I've just read a beautiful piece of ranting on the Huffington blog that I had to share. It's by Cenk Ugyur and it is titled "If You're a Christian, Muslim or Jew - You are Wrong."
http//www.huffingtonpost.com/cenk-uygur/if-youre-a-christian-mu_b_9349.html
For me he makes a good argument. His main question is why no one says it in the mainstream media. Any ideas?
Here's what I think, I think this guy is no better than Jehova's Witnesses who try and thrust their views down peoples throats when they come knocking on your door flashing copies of Watchtower in front of your face telling you that they're right and you're wrong etc etc......
The kind of Sh*t he has written will be very upsetting to a lot of religious people and I'm quite sure that that's the sole reason he wrote it.
This is clearly the mind of a very insular individual who can see no further than his own pathetic and twisted view on the world around him.
Jesus is said to have said on the cross, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?"
Wrong.
If people actually took the time to study the Bible rather than just blindly comment on it, they would have the facts. I won't comment on the Koran as I have not read it. But I know the underlying sense of the book is peace.
The actual translation of the Aramaic verse left in most translations of the Bible is "my God, my God, for this I have been spared". It was not a question, it was a statement. Jesus was acknowledging his place in the history of mankind. Our redeemer. Our saviour.
Religion is man's way of worshipping God. The less religion we practice, and the more we get a closer relationship with God or Allah or whatever we call Him, the better we will be as a people.
Religion has torn countries and continents apart. Religion has lost millions of people their lives.
It is against religion that this dude is obviously rebelling. Against the extremist views that ruin society and start wars. I don't blame him. But there are other ways to beat it than comparing Jesus Christ with the Easter bunny.
One day we will grow out of religion - either through getting a bit smarter or some event that religion cannot deal with.
In the meantime, welcome to the madness.
Ouch!
The article is as extreme as the rantings of any religious fanatic. It does give pause for thought and an opportunity for discussion and I am always up for that, but as I will not preach to others, nor will I be dictated to.
The article overlooks the fact that millions of very intelligent people follow their faith quietly and live good lives - it shouldn't matter to him or anyone else that they do. Do I categorise atheists as a single-minded group of lunatics? No I do not, yet some of them do just that when speaking of religion and people of faith.
My greatest regret is that the one place where I do not feel I can question my religion comfortably is in my own church. Not because I would be shot down in flames but because I don't want to upset anyone with my doubts. I would love to get into a good debate about it though.
Perhaps I should go and study theology.
Ouch!
The article overlooks the fact that millions of very intelligent people follow their faith quietly...
Agreed, Kentgirl.
Isn't "faith" the operative word in any kind of belief, religious or not, rather than the "facts", or lack of them this guy is ranting on about.
On this one, I also find it rather amusing to hear people who profess to be "non-believers" using the words "My God" or utter "Jesus" or "Christ" when they're exasperated or angry.
Isn't "faith" the operative word in any kind of belief, religious or not, rather than the "facts", or lack of them this guy is ranting on about.
Right on the nail!
Hebrews 11:1
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen.
My greatest regret is that the one place where I do not feel I can question my religion comfortably is in my own church. Not because I would be shot down in flames but because I don't want to upset anyone with my doubts. I would love to get into a good debate about it though.
This is the reason there are so many denominations in Christianity especially in this country. Anyone who does not conform to the beliefs and practices of the church ** is cast out, and is every bit as likely to start a new church down the road. Now, are you questioning your religion (traditions, doctrine), or your faith (believing, its power) or the word of God (understanding, knowledge)?
No problems of this kind in our church. It is a home fellowship where questions are welcomed. It's a bible study kind of scenario but we also praise, worship and testify.
You are welcome to drop me a line with any questions.
Edited to explain:
** = the church referring to the building, rather than the biblical meaning of church which is the body of Christ
On this one, I also find it rather amusing to hear people who profess to be "non-believers" using the words "My God" or utter "Jesus" or "Christ" when they're exasperated or angry.
Those expressions are indoctrinated into most of us at an early age and have become part of everyday speech. They are in no way related to some hidden religious belief. Just another expletive.
I agree with kent girl in this respect, there are many folks out there that practice there religion /belief in peace and privacy and it shouldnt bother us who dont . it doesnt .
its the ones who use religion it as a stick to try to beat non believers into submission that bother us .
Unfortunatly its those believes who are the most vocal /seen who cause all the problems
unfortunatly those are also the ones who have or seek to have POWER.
.these sort of articules will start to apprear more and more at this time of year ( prechristmas ) and will continue while christians insist that the time of celebration at the end of december belongs to them and them alone ,it doesnt it was here before christianity and they came and highjacked it ..
those of us who are not of that faith are claiming back that which was ours .
Ouch!
The article is as extreme as the rantings of any religious fanatic. It does give pause for thought and an opportunity for discussion and I am always up for that, but as I will not preach to others, nor will I be dictated to.
The article overlooks the fact that millions of very intelligent people follow their faith quietly and live good lives - it shouldn't matter to him or anyone else that they do. Do I categorise atheists as a single-minded group of lunatics? No I do not, yet some of them do just that when speaking of religion and people of faith.
My greatest regret is that the one place where I do not feel I can question my religion comfortably is in my own church. Not because I would be shot down in flames but because I don't want to upset anyone with my doubts. I would love to get into a good debate about it though.
Perhaps I should go and study theology.
See this is the point who is controlling your life you or those who you *dont wish to upset * ??
we only live once if you have some doubts about a faith you choice to practice its best to dispell thses doubts so you can live you life to the full making sure you have chosen the right path to follow as far as beliefs are concerned and not waking up every morning full of doubt and insecurity
those that get upset when you confront them with a *question * are the inmature brain washed masses and you can raise your self above them by being frankand open in a discussion .
im sure by reading your posts over the years you are a intelligent , caring and truly honest person and could as you do here put you point across without hate malice or rudeness .
let the real jan stand up and say whats on your mind even if you make a few *waves * i garrantee you will feel much better and more secure by doing so .
Well actually John...
Christians would like Christmas back!
Santa Claus - although named as a saint - is not a Christian icon. Well at least he shouldn't be. The whole thing has turned into a materialistic festival that has nothing to do with Christian values and many non-Christians are glad to celebrate it even though they don't celebrate the reason behind it.
Everyone steers clear of naming Christmas just so they don't offend the minority who object to it. It's more PC to say "season's greetings" and "happy holidays". Funny that the latter actually means "happy holy days".
They took the p out of the whole holiday merger last year with the "Happy Christmahanukwanzakah" commercial. A bold statement.
Christmas, whether it is celebrated on December 25th as part of the winter solstice or on September 11th on His actual birthday, is meant to be a celebration of the birth of mankind's saviour. It is not meant to be a 3 month long shopping fest.
The idea of holding it around the winter solstice is a fair one. Christ came at mankind's darkest time and brought us renewed light. He was a new beginning, very much the thought behind the winter solstice.
And anyway, any other holiday "that was there first" that celebrates something to do with the sun and the earth is fair game for a Christian as we believe God made all that stuff so why can't we!
The Germans at least split the materialistic St Nicholas holiday from the celebration of Christ's birth. They get all the presents out of the way on December 6th, and celebrate Christmas solemnly and quietly.
those that get upset when you confront them with a *question * are the inmature brain washed masses and you can raise your self above them by being frankand open in a discussion .
Couldn't agree more. As long as the question is worded properly, I would not be offended at anything anyone asks me about Christianity. But a lot of these church denominations and individual churches have their tradition which holds them together - legalism which is the very thing Christ fought against. He was free from sin - but overprotection of the letter of the law rather than the spirit is what sent Him to His death.
I had a discussion with a fellow Christian the other day on a similar topic. He said he was being persecuted by some of the local churches for not being teetotal and even offering a 40ozer to a vagrant who did some work for him in a charity store he runs.
I said to him "what did Jesus turn water into?"
Nowhere in the Bible does it say alcohol may not be consumed. It is just a legalism set down because people don't know how to handle those who depend upon it. A spirit of alcoholism can be cast out as simply as a headache as long as faith is strong enough. But mainstream churches ignore these vast sections of the Bible and continue to preach legalisms to try to keep their congregation on the straight and narrow.
Well actually John...
Christians would like Christmas back!
A brown man from the Middle East who syas he's the son of God versus an old dude from a coke can.
Choices choices...
Christmas really has become quite a disgusting holiday hasn't it?
I enjoyed the article, particularly the bit,
Sanity is an island battered in an ocean of frothing delusion.
Such a lovely and truthful statement and such a picture for the mind's eye.
I wasn't offended, I wasn't upset. I can see his point of view. I'm awfully tired of war in the name of any religion.
The Germans at least split the materialistic St Nicholas holiday from the celebration of Christ's birth. They get all the presents out of the way on December 6th, and celebrate Christmas solemnly and quietly.
I like celebrating the solstice with lots of noise and gaiety. The more noise and jollity you have the more psychic nastiness gets driven out. The long dark days before the sun comes back are perfect for all that nastiness to breed and hang around.
I can just imagine a German christmas. "You vill pull ze cracker and tell a vitty anecdote, and you vill only get zee vun helping of plum duff, ho ho ho."