[Unknown Target]

Even though I really don't like Christianity, I really admire this guy, even if it is fake, because there are people really like him out there. I respect people like that, who defend their faith to the end (not like the stupid money-Christians here)

[Flipside]

Originally posted by Gank


They're both Gandhi, I forgot the surname.

And I forgot the first name. Though you win on letter-difference

[Sandwich]

Originally posted by Gank
Err, you guys know this is fiction right?
http://www.parable.com/1853325/item_0842359583.htm

Huh. No, I didn't know that. Thanks for pointing it out.

Regardless, I think the point still stands.

[Gank]

Aye, shame the true face of christianity is a fictional character though.

ps, hope ye gave the wall a few headbuts for walking into that one

[WeatherOp]

While it may be fiction, the story is not. Missionaries are being killed because they preach Christ. And while it may not be 3 million dollors, that is what we do over here, we send them checks, instead of what they really need, and that is prayer.

[Flipside]

Well, they probably need both, but I think it isn't about what you can give to them, as it were...

[Gank]

Umm, the story is fiction. Religion wasnt banned under the USSR, and while it was repressed to some extend, there was no persecution of Christians. There were no thousands upon thousands laying their lives down for their faith, at least not since before ww2.  As for missionaries being killed, I think you'll find that for the most part this takes place because they're trying to convert people of other denominations, who dont take kindly to it.

[WeatherOp]

You sound like you want me to flame you. So, ok, here it go's
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 HARD HEAD!



You happy now?

[Rictor]

Hey, the point is valid, regardless of whether its real. Personally, I think that Pat Robertson and the whole American evangelical enterprise is not only an affront to Christianity, but one of the biggest and most successful scam operations in history.

Ah well.

[WeatherOp]

Originally posted by Rictor
Hey, the point is valid, regardless of whether its real. Personally, I think that Pat Robertson and the whole American evangelical enterprise is not only an affront to Christianity, but one of the biggest and most successful scam operations in history.

Ah well.

You forgot Benny Hinn. The best scammer that ever lived.

[Gank]

Originally posted by WeatherOp
You sound like you want me to flame you. So, ok, here it go's
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 HARD HEAD!



You happy now?

Flame me? meh, I was actually hoping for an intelligent rebuttal. So much for that.

[Goober5000]

Originally posted by Gank
Umm, the story is fiction. Religion wasnt banned under the USSR, and while it was repressed to some extend, there was no persecution of Christians. There were no thousands upon thousands laying their lives down for their faith, at least not since before ww2.  As for missionaries being killed, I think you'll find that for the most part this takes place because they're trying to convert people of other denominations, who dont take kindly to it.

Eh...

It's out there, and it happens.  It's not often made public, but it definitely happens.  In fact, it's estimated that more Christians have been martyred in the 20th century than in any other century A.D.  (Now this may be partly due to population increase, but it's still very significant.)

http://www.persecutedchurch.org/
http://www.persecution.com/

[Grey Wolf]

IIRC, religion was supressed to varying amounts under Soviet rule. It was at its low ebb immediately after the October Revolution, but it returned as a tool to pacify the masses. China, though, I believe had a fairly discrimatory attitude to Christians at some point.

[Flipside]

I think it's Nigeria that suffers badly from fighting between Christian and Muslim factions, there have been atrocoties commited by both sides there.

[Gank]

Originally posted by Goober5000
Eh...

It's out there, and it happens.  It's not often made public, but it definitely happens.  In fact, it's estimated that more Christians have been martyred in the 20th century than in any other century A.D.  (Now this may be partly due to population increase, but it's still very significant.)

Some concrete figures to back this up please, not some vague we're being persecuted site. By concrete I mean non-religious.

[Setekh]

Originally posted by Flipside
Or Ghandi....

'I like your Christ, I don't like your Christians, they are nothing like your Christ....'

Think about that one for a little while longer. Christ's work is a function of God's mercy, remember.

[Flipside]

Indeed, but the question I often wonder about is, 'Do you see Christ as a Figure-head/Symbol for what you believe or a Role-model who's actions and thoughts should be aspired to?'

I suppose to my mind, we are all the Sons/Daughters of God, useing a widely generic term for God. I've often wondered if that was the true message Christ was trying to get across, we can all aspire to be God-like, but there are different types of Godhood. Christ says to love those around you, to help them and heal them, maybe we are chasing the wrong kind of Godhood?

Take Matthew 7, the Sermon on the Mount, in that Christ warns the crowd of the dangers of jumping to conclusions, of judging those around them, and of treating people poorly, he does not mention status nor race as a divider.

I am sure your Christ did not die for your Sins simply so sections of Christianity could forget everything he had chosen to live, and die, to say.

[Setekh]

True, and well perceived. Many Christians do not realise that themselves, which is very sad. However, I'd temper that fact with the point that it is because of us humans' sinfulness that Christ died for us - and that sinfulness will still be present until Christ comes again to restore the whole world. So, given the present moral frailty of Christians (as with all humans), it is to be expected that in some measure they will be quite unlike Christ.

[Flipside]

I see what you mean, in the Bible, even Christ felt weakness at times.

You are what I would define as a 'Good Christian' though Setekh, you take Jesus' statements on compassion and understanding as something to learn from, and in so doing, learn from them

Edit : I just wish more people would look on it in such a way.

[Goober5000]

Originally posted by Gank
Some concrete figures to back this up please, not some vague we're being persecuted site. By concrete I mean non-religious.

You just effectively cut yourself off from any sort of evidence there.  Christian websites are the ones most likely to keep figures on Christians being persecuted; just like Jewish or Muslim websites would be the ones most likely to keep figures on Jews or Muslims being persecuted.