Preaching Christianity

[Ziggy Stardust]

First thing to realize when talking about Christianity is that it's based on Christ's teachings. Here's the gist of it in a nutshell:
“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

Now this is translated from some ancient lingo but it roughly comes down to:
"Have more empathy for God's sake"

If you want, you may believe he was resurrected and was the son of God but all that stuff really isn't that important to me. Most important is to Love Thy Neighbour.

Thanks for your attention.

Next week, we'll be preaching origami and we will be making a donkey from a sheet of standard A4 printing paper.

Have a nice day

 

[ParadigmShifter]

You do origami with square pieces of paper Ziggy.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

You do origami with square pieces of paper Ziggy.

Thank you ParadigmShifter for illustrating how some people get bogged down over what is "True Origami" and what is "False Origami".

The same thing does happen in Christianity. Best thing to do in those circumstances is smile, nod, agree with them and slowly back away to the nearest door.

Indeed you do ParadigmShifter, indeed you do.

 

[sophie]

You do origami with square pieces of paper Ziggy.

Printer paper isn't square

 

[Ayn Rand]

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

So Saddam Hussein was okay? He killed other people and they killed him.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

So Saddam Hussein was okay? He killed other people and they killed him.

Ayn, Ayn, Ayn

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" not "Do unto others as they do unto you"

 

[nonconformist]

OR, as we in non-demoninational circles would call it, the Golden Rule.

 

[Oruc]

Nope!

 

[Lone Wolf]

Ziggy,

The kind of Christianity you preach is liberastic pinko fluffy bunnies "christianity", that has no relation to True Christianity. True Christianity is all about delivering God's Wrath to those who oppose Him and fire and brimstone.

Have a really bad day, you heathen

Though I like that apparently Ziggy also has a "Preaching Atheism" thread.

 

[Lillefix]

Im pretty sure the gist of Christianity is spread the faith to unbelievers, anything else is fluff

I remember a small comment in my local newspaper a week ago. They'd interviewed a guy from the church and he said something like "Catholicism and secularism is spreading in Poland. They have great need for missionaries[Norwegian lutheran missionaries that is]."

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Ziggy,

The kind of Christianity you preach is liberastic pinko fluffy bunnies "christianity", that has no relation to True Christianity. True Christianity is all about delivering God's Wrath to those who oppose Him and fire and brimstone.

Have a really bad day, you heathen

Yes, you are absolutely right

Though I like that apparently Ziggy also has a "Preaching Atheism" thread.

I'm like totally fair and balanced

Im pretty sure the gist of Christianity is spread the faith to unbelievers, anything else is fluff

I remember a small comment in my local newspaper a week ago. They'd interviewed a guy from the church and he said something like "Catholicism and secularism is spreading in Poland. They have great need for missionaries[Norwegian lutheran missionaries that is]."

Ah yes, False prophets. You can recognise them by their fruityness.

 

[classical_hero]

Quite simply it is preaching that God sent his son to die for our sins.

 

[El_Machinae]

Zig, it's impossible to ignore that Christ's teaching is also to 'love God'. People seem to think that loving God involves defending his name. Now I think that it's morally impossible to love God, because He's quite undeserving, but that's neither here nor there.

All I can say is that I'd spend more time convincing my brothers that my mum didn't slaughter a nation's children (if the evidence proves that she didn't, which it does) than I'd spend time convincing other people that she actually exists. "Our mom killed babies!" is more insulting than "Your mom didn't exist" or "you think your mom's kisses heal bruises, ha ha!".

And the problem with Classical Hero's interpretation (which I believe to be a true one) is that you cannot easily convince people that they've been 'forgiven for being born and eating pork'. There's just not enough evidence to even come close; yeah, I'm wicked for eating lobster, uh huh. And half of the witnesses seem to think that the moral approval of a God that endorsed sexual abuse and baby-stabbing really matters.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Quite simply it is preaching that God sent his son to die for our sins.

Nope.

Just watch me.

Zig, it's impossible to ignore that Christ's teaching is also to 'love God'. People seem to think that loving God involves defending his name. Now I think that it's morally impossible to love God, because He's quite undeserving, but that's neither here nor there.

He may have also taught that, but hey, no one is perfect. Instead of focusing on all kinds of side issues I decided to aim for the center and get right down to the hearth of the matter. I don't have to share his opinion of favourite meals with him either. Christ also taunted and molested an innocent fig-tree. But don't we all have our off-days?

All I can say is that I'd spend more time convincing my brothers that my mum didn't slaughter a nation's children (if the evidence proves that she didn't, which it does) than I'd spend time convincing other people that she actually exists. "Our mom killed babies!" is more insulting than "Your mom didn't exist" or "you think your mom's kisses heal bruises, ha ha!".

If the key to Christianity is proving people God exists, they should have called is Godianity or Yahwehism. Then I get to preach Christianity as Jesus intended. By the way if you combine those two accusations you get: your mom killed babies and she didn't exist. Now, how can anyone respond to that? Best leave the whole God business out of preaching Christianity. It really is not important.

And the problem with Classical Hero's interpretation (which I believe to be a true one) is that you cannot easily convince people that they've been 'forgiven for being born and eating pork'. There's just not enough evidence to even come close; yeah, I'm wicked for eating lobster, uh huh. And half of the witnesses seem to think that the moral approval of a God that endorsed sexual abuse and baby-stabbing really matters.

Ok, lets decide on priorities right here right now.

What is most desirable result when preaching Christianity? What should be it's moral aim.
A. People will be convinced there is a God who has all kinds of weird characteristics attributed to her.
or
B. People will be nicer to each other.

edit: To use Bono as inspiration:

This is the religion false prophets stole from Jesus Christ, tonight we're stealing it back

 

[Gelion]

Advertising is not allowed.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

So Saddam Hussein was okay? He killed other people and they killed him.

I'm fairly sure he didn't want them to kill him...

Christ also taunted and molested an innocent fig-tree.

When did that happen?

 

[Lone Wolf]

What is most desirable result when preaching Christianity? What should be it's moral aim.
A. People will be convinced there is a God who has all kinds of weird characteristics attributed to her.
or
B. People will be nicer to each other.

No matter how "nice" you are, if you don't believe in Jesus, you go to Hell . So, definitely A. And God is not weird, you blasphemous heathen!

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

When did that happen?

Matthew 21:18-22

Early in the morning, as he was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, "May you never bear fruit again!" Immediately the tree withered.

When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. "How did the fig tree wither so quickly?" they asked.

Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

Mark 11:12-14, 19-25

The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard him say it.

When evening came, they went out of the city.

In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!"

"Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, `Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."

No matter how "nice" you are, if you don't believe in Jesus, you go to Hell . So, definitely A.

If you're not nice you also go to hell, if such a place were to exist

And God is not weird, you blasphemous heathen![/I]

If you have seen the documentary Dogma, you'd know God is plenty weird. But weird in a good way.

 

[Lillefix]

The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard him say it.

If I were Marcus, I would have quitely edited this entire episode out of the gospel. It's a bit embarassing for Jesus.

 

[DroopyTofu]

I disagree that the resurection isn't important. It's the most important thing in Christianity. Here's what most Christians of all denominations can usually agree on:

I believe in God the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth:
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord,
Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
Born of the Virgin Mary,
Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, dead, and buried:
He descended into hell;
The third day he rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost;
The holy Catholick Church;
The Communion of Saints;
The Forgiveness of sins;
The Resurrection of the body,
And the Life everlasting.
Amen.