behind the apparent irritation ?

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   1. 84

      gmwilliamsposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Not  ALL Christians believe that Christianity is the only acceptable belief.  However, some Christians believe that their belief system is THE ONLY way.  I find such ideology to be prevalent among the more extreme, conservative, and fundamentalistic elements; however, such do not apply to Liberal Christians.  Sadly, there are SOME Christians who are highly judgmental and exclusive in their relationships to others of differing beliefs.
      

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      1. 60

         Disappearingheadposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Mind you having said all I've said, if we were to universally accept that the claim attributed to Jesus by the gospels writers was correct, that he is indeed the only way to the Father, this statement by absolutely no means validates Christianity as a religion. We can easily interpret this statement that Jesus enabled the way to the Father for all people whatever ever their beliefs or non-beliefs. Christianity is largely a manmade unvalidated construct based upon opinions of men.

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         1. 84

            gmwilliamsposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            Of course it IS. YOU know that and I DEFINITELY know that!  Religion will always be a highly visceral and contentious subject among most of humankind! Some will LOVE, even WORSHIP religion while others will be totally lukewarm towards it, a few can take or leave it while others ABHOR it!  Go figure!  Really, it is fun to discuss religion as each person will have a different perspective on the subject at hand.  C'est la vie!

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         Emile Rposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Ok. How is this bombardment of threads condemning their beliefs any different from their condemnation of other beliefs? I'm getting the same vibe i got from witnessing all of the evolution threads by CJ Simonelli. If contention breeds contention, how is the contention born of it better than its maker? You've drawn a line in the sand in response to their line in the sand. You've made unsupportable claims in response to their unsupportable claims.  Which is your right but, in the final analysis, does this contention make you feel better about your philosophy? About you, as a person? About the world, as a whole?
         
         Basically, are you gaining any level of peace by jonesing over what you think others think and why you think they think it?

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            aka-djposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            Nice call!
            
            I notice it never got answered.

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            1. 0

               Emile Rposted 10 years agoin reply to this

               Um, thanks. But, i think your philosophy is helping breed contention. I guess I could have asked you the same questions, but you didn't start the thread.

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