Those of you who believe bringing Christianity to the Middle East would be a good thing (tm), are missing two very important points:
(A.) They already have their own religion. The vast majority of Muslims (99.99%) are perfectly peaceful people just like Christians here. So don't go telling me how "evil" Islam is or how "violent" Islam is or whatever nonsense I'm sure you're waiting to spring. Your god is their god and vice-versa. I don't understand this overwhelming need for Christians to go over there and stir things up.
(B.) Muslims and Middle Easterners don't take kindly to being converted. Their memory is long and the crusades are still fresh in their minds. If you think going over there and attempting to convert them to Christianity isn't going to stir up a fierce anger and extremely negative reaction, then you don't understand their culture and/or are being extremely naive. Things are bad enough with the U.S. occupying Muslim lands and waging war across the region. If there's anything that will cause an overwhelming backlash against the U.S. it would be the perception that the U.S., via its missionaries, is attempting to spread Christianity throughout the ME.
(A.) They already have their own religion. The vast majority of Muslims (99.99%) are perfectly peaceful people just like Christians here. So don't go telling me how "evil" Islam is or how "violent" Islam is or whatever nonsense I'm sure you're waiting to spring. Your god is their god and vice-versa. I don't understand this overwhelming need for Christians to go over there and stir things up.
(B.) Muslims and Middle Easterners don't take kindly to being converted. Their memory is long and the crusades are still fresh in their minds. If you think going over there and attempting to convert them to Christianity isn't going to stir up a fierce anger and extremely negative reaction, then you don't understand their culture and/or are being extremely naive. Things are bad enough with the U.S. occupying Muslim lands and waging war across the region. If there's anything that will cause an overwhelming backlash against the U.S. it would be the perception that the U.S., via its missionaries, is attempting to spread Christianity throughout the ME.
Matthew 28:19 - Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
why would you want to leave people w/out an overt option? it's truly the good that a personal relationship with Christ can bring.
Christianity originated in the Middle East. It has the same right to exist there as Islam does.
Are you saying that Middle Easterners are forever stuck with Islam? Are they incapable of adopting different beliefs?
Also, I doubt the crusades are still fresh in the minds of the common Middle Easterner. The Al Queda propaganda engine would you like you to believe that, though.
I think it's healthy for Middle Easterners to be exposed to other beliefs and other people. We pride ourselves for being a diverse tolerant open-minded society (with the exception of the far left, far right and the far out
). We should encourage others to be the same way.I guess you're pretty naive then.Originally posted by: FrodoB
Christianity originated in the Middle East. It has the same right to exist there as Islam does.
Are you saying that Middle Easterners are forever stuck with Islam? Are they incapable of adopting different beliefs?
Also, I doubt the crusades are still fresh in the minds of the common Middle Easterner. The Al Queda propaganda engine would you like you to believe that, though.
I think it's healthy for Middle Easterners to be exposed to other beliefs and other people. We pride ourselves for being a diverse tolerant open-minded society (with the exception of the far left, far right and the far out
The vast majority of the Middle East is Muslim. Geeze, take Iraq as an example: Muslim 97% (Shi'a 60%-65%, Sunni 32%-37%), Christian or other 3% (CIA Factbook - Iraq). Take a look at Afghanistan while you're at it: Sunni Muslim 84%, Shi'a Muslim 15%, other 1% (CIA Factbook - Afghanistan). So no, I really don't think Christianity is going to go over very well in the Middle East.
Sometimes it seems like your whole purpose here is to proselytize. Your sig as an example. Every other word out of your mouth is another. Give it a rest already.
Originally posted by: DealMonkey
I guess you're pretty naive then.Originally posted by: FrodoB
Christianity originated in the Middle East. It has the same right to exist there as Islam does.
Are you saying that Middle Easterners are forever stuck with Islam? Are they incapable of adopting different beliefs?
Also, I doubt the crusades are still fresh in the minds of the common Middle Easterner. The Al Queda propaganda engine would you like you to believe that, though.
I think it's healthy for Middle Easterners to be exposed to other beliefs and other people. We pride ourselves for being a diverse tolerant open-minded society (with the exception of the far left, far right and the far out
So no, I really don't think Christianity is going to go over very well in the Middle East.
News flash: Christianity began in the Middle East.
The world is in constant change. Christian lands became Muslim lands. Muslim lands will eventually change into something else. You're the naive one to believe they will be Muslim forever.
I think that if someone wants to find out more about a religion, they'll make the effort on their own to find that information. Maybe it's just me, but I don't like to have people coming up to me and telling me how I'm some sinner, and how they're going to save me.
I hope not, because that would be a lie.
but what does your personal sensibility about what you enjoy have to do with supporting religious freedom?
Because Christ was just a man, there is no God, there is no Heaven, there is no Hell. People don't need the crutch of religion to be happy. If they do, they are weak.
You're wasting your breath preaching.
Keep Thy Religion To Thyself.
First it was John Ashcroft and Jerry Falwell, now we know Jesse "The Body" Ventura is a member here....
Zephyr
prove that definitive statement you just made. and if you cannot prove it, then you beleive something you cannot prove, which is faith. by your own logic then if you need the faith crutch, so you must be "weak" yourself.
God bless you!
make us.
BTW just a litle reminder for the amazingly historically ignorant.
christianity orginated in the middle east. a jewish rabban named Yeshua ben Yosef started it.
christianity orginated in the middle east. a jewish rabban named Yeshua ben Yosef started it.
Nice weak logic. I don't have to prove something doesn't exist. That's not how it works.
Ah...there's that nice, calm, collected, loving, forgiving Christian attitude!
Jesus must be so proud of you!
I can see alot of
going on when those white @sses land in kurdish/shiite/sunni dominated sects of Iraq.
It's truly sad to see your heart on display like that bro;
but that still doesn't apply to how much good a personal relationship with Christ can bring to anyone.
God, in part, is a crutch, but we are all lame.
as for nuts: a nut is nuts, if your going to kill someone having Christian roots isn't going to stop you, nor will Islamic roots, nor atheist roots.
but i have seen many who have horribly screwed up with drinking or drugs or whore-mongering come to a much better place in life by submitting their life to the will of Jesus. I've also seen many who seemingly had a wonderfully life come to a much fuller existence because of a relationship with Christ.
Pushing your religion on someone is not 'helping'. What all the foreign soldiers currently try to do is helping. Did you see any of those relifreaks try to organize resistance against Saddam in the past years? No, they just go there now to push their BS on a war tired country.
Ah well, the more of them go there the more have a chance of getting bombed by those Sunnis which prospered under Saddam and want him back.
Personally, I do not have a problem with religion. I myself am a practicing Buddhist. However, what I do have a problem with is people who try to push their religion as though there are no alternatives. Does me not believing in Christ make me less of a human? I would like to think that I follow the same philosophies that are taught in the bible without resorting to praying to God everyday. Does this make me immoral? There are good in many who do not believe in God. Does that make us sinners? Preach not about God, but what he has taught us. Faith comes from within, not out of the mouth of a fanatic. If Christians truly believe that others will eventually find their way to God, let me do so on their own. Pushing people towards your faith will only create sheep not the those who truly believe.
TRENDING THREADS
-
Discussion Zen 5 Speculation (EPYC Turin and Strix Point/Granite Ridge - Ryzen 9000)- Started by DisEnchantment
- Replies: 25K
-
Discussion Intel Meteor, Arrow, Lunar & Panther Lakes + WCL Discussion Threads
- Started by Tigerick
- Replies: 23K
-
Discussion Intel current and future Lakes & Rapids thread- Started by TheF34RChannel
- Replies: 23K
-
-
Facebook
Twitter