Starred and flagged because I agree 100%.
For most Christians in the States their definition of "persecution" is "I can't convert you."
It's like playing the "race" card except much more transparent, because they *chose* to become Christian.
Even more frustrating is when one does try to expose this narcisism for what it is, they are met with an article about how Christians are killed in
India or China or some faroff place.
Persecution or Imagination, page 1
privacy
Topic started on 5-10-2008 @ 09:48 PM by mmariebored
I believe that many Christians today are not as persecuted as they imagine they are. The biggest reason they imagine they are persecuted is that, in
the Bible, they are told that they will be persecuted just for following Christ.
All of the gospel books have instances of persecution and the "prophetic" books tell of futuristic persecution being far worse than anything suffered in the history of suffering, typical of Biblical progressions of horrors. Nice book.
So naturally, one who follows such a book will mentally prepare themselves for any and all attacks made by nonbelievers, even if there's a seemingly good reason for the "persecution" OTHER than simply because they are Christian.
I'm talking about Christians who claim they are specifically targeted for persecution.
The holocaust has nothing to do with Christian persecution. Hitler hated the Jews because he felt threatened by them. He targeted them for extermination along with anyone he felt was a threat. I'm sure, had his plans succeeded, his camps that destroyed so many Jewish people would have gladly welcomed any and all other enemies that disrupted his plans of world domination.
Nero, for similar reasons as Hitler, killed off many early Christians.
Yes, they actually WERE "persecuted".
From wiki:
If you go down the whole line throughout the history books, you'll find that the other Christians who were persecuted were mostly done so by their own.
Christians were the biggest persecutors of anyone who didn't follow their beliefs because they felt they had the right to do so, given by Jesus himself. Similar to the second largest religious group's pattern of behavior towards people who aren't a part of their "faith", though, Christians were slightly less violent, dew to self-righteousness.
"The Mohammedan religion too would have been much more compatible to us than Christianity. Why did it have to be Christianity with its meekness and flabbiness..."--Hitler
All of the gospel books have instances of persecution and the "prophetic" books tell of futuristic persecution being far worse than anything suffered in the history of suffering, typical of Biblical progressions of horrors. Nice book.
So naturally, one who follows such a book will mentally prepare themselves for any and all attacks made by nonbelievers, even if there's a seemingly good reason for the "persecution" OTHER than simply because they are Christian.
Originally posted by 19DCW71
That's like saying biblical Christians were only slaughtered because they believed they were persecuted. The Jews in biblical times were only slaughtered because they believed they were. The holocaust only happened because they BELIEVED they were persecuted.
So if I analyzed this statement, I would have to take it to mean that it's either basically the fault of the ones persecuted for believing themselves to be or the persecution wasn't real but only a perception in their own minds.
I'm talking about Christians who claim they are specifically targeted for persecution.
The holocaust has nothing to do with Christian persecution. Hitler hated the Jews because he felt threatened by them. He targeted them for extermination along with anyone he felt was a threat. I'm sure, had his plans succeeded, his camps that destroyed so many Jewish people would have gladly welcomed any and all other enemies that disrupted his plans of world domination.
Nero, for similar reasons as Hitler, killed off many early Christians.
Yes, they actually WERE "persecuted".
From wiki:
Early Christian tradition often holds Nero as the first persecutor of Christians and as the killer of Apostles Peter and Paul. There was also a belief among some early Christians that Nero was an Antichrist....
..."since the Jews constantly made disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus, he [the emperor Claudius] expelled them from Rome" ("Iudaeos impulsore Chresto assidue tumultuantis Roma expulit"). These expelled "Jews" may have been early Christians, although Suetonius is not explicit. Nor is the Bible explicit, calling Aquila of Pontus and his wife, Priscilla, both expelled from Italy at the time, "Jews."
If you go down the whole line throughout the history books, you'll find that the other Christians who were persecuted were mostly done so by their own.
Christians were the biggest persecutors of anyone who didn't follow their beliefs because they felt they had the right to do so, given by Jesus himself. Similar to the second largest religious group's pattern of behavior towards people who aren't a part of their "faith", though, Christians were slightly less violent, dew to self-righteousness.
"The Mohammedan religion too would have been much more compatible to us than Christianity. Why did it have to be Christianity with its meekness and flabbiness..."--Hitler
reply posted on 5-10-2008 @ 11:21 PM by Bigwhammy
reply to post by AshleyD
I know Ashley, I'm sorry some people who post here are so callous cruel and brutal to diminish lives based on beliefs. I know Americans personally that have been jailed and are in threat of death for being missionaries, simply feeding the poor and spreading the gospel. Their lives are at risk and these twisted jokers are cracking jokes.
If this thread was about a racial or ethnic group it would be locked and/or deleted ... BUT because it demeans Christians and trivializes their murder it is acceptable. This threads existence is in fact evidence which disproves its own premise. It is a prime example itself of Christian persecution in that it trivializes murder, torture, and human rights violations in a pathetic attempt to somehow feel superior and have a chuckle.
I know Ashley, I'm sorry some people who post here are so callous cruel and brutal to diminish lives based on beliefs. I know Americans personally that have been jailed and are in threat of death for being missionaries, simply feeding the poor and spreading the gospel. Their lives are at risk and these twisted jokers are cracking jokes.
If this thread was about a racial or ethnic group it would be locked and/or deleted ... BUT because it demeans Christians and trivializes their murder it is acceptable. This threads existence is in fact evidence which disproves its own premise. It is a prime example itself of Christian persecution in that it trivializes murder, torture, and human rights violations in a pathetic attempt to somehow feel superior and have a chuckle.
reply posted on 5-10-2008 @ 11:28 PM by EricD
reply to post by Bigwhammy
I think it is overstating it quite a bit to think that this thread constitutes persecution.
A silly OP with callous and demeaning follow-ups, but it doesn't rise to the level of persecution.
Seriously, I can't stress strongly enough that I can't remember ONCE in my 40 years on this Earth having a conversation with another Christian who that he was being persecuted for his religion.
Eric
I think it is overstating it quite a bit to think that this thread constitutes persecution.
A silly OP with callous and demeaning follow-ups, but it doesn't rise to the level of persecution.
Seriously, I can't stress strongly enough that I can't remember ONCE in my 40 years on this Earth having a conversation with another Christian who that he was being persecuted for his religion.
Eric
reply posted on 5-10-2008 @ 11:39 PM by mmariebored
Originally posted by EricD
reply to post by Bigwhammy
I think it is overstating it quite a bit to think that this thread constitutes persecution.
A silly OP with callous and demeaning follow-ups, but it doesn't rise to the level of persecution.
Seriously, I can't stress strongly enough that I can't remember ONCE in my 40 years on this Earth having a conversation with another Christian who that he was being persecuted for his religion.
Eric
The whole reason I posted this thread is because the person I quoted in the OP claimed they were a "persecuted" Christian.
I don't believe it's OK to kill Christians ANYWHERE on this planet, and I don't deny this goes on. But the groups who kill Christians are, nine times out of ten, groups who would kill ANYONE who goes against their own beliefs, government, etc.
This thread is about Christians, right here in America, who cry and whine about being "persecuted" JUST for being a Christian...it makes no sense.
[edit on 5-10-2008 by mmariebored]
reply posted on 5-10-2008 @ 11:49 PM by AshleyD
reply to post by asmeone2
I can understand that. In the East they are tortured, murdered, have their property confiscated, imprisoned, etc. In the West, we're pretty much ridiculed. As irritating as that is, pretty much every group is ridiculed in one way or another. I let it get to me too much but that is just how it goes. I'm even guilty of it, too.
The O.P. didn't really even bother me so much but once I read the 2nd comment basically implying Eastern persecution was excusable because it's just Christians and their 'stupid' beliefs made my blood boil. I took that as making light of something very, very serious.
I was planning on totally ignoring this thread because I can understand how the 'persecuted Western Christian' melodramatic complex can come across to non-Christians. I try hard to see it both ways- Until I read that one comment and became incensed. Persecution- real, solid, physical persecution, is not acceptable under any means.
[edit on 10/6/2008 by AshleyD]
I can understand that. In the East they are tortured, murdered, have their property confiscated, imprisoned, etc. In the West, we're pretty much ridiculed. As irritating as that is, pretty much every group is ridiculed in one way or another. I let it get to me too much but that is just how it goes. I'm even guilty of it, too.
The O.P. didn't really even bother me so much but once I read the 2nd comment basically implying Eastern persecution was excusable because it's just Christians and their 'stupid' beliefs made my blood boil. I took that as making light of something very, very serious.
I was planning on totally ignoring this thread because I can understand how the 'persecuted Western Christian' melodramatic complex can come across to non-Christians. I try hard to see it both ways- Until I read that one comment and became incensed. Persecution- real, solid, physical persecution, is not acceptable under any means.
[edit on 10/6/2008 by AshleyD]
reply posted on 5-10-2008 @ 11:53 PM by AshleyD
reply to post by mmariebored
SNIPPED
But not before I remind you of your own words:
Yes. Agree. Kill them, torture them, confiscate their property, imprison them... to prevent the spread of Christianity... er 'stupidity.'
Ignored.
ADMIN EDIT: Removed unnecessary name calling.
[edit on 6-10-2008 by Crakeur]
SNIPPED
But not before I remind you of your own words:
I don't believe it's so much "persecution" over there, as it is preventing mass stupidity.
Yes. Agree. Kill them, torture them, confiscate their property, imprison them... to prevent the spread of Christianity... er 'stupidity.'
Ignored.
ADMIN EDIT: Removed unnecessary name calling.
[edit on 6-10-2008 by Crakeur]
What if all the major religions started out with the same story and it slowly diverged from there
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