In Reply to: Now I am confused. posted by huh? on February 20, 2006 at 17:25:59:
maybe I'm just tired.
I'm really tired of the idea that to have a set of values means one is legislating them on someone else. What I'm hearing you say is that to believe strongly in one's Christian values is a bad thing because Christians want to spread that (probably because Jesus, their savior, told them to) and believe to love people they need to steer them to heaven. This is their belief and if that's what they believe, that is what they are going to do. You're saying that Christians are forcing themselves on people. I know there are obnoxious Christians, but for the most part, they do not do that. The worst might be the 7th Day Adventist who go to your door and harass people, but other than that, they pretty much quietly attend church and maybe talk about their faith and what they believe in. How is that forcing anyone? In fact, they have been just the opposite and are lately becoming more activists so as to keep what they hold dear.
I think your problem is - you don't like their moralistic values and the authority they think they have in that. So fine, why let them bother you if you believe in your own value system so strongly?
IMO, we need them, as much as we need the hedonistic people. Why? Because both pull on eachother and keep us somewhere in the middle. You really shouldn't be so angry about this. That's what I'm hearing.
and yes, I have seen atheists in the guise of personal freedoms insist on their viewpoint by demanding there are no prayers at any functions whatsoever - they almost were able to ban any Christian school groups to meet on campus and any Christians to get together in groups at all. I think that's pretty forceful. Fortunately, our promise of freedom of religion stopped them at least in that aspect.
I agree with you - I like passion too. It does seem hard to find a happy medium.