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Post by Thomas Eversole on Jul 30, 2019 8:54:14 GMT -6
How do you bros feel about the concept of "religious freedom"?
Obviously, there's the political/legal aspect of this, but what I'm referring to is actually more along the lines of day to day living. (personal philosophy)
I've encountered some Christians online that appear to be very much so against religious freedom. ...simply put, Christianity is right, the rest of "the faiths" are wrong, don't coddle or enable "wrong".
Likewise, I've witnessed this approach stunting many of their interactions. There is a price to pay for "my way or the highway" level "being right".
I find this concept fascinating because there appears to be a crossroad of - having the right/correct faith - getting along well with literally everyone else
Thoughts?
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Post by nocturnaliridescence on Jul 30, 2019 10:30:53 GMT -6
In theory, I wouldn't support freedom of religion.
But at the same time, people are complicated. If Christianity were the only "religion" and all others were banned, a ton of people would reject Christianity just for the sake of being surface-level, contrarian "ReBeLz". There are a TON of people like this on Facebook for example -- people who I swear just disagree with certain things (not just religions) for the sake of having an unpopular opinion, not because they actually took the time and reflected on the topic at all.
What's more, there would be people who would associate Christianity with "the system", because governments are generally corrupt. So if a government made Christianity the "official religion", many people would just lump Christianity in with corrupt governments.
I think it would be irresponsible and shortsighted to institute an actual official religion. So I tolerate freedom of religion, but I honestly don't like it. I don't think for a minute it's beneficial for people to be "free" to involve themselves in things that are inherently dangerous to their souls. (Eg, astral projection, which opens one's mind to attacks from demons, and misinformation from unreliable spiritual forces.)
In my own personal life, I have friends who aren't Christians. I treat them the same as Christians. There's little reason to do otherwise. I defend Christianity if/when the opportunity presents itself. But I do wish I could just slap some sense into them, as God Himself has slapped sense into me. But of course, I know it doesn't always work that way.
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Post by Thomas Eversole on Jul 30, 2019 14:11:41 GMT -6
In theory, I wouldn't support freedom of religion. But at the same time, people are complicated. Right, the situation is complicated just like the people.... and it pretty much always works both ways as well. I don't think for a minute it's beneficial for people to be "free" to involve themselves in things that are inherently dangerous to their souls. Without religious freedom though, someone could harass/persecute/terrorize you and your Christian faith, with that ↑ exact same reasoning... I myself, would vouch for personal religious freedom between friends / in social circles just because it would prevent a lot of unnecessary persecution/hard feelings all around. ...and its not just between different religions, but doctrines in the same religion. My own personal theology has changed even since I've become an adult, and I would not like it at all if a slew of Baptists approached me with a pile of "you can't", all because of identifying with doctrine that's considered "unbaptist".
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Post by nocturnaliridescence on Jul 30, 2019 19:08:40 GMT -6
Without religious freedom though, someone could harass/persecute/terrorize you and your Christian faith, with that ↑ exact same reasoning... I just assumed since we were talking kind of hypothetically, I got to decide which religion was the official one. But if you're thinking more like, we have an actual debate or battle or something to decide who gets to make the rules, then yeah, that's a problem to take into consideration, too.
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Post by Thomas Eversole on Jul 30, 2019 21:49:40 GMT -6
I just assumed since we were talking kind of hypothetically, I got to decide which religion was the official one. Sorry my friend, I don't think I was clear - I didn't use the right words. I was thinking of a melting pot situation. Like a circumstance puts a Christian, a Buddhist, a Muslim, a Jew, a Satanist, a Scientologist, etc. in a peer group. I can't help but think if even one of those implies, "you're not free to believe different than my worldwide religion", then things can get ugly. But if you're thinking more like, we have an actual debate or battle or something to decide who gets to make the rules, then yeah, that's a problem to take into consideration, too. Again, my apologies that I wasn't clear. I am tolerant of others beliefs if they're different from mine. I believe you are too, based on what you said in your first post here. I have encountered others who are not as tolerant. Not just online, but also in person. I'd say I've seen a degree of it recently in the news. I'm not catholic, but I'm a fan of the pope's take on it. I think I understand why: Let non Christian beliefs be free > convert the infidels Religion has been a sensitive topic for centuries. Any pressure, to something tender, is often interpreted as aggression. Love gets lost in the shuffle when people are on defense. -_-
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Post by anfauglith on Jul 31, 2019 2:45:10 GMT -6
Religious freedom for me is just a consequence of giving everybody the opportunity and responsibility to think for themselves. I would not want to take up this responsibility for everybody else. They have to think for themselves. I am also a fan of beeing allowed and able to make own thoughts. So in that way I am also a fan of religious freedom. On the other hand I don't like the modern approach too much in encouraging having as much diverging oppinions, live styles, bla bla as possible in one spot. I can't see why it should be good when people are too different just for the sake of being different. There are people who label such very positive as "colorfulness". Too many colours mixed together just make some ugly grey-brownish ex-colour. But okay... when it comes as a price of not having some Adolf standing about and telling everybody what do do, than so be it. Anyway... I am for religious freedom and freedom in other parts, but also I would be happy, if more people in the western world would actually be christians or at least not just dull materialists.
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Post by Borndead on Jul 31, 2019 14:05:07 GMT -6
I see it the same ways as having the free will, we´re allowed to do, to choose, to say, believe what we want, but we're definitely not free from the consequences of these choises. I would be happy, if more people in the western world would actually be christians Agreed, the world would be much more enjoyable but soon THAT DAY will come ^_^
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