similar background = better compatability?

Torry_Quine

jaylee3 wrote: »

Why do people on here assume that all Christians think that people who are non-believers are going to burn in hell, or are doomed to eternal damnation when they die?

Not all Christians think this believe it or not.

Not all Christians will refuse to consider a partner who is a non believer.

Not all Christians live their lives by every letter of the bible.

Not all Christians are homophobic.

Not all Christians go to Church every single week. (Some don't go at all.)

Some people have some very strange ideas about what being a Christian entails; it's about having a relationship with Christ, believing in him, and getting comfort from your faith. It's also about being the best version of yourself that you can be, and helping and assisting your fellow man when you can. In addition, being humble and kind. (I am not saying non Christians are not all of the above by the way, before anyone starts!)

It doesn't make you a better Christian if you go to Church every week, or you have a Christian partner and Christian friends. And it doesn't make you a better Christian or a better person if you choose to not like gays, or refuse to accept them. And it doesn't make you a better Christian if you read the bible every day.

People can be whatever kind of Christian they choose to be; anyone who thinks any different is very narrow minded.



I also LOATHE it when people ask you what job you do. I have an aunt in her 50s, who has never done any paid employment since she was 20. (She has raised 3 kids since the age of 21.)

When someone asks her what she does for a living and she says she has been a homemaker for 30 years, the conversation just stops dead. It's like some people have nothing else to talk about except work.

Re the second paragraph I bolded. I agree with this, and think it's actually pretty horrible for ANYone to assume if they don't believe in God/Jesus, they will go to hell.

I would've thought that this kind of thinking should be consigned to the history books. I mean, as if you say, surely if GOD is all forgiving and such an awesome dude, then he will forgive anyone for not being a believer! Just goes to show the hypocrisy of 'some' Christians. As I said though, not ALL Christians think like that! I wish people would stop saying they do!

To answer your points

It is fundamental to the Christian faith that only those who follow Christ go to heaven

Some Christians do consider non-Christians for marriage but it isn't recommended to disagree on such an important matter

Being a Christian isn't about living to the letter of the bible - not least as much of the Old Testament isn't relevant to Chrisian living

Most Christians aren't homophobic

I agree that going to church doesn't make you a Christian or not going mean you aren't.

Yes God is all forgiving but we here in the West at least have had an opportunity to either follow Him or not. He will forgive people who aks for forgiveness which those who don't believe in Him don't.

jaylee3

Person_one wrote: »

To be fair, that is the stance of pretty much every Christian church. Its not plucked out of thin air!

What a massive generalisation.

It is NOT the stance of every Christian, and it is not the stance of every Christian Church.

Of course I know SOME Christians and Churches think this way, but not ALL.

Not everyone is so narrow minded.

onlyroz

jaylee3 wrote: »

Why do people on here assume that all Christians think that people who are non-believers are going to burn in hell, or are doomed to eternal damnation when they die?

Isn't that what it says in the bible?

I'm sure that a "fair weather" or "pick and choose" religious believer can be happy in a relationship with an atheist - but if you're the sort who takes it all very seriously and literally then I don't see how an atheist can make you happy.

onlyroz

jaylee3 wrote: »

What a massive generalisation.

It is NOT the stance of every Christian, and it is not the stance of every Christian Church.

Of course I know SOME Christians and Churches think this way, but not ALL.

Not everyone is so narrow minded.

Perhaps you can name some denominations that don't think atheists will go to hell.

theoretica

onlyroz wrote: »

Perhaps you can name some denominations that don't think atheists will go to hell.

Quakers do not hold a central view on this.

Person_one

jaylee3 wrote: »

What a massive generalisation.

It is NOT the stance of every Christian, and it is not the stance of every Christian Church.

Of course I know SOME Christians and Churches think this way, but not ALL.

Not everyone is so narrow minded.

I realise its not the stance of every Christian, as every Christian seems to come up with a bespoke version that suits them.

I'm pretty sure its the stance of the actual organised/official Christian churches though, certainly the major ones.

Person_one

theoretica wrote: »

Quakers do not hold a central view on this.

Quakers are not strictly Christian though.

From their website: "Although we have our roots in Christianity, we find meaning and value in the teachings and insights of other faiths and traditions."

justme111

onlyroz wrote: »

Isn't that what it says in the bible?

I'm sure that a "fair weather" or "pick and choose" religious believer can be happy in a relationship with an atheist - but if you're the sort who takes it all very seriously and literally then I don't see how an atheist can make you happy.

What is said in bible is not to be taken literally. That what I heard from religious people.
Or do you think that some highly educated believe that god made earth in 7 days and taken adam's rib to make a woman ?

System

justme111 wrote: »

What is said in bible is not to be taken literally. That what I heard from religious people.
Or do you think that some highly educated believe that god made earth in 7 days and taken adam's rib to make a woman ?

Worryingly there are actually people who believe the earth is only 2015 years old... :eek: so i don't doubt there are some people who probably take it all literally.

Personally if someone was religious and serious about their religion i wouldn't be a good match for them, i wouldn't say i'm an atheist, more agonostic (if thats the one where you'd believe in it if there was actual proof?) but i just have no time for religion, it's not a part of my life and never will be. Thankfully the OH is as non religious as me. I think religion to some is central to their life (as in the example of Christians who believe only Christians go to heaven-so want to be with a partner for eternity), and i think i'd just be getting in their way and it would never work. If they didn't practice or preach it we might get along, but i imagine we'd still disagree on many things.

onlyroz

justme111 wrote: »

What is said in bible is not to be taken literally. That what I heard from religious people.
Or do you think that some highly educated believe that god made earth in 7 days and taken adam's rib to make a woman ?

Yes, I am sure that the more sensible religious bods don't take their religious texts literally - and such people are probably oK with eating bacon, working on the sabbath, mixing their fabrics, touching a woman on their period etc etc. They are also probably fine shacking up with an atheist as well.

However, if you do believe all the fire-and-brimstone stuff, and you do believe that the only way into heaven is by devoting your life to Jesus, then I don't see how an atheist could make you happy.