Originally posted by ModernAcademia

Originally posted by 44soulslayer
The pope is not a Nazi… I have no idea what you’re talking about.

He grew up in Nazi Germany and was part of the Hitler Youth movement

Ok, here's where I step in again. Growing up in Nazi Germany did not make one a Nazi. Being a member of the Hitler Youth was compulsory for kids, and did not make one a Nazi. Your statement is the height of idiocy, and is offensive to anybody from a German background. I trust the rest of your argument is a whole lot less flawed than this one.

Originally posted by ModernAcademia
I am Hindu, I think I know
Did you read my posts in this thread stating how it is monotheistic?
Cows aren't worshipped, they are taboo

Who told you that cows are not worshipped?

It is respected as a god. Didnt you hear of 'komatha'(tamil). The cow gives us milk, butter,curd etc.., and these form a part of the staple diet, and cows are worshipped for that.

And in ancient times, without cows the general life didnt exist. All day to day activities are based on cows.

I assume that you are from the north?

Here in south India, every January there are three days of festivities called 'pongal'(in tamil, I dont know the name in other languages), which celebrates the previous years harvest and the farmers plant seeds for the next harvest. The first day is general celebrations which comes on January 14th and the next day is 'mattu pongal', this is the day of cows, the horns of cows are painted and pooja's are performed for the cow.

And you are saying cows arent worshipped.

Deny ignorance- ATS style.

[edit on 2/1/09 by peacejet]

You don't want people converting Hindus to Christianity.
Christians don't want their people converted to Islam.
Protestants don't want their people converted to Catholic.
People of all religions don't want their people converted to secular humanism.

etc etc etc

It's the way of religion.
Convert others to be followers.

Crusades , Conversion... Why cant you let the hindus be. Christianity in effect wipes out all cultures it converts... South Americans no nothing about their own history. Mayas, Incas, Aztecs, Zulus, Norse...do we know anything about them..Arent there enough christians already...by conversion you finish 1000's of years of traditions.. All religions are intrinsically good.. But by offering money , etc and fooling uneducated people you convert them... you finish a legacy, a tradition a culture...no fun..if every where in world everything is alike.

Any educated, rational fool would understand religion was only meant to give hope, civilize the prehistoric man by fear/faith and make him live in a society..it achieved its aim across cultures across religions. Christianity is no better than any other religion - they are all same.

Dont kill ancient cultures
Dont Kill age Old Traditions...

You would expect me to have bread instead of noodles ... thank you very much...you are better off with your bread and me with my noodles...You can't enjoy our Asian cuisine when you feel like it if we stopped making noodles...so is the case with Conversions...Just let them be

Originally posted by 44soulslayer
If evangelists were really concerned about "saving souls", why not try and "reclaim" lapsed Christians. e.g. Only 30% of people regularly go to church on Sunday/ describe themselves as Christian in the UK. Why not target those instead of the poor in other countries?

Christians are commanded to "Go and tell the good news" not "beat someone over the head with the gospel until they believe". A good thing too because the latter is pointless. If someone hears the good news and rejects it, what more is there to say?

Originally posted by 44soulslayer
I think the reason is- it is considerably easier to convert someone who is in dire poverty. This isn't about preaching or saving so much as it is about cultural and religious expansionism.

When you give a penny to someone in poverty, they say 'thank you'. When you give a penny to a billionaire, you'd likely insult them. Unfortunately the turnstile at the pearly gates only works when you insert that particular penny.

[edit on 4-2-2009 by saint4God]

Originally posted by saint4God
Christians are commanded to "Go and tell the good news" ...

Interesting....

In what relation is that with "Do unto others as you would have them do to you" ?

Originally posted by 5thElement

Originally posted by saint4God
Christians are commanded to "Go and tell the good news" ...

Interesting....

In what relation is that with "Do unto others as you would have them do to you" ?

I've been looking for good news in on CNN and Fox News for weeks. There's none to be had. I could use a little happy news in these times. Most of what I could get is from the few friends and family who haven't lost jobs. Good news is just as important (some would argue moreso) than regular or bad news. It gives hope. Where there is hope there's positive ambition. Where there is positive ambition there's the opportunity for good results. A good tying in of sharing good news and going and tell the good news is:

"Test everything. Hold on to the good." - 1 Thessalonians 5:21

When Christ spoke of doing unto others, he specifically meant treating others with courtesy, respect and above all love. For this reason he also said:

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." - John 13:34

as well as:

"But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you," - Matthew 5:44

When you have good news and have love then it becomes a desire of the heart to "go and tell the good news" so that others may reap the benefits of heavenly inheritance.

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." - 1 Corinthians 13:13

Originally posted by AshleyD
So 2.3% who are being persecuted are actually persecuting the billion plus minority? I know many here will think it's ok because they're just stupid Christians but stop and think about it.

No, it's not ok...All of ths garbage has to stop. It will....Be it by will or by sword. It will stop.

Originally posted by 44soulslayer
Isn't there an element of preying upon the poor though?

I've never heard of giving as predatory before.

Originally posted by 44soulslayer
I mean its admirable that some of the missionaries are doing charity work, but the ulterior motive is always "more souls for Christ".

There's no 'brownie point' system in the Bible. Heaven is not achieved by good deeds:

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." - Ephesians 2:8-9

Saint Peter isn't going to ask, "how many souls have YOU won?" because it isn't man who saves man. It's God who saves man through Christ. We're merely messengers.

"I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus." - Acts 20:21

Can you MAKE someone have faith?

Originally posted by 44soulslayer
A rich man rejects any external solicitation over religion because he will only convert when he truly wants to. A poor man will convert out of a sense of thankfulness and perhaps obligation.

It's hard to analyse stereotypes because of the vast amount of variability among people.

"Rich and poor have this in common: The LORD is the Maker of them all." - Proverbs 22:2

We're all in the same boat.

"Hear this, all you peoples;
listen, all who live in this world,
both low and high,
rich and poor alike" - Psalm 49:1-2