...I used to read this character 'Judge Dread,' in Heavy Metal, but that was way back in the day, (before Stallone got him as a movie... a bad movie at that...)

Sometimes I wish I had my hairs back... (it used to be halfway down my back...) It would be nice to have something to swing around when stomping to 'Living Color,' or the 'Spear song mentioned ('light up your lighter,') especially when the bridge kicks in... (THAT song is monster.)

What a great and well thought out post. I can tell you didn't JUST think about it for the sake of posting, but have thought about it a great amount of time throughout your life. Aside from accepting Haile Selassie I as the second coming of Christ in H.I.M.'s kingly character, you are truly a Rastaman, even if ya dun know it! Mi jus gwaan call yuh 'Jesus Dread' from now on! :o)

-s

woke up early this AM, after staring at the ceiling thinking of the stuff I needed to do, I finally rousted, (the cats were playing knock-hockey with my nose anyway...)

Grinded up and brewed some March 23rd CostaRica beans (they've been sitting in a plastic baggie inside the paper sacks you guys cut them loose in, (keeps in flavor...)

-very very balanced brew this time, sort of brazil-nutty, but not as 'attitude,' as the Sidamo... (the disposition evens out when you let the beans just calm down... and set for a while...)

--heard neighbors up and down the alleyway openning up windows, nostrils flared like bloodhounds scoping the aroma of it brewing (still use a Mr.Coffee Drip,) it sits by the window in my kitchen that overlooks the patio/shop.

---by the sounds of the groggy remarks I was hearing you would have thought it was Cheech and Chong outside an Entenmann's discount store...

Threw on some Glenn Gould, sat here in my sweats slurping some java, chomping on toast with butter and honey...

Life is good, gentlemen, (and ladies,) life is good, thanks for being a part of it...

It takes a big man to stand behind his principle and acknowledge shortcomings of any kind. Props to you.

The Dalai Lama was asked once what happens when he gets asked a question he does not know the answer to. He stated he simply says he does not know the answer. No one knows it all and there is no reason to sit and point about you(anyone) not knowing this or that reason, but be open to potential reason.

On a more fundamental level, prayer is a moment of peace and self reflection. No too unlike meditation. Anyone who sits in peace and thinks about anything to any depth is going to come away either at more peace or with more insight.

Diablo

Spleece...

I think you raise some really valid Concerns.
I think Diablo does as well.
I think myself and other believers who happen to be followers of Christ really need to listen to others and their views.

--as well as be aware of how we come across.

Some of your concerns I can address point by point, some are trends that they fall into, none of this is meant to launch an airstrike on any beliefs, nor fellow Christians.

-Hyprocracy? yep... it needs to be gone, (no room for that,) but sometimes you need to address the roots and wants it to go there.

Here we go.

'Among Fundamentalist Christians the majority of the population falls into this category...'

---what constitutes a Fundamentalist Christian?
Simply stated, a Fundamentalist is one who believes in a very simplified version of something in it's purest form. (That's a fundamentalist anything.)

I happen to be a Fundamentalist Christian... (surprised?)
---though my fellow believers may consider me to be a complete liberal, and compromised in a lot of areas:
I still happen to be a fundamentalist...
-How can that be?

--Fundamentalists believe in the core beliefs and sayings of something. I happen to view Scripture, (the Bible,) as 'of God.' --I even go after that new thing the Catholics have been raving about the past thousand or so years,
-the apocrypha (most protestants don't.)
---but to me I feel that the fundamental thing of Christianity is a direct relationship with God, and that such will happen as it's laid out in Scripture, (according to those terms.)

---It's highly personal, but notice, it's basically God, Bible, Life, okay, we're good to go... (no frills, no filler.)

----Notice all the stuff that is missing???

--that's because there are different denoms and social constructs that have been added in through time, but basically I will always ascribe (and trust... usually prefer, actualy,) somebody sit down with a Bible that they can understand (not everybody digs the King James or the Revised Standard Version,) --read it, pray about it, ask God to show them what he wants them to know, and then chew on it...
-No middle man, no third party, just somebody and their Bible... (God can handle explaining Himself just fine...)

"Top Ten Signs You're a Fundamentalist Christian"

10 '-You vigorously deny the existence of thousands of gods claimed by other religions, but feel outraged when someone denies the existence of yours.'

A.) Actually, I don't deny other gods are in existance, -the Bible doesn't either... In fact back during the first century Church, (and earlier,) it was extremely common for people to have gods. (Folks were a lot more honest about worshipping one god or another, and usually had representations of said gods around... Even St. Paul, in addressing the town at Mars Hill spoke to people about His God, also the God of the Jews, and thought that it was extremely open minded and cool that they had a pedestal set up for 'the Unknown God.'

People become defensive and attack when they feel threatened.
I totally agree that (even in a governmental sense,) we've lately begun to threaten most of what the founding fathers wanted here in the U.S. (separation of Church and State,)
--The colonists felt strongly that it should not be a situation like England where the Church of England (strangely enough, my team,) controlled everything, (govt. finances, etc..)
--and felt very strongly that each person should have the freedom to worship their own god, (or lack therof,) in their own way, and not be threatened nor forced to serve someone elses god, --nor interpretation of 'god.'
---The idea is that each person should know who their god is, (which means probably knowing 'why' they serve that god, and Christians should also respect that such is the case.. -Again, St. Paul didn't make fun of other people's beliefs, ---he discussed their relationships with them, heard them out, presented his feelings about what he knew, -but didn't attack, ---nor feel attacked when others 'didn't get him,' (He was beat up a lot, and thrown in prison a lot, -but he didn't pick on others for their beliefs... He was an interesting guy...

What has happened in the church to a great extent is:
-Often they don't know what they believe in, nor why.
The sad fact of it is: most Christians don't read their Bibles. (And Christianity is based upon these teachings...)
-When you don't know why you believe what you do? Everything is a threat.
Responding in anger is wrong.
Just like any form of prejudice and oppression is usually based upon fear and ignorance, --a Christian who feels threatened by people 'not giving props to their God,' totally misses the point.
We are not 'building a Christian world, a Christian country, a Christian county... (nope,) we happen to be living here, (as Christians,) for a while, and are actually told NOT to claim turf down here, as the earth is here for us to care for, but is temporal.

'9. - You feel insulted and "dehumanized" when scientists say that people evolved from other life forms, but you have no problem with the Biblical claim that we were created from dirt.'

A.) Again, most Christians don't usually understand the fineries of science.
-Another factor is this:
Among some branches of Christianity: if you believe in anything that is counter to the main teachings (of that denom, or that particular church,) ---you are on the outs. (This is wrong as well, and encourages 'herd mentality.')
---A lot of other beliefs and social constructs fall to this as well, it's kind of human behavior (sometimes at it's worst.)

I personally happen to believe that creation happened a lot quicker than most dating techniques spell out.., (It's sort of like God made this terrarium out of nothing and (if you could envision something like 'bladerunner,' where 'bots were built with memories that really weren't theres? There was a time where fish were swimming up brand new streams fulfilling an instinct that (they) were the first to be doing...
-Now, that's my own personal take on it, and I realize that there is not a whole lot of evidence to support it.
--I also happen to believe in micro-evolution, --and have seen plenty of evidence to support it.
(For example: lets suppose the story of the Great Flood is real... -how are you going to get all the different types of horse in the boat? Dogs? Bugs?
-But if you consider that there could be one pair of 'dog,' --and others have mutated up and down according to breeding, climate, use, (stuff like that...) it's not such a stretch...

-Now, this does not challange creationsist theory... (but a lot of Christians freak out at the word 'Evolution.' ---But, again, that's sort of a knee jerk reaction. (Again, we as Christians are taught to be wise as serpents, and yet as gentle as doves...)
---that means understanding stuff with wisdom and really studying up on things, (the sciences, etc...) and really thinking, not just reacting... ---the gentle as doves part??? LOTS of work needed on that.

What I DO have issues with (and this would be from a religious or non religious perspective,) would be when pseudo science in terms of anything is introduced and given the same cred. as fact.
-Despite what you may think, science is not imperical,,, the reporting of scientific study is not 'neutral,' ---and just like you can make numbers lie and say different things, ---you can do such with science as well...
-To me, a lot of the creationist theory makes more sense than a lot of the claims made in terms of evolutionary theory...
Evolution is not even a theory, either, it cannot be tested, it falls outside the catagory of what 'theory means,' --and therefore is just another idea.
Okay-fine, it's an idea, but to say it's fact? Not cool. Let things fall as they will and present the facts, ---if we don't know, we don't know...

What is really wild?
So often the people who set out to dispell creationist theory, (that somebody actually designed everything, and that there was a creator, not just random selection,) ---a lot of them wind up believing more in creationism, -as the evidence points towards somebody building this whole deal...

'8 - You laugh at polytheists, but you have no problem believing in a Triune God.'

A.) -Again, Christians should understand polytheism, (or they should.)
What Christians believe in is not polytheism (as is defined by the term.)
-Poly-theism means 'separate' 'many gods' 'combined,' (kind of like a ball team or X-Men.) ---sometimes even more loosely associated than that. Many gods are many different individual gods, some with powers, some not...

Christianity claims MonoTheism, (One God, in three parts.)
---Now, the difference?
Christianity believes that this One God is expressed (made known to us,) in three distinct parts. (Father(Creator,) Son (Christ,) and Holy Spirit.)
-They all have the same abilities, all have the same attributes, same mind, intent, heart, and are all the same God,
-They just have appealed to creation in different mannerisms.

-Is this going to make sense?
Probably not.
It's considered one of the great mysteries, but it's not 'Three Different Gods,'
---as they all have the same mind, all the same intent, -and all the same heart towards (people,) and such
---and anyone who has read the Bible will be able to show where the same verbage and communication took place via any of the three...
(Problem: again, -most Christians don't know these passages.) Most of the time Christ is quoting his Father in the Old Testament, or the writings of the Holy Spirit, ---they really (the Triune God,) NEVER act independently... (they don't oppose each other.)

---'Laughing at polytheism,'
---that's a behavioral thing, (arrocance, and being rude.... It's wrong.)
We're not supposed to be laughing at anybody, laughing at someone elses beliefs is not something we'er supposed to be doing, (being humble, kind, etc... that's more like it.)

'7 - Your face turns purple when you hear of the "atrocities" attributed to Allah, but you don't even flinch when hearing about how God/Jehovah slaughtered all the babies of Egypt in "Exodus" and ordered the elimination of entire ethnic groups in "Joshua" including women, children, and trees!'

A.) You left out animals buildings, any sort of possessions, etc.
Yeah, this is hard. Sometimes there were 'spoils,' usually, it was scorched earth (literally.)

There clearly are passages in the scriptures where (pre-Christ,) the followers of God were instructed to completely wipe out their enemies.

-There have been a lot of speculations (based upon historical data,) that suggest the following.
-Apparently some of these other peoples were into religious practices that included worship acts (which included,) such things as bestiality, and other practices that had these folks in extremely unhealthy (as in: viral,) conditions.
-Also, their practices (usually,) involved orgies and sexual acts, (temple prostitutes (male and female,) etc...)

-So, because of the likelyhood of there being crossinfection, and that these were 'enemies,' of 'God's People,' (Israel,) they were told to destroy them.

---Were these other peoplegroups a bunch of girlscouts slaughtered by Joshua's marauders? Hardly.
Most of the groups that were attacked and wiped out were noted for the follwing things:
-Practices that started from very young that spread diseases.
-Practices that called for the destruction of all who did not follow their own, (so there was likely 'attack,' on the children of Israel from within down the road, (revenge-retribution not too far down the road by anyone left alive.)
-A lot of these groups/people (the Ninevites in Jonah, for example) were so horrendous , that if a city/state or nation (nations were smaller, kind of like the City/States of China or Russia,)
---the cities that they were attcking would commit mass suicide rather than be subjected to what THESE attacking groups were going to do to them.
(It wasn't a matter of pride, it was more of a mercykill on your whole house, town, people, ---as some of these attacking groups worshipped and followed gods that were into really really twisted and sick stuff.)

What needs to be understood, however, is that when a nation was attacked (or a city wiped out,) it was (again, usually,) only after they were told that they were being approached,
-asked if they were for or against the children of Israel.
---If they said no?
then they were considered as enemies,

If they were for and were willing to live peacefully? no problem.

(There are people in Christ's direct lineage who are from groups that were not of the children of Israel, who came from this sort of situation, one (Rahab,(from Joshua,) and Ruth, two examples.

Even more important?
Christ.

-The message and motive of the Church and the followers of God was very much clarified with Christ.
--Again, wheras the disciples were told at one point to go out with a sword for protection,
---Christ later sends them out to spread a message of hope and peace, and heal folks, --and leave any weapons behind.
-We are in a 'post' Christ Era...

-That means, wheras there may have been some practices that happened (in the Old Testament for example,) that may have seemed a bit strange, (polygamous marriage, for example, the owning of slaves, etc..)
---We are to look at the model of what was made clearer through Christ, -and Christ wasn't about killing others, he was about healing.

Modern Christians have different takes on this.
-Some are complete passifists
-Others feel that it's okay to defend your country and people when attacked.

None are meant to take life unjustly, and nowhere in the NewTestament are followers of God told to wipe out nations and such.

'6 - You laugh at Hindu beliefs that deify humans, and Greek claims about gods sleeping with women, but you have no problem believing that the Holy Spirit impregnated Mary, who then gave birth to a man-god who got killed, came back to life and then ascended into the sky.'

A.) Again, your main point is that somebody is laughing at these other beliefs?
We're not supposed to be laughing at people.

-Do I believe in the virgin birth? Sure.
I believe God could have created man out of dirt all over again, (interestingly enough, btw, the same elements of dirt, are the same elements of the human body..., just add water... funny, huh...)

-But I have no problem with the Holy Spirit impregnating Mary.
It's kind of strange, but I've been around more people who have gotten pregnant, (or have not been able to get pregnant,) when everything should have been a 'go,' even when there are two healthy people involved... Birth is sort of a miracle even today...

I do not believe in Immaculate Conception,
(NOT) the same as the virgin birth.)
---the difference?

-Virgin Birth was (yes,) the creation of 'the God-Man,'
--Mary still 'needed a savior' (and acknowledges this relationship during the Magnificat and throughout Christ's life.
As do all people (if the Bible is true.)
'Immaculate Conception' means that, by having the Christ, Mary was exhonerated and 'saved' through this act, it also means that she went back to becoming a virgin after the birth of Christ, and never had any other kids.
-(Again, Fundamental) Christianity views salvation as a gift, given by God to each person, not based upon any act or thing done by an individual or group, (saying that Mary having Jesus warranted her salvation would be the same as saying she earned it...)

-I still think Mary is tremendously blessed among women, and was a spectacular person,
-but not Deified by her role in God's plan.
(I also believe, based upon the scriptures that she had other kids via Joseph after Christ was born (they are mentioned later on in the scriptures, and two of them James and Jude have brief books in the Bible,
-I am of the persuasion that these were the little half brothers of Christ..) -Again these are my beliefs based upon the language and historical data.

'5 - You are willing to spend your life looking for little loopholes in the scientifically established age of Earth (few billion years), but you find nothing wrong with believing dates recorded by Bronze Age tribesmen sitting in their tents and guessing that Earth is a few generations old.'

A.) Honestly? I don't know what to do with this comment...
Yes, there is evidence that there has been micro (not macro,) evolution.
(You will not find missing links, they don't exist, and even darwinsism and the study of evolution points out that mutated anything has a hard time getting a date,
-let alone reproducing,
(most mutants die off, and mutating 'up,' (as in adapting and improving,) is kind of a limited exorcise...)

-Regarding the 'loophole finding.'
--What you are referring to is what's called 'Legalism.'
-It's found in all beliefs, and it's a miserable exorcise.

Christians, however, are not called into a severe 'higher level,' of following to the letter of the law, but into Grace.

-In fact, when the First Century Church was being laid out (by St. Paul, St. Peter, St. John,) and they were writing to the newer churches (this is after the Resurrection,)
-The question came up '...so should the goys (gentiles,) follow the same rules as the Jews?'
-the answer was no... it was greatly simplified, and the trend was away from a bunch of rules and ritual.

---In fact, the First Century Church Fathers, when writing to churches that were comprised of folks from a 'pre-Christian,' (pre-Christ,) era, ---they were really serious about NOT being legalists.
St. Paul, (who was an unreal 'letter-of-the-law,' sort of guy, chewed out St. Peter (another leader,) because Peter had fallen back (again,) into 'legalism,' and ritual -and it was seriously affecting the church and teaching others to get trapped in these laws.

---the Emphasis (again,) is one of a person with God, and listening and acting out based upon what God tells them... (not telling others what to do, and spending most of our time sticking our noses in other's business...)

It's a major theme, in fact with Christians.
My being a Christian is not about me telling anybody else what to do. (Surprise,)
My main relationship is with Christ, -and my main concern is my own affairs, (sort of kind of a J'head thing,) ---I am to be showing others love, forgiveness, grace, mercy, -but I am to hold my own thoughts captive, and asking for the heart and mind of Christ on all things, ---it's not about my getting others to act or think like me, (at all.)

'4 - You believe that the entire population of this planet with the exception of those who share your beliefs -- though excluding those in all rival sects - will spend Eternity in an infinite Hell of Suffering. And yet consider your religion the most "tolerant" and "loving."'

A.) Christians believe that the entire planet (people included,) is fallen, that nothing is perfect anymore, and that the nature of things is towards decay...
-Some of the basic laws of physics say this too... things are winding down, things go to pot, and, well, to be honest? People just aren't as benevolent and altruistic as we'd like to think... (Most common societies based upon this completely implode, and we've all had to read 'the Lord of the Flies.')
(If Utopia is about to happen, I sure wish somebody would be successful at it, because it can be kind of depressing, ya know...)

(Surprise, Christians are sort of the ultimate Goths... (and yes, my favourite CURE album is 'Disintegration.')
---Basically Christians believe that everybody has issues, and that everybody needs a cure. (not the band, -though I personally think everybody needs to at least like one or two of Smith's works for the fun of it... personal view...)

--The issue of Christians with 'going to hell or not,' is that
-yes, there is a hell
-no, people were not designed to go there
-yes, it's meant as a judgement for the devil and other angels who have chosen to go against God, (and corrupt and pervert His creation (this is the planet, us, etc.)
-Yes, if the Bible is true, the cure for each person would be this relationship with God, -and if the Bible is true, this relationship is purely afforded through the Holy Spirit, and is with Christ. (Again, same being, three distinct aspects.)
---What happens to others who do not have this relationship with God?
Well, if the Bible is true, and a person chooses not to accept the forgiveness of God (afforded by Christ,) then yes, when they die, they are 'reviewed,' (so to speak,) and if they are standing in their own stead? they are found to be lacking, and are thereby choosing the judgement.

(AHAH! the whole thing is God saying 'my way or the highway (to hell.) (Which is a great ACDC song, just unfortunate in it's views, there are no parties, and even if your friends are there, you'll never see them, nor really care...)

The issue of Christianity (the hope of it,) is that a person is not on this eternal gerbil wheel of trying to be good enough, or penitant enough, or pure enough, nor having to live enough good lives, (pick a path,(religion,) any path,) --and somehow EARN salvation.
---Christianity explains our lives as being both (unique, not part of a succession of lives, nor part of some 'flow,' or 'energy,' that we meld back into,) ---and also being 'eternal.'
(Christianity speaks of life going on forever... it's just a matter of location after you die.)

It's based upon the assumption that 'all have sinned, and fallen short of the glory (perfection,) of God.'
---so since we're all screwed, God has said, '...um, okay, I got a way to fix this, ---and that's where Christ, the Cross, the resurrection comes in.
---The stance of Christianity is 'everybody is headed over the falls in one way or another, --THIS-- will save you, we're throwing it to you, swimming it out, (whatever,) -grab it and hold on...'
--If somebody wants to say 'no thanks, I'm a good swimmer, besides I like drowning...'

-which leads us to point 2.

According to Christianity, there is nobody who is going to be 'doomed,' to hell, (except the son of perdition, and we don't know who that is,,, some say it was Judas Iscariot,)
---but the main point is: There will be nobody who will be able to stand in front of God, (when their life is being reviewed,) and say '...yeah, Lord, you never told me about my condition, you never told me the truth, nobody told me it, and I never had a chance, you see THOSE FUNDAMENTAL CHRISTIANS screwed it all up and messed up what you were trying to say to me...'

-Again, the emphasis of us and God, (if the Bible is true,) is that God is trying to reach each individual and convey exactly how much He loves them, and desires this relationship, ---and how it's not based upon the Church, or even (that own person's) perspective...
So the main thrust of the whole thing is 'God's interested, very, and He'll sort it out with you...'
-I've heard it said that a person has to literally choose to step over the dead body of Christ, and choose hell, -to wind up there. (Odd comment,) ---Remarkably a lot of folks do, (and a lot don't.)
-but the reasons for this relationship are not based upon any one churches representation of the Gospel... God just wouldn't put up with that... It would be like you letting some schmuck missrepresent you to your daughter...

'3 - While modern science, history, geology, biology, and physics have failed to convince you otherwise, some idiot rolling around on the floor speaking in "tongues" may be all the evidence you need to "prove" Christianity.'

A.) Again, another difficult one to answer, as I'm not sure what the arguement is.
-history, geology, biology, and physics can't explain such stuff as 'voodoo,' either... (though I personally feel kind of bummed, we used to have 'ghosts,' as ghosts... now we just see orbs on film, it gets cold, and there may be some static on a radioshack item somewhere... no more full face aparitions or floating images... it just seems like everybody is 'phoning in on the job' anymore...

If you're referring to worship in a physical sense, -yes, all religions have this, (both Christian and others.)

If you're referring to Charasmatic and Penticostal worship, I'd encourage you to not stereotype worship by seeing this one thing happen. (Anymore than I'd stereotype reggae by hearing some of the modern garbage that come across the airwaves, and completely ignore Bob Marley, Toots, or Burning Spear... (though 'light up your lighter,' is a halfway decent modern reggae tune...)
---also, we know reggae didn't die with Marley, nor is he the only decent artist worth listening to...

A lot of people who are Christians have grown very experiencial in their worship.
-this does not mean (per-se,) that it's always 'the penticostals,' who have it right or wrong, -or that the hard core quite folks have it right or wrong either.
-'Tongues,' exists in many religious practices, -not just Christianity.
it is not considered in the Bible to be any sort of proof that a person is a Christian, (There are some denoms that say that it is a proof, but that is their tradition.. not Biblical definition, ---big difference.)

-In fact, according to St. Paul, tongues is considered to be a very minor gift, and not such a big deal.
'...If I can speak in the tongues of men and angels, and have the ability to understand all things, -YET I don't have Love? I'm just an annoyance and nothing...'

I'm sorry you have run into those who feel otherwise, but according to the Bible, the main emphasis of the Christian is to Love.
---More importantly?
A new commandment I now give you, Love each other as I have loved you, so as you have experienced from me? be this way towards each other..' (Christ.)
---So again, the emphasis is on love, not religious practice.
Interestingly enough? We are told that we are to identify Christians not by their proclaimations, ---but by their love.

'2 - You define 0.01% as a "high success rate" when it comes to answered prayers. You consider that to be evidence that prayer works. And you think that the remaining 99.99% FAILURE was simply the will of God.'

A.) This is a complete missunderstanding of what prayer is.
Prayer is not going to God with a list, or going to God with any sort of petition or demand.
Prayer is actually a time of pouring onesself out to God, (which can include tongues, sometimes,) ---but more, it's a time of listening.
Yep... totally backwards from what most folks believe Prayer is all about.
If the Bible is true, God tells us to talk to him, (much in the same way that kids talk to their parents, or spouses talk, interms of honesty and intimacey... -that is a beautiful part of it..)
-But prayer is actually a time where the Holy Spirit (God) also can work with our hearts and minds on things, and is kind of a time of meditation, reflection, conversation... it's highly private and is extremely intimate.
-The main prayer of any Christian (fundamentalist or not,) is always encompassed with 'Lord, not my will, but YOURS,' ---I'm talking to you about these things, and I need YOUR perspective and to follow YOUR lead on this...
It's not a Christmas list, -and the answers 'thing that you get,' ---making it 1% or 99% percent successful have nothing to do with getting anything or accomplishing anything, ---the main accomplishment is to listen, understand, and have your heart prepared (as well as mind,) for what God is doing.

(You're dealing with a completely opposite depiction of what prayer is.)

1 - You actually know a lot less than many atheists and agnostics do about the Bible, Christianity, and church history - but still call yourself a Christian.

A.) Again? well, most Christians don't really know a lot of athiests and agnostics... (Christians tend to hang with other Christians, which is unfortunate, as we're told to be around everybody, and not exclude nor focus on particular people when it comes to caring for and knowing others.
---Now, am I going to want to hang out with someone who is completely into the opposite of what I'm into?? (for example, someone who is all about getting stoned, getting laid, or doing things that I, as a Christian really am not into? No.
-This does not mean that I'm 'against those people,' or think less of them, I am just not interested in that sort of thing.

Do more athiests and agnostics know more about the Bible than most Christians?
Yeah, sometimes.
But there are couple of things to really consider here.

-You and I both have last names.
We are from families.
The blood of our parents flows through us, and that is what makes us part of that family (even if we're adopted,,, we still have ways and are our parents kids...)
-That is what makes me a Field/Harvat
---Do I know all about my Parents or the family histories or everything about my family?
Nah.. never will.

According to the Bible, there is only two people in the 'origional,' Family, (the Father, and the Son... sometimes the Holy Spirit is called in feminine terminology, but for the sake of understanding,,,)
-Everybody else? (All Christians, all of the Church fathers and mothers... EVERYBODY?
Adopted.

That means that, even though a person could be clueless as to their own heritage and all the customs and stuff,,,---They're adopted in.
-That means that they're 'Family.'
-What's even wilder is:
According to the Bible (if it's true,) the same love and perspective of the Father to the son (Creator to Christ,) that exists between them? Is given to each adopted kid.
-We're called 'Co-Heirs,' along with the Heir (Christ.) and are considered full family.
----That has nothing to do with performance, intelligence, politeness, understanding, missunderstanding..
-By virtue of an arrangement outside of myself, -I can have brothers and sisters in my family that are either full on (by way of same parents,) or full-on adopted, ---and it's all the same.

I personally like it when people are adopted...
-That means that the parents picked that kid, (the kid was wanted.)
-Sometimes, a kid is not wanted,
To God? He had One kid, the kid was perfect, and when he looks at anybody who is his kid, (even if adopted,) he sees the perfection of that One kid applied each time, (and still knows each individuals situation, story, issues, strengths, blah-blah-blah.)
--And still loves the adopted kid just as much.

That is one thing no athiest nor agnostic will ever tell you.
They will never tell you that God is in love with you, designed you, and wants to be really close.
(How can they? especially if they don't think God Exists...)

It is the one thing that all Christians are supposed to be about, conveying that love to anybody who will listen, (Jesus was always saying 'for him who has ears to hear,')
---and it was like this, '...Dude, I love you, my Father loves you, be with us, it's a great deal, just come as you are, it's cool, we already know your stuff, we just want you with us...'

-That invitation is still going out to anybody, and Christians are supposed to be showing folks that, (not just saying it.)

Now... despite the aspect of the Bible saying that all Christians are co-heirs with Christ?
There is an aspect to this that a lot of Christians seem to forget.
--It's like, just because we're now in the family, and are in the family business, (which is to be conveying hope and love to anybody who wants or needs it... (anybody,) ---We are not in the hiring nor firing department.
--In other words, (and the premise of a lot of this writing for me,,,) As a Christian, I am only accepted and loved by God because of his love for me, --not because I was such a great deal and such a great little creation of His that he'd not dare let me go down to my own devices...
-I am nobody, (no Christian is anybody,) to make anyone else feel like they are any less loved for any reason...
-That's an administrative decision, and the word from corporate is '...I love them, I love all of them, and you are going to be conveying that, it's not your say to decide if you like them, or want them in... I love them, and that's it...'

-so often we as Christians act like the snotty little cousins that think can run the show... nope, were' here by Grace, and that doesn't change whether we knew and thought of God at all, or know him personally... (again, too many Christians act like 'only who we like, are allowed in.')

Again, if a Christian screws up and does a lousy job of conveying this love, it doesn't stop God from getting it through, (He doesn't need somebody telling you that he loves you, (again,) any more than you need somebody telling your little girl that you love her... ---in fact, usually it's better if folks just step back and not get in the way.)

Long post, I know...
-but have you seen me write a whole lot of short ones???

No, seriously...
Your points are valid, and they deserve honest answers, and you know I'd not put you on.
-These are just some of the basics about Christianity, and what we're supposed to be about in society, ---ALL society, (and that means everybody.)

Peace

-E

While there are many creative and cool people in Fresno, after living here for the past 32 years I'd say the majority of the population falls into this category...

Top Ten Signs You're a Fundamentalist Christian

10 - You vigorously deny the existence of thousands of gods claimed by other religions, but feel outraged when someone denies the existence of yours.

9 - You feel insulted and "dehumanized" when scientists say that people evolved from other life forms, but you have no problem with the Biblical claim that we were created from dirt.

8 - You laugh at polytheists, but you have no problem believing in a Triune God.

7 - Your face turns purple when you hear of the "atrocities" attributed to Allah, but you don't even flinch when hearing about how God/Jehovah slaughtered all the babies of Egypt in "Exodus" and ordered the elimination of entire ethnic groups in "Joshua" including women, children, and trees!

6 - You laugh at Hindu beliefs that deify humans, and Greek claims about gods sleeping with women, but you have no problem believing that the Holy Spirit impregnated Mary, who then gave birth to a man-god who got killed, came back to life and then ascended into the sky.

5 - You are willing to spend your life looking for little loopholes in the scientifically established age of Earth (few billion years), but you find nothing wrong with believing dates recorded by Bronze Age tribesmen sitting in their tents and guessing that Earth is a few generations old.

4 - You believe that the entire population of this planet with the exception of those who share your beliefs -- though excluding those in all rival sects - will spend Eternity in an infinite Hell of Suffering. And yet consider your religion the most "tolerant" and "loving."

3 - While modern science, history, geology, biology, and physics have failed to convince you otherwise, some idiot rolling around on the floor speaking in "tongues" may be all the evidence you need to "prove" Christianity.

2 - You define 0.01% as a "high success rate" when it comes to answered prayers. You consider that to be evidence that prayer works. And you think that the remaining 99.99% FAILURE was simply the will of God.

1 - You actually know a lot less than many atheists and agnostics do about the Bible, Christianity, and church history - but still call yourself a Christian.

-s

You like Fords, I like Chevy's. And what? Does it mean I can't like you? Methinks not.

Too many people take a stance, an ideology, and take that to mean who they are as a person. So, question the ideology and you are not just questioning the workings and reasonings of an idea, but you are questioning the person as to who they are. And guess what? Many people define their existence by their ideology and don't know THAT well enough to be able to explain it. So they are forced to reflect on why they have their belief, and they don't like that cause your question confuses them. Who wants to be confused about themselves? People rarely take the opportunity to learn more.

Drink too much alcohol, and you die. Go long enough without food, you die. Anything to any extreme is usually not a very good method of doing anything. Hardcore Liberals/Conservatives knock on Moderates. The truth is that the moderates understand that the compromise is what leads to progress. Assessing more than one point of view and making a more educated decision. For some reason, people fight change.

When it comes to this sex issue, the people who voiced their negativity just shed light on how blindly they follow some ideology without really knowing and learning and understanding themselves or what they believe in. It's easy for me to reason, that my skin is this color from genetics. As my eyes, my hair and so many traits. Those are things within that cannot change no matter what I do, well, that I wouldn't care to anyhow regardless of modern medical advances. In any case, the roll of the dice, the one amongst trillions of sperms who I beat out lead to who I am today. No doubt that amongst the trillions there were some with lighter skin, different colored eyes and so on. From the Trillions upon trillions of combinations of what could define a person, why is it that people cannot rationalize for themselves that a possible combination leads to a gay person? I don't care how hard any gay person tried, they could not force me to be gay. It isn't something that can by some form of osmosis be instilled in me. What do people really fear?

Diablo