While I absolutely agree, I see no reason to shove people's faces in it.

So we shouldn't tell them to **** their mothers?

I agree that many have used religion in history to control people. Fear and hatred have often been shrouded with religion.

The institutions of religion are dying because they've failed to adjust to the post-modern era.

But as institutions die, new things form. And worldwide, people continue to discover peace, hope, joy, love, and freedom in a relationship with God.

Believe it or not, call it what you'd like, but it's very real and that isn't changing anytime soon.

Sure there is, when you're desperate for attention.

Neither will my laughter.

In 100 years, I'm willing to bet people who have "relationships" with deities are the laughingstock of earth. They'll be seen as nutjobs and wackos.

ROFLROFL When did you ever play?

No.

And apparently, you haven't been paying much attention to my posts.

IMO, people are free to believe in whatever religion they choose to follow, without persecution.

While I've come to the conclusion, after many years of studying, that I am a Deist, that doesn't mean that I have free reign to take pot shots at people that practice their respective religions.

Hypocrites, however, are a different matter altogether.

And even though I'm probably the 13,000th Ralphyboy fan, in no way, shape or form has he come across in this thread as a hypocrite.

I understand your hatred of JW's and totally understand where you're coming from in regards to organized religion. But IMO, you need to separate yourself and take a step back before judging everyone else.

It won't be easy, but you'll be a better person in the long run.

I've always been a fan of deism myself. I like the idea of an absentee creator who set everything in motion and then let it run on its own.

People can, and do, say anything they want. And quite frankly, as a Christian, I strangely long for the days where Christians are in the minority. We tend to be at our best when that's the case and not when we are the mainstream...whether we be the official relgion of Rome or the "Moral Majority."

In the First Century, under intense threat from the government and false accusations, the early church grew by providing hospitality, meeting needs, and generally being "good news" to people.

Christians ARE in the minority.

Your prayers have been answered!

:D

Yes, but many of us are still in the mindset that winning the "ideas war" of politics and culture is most important.

By minority I speak of being more of a movement focused on Jesus and not building a faith around extensions (often too stretched) of his teaching.

Just kidding, Dude. No offense.

As I stated earlier, I sincerely believe that people should be allowed to practice their belief system without persecution. My wife's parents are extremely religious Christians. They live their lives for Christ and give way too much money to the needy and their church (and by that, I mean way too much, on the brink of needing help themselves).

I would never, in a million years, disrespect them or their faith by telling them how I feel and believe because it's unimportant to them and their faith.

But as I've stated and will continue to state, hypocrites are NOT exempt.

Absolutely no offense taken by this or the other posts. I've been around CP long enough now to know what the average stream of thought is here. And I enjoy it.

I appreciate people like your wife's parents who live out there faith sacrificially and not just in their words. I fall far short of that, along with what many non-believers do to help others.

BTW, how's Cameron Sheffield? I'm still praying for him. :D

Last I heard, Cam Sheffield was at Diamond Joe's.

:D

Mission accomplished! LMAO