Why are we tolerant?

[RealityCheck]

According to scripture (so you christians keep telling me...) your god is omnipotent and omniscient. If he doesn't want religious diversity he can make it disappear in a heartbeat. Why should an omnipotent deity need humans to do its work?

Unless of course your opinion is that your god is not omnipotent. In that case, feel free to ignore this posting.

And if God is not omnipotent, there's no reason to worship that God. If God's power is finite, then there easily could be another more powerful being that we should be worshipping instead. And another more powerful than that. All the way until you get to, again, the final, omnipotent, infinitely powerful GOD, and then... well that GOD could just eliminate all undesired religions without needing humans to do it.

 

[Lanakila]

Greetings my brothers and sisters.

This is my first post, so I apologize if the topic has been done already.

I'm wondering why so many people who claim to believe in our Lord tolerate the existence of other religions and ideological opposition.

According to scripture it is clear that God does not want religious diversity, and he certainly does not want secularism. Also, you've no doubt noticed that due to the blantant non-Christian immorality perpetuated by the mass media and society in general, many people who might otherwise be good, decent Christians are in fact being swayed to a darker path.

What I'd like to know from the other members is why (if you are) you are friendly to people like atheists for example knowing that they want to completely eliminate our faith and drive God from the world. Why tolerate Islam, or any non-Christian faith for that matter?

In other words, why tolerate Satan at all?

The type of Christian I once was believed in individual soul liberty. Meaning you can't force someone to believe as you do. I can't believe someone calling themselves a Christian thinks it's right to force everyone to believe as they do.

 

[DLaurier]

When I was a christian, We had a pastor who was a hatefull, biggoted, authoritarian, bully. And I incured his wrath and venom by being Metis instead of Anglo/saxon.

But there was another pastor who stood up to him.
The other pastor had to protect me from direct physical violence by the main pastor and his more devoted personal followers.

Certainly there are criminals and monsters among the christian flocks. But there are also noble and heroic people in those flocks.
We need those heroic people, to uphold the survival of the species.

 

[Robbie_James_Francis]

Hmm... here I am, a Fundamentalist, reading this unprovoked attack.
Just who was spreading intolerance and persecution again?

By 'fundamentalist' I meant someone of any religion (or indeed none) that did not want to accept a free society in which freedom of belief and conscience are basic and inviolable rights. Someone who actively went about trying to destroy such a society, and build a diametrically opposed one. Any attack against those that I would define as fundamentalists would not, in my opinion, be unprovoked. Rather it is provoked by their original attack on the basis of civilised society.

peace

 

[crazyfingers]

According to scripture it is clear that God does not want religious diversity, and he certainly does not want secularism.

“Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s” smacks of secularism, or at least separation of church and state to me.

What I'd like to know from the other members is why (if you are) you are friendly to people like atheists for example knowing that they want to completely eliminate our faith and drive God from the world.

I have no desire to eliminate Christianity. I simply demand that it not be imposed upon me.

I'm friendly to my Christian wife because I love her. She's friendly to me because she loves me.

However it certainly sounds like you think that atheism should be eliminated or done-to in some way.

What, exactly, do you suggest be done about... me... for example?

 

[elsbeth]

You need to go back and re-read the gospels. Jesus was very tolerant. Tolerance doesn't mean accepting that what we consider wrong beliefs are right, it means accepting that people have the right to believe what they choose, and that we are still commanded to love them. Read the story of the Good Samaritan, and read about the Samaritans and the Jews.

 

[ChristianCenturion]

By 'fundamentalist' I meant someone of any religion (or indeed none) that did not want to accept a free society in which freedom of belief and conscience are basic and inviolable rights. Someone who actively went about trying to destroy such a society, and build a diametrically opposed one. Any attack against those that I would define as fundamentalists would not, in my opinion, be unprovoked. Rather it is provoked by their original attack on the basis of civilised society.

peace

I find your use of Fundamentalist misapplied then.
Wouldn't your description there be better fitting Dictatorship or Aristocracy?

Or are the recent batch of postings (not just yours) only addressing Fundamentalism simply trying to redefine the term, overlooking the distinction between destruction and opposition, and committing self-contradiction in the process?

 

[Blackguard_]

I take it you mean born into a Christian family and not actually born a Christian. No-one is born a Christian, Muslim or whatever, just as no-one is born a Marxist or a Utilitarian.

I meant "actually born a Christian". It was a rhetorical question, the point being how is attitude of intolerence towards non-believers doesn't jive with his once being a non-beleiver. That is, if we're supposed to be intolerant of non-beleivers, why did someone tolerate/be friendly with him to teach/preach to?

 

[christalee4]

I find your use of Fundamentalist misapplied then.
Wouldn't your description there be better fitting Dictatorship or Aristocracy?

Or are the recent batch of postings (not just yours) only addressing Fundamentalism simply trying to redefine the term, overlooking the distinction between destruction and opposition, and committing self-contradiction in the process?

Unfortunately, much of fundamentalism now and throughout history, has and currently seeks to destroy, not just oppose, their enemies, presumably in the name of God.

The way they see it, is a dispensation of justice for God, even it means minimizing, and ultimately destroying those who oppose their aims. For if the very existence of those who refuse to convert or submit to the imposed laws of God is itself disobedience, then disobedience must be crushed.

http://www.serve.com/thibodep/cr/cultman.htm

http://www.serve.com/thibodep/cr/liberty.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_fundamentalism

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/01/17/warwithin.amanpour/index.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A38308-2005Apr8.html

Joseph Stalin: "Death solves all problems: no man, no problem."

 

[Cerberus~]

Greetings my brothers and sisters.

This is my first post, so I apologize if the topic has been done already.

I'm wondering why so many people who claim to believe in our Lord tolerate the existence of other religions and ideological opposition.

According to scripture it is clear that God does not want religious diversity, and he certainly does not want secularism. Also, you've no doubt noticed that due to the blantant non-Christian immorality perpetuated by the mass media and society in general, many people who might otherwise be good, decent Christians are in fact being swayed to a darker path.

What I'd like to know from the other members is why (if you are) you are friendly to people like atheists for example knowing that they want to completely eliminate our faith and drive God from the world. Why tolerate Islam, or any non-Christian faith for that matter?

In other words, why tolerate Satan at all?

Because we outnumber you 2 to 1. Always remember that.

 

[Robbie_James_Francis]

Fundamentalism: A usually religious movement or point of view characterized by a return to fundamental principles, by rigid adherence to those principles, and often by intolerance of other views and opposition to secularism.

peace

 

[ChristianCenturion]

Unfortunately, much of fundamentalism now and throughout history, has and currently seeks to destroy, not just oppose, their enemies, presumably in the name of God.

The way they see it, is a dispensation of justice for God, even it means minimizing, and ultimately destroying those who oppose their aims. For if the very existence of those who refuse to convert or submit to the imposed laws of God is itself disobedience, then disobedience must be crushed.

http://www.serve.com/thibodep/cr/cultman.htm

http://www.serve.com/thibodep/cr/liberty.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_fundamentalism

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/01/17/warwithin.amanpour/index.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A38308-2005Apr8.html

Joseph Stalin: "Death solves all problems: no man, no problem."

You have attempted to address Fundamentalism and yet cite minor components. Perhaps the topic is either too large for you to be able to address or you need to be more careful about your words.
IOW - put away the wide-brush or be guilty of falsely accusing innocent parties.

 

[ChristianCenturion]

Fundamentalism: A usually religious movement or point of view characterized by a return to fundamental principles, by rigid adherence to those principles, and often by intolerance of other views and opposition to secularism.

peace

Yes, that looks familiar - perhaps wikipedia or webster.
Would you mind making bold the part where it says destroy? I didn't see it.

 

[I'ddie4him]

After discussion with the team, The thread is to remain closed permanently.