If we are to treat our neighbors kindly and the word of God and Jesus is a word of love, then is to hate a sin?
If you hate evil then that most certainly is not a sin.
By your statement, then yes. I would say hate is considered sin.
If one loves oneself it is not possible to hate another.
it's funny. I must have been taught wrong all of those years that I was a believer. I always thought it was "hate the sin, demonstrate love for the sinner by telling them they're going to roast forever, insulting, name-calling, hounding and annoying them through fear until they agree with you and repent/convert"
JMcFarland, your statement is so true that is not even funny! But it is funny at the same time in the way that you sure hit the nail on the head! I've seen this very thing done to people so many times, that if they disagree with Christians or believe differently in any way, they then are open target for needing conversion via any means necessary! I always find it shocking that people believe that if they do these things to unbelievers or sinners (in their eyes), or what have you, that it's going to HELP them!?! I understand that they think it's their duty, but it hardly spreads the word of love, welcome, and acceptance that they claim they are defending. I honestly believe that some Christians abuse this "right" and get a power kick out of feeling justified to judge and belittle others and use the Bible as their defense. I do not think that is what the Bible really teaches or was ever meant to be used in such manner and way. I just do not know why they cannot see that, to some or perhaps even many, their bashing, insulting, instilling fear helps no one and often pushes them away even more! Ugh, like nails on a chalk board to me! Thanks for the chuckle
JM, Im curious. When you were raised in a missionary group, what were you taught was the motive for sharing the gospel? Have the believers you encountered on this site called you names or is this from a different experience?
Beth, when I was in Africa, I was feeding, clothing and digging Wells for fresh water for people who had never heard the name Jesus before.
Evangelicals in America seem completely incapable of understanding or accepting that they're not actually teaching anyone (at least adults) anything. We all know the story. We've heard it a billion times. WE just don't believe it. Some people believe other religions, and that's okay to. Repeating and proselytizing and saying the same thing over and over and over again is an annoyance, not a successful conversion tactic.
And yes, I have been called some horrible names by some Christians on HubPages. Repeatedly.
I think that's lovely that you did that for the ppl of Africa, but what my question was, what did they tell you was the motive?
I'm sorry ppl have called you names. I don't understand that.
As far as hearing the same msg. over and over, the msg. doesn't really change so if you don't want to hear it, you have the option to avoid it.
The motive was to help and feed purple who were near starving. Sharing the gospel was secondary.
You don't understand, Beth. Every time I tel someone I'm an atheist, I get flooded with church invitations. They immediately begin proselytizing. They email, they call, they knock on my door. I choose to have conversations in the forums, so I don't hold those attempts against anyone since I'm actively participating, but its not as easy to avoid as you suggest.
Actually, some messages can change depending on the definition of the word as well as the context of the situation in which the message is conveyed.
For example, If I say "Beth, You look hot," there are two possible messages I could be conveying. I could be saying either "Beth, you look like your body temperature appears to be elevated" or I could be saying "Beth, you look really attractive".
When you tell someone "Repent and believe or you're facing Hell", you feel that you are doing it out of love of your fellow man as in saying "I truly care for you and want you to get to heaven". However, to some of the atheists you are giving an angry threat and saying "You're gonna burn in hell for all of your sins". Which is why you are getting the comments of extortion from Rad Man and others.
Depending on your frame of mind and the conversation, it can be seen as a heartfelt warning done out of love or a judgmental threat done out of anger
Unfortunately, that is not an option considering evangelists will force their beliefs upon us regardless, there is no getting away from it.
The only solution is for evangelists to shut up.
Why can't you get away from evangelists?
I think you are being dishonest ATM. I think you CAN avoid the evangelists very easily.
Because, they really, really, really want to be heard and will do pretty much anything to make sure they are heard, no matter how many folks don't want to hear them.
I await your solutions.
There is a difference between being able to get away from evangelists and avoiding them altogether. In real life, it is difficult to avoid evangelists altogether because (depending on where you live) some evangelists (of various faiths) go knocking door to door on a weekly (if not more frequently)basis. Where I live, JW's visit every thursday, Mormons on Saturday, and tuesdays it varies. Then you have those people that randomly approach you on the street to evangelize to you. Barring that, you also have the churches that have purchased airtime on television. So realistically, one can't avoid them totally and live a functional life, but you can turn off the tv or express disinterest if approached and go along your way
Hmmm. I live out in the middle of nowhere, never had any of that happen. Except for the jw's and mormons. But they leave me alone now:)
They leave me alone too, but that does not translate to others. I still occasionally get flyers and JW magazines on my door. I live in the city
I have had many encounters with these groups that left them frustrated and wanting to end the conversation. Usually found in pairs, what is most upsetting to them is when you make a point that gets one of the two thinking and the other panics in an effort to get them out of there before it goes any further.
In one Mormon example, they approached me in a grocery parking lot and in a few minutes one "elder" was dragging the other away by the arm.
My most entertaining encounter, however was with JWs. An older man and a young man, perhaps in his late teens or early 20s, approached me at a truck stop. I asked them questions, and using their own bible interpretation was showing them it indicated Jesus was, and claimed to be God. Not knowing how to respond, the older fellow told me to leave them alone and headed for his car, but the younger one was listening and obviously interested in hearing more. We walked together toward their car and the older one came back yelling at me to leave him alone and hurried the younger fellow into the car. Through the window as they drove away, I could clearly see the confusion on the face of the young man, presumably regarding the bazaar behavior of the elder, who was so agitated in response to a very calm and reasoned exchange.
Now, you know the reason why evangelists are few and far in betwixt as far as you're concerned.
But then, so much more is not within ones grasp to understand or experience when they live out in the middle of nowhere.
And, while that most certainly is a viable solution to not hear evangelists, it isn't one in which I should be forced to undertake simply because they want to be heard.
OK. I agree to your point that they Do intrude, now that I've thought about it more:)
However, you need to grow a couple and stop being such a wuss.
Man up time.
There will always be things in this world that you don't like. You learn to deal, or you will be miserable.
Be careful.. This is pretty close to a personal attack
I thought you had a good point. I'm beginning to think atheists are just simply very polite people who don't know how to say 'I'm not interested'. That always works for me. And, it works on every type of sales calls. Not just religious ones.
Atheists may know how to say "I'm not interested", but what happens when they do yet evangelists (especially the more fanatical ones) keep trying to talk and press the issue? I (A Christian) have told JW's and mormons repeatedly that I'm not interested before and have had some continue to follow me to push their agenda then basically condemn me for not being willing to listen to their truth
Then you tell them to leave your property or you will sue for trespassing and harassment.
I agree with that as it regards people coming to my home
That's your solution?
Typical, a believer creates conflict by evangelizing and your solution is to counter with more conflict.
No wonder religions cause so much of it.
And what is YOUR solution?
From the man who doesn't like conflict:P
The solution is simple, evangelists should keep their religion behind closed doors where it belongs and not out in public. No problems. No conflicts. Everyone's happy.
There are a lot of "shoulds" that don't happen in this world. As long as they aren't invading your space, they are not doing anything wrong. People have the freedom of speech. Like in public forums. Do you protest people speaking their minds in places like Hubpages and other open online forums?
I tolarate your lack of any human empathy, close-mindedness and childlike schoolyard bullying. You need to learn to tolerate the views and people that you don't like as well.
Evangelists ARE invading my "space." Isn't that clear to you, yet?
Evangelists abuse that right.
Evangelism and speakings ones mind are usually two different things, or isn't that clear, either?
I tolerate those lies.
You still don't get it. This has nothing to do with people I like or dislike. Your fallacies are piling higher and higher.
Even evangelists can come on a PUBLIC FORUM and SAY WHAT THEY WANT within the rules of each particular forum. That is "free speech" within each forum's rules. What don't YOU get about that?
If you don't like it, you can not visit the forum. that option is open for you? This isn't YOUR SPACE.
The only time evangelists can possibly invade your space is if they come to your home. And in that case, there are legal means to deal with that.
Evangelism is the abuse of "free speech" - you still don't get that.
So, evangelists should be able to abuse their freedoms and if we don't like that, we can hit the road.
Funny how you admit that after stating the above. Contradict much?
I don't have that problem, but I simply tell them I don't believe any of it and they've been hoodwinked. From the start. They walk away fairly quickly. I do think people think the need to be polite over rides the right to be left alone. I don't share that philosophy. If I politely said no they'd be like any other salesperson. They would keep selling.
And, I don't care if someone 'condemns me'. They only condemn themselves by the act.
That would be a funny joke if it was funny.
Most likely. And the vast majority of Conservatives are overflowing with it.
That was a bit of the point I was hoping to make
Oh come on Liberals are haters as well.
of course! I fully agree! I don't have anything against conservatives, I just dislike it (hate maybe?) when the bible is used to justify hate, especially when it is a book which is meant to support love.
This may be true, but my (lack of) religion doesn't penalize me for doing so.
Nothing should! It's a personal journey to discover the path of love. The only one penalizing should be the self, and done so appropriately
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Some people believe a multitude of reasons why people suffer with different health conditions. Do you believe a person suffer as some result of sin? Personally, I do not believe suffering is equal to sin.What I can not understand is why do innocent children suffer with conditions such as...
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You should be absolutely christian or the christians will absolutely chastize you. They talk about love, but they seem to hate more.
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I no longer can imagine hating anyone since Childhood.How can a Christian hate 10% of our World's population and still love Jesus, both at the same time?
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