Culture of Christians?

TX_CO_Matt said:

This brings up another point, the other day I saw a post on Reddit about how being pressured into drugs and such in high school is not nearly as common or extreme as they make it out be in those drug education programs, like DARE, in elementary school.

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In my experience this is true, I've only been offered drugs maybe 3 or 4 times in my life, and all but one of those times it was weed.

Then again, it probably really varies depending on who you're friends with, where you work, etc. So I guess schools have to prepare everyone

TX_CO_Matt said:

There's also a big difference between being drunk and being a drunk. I know a lot of people that when they think of being drunk, they think of wild parties with lots of sex, illegal drugs, the stereotypical Hollywood "college party". Every college party, even at secular universities, I went to was people hanging out with alcohol, there'd be a beer pong table or two (depending on the number of people), and music. It was not a rave in a house. I'm sure those parties exist somewhere, but I don't think it's the norm. On occasion, we'd got out all out and throw a "paint party" or something like that, but it was the same idea, just with people who look like they just did a color run. There's a very big false dichotomy, and I'll admit I had it to until I went to college parties, that it's either widely irresponsible and out of control, or overly tame.

This brings up another point, the other day I saw a post on Reddit about how being pressured into drugs and such in high school is not nearly as common or extreme as they make it out be in those drug education programs, like DARE, in elementary school.

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Yeah there are a lot of misconceptions, but drunkenness, regardless of the setting around it, is the issue.

Don't see any problem with having a beer or two though

TX_CO_Matt said:

This brings up another point, the other day I saw a post on Reddit about how being pressured into drugs and such in high school is not nearly as common or extreme as they make it out be in those drug education programs, like DARE, in elementary school.

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Same. I was never offered anything until university, and still only pot. It's something you seek out if you want it, like BDSM. People generally don't go around dragging other people into it. Enjoying drugs doesn't make you a predator.

_Tess_ said:

In my experience this is true, I've only been offered drugs maybe 3 or 4 times in my life, and all but one of those times it was weed.

Then again, it probably really varies depending on who you're friends with, where you work, etc. So I guess schools have to prepare everyone

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Cearbhall said:

Same. I was never offered anything until university, and still only pot. It's something you seek out if you want it, like BDSM. People generally don't go around dragging other people into it. Enjoying drugs doesn't make you a predator.

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Exactly, I've only ever been offered weed, and every time I turned it out it was pretty much "ok cool". I felt so pressured into it and uncool for not doing it.

TX_CO_Matt said:

The ironic thing is that pretty much every substance, outside of water, has a chemical effect on your brain. I'm not saying this as an excuse to get drunk, it's ironic to me people are against alcohol because it "influences you", but not morally opposed to caffeine or glucose.

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To be fair, the Mormons do consider consuming caffeine to be a terrible sin. At least they're consistent.

Cearbhall said:

To be fair, the Mormons do consider consuming caffeine to be a terrible sin.

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Really? It seems like a terrible sin to me to ban caffeine.

Yeah, I got offered cocaine once and I was actually quite excited! All the years of preparation in school finally coming to fruition!

TX_CO_Matt said:

Really? It seems like a terrible sin to me to ban caffeine.

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Haha! Yes, really. They don't drink tea, coffee.. I think most drink coca cola though - go figure

_Tess_ said:

Yeah, I got offered cocaine once and I was actually quite excited! All the years of preparation in school finally coming to fruition!

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"YES, I FINALLY GET TO USE ALL THAT TRAINING ON HOW TO SAY NO!"

_Tess_ said:

Haha! Yes, really. They don't drink tea, coffee.. I think most drink coca cola though - go figure

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That doesn't add up.

TX_CO_Matt said:

"YES, I FINALLY GET TO USE ALL THAT TRAINING ON HOW TO SAY NO!"

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Yeah, haha

That doesn't add up.

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Take it up with them in the Christianity and World Religions forum - thats what everyone else does!

TX_CO_Matt said:

"YES, I FINALLY GET TO USE ALL THAT TRAINING ON HOW TO SAY NO!"

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Until the person is just like "Ok, have a nice day, bro" and walks away.

Cearbhall said:

Until the person is just like "Ok, have a nice day, bro" and walks away.

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ha, yeah exactly. They also assume every drug dealer is like this...

"I spent hundreds of dollars on my supply, time to go give away!"

Cearbhall said:

https://did%3Dd4b7616112544dc56fc590ba0b63067beb439589%3Bid%3D115445161468%3Bkey%3DmsnU4W1SttRQ1U5d6PXpvA%3Bname%3Dshrineart

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That's actually the post on Reddit I mentioned!

hahaha!

psst...I got some dihydrogen oxide over here...

Cearbhall said:

My goodness, people do this? What area do you live in, if you don't mind me asking? I can't imagine this happening where I am.

I'm not sure what I'd do. I suppose I would treat them the same way I would if someone started to harass me in another way, just to shock them into understanding the inappropriateness of what they were doing. (But obviously this would be difficult for someone with anxiety, and I'm not saying you should have done any differently.)

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Texas, land of crazy.

I'm a lot more assertive now, and I take offense at people treating me this way. These were pretty good learning experiences.

redblue22 said:

What do you expect from your average Christian of culture? (positive or negative)

For example, I've come to learn that they never apologize for anything.

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I reject Christian culture. If Christianity tries to mimic secular culture by creating a Christian version of something already in existence, they have flat-out failed. It's like my man Rob Bell said re: art.

Darth Bagel said:

I reject Christian culture. If Christianity tries to mimic secular culture by creating a Christian version of something already in existence, they have flat-out failed. It's like my man Rob Bell said re: art.

"I don't believe in Christian art or music. The word Christian was originally a noun. A person, not an adjective. I believe in great art. If you are an artist, your job is to do great art and you don't need to tack on the word Christian. It's already great. God is the God of Creativity. Categories desecrate the art form. It's either great art or it isn't. Followers of Jesus should have the first word instead of coming late to the game with some poor quality spin-off. Let's talk about things before everyone else."​

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Especially "CCM", there's more and more people saying every day now it's not poor quality, it's actual toxic to Christianity itself. The songs are theologically dumb, and are emotionally driven. Here's an example: When I Survey The Wondrous Cross v The Wonderful Cross

WISC
When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died
My richest gain, I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride

Forbid it Lord that I should boast
Save in the death of Christ my God*
All the vain things that charm me most
I sacrifice them to his blood

See from his head, his hands, his feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did e're such love and sorrow meet
Or thorns compose so rich a crown

Were the whole realm of nature mine
That we're a present far too small
Love so amazing, so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all

TWC
When I survey the wondrous Cross
On which the Prince of Glory died
My richest gain, I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride

See from His head, His hands, His feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did ever such love and sorrow meet?
Or thorns compose, so rich a crown

(chorus)
Oh the wonderful Cross, oh the wonderful Cross
Bids me come and die and find that I may truly live
Oh the wonderful Cross, oh the wonderful Cross
All who gather here by grace, draw near and bless Your name

Were the whole realm of nature mine
That were an offering far too small
Love so amazing, so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all

chorus

Oh the wonderful Cross, oh the wonderful Cross
Bids me come and die and find that I may truly live

Love so amazing, so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all

Why completely remove a verse, add a chorus, and change "present" to "offering"? To me, the songs have to completely different messages, it changes from a meditative and reflective song to one about the sacrifice of Jesus to a worship song about the cross. It takes away the mystery of the hymn by saying "here, here's the answer." Don't even get me started on How Great is Our God.

TX_CO_Matt said:

Especially "CCM", there's more and more people saying every day now it's not poor quality, it's actual toxic to Christianity itself. The songs are theologically dumb, and are emotionally driven. Here's an example: When I Survey The Wondrous Cross v The Wonderful Cross

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Indeed, and that's just one component of the whole machine. As a whole the movement has the combined theological depth of a doughnut.