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I take it that you are agnostic, I apologize if I am incorrect. Some times nonbelievers are treated very poorly by Christians, I understand your frustration. But something Christians need to remember is that nonbelievers are (IMO) every bit as deserving of love and hospitality as any other believer. But I don't feel the need to flex spiritual muscles. I know anything I can say will never make you believe in something that you don't believe in. But I would prefer nonbelievers walk away not resenting me. I would rather hear, "those Christian folks are good people". Sadly some give us a bad name.
I agree with you very much here Clax and that is coming from a Christian. Remember the WWJD craze? Sometimes I think Christians (as a whole) don't ever remember what he did. Jesus was the one who was out having lunch with the non-believers and the "sick and perverted" and pretty much any other type that modern Christians call unsavory. And at no point did he ever insist that they convert or be killed or shunned (depending on which version of Christianity you are looking at). He simply gave his message and let them choose. No campaigning for laws based on his beliefs/truth or anything.
I do disagree with you that what we as Christians say will never make someone believe in something that they don't believe in. We'll just probably never do it through force or scare tactics. The example of our lives and being kind and accepting of others will, and has done it in my experience, brings others over. And I've sadly seen other Christians push those teetering on the edge away from Christ.
I don't know why people are so insistent on forcing beliefs on each other. we can get along, we should get along. I find it disturbing that a self proclaimed atheist has more Christ like personality than those that claim to be Christian.
Amen brother.
You seem like a good fellow, and much like the Christians and Muslims I get along with (don't know any practising Jews, Hindus, or Buddhists). Regardless, I must confess that I do feel animosity towards most organized belief systems. IMO, all that is good about religion can be found without it, but it's only through religion that a good person can commit evil. I believe that religion, however well-intentioned, is thought-poison -- mitigated only be the advancement of society.
I will have to disagree with you on your last two statements, especially the bolded one. There is evil in the world that even most atheist and agnostics recognize. Hitler, Capone, hell most drug lords for that matter, not to mention those who do their bidding. One does not have to cite a religious based reason to commit acts of evil.
As to the other, spirituality is what our personal connection to whatever deity/deities we follow is. Religion is merely a tool that allows many of us who share a common deity to come together. Religion is neither the saving grace of man, nor is it mind-poison. Like any tool, the results of its use are based upon who uses it.