"Christianity"

[Afterpaw]

Oh, yes, I'm going to yell at you about religion. Get over it.

To begin, I am not against theism. I want people to believe whatever the heck they want. I don't care at all what your beliefs are, those are your views, not mine, and if you can't handle the fact that different opinions exist, you've clearly not paid enough attention.

Last week, I went to my friend's Friday church youth group. Honestly, I enjoyed it quite a bit. It was...illuminating to say the least. As it turns out, people are vastly ignorant about their own religion. Someone suggested the topic of homosexuality, which I figured I could remain civil in, probably educate them, but the youth minister said they've already beaten the topic to death, which I'm okay with. What I'm not okay with is a girl in the background loudly saying "But we still hate the gays, right?" Which is when I sort of lost it. I literally turned completely around, stood up, and said this;

Really? That's what you're going to say? Look at the actions of your God and Christ. Look back and think; did they ever hate someone because of their beliefs, choices, or simple state of being? No. God did not strike people down for disagreeing with Scripture. Christ did not single out the gays and the like when he performed his miracles. I'm sorry that I've been running under the apparent delusion that Christianity is about love and acceptance, not about being single-minded, racist, bigotrous, crude, unintelligent, and asinine. When you think about saying that homosexuality is against the Bible, remember that it doesn't matter. What someone else believes is wholly separate from what you believe, and therefore is none of your business. Jesus, when he was on this earth, did not try to convert people forcibly. He did not wipe out civilisations because they disagreed with him, he loved them all the same. The people who refused him lived on and were perfectly fine. The people who submitted were lifted up into a light of their own decision and philosophy. People love God because they want to, not because they fear him or want to follow a short-sighted list of morals and beliefs.

To which there was a very tension-filled silence where the girl who said it just had her jaw dropped to the floor and her eyes wide. When I sat down, no one spoke and the youth minister broke the silence by beginning the actual lesson.

So yeah. That was my experience with "Christianity." And do you know why I put it in quotations? Because that is not Christianity. Christianity is to love all beings and people, regardless of their life decisions and other core parts of them. If you are truly a Christian, I commend you for being a reasonable, accepting, wonderful human being. But if you are discriminatory against anyone because of the Bible, you are damned yourself for hate and bigotry. I highly doubt you would enter the kingdom of Heaven with the burden of hate and asininity on your back.

Just take that into consideration whenever you think about discriminating against people; just think that Jesus would never stand for that sort of hate.

This was more of a rant than anything else, but yeah. Say whatever you want. I don't care.

[Deleted]

I completely agree with you. It doesn't really mater what people believe, as long as they find what is right for them. If no religion is right for them, then so be it. We all have our own opinions and beliefs, and now that you point it out, you are right, Christ didn't kill people who weren't his religion. Cesar might have done that, but that is just completely different. And that is the samething with like being gay. Who cares? People should do what they want, and others shouldn't try to change it. If you really believe in Christianity, or are really religeous, and actually go to church, then you shouldn't yell out anything like she said. It's just wrong. It really is. As well as what you said, I'm glad you said that. You taught that girl a very valuable lesson that I am sure she will never forget.

[Afterpaw]

Jul 16, 2013 22:40:14 GMT -6 @sandystar said:

I completely agree with you. It doesn't really mater what people believe, as long as they find what is right for them. If no religion is right for them, then so be it. We all have our own opinions and beliefs, and now that you point it out, you are right, Christ didn't kill people who weren't his religion. Caesar might have done that, but that is just completely different. And that is the same thing with something like being gay. Who cares? People should do what they want, and others shouldn't try to change it. If you really believe in Christianity, or are really religious, and actually go to church, then you shouldn't yell out anything like she said. It's just wrong. It really is. As well as what you said, I'm glad you said that. You taught that girl a very valuable lesson that I am sure she will never forget.

Bless you. Bless your legacy. :'D You are a good person. Good job.

[Hawktalon]

I went into this thinking it was going to be another religion bashing uninformed ignoramus nonsense. I was happily surprised.

As I said in the chat, those who do not go to a christian school often don't know what they're talking about. Mainly cause they learned from their parents about Christianity who learned about Christianity pre-Vatican 2. I don't feel like explaining what Vatican 2 was but afterwords the church was much different. The church, up until Vatican 2 hadn't been updated to fit the modern world since the middle 1800's. Many of the beliefs that the children of today learned from their parents was before 1962 and therefore before the modern church.

The church does not hate gays. I'm not sure why this is commonly thought throughout the Christian community but it is. Again, I've been going to Catholic institutions since I was 5, and every year I've studied theology as a subject. In high school I finally got the good stuff, doctrines and laws and the ins and outs of the modern church. I wasn't particularly surprised my freshman year finding out at least the Catholic perspective on homosexuals, Catholic is different from Christianity but the premise is the same for the most part, although many of my classmates did. I had known for a few years the real position Catholic/Christians had on homosexuality. My classmates who had not been in a religious institution had no idea. This will tie into a topic ill address in a second.

Christianity does however not like gays practicing homosexuality (i.e. having sex). However they tolerate gay sex much like they do the economies of the world, ill bring that topic up later too. Christianity however, loves yes I said it, loves, gay people. As Christians(those who are) we are called to love everyone despite their perceived wrong doings and deformities. Jesus laid hands upon the lepers, defended the prostitutes, surrounded himself with thieves and tax collectors(Back then tax-collectors were the most hated of all of Caesar's men. But we don't seem to care about people taking our money anymore since we have Obama in office. *shot*) as his friends. If any Christian, or any other secular or non-secular group, sees the previous statement and continues to be a hater and a bigot then you really should not call yourself a follower of Christ or a lover of man if you happen to not be Christian.

I said earlier that some of my classmates were pretty surprised that Christianity accepts the gay community. Also, remember, this is according to doctrine, as previously stated the Christian people are /seriously/ misinformed on the homosexual community. Anyway, continuing, I think this is why major religions should be taught in school. Yeah, separation of church and state blah blah blah, I'm not talking about praying in class, I'm talking about literally studying theology. Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Atheism, Deism etc. etc. There are so many stereotypes revolved each and every one of these religions that it's ridiculous. Christians hate gays! Muslims are all terrorists! Jews are idiots and stuck in the past! Buddhists think sitting around and smoking pot will give them enlightenment! Atheists have no moral compass and are just animals! And on and on and on. The ignorance is unbelievable in this world. And why is that? Because it's not taught in public institutions, in the USA anyway, I don't know about other places. I'm not saying to pray in class but for God's sake half the so called debaters of religion don't know what they're talking about 90% of the time. And besides what's the harm in it? People might change religions? Oh noes how scawy! C.S. Lewis went from Athiest to an passively religious man, Tom Hanks went from a Christian to a Scientologist, people change their mind once they find a religion that suits their life style and the person they are. There's nothing wrong with exposing children to all the options life has to offer.

The last topic I wanted to address was Christians and the stance on tolerance in accordance with the economy and how it relates to the tolerance of other religions, homosexuality etc etc but honestly I'm all out of muse and don't really feel up to it.

I hope you guys didn't tl;dr this post because I honestly hoped to open a few eyes and show that while Christian people are bigots because of the serious lack of information provided, the church itself does in fact love all of God's children, weather you're white, black, yellow, purple, hispanic, eurpoean, straight, bi, gay, whatever! You are loved, weather you accept God and no of him or not.

Thank you,

~Alex/Hawkstar/Tool

[Deleted]

Jul 17, 2013 19:56:53 GMT -6 Afterpaw said:

Jul 16, 2013 22:40:14 GMT -6 @sandystar said:

I completely agree with you. It doesn't really mater what people believe, as long as they find what is right for them. If no religion is right for them, then so be it. We all have our own opinions and beliefs, and now that you point it out, you are right, Christ didn't kill people who weren't his religion. Caesar might have done that, but that is just completely different. And that is the same thing with something like being gay. Who cares? People should do what they want, and others shouldn't try to change it. If you really believe in Christianity, or are really religious, and actually go to church, then you shouldn't yell out anything like she said. It's just wrong. It really is. As well as what you said, I'm glad you said that. You taught that girl a very valuable lesson that I am sure she will never forget.

Bless you. Bless your legacy. :'D You are a good person. Good job.

Thank you :,D I have never heard anything so nice. in the last week. Joking.
As for hawk star, I read you post, and I completely understand. Bless you as well :,D

[Hawktalon]

Blessings for everyone, amirite? :D

[Specklekit]

I agree with Afterpaw. I am a Christian, and when I hear about other Christians bashing gays, it makes me sick to my stomach. If we were called to love our neighbors, why are we not equal? There was one short line in Leviticus about homosexuality, but that was part of the OLD law that Jesus lifted from us when he died on the cross for our sins. I come from a very conservative family where only my parents and my sister and I are democratic/liberal in any way, shape, or form. We try to keep quiet and polite when my grandparents, aunts, and uncles are discussing politics, as they have no regard for our opinions. My whole family is very religious, and it made me lose a bit of respect for them when I heard they waited in line for an hour to participate in the Chick-Fil-A day to support Christians for DOMA. Ugh, I'm too opinionated. Rant over, I guess. Be who you want to be, follow who you want to follow, but for the love of Christ, love your god darn neighbors.
Seriously.

[Tumblingleaf]

Jul 17, 2013 20:48:07 GMT -6 Hawktalon said:

I hope you guys didn't tl;dr this post because I honestly hoped to open a few eyes and show that while Christian people are bigots because of the serious lack of information provided, the church itself does in fact love all of God's children, weather you're white, black, yellow, purple, hispanic, eurpoean, straight, bi, gay, whatever! You are loved, weather you accept God and no of him or not.

Wait a sec.

THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD WHO ARE PURPLE.

-gasp-

[Specklekit]

You haven't heard of the purple people? www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9H_cI_WCnE

[Deleted]

Tumblingpaw, this. It should help you understand it. C:

[Tumblingleaf]

My life. It's been ruined. ;A;

[Deleted]

Sorry about that

As for Afterpaw, again. There was something that imforgot to mention. Sorry to make this short, but I need to go soon.

I would like to say that Afterpaw, he might not care what religion you are, but at least was brave enough to....how should I put this, stand up for Christians in general. Even if it was strange at the time, I think you are a hero to all of thenpeople out there who believe that being gay is fine, which it is. c: I also know it might have just slipped out, but it was still a brave and noble thing to say. It really was.

[Afterpaw]

Jul 17, 2013 22:44:05 GMT -6 @sandystar said:

Sorry about that

As for Afterpaw, again. There was something that imforgot to mention. Sorry to make this short, but I need to go soon.

I would like to say that Afterpaw, he might not care what religion you are, but at least was brave enough to....how should I put this, stand up for Christians in general. Even if it was strange at the time, I think you are a hero to all those gays out there. c: I also know it might have just slipped out, but it was still a brave and noble thing to say. It really was.

ALL THOSE GAYS OUT THERE?

UHM EXCUSE YOU. DON'T REFER TO A SEXUALITY AS A MARGIN. I AM NOT A HERO. I AM NOT A SAVIOUR, I AM NOT A SAINT. I AM A HUMAN BEING AND IF ANYONE EVER DECIDES TO USE THE PHRASE "THOSE GAYS" EVER AGAIN I WILL THROW BABIES INTO GARBAGE COMPRESSORS.

I'm sorry I got angry there. But don't say "those gays." It's basically the same as saying "those blacks" or "those sluts," and I won't tolerate it.

[Deleted]

Oh god..... I didn't realize I had said that.... I am really sorry.

[Afterpaw]

No, you're fine. But, ah...be wiser with your words.