I am a Christian

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alimoalem

Diamond Member
Sep 22, 2005
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nice post HotChic. good contribution to ATOT, imo. i'm not Christian (Muslim) but i believe in most of the same stuff too...maybe i should make a similar post :p

can someone clarify what "speaking in tongues" is? i haven't heard the phrase before...
 
Jan 31, 2002
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Originally posted by: HotChic
I'm disappointed that out of everything I wrote, the same old evolution-creation debate is emerging as the most interesting thing to talk about. *sniff*

Well, it is the favourite point of argument on both sides, where if proven one way completely discredits the other. :p

Originally posted by: HotChic
Pic to up the readership ;)

Weak pic. Show us your (Insert Euphemism Of Choice)!

- M4H
 

MainFramed

Diamond Member
May 29, 2002
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Originally posted by: HotChic
Originally posted by: scorpmatt
The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today
Is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips
Then walk out the door and deny him by their lifestyle.
That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable

Not trying to step on your thread Hot Chic, just something I found to be truthful.

Not stepping on the thread at all, that's a good contribution. Thanks. :)

thats DC talk (not sure if someone already pointed it out, haven't read the whole thread), right on..yeah unfortunately it's a struggle for many and there is plenty of truth to that
 

Yzzim

Lifer
Feb 13, 2000
11,990
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I'm a Christian and agree with about 50% of the things you said.

You win, though, cause I don't have the guts to post what I believe on here just to get slaughtered by the infidels :p

On speaking in tongues - Do you mean you spoke gibberish or spoke another language that you didn't know and someone/a crowd of people understood it?

 

AreaCode707

Lifer
Sep 21, 2001
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Originally posted by: alimoalem
nice post HotChic. good contribution to ATOT, imo. i'm not Christian (Muslim) but i believe in most of the same stuff too...maybe i should make a similar post :p

can someone clarify what "speaking in tongues" is? i haven't heard the phrase before...

Basically the idea that the Holy Spirit would prompt you to speak in what sounds like gibberish, either just as a prayer language between you and God or in a language that somebody else around you would be able to interpret, whether or not it's a real language.

It's a bit of contention even within Christianity. Most Christians believe that it happened in the early church right after the resurrection but that it doesn't happen today.
 

AreaCode707

Lifer
Sep 21, 2001
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Originally posted by: Yzzim
I'm a Christian and agree with about 50% of the things you said.

You win, though, cause I don't have the guts to post what I believe on here just to get slaughtered by the infidels :p

On speaking in tongues - Do you mean you spoke gibberish or spoke another language that you didn't know and someone/a crowd of people understood it?

Originally posted by: HotChic
Originally posted by: theLION
so when you spoke in tongues, what were you saying? did someone translate it to everyone?

No, I haven't spoken in tongues in a public place. It's been a private thing for me. I have been in one situation where I was praying over someone (not somebody who was a very religious person - kind of the opposite) and he heard something in English and was able to translate it, but that was him hearing it so I dunno.

 

AreaCode707

Lifer
Sep 21, 2001
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Originally posted by: alimoalem
nice post HotChic. good contribution to ATOT, imo. i'm not Christian (Muslim) but i believe in most of the same stuff too...maybe i should make a similar post :p

Oh, and I would love to see a similar post on Islamic beliefs. I feel like my own study in the area leaves something to be desired at this point.
 

Miramonti

Lifer
Aug 26, 2000
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Much of my disdain for the standard born again evangelical christian comes from the same foundation which had most standard born again evangelicals voting for George Bush because he talked the talk of a standard born again christian, thus it appeased them. It was obvious to many others that he was no better than a lying piece of doggie doo even before he was elected, but this christian demographic group believed that regardless of his trueness, it was better to have a 'born again' in the Whitehouse leading the nation's agenda than a non-believer.

However not only has this born again spit on the values and fabric that the nation was founded on (ie the constitution...even tho he certainly hasn't been the first president to spit on them ;) ), he also has failed miserably in his application AND his desire in pushing a christian-right agenda.

I guess my point is, 'Thanks for the fine mess you've [all] gotten us into.' ;)

I don't know where you are in this whole political crap situation but I hope that born again evangelicals as a whole would wake the hail up and quit being so dang shallow (including the self-righteousness that says 'most christians aren't real christians'), and make an effort to honestly look yourselves and admit that you're no less selfish and self-serving than the non-believer.
 

alimoalem

Diamond Member
Sep 22, 2005
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Originally posted by: HotChic
Originally posted by: alimoalem
nice post HotChic. good contribution to ATOT, imo. i'm not Christian (Muslim) but i believe in most of the same stuff too...maybe i should make a similar post :p

can someone clarify what "speaking in tongues" is? i haven't heard the phrase before...

Basically the idea that the Holy Spirit would prompt you to speak in what sounds like gibberish, either just as a prayer language between you and God or in a language that somebody else around you would be able to interpret, whether or not it's a real language.

It's a bit of contention even within Christianity. Most Christians believe that it happened in the early church right after the resurrection but that it doesn't happen today.

thanks ;)
 

xSauronx

Lifer
Jul 14, 2000
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Originally posted by: alimoalem
nice post HotChic. good contribution to ATOT, imo. i'm not Christian (Muslim) but i believe in most of the same stuff too...maybe i should make a similar post :p

can someone clarify what "speaking in tongues" is? i haven't heard the phrase before...

they believe the holy spirit speaks through them with something i would best describe as jibber-jabber

someone else in the service usually "gets the translation" from the holy spirit. it was never made clear as to why the spirit would bother with some, and just speak a straight "word" through someone else, but, whatever works for them i guess

sometimes someone who translates it will claim they speak german or french or spanish or whatever and that the "tongues" spoken by the other member (who, of course, claims to be unable to speak the language) was in a real language (that, of course they did speak), so naturally they knew what the person was saying

its "interesting" the first couple of times, and by that i mean it creeped me out.
it happened in the church i attended fairly regularly.
 

AreaCode707

Lifer
Sep 21, 2001
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Originally posted by: jjsole
Much of my disdain for the standard born again evangelical christian comes from the same foundation which had most standard born again evangelicals voting for George Bush because he talked the talk of a standard born again christian, thus it appeased them. It was obvious to many others that he was no better than a lying piece of doggie doo even before he was elected, but this christian demographic group believed that regardless of his trueness, it was better to have a 'born again' in the Whitehouse leading the nation's agenda than a non-believer.

However not only has this born again spit on the values and fabric that the nation was founded on (ie the constitution), he also has failed miserably in his application AND his desire in pushing a christian-right agenda.

I guess my point is, 'Thanks for the fine mess you've [all] gotten us into.' ;)

I don't know where you are in this whole political crap situation but I hope that born again evangelicals as a whole would wake the hail up and quit being so dang shallow (including the self-righteousness that says 'most christians aren't real christians'), and make an effort to honestly look yourselves and admit that you're no less selfish and self-serving than the non-believer.

Paragraph 3, 4, 5 and 8. ;) Yeah, Bush sucks as a leader, in my opinion. I wish there were somebody in the upcoming election that I could feel good about voting for though. There really isn't anyone running that I think represents what I would like to see in a leader.
 
Dec 27, 2001
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Originally posted by: AbAbber2k
Originally posted by: HeroOfPellinor
Originally posted by: joshsquall
I really don't know how people can't believe evolution exists. Here is the basic definition:
As time progresses, the frequency of genetic variations which are more suitable for the population's environment will increase, while the frequency of genetic variations which are less suitable for the population's environment will decrease.
Basically, you live longer and can produce more offspring if you are better suited for your environment. It's not a myth or even a theory. It's logic.

What you don't believe in is evolution as the origin of man. You believe that men were placed on Earth with the exact same genetics that they currently have.

The newest theory on the origin of the universe from evolutionists is that........................it came from nothing. There's some nice logic for you.

Also, would these magic genetic mutations which unlike most mutations were not harmful but actually benefitial result in missing links? Becuase the story has changed since I was a kid. back then it was that ever so slight changes amounted over time to larger changes. Having found no proof of this, they switched to a new theory about spontaneous genetic evolution.....:). So I'm just wondering if we should still have countless missing links displaying the phases of evolution or they'd be missing because the change was over a few generations.

Hey I was brow beaten by my snide bullying teachers until I stopped questioning them and rather than offer some of what I learned, which wasn't much now that i think about it, I suggest you go and have him condescend you into submission too and join the collective.

Thanks, I took plenty of science getting my degree though.
 

sixone

Lifer
May 3, 2004
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Originally posted by: HotChic
Originally posted by: dartworth
Originally posted by: HotChic
Originally posted by: dartworth
speaking in tongues...mouth full of shlt...what's the difference...


oh BTW...you should try blogger.com next time...

:roll:

Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt your more meaningful browsing experience on ATOT. Clicking here will redirect you to a more appropriate thread, for your convenience. :)



right...I guess this is more your style...

Text

Yep! As I said, I'm both screwed up (see paragraph 4) and I like sex (see paragraph 12). :p

(Just so you know, I don't intend to get pissed off, so the aggressive attitude isn't going to get you very far in this thread. What in particular offended you in what I wrote? If you want to debate, let's have a productive one.)

Now THAT's the kind of Christian I like to see. :beer:
 

AbAbber2k

Diamond Member
Mar 1, 2005
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Originally posted by: HeroOfPellinor
Originally posted by: AbAbber2k
Originally posted by: HeroOfPellinor
Originally posted by: joshsquall
I really don't know how people can't believe evolution exists. Here is the basic definition:
As time progresses, the frequency of genetic variations which are more suitable for the population's environment will increase, while the frequency of genetic variations which are less suitable for the population's environment will decrease.
Basically, you live longer and can produce more offspring if you are better suited for your environment. It's not a myth or even a theory. It's logic.

What you don't believe in is evolution as the origin of man. You believe that men were placed on Earth with the exact same genetics that they currently have.

The newest theory on the origin of the universe from evolutionists is that........................it came from nothing. There's some nice logic for you.

Also, would these magic genetic mutations which unlike most mutations were not harmful but actually benefitial result in missing links? Becuase the story has changed since I was a kid. back then it was that ever so slight changes amounted over time to larger changes. Having found no proof of this, they switched to a new theory about spontaneous genetic evolution.....:). So I'm just wondering if we should still have countless missing links displaying the phases of evolution or they'd be missing because the change was over a few generations.

Hey I was brow beaten by my snide bullying teachers until I stopped questioning them and rather than offer some of what I learned, which wasn't much now that i think about it, I suggest you go and have him condescend you into submission too and join the collective.

Thanks, I took plenty of science getting my degree though.

How ironic, a Creationist who assumes that non-believers are subdued to the point that they accept "science" as the answer. I hope your children are happy once they grow up and realize that you've brainwashed them since the moment they emerged from their mother's womb. Just so you know, there was never an ill word spoken in my home against god or Christian teachings. My grandparents are all mildly religious, but my parents left me to make my own decisions. I attended Church Sermons and Youth Groups but I never could accept the Christian faith. Ya... I was definitely brow beaten, and never once explored anything other than what I already believed. :roll: You're the kind of person that gives the religious right a bad name.
 

AreaCode707

Lifer
Sep 21, 2001
18,447
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Originally posted by: AbAbber2k
You're the kind of person that gives the religious right a bad name.

Getting personal, on either side, is going to drag the thread straight down into the dirt. Can I please ask that neither of you continue along these lines?
 

Jawo

Diamond Member
Jun 15, 2005
4,125
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Originally posted by: HotChic
I am distressed that Christianity is publicly represented by such figures as Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson. I applaud Billy Graham.
...
I don't think America is a Christian Nation, even though most people might check the "Christian" box on a census. I think most people that consider themselves Christian in the US do it out of a vague memory of being taken to church when they were kids and a general feeling that they believe there's some kind of God out there.

I totally agree. I can imagine that Falwell and Robertson be like the Taliban if they had guns. (Look here and tell me otherwise!)

Christianity is such a broad catagory...and many of the sub religions (protestants, catholics, luthrans...) can barely get along amongst among themselves!
 
Apr 17, 2003
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I believe in God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. I honestly believe the only way to heaven is repentance and a true belief in Jesus Christ.

I am a Christian and belive this as well.

I attend church every Sunday and sit on the board of administrators at my current church. I've attended and visited many different denominations in my life so far and I know that there is no single church with perfect theology, doctrine and attitude. I know that different worship styles have nothing to do with the intrinsic rightness or righteousness of a church.

I dont remeber the last time I have been to church. I think the relationship with God is a personal one and there is no need to go to a "holy" place to engage in such a relationship.

I cuss. Much more frequently than I wish I did, in fact. I say stuff I wouldn't say in front of my mother and I would prefer not to say at all. I'm working on it, but it doesn't bother me when other people swear unless it's in front of kids.

I cuss all the time, except at work. I dont get offended when others cuss unless its really vile. I am making no effort cuss less.

I don't think my beliefs obligate me to a particular political party or figure. My beliefs do drive many of my opinions about social issues.

I'm not sure about this but I know that the Republican party represents more of my views than any other party

I think abortion is wrong because I, in my heart of hearts, think that a fetus is a baby.

Whole heartdly agree

I think the war in Iraq is wrong and unjustified.

I think the war is wrong because it didnt turn out as expected.

I think that the government should get out of the marriage business (hetero and homosexual alike) and just issue cohabitation licenses to whoever wants them. I support sex education in schools on the basis that hiding knowledge has never helped anyone make a good decision.

Completely disagree here. I think the government has a strong interest in this area.

Yes, Christians are a seriously screwed up bunch of people.

Not any more so than any other particular group

I know that Christians are not perfect; in fact, we may be farther from perfect than almost any other group.

I have no clue how arrive at the conclusion that we may be farther from perfect than any other group.

Christians became Christian because they knew there was something screwed up in their lives that they couldn't fix, and just becoming Christian doesn't make that go away, it just covers in the mercy of God and maybe gives them some support in helping them work on it.

I dont know how you arrive at this either...

I can't judge anybody else, no matter what they believe, say or how they live. I'm no better than anybody else and, in my own ways, I'm probably quite a bit worse.

I constantly judge others. For the most part, I feel that I am quite a bit better than most people I have come across in life, and it has nothing to do with my religious belifes.


I do believe in hell. And yes, I believe that most people who haven't asked and received God's pardon are probably going there, but that's between them and God and there's lots about God I don't understand. I don't preach hellfire and brimstone. I don't yell at people that they're going to hell; in fact, I've never told anybody that unless specifically asked by them if I believe they are. I think God doesn't just automatically send everyone to heaven because you are given the choice about whether you want to worship and serve God while you're here, and he's not just going to override your choice so you spend eternity doing something you didn't want to do on earth.

I could care less where others go. I dont feel that its my duty to change their path.


I have spoken in tongues, even though I thought I never would and thought the whole idea was kind of weird.

I dont even know what this means...

I think other people are perfectly justified in living their lives in whatever way they see fit, whether I think it's right or wrong. I don't think you can legislate morality and I believe it's wrong to try, beyond basic little things like murder, stealing, etc. Everybody should have the choice to sin or not sin however they want, regardless of my opinion. I think God gave us that when he gave us free will and it's not up to humans to take that away.

Like i said above, I could care less what others do but society as a whole must be regulated.

I don't believe in evolution and I don't think that makes me a moron. I see that science has gone through many many iterations of fact and I doubt that evolution is the last theory that's going to come around. The most prominent scientists in the world used to believe some pretty goofy stuff, and I don't know why that trend should end with our enlightened age. I wonder if the next major iteration of scientific fact about origins will happen in my lifetime.

My religious belifes do not make me blind to scientific evidence. I think religion and science can coexist together. I wouldnt call people who dont believe in evolution moronic, but rather ignorant.

I'm ashamed by things that have been done by Christians and/or under the guise of Christianity, both historically and in the present. Minor things like the way kids were taught in "Jesus Camp" and major things like the Inquisition or the child molestations and coverup are shameful, wrong and hideous distortions of the message of Christ. I know that there are subgroups of extremist Christians now that hate groups of people, and I know that hate is completely against everything Christ stood for. I think there's a difference between fundamentalists that want to get back to the basics of what Jesus taught and extremists who invent completely unfounded hatreds in the name of religion.

I can only be judged for what I do. I dont care what others have done in the past or present, because it is not indicative of what I do.

I am distressed that Christianity is publicly represented by such figures as Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson. I applaud Billy Graham.

Again, I could care less about the perception of others.

I dated in high school. I didn't have sex til I was married. I don't judge my friends who did. I don't believe sex is just for procreation; it's just too much fun for that! I don't believe preventative forms of birth control are a sin.

I judge others for what their sex lives, but not myself. I am a hypocrit but I feel that I have the right to be because, as i mentioned above, I have certain since of superiority.

I think that Christianity was originally not an organized religion and that, while it was inevitable it became one, much harm has been done because organized religions are an earthly construct and in general tend towards corruption. I don't divorce myself from it because of that but instead work to do what I can to improve it.

I dont know enough about the histiory of christianity to comment.

I know some Christians isolate themselves and their families and wrongly shield their children from the world instead of teaching them how to conduct themselves well in spite of it. I also know it's possible to have parents raise their children without outside interference and still do it well. I was homeschooled, learned about other religions from the foundational writers of those religions, learned history by reading the great historical authors, learned science and math by taking classes outside my home. I was exposed to the fact that there are terrible things in the world and then taught that I have a personal responsibility to live my life according to a different set of principles and I am accountable for my own choices. I graduated from college at 19.

No comment, aside from the fact that I would NEVER homeschool my children. I went to a very rough high school and learned certain elements of survival because of it.

I rarely speak up about my religion at work because most people there ridicule it and I am not always strong enough in character to risk them thinking me a fool.

I do speak about my religion but only in the context of judging others.

I don't think America is a Christian Nation, even though most people might check the "Christian" box on a census. I think most people that consider themselves Christian in the US do it out of a vague memory of being taken to church when they were kids and a general feeling that they believe there's some kind of God out there.

I do think that America is a christian nation.

I wish I could apologize to everyone who has ever been hounded by an evangelist, and I also wish I could explain to most of the people who have that the majority of those evangelists are doing that because they really do want the best for the people they talk to and they earnestly believe in what they say. They wouldn't be doing it otherwise.

Again, I dont think I can be held responsible for others.

I don't think that most churches or pastors exist for the purpose of fund raising. I know some televangelists do, and that there are individuals who abuse trust and embezzle money, but that the majority of people are good stewards, the majority of money goes to help people.

Not sure about this, I dont go to church.

I don't believe I do enough to help others and I want to improve in how I give, especially of my time, to people who need it.

For the most part, I have no desire to help others.

I just posted this to show how two christians can have very diverging views.
 

AbAbber2k

Diamond Member
Mar 1, 2005
6,474
1
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Originally posted by: Jawo
Originally posted by: HotChic
I am distressed that Christianity is publicly represented by such figures as Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson. I applaud Billy Graham.
...
I don't think America is a Christian Nation, even though most people might check the "Christian" box on a census. I think most people that consider themselves Christian in the US do it out of a vague memory of being taken to church when they were kids and a general feeling that they believe there's some kind of God out there.

I totally agree. I can imagine that Falwell and Robertson be like the Taliban if they had guns. (Look here and tell me otherwise!)

When you start calling for the assassination of people... well... it doesn't take much imagination to make that connection.
 

thecoolnessrune

Diamond Member
Jun 8, 2005
9,673
583
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I am a devout Christian as well. NOOO I'm not perfect :p Never claimed to be, never will be by a long shot. I simply follow the Bible to what I know. If I see something in the Bible, I will try my very hardest to do exactly as it says. It tells me no alcohol, very well, no alcohol. No markings for the dead, very well. I know I disobey alot too, but as I said im not perfect. However I do believe that actively doing something against the Bible is a blatant slap in God's face.
 
Dec 27, 2001
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Originally posted by: jjsole
Much of my disdain for the standard born again evangelical christian comes from the same foundation which had most standard born again evangelicals voting for George Bush

The disdain is there regardless. Christianity is one of the major sources of morality in the world and the country and is therefore despised by most amoral people.

In reality, Buddhism and Taosim and Hinuism aren't despised--they're respected............and it's for the simple reason that Christianity actually tackles the issue of sexuality. To the typical pubescent male Christianity's goal is to assure that they never get laid and never have any fun and is therefore evil. I mean, what else could people be objecting to? The don't kill people or steal from people part?
 

WildHorse

Diamond Member
Jun 29, 2003
5,006
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HotChic,

You have a fine mind.

I've just become a fan.

Exceptionally well spoken. And your pics show a really beautiful young woman so you outta stop sayin "disclaimer" in your signature.

Text
 

Jeff7

Lifer
Jan 4, 2001
41,596
20
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Originally posted by: scorpmatt
The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today
Is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips
Then walk out the door and deny him by their lifestyle.
That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable

Not trying to step on your thread Hot Chic, just something I found to be truthful.
Agreed, that sort of thing certainly doesn't help the perceptions of Christians - like too often seeing pictures in the newspaper of thugs getting arrested, and around their neck is a cross on a necklace. I doubt Jesus would approve of their behavior. They wear it as a shield from their own guilty conscience, assuming they have one.

I think that Jesus would have been a pretty ok guy. He seemed to teach tolerance, love, and generosity, things which the world needs more of. Unfortunately, that, like too many other religions, gets twisted and perverted, and in that form, used to condone some of the most horrible things humanity's ever done.
I guess that could just mean that the religion itself is fine, but it's the psychotic people who choose to misinterpret it who cause the problems. I imagine that they'd still be psychotic without religion, and find other ways to rationalize their insanity.
 

Alienwho

Diamond Member
Apr 22, 2001
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99% of Christians (or people in general, i should say) don't even know what speaking in tongues mean. Do people honestly think God 'enables' people to speak gibberish and then if you're lucky, have some random guy be able to translate it for you? Please. That is completely chaotic and out of control. I really don't think God would take pride in presiding over chaos, but what do I know.