A common theme amongst...

[funeralcrasher]

Christians?

As I wrote in the thread above, Christians aren't the only group of people capable of offensive behaviour towards those they fundmentally disagree with. Not by a long shot. (ya know.. calling ftm's "she" and mtf's "he" for example)

I bet there are greater numbers of non-Christians who do the same for other reasons. Demographically speaking I've expereienced more of that sort of behaviour from Christians than any other culture or religion. Hands down.

Even if they appear kind on the surface given enough time they will proudly display their driving need to show through words that will obviously offend, that they disagree.

I've had this happen so much.. probably because (maybe stupidly) I loosely think of myself as being xian too.. just a lot less hateful and more accepting than most.


What these Christians don't see however.. or maybe they do, and they just don't give a Fuck... is that every time they use incorrect pronouns for instance, they push me further away from God and all they claim to believe in.

If that sort of behaviour is a manifestation of what they claim to believe in, I want to have nothing to do with their god.

My God is love.

Comments

[moonlitglow.livejournal.com]

No matter where you go, or how society progresses, there will always be people who choose not to learn on their own, who choose to told how to beleive and what to think. Yes, a good portion of them are Christian, but I've encountered racist & homophobic Wiccans, too.

In general, it's getting better. Society is much more accepting of anyone "different than the norm" these days than perhaps 50 years ago.

[bedhoppngothboi.livejournal.com]

I really like this post. I think you've crossed into really profound territory here.

~ B

[http://users.livejournal.com/_penny_/]

The only anti thing I really am is anti Christians. I’ve heard of so many negative experiences in peoples life’s because of the way Christians go about spreading their message and I don’t want anything to do with it. I’ve had them come running out of a church before protesting my clothing and how I was seen as evil in “god’s eyes to wear black - saying they could save me. What did I need to be saved from? Eating a delicious ice cream treat that would put a little fat on my thin figure? I find that it’s the arrogant type of thinking that these people see it as their job to spread that ends up in charge in major positions in this world. - This is not to say though that all Christians are this way, I am even friends with a few but for the most part I conceder myself to be anti Christians as my message doesn’t not focuses on peoples skin color, the type of clothing they wear, the music they listening to or how they live their lives. Good people are based on how they think and the actions that are carried out. Like people shooting other people for no positive reason (like stopping a attacker) but instead trying to mug someone is obviously bad. All religions for the most part have become corrupt and all they care about deep down is money and making other people think the way they want them to so the religion can survive and in turn make more money. This is just my take on things.

[pkbarbiedoll.livejournal.com]

The only anti thing I really am is anti Christians.

I'm sorry you feel that way. Even christians who give people like you and I such a hard time in life deserve love and tolerance.. even if they can't show it themselves. What good is it to become what we hate?

Besides, I know many xians who -aren't- full of shit.. who don't try to convert everyone they come into contact with.. who aren't in it to make money.. or control people through fear.. Who believe in the "live and let live" creed... who think that religion is flawed by design.

Mine is a personal relationship. I need no church to worhip in and tithe to. You think all christians are alike but (fortunately) your perceptions aren't based in fact.

We are in small numbers but we exist. Saying you are 'anti-Christian' says you are against people like me and my decent xian friends, and thats disappointing because its people like us who catch hell not only from asshole christians, but from other intolerant people as well. One should be ashamed to be so openly hateful, much like that person in that article I linked to.

amen, no pun intended

[aquaknot.livejournal.com]

Saw a bumper-sticker yesterday that I liked: Christians aren't perfect, just forgiven.

Adrya and I seem to bark up the same tree. I understand that the "church" is made up of some pretty fallable people. It is the message and the meaning of Christ's example that are important. That doesn't mean I don't tear people a new one from time to time; it just means I know that it is wrong. If "church" worked perfectly, it would help me realize my errors more quickly and frequently.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_la_la_lu/]

::applause!::

you are wonderful!!! ♥

[hanging-garden.livejournal.com]

*cheers*

[mb2u]

Most non-Christians tend to be more tolerant because they have been victims of prejudice themselves. Plus, there is less of the "only one true way" dogma.

And I believe that Christ would be alarmed at the things done by people in His name. Would someone who actively sought out the lowest, most lost people would find racism and genderism acceptable? I doubt it.

I hate people most days...

[brutal-death.livejournal.com]

i agree with "moonlitglow" & mb2u...

there's always gonna be some "butthead"
to ruin things for everyone.

...and it does seem "non christians"
are more tolerant at times.

meh...

!f**k 'em!

[lordruthven.livejournal.com]

...and it does seem "non christians"
are more tolerant at times.

Unfortunately, a lot of non-Christians are intolerant of honest, decent Christians as well. It's like a cycle. The loudmouths in one group anger another group, so the other groups strikes back, then the other, then people completely unrelated to the original dispute are dragged in...bleh.

[brutal-death.livejournal.com]

point/counter-point

all true...

"My God is love."

[aquaknot.livejournal.com]

God (pick your part of the Trinity) visited me once in an epiphany. Seemed pretty impatient, but was willing to give me a rather less than light kick in the ass.

God changed with the New Covenant

[pkbarbiedoll.livejournal.com]

I realize your allegory outlines the justification some Christians to use offensive language, be intolerant and non-accepting of others including so-called "alternative lifestyles". God does love, but toughly. And who am I to tell any of them their way of understanding, and their personal relationship with Christ is flawed?

Your (speaking with the universal meaning) beliefs are ultimately between you and God, the Father, and/or the Holy Spirit. I only wish the same would be extended in return. Even in matters such as what I've written about here, and which was written about in the link I posted above.

Someone in xiangoth hinted that they believed the Bible clearly says this or that is wrong. I replied to his post with this:

...you *perceive* the scriptures one way, I *perceive* them another.

Do you follow every leviticus law in the Bible? Every single one? Without exception, to the T? Always? If you do then you're certainly a better person than I. If not then you prove my point.

Everyone makes judgement calls on scripture. Some we write off as irrelevant for our times. Others we write off because we interpret them to mean something else entirely.

What I'm saying is that *your* unique way of relating to God, and understanding the bible, does not hold true for every other soul on this planet. God did not make everyone the same. Nor does He speak the same words to everyone.

In my understanding we are to strive to have a strong *personal relationship* with Christ - not with your pastor - you - or any other Christian or group of Christians. My life is between God and I. Nobody else matters in the long run. Only Him.

God wants the best for us

[pkbarbiedoll.livejournal.com]

So, the God I know and want to spend eternity with is Love to me. If it weren't for grace I wouldn't be a Christian right now - I'd be another one of the hundreds of thousands people who despise Christianity, much like Penny above. That is so important, *to me*. I'm not looking for someone to tell me my view of grace is wrong because my undestanding is my own - it is what God has led ME to believe.

That said I also believe - strongly - that God intends each and every one of his children to rise and better him or herself. He didn't place us here so that every whim and desire that pops in our mind can be lived out without consequence. If we listen to God, really listen, we'll hear his wisdom speaking to us.

Because I believe in grace I also believe that God will accept and love us regardless of past or present (or future) mistakes. God knows we've fallen and will fall again many times. He knows that. He loves us anyway. God's love can restore even the sickest of humankind if their heart opens to Him. God knows what is right and wrong in each of our lives. I used to drink heavily and used rush (I guess its called crystal meth now days) among other things. Over time I discovered those things did not make me feel whole, they just didn't feel 'right' for me.

I believe God led me from that. I also believe that he led me away for a reason. I hurt when I see my friends use and if they *ask* I will encourage them to find other ways of working through whatever it is that led them to begin using in the first place. But I'm not about to tell them to stop "because the Bible says". I want them to know the love of God and in my own experiences there is no better way of running people away from God than to rub their nose in a book they've probably never read to begin with.

Anyway.. I'm running late this morning.. i just wanted to add that I believe God is love, and he accepts us for who we are, where we are, no matter what. God's ways are mysterious - I don't know why he allows certain things to happen but that doesn't change the fact. God works through all people, even people that church commonly derides and ostracizes.

Re: God wants the best for us

[powersparkles.livejournal.com]

beautiful..