hsamow scribbled: sfacets: Your criticisms of Christianity are the same as many other critcs. That criticism being PEOPLE have a "crazy need to spread it [(Christianity)]". But the flaw in your critism is that it targets people, not Christianity itself. Where in the Bible does it tell you to murder or bring down people in the name of Christianity. PEOPLE are responsible for the atrocities that happen, not Christianity itself. If Christianity is looked at in its fullest it spreads nothing but a purely positive message. People commit ridiculous acts in the name of religion when they are completely defying the very foundations of that religion. But it is the people that are responsible for that. Anything that comes into the hands of humans becomes corrupt. That is a given. When Christianity is followed the way it SHOULD be, good things happen. It is not Christianity that is corrupt. It is humanity. So, again in response to your criticisms. 10. I am not forcing my religion upon others. I am simply defending it. This article targeted Christianity. So i responded to it. That's it. 4. You said i was suffering from point four. I am defending myself. I can't control what other Christians do. 2. I don't know. Again, I am not God. Jesus did start Christianity. Did He say "from this day forth I will create a religion called Christianity?" No. But the whole point of His presence on Earth was to spread the new gospel of God through His disciples and the Bible. Without the Bible and churches, how would His doctrines have spread hundreds of years later?

hsamow scribbled: sfacets: Yes I realize that there are many cultures and other forms of art out there that are wonderful and that are not influenced by Christianity. I see where you are coming from and I never denied it in previous posts either. I agree with you on that point. However, I acknowlege that there are non-Christian influences that are positive and yet you do not care to acknowledge that there ARE Christian influences that are positive as well. The U.S. is far from the only country that has experienced the positive impacts of Christianity (as the paintings and artists I mention earlier originated in Europe). Rome, for example, used to put on gladiatorial games at the expense of humans and animals. Thousands of people and animals were killed as a means of entertainment. BUT along came Christianity and gladiatorial games were put to an end because they were considered morally wrong. Can u still tell me that Christianity never had a positive influence? If you can, I think you are a victim of severe denial. President Bush "flaunts his religious position by praying at state get togethers" but that doesn't mean he is disobeying the idea of separation of church and state. He is not enforcing people to pray with him. He has the right of freedom of speech and he can pray wherever he wants to pray as long as he doesn't force anybody else to pray with him. Also, the link you attached did not work. As for your belief that i suffer from points 10, 4, and 2, allow me to clear up any misinterpretations you have formed about me. 10: I do deny the existence of gods claimed by other religions. But I also respect other people's decisions to do the same with my God. I am respecting their decisions just as I would want them to respect my decision. 4: I have no right to judge who is going to Heaven and who is going to Hell because I am not God. I can't even tell you with certainty that I myself am going to Heaven because that decision is not up to me. 2: God has answered more than enough of my prayers even though I am not worthy. And the idea of immediate gratification is ridiculous. You expect for someone to pray and than automatically reap the benefits of having his prayer answered? That is not the way praying works. Sometimes you think what you have asked for hasn't come true but in reality it has worked its fulfillment in your life in ways unknown to you. These misconceptions about Christians are just as ridiculous as misconceptions formed about any other religion or non-religion. I acknowledge that but I'm afraid you fail to do the same.

hsamow scribbled: It's fine if your critical of my comment. I'm happy to respond to any objections you have to what I'm saying. But to call me ignorant is something completely different. If you don't think that the "Last Supper", Sistine Chapel, Shakespeare, and Dante are SOME (not THE... if you want to get specific) of the greatest influences within their respective categories that doesn't mean that other people do not believe so. If you'd like to find out about what i mean about positive impact you can look at this website for more info (http://crossandquill.com/journey/?pag...). And your totally twisting the point i was trying to make by making it seem as if Christianity is the reason for America being the major source of our problem. That was exactly the opposite of what i was trying to argue. People always find a way to blame the bad conditions of our present state on Christianity and i was trying to make the point that Christianity has influenced America in a positive way throughout history. Does history mean present? No. I realize that America is not at its best at the moment but how does pointing out architecture, paintings, and literature of that past influence that?

hsamow scribbled: Very well done. Nice way of clearing up the misunderstandings (as they are clearly not contradictions).

hsamow scribbled: You can laugh and mock Christianity as much as you'd like to but the truth remains the same. Christianity has had a very positive impact on our history despite people repeatedly trying to convey Christianity as a negative influence. This whole country was founded by Christian founders who have based the law upon Christian morals. Christianity is a big influence in literature. Shakespeare, Dante, and plenty other wonderful writers are all influenced by the Bible, which is a literary masterpiece in and of itself. The greatest pieces of architecture and paintings are influenced by Christianity (Michelangelo's the Sistine Chapel, da Vinci's "The Last Supper", etc). And what exactly is it that disturbs you more about the actual Bible. That it teaches to love your neighbor as yourself or that it teaches you to love not only your friends but your enemies as well? The message is purely promoting peace and love!! As for your 7th point, God is not instructing Christians to go and kill other non-Christians in order to enter Heaven so I think your contradiction with Islam is a little off there. btw.... the same thing could easily be done with any other religion (or non-religious groups for that matter, including atheists and agnostics). But i actually have a respect for all other beliefs and religions (unlike you) even if you may find that hard to believe based on ur idea of what a "fundamental Christian" is.