These People give Christians a bad Name:

[BlueJazz]

Anybody who has not heard about the Teen who broke the glass at a Realtor building...Read this:
Hears the Story:http://www.sptimes.com/2004/05/11/Tampabay/Teen_held_in_Virgin_M.shtml

Anyway, the Teen was sentenced today to 10 days in jail and 2 years probation. (which I think is fair for breaking an expensive plate glass window with your slingshot.)

The reason for this post is ....a while ago the ch. 12 action news interviewed the people who sometimes pray at the window.
Except for a VERY few folks, they said that they would not forgive the teen for what he had done....even when the "Newsguy" said "But I thought forgiveness is in the Bible"

Most of the people said "I'll never, ever forgive him"

I'm an Atheist but I sincerely believe that most Christians are not like these Unforgiving Pricks.

Even the Newcasters (at the Studio) shook their heads in disbelief.

[wryter2000]

1. They pray at a window?

<speechless>

[Beaverhausen]

4. The Virgin Mary appeared in that window

:eyes:

[JohnnyRingo]

9. That was my reaction, too

Makes one think that if someone appeared before them and performed a David Copperfield trick, they'd turn to (H)im and bow their heads in reverend awe. Or maybe that's how Pat Robertson got his start.

They sound very desperate for any assurance of salvation, but an inanimate object ? ...A window ?

[NC_Nurse]

2. It's like Scott Peck says...

the greatest opportunity for Christian martyrdom these days is within the churches themselves! To stand up for forgiveness, tolerance, and loving thy neighbor is a rare and risky thing these days it seems.

[billybob537]

3. Confused coalition

Praying at a window? Okay its a sign from God. Heres another one GROW THE FUCK UP.

[JVS]

5. You know what the Bible says about not forgiving people.

It's against it.

[patrice]

6. "Blessed are those who do not see and yet believe . . . "

If you NEED "proof", or authority, like The Bible or a priest/minister, or evidence, like miracles (appearing on the side of a building or whatever), it isn't faith.

[Tina H]

7. Do you forgive the Unforgiving Pricks (for being unforgiving)?

I fully agree that these people give Christianity a bad name and are doing bad, but do you forgive them?

After all, people in glass houses and etc., etc.

[BlueJazz]

12. Would you forgive me if I didn't ?

I'm Kiddin'
Yes, I'll forgive them but certainly don't approve of their actions.

[Tina H]

16. agreed n/t

[Ilsa]

8. They won't even cut some slack for a foster child?

What hateful people.

[ima_sinnic]

10. these people need to Get A Life

omigod, the Holy Window of the Mother of God has been broken!! Now what can we worship??

These dumb@@@es are worshipping a frigging formation on a window. Now isn't that special ...

I remember years and years ago (before most of you were born, probably) my brother was "acting out" and threw a pumpkin through the picture window of one of his teachers. My father made him apologize (and he did feel sincerely contrite) and pay for it. The teacher forgave and forgot. End of story. Of course that window had not been "sent by God" or anything like that.

[Tina H]

13. How quickly are people forgiven for . . .

painting swastikas on synagogues? There is more involved here than a regular, garden variety broken window.

[fdr_hst_fan]

14. Harry Truman's father

once said, "If a man shouts too loud Saturday night and prays too loud Sunday morning, go home and lock your smokehouse!"

[izzie]

11. I knew we were in Oz.

You people can't fool me.

[Nikia]

15. Idolatry is preached against in the Bible too

I don't mean to be intolerant against churches with religious images and such. If you say that the statue or glass mosiac is just a representation of Jesus, Mary, or other religious figure that is not idolatry. If you uphold the image itself as something to be worshipped, that really is idolatry. Glass can be replaced.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

17. No, THESE do:

Totally, completely, utterly EVIL:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x1391212

[supernova]

18. I bet if he personally apologized

to the congregation they would accept it. They're speaking out of their own anger, not the least of which is that they don't have a tourist attraction anymore.

[ScreamingMeemie]

19. Desecrating the side of a commercial building akin to desecrating a

holy place? People can take their religion out of hand I guess. While he deserves punishment, I think these people need to take another read through their bibles...if they even own one.

[RC]

20. If that were really a holy place, don't you think

that The Virgin Mary, Jesus, God or somebody would have prevented the window from breaking?

Come on now. Are they really that powerless?

[Az]

21. There is more tied up in belief than simple philosophical arguments

For most people it frames their life. For those that cling to such anamolies real hope is tied into these things. Hope is truly a two edged sword. While it can give people strength to carry on against amazing odds it can collapse and devestate a person trebling the damage that may have come to them.

It is sad that these people were deluded into these beliefs. But smashing their hopes is not humane. There are other ways to guide people back to reason if it needs to be done at all.