quote:
Originally posted by dmm:
I could go on, but my point is that Quikngruvn is oversimplifying and misrepresenting the Southern Baptist position.
Regarding the Sunday sermon: My guess is that the preacher said something like "it's a sin to skip church in favor of the Super Bowl."
Oversimplified and misrepresented, perhaps. My point was that although there are some sects in the US that take their religious zeal to seemingly extreme positions (to outsiders, anyway), most Americans are not religious fanatics. I chose the Southern Baptists because (a) I know a bunch of Southern Baptists (and I went to a Southern Baptist university), and their actions often contradict their professed beliefs (but not all of them do!), and (b) as a sect, their credo is so conservative that they're a relatively easy target from the religious middle ground.
As for the Super Bowl remark, no, the pastor said they would go to Hell. The sermon was given on the morning of Super Bowl Sunday.
quote:
Originally posted by AJC:
Many an atheist behave along the definition of what I assume is meant by "A Christian manner", without believing in creationism.
Christian beliefs have been defining the western worlds laws and social attitudes for centuries. I dont think One needs a relationship with christ to understand right and wrong and most people are motivated to act according to what is defined by society as moral behavior, not because of the fear of god, but because that is what is defined by our society as correct and obey the law.
Ah, Jesus of Nazareth: prophet, revolutionary, and all around great guy. Personally, I believe in Jesus' teachings and try to act on his teachings in my life (though my human nature gets in the way). Am I a Christian? No, for the simple fact that I do not believe Jesus was the "Son of God" any more than the rest of us are sons and daughters of God. I believe man deified Jesus later, decades or centuries after his crucifixion. Does this make Christians' beliefs any less valid? No. But, I think I am more "Christian" than some who claim to be Christians, but act in markedly un-Christian ways.
Or, put more succintly, I gotta agree with AJC.
Ya know, my momma always told me never to discuss religion or politics in mixed company. Now I see why!
Quikngruvn, back in his asbestos flak suit