My two cents' worth...

"Christians and Muslims become a little harder for me to quantify... but,...
Christianity did give the embodiment of caring in the persona of Jesus..."

Muslims and Christians are the only two Monotheistic religions who, to my knowledge, have waged war at themselves, splitting into too many theological currents for one to keep count,
and eventually deifying their Prophets in order to impose themselves onto who simply wasn't interested.

Mark my words, Catholics in the US are NOT the same as catholics in Europe... you guys (US Catholics) are much more prudish, or have such a reputation.
Episcopals in the US Vs. Anglicans in England; Lutherans, Methodists or Evangelicals in the US are much more militant and "Bible thumper aggressive" than their counterparts in Europe.
Nobody in their right mind in Europe would even half think of climbing onto a soap box and shout "I am a true Christian, you guys have got it all wrong".
Far, far too many "woodshed preachers" and "Church of Jesus" tailor cut to one specific preacher's thoughts.

The Greek/Russian Orthodox are perhaps the only ones exempt from this "New / Old World Christianity" comparison.

Muslims are the same. You will find religious extremism in the poorer Nations, in the poorer portions of the population, in the poorer districts of town.
More Muslim extremism in Pakistan thna in India, even though "officially Hindu" India actually counts a larger Muslim population than Pakistan itself.
More Muslim extremism in those parts of the world, where the ruling class, regardless of religion, was seen/known to have done business with the "greedy Christians" (read that as "Greedy US / EU corporations").
Declining Muslim extremism (or integralism) in those parts of the world where the economy is OK ad things work and everybody's happy or at least satisfied, such as Indonesia or Malaysia or the Uunited Arab Emirates...

But... go to France, or England, where the Algerian/Arabic immigrants have created a 2, 3, 4 generation working class of Muslims, and you will see that religion is a part of their cultural/national identity and heritage.
They feel "different, emarginated" and they stress their being different instead of trying to be more "alike".

Just to prove my point, the Hindi (Indian) population is extremely well amalgamated into British society, and there is NO Hindi Integralism.
The Jamaican/Caribbean immigrants are equally well amalgamated, and there is no "Rasta" integralism (I will weed you to death, white man!   )

This has nothing to do with petty crime, this has to do with nationalism.

You guys and the Brits supported Zionism at the end of the 19th Century, and insisted on the creation of a Jewish State of Israel?
OK, fine...
Are you ready to support Wahabbism and allow the creation of the Muslim State of "Al Whateveriya" ?

"BTW, every atheist I know, which are many, thinks he is smarter than those who believe in Jesus.....
In doing such, they have enjoyed the very emotion of feeling superior to others, the very same claim of hypocrisy they assign to believers...... "

True, how true.

However, I have yet to see two atheists fighting over whose idea of atheism is more correct,

whereas it is all too common for two Christians (or two Muslims) of different denominations bash each other to death and beyond over whose idea of "God" is "more righteous".

Not to mention "My Jesus loves ME more than your Jesus loves you"

As I said, you guys have an issue with "designer Jesus"



Try this in Europe and you'll have the local shrink come and interview you (and think about finding foster care to your kids...)



GOTT MIT UNS, anybody ?  

Atheism teaches...  
One day,.. I will die, and I will become nothing more than dust... and so will you... as will everyone...
We are all together for this short time. We all have this gift of spark to enjoy...

Religion teaches...
One day, you will die and become dust, but I won't...
We are all together for this short time.  
Then you will burn forever, while I live forever with (Jesus, ... 72 virgins, ... wings,... pretty much anything I want)...

Bummer... ...
...




...but,... good luck with that... ...

Sorry, I feel the need to step in...

I am not the most educated person in the world, nor the most intelligent.

But it looks as though the believers are being very hypocritical to those who chose not to believe.

Does not your scripture ask you to "not judge", "love your fellow man"...
"he who is without sin to cast the first stone"...

I know most of those quotes apply to the story that was being told of someone in the book, but those are guidelines by how you should live you lives.

Simply by generalizing Atheists as a group to think they are "above" everyone is like an Atheist saying the same about religious folks saying "we will pray for you".
Simply because you believe, and stating you are "a better human being", than those poor souls who do not.

And there in is the hypocrisy....... "they [think] they are smarter than us", you are being judgemental..... is that a sin?  

Were as a lot of Atheist say "those Christians think they are better because they believe and we don't"...

Don't class all for the statements of one....  

I was baptized when I was 9.... was in an orphanage from 6-11 years old... bible study 3 times a week, church twice a week... learned a lot about "faith" and the bible.... had to memorize it.... I found it a great tool and guide, I also found it confusing and found that those who taught it did always follow it.

I ran across a thing when reading about the crusades and the family name "McGraw".. I thought they were Scottish..... (I am actually from a german decent) it comes from the Scottish education government site...so any tin hats might not believe its an accurate progression of history... the very first sentence is what gets me ...

http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/higherscottishhistory/ageofreformation/ba...

So as a former believer (self proclaimed Atheist now, because I truly cannot believe, even though I tried) I ask this one question.....

Why are all religious folk not Christian now?

I think this: Because back the day (before 1500), a majority of the folks (one church) believed in the story of Christ and it was the separate races (or groups if you want to be politically correct) that interpreted the story differently due to the language barrier and mans interpretation of the words another wrote. And then yet another group decided to use the tithes to their own personal advantage and not just the church (isn't that a sin?).

As I have grown, I have learned much about people and beliefs, and I have formed my own "opinion" about the religious culture.
Being an Atheist is not "a belief" or a "religion".... I do not gather with other Atheists to worship anything, I am not part of an Atheist Cult.... Just because there are Atheists that are evil, does not mean I am evil.. It would be like me seeing a chevy pickup truck and calling all pickups chevy's.

So please don't generalize when quoting something about someone...

Judge a person by what he or she does or says..... not by what other people do or say....

In the end, you will be a better person for it by not condemning all others for one persons actions....

After all I don't think all Christians believe as you do about everything.... or Catholics... or Muslims .....

There, I had my say..... thanks....

I wish you  well in all your endeavors....

Not sure if that was/is directed at me or not, however, I will field it  
First, all opines and input is appreciated, no need to feel sorry.

If I am reading your reply correctly, you are saying the same thing as my original posting/topic in how Obama is judging, or using his beliefs to set policy.
Re: atheist, I never said all as incorporating everyone of them, I used it in the context of " all the ones I know " which is a true statement, even if it doesn't bear witness to what another person experiences.
And all the people I know do judge others with prejudice, myself included, it's how we navigate through life. It is nothing more than a tool unless it is used to damage another person based on assumptions.

old_rider wrote:

Quote:



" Can't stop the signal Mal, The signal goes everywhere..."
                                                                                  Mr. Universe - "Serenity"

Way to go,Ray..
You might consider a book.

Asking for the ancient path
Jeff Baron
http://www.amazon.com/Asking-Ancient-Path-Jeff-Baron/dp/0615298753

I went in search of God, ran into me,
When He showed me my heart, and I was forced to see it for what it was, I was a wreck for a coupla days..
Grace, God's speaking into our lives, showing us we need to change.
Mercy, His patience with us while we fail to hear.

Of course there is more..

old_rider wrote on 02/24/15 at 10:28:13:


Sorry, OLDRIDER, but Catholics ARE Christians...