Why do conservative Christians think...

[TXlib]

Why do conservative Christians think that their choice of entertainment will send them to Hell?

Why do they think reading Harry Potter, watching American Pie, or playing Dungeons & Dragons has a stronger impact of where they end up than their actions?

I could understand if they merely found these things distasteful or offensive, but to believe watching a movie will make you evil is just a bit silly to me.

I am an atheist, but I find those who believe their every thought must be pure to avoid an unpleasant afterlife inexplicable. I would think only actions mattered...

[SweetheartLikeYou]

1. Now, hold on just a darn minute!

First of all, I disagree with your subject line and therefore am unable to respond to your message.

:hi:

[polmaven]

23. You're right...they don't think.

I am a Christian,and very strong in my faith, and I totally agree with you the Falwell/Robertson/Bob Jones University types are more like zombies than thinking human beings.

That kind of blind obedience to whatever other human beings are telling you is NOT, IMHO, what Christianity was meant to be. We were meant to contemplate, study, ponder, consider God's wishes, and then ACT on our conclusions. We were given free will, and to allow the likes of the power hungry and greedy alleged "men of God" dictate what you will believe and what you will say and do is FAR too easy.

[SOteric]

2. I agree it's baffling, but to the degree I've explored this

with a few fundies of my acquaintance, I believe they've the notion that they'll be 'tempted to the dark side' by association with these things. Sort of like a drug or alcohol addiction, they've the idea that exposure to the lurid elements will turn them into Satan-worshippers or minions of the devil before they've even time to save themselves with a few bible study groups and an emergency prayer intervention.

:shrug:

[Occulus]

6. so they became

addicts to religion instead.

And yes, point that fact out to them. Fundies are as addicted to Xtianity (NOT Christianity) as junkies are to crack, and they're just as helpless, to boot.

[TXlib]

9. It seems to go beyond fear of temptation

I've met people who think that merely reading Harry Potter will send them to Hell, even if they aren't tempted further.

I just find it sad that they will live their lives in fear of having any fun, and instilling that fear on their children.

I find it outrageously offensive when they try to impose their warped morality on me and especially my kids.

[SOteric]

18. Well, again I remind

that I merely report my acquaintance with a few fundies in regard to this matter.

This area is not a hotbed of fundamentalist religions, though there are a few. Most of the folks I know are like me Catholic, or are some of the more straight-laced Episcopalian, Luthern, Presbyterian, sorts of Protestants, or they are Jewish, Buddhist, Atheist and/or Agnostic. The number of fundies I actually know can be counted on the fingers of one hand. Those that I do know haven't expressed any of the thoughts you mention (though it's possible this is owing entirely to the foregone conclusion that RC's are going straight to Hell without a roadside detour).

Come to think of it, one of the chicks I know boycotts various things because she believes it's patronising evil. Like she's trying to get into a museum for the pure and untouched. :shrug:

[mw]

15. Yep. They avoid temptation because they are tempted freaks

Just like an alcoholic knows he is weak to alcohol, conservative Christians (aka "modern-day Christ-killing Pharisees") don't think they'd be able to control the evil in their own hypocritical, black souls.

They're actually not able to deal with the conflict like you and I. So they wallpaper their walls with bible pages and make cross signs in the air with their fingers.

[BritishHuman]

37. Well, given how little of the christian virtues they show

Like tolerance and mercy, for instance, perhaps they ARE only a step or two from the dark side...

[Rabrrrrrr]

3. And I refuse to answer in threads that mention Harry Potter

because I don't want the stain of sin upon me.

heathen.

:evilgrin:

[kimchi]

4. Because they fear Satan more than they trust God.

Although they would never admit that, actions speak louder than words. Nor do they trust in the least their own human nature, which, if you believe the myths, is sinful.

Believe it or not, I am a moderator on a Christianity board. Pretty funny since I'm Pagan, huh?

While there are some wonderful members who keep trying to remind people that fear is the mind killer, others continue to actively present themselves as worthless, sinful, losers. :eyes: They feel unworthy of God's love and so really think the devil is right behind them everywhere they go. To indulge in something fun would give satan an opening. It bothers me that religion can be used to steal souls instead of uplift them. So sad.

[TXlib]

11. Amen, Sister!

It's that kind of attitude that made me an anti-theist for so many years.

[leftofthedial]

5. well, you're going to hell anyway, so who cares what you think?

;-)

I'll see you there TXlib.

They aren't "Christians." They are puritanical behavior fascists.

Their book says their deeds have nothing to do with salvation--that it is belief in their "savior" alone that counts.

Sad to be in the same species with such damaged creatures. Something is apparently inherently wrong with homo sapiens brains.

[Occulus]

10. They don't understand

that any act of good done in the name of Darkness, even if that act of good is done on Satan's behalf, is still a good act, and any act of evil done in the name of God is still and evil act.

They don't understand that it's the action that matters, not the Name in which it is done.

Sad, sad, pitiable people. They have my sympathy.

[TXlib]

14. They need to read the Chronicles of Narnia

Specifically, The Last Battle. I think your quote, "that any act of good done in the name of Darkness, even if that act of good is done on Satan's behalf, is still a good act, and any act of evil done in the name of God is still and evil act" is almost verbatim in that book, if you substitute "Aslan" for "God" and "Tash" for "Satan".

[Occulus]

17. Actually,

it's a quote- almost verbatim- from Mercedes Lackey's Vows and Honor, I believe.

Would that we had Heralds in our world.

[Rabrrrrrr]

7. Serious answer: think of as "putting a fence around Torah"

A jewish concept,but it works here.

God tells and Adam ad Eve not to eat of the fruit; when the snake asks Eve what God said, she replies, "We are not to touch the tree". Thus, putting a fance around it. Not supposed to eat the fruit? Let's be extra safe, and say that we can't even touch the tree.

Same thing in these instances: the movie or the book won't send them to hell, but seeing images/reading about evil stuff, might very well TEMPT them into doing something wrong.

They're just putting a fence around it. Which is just fine. We all do it.

Their problem - which is our problem - is that they aren't content with erecting their own fences for themselves. They want to erect their fences into our yards, and build them so high that no one can reach, or even see, the possibly tempting items.

[SweetheartLikeYou]

8. You just reminded me of Jimmy Carter and

the whole 'lusting in my heart' business - oy vey! :eyes:

[leftofthedial]

13. that's an interesting concept

but I don't think it is their primary motivation.

They want to proselytize even the restrictions of their religion. They can not stand the thought of one person being or behaving differently from what they believe is right. They are utterly closed-minded. they will not rest until EVERYONE ON EARTH believes exactly what they do. That, of course will never happen, so they are perpetually angry and prone to ever more rabid doctrinal fundamentalism and extremism.

Most of the rabid bible thumpers I've dealt with have zero fear that they would ever be tempted into sin, no matter how low the fence or how appealing the "bad" stuff. And when they do sin, as they all do, they rationalize it, change their interpretation of the bible, or stuff their guilt down the same psychic rathole their "faith" comes from in the first place.

Just my experience and observation.



edit: typos

[Rabrrrrrr]

20. Yes, you are also correct

and there is also the motivation factor, which SOteric (that wonderful cook!) covered in a post above, about fearing that satan might be mre powerful than god (I don't think they believe that, but their actions show that they might).

And as I said in my post, they want their fences to include everyeone in the world, so that all of us must abide by their interpretations and restrictions.

I will disgree with you, though - I think they do fear falling into sin. They might not say it, but their actions show it - they fear it so much that it becomes anger, and then the strike out at anone and anything that differs from them, becuase they are constantl reminded that their worldview isn't the only one, and it drives them crazy with self-doubt. That's the fundamentalist worldview - they need absolute truth, because they fear paradox and/or that two truths can exist side by side.

Corarose started a thread earlier tonight about republican brains, in which I posted about this conundrum.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=385359

[leftofthedial]

22. to quibble a bit

I have to be careful or this post will be deleted.

"faith" in a deity imposes its own paradox in that such a being manifests itself only in the faithful individual's belief that their faith is genuine.

Their "absolute proof" is built on a paradox--and they know it. One slip and the whole house of cards crashes down and leaves them with nothing but the realization that they are fools. Hence their anger, their fingers-in-the-ears refusal to listen to reason. I think they are mentally ill.

[Rabrrrrrr]

On the nose

There is also a lot of fear that their house of cards will fall down.

As I mentioned in corarose's thread, this is why they go through such gymnastics to try to show that there are no contradictions in the Bibile, becuase for them, if one thing is not "true", then the whole thing has to be thrown away. They can't deal with a bible that might be "true in spirit" (Jesus is saviour, god is love, love your nieghbor) but false on scientific and historical facts, for instance (such as, one king is mentioned as ruling x number of years in Kings, but y number of years in Chronicles, but the fundies almost break their hips in the gymnastics to make that NOT a contradiction or error).

So, yes - fear that their entire system hangs by a thread that can come tumbling down at any moment.

It's part of their inability to accept the truth that there are mutliple truths, and that something can be "true" while also being factually incorrect.

[TXlib]

33. There's a name for that particular blasphemy

Specifically, the belief that Satan is as powerful as, or more powerful than, God.

But the name eludes me.

Interesting that so many conservative Christians have succumbed to it.

[Lady Freedom]

12. answer:

There is a passage in the bible about reading foul things create foul thinking. So you must not read/watch things that give you impure thoughts.

How do I know this? My daddy is a preacher man!(Southern Baptist)

[TXlib]

16. So you're a PK?

That explains so much about you...

:evilgrin:

[Lady Freedom]

21. What is there to explain? hehe!

I'm a sweet innocent virgin that has never had an impure thought in her mind! hehehe!

[leftofthedial]

24. well, you are kinda sweet!

:-)

[Occulus]

19. SNORT

organized religion, in general, can suck my ass.

God is in MY heart; I don't need a book, a priest, or a congregation to tell me what God is.

[SweetheartLikeYou]

28. Another reminder for me: Anyone ever

see the bumpersticker:

God Protect Me From Your Followers


I love that!

[YellowRubberDuckie]

29. Amen, Kgfnally!

And Christ HIMSELF in the bible preached against organized religion, because they are just making money off his name and his word...He hates that.
Duckie

[onebigbadwulf]

25. Because idiot christians

think that acceptance is the same thing as promotion.

This is why they throw shit fits whenever the subject of abortion, condoms in school, drug rehab/maintenence clinics, harry potter, D&D, or halloween come up.


I hate them so much....more than anyone else.

Edit: forgot to include gay marriage / gay clergy-men

[YellowRubberDuckie]

30. I proved to a few christians this halloween that it was a CHRISTIAN....

Holiday. We dress up in costume and masks to scare off the evil spirits. THey freaked out and were really embarrassed. Damn Baptists. (I earned the right to say that growing up southern baptist.)

[Rabrrrrrr]

32. No, it's actually pagan

then Christianized. Then slowly re-paganized (in thought).

But there is, yes, a long tadition of it being very Christian. The Episcopal Church still has an All Hallow's Eve worship service in the liturgy books, which is quite cool. The biblical texts are some of the spooky ones, like Saul visiting the witch of Endor.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

35. It was originally Catholic, paganized, Christianized...

then pagenized again. I swear. It was paganized the first time because of the split with the catholic church and people hated them...At least that's what I heard on the History Channel the night of Halloween.
Duckie

[Rabrrrrrr]

36. No, it was pagan.

The Catholics took the celtic tradition of samhain, and mixed it up with All Soul's Day, so that they could take the festival of wearing masks to ward off evil and etc. of the celts, but attach it to a Christian holiday, so that the Christinization of england (well, whatever it was called then - Briton?) could be made easier.

The Church did that all that time, like with Christmas, hundreds of saint's days, etc.

[phaseolus]

26. a Sufi prayer

"O Lord,
If I worship You
From fear of Hell, burn me in Hell.

If I worship You
From hope of Paradise, bar me from its gates."

I've always kinda liked that one...

[YellowRubberDuckie]

27. ITs the same reason they call Catholicism a cult....

It's an excuse. Normal kids who play Dungeons and Dragons don't worship satan. It's just blaming our natural tendancies on. It means nothing. I'm a harry potter freak, but my mom keeps telling me I'm going to hell. It has a great message, and I kinda like good triumphing over evil. Wish it were that way in the real world.
On edit: I just reread your title...that's the problem. Most Christians DON'T THINK.
Duckie

[salinen]

31. anti-everything

as an atheist i can truthfully admit that there really is a christ, something horrible must have happened, and satan took his place. (how else to explain the across the board acceptance by christians to mcflightsuit)?

[TXlib]

34. Be careful not to fall into the anti-theism trap

I was 16 when I really became an anti-theist, and I still have to remind myself almost daily that ALL Christians are not the conservative, read-the-Bible-as-the-literal-word-of-God type.

I'd say it's fair to assume that conservative Christians are less likely to challenge doctrine and speak out than liberal Christians.

Take SOteric, for example: She thinks a heck of a lot more than most people I know!