My problem with people calling themselves Christian is that, in my opinion, a vast majority of them don't act like it. They are not tolerant, forgiving, or loving. Instead they are bigoted (race, other beliefs, whatever), harping, and hateful.
It has gotten to the point in this society that it isn't enough to be a Christian (you know love thy neighbor and believe that Jesus is the way), you have to PROVE you are one to these people. Or they won't leave you alone. The way they have decided you prove it is to accompany them to their church and then switch to their sect and tithe a load of money. I have heard of some that want to see your tax forms.
If I related to you my experiences in churches and religious schools and organizations - all Christian - as a Christian raised (both parents), unbaptized child - from the priest that told me I was going to Hell because I wasn't baptized irregardless of living a good and giving life to my fundamentalist uncle who said to me at Christmas, "I know where I'm going and I know where you're going, and I don't want to see that happen," it would take a month and make your hair stand on end.
I would like to know from the Christians on the board though, what makes these "Save Your Soul" people think I hold my beliefs so cheap I'm going to change them in an IHOP parking lot at 2 am? I am a well-fed, well-groomed person, friendly looking, not smelling of liquor (as I rarely imbibe it), and the only track marks I have are the ones I got giving blood. I am not face down in the gutter where I may be weak enough to give into temptation. So why approach my friends and I, then REFUSE to leave when we've said no thank you three times (I get the telemarketing tactic)? Why stand there and force yourself into the conversation when you have been asked, politely, to leave us alone? Why let your fourteen-year-old son stand there at 2 in the morning, running at the mouth, infuriating strangers about lying? In my opinion you and your faith are liars. But I'm trying to be nice. Now leave me alone.
I would like an answer because, while I don't feel the same disgust Bob feels toward all Christians, I do feel it toward the ones who won't shut up about saving my soul. This has led to problems in the workplace and at school. Because, when you complain about someone desperately trying to "save" you, people make you out to be a horse's ass. Well, try sitting in the desk (no cubicles) with a person behind telling you she and her church are praying for your soul. (This is after she rants about the teacher picking on her son because he made a list of his classmates' names and started crossing them out because they squealed on him. Her boy is a serial rapist and murderer in the making you all. And she thinks the teacher is being unreasonable about therapy.)
But if I complain to my superiors, the Christian counters I'm trying to take her faith away from her. Look, I didn't say word one about all the Christian paraphernalia she had on her desk. The ceramic angels and signs proclaiming Jesus loves me did not offend me other than my decorator’s eye saying a little goes a long way. What offends me is that she won't leave me alone once she finds out I'm an atheist. She emphasizes how great her church is and how Joe and I are welcome there, but instead of leaving it at one (or a dozen) invitations she adds it in after every cute incident she tells me about her family or church because she is so wrapped up in both. But the church takes precedent and her son and work suffer for it. In my opinion, that is an addict. It's just a socially acceptable one.
I don't think faith should be used as crutch to get you through everyday (and she had something to do at the church everyday). Rather it should be a part of your life that guides you in decision making and raising your kids but a kind of silent partner. How you act is more important than how you spout you believe. Mother Theresa is an excellent example. She didn't proselytize instead she helped. She did, put her money where her mouth was, so to speak.
For people like this former employee the doing wasn't as important as the preaching and the preaching took precedence over every aspect of life. She could not be objective (when her brother who was her pastor told her to back off, she couldn't understand.) Finally she took another job on campus in the library that paid more money (no I did not run her off.)
And here's another thing. Why is it Christians tell me to pray, it won't hurt me? No, it may not hurt as much as the other rituals you engage in but I see it as a waste of time. Leave the curmudgeon alone, kids.
But it is people like this and the murderers in prison on death row who claim to have found God (and get the press to have their sentence commuted unlike those that found Allah or Buddha) and still would rape and kill should they get out because they hold the same opinion, just now Jesus is telling them to, that sully the name of Christian. I think it is wonderful to have faith in something, doesn’t matter what it is. I have faith, just not in what you believe. Condemning for believing something different (or not at all) is not going to sway mine or any other reasonable, addiction-free person to your side. It is the downtrodden that used to be the focus of the Christian fanatics but, of course, they don’t have the money to buy the church a larger steeple (and when I see some of the monstrosities here built with money that could go to help the poor and destitute – talk about a rant.)
In the end, tolerance, love, and forgiveness are no longer mandates followed by the Christian religion (at least those that are noisiest about it.) Instead it’s about getting votes, getting money, and getting a better clientele. Christianity is no longer a faith but dogma turned business practice. Businesses, spammers, and politicians flout the Christian symbol as a means to an end and nothing more. In the end, it is going to be the atheists in the Astrodome being eaten by lions and the voracious Christians cheering the lion on. Since that’s how the Christians got their start, us atheists have something to look forward to.