I am a Christian, and I often struggle with the behavior of Christians. There are times when I wish I could create a new label for what I believe, but the label “Christian” has been the descriptor for those that believe what I believe for a very long time. It’s not really up to me to purify or judge those around me, but rather to hold to what I believe is true and dialogue with all (within my camp and out of it) when it is possible.

Thanks for posting this, and I apologize for whatever behavior you were forced to put up with at the Creation Museum. I was brought there over christmas by conservative family members and found it difficult to take.

And, that above and beyond that, it will be deserved torture, for the ultimate crime of not being perfect. That we are all so horrible and loathsome that unending agony is our fair and reasonable, loving even, repayment.

Really, once you begin believing that, how can you not view other people as enemies?

I also have to say that every time in my life I have been cheated, treated badly, or lied to, it’s been by a “good christian”.

The Bible teaches that those who spread so called ‘disinformation’ about God are adversaries to Christians.

So yes, basically, but not with the same hostility that the term ‘enemies’ conjures up. Jesus in one of the Gospels called one of his disciples an enemy for questioning his plan to go teach the public. It isn’t a term of hatred as it is a term of skepticism, regardless of how certain idiots take it as free range to make asses out of themselves.

As for the persecution, some might believe it but most of the rest of us realize that is the farthest thing from the truth.

It’s not just Athiests vs Christians. People seem to find any way they can to divide themselves up into groups and find any reasons they can for why they are the better group of man.

I’m not pointing the finger at all people (I mean, hell, I catch myself doing it too sometimes), but there is a notable amount that makes me want to be devoid of society all together.

It’s great knowing there are Christians that don’t want to put us up on death row, that aren’t part of the masses screaming for us to stop discriminating, and any of our actual and perceived offenses. I love what Jesus says and does in the Bible, sometimes (things like him killing an out-of-season fig tree and whipping the apparent wrongdoers out of the temple when he goes to Jerusalem), but I take Gandhi’s stance here: I like your Christ. But I do not like your Christians. They are so unlike your Christ.

What a nice man.

I’m not sure exactly how i would feel if that experience were reversed ie me with a heap of Christians poking fun at my (lack of) beliefs. Pretty sure I’d be looking to bitch-slap someone!

@Aaron if you’re out there – was there anything said or done within the group that made you go “huh, hadnt thought of it that way”?

And kudos on being a Friendly Atheist. I’m an agnostic and sometimes encounter hostile atheists. It pushes me further away from atheism.