What do Christians think?

[redbolt]

Christians tend to be close-minded, because of what they are taught from a young age. They are basically threatened to never expand their views because of religious repercussions such as going to hell. I was raised in a Christian household, but luckily my parents are open minded to my choice.

We are not generally welcome in this world being non-Christians, because they fear what they do not know/understand. Sad thing is most people I know that are anything but Christian seem to be more inclined to do what is right, rather than what benefits them - including Athiests.

I also have a personal problem with the way most churches operate. They scare their members into giving them money, while they preach that money is the root of all evil. AND THEN they give their priest/father...etc free housing. Sounds more like exploitation to me. Aparently money is ok as long as your on the Church's payroll, but otherwise it is evil.

Seriously, these are the reasons I refuse to step foot in a church. It is not a place for learning, but for brain washing, and for financial gain. If that were not true, my home town of less than 8,000 people wouldn't have 10 churches - and don't get me started on the weekly visits from Mormons and Jehova's Witnesses (who have no business bothering me in the comfort of my own home!)

[debralah]

I was raised Mormon, and actually figured out how wrong it was for me at the age of 17. I went to my bishop and asked to be ex-communicated at that point, because the Mormon's will keep bothering you for the rest of your life if you aren't ex-communicated. It killed my family, of course, but I would rather not live a lie and put up with someone constantly trying to get me to go to church!

At the same time, I am a student of Paramahansa Yogananda's, who believes in the power of Jesus, as well as Krishha, and a few other Masters. I also practice Santeria, but am not in a Santeria Godfamily anymore, so I am a solitary practitioner who will probably always stay that way. I believe their is some truth in all religions myself. I DON'T believe in trying to get people to believe the same way you do, however. NO ONE will ever have the same spiritual perspective as anyone else, as we all have our own perceptions on everything in my opinion.

[PaganOne]

debralah: My husband's daughter married a Mormon. Will the church bug her to convert? I know Mormons are allowed to marry outside their faith.

[thatguy]

i think it's wonderful that there are people who choose to call others evil for their beliefs, these people truly have some succulent and dark depths worth plumbing.

As some comic relief, and if it makes you feel better, I've had a few girlfriends call me 'evil' as well. It didn't have anything to do with my religion ;0

Seriously though, I walk past literally hundreds of attractive women every day, many of them won't spaz out on learning what I believe and how I lead my life. With so much choice out there, why waste your time on an annoying one?

I should take my own advice ^^

[bluemoon]

My entire family are Christians, some are reasonably tolerant, some are not. Of those who are not there seems to be a certain amount of insecurity in their personalities. They are thinking the way the church dictates they should think and don't have the confidence to think for themselves. That is probably what attracted them to the religion in the first place as it's my opinion that to be pagan of any description you must at least have an enquiring mind and be receptive to new ideas; even coming to the conclusion that you might have misunderstood something along the way or that a particular aspect is not for you. A certain type of person cannot cope with either the uncertainty or the self confidence/awareness that this requires and they re always going to be drawn to the type of control, brain-washing and dogma which organized religion is happy to dish out in spades. Sadly once they are in that type of environment they are then going to adhere rigidly to it and repeat the doggerel. After all, imagine how secure a you'd feel if you could denounce others as 'evil' whilst being convinced that you were in the right. What really irritates me though is when they talk about 'love', but preach nothing but hate

[wolfsbane00010]

Hey, I have a question. And this seems to be the place to ask it.

I'm just a teen, but what if I am one day in court? What am I supposed to do if I'm supposed to swear 'To tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.' On the bible?

[watershield]

You indicate that you would rather "affirm" to tell the truth.