Is it a Christian's job to enforce their interpretation of the Bible on others?

[Reverend Rick]

Should Christians force their lifestyle on others or just love their neighbors just as they are?

Why do so many Christians look the other way when people remarry after divorce?

Why do so many overweight Christians go to the buffet and gorge themselves while gossiping about other folks who go to bars?

How do Christians ignore unruly children while in the same breath condem homosexuality?

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Being a christian doesn't exempt you from being a small-minded, hypocritical douche. Of course, I suppose there are very few actual christians, if practicing the tenants of what Jesus said in the bible, is what makes you a christian.

 

[Rainbow Mage]

Being a christian doesn't exempt you from being a small-minded, hypocritical douche. Of course, I suppose there are very few actual christians, if practicing the tenants of what Jesus said in the bible, is what makes you a christian.

So true. If one followed the teachings of Jesus, I suspect they'd behave more like a Buddhist behaves.

 

[angellous_evangellous]

I'm guessing that it's because so many Christians vote Republican.

They're sinners.

 

[Duck]

Should Christians force their lifestyle on others or just love their neighbors just as they are?

Why do so many Christians look the other way when people remarry after divorce?

Why do so many overweight Christians go to the buffet and gorge themselves while gossiping about other folks who go to bars?

How do Christians ignore unruly children while in the same breath condem homosexuality?

I think due to the very paternalistic nature of the relationship with Yahweh, many christians internalize the 'do as I say, not as I do' parent-child relationship with their deity. After doing so, many christians then feel that they are the 'older sibling', presumably wiser than their unenlightened younger (i.e. non-believing as that particular christian does) sibling. Being the older sibling they then feel that the rules are modified for them, since as the elder in a latch-key family, they are in charge; thus, they are fully justified ignoring or selectively applying the various rules of their religious text. Since the christian religion rejects full adulthood and self responsibility, and christian believers are the 'older' sibling in charge, the christian feels perfectly justified trying to get their younger siblings to do just what they are told, even if the trappings of an otherwise adult world are used to do so (via legislation at best, and 'a good thumpin' at worst).

 

[Just_me_Mike]

Should Christians force their lifestyle on others or just love their neighbors just as they are?

Why do so many Christians look the other way when people remarry after divorce?

Why do so many overweight Christians go to the buffet and gorge themselves while gossiping about other folks who go to bars?

How do Christians ignore unruly children while in the same breath condem homosexuality?

What does the bible say about it?

 

[Rainbow Mage]

I think due to the very paternalistic nature of the relationship with Yahweh, many christians internalize the 'do as I say, not as I do' parent-child relationship with their deity. After doing so, many christians then feel that they are the 'older sibling', presumably wiser than their unenlightened younger (i.e. non-believing as that particular christian does) sibling. Being the older sibling they then feel that the rules are modified for them, since as the elder in a latch-key family, they are in charge; thus, they are fully justified ignoring or selectively applying the various rules of their religious text. Since the christian religion rejects full adulthood and self responsibility, and christian believers are the 'older' sibling in charge, the christian feels perfectly justified trying to get their younger siblings to do just what they are told, even if the trappings of an otherwise adult world are used to do so (via legislation at best, and 'a good thumpin' at worst).

That's not really an excuse. We as Kemetic Orthodox believe that a specific Egyptian god created everyone's soul as well, but we don't go around thinking we're somehow obligated to get everyone to worship them. Different paths can work as well, and the reason for that is, the way of Ma'at is inherently within all things, trying to guide people back to living in harmony with one another. The way of Ma'at came into other religions by merrit that it is within all people.

 

[Duck]

That's not really an excuse. We as Kemetic Orthodox believe that a specific Egyptian god created everyone's soul as well, but we don't go around thinking we're somehow obligated to get everyone to worship them. Different paths can work as well, and the reason for that is, the way of Ma'at is inherently within all things, trying to guide people back to living in harmony with one another. The way of Ma'at came into other religions by merrit that it is within all people.

I recognize that it is not really an excuse, but I think that is the reason. Personally, I am all for behaving as an adult, and accepting responsibility for my own actions, without foisting them off on other beings. By the same token, only I can be held accountable in the end for my actions, no one else can bear the burden for those actions.

 

[ChristineES]

Should Christians force their lifestyle on others or just love their neighbors just as they are?

No, even Jesus said not to do that. I believe we should "preach" by example. That way, we wouldn't (maybe) set a bad example and give all Christians a bad name.

 

[AxisMundi]

Should Christians force their lifestyle on others or just love their neighbors just as they are?

All three Abrahamics are the Young Kids on the Block, as is their god as well. This is something that is laid aside in the interest of theopolitical power.

Why do so many Christians look the other way when people remarry after divorce?

So they can divorce too, if the neccessity arises. Slavery is advocated in scripture as well, but a certain flexibility that has evolved in the scriptures, ie the ability to ignore some things, has permitted the idea that slavery is indeed abhorent to take root and grow in the Christian community.

Why do so many overweight Christians go to the buffet and gorge themselves while gossiping about other folks who go to bars?

Human nature.

How do Christians ignore unruly children while in the same breath condem homosexuality?

Because most Christians are Paulists in disguise.

 

[Rainbow Mage]

Because most Christians are Paulists in disguise.

:yes:

 

[rafi]

Some Christians choose to say that it's only the "real followers" who "lead by example" and resist pushing their beliefs on the rest of us, but I don't really see it that way. Religion at it's very base was something conjured to control the masses, so, when you think about it, it serves no other purpose than to be pushed upon everybody else.
Plus, a Christian "leading by example" always turns into that person telling you how great it is that they don't try to push religion on people, they just do what God wants them to, which is really just their inevitable conversation starter about how great Jesus is.
It's suffocating.

 

[Katzpur]

It's not our job, and it's not our right. I believe it is our responsibility to teach our children, to tell them what we believe any why we hold our beliefs so dear. But at some point, we have to remember St. Francis of Assisi's words, "Preach the gospel at all times. When necessary, use words."

 

[rafi]

The problem is, you're not teaching your children and letting them make an informed decision on religion for themselves; you're indoctrinating them.

 

[Mister Emu]

Should Christians force their lifestyle on others or just love their neighbors just as they are?

I do not believe that force and neglect are the only two options...

As for your follow-up questions... Christians are human. Jesus understood, and demanded we get past, our natural desire to ignore our own faults... "...first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye."

 

[Katzpur]

The problem is, you're not teaching your children and letting them make an informed decision on religion for themselves; you're indoctrinating them.

That's nonsense. Teaching can be indoctrination but it doesn't have to be. If you are teaching your children what you believe but encourage them to question and to learn about other belief systems, you are not indoctrinating them. The same holds true not only for religious beliefs but for many other things we teach our children as well. Take racism, for example. Our beliefs about people whose skin color is different from ours often patterns that of our parents. If I teach my children that bigotry is wrong, am I indoctrinating them with this belief? I'm sure you'd probably say I wasn't, that I was, on the contrary, teaching them something that was good. You wouldn't think I was denying them the opportunity to make an informed decision on whether to later in their lives become intolerant of people of other races. But if I teach them of a God who loves them and cares about them, this is somehow indoctrination to you. That's because you don't believe in such a God. All you're really saying is that it's okay with you for me to teach my kids values and behaviors of which you personally approve, but that I'm indoctrinating them if I teach them something of which you don't approve.

 

[Rainbow Mage]

Christians can't even agree with each other about what the Bible means, much less teach it to anyone else.

 

[AxisMundi]

That's nonsense. Teaching can be indoctrination but it doesn't have to be. If you are teaching your children what you believe but encourage them to question and to learn about other belief systems, you are not indoctrinating them. The same holds true not only for religious beliefs but for many other things we teach our children as well. Take racism, for example. Our beliefs about people whose skin color is different from ours often patterns that of our parents. If I teach my children that bigotry is wrong, am I indoctrinating them with this belief? I'm sure you'd probably say I wasn't, that I was, on the contrary, teaching them something that was good. You wouldn't think I was denying them the opportunity to make an informed decision on whether to later in their lives become intolerant of people of other races. But if I teach them of a God who loves them and cares about them, this is somehow indoctrination to you. That's because you don't believe in such a God. All you're really saying is that it's okay with you for me to teach my kids values and behaviors of which you personally approve, but that I'm indoctrinating them if I teach them something of which you don't approve.

A god who loves them, and will throw them in a pit of everlasting fire if they don't behave, is indoctrination.

 

[TheKnight]

Should Christians force their lifestyle on others or just love their neighbors just as they are?

Devils Advocate:

If you are my neighbor, and I love you as much as I love me, and I try to implement Christian ideals in my life for my benefit, then is it not loving for me to try to do the same for you? Loving you doesn't always mean doing what the loved wants.

Why do so many Christians look the other way when people remarry after divorce?

Why do so many Christians look the other way when people commit all sins (except homosexuality of course. That one is special).

Why do so many overweight Christians go to the buffet and gorge themselves while gossiping about other folks who go to bars?

They're human. Human's tend to be hypocrites.

How do Christians ignore unruly children while in the same breath condem homosexuality?

Is there supposed to be a connection between the two?

 

[Reverend Rick]

Is there supposed to be a connection between the two?

No there should not be. My point is that many Christians are selective about what they want to condem and what they want to look the other way about.

I'm thinking we should treat people who divorce and remarry the same as we treat homosexuality. Either crack down on the former or relax things on the latter.