sorry that title stinks but I didn't know how to title this. just wondering some things I'm confused about, people seem to get light headed when I ask them directly so if you can help that would be great.I was in school today (no duh) and I have a class I take which is like the Biblical history and we've been on the subject for some time now. My teacher has been telling us about in the earlier years near the time of translating the Bible and what certain people had to go through just to do it without being killed horribly or improsined... so on and so forth I've read and studied many times. But we were talking on a subject of when there were the kings who were killing many Christians like alot of them. Men, woman and children and in the most horrible ways. One of the people we talked about who was one of the worst was Nero. And we've been studying and talking about this for sometime now how it has still been carried on even to the times where they were in England and other places...we learned about John Wycliff who translated the Bible, how he was killed.... you get my point. It's really very sad and makes me feel kinda strange and depressed inside when I think about it because I'm also a Christian. And most of my friends who aren't usually make fun of me for it but not to be rude (I hope not) and sometimes don't even realize that it affects me when they say "that's good for them" or "we don't need/want them anyway" or whatever other things they have to say when that class is over. And I was wondering, after hearing and studying so many things about how many had to suffer just to have, copy, and translate what I barely read unless I have time or I'm at church (shame), are there still people like that who hate Christians and beat them or whatever. I have heard a couple of times that some do get beat up or have encountered "difficult situations". I have a couple of times but none too bad. And another question I have is why is it that when people talk about other religions it's always ok or whatever but when Christianity is brought into the picture people get all worked up and argue about what you believe in is unreal or you're being told a lie. Even if that person thinks that is true is it necessary to beat them over the head for it? Maybe this doesn't happen in certain areas or to certain people but I've been noticing it alot lately when I talk to my friends or when my sister or brothers are having a conversation with someone else it turns into something it shouldn't be. Recently when I talk to my friends and their relatives and most of them were into buddhism, catholicism, scientology, or so on and so forth they got along fine but when I mentioned mine I felt like I was being beat mentally. I just don't know why people get so worked up. Any suggestions? I don't want to start anything... but there is alot I've been noticing and most that are negative I try to ignore but sometimes it doesn't work. I heard about this man who said in the paper recently... like last year lol about gathering all the Christians in the stadium and feeding them to lions or whatever I forgot what he said exactly, my teacher had brought it to class and read it to us as another warning and that kind of creeped me out. so yeah...
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That seems weird to me cuz I've never encountered christian abuse. Antisimitism - yeah tons of that through out history (a big one is Hitler) and today. I'm an atheist, and that's one of the reasons why i am. Religious wars, debates, obligations etc etc. Every religion gets beat up on, it's like racism or sexism: there is alway gonna be someone who doesn't like you or what you do, unfortunately that's life and as long as people are opinionated, it's gonna happen. Next time it happens just let it go as ignorance.
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The minority (religions, races, political parties, whatever) tend to get beaten up. The Roman pagans beat the crap out of the Christians during Chirst's time, and for a few hundred years after. For the next 1500 years, the Christians beat the crap out of the Jews. In parts of central and northern Africa, Christians and Moslems are beating the crap out of each other. In the middle East, the Shi'ites and Sunnis are blowing each other up, and whichever is the minority (or in some cases, the less politically powerful) in a particular place gets the short end of the stick.In New York, Evangelical Christians are a minority. In Mississippi, good luck being a Jew, but good luck also not being Southern Baptist, or something similar.
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I agree with you jenjen. One of the main reason why I'm atheist also is becuase of all the religious wars, debates, obligations, etc etc like you said. It seems like a sane and sensible thing for me to do, not choose any side. But really if i think about it I kinda have chosen a side...weird way of thinking about it. As an atheist i still occasionally get lectured about religion whether it be from christians, catholics, or buddhists. someone correct me if I'm wrong but arent a lot of wars motivated by religion? (aside from the maniacs who just wanna kill everything in the world) hehe i guess even atheists are up for alittle debating
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You're probably right, most wars start either because of politics (which can involve religious views), religion, or racism (which is related to religion).
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Yes, a lot of wars are motivated by things that separate people, such as religion, ethnicity, and politics.
I'm an atheist simply because the idea of supernatural phenomena is completely senseless to me. It has nothing to do with whether religion itself is good, bad, or indifferent.
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yea politics!!!
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Thanks for the replies they were somewhat helpful even though some of the questions weren't answered. Thanks anyway. I don't want to make things serious it's just certain things I wanted to know. And I know America is slowly taking anything "Christian-like" or dealing with God out of many things. Like that law (I think) was made I am told in California about not saying the pledge of allegiance because it had the statement "under God" in it. I've been noticing this alot lately. It's not like I want to take it to seriously, I just want it to come to the point once again where I'm going to bashed for praying or even worse.
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The first three paragraphs from an MTV.com article: Judge Rules 'Under God' In Pledge Of Allegiance Violates Students' RightsIn reply to:A California atheist who has fought for years to have the words "under God" removed from the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools won a major legal battle on Wednesday.U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton ruled in favor of atheist Michael Newdow, deciding that the reference to God in the pledge violates the rights of children in three California school districts to be "free from a coercive requirement to affirm God," according to a report by The Associated Press.Karlton made his ruling based on the precedent set by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which ruled in Newdow's favor in 2002 with a decision that stated the pledge is unconstitutional when recited in public schools.The Knights of Columbus added "under God" to what, until then, was a simple secular pledge to the country. Since the Constitution says that the government can't establish a religion, how can you have a pledge that says "under God" in public, tax-funded schools?The U.S. is one of the most religious places on Earth, except maybe for some areas of the Middle East. Politicians talk about God all the time. It's just not done in most other Western countries.No one is stopping anyone from praying whenever and wherever they want. The government doesn't have mind-reading machinery yet.> America is slowly taking anything "Christian-like" or dealing with God out of many things.Like what? Maybe it has to do with the part of the country you live in. I still see politicians talking about their faith all the time.
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Yeah, and it drives me nuts, cuz they just lost the vote of anyone who's not a believer. It seems to me like a false dependance.