The Christian Union

[The Fox]

Are all pilloks.
Bring back the one true faith under the Holy Father.

[Cain]

there's a good well thought out argument for you

[hr]
It's not who you know, it's who who you know knows

[Zombie Sheep]

I agree, a stunning argument. Well done you. And can I ask what makes you think that? And also, what exactly is a 'pillok'?

[hr]"The feudal system of land tenure, that is to say the entire system whereby land is held by a bassal on perpetual tenure from a superior is, on the appointed day, abolished. Scotland, 28th November 2004.

[Mr Comedy]

Such a pointless statement does not merit argument.

[Marco Biagi]

I think the proper philosophical term for this kind of argument is "fideistic", in that it is based on instinct and has no other foundational justification. Oddly enough, that's the common epistemological definition of most religious belief too.

[Humphrey]

They wouldnt give me a cheese toastie because I was drunk and abusive and told them I had 'shagged Jesus'. Thats forgiveness for you, buncha hypocrites!!.

[Miz Manda]

I don't mind them that much myself but two of my friends were told by a member that they were 'damned to Hell' for the crime of sex before marriage.

[hr]Any act of anti-social insanity is immediately sanctified by the magic word 'charity'. As someone once said, if Hitler had invaded Poland 'for Spina Bifida' then everyone would have just let him get on with it.

[Pender Native]

I was told I was doomed for going out with a non-Christian. If God had wanted us all to date Christians he would have provided more attractive Christian guys!


[hr]
Yum! Pencils!

[Rilla]

[s]Pender Native wrote on 11:02, 29th Nov 2004:
I was told I was doomed



We're all doomed!
We should start some sort of club for sinners.

hmm, how would that work?


[hr]
Anything War can do, Peace can do better

[Haunted]

Hell is probably more of an interesting place anyway

[Senethro]

I'm always somewhat puzzled by the whole religion thing. I feel its a part of life that just passed me by completely. My parents never took me to church or expressed any beliefs whatsoever and school did little to educate me either. I grew up an atheist not out of choice but because it never occurred to me that there might be a god.

Religion first properly intruded into my life in a big way during early secondary school. One of my friends went to one of these Bible Camps over the summer and came back a changed guy. His personality was not consistent and he seemed somewhat repressed, constantly trying to second guess himself to catch himself sinning in action or thought. That was his problem and I was happy to let him deal with it himself. I'm sure anyone reading this already knows where its going but when he started criticising my behaviour it was a complete surprise to me. His comments and assertions about christianity helped me to learn and discover my own beliefs which, unsurprisingly, I confirmed as being atheist. He didn't appreciate this.

We don't speak anymore.

Anyway, (and this is the only relevant point of my post) I've never understood people who identify themselves as a religious person first and foremost, to the extent that they could just drop their name and become Christian #14355. Lots of religion in practice seems to be about death worship, repressing or destroying the self while waiting for the ever-so-much-better next life.

[LonelyPilgrim]

Senethro...

I personally like to blame 'religous culture' for that, and the fact that somehow people can read the New Testament and take away a *totally* different message than I can...

I mean... my basic understanding of Christianity goes something like this:

1. You will sin.

2. No, really, you will, even by not sinning, you are being prideful and therefore sinning.

3. So... you need forgiveness from God.

4. No really, you do, you can't do it all by yourself, so get over yourself and say you're sorry.

5. Come on, all you have to do is say 'sorry' and God will say, 'ok'... he's not going to be like... "Nope, no salvation for you... mwuhaha"

6. Oh, and there's that bit about his son... yeah, he died for you. Better say thanks and mean it while you're apologising... that's not really asking too much, now is it?

7. Last thing... try to live a good life. You won't suceed, re #1, but a bit of effort can't hurt, right?

ps. be nice to each other... we're all equal before God... so he doesn't really like it when we put on airs and go around judging people. Once again... you won't suceed... but give it a shot at least... ok?

[Chester the Snowcat]

Why aren't the CU allowed to use the Union without permission? I heard there was a furore over something they did at the Union but I've never heard what.

[Ewan Husami]

The CU don't have an equal opportunities admissions policy. ie not everyone can join.

Firstly you need to be a Christian.
Secondly, to prove this you must renounce all other faiths.

If they allowed non-Christians in, they'd probably be re-affiliated to the Stuednts' Association

[womble chris]

im not a religious person.

my view is that about 99% of people who claim they are, are not.

if i were a believer, then id devote my life 100%% to the religion. otherwise you are therefore risking the possible outcome of an eternity of hell just to commit a few one-off sins.

why do so many people who are 'believers' spend money on good clothers? surely god would look down upon this and think why arent they spending their money on those who need it more. i certainly wouldn't take the risk of ending out in hell by commiting a few sins, but so many 'believers' do, why?

id appreciate a reply from 'believers' to explain why they would possibly consider commiting a sin when a eternity of pain (hell) could be the result

[Rilla]

[s]womble chris wrote on 22:17, 29th Nov 2004:
why do so many people who are 'believers' spend money on good clothers?

well okay - I'm only speaking for myself here but the reason is because God is forgiving - As St. Augustine said as a 'wretched youth,' he prayed for chastity -- 'but not yet'. We can go to confession on our death bed and everything will be fine. I am not trying to be flippant here if that's how this is all coming across. Obviously different Christian denominations will have different rules or interpretations of rules, and I am only speaking for me. Basically, God created this wonderful world for us, and we should get out there and celebrate it by living it to the fullest.
That being said, I can't stand the Christian Union, or any religious group that aims to shove their opinions down your throat. I am sick of being told I am going to hell for walking down the street, and sick of people standing on street corners preaching at me. I do not aim to convert anybody - I just live my life the way I see fit. It just happens that I was brought up a Christian (Catholic actually) and so I identify most with those teachings and traditions. It does not mean I am a psycho loony out to change people's religion or convince people that their faith is wrong and mine is right.
Actually this all probably makes me a lousy Christian but I still consider myself one.


[hr]
Anything War can do, Peace can do better

[Insight]

As someone raised Catholic, I agree strongly with what LonelyPilgrim said, the New Testament i.e. the bit Christians are supposed to take their faith from, has some beautiful messages about how we should feel God's love, show it to others, remember the sacrifice made for our souls - and just try to not be a shit.

The Old Testament is a prelude to the faith, everything that Jesus said should be what they follow surely, not insane draconian laws for a society 4,000 years back.

My own personal issue with Christianity is the organistion and administration - much of the Bible was tainted and editted to fit the opinions of the early popes - again, from quite a long time ago.

Many people have problems with things dictated before we thought the world was round (namely burny-type offences as living in sin and homosexuality), surely this shows to religious leaders that reforming to suit the times is healthy, and a sign of philosophical growth?

Then again - why should they rework their faith to suit lefty liberals - who, ironically, seem to be the ones dishing out more tolerance and love?

Anyone else telling me I will burn for things I have yet to find condemned in the Bible will get insertions of the most intimate and holy kind...

[Mr Comedy]

[s]womble chris wrote on 22:17, 29th Nov 2004:
im not a religious person.

my view is that about 99% of people who claim they are, are not.

What makes you say this?
Do you have any justification for this?
You can't just toss out assertions

if i were a believer, then id (sic) devote my life 100%% to the religion. otherwise you are therefore risking the possible outcome of an eternity of hell just to commit a few one-off sins.

as Steveo pointed out above, the point is that entry requirements (I assume that we are talking about Christianity here) are not based on your track record.
So you can do what you want, although most people are grateful enough to try and abide by the instructions.
Doesn't mean that they do, though.

why do so many people who are 'believers' spend money on good clothers (sic)? surely god (sic) would look down upon this and think why arent they spending their money on those who need it more. i certainly wouldn't take the risk of ending out in hell by commiting a few sins, but so many 'believers' do, why?

Firstly, where does it say in The Bible that wearing good clothes is a sin?
And why would God condemn them for doing it?
There is nothing wrong with wearing good clothes, and you certainly are not going to Hell for doing so.

id appreciate a reply from 'believers' to explain why they would possibly consider commiting a sin when a eternity of pain (hell) could be the result


They wouldn't consider eternity in Hell being a possibility.

[Mr Comedy]

"Insight", you complain that the Bible is not true because it has been altered (which there is no evidence for, and actually is totally impossible), yet you complain that people are sticking to what it says?
If people believe that the Bible was right, then you can't criticise them for sticking to it.

Next question.

[Mr Comedy]

[s]Rilla wrote on 22:45, 29th Nov 2004:
I can't stand the Christian Union, or any religious group that aims to shove their opinions down your throat. I am sick of being told I am going to hell for walking down the street, and sick of people standing on street corners preaching at me.


What if they were right?
Let's just assume that Christianity is right, the opinions of the CU are right, and yes, you are going to hell, an intolerable place where you will spend eternity. However, there is an easy way to change this, and one which is a cast-iron anti-hell guarantee.
The CU believe this. They believe that this will happen to you. They have two choices.

They either say:

1. I'm going, who gives a sod about anyone else. I'll just content myself by knowing I am right, and let everyone else, including my friends and family fry at Satan's big cook-out.

2. I actually believe that this is going to happen, and unless I tell everyone I know that they are off to Satan's Sauna in the Sky, they will be going to.
I could not live with myself if I didn't take every opportunity to tell everyone about it.

Far from being surprised that someone who believes in The Bible and believes that there is an easy solution to a major problem, I would question the sincerity of anyone who did anything otherwise.