Political Crossfire Forums

Akajjred · Joined: 11 Nov 2005 Posts: 1723 Location: San Francisco

Alright I'll start off stating that I'm a Christian myself, I'm not an atheist. My question is why do so many Christian conservatives try and tell people how to live their lives? How does it affect you? Why don't you just worry about yourself? The reason I'm so turned off about most organized versions of Christianity, especially Catholics, Baptists, etc. is that they tell how to be a Christian? They tell you how to worship Christ? Who is to tell me how I have to worship Christ? What is the significance of Church? I pray everynight, but I don't go to Church very often at all. I can make my own "Christian" decisions, so why do so many Christian conservatives try and tell me how to live my life? I don't tell you how to live theirs?

Snarf · Joined: 10 Jan 2005 Posts: 5459

Because they are fascists and absolutists who believe they are doing God's work. Once you put God on your side, and only on your side, everyone else is a fool on the road the Hell who must be 'saved' from himself by their wisdom at all costs, including those supposedly given to mankind like Freewill. That is why they spend so much time telling you they serve God while filling their churches and pockets with your money. If you believe anything other than what they believe, you are a threat and a reminder that they just might not be correct about the whole God thing after all. This they cannot stand as they would rather take everyone to hell than risk having to accept that God is beyond their selective faith and doesn’t play favorites with His creations.

They need to believe that they alone are right and will only accept you when you agree; otherwise you are a God-forsaken sinner. This, and their ticket to heaven called Jesus, allows them to sleep at night but they’d sleep better if everyone, everyone in the world, thought of God exactly as they do. Until that happens, the world is damned but they are saved. To be nice, they try to help you towards their version of the light. The likelihood that they are actually helping you ruin your life never crosses their minds. That is what makes them bad people whose influence needs to be limited whenever possible. If they had all the controls, we’d be stoning sinners at the city gates and burning witches at the stake. While they are not good at accepting anything but their own beliefs, they are good at killing people in God’s name. They also excel at telling other people what to do and how to live their lives…

Gilbert1908 · Joined: 26 Jan 2005 Posts: 5248 Location: Boston, MA

Akajjred wrote: Alright I'll start off stating that I'm a Christian myself, I'm not an atheist. My question is why do so many Christian conservatives try and tell people how to live their lives? How does it affect you? Why don't you just worry about yourself? The reason I'm so turned off about most organized versions of Christianity, especially Catholics, Baptists, etc. is that they tell how to be a Christian? They tell you how to worship Christ? Who is to tell me how I have to worship Christ? What is the significance of Church? I pray everynight, but I don't go to Church very often at all. I can make my own "Christian" decisions, so why do so many Christian conservatives try and tell me how to live my life? I don't tell you how to live theirs?

Perhaps the problem is not the religion but the consevatism? I am a Catholic living in Boston, we don't seem to have that issue up here.

The only people who are instructed on how to live a life within Catholicism are......Catholics.

Catholics do exercise their freedom of speech, but just as when someone else of any belief speaks I can also exercise my freedom of thinking they are full of crap.

All kinds of people tell me how to live my life ALL DAMN DAY, I'm too fat, I should be more tolerant of this group, I'm XXXXphobic, I need to reduce my cholesteral, increase my antioxidents, eat more fiber, eat less fiber, walk more, I need to stop the war, support the troops, buy American, watch American Idol, read more books.............

In America it is our past time to tell people how to live, that is why most of the world hates us. Even though we are right. LOL

SilveryMinnow · Joined: 28 Mar 2004 Posts: 3143 Location: Rio Grande River

Judge not lest ye be judged.

...Not just christians, theres an afghan that was going to be executed for just changing his faith.

connermt · Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 1526 Location: CMH OHIO

Akajjred wrote: Alright I'll start off stating that I'm a Christian myself, I'm not an atheist. My question is why do so many Christian conservatives try and tell people how to live their lives? How does it affect you? Why don't you just worry about yourself? The reason I'm so turned off about most organized versions of Christianity, especially Catholics, Baptists, etc. is that they tell how to be a Christian? They tell you how to worship Christ? Who is to tell me how I have to worship Christ? What is the significance of Church? I pray everynight, but I don't go to Church very often at all. I can make my own "Christian" decisions, so why do so many Christian conservatives try and tell me how to live my life? I don't tell you how to live theirs?

I think the issue is caused by a couple reasons:
1) the Bible tells us to preach the word. IMO, not EVERYONE should preach the Word by actually 'talking'. Let's face it, some people are not good 'people persons' - they don't know how to effectively talk to people w/o being rude & condescending. These people should 'preach the Word' through their actions & lives ONLY. Out of all the Christians I know, most allow their deeds & actions speak for themselves & never TELL someone how to live their lives (unless, of course they are asked their opinion.)
2) some people that 'get off' by telling others how to live their lives are, IMO, guilty of the same issue(s) they are speaking of. By telling someone how wrong they are, these people feel somehow justified that their wrong doings or short comings in their own life are, somehow, made better by doing this. Therefore, it can be said that these people feel justified for their faults by telling others how bad or wrong they are. This is very selfish
3) some feel morally & socailly superior & like the feel (of power) they get by doing this. Again, very selfish

But these are just my opinions - take them as you will

perdidochas · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 15424 Location: Florida

Akajjred wrote: Alright I'll start off stating that I'm a Christian myself, I'm not an atheist. My question is why do so many Christian conservatives try and tell people how to live their lives? How does it affect you? Why don't you just worry about yourself? The reason I'm so turned off about most organized versions of Christianity, especially Catholics, Baptists, etc. is that they tell how to be a Christian? They tell you how to worship Christ? Who is to tell me how I have to worship Christ? What is the significance of Church? I pray everynight, but I don't go to Church very often at all. I can make my own "Christian" decisions, so why do so many Christian conservatives try and tell me how to live my life? I don't tell you how to live theirs?

Christ revealed, through the scriptures and oral tradition, how we were to worship. Part of that is being a member of an organized church. Read Acts of the Apostles, and truly tell me, we should worship totally alone. Church members are there to help you make the right decisions, and to tell you when you are starting to stray. It's a necessity to truly be Christian, IMHO.

savingtheworld · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 100 Location: Michigan

does anyone actually think that they are spiritual enough to live the Christian life by themselves? I mean come on, are people so insecure that they can't take a little constructive criticism once and a while? I mean, sure there's a fine line between, helping and butting into someone's life, but even Paul and Peter needed people to help them along in their Christian life. Do we claim to be better than them? I sure hope not.

mattwa33193 · Joined: 12 Apr 2006 Posts: 904 Location: Miami

perdidochas wrote: Akajjred wrote: Alright I'll start off stating that I'm a Christian myself, I'm not an atheist. My question is why do so many Christian conservatives try and tell people how to live their lives? How does it affect you? Why don't you just worry about yourself? The reason I'm so turned off about most organized versions of Christianity, especially Catholics, Baptists, etc. is that they tell how to be a Christian? They tell you how to worship Christ? Who is to tell me how I have to worship Christ? What is the significance of Church? I pray everynight, but I don't go to Church very often at all. I can make my own "Christian" decisions, so why do so many Christian conservatives try and tell me how to live my life? I don't tell you how to live theirs?

Christ revealed, through the scriptures and oral tradition, how we were to worship. Part of that is being a member of an organized church. Read Acts of the Apostles, and truly tell me, we should worship totally alone. Church members are there to help you make the right decisions, and to tell you when you are starting to stray. It's a necessity to truly be Christian, IMHO.

I seem to recall Jesus saying something about it being better to pray in a closet, or words to that effect.

The idea that you need a church or an organized framework to be a good Christian is ludicrous. It is based on the idea that people are basically bad, and was put forth by the Catholic church in order to generate revenue and exercise control over the people.

The church can't help you be a better person, which is all that Jesus ever asked of anyone. It can help you with questions of dogma, since the church, of course, invented dogma.

Saf · Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Posts: 377

Akajjred wrote: Alright I'll start off stating that I'm a Christian myself, I'm not an atheist. My question is why do so many Christian conservatives try and tell people how to live their lives? How does it affect you? Why don't you just worry about yourself? The reason I'm so turned off about most organized versions of Christianity, especially Catholics, Baptists, etc. is that they tell how to be a Christian? They tell you how to worship Christ? Who is to tell me how I have to worship Christ? What is the significance of Church? I pray everynight, but I don't go to Church very often at all. I can make my own "Christian" decisions, so why do so many Christian conservatives try and tell me how to live my life? I don't tell you how to live theirs?

You should read some Kierkegaard. A devout Christian himself, he rabidly attacked Christendom (i.e., the church) as a barrier between man, God and Christ.

cap'n queasy · Joined: 15 May 2004 Posts: 34968

Kierkegaard was hardly a devout Christian, more of an adherent of a quasi- christian belief system of his own devising, a sort of intellectual model for him to use as an mental exercise IMHO. And he attacked religious formalism, anti-individualism, and the Danish theocracy in particular, rather than belief in Christ. In this aspect I agree with him to a certain extent, but he was more a Modernist and Existentialist than anything. In fact, this branch of philosophy, Existentialism, is his brain child. Modern Christian psychology is derivative of his work, as well, and this is a vapid movement.

So a few of his ideas are of interest to me, as a follower of Y'shua, but many are not. Like many intellectual "giants" he was largely self-absorbed and let his personal experiences lend way too much influence to his work. Too much angst for me. Another overrated thinker in my personal opinion.

lucidnightmare · Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 1:49 am Post subject:

I guess for the same reasons that so many on the left want to tell me how to live my life,what it's ok for me to think and say.

I personally reject being told what to do by either group,but I personally find the left more threatening and intrusive.

For example.Whats the difference in a conservative Christian telling me not to say f**k and a goose stepping PC bot telling me I can't say F****t or b****?I'll tell you.The constitution protects me from the latter to a degree.Nothing protects us from the PC thought police.

perdidochas · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 15424 Location: Florida

Akajjred wrote: Alright I'll start off stating that I'm a Christian myself, I'm not an atheist. My question is why do so many Christian conservatives try and tell people how to live their lives? How does it affect you? Why don't you just worry about yourself? The reason I'm so turned off about most organized versions of Christianity, especially Catholics, Baptists, etc. is that they tell how to be a Christian? They tell you how to worship Christ? Who is to tell me how I have to worship Christ? What is the significance of Church? I pray everynight, but I don't go to Church very often at all. I can make my own "Christian" decisions, so why do so many Christian conservatives try and tell me how to live my life? I don't tell you how to live theirs?

I'm one way in "real" life, and another on the boards. In real life, I would never tell anybody how to live. On the boards, I'll occasionally do that, mainly as a method of discussion. Anyway, if you feel that you are doing the right thing and following God correctly, why wouldn't you want to tell others about the right way?

perdidochas · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 15424 Location: Florida

mattwa33193 wrote: perdidochas wrote: Akajjred wrote: Alright I'll start off stating that I'm a Christian myself, I'm not an atheist. My question is why do so many Christian conservatives try and tell people how to live their lives? How does it affect you? Why don't you just worry about yourself? The reason I'm so turned off about most organized versions of Christianity, especially Catholics, Baptists, etc. is that they tell how to be a Christian? They tell you how to worship Christ? Who is to tell me how I have to worship Christ? What is the significance of Church? I pray everynight, but I don't go to Church very often at all. I can make my own "Christian" decisions, so why do so many Christian conservatives try and tell me how to live my life? I don't tell you how to live theirs?

Christ revealed, through the scriptures and oral tradition, how we were to worship. Part of that is being a member of an organized church. Read Acts of the Apostles, and truly tell me, we should worship totally alone. Church members are there to help you make the right decisions, and to tell you when you are starting to stray. It's a necessity to truly be Christian, IMHO.

I seem to recall Jesus saying something about it being better to pray in a closet, or words to that effect.

The idea that you need a church or an organized framework to be a good Christian is ludicrous. It is based on the idea that people are basically bad, and was put forth by the Catholic church in order to generate revenue and exercise control over the people.

The church can't help you be a better person, which is all that Jesus ever asked of anyone. It can help you with questions of dogma, since the church, of course, invented dogma.

While you don't need a church, it's a good idea. Read Acts of the Apostles. If that isn't an example of people being a part of a church, I don't know what is. If it's good enough for the Apostles it's good enough for me.

mattwa33193 · Joined: 12 Apr 2006 Posts: 904 Location: Miami

perdidochas wrote:
While you don't need a church, it's a good idea. Read Acts of the Apostles. If that isn't an example of people being a part of a church, I don't know what is. If it's good enough for the Apostles it's good enough for me.

I'll stick with what Jesus said, thanks.

Akajjred · Joined: 11 Nov 2005 Posts: 1723 Location: San Francisco

mattwa33193 wrote: perdidochas wrote:
While you don't need a church, it's a good idea. Read Acts of the Apostles. If that isn't an example of people being a part of a church, I don't know what is. If it's good enough for the Apostles it's good enough for me.

I'll stick with what Jesus said, thanks.

Same here.

perdidochas · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 15424 Location: Florida

Akajjred wrote: Alright I'll start off stating that I'm a Christian myself, I'm not an atheist. My question is why do so many Christian conservatives try and tell people how to live their lives? How does it affect you? Why don't you just worry about yourself? The reason I'm so turned off about most organized versions of Christianity, especially Catholics, Baptists, etc. is that they tell how to be a Christian? They tell you how to worship Christ? Who is to tell me how I have to worship Christ? What is the significance of Church? I pray everynight, but I don't go to Church very often at all. I can make my own "Christian" decisions, so why do so many Christian conservatives try and tell me how to live my life? I don't tell you how to live theirs?

I'm a Catholic myself. You will never hear me tell you how to live your life (except maybe if you were a close friend, I'd tell you to stop smoking and exercise more. If you were a member of my church (that is, that I've actually seen you attend a Catholic Church), I might remind you about a holy day of obligation .). Personally, in my life, I've been pressured more by agnostics NOT to go to church than the opposite.

Tell me where you've heard Christian conservatives tell you how to lead your life.

perdidochas · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 15424 Location: Florida

mattwa33193 wrote: perdidochas wrote: Akajjred wrote: Alright I'll start off stating that I'm a Christian myself, I'm not an atheist. My question is why do so many Christian conservatives try and tell people how to live their lives? How does it affect you? Why don't you just worry about yourself? The reason I'm so turned off about most organized versions of Christianity, especially Catholics, Baptists, etc. is that they tell how to be a Christian? They tell you how to worship Christ? Who is to tell me how I have to worship Christ? What is the significance of Church? I pray everynight, but I don't go to Church very often at all. I can make my own "Christian" decisions, so why do so many Christian conservatives try and tell me how to live my life? I don't tell you how to live theirs?

Christ revealed, through the scriptures and oral tradition, how we were to worship. Part of that is being a member of an organized church. Read Acts of the Apostles, and truly tell me, we should worship totally alone. Church members are there to help you make the right decisions, and to tell you when you are starting to stray. It's a necessity to truly be Christian, IMHO.

I seem to recall Jesus saying something about it being better to pray in a closet, or words to that effect.

The idea that you need a church or an organized framework to be a good Christian is ludicrous. It is based on the idea that people are basically bad, and was put forth by the Catholic church in order to generate revenue and exercise control over the people.

The church can't help you be a better person, which is all that Jesus ever asked of anyone. It can help you with questions of dogma, since the church, of course, invented dogma.

1) Jesus talking about praying in the closet, was hyperbole. His main point was not to be secret, but not to make prayer a very public hypocritical thing. Also, he obviously had nothing against preaching out in public.

2) Jesus wouldn't have set up the Apostles as a church, etc., if he didn't want us to join churches. Read Acts of the Apostles.

perdidochas · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 15424 Location: Florida

mattwa33193 wrote: perdidochas wrote:
While you don't need a church, it's a good idea. Read Acts of the Apostles. If that isn't an example of people being a part of a church, I don't know what is. If it's good enough for the Apostles it's good enough for me.

I'll stick with what Jesus said, thanks.

And that's what I do:

Matthew 16:18 And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.

I am a member of that church.