Is Christianity Taken Seriously? Rating Options

[fameONE]

-United Methodist
-African Methodist Episcopal
-Missionary Baptist
-Non-Denominational
-Church of Christ
-Church of God & Christ
-Lutheran
-Church of Zion
-Etc.

Christianity is pretty busy religion. Based on interpretation, it can be a strict lifestyle or a strict business. Compared to other religions, Christianity doesn't seem to be taken as seriously. Is it the society we live in, or the fallacies found within Biblical text?

Debate.

[fameONE]

Islam is principally vile. When my father defected from Iran - a patriotic member of the IIAF - it wasn't a fringe cult of extremism that called for his execution, but the will of mainstream Sharia law in the country that upheld the death tenet to Muslims who one day decide that they don't want to be Muslim anymore. It's written quite succinctly in the Qur'an, which I have right next to me on my bookshelf. And there's the whole women's rights deal, but we like to think that was God on one of his grumpy days.

My relatives are Muslim and I, of course, don't think they're vile people (although I had to pause for a minute on that in consideration of my douche cousin). They're simply ignoring the whole of the "pie", just as Christians must do with their holy book.

So the Islamic Juresprudence is excessively flawed? Like Christianity, I don't find that hard to believe at all. That would explain the "darker" side of a religion that demands, not requires, but demands, such devotion.

As for the topic question, which I can tie into the above: not as so, because current affairs have made the sentiments of the West uneasy and sensitive to the Muslim world. The biggest modern crisis with Christianity is probably its spawn of "intelligent design" being injected into where it should not be (i.e. anywhere). People do not feel as much a need to tread lightly when the stakes are, shall we say, less than lethal.

So would you consider that an issue within the religion itself or an issue of man's shortcomings? It seems to me that man has single handedly corrupted the integrity of religion.

[saintsaens]

So the Islamic Juresprudence is excessively flawed? Like Christianity, I don't find that hard to believe at all. That would explain the "darker" side of a religion that demands, not requires, but demands, such devotion.
So would you consider that an issue within the religion itself or an issue of man's shortcomings? It seems to me that man has single handedly corrupted the integrity of religion.

Hit it on the spot, IMO.

[fameONE]

Hit it on the spot, IMO.

I'll admit that I've been reluctant to return to religion. My mother is "you're going to go to hell" Catholic and my father is a southern Baptist. As I grew up, I also grew tired and disgusted with church, which led to my distaste in the modern interpretations of Christianity. I stopped believing in anything other than my own abilities. As a theological study, I'm becoming more and more drawn to both Christianity and Islam. I've been reading up on Christianity because maybe there's a hope that I haven't been fed bullshit my entire life. And my interest in Islam is an effort to understand the people around me. The only conclusion I've been able to draw about all the problems with religion is that man is ruining it.

[saintsaens]

I'll admit that I've been reluctant to return to religion. My mother is "you're going to go to hell" Catholic and my father is a southern Baptist. As I grew up, I also grew tired and disgusted with church, which led to my distaste in the modern interpretations of Christianity. I stopped believing in anything other than my own abilities. As a theological study, I'm becoming more and more drawn to both Christianity and Islam. I've been reading up on Christianity because maybe there's a hope that I haven't been fed bullshit my entire life. And my interest in Islam is an effort to understand the people around me. The only conclusion I've been able to draw about all the problems with religion is that man is ruining it.

It's very true. Man does ruin religion.

But let me just tell you this. It's my opinion (and I'm pretty sure you'll agree too) that no one man can know everything. The pursuit to learn every answer to every question is impossible. Man cannot comprehend it.

Christianity for me is not so much about knowing my theology as it is being able to know myself. We are taught that we cannot know ourselves without knowing God. We are also taught that we cannot know God without knowing ourselves. I believe Christianity is a religion of understanding and fulfillment of one's self.

I believe that through Christ, our Lord and Savior, we can understand the main questions to our lives. Why am I here? What am I doing? What will I do in 20 years? What can I do? What does God want me to do?

The distinguishing thing that separates West from East is that the West continues to put emphasis on "self". This, IMHO, comes from Christianity. Christ said that each man is different, and each man is meant to do something with their lives. Something that is fulfilling. Their calling and purpose in life. I believe we never have we had such an identity crisis with "self" than we do now. I believe this is because of increasing secularization of the American people.

(I think I really went offtopic)

But anyways. Just remember people all make mistakes. Sometimes they make mistakes at church. Sometimes at home. Sometimes all the time. But that's the shortcoming of man. We're flawed.

Brandon, if you really want to study what I think is the main drive and fire for Christianity all these years, I recommend you read "The Call" by Os Guinness. Probably one of the best books I've read in my entire life. I think that book pretty much sums up why all these people all these years have sought Christ. (Not other Gods, but specifically Christ.)