dear thetrueone...
you said: " A Christian is a man that feels repentance on Sunday for what he did on Saturday and is going to do on Monday "...do you think that this kind of behaviour is representitive of a person who is genuinely concerned about his standing with God?...
dear NewChapter...
in your post #5830 you say these things: "Morality is defined differently in different cultures...So what is moral in one society, is not moral in another society. However when judging CHARACTER, one has to look at how an individual follows the rules of their own culture----not an outside culture. Christianity does not do this. It sets a standard and judges people in the far reaches of the world by that standard. So in a culture where premarital sex is approved and expected, they would judge that behavior as "immoral" or a "sin", regardless of what place those people are operating from. It is ridiculous...Christianity elevates such things to an entirely new level. Society has an interest in keeping certain behavior controlled, and should do such"...
We live in an increasingly pluralistic society, most countries allow for many different beliefs without "offending" the authorities. But I contend that with this freedom "from" religion combined with a withdraw from orthodox christianity there will be the ingredients for a perfect storm. An increase of adherents within american society of a much less tolerant religion (muslim population growth rate is 1.8 per year compared to 1.12 for the world population. As of 2011, it is predicted that the world's Muslim population will grow twice as fast as non-Muslims over the next 20 years.~wikipedia). A religion that has the right and will to take up key positions in government to effect change in the dynamics of the country's "cultural norm". Right now in Dearborn Michigan the police authorities cater to the muslim population and refuse christians their right to preach the gospel.( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Smw9QuH1xkA ) Now maybe this means nothing to you at the moment...but consider the possibility that once those intent on changing laws do such a thing...what right DO you think you will have as an atheist to claim any kind of morally superior charactor in comparison to your creepy religious muslim neighbour (who has been afforded his religious rights in a pluralistic society) when he takes himself a 6 year old wife according to HIS CULTURE? You might think this can't happen in america...but, as a matter of fact christians were the majority population in egypt from the 3rd century AD until the muslim invasion in 641 AD. There has been servitude, heavy taxation and persecution ever since. The muslim population is not immune to the burden of religious laws either. Entire societies have been taken over and brought under islamic law. The whole premise of islam is to bring everyone into submission to *sharia law...in order to wipe out what the muslim religious leaders decide is sinful...they are terribly strict and they believe that america is the great satan. OF course, once they get a foot-hold in american politics and succeed in their agenda, islam in america will set the standard and judge people by that standard ...perhaps you see no need to put up any kind of resistance now though because you wont be around then anyway?...What if no one puts up any resitance to this type of situation? (the less fight, the more appealing) what kind of legacy is this?
I think this is a real threat to our "cultural norm"...but if the the christian "agenda" is worrisome to you; I guess you set your own priorities in the final analysis, don't you?
love michelle
*Before the reader begins to study the Quran, he must realise that unlike all other writings, this is a unique book with a supreme author, an eternal message and a universal relevance. Its contents are not confined to a particular theme or style, but contain the foundations for an entire system of life, covering a whole spectrum of issues, which range from specific articles of faith and commandments to general moral teachings, rights, and obligations, crime and punishment, personal and public law, and a host of other private and social concerns. These issues are discussed in a variety of ways, such as direct stipulations, reminders of Allah's favours on His creation, admonitions and rebukes. Stories of past communities are narrated, followed by the lessons to be learned from their actions and subsequent fates. (please note that "actions taken" refers to whether people surrendered with less loss of life or whether they put up resistance and were massacred) http://www.jannah.org/articles/quran.html
