Quote:
Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos
I don't know many (any) people that "dedicate" themselves to convincing people not to believe. They might say they don't believe, and question why people do, but they don't meet once or more a week in building (that enjoys rather favorable tax-status) to re-enforce their ideas and talk about where they'll end up after they die if they don't follow the rules from "the book".
Well I hate to say it, but if that's true (which it isn't), that's not very Christian of them.
Anyway, I'd like to hear what exactly qualifies/disqualifies someone as a "mainstream Christian". Can you tell me?
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I already have answered that. Mainstream is increasingly liberal minded, about ecumenical goals and being more of an advisor then a demanding presence. Yet, there are too many fire and brimstone people out there, and that is a substantial reason why more and more people become agnostic, apathetic or atheist. I'm pretty firmly with the first two of those... I just tend to like arguing for its contextual contributions cause I studied it and enjoyed it. I also find it annoying when people group all Christians together with a few radicals and attack it like Landover Baptists and others do. Many people get quite angry and offended with Islam is grouped with Al Qaeda... why is the stereotype alright here?
Also, its not a "dedication" as much as an enjoyment to trumpet how stupid people who believe are. I think literal readers of the Bible are fairly naiive... I also think there's too many maybes to take a stand, though it doesn't hurt to be educated.
The major churches have started to realize society is outgrowing them as a life warden and are liberalizing. Part of that is accepting people for who they are. Some are taking longer than others to do this and some are more dogmatic and devout than others. Hell, if you read the Bible, Jesus fraternized with a prostitute and she was one of his closest disciples (perhaps even his wife?). Good Christians tolerate. That's a tough pill to swallow for many.