What do you think of stupid questions about Christianity?
When I say a "stupid question", I mean a question with an answer so obvious that a response needs not to be provided. There was this college campus preacher coming to our school to preach us his form of Christianity. I attend a secular state university, so there are Christians and non-Christians alike. Although some questions my fellow students give feel like genuine questions, I feel that others are just plain stupid. One stupid question would be, "which god are you talking about?" At the time, I would shout out: "Duh! You are talking to an evangelical protestant preacher! Of course he is talking about the Christian god! Dumbass!" But I didn't voice out my response. Well, one person, presumably a fellow student, responded, "You belong to the culture you are born in! I was raised in a Catholic household, so I grew up to be Catholic," or something along those lines. Seriously, if you are talking to a Christian preacher, then it's totally obvious that the preacher is talking about the Christian God, right? Who else? Now, I understand if a person has never been exposed to Christianity (for I am such a person), but I have never dared myself to ask such an obvious/stupid question. If you are talking to Christian or a Muslim or Jew or a Hindu or a Buddhist, then would you expect that they are talking about or worshipping the god of their respective religions?
When I say a "stupid question", I mean a question with an answer so obvious that a response needs not to be provided. There was this college campus preacher coming to our school to preach us his form of Christianity. I attend a secular state university, so there are Christians and non-Christians alike. Although some questions my fellow students give feel like genuine questions, I feel that others are just plain stupid. One stupid question would be, "which god are you talking about?" At the time, I would shout out: "Duh! You are talking to an evangelical protestant preacher! Of course he is talking about the Christian god! Dumbass!" But I didn't voice out my response. Well, one person, presumably a fellow student, responded, "You belong to the culture you are born in! I was raised in a Catholic household, so I grew up to be Catholic," or something along those lines. Seriously, if you are talking to a Christian preacher, then it's totally obvious that the preacher is talking about the Christian God, right? Who else? Now, I understand if a person has never been exposed to Christianity (for I am such a person), but I have never dared myself to ask such an obvious/stupid question. If you are talking to Christian or a Muslim or Jew or a Hindu or a Buddhist, then would you expect that they are talking about or worshipping the god of their respective religions?
I have no problem with any question, as long as its asked sincerely.
The problem is that the atheists who come here don't come to ask sincerely.
I have no problem with any question, as long as its asked sincerely.
The problem is that the atheists who come here don't come to ask sincerely.
Some do, but the majority ruins the expectations of the sincere minority.
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“There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old’s life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged . One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs.”
― John Rogers
If you're telling me what happens on this forum, then I'll tell you that atheists in real life behave no differently than they behave online. There was this itinerant campus preacher a few weeks ago. He said the most unpopular Christian views in mainstream American society, and as a result, he was mocked and humiliated for his beliefs by the secular majority. It might be his religious freedom to express his views, but why anyone would willingly submit to public disdain and humiliation is beyond me. Sometimes, I wonder if the strange speech of his was actually recited. Sometimes, I wonder why he chose a secular university to preach. His religious views would be considered Fundamentalist Christian, which makes him very unpopular and unwanted. Still, his behavior just confounds me. I have recently taken a Psychology course, and I know that people are social creatures, always seeking social approval. It appears that some Christians don't really care about social approval or social acceptance. I wonder how would conservative Christians react to these types of people.
If you're telling me what happens on this forum, then I'll tell you that atheists in real life behave no differently than they behave online. There was this itinerant campus preacher a few weeks ago. He said the most unpopular Christian views in mainstream American society, and as a result, he was mocked and humiliated for his beliefs by the secular majority. It might be his religious freedom to express his views, but why anyone would willingly submit to public disdain and humiliation is beyond me. Sometimes, I wonder if the strange speech of his was actually recited. Sometimes, I wonder why he chose a secular university to preach. His religious views would be considered Fundamentalist Christian, which makes him very unpopular and unwanted. Still, his behavior just confounds me. I have recently taken a Psychology course, and I know that people are social creatures, always seeking social approval. It appears that some Christians don't really care about social approval or social acceptance. I wonder how would conservative Christians react to these types of people.
True Christians are seeking to help others no matter what the cost. I have been in similar situations and some of the biggest ridiculers of what I was doing and I thought would never change, came up sometimes years later sincerely wanting to know more. It seems their live was not fulfilling, they had huge problems (hidden from others), and they wanted purpose and meaning. My ideas where a contrast to what they had been hearing and were following.
You have to remember Christ was not “popular” in His day and people have not changed. Remember “unconditional Love” by definition does not require a positive response from anyone and even expecting or desiring a positive response from some is not part of “unconditional Love”. Unconditional Love is Godly type love so it is not logical to secular beings.
True Christians are seeking to help others no matter what the cost. I have been in similar situations and some of the biggest ridiculers of what I was doing and I thought would never change, came up sometimes years later sincerely wanting to know more. It seems their live was not fulfilling, they had huge problems (hidden from others), and they wanted purpose and meaning. My ideas where a contrast to what they had been hearing and were following.
You have to remember Christ was not “popular” in His day and people have not changed. Remember “unconditional Love” by definition does not require a positive response from anyone and even expecting or desiring a positive response from some is not part of “unconditional Love”. Unconditional Love is Godly type love so it is not logical to secular beings.
That's exactly when the itinerant preacher said! He claimed that he was trying to "save" us or "help" us from what he perceived as "sexual immorality" on the campus - fornication, masturbation, homosexuality, pornography, smoking, drinking, etc - and kept reminding us that, if we don't repent or recognize Jesus Christ as our savior, then we would burn in hell. It's a fire-and-brimstone sort of preaching style. The preacher seems to be excessively focused on certain inappropriate lifestyle behaviors on the college campus and mostly sexual sins. He wore two buttons on his shirt. One said, "No homo" and the other said "No porno". When I first saw that guy who wore suspenders (claiming that he wore suspenders because he's a Fundamentalist Christian) and the guy with the cowboy hat (with a little kid that looks exactly like him), I thought they were just joking, but apparently they were being serious.
I personally think that there is a paradox in Christianity. On one side, it seems attractive, because of the "turning the other cheek" doctrine, which dictates if one slaps you on one cheek, turn the other: this is a metaphor for non-violence. On the opposite side, it seems unattractive, because its beliefs are perceived to be backwards and largely in conflict with a secular humanist society. However, I think it is possible for one to be a Christian and not cause so much trouble and controversy: separation of church and state. Worship privately. Vote publicly. Just don't vote based on personal religious beliefs, but those that would benefit the secular state in the long run.
When I say a "stupid question", I mean a question with an answer so obvious that a response needs not to be provided. There was this college campus preacher coming to our school to preach us his form of Christianity. I attend a secular state university, so there are Christians and non-Christians alike. Although some questions my fellow students give feel like genuine questions, I feel that others are just plain stupid. One stupid question would be, "which god are you talking about?" At the time, I would shout out: "Duh! You are talking to an evangelical protestant preacher! Of course he is talking about the Christian god! Dumbass!" But I didn't voice out my response. Well, one person, presumably a fellow student, responded, "You belong to the culture you are born in! I was raised in a Catholic household, so I grew up to be Catholic," or something along those lines. Seriously, if you are talking to a Christian preacher, then it's totally obvious that the preacher is talking about the Christian God, right? Who else? Now, I understand if a person has never been exposed to Christianity (for I am such a person), but I have never dared myself to ask such an obvious/stupid question. If you are talking to Christian or a Muslim or Jew or a Hindu or a Buddhist, then would you expect that they are talking about or worshipping the god of their respective religions?
Depends.
Is the question out of legitimate inquisitiveness? That is, perhaps it's not so much a "stupid question" as it is a question borne out of legitimate ignorance, confusion, or at the very least interest that only sounds stupid.
Or is the question more of a rhetorical act of hostility? Thus it's less question and more rhetorical jackassery.
To the first, I'd probably try and respond legitimately; to the latter I'm not sure, there may be legitimate response for the sake of good information or might just ignore it so as to not satisfy a heckler's need to heckle.
-CryptoLutheran
__________________ To be crucified with Christ means to be in the business of dying. Our arms should be outstretched, unable to make a fist or be armed to injure. To be crucified is to be too busy suffering, serving, and loving everyone that we don't have time to think ill or wish one harm. "When Christ calls a man, He bids him, 'Come and die.'" (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)
The original question is all about Apostasy, it seems. Those who oppose God are what is termed apostate. A real Atheist might just shrug off Christianity and go away, but Apostates love to imitate, defile, and corrupt the faith for personal gain. They are all around us today as servants of Satan, as the latter times of the Christian faith in the world draw to a close. These attackers will then see what they brought upon themselves in the judgment of God.
If the question is asked sincerely, it's never stupid. I'm learning to never assume too much about what people may or may not know when talking to them about Christianity, because the days are gone when the majority of American parents are raising their children as cradle Christians. Many people think and assume that Christianity is just a matter of "There's a God, there's a devil, there's a heaven, there's a hell. Try to be a good person and you'll go to heaven. Bad people go to hell." That doesn't even begin to speak of what it's really all about.
It's a shame the gentleman that came to your campus didn't spend more time talking about the love and forgiveness of Jesus than getting in your face about his moral/social views. That's not to say Christians don't believe some things are right and some things are wrong, and we believe in taking a stand for those things which we think are wrong. But that shouldn't be the primary focus of the message. If it were, and people still mocked and insulted him, that would be something to be proud of, for "The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" (1 Corinthians 1:18), and, "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." (Matthew 5:11-12)
Peace
__________________ It is my intention on this website to be as respectful as possible of everyone and to "speak the truth in love", as best I can. I certainly do not intend to ever offend or upset anyone. If I ever do so (unintentionally), please PM me and let me know that I've done so, so I may apologize if needed.
When I say a "stupid question", I mean a question with an answer so obvious that a response needs not to be provided.
If someone asked a question with an "obvious" answer I'd just assume they honestly didn't know. I once had an ex-boyfriend who's parents didn't understand there were other religions than Christianity.. you have no idea what I'm saying here, they refused to believe me that not only were people out there Jewish or Muslim (Jewish! I mean come on those people were the pre-cursor to Christians!) but also that some people had no religion at all.
It was, on the one hand, somewhat infuriating -- I can't lie about that.. but, on the other hand, they were honest people. I didn't think ill of them and I didn't express any frustration (even though I may have felt some). They honestly had no idea, and I can't fault them for that really (well maybe I could because they were Christians and clearly had never read a Bible in their lives, but whatever ).
I try to just view things from someone's personal level before I make any statements, that's all.
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