OT DOES RELIGION MEAN SOMETHING TO YOU?

[ABM]

I want to share a very personal story, and why I have such disdain for religion and those that like to shove their religious beliefs down people's throats.

I can appreciate your sad and twisted story. What your grandfather did was wrong - very wrong. Sadly, there are people in this world who've decided to take the gospel of Jesus into their own hands, and perverted it.

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

There seems to be a sense by some of you on this board that Christianity in this country is monolithic in doctrine and viewpoints on social issues like abortion, same sex marriage, etc. That’s certainly not the case. This map from Pew shows the distribution of Evangelical Protestants by state:
View attachment 48856
From my perspective, they probably should have used the term fundamentalist rather than Evangelical because the terms aren’t synonymous. Clearly, the southern US is considerably different than most of the rest of the country (thankfully, in my view).

I think in all aspects of our society we need to avoid stereotyping. There are quite a few Christians on this board and most of us are just here to talk basketball and enjoy the S2 community. I’d be happy to talk privately with any of you about my faith, but I’m not here to proselytize or push any agendas. I’ve posted on boards with crandc since the old ESPN days and I think she will vouch for what I’m saying on that point.

I’m sorry that some of you have had crappy interactions with some who call themselves Christians. There are awful, prejudiced and mean-spirited people in all aspects of human endeavor. Christianity seems to have had more than its share. That reflects badly on failed Christians, not Christ.

Best post of the thread!!!

Every judgementalist should read this and then reread it again.

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

When you consider the source....The KKK, Proud Boys and Oath Keepers and all those little confederate flag cults are actually fueled by "no information" ...wrong side of history. The truth is in fact the truth. The GOP and all the authoritarian liars that populate that cult can go fuck themselves and move to a dictator led country somewhere else. Trump is a traitor, a crook and a shallow husk of a human. He belongs behind bars. Fascism has no place in America...

In my study of history, this is not the case.
The truth is typically whatever the winner of whatever conflict is going on, says it is. Then it os passed down over time and new generations take the story as fact.

 

[MickZagger]

Lefttards praise antifa, which is much more violent than the groups like the proud boys.

What’s your version of a “leftard”? A democrat?

 

[beast blazer]

What’s your version of a “leftard”? A democrat?

People that support antifa, repealing the 2nd amendment, crt, sterilzing children, letting people out on bail after attempted murder...

10 years ago i sided more with democrats. And i still hate the neocons.

 

[MickZagger]

People that support antifa, repealing the 2nd amendment, crt, sterilzing children, letting people out on bail after attempted murder...

10 years ago i sided more with democrats. And i still hate the neocons.

I don’t think too many Democrats side with Antifa. I think it’s pretty universally understood that Antifa are just low life’s looking to cause trouble.

 

[crandc]

Sadly, there are people in this world who've decided to take the gospel of Jesus into their own hands, and perverted it.

You mean outlawing family planning, hating gays, banning books?

 

[Phatguysrule]

I can appreciate your sad and twisted story. What your grandfather did was wrong - very wrong. Sadly, there are people in this world who've decided to take the gospel of Jesus into their own hands, and perverted it.

Most of us don't care about the gospel of Jesus one way or the other.

We have a problem with people trying to push it off on others. By doing things like supporting laws based on that religion, and leaders who would force that religion on others, rather than allowing people to make choices themselves.

 

[Phatguysrule]

I don’t think too many Democrats side with Antifa. I think it’s pretty universally understood that Antifa are just low life’s looking to cause trouble.

Antifa literally means antifascism. Opposed to fascism. That's it. That's their stance.

Anarchists want to cause problems. I think you're confusing them.

 

[Phatguysrule]

There seems to be a sense by some of you on this board that Christianity in this country is monolithic in doctrine and viewpoints on social issues like abortion, same sex marriage, etc. That’s certainly not the case. This map from Pew shows the distribution of Evangelical Protestants by state:
View attachment 48856
From my perspective, they probably should have used the term fundamentalist rather than Evangelical because the terms aren’t synonymous. Clearly, the southern US is considerably different than most of the rest of the country (thankfully, in my view).

I think in all aspects of our society we need to avoid stereotyping. There are quite a few Christians on this board and most of us are just here to talk basketball and enjoy the S2 community. I’d be happy to talk privately with any of you about my faith, but I’m not here to proselytize or push any agendas. I’ve posted on boards with crandc since the old ESPN days and I think she will vouch for what I’m saying on that point.

I’m sorry that some of you have had crappy interactions with some who call themselves Christians. There are awful, prejudiced and mean-spirited people in all aspects of human endeavor. Christianity seems to have had more than its share. That reflects badly on failed Christians, not Christ.

I can appreciate your sad and twisted story. What your grandfather did was wrong - very wrong. Sadly, there are people in this world who've decided to take the gospel of Jesus into their own hands, and perverted it.

Best post of the thread!!!

Every judgementalist should read this and then reread it again.

Most in here couldn't care less about Christianity or Christians unless they are trying to impose their religion on others.

Some in here have supported doing so, and advocated for laws and leaders which which have made this a reality.

People are being judged by their actions and statements. Nobody is judging any religious person who hasn't supported removing or restricting the rights of others based on that religion.

If you don't like the reputation these people are giving your religion I would suggest you get vocal and take action to reduce the prominence of this kind of advocacy and behavior of the people who call themselves "Christian".

If the religious who are making the argument don't stand up and change things from within your religion will be characterized as more and more evil.

I don't think that will happen, and that's in part why I am now of the opinion that religion is evil. Putting so much emphasis on "faith" is illogical and dangerous.

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

Antifa literally means antifascism. Opposed to fascism. That's it. That's their stance.

Anarchists want to cause problems. I think you're confusing them.

That may be the meaning but that doesn't mean that dictates the behavior they exhibit.

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

Most in here couldn't care less about Christianity or Christians unless they are trying to impose their religion on others.

Some in here have supported doing so, and advocated for laws and leaders which which have made this a reality.

People are being judged by their actions and statements. Nobody is judging any religious person who hasn't supported removing or restricting the rights of others based on that religion.

If you don't like the reputation these people are giving your religion I would suggest you get vocal and take action to reduce the prominence of this kind of advocacy and behavior of the people in the "Christian".

Not a Christian, or religious. Just agreeing that lumping all into one is not productive.

 

[Phatguysrule]

That may be the meaning but that doesn't mean that dictates the behavior they exhibit.

"They" who? There is no "Antifa" organization.

Again, you are confusing Anti-fascists with Anarchists.

 

[Phatguysrule]

Not a Christian, or religious. Just agreeing that lumping all into one is not productive.

Like lumping Anti-Fascists in with Anarchists?

 

[riverman]

In my study of history, this is not the case.
The truth is typically whatever the winner of whatever conflict is going on, says it is. Then it os passed down over time and new generations take the story as fact.

History has plenty of "world is flat" lies masked as truth but that does not discount actual truth being truth.....although you can doubt it all you want. My forefathers didn't pass down racism or slavery to me. I learned the truth. Christians didn't pass on their afterlife beliefs to me either as again...I learned the truth. Debate just for the sake of debate is not going to change that.

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

"They" who? There is no "Antifa" organization.

Again, you are confusing Anti-fascists with Anarchists.

No i am not. Self proclaimed Antifa folk. Not all. Some.

 

[e_blazer]

Most in here couldn't care less about Christianity or Christians unless they are trying to impose their religion on others.

Some in here have supported doing so, and advocated for laws and leaders which which have made this a reality.

People are being judged by their actions and statements. Nobody is judging any religious person who hasn't supported removing or restricting the rights of others based on that religion.

If you don't like the reputation these people are giving your religion I would suggest you get vocal and take action to reduce the prominence of this kind of advocacy and behavior of the people who call themselves "Christian".

If the religious who are making the argument don't stand up and change things from within your religion will be characterized as more and more evil.

I don't think that will happen, and that's in part why I am now of the opinion that religion is evil. Putting so much emphasis on "faith" is illogical and dangerous.

Interesting take. I hope that you realize that your interpretation is colored by your own biases and prejudices. We all have them.

When it comes down to it, we're all a bunch of sentient matter that lives for a period of time on a piece of rock whirling around a minor sun in a smallish galaxy of stars amongst millions of other such galaxies. We all try to come to grips with unanswerable questions about how/why the universe exists/came into being and how/why life arose on at least this one planet whirling around a minor sun in an unimportant galaxy amongst millions of others. Ultimately, belief in billions of years of random chance and a few million years of evolution comes up against walls at the limits of human observation, science and understanding. Believing that there is nothing behind it all is no more logical than a belief that there is.

 

[ABM]

I’m sorry that some of you have had crappy interactions with some who call themselves Christians. There are awful, prejudiced and mean-spirited people in all aspects of human endeavor. Christianity seems to have had more than its share. That reflects badly on failed Christians, not Christ.

I certainly hope you don't consider me one of those. I do have my principles, but do my best to relate them in a respectful way to others.

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

Like lumping Anti-Fascists in with Anarchists?

Are you claiming that not one person who claims to be Antifa has never used fascist behaviors to push their point?

 

[e_blazer]

I certainly hope you don't consider me one of those. I do have my principles, but do my best to relate them in a respectful way to others.

No, I don't see you as one of those.

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

"They" who? There is no "Antifa" organization.

Again, you are confusing Anti-fascists with Anarchists.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antifa_(United_States)

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

"They" who? There is no "Antifa" organization.

Again, you are confusing Anti-fascists with Anarchists.

Ideology
Today, Antifa supporters maintain that fascism remains alive and must be countered with force. Many believe that “militant anti-fascism is a reasonable, historically informed response to the fascist threat that persisted after 1945 and that has become menacing in recent years.” Yet Antifa is not a single-issue movement, and Antifa supporters do not simply oppose fascism. “Anti-fascism,” Mark Bray writes in his study of Antifa, “is an illiberal politics of social revolutionism applied to fighting the Far Right, not only literal fascists.” Antifa sympathizers focus on other issues, including environmental activism, anti-war mobilization, and anti-racism.

 

[UncleCliffy'sDaddy]

Your post is full of shit and assumptions about my political observations...you can spout all the whataboutisms you like and you're still on the wrong side of the truth. I know what you're talking about and you can send your checks to Marjorie Taylor Green and Steve Bannon if you like. They'll appreciate your falling for their lies. As to me....you don't have a clue. fI worked for the Nixon propaganda machine in the war....don't fucking tell me about liars....Nixon and Trump are the world champs in the lying department. A million americans died of covid because of a lying president who cared more about the GNP than human life.....Joe Biden is a fucking bandaid for a gaping wound left by Trump....anybody with a pulse would be an improvement over that ignorant selfish son of a bitch. News flash....I didn't vote for Hillary or Trump....why did you?

Bro, take a breath and remember the old adage about never arguing with a fool...........and that you can't fix what isn't fixable. Save your breath for someone with actual intelligence and common sense.

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

Kindness, forgiveness, and peace.

we need more of all of it.

 

[riverman]

Kindness, forgiveness, and peace.

we need more of all of it.

Let's start with accountability

 

[Phatguysrule]

Interesting take. I hope that you realize that your interpretation is colored by your own biases and prejudices. We all have them.

When it comes down to it, we're all a bunch of sentient matter that lives for a period of time on a piece of rock whirling around a minor sun in a smallish galaxy of stars amongst millions of other such galaxies. We all try to come to grips with unanswerable questions about how/why the universe exists/came into being and how/why life arose on at least this one planet whirling around a minor sun in an unimportant galaxy amongst millions of others. Ultimately, belief in billions of years of random chance and a few million years of evolution comes up against walls at the limits of human observation, science and understanding. Believing that there is nothing behind it all is no more logical than a belief that there is.

That's all irrelevant to the discussion. Don't push your beliefs off on others.

If you are allowing people of your "congregation" or "religion" to do so without preventing it then that is allowing your beliefs to be used for evil. If that belief results in increased pain and suffering and it is pushed anyway it is evil.

However, I have never claimed to know or believe there is nothing behind all of it. There is no evidence, so I wouldn't claim to know or make others act a certain way because of it. That would be evil.

 

[Phatguysrule]

Ideology
Today, Antifa supporters maintain that fascism remains alive and must be countered with force. Many believe that “militant anti-fascism is a reasonable, historically informed response to the fascist threat that persisted after 1945 and that has become menacing in recent years.” Yet Antifa is not a single-issue movement, and Antifa supporters do not simply oppose fascism. “Anti-fascism,” Mark Bray writes in his study of Antifa, “is an illiberal politics of social revolutionism applied to fighting the Far Right, not only literal fascists.” Antifa sympathizers focus on other issues, including environmental activism, anti-war mobilization, and anti-racism.

Fascism is a far-right, authoritarian ultranationalist political ideology and movement,[1][2] characterized by dictatorial power, militarism, forcible suppression of opposition, belief in a natural social hierarchy, subordination of individual interests for the good of the nation, and strong regimentation of society and the economy[2][3] that rose to prominence in early 20th-century Europe.[4][5]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fascism

Wow, it's almost like all those things are tools of fascism...

 

[Phatguysrule]

Are you claiming that not one person who claims to be Antifa has never used fascist behaviors to push their point?

Are all Americans bad because a person claiming to be American kills other people? Especially if that person isn't actually American?

 

[ABM]

A little about me:

My father was a pastor of a Black church in N. Portland for over 40 years. I grew up in that church. When I turned 13, I left the church because I was tired of being picked on, spit on, and the like. We were just kids, though. I loved all the adults, and they loved me. My teens and 20's were a blur of sex, drugs, and rock and roll. I was living with a gal, and she ended up cheating on me. It was at that point, in my tears of sadness that I reached out to God in my kitchen. As I was sliding down the wall in tears, telling God that I was all His, a golden glow and warmth entered the room. No way else to describe it. I was at complete peace. I went to work the next day (Tigard) a completely changed person. My co-workers and friends couldn't believe it. My best work buddy exclaimed, "What kind of metamorphosis came over you, man?!!" Indeed, I was a changed person. Quit smoking, quit the drugs, quit the cussing, quit it all - cold turkey. That was 1989. All the time in my teens and 20's, my dad would tell me that he and my mom were praying for me and that they loved me. He told me the church was praying for me, as well. I went back to that church, stood up front and gave testimony that it was becuase of their prayers that God saved me. There wasn't a dry eye in the house. It was a beautiful thing. My dad was my best friend - always had been. He died @ 92 in 2014. My mom passed away in 2016.

Am I perfect? No. Do I not sin? No. Do I screw up? Absolutely. However, I believe in the forgiveness of sin as the Bible promises. I live my life in trust and faith that God has my back. He does. He's proven Himself to me time and time again.

 

[riverman]

Bro, take a breath and remember the old adage about never arguing with a fool...........and that you can't fix what isn't fixable. Save your breath for someone with actual intelligence and common sense.

Thanks bro...I deleted that post. Probably break time again..