Moderator Action: This is going away from the 2024 election. Do we need a thread on the persecution of Christians?
Christianity in America
- Thread starter Core Imposter
- Start date
Akka
Moody old mage.
People stopping to believe in fairy tales is not "extermination" mate, especially as it's not forced on them.
You need to get out and touch grass.
The statistics you cite have Christianity going from 90% at some point in the undefined past, to 70% currently. That isn't "extermination" or anything close.
Gori the Grey
The Poster
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2009
- Messages
- 13,356
Well, maybe,* because I at least need some place to say back to @Core Imposter that that "extermination of Christians" is being done at the hands of Christians and by the insidious means of their not identifying as Christians any more. If the Christian message has stopped appealing to the same number of people, we just need to evangelize more effectively. American Christians aren't owed some percentage of the overall population as adherents.
*though it would be a train wreck.
Last edited:
Core Imposter
Felon
- Joined
- May 13, 2011
- Messages
- 5,407
Actually, all of that was accomplished by kicking God out of the schools. It was a direct result of liberal politics. We send kids to school and tell them to mind their teachers and what happens? But we need to get back on topic here. And we can by linking this issue to the presidential election. If God be willing a Republican victory may result in reversing other bad SCOTUS decisions in the future and God might be magnified once more in America. I doubt it but it is worth mentioning. Today however, is speech day.
I think the funniest thing is trying to dunk on Biden over supporting abortion, a thing he has repeatedly said he doesn't actually support personally.
There's less "funny" generally here, and more "oh, hey, actual cult language". Like on "kicking God out of the schools", buddy I have something to say about "the separation of Church and state". Pretty sure that predates @Core Imposter's apparent need to support Trump against the evil God-hating Democrats by a few hundred years.
There's less "funny" generally here, and more "oh, hey, actual cult language". Like on "kicking God out of the schools", buddy I have something to say about "the separation of Church and state". Pretty sure that predates @Core Imposter's apparent need to support Trump against the evil God-hating Democrats by a few hundred years.
Klaus Hergersheimer
Emperor
What's the point of this thread?
Lexicus
Deity
His refusal to fully commit to abortion rights (yes we want "abortion on demand" since the opposite of that is "abortion is banned") is construed by most normal people not as evidence of his high-minded moderation but of delusional old age and unfitness for the office
Core Imposter
Felon
- Joined
- May 13, 2011
- Messages
- 5,407
This thread was created, as best I can tell, to contain my remarks and give folks a place to poke the bear. But hopefully it can be put to a better use.
Oh, I just thought it was hypocrisy. And / or consistency with regards to personal opinion vs. party platform. It could be all three though.
Remorseless1
Emperor
- Joined
- Jan 24, 2022
- Messages
- 1,214
I am wondering the same thing.
Religion is often used as justification for all sorts of terrible things. The "uneasiness" Christians feel is far more centered on demographics. By 2050 if not sooner, white will no longer be the majority race. And there's a segment of whites are terrified that non-whites will band together and do to whites what whites did to blacks, indigenous people, Hispanics, Asians, etc. for centuries. Cloaking their cult in Christianity is marketing, no more. White nationalists and conservative evangelicals are natural bedfellows as both favor maintaining white control over politics, economics, and culture.
Lexicus
Deity
Biden’s Latest Abortion Fumble Is Particularly Distressing
The president has never strongly supported abortion access personally, and it shows.
Honestly this is a lot likelier than Gaza to cost him the election given that abortion is basically the one issue where Democrats have a big advantage over Republicans in the polling. Turns out very few Americans are actually freaks who want to torture and kill women for the crime of getting pregnant.
Moderator Action: The conversation began in the 2024 election tread and gained legs (30 posts) of its own such that it diverged from election talk into a more general conversation about Christianity. So I split it off.
Last edited:
aelf
Ashen One
Christianity is probably a net negative force in the world today. Even more so in the past.
Its "extermination" will benefit a whole lot of people.
Its "extermination" will benefit a whole lot of people.
Core Imposter
Felon
- Joined
- May 13, 2011
- Messages
- 5,407
I do want to say that all the talk of Christian Nationalism and racism does not square with the churches I've attended or the members. I am sure that some of you who have never attended church with me or any of these people will not agree.
Core Imposter
Felon
- Joined
- May 13, 2011
- Messages
- 5,407
Turns out very few Christians are actually freaks who want to torture and kill women for the crime of getting pregnant.Biden’s Latest Abortion Fumble Is Particularly Distressing
The president has never strongly supported abortion access personally, and it shows.slate.com
Honestly this is a lot likelier than Gaza to cost him the election given that abortion is basically the one issue where Democrats have a big advantage over Republicans in the polling. Turns out very few Americans are actually freaks who want to torture and kill women for the crime of getting pregnant.
But I strongly agree this is the place Biden can make up ground because the false narratives around pro-life positions terrify many. Including the many that just get terrified for the sake of getting terrified.
Now, I am certainly not saying that there aren't truly horrible positions out there among Republicans on abortion. There are, and they and the block heads who come up with it should be righty wacked. The best stance on abortion is to make it a state issue (from the GOP POV). Biden should be agile enough to push back on the worst state ideas. As a political matter.
I will not give him a pass on the sin itself, he is a supporter. And, if my labelling abortion as a sin is offensive, beg pardon. My intent is not to offend. I am simply being consistent with my faith and the text that supports it. I acknowledge other positions.
Last edited:
Core Imposter
Felon
- Joined
- May 13, 2011
- Messages
- 5,407
Although, I do also recognize that many Catholics and Christians split hairs on abortion and other sin issues in a genuine attempt straddle the fence and be offensive to no one. I can find no secular indictment against them. Most mean well.
PPQ_Purple
Purple Cube (retired)
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2008
- Messages
- 5,764
I have been reading this thread now and it got me thinking. So I have to ask a question directed specifically to any believing Christians here.
Just a disclaimer first though. I am not religious. Specifically I was not raised religious or in circumstances where I could be exposed to high degrees of christian religiosity. So only familiar with your scriptures through what I've personally looked into them in my spare time out of idle interest. And thus I might be getting all this very wrong. This being said, please entertain my thoughts here for a moment because this is a serious question. I am not trolling or anything.
From my understanding Christianity teaches that basically there are two possible afterlives, these being heaven and hell. One is a place of reward and the other a place of punishment. And our life on earth is basically a big testing ground to see where you end up after death. So basically you are born, you go through life being tested and when you die God tallies up the score and decides where to send you. These tests are called temptations and the objective is to pass them by not giving in. And if you fail the test that's called a sin.
So for example if I see a pretty girl walking around in skimpy clothing I am tempted by the sin of lust. And I can either think lustful thoughts about her thus getting a negative point or resist that urge and ignore her thus getting a positive point. Same for say greed or envy or wrath or whatever. If someone keeps trying to make me angry and I don't fall for it than I have passed the wrath test and get +1 to my score. And if I punch him in the face instead than I have failed the wrath test and get -1.
Obviously there is more depth to this with some sins being worse than others and there being many rules etc. But basically this seems to be the general gist of things. Also the points are a metaphor. I don't believe you actually think God keeps score like that. But it's a metaphor I use to get my point across.
And this is where we get to my question. Why do Christians, and indeed adherents of other abrahamic religions seek to create societies where sinning is illegal? I mean, from my perspective if you see life as a series of tests and your objective is to meet a high score to impress god so as to earn a reward in the afterlife than surely you should do the exact opposite. You should immerse your self in places and cultures with as much temptation as possible so as to maximize the amount of tests you receive. Because the more times you are tempted the more chances you have to pass, demonstrate your devotion to gods rules and thus earn those points. And also, wouldn't God be much more impressed if you succeeded on a test that is hard like being a good Christian in a very antichristian society than a test that was easy like being one in a society where everyone is like that anyway?
If you just go through life living in a society where there is no temptation because anything that could tempt you has been made illegal won't you just reach the finish line to find god looking at a blank score sheet? And if you deliberately seek out to create and maintain such a society is that not the religious equivalent of rigging the test? I mean, won't God get angry that you basically cheated?
EDIT: I just saw there is also a bible talk thread. Maybe this should be moved there.
Just a disclaimer first though. I am not religious. Specifically I was not raised religious or in circumstances where I could be exposed to high degrees of christian religiosity. So only familiar with your scriptures through what I've personally looked into them in my spare time out of idle interest. And thus I might be getting all this very wrong. This being said, please entertain my thoughts here for a moment because this is a serious question. I am not trolling or anything.
From my understanding Christianity teaches that basically there are two possible afterlives, these being heaven and hell. One is a place of reward and the other a place of punishment. And our life on earth is basically a big testing ground to see where you end up after death. So basically you are born, you go through life being tested and when you die God tallies up the score and decides where to send you. These tests are called temptations and the objective is to pass them by not giving in. And if you fail the test that's called a sin.
So for example if I see a pretty girl walking around in skimpy clothing I am tempted by the sin of lust. And I can either think lustful thoughts about her thus getting a negative point or resist that urge and ignore her thus getting a positive point. Same for say greed or envy or wrath or whatever. If someone keeps trying to make me angry and I don't fall for it than I have passed the wrath test and get +1 to my score. And if I punch him in the face instead than I have failed the wrath test and get -1.
Obviously there is more depth to this with some sins being worse than others and there being many rules etc. But basically this seems to be the general gist of things. Also the points are a metaphor. I don't believe you actually think God keeps score like that. But it's a metaphor I use to get my point across.
And this is where we get to my question. Why do Christians, and indeed adherents of other abrahamic religions seek to create societies where sinning is illegal? I mean, from my perspective if you see life as a series of tests and your objective is to meet a high score to impress god so as to earn a reward in the afterlife than surely you should do the exact opposite. You should immerse your self in places and cultures with as much temptation as possible so as to maximize the amount of tests you receive. Because the more times you are tempted the more chances you have to pass, demonstrate your devotion to gods rules and thus earn those points. And also, wouldn't God be much more impressed if you succeeded on a test that is hard like being a good Christian in a very antichristian society than a test that was easy like being one in a society where everyone is like that anyway?
If you just go through life living in a society where there is no temptation because anything that could tempt you has been made illegal won't you just reach the finish line to find god looking at a blank score sheet? And if you deliberately seek out to create and maintain such a society is that not the religious equivalent of rigging the test? I mean, won't God get angry that you basically cheated?
EDIT: I just saw there is also a bible talk thread. Maybe this should be moved there.
Been to Church significantly more than once, can confirm it doesn't magically stop people from being racist.
Skwink
FRIIIIIIIIIITZ
- Joined
- May 14, 2010
- Messages
- 5,688
Sure but I think a Department or a Ministry would be most beneficial
