Living the Christian Life

As a moderate person and an atheist, I view religion as something which is going to be around for some time and as such should be handled in the most constructive way possible. In my own experience, I have met many who have genuinely benefitted from being a part of a religious following, where the religious teachings have enhanced their behaviour and ability to make the most out of life. This is not because religion is basically good, but rather because the religious beliefs they took on board contained useful, constructive and humane values, as opposed to bigoted and backward values (which religions surely contain also).

I think that Christians should always use their religion's teachings as a general guide to define their relationship with their deity and the world, not something which must be followed dogmatically and pedantically. It should incorporate today's values, not the prejudices and hatreds of yesterday. The texts of various religions including Christianity contain teachings which incite prejudice against certain groups, instead their teachings should lean more heavily on tolerance and open mindedness.

Another essential element which should be added into today's Christian ideology is that to be a Christian in no way makes one superior or more legitimate than any other human on the planet, one cannot treat others with sanctimonious contempt for having different beliefs. Christianity teaches some pleasant things, it is a matter of sticking with those and discarding the hateful and prejudiced teachings of the church which will allow Christians to follow a more practical and humane relationship with the world around them.

Originally posted by Northman No violence, no war, no condeming etc. etc. Love for, and respect to all things alive etc. etc.

In attempting to answer this question, I have to put my old shoe back on and think back what I regret most having done and said (i.e. being a jerk) when I was a devout Christian myself. I've come up with two "suggestions" to those who, unlike me, would like to stick with their faith but want to know how to deal with non-believers better and more wisely.  

Edited by flyingzone - 29-Jul-2006 at 21:58

The best way to make your case is to leave out the attempted mergers with government.  Keeping the voluntary nature of something is a great way to reduce its threat level.

I think Christianity is about empathy, the ability to see yourself in others. Isn't that what Christs teachings were about, "love thy enemy", "do onto others as you would have them do unto you" and many others of this kind.

Well I have always looked at religion as something that can be beneficial or horrible.  Unfortunately throughout history it has generally been the latter.  My mom and dad were born christian but I knew nothing about christianity until I was in middle school.  There are a lot of things I completely ignore in the christian theology (most actually), my personal view is to emulate Jesus which I hold to be the same goal as any atheist or muslim etc... just try to be a decent person.  Do in any given situation what you think is best, trust your conscience.  The reason we continue to kill each other is that our ideals are just that what we hold highest is the most difficult to achieve.  Also a lot of us have turned to worshipping the golden bull that is materialism, and basically abandoned our higher ideals and morals.

There was a group of Christian leaders having a meeting about "What differs Christianity from other Religion". The older ones arrived early and started discussion. One say," its the Incarnation" the other say "its  Ressurrection." One say this, others say another. Later, after studying the doctrines of other religions in the world, they found out that the views they considered different are also taught in some religion. So, they ask, "What really makes Christian different?" In the middle of their discussion a young minister came in. They all look to him with comtempt because he came late. "Why are you late young man, knowing that your legs are stronger than these old ones have?" And so each look to him with pride, considering themselves better than him. At last the young man spoke. "I admit i am wrong for being late and i am supposed to be the first to come here 'cause i am stronger. But in search of the answer i have done it. What makes us Christians different from other religions is the same with what makes you came here earlier than me. its GRACE. for ONLY GRACE MADE US TO DIFFER?

 5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
 6Who, being in very nature^[a] God,
      did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
 7but made himself nothing,
      taking the very nature^[b] of a servant,
      being made in human likeness.
 8And being found in appearance as a man,
      he humbled himself
      and became obedient to death�
         even death on a cross!
 9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
      and gave him the name that is above every name,
 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
      in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
      to the glory of God the Father.

 13"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'

 14"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Originally posted by Justinian ... my personal view is to emulate Jesus which I hold to be the same goal as any atheist or muslim etc... just try to be a decent person.  Do in any given situation what you think is best, trust your conscience.  The reason we continue to kill each other is that our ideals are just that what we hold highest is the most difficult to achieve.  Also a lot of us have turned to worshipping the golden bull that is materialism, and basically abandoned our higher ideals and morals.

Do you honestly think that man is capable? I mean seriously...WHEN has there EVER been peace with man? Just name a year...any year in recorded history where there has been complete peace.

 -This is exactly what is so destructive about religion. You just assume that god will come along and make everything right, tossing all responsibility onto him! Let me tell you a story that some may recognise from the West Wing, I don't remember it word for word so bare with me.

-A religious man sat in his house listening to the radio. It had rained heavily the last few days and on the radio they said that the place where he lived would be flooded and that everyone in the area should evacuate. Shortly after this report the man's neighbour knocked on the door and asked him if he was going to evacuate, to which the man answered "I believe in God and he will save me." The neighbour then left.
 -So the flood came and the man's house was swept away. He managed to get a hold of some driftwood and used it as a raft. As he clung to it a boat came along and the people in the boat asked the man if he needed help, to which he replied "I believe in God and he will save me." The boat then dove away.
 - As the man lost hold of the driftwood a helicopter came along and they asked the man if he needed help, to which he replied "I believe in God and he will save me." The helicopter flew away.
 -Shortly after the man drowned and ascended to heaven. When he came to the pearly gates he asked St. Paul(Is that the right one?) for an audience with God, which he got. Upon meeting God he asked him "Why did you not save me?" God looked at him and said "I sent you a radio report, your neighbour, a boat and a helicopter. What more should I have done?"

 -Can you see what I'm getting at? Do you understand the moral of this story? If you think that your god will come along and fix everything for you then you're horribly mistaken. It is up to you to make a difference!

(By the way, I'm an atheist if you got another impression from this post)


EDIT: By the way, check out ->this<- thread at 1BC for a discussion on the existence of god.


Edited by Roadkill - 17-Aug-2006 at 15:59